The Island 4 Tuesday 7th December, 2010 Home News Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa- new SLPA to reach a record chair of HelpAge International - UK HelpAge International, the Industries). leading international organisation He also serves on many listed helping older people in fulfilling companies which include John their potential to lead dignified, Keells Ltd., Lanka Walltiles Ltd., active, healthy and secure lives. Nawaloka Hospitals Ltd., Taj high 2 million Teus announced its new chair, Lanka Hotels Ltd and serves as Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa. the Deputy Chairman of Ceat Sri The decision was The Sri Lanka Ports Authority [SLPA], has Lanka and on the board of announced at HelpAge displayed a spectacular upward growth trajec- TAL Hotels & Resorts Ltd. International's tory with the SLPA-run Jaya Container Mr.De Zoysa was recently trustees meeting in Terminal [JCT] reaching a record throughput appointed as a Consultant Colombo recently.Eric volume of two million Twenty-foot equivalent to the Minister of Social Kimani the current units (TEUs) in a little over eleven months Services and serves as a chair praised the work this year. SLPA has been showcasing its member of the Kalutara of HelpAge Sri Lanka above-average efficiencies through the past Bodhi Trust, Sasakawa and thanked them for years and this rate of performance achieved Trust and the Ogawa co-hosting the first for the first time in its history as a State-run Trust whilst serving as ever trustees meeting terminal is of utmost significance and beto- the Vice Patron of the Sri held outside the UK. kens a manifestly futuristic outlook for the Lanka UK Society. De Zoysa who is Port of Colombo. The historic container was He is a former chair of HelpAge Sri ceremoniously discharged yesterday from MV Member of the Monetary Lanka will take up his Tilak de Zoysa APL SHARJAH at the JCT. Board (2003-2009), a Past appointment in March With this total TEU handling of 2 million Chairman of the Ceylon Chamber 2011. by the SLPA, which demonstrates an increase of Commerce, the National Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa of 26.5% compared to the same period of the Chamber of Commerce, Japan/Sri the Honorary Consul for Croatia previous year, the SLPA also shows up an Lanka Technical & Cultural is the recipient of ‘The Order of increase of 7.6 % compared to the total figure Association (JASTECA)the Plastic the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with of 1.9 million TEUs, the highest-ever perform- and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka Neck Ribbon’ conferred by the ance rate recorded by SLPA in the year 2008 , Automobile Association of Emperor of Japan. He is the before recession hit global trade. The SLPA Ceylon and the Ceylon Motor President/Chairman of also bagged another record recently by han- Traders Association. Associated Motorways Private dling its highest-ever monthly volume of Deshabandu Tilak de Zoysa's Ltd., Carson Cumberbatch Ltd., 201,217 TEUs in August this year achieving an contribution to Sri Lanka is well Associated Capital Leasing Ltd., increase of 22% compared with the month of known in business and social cir- Amaya Hotels & Resorts (USA) , August in 2009. Meanwhile, the Port of cles as a person who enjoys con- Jetwing Zinc Hotels Lanka (Pvt) Colombo (including SAGT), by August this tributing his time and effort in Ltd and the Regional Industry year was able to handle 360,973 TEUs marking The two millionth container being discharged from the vessel ‘APL SHARJAH’ (Top left). upgrading lifestyles and the well Service Committee (Ministry of a 10% growth compared to the same period Secretary of the Ministry of Port and Highways Mrs.Sujatha Kure waving the flag, signaling being of society. last year. The Port of Colombo would also to discharge the 2 millionth container, while the Chairman of SLPA Dr. Priyath B. Wickrama, reach the four million TEU mark prior to the Managing Director Capt. Nihal Keppetipola, Director (Operations) G. A. Thalagala, Director end of the year which will also be a record (Human Resources) Norman Weerarathne, Harbour Master Capt. Ravi Jayawickrama, Chief Humanitarian ... From page 1 written in the history books. Manager (Operations – Containers) Jayantha Perera, Chief Manager (Marketing and The breakup of this two million TEUs the Nanthikadal lagoon in May last year. Church’s support for the ongoing develop- handled by SLPA alone, includes a 37% Business Development) Upul Jayathissa, the Deputy Chief Manager (Communication and The Cardinal urged the government to ment drive, the Cardinal said that he wouldn’t increase of local import/export TEUs and a Public Relations) Nalin Aponso and the Managing Director of APL Lanka Ltd. Abraham re-establish civil administration in the approve of those priests campaigning for the 21% increase of transshipment TEUs. The Elias look on. Northern and Eastern Provinces, while division of the country. He strongly criticized SLPA is in a better position as a state-run ter- emphasizing the importance of resettling dis- those engaged in anti-Sri Lanka propaganda dures, business processes and the mindsets of ‘Mahinda Chinthana’. Every plan on the minal compared to the privately-owned South placed civilians. abroad, while reiterating his commitment to employees by the three-year plan conceptual- part of SLPA has been formulated to devel- Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) which