Vol. 30 No. 176 Saturday 11th June, 2011, 24 pages Rs. 20 Registered in as a Newspaper - Late City Edition

KATICH HITS OUT OVER ‘FUTURE IS IN INDO-LANKA CIVIL SOCIETY ‘RIDICULOUS’ DISCIPLINED AGREEMENT VS AXING, WHILE JAYASURIYA HANDS’ OBSOLETE CORRUPTION 7 8 11 16 SAGA STRANGE Sale proceeds of army headquarters land not reflected in govt. accounts – BY ZACKI JABBAR

Proceeds from the sale of State regime, which was Responding to criticism that the land at Galle Face, on which the trying to create UNP was being reactive, De Silva army headquarters was situated, to illegal accounting said that the questions raised indi- Chinese firms Shangri La and systems, has kept cates its role as a proactive opposi- CATIC does not reflect in govern- the whole country tion political party. ment accounts which was not only a in the dark, he The queries raised in parliament dangerous precedent, but also a vio- said. by the UNP on the sale of State lation of the Constitution, the main De Silva said assets remain unanswered and if opposition UNP charged yesterday. that if income was this trend continued, other ways of National List UNP MP and econo- being maintained educating the public of the unethi- mist Harsha de Silva, addressing a off balance sheet Harsha cal, illegal and unconstitutional news conference in Colombo, said then the proce- methods adopted by the government that the extent of land sold, which dure would natu- would have to be looked at, he said. was said to range between 10 and 20 rally be adopted for expenditure as Shangri La plans to build a multi- acres, does not reflect in the well, thereby stripping parliament of use complex with high-end retailing, Treasury Balance Sheet, nor has its power to probe public finance. deluxe apartments and a 500-room parliament been informed of the If the government’s new found luxury hotel, while CATIC, which is transaction. privatisation procedures go a Chinese aviation firm intends to DNA MP Tiran Alles shares a light moment with Queen’s Counsel and Barrister Mark Trowell at the Colombo High According to article 148 of the unchecked and the “slippery slope” construct a US$ 500 million hotel Court on Friday afternoon at the end of the day’s proceedings in the ‘White Flag’ case. Former Army Chief and DNA Constitution, the sale of State land continues, powerful officials will be and shopping complex. Both projects leader Gen. Srath Fonseka is indicted in the High Court of Colombo for alleging Defence Secretary Gotabhaya and property has to be tabled in par- able to sell off State assets without are estimated to cost over US$ 1 bil- Rajapaksa ordered that LTTE leaders offering to surrender be shot on the Vanni east front in May 2009. liament, but the informing the legislature, he said. lion. (Pic Kamal Bogoda)

THE SECOND Sri Lanka never COMIN G: NOT A MATTER OF SCIENCE, BU TONEOF ASSU Saturday RED BELIEF 11th June, 2011 Health Ministry corruption:

STARDUSTOV ER SIGIRIYA responded to UN

John Wayne Gene Autry Cowboy f letter -Witness fil Rod Cameron m alm ilms ost all his films m ore than by his real s nam e. As Hopalong Cass all black kit from he idy, he wo Sirisena seeks AG’s re an ad to to his films George “G e. I n most of Andy Clyde acted. abby” H ayes and w One of the tallest actors in westerns we e was Rod Cameron. Ther en action in e was alw njo the film ays Roy Rogers j i s that he acte o film ine s that I cou d in. The n ld rem d em e ber in which R d Cameron acted were “Belle Starr’s od Daughter, Brim JVP MP says Frederica, Lal pleaded with Anton stone,Stampede, San e, Th e Bounty K Panhandle. iller and BY H.M. N John Wayne was one the m ISSANKA cow WARAKAU boy actors of la ost popular LLE lo had a reputa ter years. Though he l n tion o g as an actor in w ecently I was w n such as “ ar films g a The Sands o atching th g fIwo Jim e western a film “Th There w o other popular film a” a e A g lamo” on T o nd ere a number of popular westerns in s such Rone of the old cow V. This was and the Mighty”, “T as “The High John W boy films w which Audie Murphy, the m he Quiet M ayne as Davy C ith “Hatari”, h e was an Am an” an d Widmark as Jim rockett, Richard epitom erican icon who Bowie soldier of W ost decorated Am ized the rugged ma SF not to deny false