4 Tuesday 6th September, 2011 A’pura UNP councilors get cold feet CEB strike called off BY IFHAM NIZAM By Percy Kuruneru ent at the time it was taken up yesterday. Anil Ratnayake and D. M. Amaratunge were The Joint Trade Union installments with effect Ten UNP members last week brought a pro- present. Alliance of the Ceylon from January 2012. A proposal by some members of the North posal to the effect that Anuradhanayake should General Secretary of the UNP, Tissa Electricity Board The letter also Western Provincial Council to remove opposi- be removed. Attanayake had informed the chairman in writ- yesterday called says that 2009 incre- tion leader Kasturi Anuradhanayake from his But when the meeting was called by the ing that Anuradhanayake has been appointed off the proposed ments will be given office was not taken up for discussion as the Chairman P. B. Dissanayake to take up the by the party and the council members cannot one day strike to from January members who made the proposal were not pres- issue, only two of the ten members, namely remove him according to the party constitution. be held tomorrow instead of following a letter November. of assurance from Nimalaratne also the CEB Board said that incre- Directors to settle ments used to be their arrears. given in the CEB JTUA once in three years spokesman and the last incre- Responsibility for renaming Ananda ment of 22 per cent Nimalaratne told due in 2009 had The Island yesterday that been not effected. though they were given a The CEB unionists said verbal assurance on Friday, they had shelved their they had stuck to the earlier demand for a pay hike in roads lies with PCs decision to go ahead with 2009 as the country was the strike. fighting the last stages of “Obviously we were sus- the war against the LTTE. picious, going by past expe- The CEB employees went BY FRANKLIN R. SATYAPALAN rience. Our confidence, how- on a sick note campaign on The renaming of a public asking for their views. ever was restored when the August 3 demanding the road comes under the The Municipal letter was given by none arrears that would cost the purview of the Local Council was not the authority other than CEB General Board an additional Rs. 900 Government Minister of the for changing road names it is Manager, Nihal million. respective Provincial Council the Minister of Local Wickremasooriya,” Power and Energy said the Special Government, the Special Nimalaratne added. Minister Patali Champika Commissioner of the Commissioner said. He said however that Ranawaka earlier said that Colombo Municipal Council When views were received there were certain sections he would not grant, what he Omar Kamil yesterday (5). from the residents the CMC in the letter which they dis- called, unfair demands by When the Provincial would forward it to the cussed and clarified out at a some CEB unions. Council decided to rename a authorities concerned, he discussion. He told The Island that public road the local govern- said. According to the written CEB workers enjoyed 55 ben- ment concerned was request- Kamil said that the names assurance given by the CEB efits, which other workers in ed to call for views from the of three roads had been Board of Management, the public sector were not residents of that street, Kamil changed in Colombo during arrears would be paid in entitled to. said. the past eight months. Regarding the renaming of The three roads are Bagatalle Road after Dr. W. Havelock Road was renamed Dahanayake, request had as Sambuddha Jayanthi UNP’s 65th... From page 1 been forwarded to the Urban Mawatha, Maya Avenue was Development Authority and renamed as Sri Nissanka D. S. Senanayake and Jayawickrama Perera, the Western Provincial Mawatha and the Bristol The Transport Ministry has decided to operate luxury buses on the Southern Express Way. At first two other leaders of the party. National Organiser Ravi Council and thereafter the Street as Sir Razik Fareed luxury buses will run. Transport Minister inspecting a luxury bus ordered for the Co-Deputy Leaders of the Karunanayake, Media Colombo Municipal Council Mawatha during this year. Southern Expressway at the Ashok Leyland factory in Athurugiriya. Company Executive Director UNP, and Spokesman Gayantha had written to the residents Umashe Gothami is also present. , General Karunatillake and a host of Secretary Tissa Attanayake, others will participate. Chairman Gamini Docs strike... From page 1 Pakistan marks Women, De Soyza Maternity Home, Lady from the strike. They will also attend to all emergen- Bad petrol... From page 1 Ridgeway Children’s Hospital and the cies. However routine work would be disrupted. The public could now question, but the compensa- Defence Day Maharagama Cancer Institute would be exempted witness a game of musical tion ordered was a pittance chairs with the and was totally insuffi- People and the armed forces lives in defending the country. Lankan expats... From page 1 blame being shifted cient to effect the neces- together can conquer aggres- The need to imbibe the spir- from one person to sary repairs. sion and overcome any chal- it of September 6 this year is land would be surveyed before a new deed is respective Divisional Secretariat, he said. issued to the rightful owners. Land matters in Karachchi, in the Killinochchi another. In the end The government lenge to the country,says even greater as the