Scene & Heard: Fr. Marcelline Highs and lows Jayakody Holiday Party Highlights of 2007 Page 11 Leisure Land Page 15 Vol. 27 No.04 Friday 4th January, 2008 32 Pages Rs. 20 Registered in Sri Lanka as a Newspaper Late City Edition A symbolic CFA abrogated as it cannot interment he government has at long last relegated the TCFA to the catacomb of be implemented – Yapa legality. Eulogies, requiems and sermons being dished out may mislead one into the by Zacki Jabbar belief that its demise occurred The government had decided to abrogate the 2002 only recently. But, make no Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE since it had become mistake about it, the CFA a farce with the LTTE violating the truce from its very became brain dead shortly inception, Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa after its birth. Thereafter, it said yesterday. had been kept on a heart and lung machine for years in the Addressing the low up action.” weekly Cabinet press The government, he hope that a miracle would briefing in Colombo, he said, would push ahead bring it back to life like in a said that the Cabinet of with renewed vigour to fairy tale. ministers on achieve peace through Wednesday had the APRC process. approved Prime “All democratic forces See Editorial – Page 8 Minister Ratnasiri will be consulted in Wickremanayake’s pro- reaching a solution posal to quit the Yapa acceptable to all commu- Norwegian brokered nities,” the Minister said. CFA since the LTTE did not Meanwhile, a Sri Lanka Italian adhere to its provisions. “The Monitoring Mission(SLMM) situation is such that it cannot spokesperson said that they be implemented,” he said. had no official communication However, Yapa stressed the from the Sri Lankan govern- businessmen abrogation of the CFA did not ment with regard to the fate of mean the government would the CFA. not pursue a political solution “Our mandate flows from due in Feb. to the ethnic conflict. the CFA, and we have always UNP MPs Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, Ranga Bandara and Tissa Attanayake carry their parliamentary col- “The Cabinet also autho- been committed to our role. A group of Italian businessmen league T. Maheswaran’s coffin. The Colombo district MP’s funeral was held at the General cemetery Kanatte rised the Prime Minister to act Whether we continue to func- is due to make a tour of Sri Lanka yesterday evening amidst a large gathering. Pic by Kamal Bogoda in accordance with the provi- tion or not depends on the Sri in February to study investment sions of the CFA in taking fol- Lankan government.” possibilities. Shops closed as thousands The tour, which was once in doubt, due to travel restrictions, will now go ahead as the ‘Banca mourn Maheswaran’s death Mixed reaction D’Italia’ (Central Bank of Italy), which controls the overseas travels Many shops in Pettah and closed in view of the funeral. late Maheswaran from almost all shops in Wellawatte “It is not just because the Wellawatte to Kanatte. Queues of Italian businessmen, has lifted were closed yesterday as a slain MP was a businessman stretched on either side of to abrogation the restrictions after Sri Lanka’s mark of respect to the slain that we decided to close shops Galle Road from the residence Ambassador to Rome Hemantha Colombo District UNP but it was a tragic death within of the MP from the early hours by Franklin The exceptions included the Warnakulasuriya convinced the Parliamentarian T. the premises of a holy Hindu yesterday to pay their last R Satyapalan Western Peoples Front which bank’s top brass that there was no was totally opposed to war as a Maheswaran. shrine”, a Pettah wholesale respects and Police were pres- danger to foreigners visiting Sri solution and the LSSP which All independent private trader said ent in their numbers to provide Most political parties voiced Lanka. Tamil dailies yesterday gave Thousands of people fol- security to the mourners and to agreement yesterday with the said it would voice its views on Friday. The meeting between the Sri front page prominence to the lowed the funeral procession the residence of late Mr. government’s decision to abro- Lanka Embassy delegation, led by gate the Ceasefire Agreement. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress story that shops would be from the 36th Lane residence of Maheswaran. Ambassador Warnakulasuriya and They endorsed the view that it leader Rauf Hakeem said it had been virtually non existent had been pledged in the UPFA the ‘Banca D’Italia’ top brass was except on paper. Government’s election mani- made possible by a Sri Lankan The UNP said the govern- festo and did not come as a sur- businessman in Italy Lalith Kumar Mervyn denies assault, ment’s decision was indicative prise. “But why did they take Kuragama, the proprietor of Travel Hartal in of its desire for a military solu- four years to do it”, he asked. Asia Tours which is the main trav- tion. Speaking to the press, He said the Government had el agency for the Italian Central claims he was the victim UNP spokesman Tissa admitted long ago that it was a Bank. Vavuniya dead letter and Wednesday’s Attanayake said if the govern- Mr. Kuragama, a leading mem- by Norman move was certainly for politi- Corporation around 10.00 From Dinasena ment had been intent on pursu- ber of the Italy-Sri Lanka Palihawadena ing a political solution, it cal expediency and not out of a.m. on December 27 to Rathugamage conviction. Friendship Association, is now Vavuniya Corr. wouldn’t have dumped the busy making arrangements to Labour Minister Mervyn inquire from the News CFA. Continued on page 6 Silva has told the CID that he Director why a speech made A hartal was held in Vavuniya bring the group of potential did not go to the Sri Lanka by him the previous day, at yesterday as a mark of respect to investors, headed by Senator Rupavahini Corporation to Matara, had not been tele- assassinated UNP Ramponi, the chairman of the assault anybody but was him- cast. In an argument that Parliamentarian T. Maheswaran Italy-Sri Lanka Business Council, and to protest against his killing. to Sri Lanka. self assaulted. ensued the News Director A number of shops in the The CID recently recorded was allegedly assaulted by Vavuniya town put up shutters the statement of the Minister. the Minister and hundreds of while schools also remained nd on your CID sources told The Island Rupavahini employees in closed. Although a number of gov- The Isla yesterday that they would turn manhandled the ernment offices and banks were record the statements of all Minister. open in the town attendance was MOBILE/PDA those who accompanied Police were called in to poor. Public transport also was GPRS enabled slack but SLTB buses plied as Mervin Silva to the SLRC bring the Minister out of http://mobile.island.lk usual. Select: and also of some of the staff. premises amidst Web Web Address However, since the hartal was Powerd by Lanka com Type:http://mobile.island.lk The CID yesterday assured jeering and organized without informing the that a very be conducted and booing by the public earlier most people who appropriate action taken Rupavahini had come to Vavuniya town brav- The Island www.island.lk against the culprits, irrespec- staff who ing heavy rains were seen strand- ed as private buses had gone off tive of their standing in soci- were joined the roads. ety. by the SLBC Security in the Vavuniya and People read newspapers on the roadside in ColomboThursday, Minister Mervyn Silva, staff from the Mannar towns was beefed up. Jan. 3, 2008, a day after the government quit the Norwegian- accompanied by some thugs, adjoining There were no incidents of vio- arranged cease fire agreement with the LTTE which came into went to the Rupavahini building. lence reported, police said. operation on Feb. 23, 2002. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena).