`Vol. 28 No. 307 Friday 13th November, 2009, 32 Pages Rs. 20 Registered in as a Newspaper - Late City Edition

People’s CPC labourers draw Wall at Point of alliance over Rs. 43,000 Wagha no return is what required Page 7 Page 11

Page 10 per month for lasting peace Swarnavahini, in its main news bulletin last night said that a labourer at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation received a monthly salary of at least Rs. 43,000 including several allowances. Although, CPC workers had joined electricity, water and port employees President promptly accepts on a three-day ‘work-to-rule’ cam- paign, demanding an immediate salary increase with back wages with effect from January 2009, they are believed to be better off than other public servants, sources said. Media Minister Lakshman Yapa Fonseka’s resignation Abeywardene recently told a press conference that he knew of an towards the door, according to employee who received Rs. 183,000 a by Shamindra highly placed sources, a smil- month. According to him, this had ing President Rajapaksa said, come to light during a previous strike Ferdinando and at one of the institutions, now Norman Palihawadana “Sarath, you can always come back to me after your defeat in engaged in ‘work-to-rule’ campaign. President Mahinda politics.” Rajapaksa yesterday accepted Sources said Gen. Fonseka Chief of Defence Staff had smiled and proceeded. General ’s res- Gen. Fonseka’s resignation Public sector received ignation letter. Accordingly, came hot on the heels of the Gen. Fonseka will cease to be UNP-led Opposition’s call that over Rs. 10 bn in duty CDS with effect from Dec. 01, the CDS should wait till the 2009. President announced a snap concessions to Gen. Fonseka informed the presidential election at the President of his desire to SLFP Convention on Sunday import vehicles resign at a one-to-one meeting (Nov. 15), to resign. by Shamindra Ferdinando on Wednesday, where they Gen. Fonseka’s letter is said were expected to iron out their to contain 17 reasons for his The UPFA granted the public sec- differences. Cordial as the decision to call it quits. tor duty concessions in excess of Rs. meeting was, President A senior spokesman for the 10 billion in 2008 though the govern- Rajapaksa said he had no President’s Office confirmed ment had experienced severe econom- objections to Gen. Fonseka’s that the President had accept- ic difficulties due to global financial resignation or his decision to ed General Fonseka’s resigna- crisis, escalating defence costs and enter politics. “I have instruct- tion. He told The Island that unprecedented oil bill. ed my Secretary to accept you General had indicated that he The move to appease the public resignation letter immediately, would like to leave his uniform sector had caused a revenue loss more should you tender it,” the within the next few weeks. than double the losses incurred by the President told Gen. Fonseka. General Fonseka told The President , military commanders, top bureaucrats and political leaders at the government due to illegal refunds of After the meeting while Island yesterday evening Bandaranaike International Airport on Thursday afternoon (Nov. 12) to welcome Myanmar leader VAT (Value Added Tax) during the Gen. Fonseka was walking Continued on page 6 Senior General Than Shwe. Pic Sudath Silva previous UNP-led UNP administra- tion. The Auditor General S. Swarnajothi, in his 2007 annual Woman cop Yapa unable to explain Continued on page 6 victim of Gen Fonseka’s ‘decision Grade 5 admissions to to run for Presidency’ popular schools snatch thief Anura Apply before by S. K. ‘No war can be won without political backing’ Kaluarachi and Minister Yapa said that it was Lalith Chaminda, by Zacki Jabbar Nov. 16 only the Media that spoke about Galle Corr. The Education Ministry requests the Media Minister Anura Fonseka’s candidature. But when parents of students who passed the A Woman Police Priyadharshana Yapa said yesterday pointed out that Media reports had Grade Five Scholarship Examination to Sergeant (WPS), that he was not in a position to not been denied, Yapa replied. “You hand over applications for admission to attached to the explain why General Sarath will have to ask him. I don’t know.” popular schools on or before Monday, Tangalle Police Fonseka, having worked with Asked if Fonseka had tendered November 16. Superintendent’s office President Mahinda Rajapaksa to his resignation as Chief of Defence The Ministry said yesterday said that was waylaid and her defeat the LTTE, was now said to be Staff, since Rajapaksa had said that the selection process would be finalized handbag containing his opponent at a future it would be accepted within half an within three weeks. cash and mobile phone Presidential Poll. hour, he said “I do not know, nor am worth Rs 27,750 “I don’t know the reasons for his I interested. Anybody is free to robbed, she has com- plained to the purported decision. That is some- resign.” Yapa, said that the victory Sri Lanka wins Walasmulla Police. thing only General Fonseka can over the LTTE had been possible, She has said in her answer”, Yapa said when asked, at because of the political leadership complaint that a man the Cabinet Press Briefing, why he provided by President Rajapaksa accolades for Outgoing Chief of Defence Staff General Sarath Fonseka who came on a motor- thought the General, was challeng- and it was not correct to bestow all arrives at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya. cycle snatched her ing Rajapaksa, after having cooper- the credit on Fonseka. “No military committment to Pic Nishan S. Priyantha handbag at lonely spot ated with him, through thick and man can win a war without political at Modearawana. thin. backing,” he said. UN principles Sri Lanka’s committment to interna- Sarath won’t talk politics tionally accepted principles in the area of human rights, labour, environment Lankans stranded in Jeddah and anti-corruption was recognised by the United Nations Global Compact while in uniform highlighting companies together with After offering flowers an invitation to enter poli- cry for help UN Agencies, labour and civil society at the Kelaniya Raja tics. by Norman Nippon yesterday. legs are an indication that which are committed to ten universally Maha Viharaya yesterday He said that he expect- accepted principles in their operations Palihawadena She told the press that we were subject to torture evening, General Sarath ed the government to there were about 350 by our Saudi employers. We and strategies. Fonseka said that he accept his resignation as Top apparel exporter Brandix was A Sri Lankan maid Lankans stranded and lead- came here to escape these would not talk politics as it was his right to quit the ing a miserable life under a unscrupulous employers. among Sri Lankan companies cited as long as he remained in army. Ranjan Ramanayake stranded in Jeddah, Saudi examples of good CSR practice and com- Arabia cried her heart out bridge without proper food, Please take us back to Sri uniform. He added that he had addresses the press pliance with the principles of the United at a press conference held sanitary facilities. “I don’t Lanka,” she cried during a Responding to journal- served the people while at Hotel Nippon yes- want to reveal my identity. tele-conference. Nations Global Compact (UNGC) at a by Uva Provincial Council prestigious international forum earlier ists at the Viharaya, a being in uniform and terday. There are five other preg- Another recruited as a smiling Fonseka said that would do the same once Opposition leader Ranjan this month, at which Sri Lanka was con- (Photo-Siripala Ramanayake via a telecon- nant women like me. The he had so far not received he shed it. bandages on our hands and Continued on page 6 ferred with an important accolade. Halwala) ferencing facility at Hotel The company’s Green Factory at Seeduwa, an international benchmark for eco-friendly manufacture, was fea- tured at deliberations on “Low Carbon South Africa applauds President’s efforts to resettle war displaced Future” and Head of Energy and Environment at Brandix, Iresha by Shamindra against the LTTE. camps were overwhelming.” tion in the Vanni to facilitate Continued on page 6 Ferdinando After visiting IDP facilities She recalled a meeting the resettlement programme. with her Tamil Deputy between President Rajapaksa The international community, Visiting South African Minister Roy Padayachie, and the South African leader too, is backing Sri Lanka’s The Island www.island.lk Foreign Minister Malite Mashabane told President last July in Egypt at the NAM efforts with men, material and Nkoana Mashabane yesterday Mahinda Rajapaksa that the summit where an assurance funds. praised Sri Lanka’s efforts to situation on the ground could was given regarding resettle- Mashabane acknowledged resettle Tamil civilians accom- not have been better. An ment of the displaced in a ‘safe that earlier South Africa was modated at government-run authoritative government offi- environment.’ not convinced but their visit to welfare camps in the Vavuniya President Rajapaksa greets South cial quoted her as saying, Sri Lanka is engaged in a Continued on region at the end of war African FM Mashabane “What we saw at Vavuniya massive mine clearing opera- page 6