country is there would be no was still trying to sell Pakistani President Asif Ali confronted with a new and far When contacted, the Senior Assistant Secretary district, Nedunkerni in the Vavuniya District, one to account for the war victory, but the Zardari. more serious challenge to its to the Ministry of Lands and Land Development P. Maritime Pattru in the Mullaitivu district and Musali the massive loss suf- people have had enough In a special message to existence from the militants, M. P. Udayakantha said that the government had in the Mannar district are also been looked into. fered by the CPC, of public resources mark the Pakistan Defence Day, extremists and fanatics. decided to conduct inquiries in stages in each Udayakantha said that it would be appreciated Karunathillake being squandered and which falls today (6), President Let us therefore commemo- Divisional Secretariat in the districts of the Northern if applicants would obtain a form, fill it and hand it Zardari says that on this day in rate September 6 this year by said. would deliver a fitting Region. over personally, but for those who are living abroad 1965 Pakistani people joined paying homage to the great He said that a large num- verdict at the forthcoming hands in solidly stand- sons and daughters of “Currently, we are inquiring into lands in the and cannot make it to immediately, they ber of vehicle engines had polls to 23 local bodies to be ing behind the armed the nation who laid Nallur Divisional Secretariat area in the Jaffna could search the WEB – bimsaviya.gov.lk (In the been damaged due to using held on October 8, forces to face a serious down their lives in the District and forms have been made available at the homepage ). the sub standard petrol in Karunathillake said. threat against defense of the mother- Pakistan. land. Let us also reiter- Full text of ate our resolve to Ex- Defence... From page 1 President Zardari’s demonstrate the spirit The Island sought Fernando’s comments fol- civilian and military to the International revealed by international wire services. statement: “The signifi- of September 1965 in lowing The Washington Post reported that one Criminal Court (ICC) on Nov 22, 2002. The then Veteran lawyer Gomin Dayasri said that non cance of September 6 meeting the new chal- such flight that took place on August 12, 2003, Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando and E. disclosure of the purpose, cargo and flight plan lies in the fact that on lenges to the country. when a Gulfstream IV aircraft carrying six pas- Ashley Wills signed the agreement on behalf of in that particular clandestine operation was this day in 1965 the Our people and sengers took off from Dulles International Sri Lanka and US, respectively. nothing but an embarrassment to the host coun- people of Pakistan armed forces have Airport near Washington and flew to Bangkok. Under the agreement the US and Sri Lanka try and violation of international law. What from all provinces and all walks offered unprecedented sacri- of life joined hands in solidly fices in the war against militan- Before returning four days later, it touched down will not surrender or extradite persons of either would have happened if Sri Lanka moved an standing behind the armed cy.No other nation has paid in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, the United Arab party present in the territory of the other to the LTTE terrorist taken in the US on a secret flight forces to face a serious threat to such a heavy price as the people Emirates and Ireland, and appears to have coin- ICC without the consent of the country con- from John F Kennedy airport, Dayasri asked? the country.The unprecedented of Pakistan in fighting the mili- cided with the capture of Indonesian Riduan cerned. “What would the Americans have done? Would it national unity demonstrated on tants and to safeguard their Isamuddin. Interestingly, the US finalized ACSA with not call for censure of our flights, summoning of this day has made it a memo- right to live in accordance with Sources said that following the UNP led President ’s government our Washington-based ambassador with con- rable day in our national calen- the democratic values for UNF’s victory at the Dec 2001 parliamentary elec- during his first term in office in spite of strong demnation and seeking guarantees of future dar. which Pakistan was created. tion, the US moved to enhance relations with the opposition by a section of the Opposition. good behaviour, he said. He faulted the govern- The day is a reminder how On this occasion, I wish to then Wickremesinghe’s government. The US ini- Government sources said that the Foreign ment for not taking up these issues as part of its the people and the armed forces reiterate that the sacrifices of tiated talks with the Wickremesinghe govern- Ministry, too, hadn’t been aware of the use of overall strategy to expose the double standards together can conquer aggres- our people will not go in vain. I ment on Acquisition and Cross-Servicing BIA by the US government, though some adopted by a section of the international com- sion and overcome any chal- also wish to pay homage to all Agreement (ACSA) while finalizing an agree- European governments, including the UK and munity with regard to Sri Lanka’s human rights lenge to the country. the martyrs who shed their ment on the non-surrender of