story ( expert with orld War II, took the leading role. As far was closely associa sculinity a Willis. W the knife) and Chill erican ted w nd hile watch as I recollect, the best role he played was that of the Though his m ith westerns. we ing this film ost famous wester nt back to about half a c my mind “Sagecoach” the other cowboy filmsn was such recall the entury to young outlaw who was known as Billy the Kid and as “ very fascinating cow Fort Apac he”; “R we saw during that time. Tho boy film River” and “Th io Grande”, “R s e A ed were film goer se of u s who he appeared as such in the m duced and direc lamo” (which was pro- s when w ted by him and soon a e were schoolboys popular w ) w fter would rem Texas”. Of course, even the restovie of “The the westerns Kid from ith cow ere also cowboy films tha ember the fine Another cow boy film fans. t were scr boy actor who gained p young schoolboys we lovedeened th then. As that he appeared in were good. Some of them were “ ularity m Counsel Nalin ay be because of one whether they w e action op- ith guns and rev , Gary Cooper. Though he acted infilm was named becau olvers (so Sierra”, “Kansas Raiders”, ”The Cim ber of other films se they were pisto a num- fired several shots withou ls that York” for wh such as “Sergean p t reloading ) or “The Duel at Silver Creek”, “Gunsm ich he received A t lain fisticuffs. Us Award nom cadem firearm ually the fights w arron Kid”, ination, his most fam y s were in the saloons, wh ithout movie w ous cowboy Rifles”, “Gunfight at C oke”, “Apache as the cowboy film s assembled ere the which was cons “High Noon and sm to have their whisky om idered to be his fines ” Ladduwahetty: You are oke the r he wo olled up cigare anche Creek” and “Ride n the Acade t and intervention cigars. ttes or the film. G my Award for his role Clear of Diablo”. ary Cooper wa in Y I believe class of ru s in B A. J. A. it would be appropria gged weste the same commen te to Rod Ca rn heroes such a ce this write up with Roy Rog and with a se meron and s who was called the king of the cow nse of h umou Gary Cooper w John Wayne. Th ers, the humourous side w r. T hereafter, as shot in “real time” so th is film The films in which R boys. as handled by A films as he sang in h clock tick at as the oy Devine, Roy’s new sidekick ndy riding his beautiful p ed off th his famous p Rogers acted had happy-go-lucky na is films. A utry’s alamino horse, 85 m e time to high no alamino stallion Tr films that I sa . In all th e tu Stardust, h e became fam inutes of th on, the an MP. dog Bulle igger and w Dale Evans, his w trade mark re was as m the story’s actuale timefilm corresponded to t, m ost of the time played the leading female role ife as was his horse, his uchwh a were always eagerly awaited.ous and There his was film also getting invo both of them cowbo s fram lved in the action, which pany Roy in th . To ac com y hat and guitar, an ite always a lot of action in his film In the 1960s th e. the audienc e songs he sang in film - as his sid d had B which were knowere were three films e always enjoyed most of the time s, ekick. urnette he had acted in a s. Th ough loped to stardom . Trigger gal- it was the S Of cour number of film lars or n as the trilogy of dol- BEYNAYAKA dazzling audiences w Pioneers and later ons of the se, in addition to I was able to see “ s earlier, the series of the A his The N high speed, beau ith the group w , if I reme mber righ Gene Autry was his acting, “Colt.45”, “C evadan”, name. These man with no in ty, brains and rescu- as Ride t, an accomplis aribou T films we g Roy many a tim It m rs of the Purp and he made fam hed singe “Fort Wo rail”, “Santa Fe”, Dollars”, “For A re “ Fistful of e from ight be appro le Plain. ous the hit son r rth”, “Th Fe Though there w bad guys. Roy R priate to proc yester year su gs of “Riding Sho under over the P “The Good, the Bad wan Dollars Mo RW: Yes ere a num ogers to Gene Autry as botheed fro ch as “Th lains” re” an he had acted in those of ouber of films that m Daddy o at Silver-haired tgun” an d “ Th , d th d had similarities in of th fMine”, Rudolph Hunter” e Bounty main actor in these films wase Ugly”. C The would reme r vintage respect of singi em Reindeer”, “Frosty th the Red Nosed Eastwood, w