The Island 2 Saturday 18th February, 2012 Home News Mineral Sands Ltd notches record profit of Rs. 7 bn.

BY PABODHA HETTIGE The Ministry of State Japan and India are the Resource and Enterprise major buyers of ilmonite Development says that from Sri Lanka. Lanka Mineral Sands Ltd. Ministry sources said that Vegetable had notched a record profit plans were afoot to find new of Rs. 7,000 million for 2011. local and international mar- prices tumble When the company was kets in order to generate a acquired by the ministry in greater income in the future. 2009 the annual profit had The ministry was also despite fuel been Rs. 239 million. planning to set up a new It had experienced a profit plant to process ilmonite in increase of more than Rs. Northern Kokilai at a cost of hike 6,500 million in just over two Rs. 500 million, which would years due to the open tender also provide a solution to the BY LAL GUNESEKERA system adopted by the min- growing unemployment Auxiliary Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Fidelis Emmanuel Fernando was felicitated at a Holy Mass at St. Lucia’s Despite the recent fuel price hikes, istry, the Minister of State problem among the youth in the Dambulla Economic Centre contin- Resource and Enterprise the area. Cathedral on Friday followed by a special meeting at St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena. ues to record a considerable decline in Development said. Tissera had also said that He is accompanied to the venue by Rev. Bro. Janaka Fonseka (extreme right), Director St. Benedict’s the prices of several up-country and Lanka Mineral Sands lim- the ministry was consider- College, Rev. Fr. Tony Martin, Parish Priest Kotahena, St. Lucia’s Cathedral, Rev. Bro. Praveen Vaz - Sub ited had also recorded its ing setting up an industrial low country vegetables these days. Director (SBC), Rev. Bro. Benedict Bonaventure. Principal of St. Benedict’s Primary, Darrel Ludwyke, P. H. Tennyson, of the Dambulla highest ever sales last week zone in Pulmudai in a land Secretary OBU, Christopher Joseph - President Welfare Association, Lasantha Peiris, Secretary - hitting a record Rs. 186 mil- area of 500 acres, which Economic Centre, told The Island that lion from the sale of 5,000 would also attract foreign Development Fund.The felicitation ceremony organized by Bro. Director, Staff & Students together with the there had been no significant change tons of ilmonite. China, investors. members of OBU. (Pictures by: Jude Denzil Pathiraja) in the prices since the fuel increases last Saturday (11). He said that traders were reluctant to make purchases from producers due to the low prices of veg- etables. Cabbage is sold for between Rs. 10 to CMs for devolution Rs. 20 a kilo, Raddish Rs. 10 to Rs. 15, Container transporters Cucumber Rs. 10 to Rs. 15, Long Beans Rs. 10 to Rs. 15 Leaks Rs. 40 to Rs. 50, but not division Tomatoes Rs. 10 to Rs. 12, Green Chilies Rs. 25 to Rs. 40 and Carrots conference, Earl’s Regency BY CYRIL (Nuwara-Eliya) Rs. 50 to Rs. 55, WIMALASURENDRE Hotel, Kandy on Saturday (18) afternoon. too raise their charges Melsiripura Carrots Rs. 40 to Rs. 45 Kandy – The Chief The conference will be and a lower quality Jaffna Carrots at Rs. 10 to Rs. 20. Ministers’ Forum, though in inaugurated on Sunday (19) To meet the additional costs incurred by the recent bined with the enhanced expenses in relation to The prices were pretty much the favour of devolution of morning. fuel price hike the Association of Container lubricants and servicing had amounted to a very The forum had met on at same at economic centres in Nuwara- power, was not for a division Transporters had decided to increase hire charges by large sum, which was in fact too large for any trans- of the country, said Central least four early occasions in Eliya, Tambuttegama, Keppetipola, 26 per cent, with immediate effect. port company to absorb, the Association said in a Province Chief Minister Kandy. Meegoda and Naranhenpita. The massive 37 per cent diesel price increase had statement. Sarath Ekanayaka. Secretary to the President S. Handunge of the Manning prompted the Association to convene an emergency The general membership had been advised to Speaking at a media brief- and the Finance Ministry Market Traders’ Association said that meeting last week in order to obtain the views of the inform their clients regarding this decision. A print- ing, on the 30th meeting of Secretary will attend the the main reason for low prices was the general membership. ed handbill was also made available to the members the Chief Ministers’ Forum meeting representing the increase in production resulting in an government, Chief Minister The increase when quantified amounted to 37 per to enable them to use this document as corroborative in Kandy, on Sunday 19, he over supply of vegetables. He too said said Chief Ministers would Ekanayaka added. cent and in reality, in rupee terms, was an increase evidence confirming the decision taken by the associ- that the prices of brinjals and carrots arrive at the venue of the of Rs. 31.00 over the previous price. That, when com- ation regarding this increase. had reduced considerably, while cab- bage, earlier supplied only from Nuwara-Eliya, was now being sent even from Puttalam. Over 120 lorries arrived daily with vegetables to the Manning

