Wednesday 11th March, 2009 There is an attempt by UNP to politically assassinate me - SB by Piyasena Dissanayake The Opposition nents were trying to force him, Leader of the Central Rukman Senanayake, Sajith UNP National Organiser and PC said that the con- Premadasa and to Opposition Leader of the Central spirators were making quit the party. Province S. B. Dissanayake yesterday use of a weekly news- The conspirators would be soon said that there was an attempt within paper to sling mud at brought before the public if the mud the party to ‘politically assassinate’ him and Party slinging campaign continued, he him. Chairman Rukman said. Addressing a press conference at S.B. Senanayake. Asked whether the party leader- his residence at Battaramulla, he Claiming that the ship should be changed, Dissanayake vowed to expose those involved in the government, too, was involved in the expressed confidence in the incum- Special ceremonies were held at the branches of the People’s Bank islandwide to mark conspiracy. conspiracy, he claimed that his oppo- bent leader. the International Women’s Savings Certificate scheme introduced as a part of the cel- ebrations. The Chairman Peoples Bank, W. Karunajeewa presents a savings certificate to a participant at a ceremony held at the Gam Pubudu Centre with Rev. Father Cyril Anton as Chief Guest. (Pic by Lawrence Fernando, Ja-Ela) Arrested trying Legal News to slip through Supreme Court For Argument Before: SC Appeal No. 79/08 CA No. 161/04 N. G. Amaratunga, J. SC Appeal No. 98/08 HC No. 51/07 JVP vows to thwart full airport staff K. Sripavan, J. COURT NO. 403 Chandra Ekanayake, J. Before: channel To Be Mentioned S. Marsoof, J. implementation of 13 Amendment A woman was apprehended SC Application F/R No. 483/08 J. Balapatabendi, J. by Dasun Edirisinghe Those key persons had met in and handed over to Airport For Leave To Proceed P. A . R a t n a y a k e , J. Minister Devananda’s office to discuss Authorities at the Customs while SC Application F/R No. 601/08 To Be Mentioned The JVP yesterday criticised the gov- future plans on Monday (09), he said. Full attempting to seek employment SC Application F/R No. 18/09 SC Application F/R No. 328/08 ernment for its moves to implement the implementation of the 13th Amendment abroad illegally. The Chairman of SC Application F/R No. 115/09 SC Application F/R No. 416/08 the Foreign 13th Amendment to the Constitution to the Constitution had been promised to SC Application F/R No. 116/09 SC Application F/R No. 61/08 Employment Bureau, Kingsley fully and described it as a betrayal of the the Indian Foreign Minister Pranab SC Application F/R No. 117/09 For Leave To Proceed Ranawake said she had entered mandate given to it by the people in Mukherjee by President Rajapaksa, who the Customs area through the SC Application F/R No. 119/09 SC Application F/R No. 402/08 recent elections. The People had voted had confirmed that during an interview channel meant only for the For Granting Of Leave SC Application F/R No. 54/09 for the UPFA in 2004 and 2005 against the with Al-Jazeera television recently. Airportstaff. SC HC (CA) LA No. 181/08 HC CA For Argument provisions of this amendment seeking The US, EU and India were also pres- No. 10/08 SC Appeal No. 50/08 HC CA No. the devolution of powers to the provin- suring the government to go for full SC Special LA No. 185/08 HC No. 170/07 cial level but now the Government implementation of the 13th amend- 144/06 SC Appeal No. 81/08 CA No. 458/08 plans to implement it, JVP General ment which would devolve more Bangladesh SC Application F/R No. 173/08 Secretary Tilvin Silva, told a press powers to the provinces, he said. conference, yesterday. The report of All Party The most recent move in that Representatives Committee headed HC presents regard was the appointment of a by Minister Prof. Vitarana was to J’lalithaa... From page 1 committee by the government to be out very soon and this would credentials expedite the process of implement- recommend the implementation of Though this might appear to be a Lankan army to fight the Lankan ing sections of the amendment, he the 13th Amendment, he said. to President clear departure from the earlier Tamils. The question arises against said. Tilvin He said that Eastern Province stand of the AIADMK on the issue of whom all this has been used. The He said that committee com- Chief Minister S. Chandrakanthan The new a separate state (don’t read Tamil UPA Government and the DMK prised too backed those moves. Bangladesh High Eelam) for the Lankan Tamils, polit- Government are active collaborators Ministers , The leader of the National Freedom Commissioner to ical pundits could view the latest in aiding the genocide perpetrated , , Prof. Front, who once Sri Lanka, Mr. statement of Jayalalithaa as a well by the Lankan Government,”’ she Tissa Vitarana, DEW Gunasekera, opposed the implementation of this Mahbubuzzaman, timed tactic to win the people’s sup- alleged. Reginold Cooray, and Kumar amendment, was silent today, Silva said. on Monday pre- port in the upcoming