The Island Home News Page Three Tuesday 5th Janunary, 2010 3 Polgampola was Govt. to assist exporters if GSP Plus is lost Hot air over imported Kekulu rice sacked for wrong Rs. 200 mn export/import by Ifham Nizam Trade, Co-operatives and Consumer doing – JVP Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena yesterday refuted newspaper reports - not the Upali Group that imported by Don Asoka Kekulu rice was not suitable for human Wijewardena bank to be established consumption and there was shortage in rice till the end of March. “There are no shortages, however we The JVP, in a statement by Devan Daniel and import expenditures never imported Kekulu rice - other than one occasion from issued yesterday, said that are expected to recover A Rs. 200 million this year. Myanmar how can former MP Anurudha they say it was Polgampola, who pledged Export/Import bank to GSP Plus.... contaminated,” his support for President Polgampola help exporters and Meanwhile, Cabraal Gunawardena told importers is to be estab- reiterated the Central a press conference Mahinda Rajapaksa at the forthcoming yesterday at his Presidential election, had been sacked lished this year with Bank’s view that Sri Ministry in from the party owing to some allega- financial backing and Lanka is prepared to meet Colombo. tions. control of the bank com- any risks of a possible However, he ing from the banking sec- withdrawal of GSP Plus said since his min- It said on August 29 in 2008 istry believes in Polgampola had been arrested by the tor with the assistance of trading facilities for ducing the Central Bank’s international trade,” he competition and Japanese Police at the Narita airport for the government. exports to the European price reduction, monetary and financial said. attempting to smuggle a person into “There was always a region and that the gov- there were orders sector policy framework 2008 and 2009 were dif- from Pakistan to that country by using his parliamentary need for an ernment was committed for 2010, said the EXIM ficult years for global import white long grain Pakistani rice. privileges. Local newspapers and web- Export/Import (EXIM) to assisting exporters. bank would have an ini- trade and it affected Sri “The first shipment was expected to sites gave wide publicity to this inci- bank and we could not do “The government is arrive on Friday, January 8. We had tial capital of Rs. 200 mil- Lanka’s exports and dent. anything about this but committed to doing every- ordered 40, 000 metric tons and this lion which can be imports as well. would increase up to 80,000 tons under Subsequently the JVP summoned now the time is right to thing it can to mitigate increased later. Cabraal said agricul- the agreement,” he said. him before a disciplinary committee set up an EXIM bank. The the risks if GSP Plus is Gunawardena said that the rice “The bank would pro- tural and industrial and sacked him from the party. He lost bank will receive assis- discontinued,” Cabraal imported from Pakistan as per the cer- vide financial assistance exports had declined by his parliamentary seat. tance from the govern- said. tification of the Society General to exporters and 15 percent during the first Services (SGS) is clean and free of ment and the banking sec- “Exporters should not importers, helping them ten months of 2009 as paddy, stones, etc guaranteed for two tor would fund its capital rely on trade concessions, years and would be sold at Rs. 62.50 to expand and find new against the corresponding and collaborate to operate such concessions are good though approval has been obtained that markets. It would help in period of 2008. it could be sold up to Rs 70.00. New buildings it,” Central Bank to have, but exporters integrating the country’s Expenditure on imports He said that presently similar rice Governor Ajith Nivard should try to diversify poorer in quality is sold at Rs. 75.00 in economy with the global declined 33.5 percent dur- for social work Cabraal told journalists and strife for productivity the market. economy by promoting, ing this period. yesterday. and qualitative improve- He further noted that plans are afoot J. Antony, Ratnapura Corr. financing and facilitating Both export earnings to bring down rice from Vietnam and Earlier, Cabraal intro- ments,” he said. the quality is similar to Samba rice. The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council has taken steps to provide build- ing facilities to all village-level commu- nity organisations in the province. We can produce tapes of Minister who Each buildings will consist of a meet- ing hall, stores and facilities to conduct alleged Rajapaksas are corrupt – Ranil educational and religious activities. The foundation stone was laid for a But is now defending them building at Dalukgala in the by Zacki Jabbar Rajapaksa regime. Wickremesinghe queried Rambukkana electorate recently by “The UNF’s policies are as to why it cannot be done. Chief Minister Maheepala Herath. The Opposition can pro- based on equality and jus- ”When the UNP offered a