Kandy CPC workers remember Anuruddha

BY CYRIL WIMALASURENDRE Kandy – As an expression of grati- tude to their former minister, Minister of Power and Energy, General Anuruddha Ratwatte, who passed away three months ago, the UNP leader with Mano Ganeshan and Dr. Wickremabahu. employees of all grades of the Ceylon A section of UNP protesters opposite Fort Raiway Station on Friday afternoon. Petroleum Corporation (CPC) in Kandy, have arranged to make a dona- tion of a consignment of Medical From Running sea... page 1 equipment to the cancer ward of the Kandy General Hospital on Saturday Earlier the opposition rally,in front Alliance. All of whom shouted slogans The Fort area, from the Ceylon (today). of the station, which began around 3:30 in protest, but did not join the protest- Technical College roundabout to the This initiative was taken by the p.m., was addressed by Opposition and ers who attempted to break through Sri Lanka Telecom roundabout, was Penideniya headquarters of the cor- UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, police lines. severely congested, inconveniencing poration. New Left Front Leader, Wickramabahu Some of the notable absentees from the traffic along with the officer work- The donation will be made to the Karunaratne and Democratic People’s the UNP were Deputy Leader Sajith ers whose destination was the Fort General Hospital authorities at the Front Leader Mano Ganeshan. Premadasa, Ranjith Railway Station and the auditorium of the Kandy eye Hospital Wickremesinghe left the scene no soon- Maddumabandara, Thalatha Central Bus stand as well as in the morning. er they finished speaking. Athukorala and Chandrani Bandara, Gunasinghepura, who were also incon- Other notable persons who were all of the reformist group. venienced due to the bath they were present at the meeting were former Some of the slogans that were given when police used water cannon UNP Deputy Leader , shouted by the protestors, starting on the crowds. DEATHS General Secretary , with Opposition and UNP Leader A victim of police tear gas attack DE SILVA – EARLE. Called to Rest National Organiser Daya Gamage, par- Wickremesinghe were to bring down was UNP MP Dr Jayalath with Jesus. Beloved husband of Ianthe, liamentarians Dr , the fuel prices and that the people Jayawardana. He was rushed to the precious father of Mohan and , Dr Jayalath were suffering while MP Namal Colombo National Hospital. Prashan, loving father-in-law of Jayawardhana, Renuka Herath, Rosy Rajapaksa was groomed as the heir to The Police, Sri Lanka Army, the Kashmira, brother of the late Gloria. Senanayake, , the throne (Thel Mila pahatha Special Task Force and Anti-Riot Remains lie at A. F. Raymond’s funeral , and M. A. Damapiyaw, Namalta Urumaya, Squads were brought in later to bring parlour. Funeral Service will be held in MP Karu Jayasuriya with Rosy Senanayake and Sumanthiran of the Tamil National Janathawata Karumaya) the situation under control. the parlour on Saturday 18th of Renuka Herath. Pics by Kamal Bogoda February 2012 at 9 a.m. followed by cre- mation at 10 a.m., at Kanatte, Borella. (No flowers by request).

PAKIYANATHAN – PETER RAT- UNP to continue NARAJAH. (Rtd. Copral SLA).Son of late Paramanandam and late Jayavadivu Pakiyanathan, husband of agitation till the late Puwaneswari, father of Ratnajothi, Ragupathy, Kalawathi, Nandini, Nalayini and late Radi Devi, govt provides relief brother of late Prabudas Pakiyanathan, late Naomi BY RAVI Selvanathan, late Ruth Joseph and LADDUWAHETTY Grace Rajaratnam, much loved Raja Mahathaya of Synthiya. Remains The United national lying at New Indra Florist, Pitipana party will continue its agita- Junction, Homagama. Service at 10 tional campaigns on a coun- a.m. on Saturday 18th February 2012 at trywide basis, until the gov- the funeral parlour. Cortege leaves par- ernment provides relief to lour at 1.30 p.m. to Niyandagala the people, General Cemetery,Homagama for Cremation at Secretary Tissa Attanayake 2 p.m. Condolence e-mail told ‘The Island’ last night. [email protected] He said that the agitational campaign which was carried out by the people yesterday RANASINGHE – HARRIS. (Formerly as a protest against the government arbitrari- Bank of Ceylon), dearly beloved hus- ly increasing the fuel prices which resulted in band of Violet, darling father of prices of essentials skyrocketing and which Kanishka (Saudi Arabia) and Sonali the people could not bear it. That was the rea- (John Keells Holdings – Airline son for the agitation, he said. Division), father-in-law of Nishani, He also said that all was peaceful until the much loved grandfather of Tiranya, Police fired tear gas and ducked all the protes- brother of Swarna, late Sydney and of tors from their water bowsers which they had Sujatha, brother-in-law of late Wilfred no business to do as protesting against the and Harrold and of Lilian, Percy and unbearable cost of living was the democratic Lovelin, expired. Cortege leaves 245, right of the people. Rajagiriya Road, Rajagiriya at 1.30 Meanwhile, UNP Deputy General p.m. on Saturday 18th February for cre- Secretary Dr. Jayalath Jayawardana was not mation at General Cemetery,Borella at available for comment as he was being treated 2.00 p.m. (From left) Tharindra Peiris Chief Internal Auditor Horana for respiratory disorders in the immediate aftermath of the tear gas firing by the Police Plantations Plc, Fathima Naaila Marikkar Partner B.R.de and he was being treated for bruises in his left Silva & Co and Dharshana de Silva Chief Internal Auditor hand said to have been caused by a tear gas Prima Group participated in the recent four-day Global canister hitting it. There was no indication Council of the Institute of Internal Auditors in New Delhi last night as to when he was to be discharged India. either.