persons, both Libya cooperated with the US in this regard as record. On this day we salute the blood while defending the coun- people for their unprecedented try.They had laid down their unity,the armed forces for their lives so that we live in safety Moragoda launches... From page 1 valor and courage to defend the and with honour. We will never country and pay homage to the allow their sacrifices go waste. and he stressed that no one, already living flood resilient city and already a fifteen billion the private sector and in addition youth will be martyrs who laid down their Pakistan Paindabad” in the metropolitan areas, would be relocated rupee project has commenced. absorbed to work for a minimum number of in other areas such as Homagama or else- The long-term success of those mega proj- days in projects implemented by the council where. ects depends on ground level actions such as under the ‘Purasaviya’ programme. He said. Moragoda assured that Colombo will be a clearing drains before the rainy season and “One of the key aspects in our programme flood-resilient city and he would take immedi- preventing illegal filling of wetlands, he added. is to maintain a clean and an orderly city and ate steps to reduce the recurrence of floods in Steps will also be taken to upgrade and this process will be expanded to every nook the city and the suburbs. streamline the healthcare facilities in the city and corner of the metropolis,” he said. “The CMC officials will work with the citi- and particularly by providing new equipment. He pointed out that the government has zens to identify the problems and find solu- A comprehensive system will be formulated to already started re-landscaping, road-develop- tions to them and one of the key areas where combat the menace of dengue and other such ment, tree planting, breaking down of unnec- emphasis has to be laid on is to restore the diseases. Such Such action will be undertaken essary walls and revamping of the drainage canal system, increase catchments and imple- as a matter of utmost urgency, Moragoda said system. menting other macro remedies,” Moragoda adding that the support and services of the “I will seek foreign assistance from donor said. stakeholders as well and professionals will be agencies in implementing the programmes and He said that multi–billion rupee mega proj- obtained for the purpose. already a large sum of money has been ects are needed to cover a greater area than the A number of employment opportunities assured by donors and I will also seek invest- city of Colombo in order to make Colombo a would be created for the youth with the help of ments,” he said.

Mubarak returns... From page 1 academy where the courtroom has been set up. He “People are very frustrated,” he said. “We said OK Mubarak’s sons, who face the same corruption charges was taken to an ambulance which brought him to a small when the judge decided to ban the broadcast of the trial as their father, are also to appear at Monday’s session at waiting room. but we want to see it ourselves,” he said. the heavily fortified police academy in Cairo hosting the In a step that angered many activists and relatives of Crowds held posters showing pictures of slain protest- trial. those killed in the crackdown, the judge has now banned ers and shouted, “To die like them or to get their rights.” One of those testifying Monday will be Gen. Hussein TV cameras from recording inside the courtroom, One held a hangman’s Said, head of the communications unit of the Central denying Egyptians a chance to follow the trial noose and demanded Security Forces, which were deployed during the uprising live. Mubarak’s execution. to curb protests. Hundreds of victims’ families and protesters Some set fire to pic- “This the beginning of the real trial,” said Khaled Abu pushed and shoved in an attempt to break tures of Mubarak, while Bakr, a lawyer representing families of slain protesters. through the main gates and enter the court build- chanting “The people Previous sessions in the trial were taken up largely by ing. Black-clad anti-riot police swung batons and want to execute the procedural matters. briefly clashed with the protesters, who hurled butcher.” Said’s testimony will help untangle the circumstances stones at the security forces. Nearby, about 50 in which protesters were shot dead. Prosecutors say he TV footage also showed metal barricades Mubarak supporters and the other witnesses will tell the court that top security being thrown, while hundreds of anti-riot police chased cried out, “Why humiliate the president who protected us.” officials ordered snipers to fire on protesters. young men in the streets. The 83-year-old Mubarak could get the death penalty if Attorneys have filed motions to summon more than Ramadan Ahmed Abu, the father of a slain protester, convicted on the charges related to the killings of protest- 1,000 witnesses in the trial, including Hussein Tantawi, the said he applied for permission to attend the session but ers. About 850 protesters were killed in the uprising that head of the council of generals that took over control of the that the air is charged as families of victims failed for a forced Mubarak from power on Feb. 11, according to a gov- country after Mubarak’s fall. Tantawi was also Mubarak’s third time to enter the courtroom. ernment fact-finding committee. defense minister.