Friday 24rd April, 2009 The Island Page Three

! World view News! Financial Review ! Leisure Land INSIDE: ! Road & Track UPFA confident of Galukumari derailed by S. K. Kaluarachi and Lalith victory Lanka govt 'more at fault' Chaminda by Ifham Nizam The Galukumari express train which The United People’s Freedom Alliance left Galle for Colombo last morning (23), (UPFA), was confident that it would secure than LTTE – Chidambaram was derailed at Kathaluwa around 7.15 a comfortable majority in the Western am. Provincial Council. Sri Lanka Freedom papers from Sivaganga Lok Sabha con- the Union government or Congress. It As a result of the derailment, train Party Treasurer and Transport Minister SIVAGANGA (TN): Union home stituency. "The issue cannot be is for stopping the hostilities there in services along the coast line were disrupt- Dullas Allahapperuma said. He said the minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday resolved by the army. It has to be that country." He said it was wrong to ed yesterday. Normal services were government would bag at 63-70 seats in the said both LTTE and Sri Lanka were resolved through negotiations. The say that the Union Government did not expected to resume last evening. 102-member council. not paying heed to India's Tamils should be given equal take any steps to stop the hostilities in Speaking at a press conference in request to end hostilities but respect, status and right. Tamil the island. Right from 1983 successive Colombo yesterday, he said previous elec- felt Colombo was “more at dominated one or two provinces central governments had been follow- tions had proved that villagers endorsed fault” as it thought military should be made states with ing the same policy vis-a-vis the Sri Co-op banks set record solution could end the strife. equal rights within the Sri Lankan strife. All parties including the policies of President Mahinda By Lalith Chaminda and S.K.Kaluarachi Rajapaksa. Stating that the Sri Lankan Lankan federal set up," he said. PMK, AIADMK, MDMK, had been Tamils issue was a humanitari- Asked about Tamil Nadu chief allies in those Governments, he said. He said the UNP leadership’s state- Eleven cooperative rural banks func- ment that the village voted for the an one and there was need to minister and DMK President M "Now some political parties are trying Government and the city voted for the protect the lives of the people, Karunanidhi's demand for snap- to mislead the people and are claiming tioning under the Akmeemana UNP would be proved wrong this time he said India had asked the Sri ping diplomatic ties with the it is a poll plank," he said, apparently Cooperative Society, received deposits Chidambaram around as it would be seen that the city Lankan government and the Lankan government if it did not taking a dig at AIADMK and its allies amounting to Rs 30.48 million on Sinhala LTTE to stop the hostilities. stop the war, he said "it is a seri- who have refused to take part in the voters, too, had accepted the policies of and Tamil New Year Day, according to the President. "We have been making the demand ous issue and it cannot be discussed in strike with Jayalalithaa dismissing it He said there was no room for rigging continuously for many days. But both a press meet." Queried if LTTE chief as 'farce and a drama.' President of the Cooperative Society elections and at the same time, voters the LTTE and the Sri Lankan govern- Prabhakaran would be given asylum, Asked about Jayalalithaa describ- Parakrama Seneviratne. must refrain from voting for thugs and ment are not paying heed to our he said "I can't comment. It is a legal ing as a drama sending of telegrams He said that this was a new record for drug dealers. Except for a sole incident in request," he said. However, Sri issue." Chidambaram described and letters to Prime Minister by Lankan government was more at fault today's general strike on the Sri deposits on a single day at the Cooperative Wayamba, all elections that had taken Karunanidhi on Lankan Tamils issue, regarding the ongoing battle because Lankan Tamils issue called by DMK, Society managed rural banks. One thou- place in the recent past were free and fair, he retorted: "I am not in the film he said adding that unlike on previous they were thinking that military solu- an ally of Congress, as an expression sand customers who transacted business industry. I do not know whether it is a occasions a large portion of the UNP votes tion could end the strife, he told of "anguish" against killing of Tamils on this day were presented with bags of reporters after filing his nomination in the island nation. "It is not against drama or farce." would swing to the UPFA. groceries worth Rs 500 each. Teachers’ Union asks