EU Stands Firm, Sets Final Conditions for GSP Plus

Vol. 29 No. 185 wednesday 23rd June, 2010, 48 pages Rs. 20 Registered in Sri Lanka as a Newspaper - Late City Edition

The US probe and Lessons Reviving Odel IPO to finance the weapon of the from Relationships expansion, retire debt ‘boycott’ Sri Lanka with the British Financial Review 7 10 11 5 Updates Swiss mulled using force to free EU stands firm, sets final citizens in Libya

GENEVA (AP) - Switzerland's conditions for GSP plus president Doris Leuthard said Monday President Doris Government sources say Sri Lanka that officials Leuthard will not compromise her sovereign- considered using force to ty for economic concessions. The EU free two Swiss citizens who were detained in move will also cause problems for Libya for more than a major buyers and may undermine year. Prince Harry carries on efforts to provide employment Swiss media reported opportunities for ex-LTTE cadres last week that the his mother's in the garment trade. Foreign Ministry's secret plans to use special legacy with visit to forces or intelligence Mozambique minefield BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO agents to free business- men Rachid Hamdani he European Union has demanded a and Max Goeldi sparked written commitment from the Sri controversy when they Lankan government to meet the T were disclosed to the entire gamut of human rights issues related Cabinet. to the war against LTTE terror raised by the almost 200 years. grouping by July 1. The EU says the assurance will be the Full story on P5 prerequisite for extending the GSP plus facility for a limited additional period. A spokesperson for the Delegation of the EU he Prince spent two to Sri Lanka and the Maldives told The days learning about Island yesterday that the Foreign Ministry JVP criticises Tthe work of the HALO Trust, the same British char- had been informed of this decision. ity that the Princess so Responding to some recent media Govt. over KP’s famously visited in Angola reports, which suggested the facility would eight months before her be extended unconditionally, the EU yester- death. day emphasised that it would be terminated visit to North Artificial limbs were yesterday presented to 16 soldiers disabled in the war against the LTTE.The programme on August 15, unless the Sri Lankan govern- was funded by parents, students and teachers of Sirimavo Bandaranaike Maha Vidyalaya, Colombo. Chief Guest ment met its July 1 deadline. The JVP yesterday Moscow's Dostoevsky Ven. Kotapola Amartakeerthi hands over an artificial leg to a disabled soldier while the Principal of the school criticized the govern- station could be Pushpa Kalubowila looks on. (Photo-Kamal Bogoda) Continued on page 2 ment for allowing ex- LTTE heavyweight 'suicide mecca' Kumaran Pathmanathan to visit the North with a Wimal slams UN for group of visiting mem- UNP Reforms Committee proposes one MP bers of the Tamil Diaspora. double standards from each district on Working Committee JVP MP Vijitha Herath said that the gov- Accusing the UN of double standards in dealing ernment was trying to with human rights and war crimes issues, National June 28 deadline for submitting proposals – Joseph Michael Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa, MP, prevent General Sarath BY ZACKI JABBAR said. “Provincial Councillors are already Fonseka from going alleges that UN Chief Ban ki-Moon is making an represented in the WC, by leaders of the attempt to revive an anti-Sri Lanka pro- The UNP Reforms Committee has pro- overseas for the Inter he station, called UNP group in each of the Provincial posal defeated at the Human posed the inclusion of one MP from each Parliamentary Union Dostoyevskaya, is dec- Councils.” Rights Council in Geneva at the district and three local govern- orated with brooding The Reforms Committee, on sessions on the grounds T height of the war on the Vanni ment members in the party’s grey and black mosaics May 20, 2010, recommended that that he was being held front. Working Committee. which depict violent scenes the number of WC members be on non-bailable offences, Construction Minister Chairman of the UNP Reforms from the nineteenth century reduced to 86 from 96. Among its while Pathmanathan vis- Weerawansa said a fresh move Committee Joseph Michael Perera writer's best-known novels. other recommendations were, that ited the North. made by Moon was part of a plan told The Island yesterday that the party leader should be elected He alleged that See World View to obstruct post-LTTE develop- their decision was arrived at after and be given the power to appoint ment process and deny the coun- having met a cross section of the only 20 members to the WC. Pathmanathan had been try political stability. party’s membership over the last Perera said that beginning yes- taken along with 21 oth- Weerawansa said that the army three weeks. terday they would give UNP mem- ers to the North last had had to pay a heavy price in Decision on “The question before us is the bers of local bodies in the various week. terms of men and material due to process by which MPs and local Joseph provinces, an opportunity to meet Continued on page 2 Ruhunu its commitment to avoid civilian government members should be the Reforms Committee and make their losses. selected to the Working Committee. This representations. will have to be decided on by the party, he University Continued on re-opening Continued on page 2 Wimal page 2 Ganja selling tomorrow Geetha K among soldier arrested A decision on the re- Will Range Bandara too BY NORMAN opening of the Ruhunu SLFP electoral PALIHAWADENA University would be taken switch allegiance to MR? tomorrow, Vice Chancellor organisers appointed A meeting between rebel UNP MP A Corporal of the Susirith Mendis said. President Mahinda Palitha Range Bandara and President Vavuniya Army Camp The University was Rajapaksa yesterday handed Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday has was arrested by the closed indefinitely last letters of appointment to fuelled speculation that the Police on a charge of week following a clash five new SLFP organizers at Kurunegala District MP may switch selling ganja in the between the students of Temple Trees. his allegiance to the UPFA ahead of Mamaduwa village on the proposed constitutional changes. the Arts and Management The new organizers are: Monday. Faculties over ragging. Vsantha Senanayake- However, Bandara said that he had Police, on a tip off, The clash resulted in three Mirigama, Samanthhurai- met the President at Temple Trees students being hospi- Abdul Majeed Mohamed along with his family to thank him for nabbed the suspect and talised and three being Naushad, Balapitiya – medical assistance received by him fol- UNP MP Palitha Ranga Bandara, his wife recovered one kilo of Sajin Vaas Gunawardena, lowing the President’s intervention. the banned narcotic. He arrested by the Police. and children meet President Rajapaksa A discussion was held Bentara, Elpitiya – Ms Bandara recently decided not to Govt. constitutional claimed he kept the engage in party activity unless received serious injuries in the attack between the Vice Geetha Kumarasinghe and amendments must be stock for his consump- Sirikotha took punitive internal disci- allegedly led by a colleague after his Chancellor and head of Sarath Weerasekera for transparent, says UNP tion. areas covering plinary action against a UNP politi- failure to enter parliament due to faculties on Tuesday over spokesman Police said the sus- Dehiattakandiya, cian whom he had accused of making Bandara winning the battle for prefer- the re-opening of the an attempt to kill him shortly after the ential votes in the Kurunegala pect had been in the University. Padiyatalawa, Namal Oya Like its CFA! and Maha Oya. April 8 general election. Bandara District. business of selling ganja for a long time. CMC to be dissolved today Commissioner would be named to run the Asath UPFA mayoral candidate CMC. The UPFA decided to dissolve the CMC BY DASUN EDIRISINGHE Wednesday (June 23). Sources said that the gazette notification regarding the disso- following an inquiry conducted by a special Government sources said that the lution had been sent to the Government committee appointed to investigate alleged Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) would Printer. corruption and irregularities. be dissolved over corruption charges on Sources said that a Special Continued on page 2