mber “Cowboy and the their famous horses. Like Ro ng and William Elliot is another actor I ho had a ru lint Senorita”, “Un “Yellow Rose of Texas”.e Snowman” and half a cigar gged look with der California Stars” Trigger, Ge ne A y having remember, though the na in his m UPFA National List “Lights of Old San utry had his horse outh and either Tells Dr. PB Technical Committees deceive Cabinet The talk ta Fe , Champion as his com , a roan, films in which G films of his tha mes of th e few ed very little or not at all. But ther Texas” of which ” and “Eyes of panion. Of course and the na ene Autry acted t I had seen e only I can Champion was not of the sam mes of which can mind at present. His trade lude my was plenty of action w e names. recollect the wer rec hich th Trigger as he did not do muche acti class as e “Strawberr ollect he put the revolvers in themark rev wa audience. So rilled the A and “W y Roan”, “Silver C s that that these film NL: Where were you t the beginning Roy R opposite o s w significant mark that Cham ng. The inning of the W anyon” two holsters after tw erse in th fNA ere the number of film ogers acted in a the Sons est”. A utry too had irlin e Talk. TO, th at is Ac s with G that he had tw pion had was of the Pioneers to accompa with his fi g them round tion Only N Hayes, an older m eorge “Gabby” o toy pistols fixed onto the him in his grou ngers. He w as a tough cowb o an with a bushy bear bridle on either side of his h p songs. ny who was fast on his draw even oy There were a num Autry had his horse an ead. Gene Randolph Scott is a had the r erns in w ber of popula MP Prof. Rajiva d though hich Audie r west- becam nother actor evolvers reversed. he Mu d his guitar in his e famous for his role in who William decorated Ame rphy, the most With a r westerns. Boyd was anoth rican soldier of W ather rugged look on popular cowboy. He w er old tim II, took the leading role. As far as Iorld re War his face an as a differen e d of fish as m t kettle lect, the be st r col- before being appointed as ost of his fans ole he played w knew hi the Hopalong Cassidy, the r m as young outlaw as that of Y HAMINDRA ERDINANDO who was known as B B S F ole he played in Meningitis vaccine could save thousands of lives illy Continu Wijesinhe on Friday (10) ed on page 4 Thousands of children’s “This data is a very positive ste figh t to eradicate m p in the an MP? eningitis B, which is lives could be saved by a the biggest killer of all types of m tis in the UK. eningi- new meningitis vaccine “This vaccine h is the first of its kind and told Trail-at-Bar, hearing as the potential to sav is considered for use in the that could be available by lives. e thousand tion UK im ” s of programme. munisa- Meningitis B, whic Mr Dayman sa the end of the year, it has four hours, is the m h can kill in un the EMA id: “It is anticipa LFP General Secretary Minister Maitripala Sirisena after seeing what was going on in the establishment. RW: I was Secretary to ost deadly typ der licence de ted that UK, r esponsible for m e i around Ch cision will be m ore than 1,20 n the ristmas th ade emerged a year and 120 deaths. 0 cases “There are still a numis year. Around 250 other ch to be answered about theber vac of ques tions ‘White Flag’ case, that the ildr serious lifelong com en are left with are extre cine and w plications such as mely hope e BY RICHAR limb ampu will be positive.” ful that the decision D ALLEYN tations, blindne E brain dam ss, de afness and The data for the jab wa age as a result of th the Ministry of Disaster he new jab prote There are already vac e disease. the E s pre says some technical committees, responsible for choos- The Health Minister alleged that some of those appointed cts against m uropean Society for Paediatricsented at tis B, the bigge eningi- some forms of m cines against Infecti st killer strain of the eningitis, including ous Diseases in T Tdisease for w meningitis C The vaccine w he Hague. no protection. hich there is cur and pneum Hib, as developed by a new rently tis. ococcal meningi- technique of analys government had to recall ing the g Trials of th e n The new up of the enetic m – have produced ew“exciting” drug – called results 4CM which vaccine – develope disease and then finding drugsake enB drug giant N d by the that would effect its DNA showe ovartis – is lik d a “robust imm these by Christm ely to add to Dr Myron C . Management thous une response” in as, it w hristodoulides, ch ands of infants across E Results from as announced. Meningiti ing various products and services for the Health to technical committees didn’t even attend meetings, while s UK’s scientific medi air of In all it protecte urope. 