Premjayanth: Ranil has proved Was promise made to another union a Darwin right – Dullas by Ifham Nizam lost 18 elections, was still polls gimmick? hanging on to the As Darwin's theory Opposition leader's The Ceylon Teachers Service Union position thanks to yesterday drew the Education of evolution suggested, the United Minister’s attention to the manner of only the fittest would recruitment and promotions to the survive and those who National Party principals service during the last were not fit would be Constitution. twelve years. It queried why he prom- faced with extinction. However, he ised a certain trade union, which met Opposition leader said, on April 26, him on April 16, that promotions would Ranil Wickremesinghe there would be be granted only on the basis of seniori- and his allies would interesting battles ty. also be an extinct species The Union said the term of the at Sirikotha. Public Service Commission had ended soon, said Transport Allahapperuma said the on April 8 and the establishment of a Minister Dullas third world countries were Constitutional Council was necessary Allahapperuma. well known for having liars to effect promotions on the basis of sen- Addressing a press con- and jokers in politics, but iority. “Isn’t this a gimmick to lure ference in Colombo yester- no other country had an teachers into voting for the government day, he said Opposition leader who was at the forthcoming Western Provincial Wickremesinghe who had Council Elections?” the Union queried a joker. from the Minister The Union said that during Premjayanth’s period as Education Minister, there had been 1,084 vacan- cies for Grade I principals, 2,973 vacan- cies in Grade II class I category and Maithripala says UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe with the Gampaha District candidate Ajith Mannapperuma at the final propaganda another 3,255 vacancies in Grade II rally at the Gampaha bus stand on Wednesday (22). UNP MP Sarathchandra Rajakaruna looks on. class II of the service. A competitive Pics Nimal Dayaratne examination had been held to fill these Duminda can top the vacancies but that had not been done. The union charged that certain vacan- cies had been filled by appointing polit- ical stooges and that practice had Colombo list resulted in the standard of education SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena said that UN seeks funds to meet falling to low levels. UPFA candidate R. Duminda Silva could obtain the highest The Union requested the Minister to number of preference votes in the Colombo district at rectify the recruitment and promotion- al procedures of the Sri Lanka School Saturday’s WPC polls. Principals Service. Addressing a public meeting held in support of UPFA candi- requirements of IDPs dates, the Minister said that he was also confident that the ruling coalition could secure over 70 per cent of the votes Wants govt. to release local workers Australia wants polled. The UN office in Colombo nutrition, shelter, and clothing. back on their feet, so that they shelling halted yesterday issued an urgent And we want to try to get kids as can eventually return to their appeal seeking funds to meet soon as possible back into school homes.” Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith in a urgent needs of an exodus in order to give them The UN says that over-crowd- statement said that his country welcomes reports that of thousands of people some semblance of nor- ing in the camps is now a grave thousands of civilians were able to leave the conflict seeking refuge in govern- mality.” concern, and has urged the gov- area in the North of Sri Lanka since April 20. He ment-held areas after flee- The UN has appealed ernment to make available more expressed concern over the many civilians still ing fighting on the north- for $155 million to meet land and public buildings for trapped amid renewed fighting between the eastern coast. It also urged the anticipated increase accommodation and to quickly Government and the LTTE. the government to release in people escaping from identify and release people from The statement added: local UN workers held in the fighting in the north the existing sites who present no “Tragically, many civilians have already been IDP camps. of the country, but has security threat. Buhne said that killed and further loss of life is inevitable unless both Speaking from Colombo received less than one while some elderly have been sides cease hostilities to allow civilians to leave the after returning from camps Buhne third of that amount. released, “there are many more conflict zone. in the town of Vavuniya Since Monday, more than people such as the elderly, dis- where around 80,000 exhausted 90,000 people have escaped the abled, unaccompanied