pos- He requested the President not to allow Sri Lanka. ized by SLPA’s Chairman Dr. Priyath B. op Sri Lanka as a Commercial Hub, which sesses a 16% of volume increase in the period Wickrema which was meticulously followed could serve as a key link between the East anyone to exploit the post-war situation. Cardinal Ranjith urged Sri Lankans not to under review. by the management team and the employees and the West, using its strategic geographi- Assuring the President of the Catholic undermine the country. The SLPA attracted about eleven new of SLPA. cal location effectively. The SLPA recently shipping services to JCT in the recent past He said “under the leadership of declared open its newly constructed Port of From and the mega liners such as APL and MSC are LeT had... page 1 President Mahinda Rajapaksa, port con- Hambantota heralding a new chapter in the now patronizing SLPA. Information coming out of a secret State dangerously expanding Lashkar network in struction has become a national priority in port development history in Sri Lanka. The SLPA’s Managing Director, Capt. Nihal Department cable, dated June 19, 2009, India Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Sri Lanka and the SLPA, headed by its Phase 1 of the Colombo South Harbour Keppetipola said that the most significant released by WikiLeaks, indicates that LeT had The US, which charged Wikileaks with dynamic Chairman, has been able to bring which gives an additional 2.4 million TEU among the other factors that contributed to estabished a facilitation centre in Sri Lanka and indulging in a criminal act by releasing these many port development projects, which capacity will too be ready by early 2013, thus this growth momentum, is the paradigm shift was looking at setting up a base of operations cables, has neither confirmed nor denied the have not gone beyond just paying lip service ensuring Sri Lanka, the South Asian brought about in the organizational proce- in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It also reveals the authenticity of the leaked documents. in the past, into realities as stated in the Container Hub status,” he said. National Drug Policy Notorious heroin from January continued... From page 1 dealer nabbed BY SAMAN INDRAJITH A national drug policy would be implemented call for war crimes probe The police arrested a next January, Health Minister Maithripala notorious heroin deal- Sirisenatold parliament yesterday. er after a car chase He said that this was not an easy task and in the the many attempts made by his predecessors Kahathuduwa were not fruitful due to opposition. However, this police area. government was determined to bring in and Govt to bring No faith Police implement this policy for the benefit of the people spokesman SP of this country., he said. Prishantha Some quarters in society demand that the Jayakody told The government must implement the drug policy pro- Island that the posed by Prof. Senaka Bibile 40 years ago. He police had recov- motion against Karu J ered one T-56 assault said that was not possible as some of Prof. Bibile’s proposals were now out dated. He went rifle, 24 rounds of General Secretary of the UPFA and national interests in this des- the patriotic UNPers at the ammunition, a 0.38 revolver, seven on to say that the government would modify those Petroleum Industries Minister Susil picable manner,” Minister village level would not proposals. rounds of ammunition and 5,000 mg of Premajayantha said that Jayasuriya Premjayantha said. approve of this kind of heroin. had issued his statement at a time General Secretary of the scheming to destroy the At the time of his arrest, the suspect there was a campaign against Lankan SLFP and Health Minister country’s political and mil- was travelling in a new car with his NH cardiac surgery war heroes. “Karu Jayasuriya made Maithripala Sirisena said that itary leadership and we wife. this statement in English for the con- the government wondered invite them to rally round patients to be transferred sumption of the international commu- whether the UNP was now us for the sake of mother- nity and Tamil Diaspora. He is trying cooperating with LTTE rem- land,” the Minister said. to SJH, Karapitiya to justify the international communi- nants against Sri Lanka and Environment Minister Only LTTE... From page 1 ty’s demand for a war crimes probe. her national military. He said Anura Priyadarshana Yapa while Premadasa, to BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE This statement has been made against that UNP’s current position and Media Minister The Island’s sister this country and its war heroes. We and the overseas Tigers’ agen- Keheliya Rambukwella also paper Divaina, had Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena will not let the Opposition harm da overlapped. “We know that addressed the media. said that to avoid long delays and reduce said that there were the number of patients awaiting cardiac no war crimes com- surgery at the National Hospital steps had mitted in Sri Lanka been taken to transfer some of them and therefore no to the Sri Jayawardenapura and investigation was Karapitiya Teaching hospitals. ‘German... From page 1 needed. At the Sri Minister Rahman with the press, Baig is The bomb that was planted in the to protect their identity. Jayawardenapura Hospital Weerawansa yester- charged with designing the German Pune eatery at 17:00 hours went off Baig is charged under various sec- the Government would