Lok Sabha She also said that the UPA and Rupasinghe. “The Rajapaksa government makes sented his creden- elections in Tamil Nadu. the DMK Government should be Silva alleged that Minister use of these so-called patriots to secure tials to President The AIADMK leader also said accused of criminal neglect over Devananda was there because the latter votes. After the victory, the government Mahinda that her party would support the their failure to provide any kind of had plans to become the next chief min- uses another team to discuss the devolu- Rajapaksa at the Mahbubuzzaman demand for equal, political, educa- relief to the suffering Tamils in ister of the Northern Province and enjoy tion of power. The patriots’ story is given Presidential tional, legal and job rights for the Lanka. “If they have any concern, all powers including control over land to the Sinhala press and the devolution Secretariat in Colombo. Tamils in the island nation, besides they should have rushed medical and the police. Ministers Senaratne, related story is given to the English President Rajapaksa while wel- the move to enable them to attain and other relief assistance to the Sri Perera with NGO activist Kumar media so that both the Sinhala reading coming the new High self-determination through the devo- Lankan Tamils. India should have Rupasinghe were the ones who held majority and the English reading com- Commissioner expressed the lution of power. also brought pressure to bring the marches and rallies against the security munity, including the diplomats are kept hope that existing ties between Jayalalitha, however, made her genocide to a halt. But, instead, both forces’ effort to eliminate terrorism. happy,” Silva said. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka would stand clear that her party would the UPA and DMK leaders have been be further consolidated. The never support the armed struggle of indulging in empty rhetoric,” she High Commissioner in response the LTTE, because of its murky noted. assured of his constant endeav- track record involving the killing of All sections of Tamils are great- From Tiger... page 1 our to further consolidate the Rajiv Gandhi on Tamil Nadu soil. ly distressed at the genocide of Sri ICRC spokesperson Ms. Sarasi the Commissioner General of Essential warm and friendly relations The AIADMK supremo set the Lanka Tamils and the way the Wijeratne told The Island that since the Services (CGES) and the ICRC. existing between the two coun- tone for her political campaign by Indian Government and the DMK launch of medical evacuations on Ms. Wijeratne declined to comment on tries. making a personal contribution of Government have been handling the February 10, 3175 sick and the wounded the number of civilians trapped in the During the discussions that Rs. 5 lakhs to the Sri Lanka Relief issue, she said, and added that Chief and some of their relatives had been LTTE-held area now down to about 45 sq. followed the presentation of cre- Fund, promoted by her party at the Minister M. Karunanidhi’s sinister moved out of the 20 sq. km. civilian safety km. The ICRC last January estimated the dentials, the High Commissioner venue of the fast, organised to game and double speak on the zone. Responding to our queries, she said figure at over 200,000. conveyed the warm greetings of protest the killings of Tamils in Lankan issue are very much evident that passenger vessel Green Ocean had She added that the ICRC had suspend- the President and Prime Minister Lanka. in not allowing his Ministers to been deployed on nine occasions to carry ed the transfer of bodies between the of Bangladesh to President Her political supporters — the come out of the Union Cabinet out the evacuations, the last deployment frontlines of the army and the LTTE due Rajapaksa. He also conveyed an MDMK, left parties, TN Desiya despite the failure of the UPA being on March 6. She said that the next to the absence of an overland route. invitation to President Rajapaksa Congress, Indian National League, Government over the Sri Lankan operation hadn’t been finalised. The government and the WFP moved from the Government of Puthiya Tamizhagam, RPI and oth- issue. She said that the ICRC, in its capacity the last food convoy overland to Bangladesh to visit Bangladesh. ers — also made the occasion a “Karunanidhi’s only interest is as neutral intermediary had facilitated Mullaitivu on January 30. Since then the While accepting the invitation, forum to promote their common to promote the politics of dynasty — the movement of ships carrying essential government and the WFP had sent 70 and the President said that the dates agenda on the Sri Lankan Tamil by grooming his sons M. K. Stalin items to the LTTE-held area. According to 60 metric tons of good items by sea as of could be worked out through issue. and M. K. Azhagiri and daughter her, the operation got underway on February 26. According to the United diplomatic channels. Jayalalithaa virtually launched Kanimozhi to become future leaders February 18th and so far over 170 metric