children “Australia again calls on the Sri Lankan civilians who had escaped the combat zone in a sudden exodus and pregnant women who could Government to halt shelling and announced a combat zone are being accommo- that has stretched humanitarian be rapidly identified and renewed pause in hostilities to allow the safe depar- dated, the UN’s Humanitarian and government resources. Aid released in order to reduce the ture of civilians from the conflict zone. It must also Coordinator in Sri Lanka said agencies have rushed to fly camp population.” The UN has ensure the safe passage of civilians to camps for that teams were scrambling to emergency supplies by air into also urged the government to internally displaced persons. These camps should be feed, clothe, shelter, and provide the region. release UN national staff so that administered in line with international humanitarian water to “crowds of weary and “Many of these people were they can return to work. standards. hungry people.” forced from their homes by fight- While more than 170,000 civil- “The process of evacuation from the conflict and “I saw infants with dysentery, ing more than a year ago, and it ians are now believed to have the administration of the camps should also be open UPFA candidate R. Duminda Silva addresses a public rally at malnourished children and is something of a miracle that escaped the combat zone since to monitoring by International Committee of the Red Khettarama area recently. women with untended wounds, they have survived such a terri- January, the UN says that it esti- Cross and UN officials. and people dressed in the ragged ble ordeal,” said Buhne. mates that tens of thousands of clothes they’ve been wearing for “We need to ensure that no people remain trapped by fight- “Such measures would underline the Sri Lankan months,” said Neil Buhne. “We more lives are lost by meeting ing, who have been without Government’s commitment to the protection of its civil- need funds for all the basics like their immediate needs, and humanitarian deliveries of food ians. Vesak dansala food, medicine, water, sanitation, beyond that to help them get since 1st April. “The LTTE must also allow civilians to leave. We again condemn the use of terrorist tactics, including the targeting of civilians in or departing the conflict food items for zone. Kandy vehilce society chief “Australia holds grave concerns for the health and wellbeing of those remaining in the conflict zone and displaced in North calls on all parties to give urgent priority to ensuring adequate food and medical supplies are allowed into further remanded ing others, especially on days the area. by Cyril of religious significance. by Cyril Wimalasurendre head office at Trincomalee Street in Kandy, claiming “Australia remains actively engaged on this issue Wimalasurendre This Vesak, he has said, premium and the interest on their deposits. internationally and welcomes the United Nations’ KANDY – The Chief of Kandy Cooperative The disappointed depositors lodged complaints KANDY – Central food items collected for danse- close attention to the situation in Sri Lanka, including Vehicle Society, who was earlier remanded following with the Kandy Police. las, should be sent to the the visit of the UN Secretary-General’s Province Governor Tikiri complaints of failure to refund claims by depositors, OIC Special Crime Investigations Branch I.P. Representative, Mr. Vijay Nambiar. Kobbekaduwa has appealed North for the benefit of the was further remanded till May 06, by Kandy Chief Nilupul Somasinghe, told Court that complaints from “Australia calls again on the Sri Lankan to Vesak dansala organisers displaced people in difficulty. Magistrate Sumudu Premachandra. over thirty depositors were received and investiga- Government to put forward credible political reforms to to send food items they have That is the best way to pay Amal Jayasinghe was arrested by the Special tions were proceeding. engage Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka and other minori- collected to the displaced per- homage to the Buddha, whose Crime Investigation Branch of the Kandy Police IP Somasinghe moved that the suspect be further ties. A political solution that meets the legitimate aspi- remanded. sons in the North. teaching stresses the need to Headquarters, following complaints of mistrust by rations of all Sri Lankans is essential for the long-term Further investigations are being conducted on the He has said Buddhists look after the needy, he has depositors. security and prosperity of Sri Lanka,” the statement The depositors recently called over at the society directions of DIG Central, Pujith Jayasundera and said. have a long tradition of feed- said. SSP Jayantha Gammanpila.