The Island Home News Thursday 22nd January, 2009 11 Finding solution to overcoming effects of World economic crisis Herath accuses Govt. Amunugama welcomes of corruption by Harischandra Gunaratna

JVP strongman and Gampaha District Opposition offer of help Parliamentarian yester- day accused the govern- By Saman Indrajith and their bosses have told us in per capita el sector. It has decided ment of, engaging in employees that quotas given by consumption of to exempt the apparel Vijitha rampant corruption, Opposition MPs, who partici- foreign buyers were over. milk powder. We sector from the 15 per using State machinery pated in yesterday’s adjourn- Banks no longer give loans to spend Rs 20 bil- cent electricity sur- such as vehicles, and ment debate on the ongoing industries to survive in this lion on milk charges for this year. using State buildings and government world economic crisis and its crisis. Over one hundred gar- powder. Very The industry will also officials for the UPFA election cam- effects on , were very ment factories have permanent- soon our people be totally exempted paign on the pretext fighting a war. On Wednesday He said at a news conference, that positive and ly put up shutters. The Tea, would have to from economic service Bandula the families of war heroes fighting the pledged their Rubber, Coconut and Cinnamon shift from pow- charges. These opportu- LTTE are living in abject poverty in support to the industries are on the verge of der milk to liq- nities will lead the apparel sec- ture without giving into parti- their respective villages while the gov- Government to collapse. The Stock market has uid milk.” tor towards progress as it would san politics when on economic ernment ministers who sing hosannas find solutions, collapsed. The Gem and jewelry The Government had taken reduce their production cost matters. We should not colour about the security forces personnel are Minister of industry can no longer attract necessary action to meet the ill- immensely. Almost three mil- economic affairs,” he said. paid Rs 50,000 as a rent allowance. The traditional exports like tea, rub- Public buyers from abroad. The effects of global recession and lion people out of the 19 million UNP Colombo District MP ber and coconut had lost their places in Administration Tourism industry is no longer the Opposition MPs should not population mainly in the rural said: “It is the world market and the country was and Home earning profits. How long does fear any future economic prob- areas contribute to the industry good to see government side Amunugama heading towards bankruptcy, he said. Affairs, and the government expect to go on lems, he said. “It has been both directly and colleagues calling upon us not There is an economic recession in Deputy Minister overlooking this reality?” decided to attract more foreign indirectly. We to colour the economy. This was the country and the government comes of Finance and Planning Dr. Handunnetti asked. reserve through incentives have also decid- what we have been telling for up with a lame excuse saying that the Sarath Amunugama said. UNP Kegalle District MP such as giving 20 percent inter- ed to grant a spe- the last 15 years.” prices of commodities have sky rocket- ed due to the colossal defence budget. This was contrary to the said “We do not est for Non Resident Foreign cial incentive of Deputy Finance Minister But in effect the government and its usual custom in Parliament have sufficient foreign Currency account deposits. five per cent on Ranjith Siymbalapitiya said allies are lining their pockets with this where the Opposition always reserves. The January 2008 for- Expatriate Sri Lankans should their value that Sri Lanka cannot stand money he said. sought to fault the Government eign reserve was be told to send their money added garment isolate itself from the conse- The unnecessary spending by the and its MPs and end their 3.1 billion US home only through proper Ravi exports for 2009, quences of the global reces- government has not reduced even at speeches with tirades, he said. dollars and this channels. Those who shout of he said. “We are sion. “We too will face conse- this stage he pointed out. “This is a good and positive had come down an economic crisis should in a strong position on the eco- quences but we are ready with For the forthcoming elections in the Central and Wayamba Provinces the sign and we notice that the JVP by one billion. never forget that we continue to nomic stage compared to other counter measures to mitigate government has taken most of the too has graduated from useless We have foreign provide free healthcare and countries. The stimulus pack- them.” State vehicles and official bungalows issues to serious subjects such reserves to pur- education despite all these cri- age is not a mere hand out.” Minister Amunugama con- and buildings belonging to the govern- as economics,” Minister chase required sis.” Prof Peiris said Sri Lanka tinuing his reply said: “Very ment and forced the government ser- Amunugama said in his reply imports only for TNA Parliamentary group has 80 per cent of market share soon we will stop saying that vants to engage in the election cam- to the motion moved by JVP three weeks. G.L leader R. Samabanthan said “I in the world tea market. “Our we are going to be self suffi- paign, he said. MP . Inflation is sky am surprised of the fact that tea which is well known as cient in rice. The harvest of The Rajapakse government has allowed racists like Thondaman and Moving the motion the JVP rocketing. Prices of essential the JVP now shouts of an eco- ‘Ceylon tea’ is exported to Latin this coming Maha season Hakeem to plunder national resources MP said: “Sri Lanka too now items have multiplied nomic crisis. They are also America, Chile, Brazil, would be a record one in the and promote separatism, Herath said experiences the ill-effects of overnight. The Government responsible for the current situ- Argentina etc. while we are country’s history because for adding that a vote for the UPFA would the global recession though the has no other way but to print ation in the country because it exploring new market poten- the first time after years the be a vote to divide the country. Finance minister and Central money. This is very dangerous was the JVP that demanded tials in Western European East’s harvest is also coming He blamed the UNP for introducing Bank Governor go on saying since history is full of exam- war which incurs massive eco- countries. We will not allow tea out this season. We had dis- a bogus Ceasefire Agreement and that local economy would not ples of nations collapsing after nomic losses. The war drains prices to fall and Rs. 45 will cussions with all district sec- manipulating the media to fool the masses and project a make believe suffer. Hundreds of factories resorting to printing money money and causes suffering to given to tea producers for a kilo retaries yesterday and they world with peace and harmony. have been shut down and instead increasing earnings.” everybody. Now those pioneers of green tea. We have opted for expect a bountiful harvest.” However today the masses are con- employees thrown to the Minister of Trade, of war yell that there is an eco- product branding such as The growth rate of the vinced that the abortive CFA was streets. Some BOI companies Marketing Development, nomic crisis. It was they who Ceylon cinnamon and Ceylon Western province GDP was meant to support the cause of Eelam, have announced that they will Cooperatives and Consumer rejected interim administration tea instead increasing the vol- above 17 percent according to he said. scale down their businesses Affairs, Bandula Gunawardena and P-TOMS proposals which ume of exports.” a recent survey conducted by and services of workers no said “Prices of essential com- could have avoided this war and The inflation which was at 29 a foreign economist and this longer required. Some other modities in the world market saved the country from an eco- percent last July has been was equivalent or above many companies demand workers to are coming down. Prices of nomic crisis.” brought down to 14-15 percent developed nations, he said. Inquirers work extra hours without petroleum products and wheat Export Development and now and very soon this would “We have proposed a Rs 16 claiming overtime payments if flour have come down. We have International Trade Minister become a single digit, he said. billion package to meet any complain they want to keep their jobs. to opt for liquid milk instead Prof. G. L. Peiris said “The “There are lots of gains in the consequence of the recession Out of 3,000 garment factories milk powder. There is no other Government provides an incen- economy. One has to be fair, therefore have no fear,” he 856 have already closed down nation in the world that beats tive package to boost the appar- objective, look at the whole pic- said. they are underpaid