bear day appreciated Bakery terror attack along with Faiyaz killing 17 persons including some for- tions of IPC, Explosives Substances Act the cost of operations since it Premadasa’s state- Kagzi and Sayyad Ansari, two of the six eigners and injuring over 60. and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. was a paying hospital. ment that there was no war crimes com- co-accused named in the case, who are The six other co-accused charged The Defence Counsel said he would He said facilities would be mitted in Sri Lanka. absconding. along with Baig are - Yasim Bhatkal, contest the omission of witnesses’ developed at Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa Baig, who ran a cyber cafe in Udgir, Mohsin Choudhary, Riyaz Bhatkal, Iqbal names in higher court. The Counsel also the National Hospital where quipped saying that the UNP had main- later finalised the plan to attack the Bhatkal, Faiyaz Kagzi and Sayyad said that Baig had denied all charges the most number of cardiac tained double standards on the war eatery in the last week of January 2010 Ansari—- all stated to be absconding. mentioned by the ATS. patients sought treatment. crimes issue. He said: The UNP say one and went to Mumbai along with two Mr. Rahman took instructions from The Magistrate committed the case to Sirisena said that steps would be taken thing to the English media and another to to implement the National Drug Policy in other accused - Mohasin Choudhary and Baig, who was brought to the court with- the Sessions Court where a special judge Sinhala media. This helps the party to 2011 to overcome regular drugs short- Bhatkal - to purchase a sack to keep the out a shroud. will hear it. maintain a dual image. One for the people ages. He also said that the Ministry had bomb and a Nokia mobile, the prosecu- ATS officer Vinod Satav told the The massive chargesheet is kept in of this country and another for the inter- resorted to emergency purchases to over- tion has alleged as quoted by Mr. Magistrate that names of some witness- custody of the judge and its details were national community. come regular shortages including that of Rahman. es had been deleted from the chargesheet not made public. ( PTI) the anti-rabies vaccine recently. On the implementation of the National Drug Policy (NDP), the Minister said a committee consisting of consultant doctors London... From page 1 and other intellectuals would be appointed soon to study how best the NDP could be Pottinger, an international PR firm, The Rajapaksa regime had lost its and stupidity of the incumbent regime, until the war was over, continue to suf- implemented effectively. at a cost of three million sterling sense of reasoning and was trying to Fernando said. fer.” pounds, to carry out its propaganda take revenge from the wrong people, He said that there was no one in the The Budget 2011 was neo-liberal in work.” without finding out who exactly was government to speak on behalf of the all its aspects, but Wimal Weerawansa The UNP, he said, condemned the responsible for the humiliating mess in suffering masses, including the estate the ‘Patriot’ instead of demonstrating From SC puts... page 1 treatment meted out to the Sri Lankan London, MP Fernando said. workers. on the streets as he would have done, if The Court of Appeal referred the inter- head of State, but there was no justifica- He said that the government’s move “Despite the high cost of living, the it had been presented by the UNP, was pretation to the Supreme Court, when the tion for the government to blame to appoint a Parliamentary Select estate worker is being paid a pittance of talking nonsense, Fernando said. writ application, filed by General Sarath Jayalath Jayawardena MP, who had not Committee to inquire into the allega- Rs. 285 per day. Minister Arumugam Calling for high level probe, he said Fonseka was argued before the Court of been in London on the day President tions levelled against Dr. Jayawardena, Thondaman who should be speaking on that Sri Lanka’s contingent of 104 ath- Appeal. Fonseka had challenged, in the Rajapaksa arrived there. was bound to fail due to the lack of their behalf is very silent,” he said. letes and 40 officials, who participated Court of Appeal, his expulsion from “It was the Chief Government Whip credible evidence. “Minister Wimal Weerawansa, who in the Asian Games, had returned Parliament consequent to a decision by the Dinesh Gunawardena, who started it all The Rajapaksa regime was making a claims to be a son of the soil and sav- empty handed for the first time. court martial II. by abusing Dr. Jayawardena. This was fool of itself by blaming the UNP for iour of the downtrodden, is also silent Fernando said that the Women’s Yesterday, the Chief Justice J. A. N. de the cue for certain other UPFA parlia- demonstrations held by the LTTE and and so is the Jathika Hela Urumaya. Cricket team would have secured a Silva had to attend a State function in the mentarians to assault Dr. Jayawardena. that, too, in a foreign country. The peo- They are all enjoying the perks and medal, but the authorities, for reasons afternoon, and the hearing in the Supreme It was disgraceful to see members of the ple were sick of hearing such propagan- privileges of office, while the masses, best known to them, did not send a Court was put off for Thursday. legislature behave like hooligans.” da being used to cover up incompetence who were told to tighten their belts women’s team to the Asian Games.