tice and it is not an open Rs.7,500 salary increase in There are 250 families in this village. duce the speeches of a UNP MP who is now in secret. I have never hidden 2005, no one criticised it. The Provincial Council donated a 6.5 government ranks, who my views on any subject. Why is it being scoffed at perch block of land for the building. The earlier alleged that the We will do whatever has now? Has the cost of living Sarana Foundation Community organi- Rajapaksa regime was cor- been promised.” not gone up in the last four For the first years?” sation raised Rs. 1 million through con- rupt, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said yes- time a Colombo tributions made by the business commu- terday. Rajapaksa has District UNP MP, nity. Addressing a news con- been taken into Ravi Karunanayake Once the building work is completed, ference in Colombo, custody,but that said that when they happens to be petitioned the the villagers can hold their welfare asso- Wickremesinghe said that the MP concerned, who the UNF’s Supreme Court 14 ciation meetings, conduct pre-schools, now holds a ministerial Suduwella months ago to get computer and English classes and other portfolio, has challenged organizer. Ven the price of petrol educational activities. Nihal Chandrakumara captured this scene at Borella where the joint Opposition held a protest meet- the Opposition to prove the Amila Thera reduced, the “so ing on Monday (Jan 4) in support of Opposition presidential candidate General (Retd) Sarath Fonseka. allegations of corruption and an SLMC called patriots” UNP and JVP leaders joined the protest at which they pledged to defeat the President at the forth- against the Rajapaksas. organizer were branded them “trai- also arrested. tors.” But the price coming presidential polls. But, has conveniently for- gotten what he said not so But people like has now been Rs10m boost long ago. Karuna Amman, Pillaiyan, reduced to woo the voters “We can produce all the George Master, Daya at the Presidential Trade related foreign exchange controls to be relaxed tapes in which the MP had Master and K. P. Election. forNWP spoken on ‘Helping Pathmanathan are being The Ceylon Petroleum Hambantota’ and made protected. K.P.was living Corporation has suffered a CB to open doors for Lankans to invest, serious allegations against in luxury at “Visumpaya,” loss of Rs. 960 million due youth clubs the Rajapaksas,” he said. he said. to its haphazard and oppor- Commenting on govern- tunistic policies, he added. by Bingiriya Corr. “This is what happens to operate bank accounts abroad people with short memo- ment criticism of General ries.” Fonseka’s pledge to The North Western Provincial Council by Devan Daniel abroad and invest Insurance com- Wickremesinghe said provide has allocated Rs. 10 million to promote The Central Bank is in shares and panies to invest that the number of UPFA short term debt a part of their public ser- sports activities among members of youth looking at the possibilities members pledging their of relaxing exchange con- instruments of reserves in for- support to Fonseka was on vants with clubs of the Kurunegala and Puttalam trols and allowing Sri overseas compa- eign assets. the increase, because they a Rs.10,000 districts this year. Lankans to open and nies. Companies Relaxing salary listed on the trade related wanted to change the cor- Members of 1,487 youth clubs in the maintain accounts with rupt and undemocratic increase, banks abroad and invest Colombo Stock exchange con- province would benefit from this pro- Exchange could trols... gramme. in shares or short term debt instruments of com- also list their Cabraal said They will receives sports equipment panies overseas, while shares in foreign the Central and training facilities. local listed companies stock exchanges,” Bank would also Bingiriya sports development officer could list shares in for- he said. consider relax- Boy killed Some of the ing trade related A. Dhanasena told The Island that 45 eign stock exchanges, Central Bank Governor other controls exchange con- training camps on volleyball, cricket, foot- Ajith Nivard Cabraal said that would be relaxed trols as well. ball and netball would be held during 2010 yesterday. would allow foreigners to Advance payments for in accident and 1,500 talented sportsmen and sports- “External reserves invest in debentures imports are to be by Jayantha de Silva have reached US$ 5.2 bil- issued by Sri Lankan com- increased to a higher women would be trained under this initia- panies denominated in level, restrictions on pre- tive. lion by end November, enough to finance imports rupees and the Central payment of import bills A fourteen-year-old boy who Dhanasena said an extensive pro- for more than six months. Bank may allow certain are to be removed along was the pillion rider on a motor foreign companies to open with margin require- gramme to train rural students, who show As external reserves con- cycle ridden by his mother was talent in sports, will be carried out in 2010 tinue to