Nations Office of the Resident The High Commissioner a tirade against the UPA at the of the State,” she remarked. tons of essential items had been moved to Coordinator and Humanitarian praised the President for his able Centre and the DMK in the State, “All this will have an impact in Puthumathalan. Coordinator, in January a total of 2,673 guidance as current Chairperson particularly on their inability to the coming Lok Sabha elections,” Navy headquarters said that MV metric tons of food had been sent to of SAARC. While thanking the stop the genocide in the island she said and added that the people of Bintan had returned to Trincomalee and Mullaitivu. The UN office said that the High Commissioner for his senti- nation through meaningful actions, Tamil Nadu would teach a fitting les- would remain there until a decision was WFP was working on modalities to send ment, the President said that Sri both in her speech and even while son to the DMK Government at the taken. An official told The Island that it 250-300 metric tons of essential items to Lanka will always work closely addressing the media at the venue of hustings. was purely a civilian operation involving the civilian safety zone. with her South Asian neighbours the fast. CPI state secretary T Pandian, towards promoting both bilateral “Now it has been made public CPM leader N Varadharajan, farm- and regional cooperation. that the Indian Government has not ers’ representative Vettavalam Our resolve... From page 1 Earlier, the High only supplied sophisticated arms Mankandan, and film personalities bears the unmistakable signature of LTTE terrorists, now on their last legs, Commissioner was escorted by a and ammunition to Lanka, but has offered their felicitations. the LTTE. The attack reaffirms the fact have perpetrated to divert the attention smartly turned out contingent of also imparted training to the Sri (Indian Express) that the LTTE is not only a ruthless ter- from the humanitarian mission of the Presidential Guards. On arrival rorist outfit but also one which has no Security Forces, to flush them out from at the President’s Office, he was Blast... From page 1 regard or respect for religion. This is an their last remaining foothold in the received by the Chief of Protocol attack that deliberately targeted the Wanni. and Chief of Staff of the that an investigation had been to the Health Ministry Dr. Atula Muslim Community and one that has The Government remains unwaver- Presidential Secretariat. The Sri launched to ascertain whether there Kahandaliyanage said. sought to sow ethnic and religious ingly committed to rid the country of disharmony. the terrorist menace and bring about Lankan Foreign Minister were any security lapses on the part of Director of the Matara General Selecting of a Muslim shrine and a peace. This attack will only serve to and the Police. Hospital Dr Aruna Jayasekara told day sacred to Muslims, both in Sri Lanka strengthen the resolve of the Secretary to the President Lalith Among the other ministers who The Island that 44 persons had been and the world over, to carry out this Government and the security forces in Weeratunga were also present at were at the scene of the blast were admitted to the hospital. Of them, attack, underscores the hatred the LTTE this regard. the credentials ceremony. Cultural Affairs Minister Mahinda three, including Minister Wijesekara has towards the Muslim population of The Government urges all citizens to High Commissioner Yapa Abeywardane and Home Affairs and former Chief Minister of Sri Lanka, who have suffered consider- remain calm and unprovoked, and sup- Mahbubuzzaman, a career diplo- Minister (non-cabinet) Chandrasiri Southern Provincial Council H. G. ably under its policies of ethnic cleans- port the Security Forces and Police by mat prior to being appointed Gajadheera. Sirisena had been airlifted to ing both in the North and East of Sri exercising utmost vigilance as the High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, A large number of wounded were Colombo. One of the 44 admitted to the Lanka. This reminds us of the LTTE's LTTE, facing imminent annihilation, was Director General of the warded at the Akuressa and Matara Matara Hospital had succumbed to his massacre of more than 200 Muslims at could very well resort to other similar worship in three Mosques at acts of desperation. South Asia Wing of the Ministry hospitals. injuries, he said. Kaththankudy and Eravur in the East, The Government offers its condo- of Foreign Affairs, Dhaka. He is A special team of nine doctors had Director, Accident Service of the in August 1990, in its war of terrorism. lences to the families of victims of this married to Shahreen Murshed been sent to the Matara hospital in a NHSL, Dr. Prasad Ariyawansa said the The Government is of the view that brutal attack and wishes speedy recov- Zaman. helicopter. The team included a neu- minister’s condition was critical and this is another desperate act that the ery of the injured. rologist and an anaesthetist, Secretary others were out of danger.