by Lalith Chaminda and UNP... From page 1 S. K. Kaluarachchi, Contradictory statements debt. The country had been Galle Correspondents had been made by the CPC, deprived of the benefits of The Inquirers in to Sudden Deaths the Ministry of Petroleum drastically declining oil last week complained that they were and Petroleum Resources prices in the world market. underpaid. There are around 750 of Development, the Ministry of The motion was signed by them working throughout the island. Finance, the Ministry of UNP and Opposition Leader With the numerous problems and Export Development and , and hardships they have to face, they per- International Trade and the MPs A. M. M. Naoshaad, Dr. form their duties day and night but Central Bank about the , Akila they receive only Rs 300 per inquiry, sequence of events that had Viraj Kariyawasam, Ravi they said. preceded the signing of the Karunanayake and Earl They urged the government to Agreement. Sri Lanka had Gunasekera. increase the allowance to Rs 1,200, incurred a massive foreign appoint them as All Island Justices of Peace, appoint additional Inquirers From page 1 and offer them the ‘Upahara’tele- Speaker... phone package. Precedents set by those special announcement yes- traditions indicated that if terday answering a question the Opposition failed to raised by Chief Opposition move a motion against the Whip Joseph Michael Tigers... From page 1 government when it was Perera on Tuesday (20) why taken up for the debate, the the motion had been Fonseka said several other LTTE motion lapsed, he said. removed from the order cadres were being prevented from sur- The 25th anniversary of Calton Group of Companies was celebrated recently. One of the key events of the “The day it was to be book. rendering to security forces. He said celebrations was launching of the company’s website www.calton.lk on 16 December which provides the taken, I called on all the “However, if the UNP is about 3,000 civilians were being history of the company and its diversification, its products and services. The Director of the company said names of the MPs who had desirous of moving a no detained as a human shield at LTTE that the main objective of launching a website was for its customers to reach the company’s portfolio via placed their signatures but faith motion against the leader Prabhakaran’s hideout, but he the internet. Chairman of the company D. S. de Silva launches the website in the presence of (from left) Mrs none moved it,” the Speaker government again, it could expected those civilians to defy the Kanthi Wickramasinghe, Director, Manjula De Silva, Managing Director, Mahesh De Silva, Director, said. always do so,” Speaker LTTE and travel to the Army con- Chathura De Silva, Director and Manjula Dahanayake of Bharathi Airtel. The Speaker made this Lokubandara said. trolled areas.

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investigations had been Asked to state the names of been taken into custody and finalised and the cases were outsiders and the name of the facts submitted to the Chief now in Courts. The confiden- politician involved, Minister Magistrate Court under No. tiality of the investigation into Gunawardena replied that SSP B9413/1/2008. Subsequently he the incidents should be main- (Colombo South) had reported had been released on bail on tained, the Minister said. the name of Bastiyange Don January 18, 2008, the Minister Asked for details pertaining Nuwan Gunathilake as the out- said. to the attack on the Rupavahini sider and Minister Mervyn The CID was conducting fur- Corporation on December 27, Silva as the politician. ther inquiries, he said. 2007, Minister Gunawardena According to the report of Asked to give details related said: “The SSP (Colombo South) the Director of the CID, evi- to the loss caused to the has reported that a complaint dence had been received Rupavahini Corporation due to had been received by the against only B. D. Nuwan the incident, the Minister said Cinnamon Gardens police that Gunathilake on the assault of that two doors, one clay pot and an officer of the Rupavahini Mr. E. M. P. Chandrasekare, two electric lamps had been Corporation had been assaulted Director News of the damaged and the value of the by an outsider on December 27, Rupavahini Corporation. damage to these items had been 2007. Accordingly, the suspect had estimated as Rs. 13, 300/-.