1,800 children found worked well alone or ry panel, said: “Novartis has cal adviso- the diffe d against 80 per cent of with vacci it rent variants of the diseas other strains of the disease. nes for step closer to the lice taken us o charity M nsure o ne a letter sent to the UN in eningitis U e. Th e A further study on with the potential to offer broadf a covvaccine S K said the new cine has the po it offe 1,500 toddle against group B m tential to save thousands vac of- red protection rs found erage lives in the futu booster ja when given a “If this va eningococcal disease. re. b, wh ile anoth s a ccine w Steve Daym immune response in adolescener showed an tial to pr ere to fulfil its poten NL: When did you an, the c hief exe ovide pro - the results were exci cutive, said The Europ ts. cent of m tection against 80 pe Ministry,are utterly corrupt. Health Minister some remained silent at discussions, leaving ting. ean M eningitis B strai r (EMA) is edicines A ease in Europe, then it willns significantly caus appraising the new gency Results from ing dis- jab before it 1,800 children foun improve public health an response to a missive strains ofthe d d it w d save the liv isease orked well alone or with vaccines for othe many from this devastating di es of sease r .” © The Te serve the Peace legraph Group London 2011 Sirisena alleges that some members of the one or two persons to run the show, thereby received by Sri Lanka due Secretariat as a committees are liaising with certain suppliers making it easier for the technical committee to shortcomings in the Secretary? at the expense of the State medical sector. and certain suppliers to engage in corrupt letter. RW: From June 2008 to THE PORTUGUESE Minister Sirisena was addressing a group of transactions. According to the Minister, the The MP said that the 2009 officials at the National Blood Centre on Health Ministry was one of the major recipi- government hadn’t so far NL: Are you aware of a AT WAR responded to the issues Thursday (9) in the wake of allegations regard- ents of public funds, therefore it was plagued letter received by Sri Maitripala PB raised by the UN follow- ing brazen violations and manipulation of ten- by waste, corruption and irregularities. Lanka’s Permanent ing Gen. Sarath der procedures. Red faced officials looked on as the Minister Representative Shenuka Fonseka’s interview cap- An irate Sirisena said he had identified several attempts to warned that he wouldn’t hesitate to consult the AG’s Seneviratne from Philip tioned ‘Gota Ordered manipulate tender procedures, since he took over the min- Department regarding corrupt practices. An irate minister Alston? Them to be shot’ carried istry 14 months ago. The Polonnaruwa District MP alleged said that in spite of having a number of good surgical, med- RW: Yes in the December 13, 2009 that some of those appointed to technical committees were ical and laboratory items at reasonable prices, technical com- NL: Did the UN letter issue of The Sunday involved in shady deals. He told a surprised audience that he mittees were only interested in dealing with those looking refer to Gen. Fonseka’s Leader. interview with The had forwarded reports prepared by certain technical commit- after their interests. The Bench comprised Sunday Leader? tees to the Attorney General’s Department, for further action. Ministry sources said that the situation was the same at Colombo High Court RW: Yes. It was dated The veteran politician went on to say that he also dis- almost all the ministries for want of scrutiny by parliamen- Judges Deepali December 18, 2009 he Portuguese told the cussed the issue with Treasury Chief Dr. P.B. Jayasundera. tary watchdogs, Committee on Public Enterprises and Public Wijesundera (President), NL: Did the govern- The former Agriculture Minister said that he couldn’t Accounts Committee and the failure on the part of the inter- W. T. M. P. B. Warawewa Sinhala king that their ment respond to that let- accept decisions taken by the Cabinet Appointed Tender nal audit mechanism. Sources said that periodic recommen- and M. Z. Razeen. Tonly desire was peaceful ter? trade “but they declared war on Board (CATB) based on biased recommendations by technical dations made by the Auditor General’s Department were Senior Defence all those did not accept their committees. He said that he felt ashamed and disappointed ignored. peace.’ Abeyasinghe describes them as armed traders. The Portuguese were powerful due to their command of the sea. Their Lankan woman faces 10-year navy was supreme in the Indian Disciplinary inquiry against Ocean. ban on entry to UK SATMAG Mahiyangana SLTB Depot Supt. A Sri Lankan woman has been Lankan police and the applicant has arrested for obtaining a passport with been arrested. a ‘false identity, says a British HC Immigration Liaison Manager, BY DON ASOKA WIJEWARDENA spokesperson. The arrest was made on Colombo, Claire Murray, said: Transport Minister Friday. The Sri Lankan applicant had “The UK Border Agency conducts has warned all SLTB depot superintendents applied for a settlement visa to join her robust checks on documents submitted that disciplinary action will be taken husband in the UK. The UK Border with UK visa applications. If we find against those found ‘selling’ SLTB bus turns Agency’s checks established that the out that an applicant has used decep- to private bus operators. Although he is try- applicant had previously held a pass- tion in their visa application. We will ing his best to improve the SLTB, corrupt port in a different identity. The UK ban the applicant from travelling to the but depot depot chiefs have put paid to his Border Agency informed the Sri efforts, he says. He had instructed relevant officials to conduct disciplinary inquiries against such persons and those found guilty would face severe penalties, including termination of President visits Parliament their employment. Minister Welgama said during an inspection tour of Mahiyangana BY SAMAN INDRAJITH SLTB depot. President Mahinda eral meetings with MPs and other dele- Transport Minister Kumara Welgama, who visited He said that the heads of some SLTB Rajapaksa visited gates. the Mahiyangana SLTB depot inspecting a bus depots, with the connivance of private bus Parliament yesterday. Speaker was in undergoing repairs. operators, were committing a national He arrived in the Chair and the condolence vote on crime. They obtained money from private from private bus owners, the Minister said. Chamber and former Minister Nissanka Wijeratne Transport Minister threatens bus operators by ‘selling’ the scheduled He said that new buses would be remained in his seat was in progress when the President to penalise corrupt SLTB SLTB bus turns. It had been found that employees. obtained on lease. The payments would be for sometime before entered the Chamber around 2.30 pm. some SLTB buses were not operating on sev- leaving for his office Senior Minister P. Dayaratne was made on a monthly basis and There will be no SLTB left! eral routes and depot superintendents had in the Parliament addressing the House. stopped operations after receiving bribes complex to hold sev-

IMF distances itself from controversial pension scheme The Island www.island.lk THE ISLAND FINANCIAL REVIEW DESK sition to the controversial bill left several IMF had not proposed the scheme under attempt to address concerns growing out injured and one dead after workers in the the US$ 2.6 billion standby facility Sri Lanka’s aging population. It was not The International Monetary Fund says free trade zone protested against it. arrangement with Sri Lanka, as alleged by something that was proposed by us (the it had nothing to do with the controversial Visiting IMF chief of mission to Sri opposition law makers. IMF),” he said. private sector pension scheme, which the Lanka Dr. Brian Aitken speaking to jour- “The government in their discussions The Island Financial Review asked him government withdrew after massive oppo- nalists in Colombo yesterday (10) said the with us said the pension scheme was an