buildup, the offices in Sri Lanka. ments on selected imports Furthermore, foreign- under advance payment. fatally wounded when the bike with the help of the Department of Central Bank would relax some of the foreign ers visiting the island on Greater flexibility is fell into a water logged pot hole Education. business or as tourists, also envisioned for for- exchange controls,” throwing him onto the path of He said 150 sports teachers and 75 pri- would be allowed to open ward contracts in foreign Cabraal said. an incoming lorry which ran mary teachers of government schools “We are looking at rupee denominated currency to cover current accounts. and capital transactions. would be specially trained under this allowing Sri Lankans to over him. open and operate The Central Bank is This was revealed at the plan. It would cost Rs. 1.2 million, he said. looking at allowing accounts with banks inquest into the death of Rusik Udesh Gamage, a student of Asoka Vidyalaya and a resident of Wellampitiya, held by City ‘Energy security in SA can be ensured by educating in energy-efficient technologies’ Coroner, Edward Ahangama on by Ifham Nizam ture is in its infancy, South Asia has the energy-efficient technology, sustainable designers and planners in the eight- December 30. opportunity to learn from both accom- design, and human factors. country region. Giving evidence at the To implement regional manufactur- plishments and mistakes experienced in The South Asia Regional Centre for During the comprehensive lighting inquest the mother of the ing of sustainable lighting products and the western part of the world and pro- Lighting launched in April 2009 through course, LRC professors along with Sri deceased, Mallika Perera, said develop state of the art performance mote processes and technologies and the collaborative efforts of the U.S. Lanka’s University of Moratuwa profes- that on the day of the incident testing facilities, the Sustainable Energy develop programmes that have the best Agency for International Development sors, plan to share information on cut- (Dec. 29), she was riding the chance at success. Thus, education in (USAID), SLSEA and the LRC. The Authority in Sri Lanka is putting great ting-edge applications for both residen- motor cycle while her two sons effort into developing collaborative rela- energy-efficient lighting technologies and Regional Centre for Lighting is designed tial and outdoor lighting. Participants were seated on the pillion. tionships among industry, government applications can ensure the energy to advance sustainable lighting and While travelling, the motor security of South Asia,” Dr. Narendran make it affordable in South Asia to would learn the latest in sustainability and academia, said SLSEA Chairman cycle fell into a pot hole on the said. improve the well-being of the citizens techniques, LED technology, and day Dr. Krishan Deheragoda. road resulting in all three been SLSEA Chief yesterday said that in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s and the countries within the region: lighting design concepts, as well as how thrown onto the road. addition to increasing the awareness of LRC is conducting an intensive five-day Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, to perform the economic analysis of Her son was thrown onto the and accessibility to energy-efficient light- programme, in conjunction with the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri lighting including life cycle cost/benefit ing technologies throughout South Asia, Regional Centre for Lighting in South Lanka. analysis, return on investment calcula- path of an oncoming lorry the Regional Centre for Lighting is dedi- Asia, designed to teach the latest The Lighting Products Centre is the tions, and the evaluation of lighting quali- resulting in the boy’s legs going cated to improving South Asia’s econo- advances and applications in lighting primary knowledge partner for the ty. under a wheel of the lorry. and demonstrate how these techniques Regional Centre for Lighting in South The driver of the lorry did my through lighting manufacturing. The course agenda also includes a and methods can be applied to achieve Asia and plans to provide technical not stop but was later taken into “South Asia has a unique advan- human factors element so participants tage,” said Dr. Narendran, Lighting reliable, clean and efficient lighting knowledge, training, and guidance on custody by the police. will gain an understanding of how the Research Centre director and principal throughout South Asia. activities. Further inquiry was post- human eye works and how people investigator for the project. The Sustainable Lighting Institute The five-day education programme is poned for January 16. PS 27689 respond and react to light and different “Since the region’s lighting infrastruc- begins January 16, 2010, in Beruwala one of many events to help share knowl- assisted at the inquest. and its content will include advances in edge and educate engineers, architects, lighting schemes.