The Island 4 Monday 5th December, 2011 Home News US$ 2 bn. committed to TNA asks government not to Reserve Fund while rupee is devalued - Ravi K

BY ZACKI JABBAR the deficiency, which would place new impediments in talks result in it rising to 7.3 per- The government should cent of GDP, he observed. explain its decision to Karunanayake called on eiterating the commitment of acknowledged by Prof. G.L. Peiris stated that no meaningful and pur- the Treasury Secretary the on November 24, 2011. poseful dialogue could commence devalue the rupee by three P.B.Jayasundera to explain R(TNA) to continue the talks When the government was as the government had hitherto percent, while committing to the public, if he aimed at reaching an amicable reminded by the TNA of the com- US$ 2 billion to failed to respond to its comprehen- had deliberately political solution for the Tamils in mitment already made, it requested the Reserve sive proposals and that no purpose omitted the rupee , the TNA on Saturday time to deliberate and consequently Fund, UNP MP would be served by fixing a further devaluation in urged the government “to honour a new meeting was scheduled for Ravi date for talks unless and until the arriving at the the mutual agreement reached and Saturday 3rd December. Today Karunanayake government made its response budget deficit or if not to place new impediments to despite lengthy discussions, the said. available. President Mahinda achieving an acceptable political government delegation’s position He told “The Thereafter, consequent to a Rajapaksa had solution that is desired by all the remained inconclusive. Island”, that meeting between H.E. the President kept him in the People of Sri Lanka.” It is important to recognise the both President and the Leader of the TNA on 2nd dark. Leader of the TNA history of the current engagement. September 2011, modalities were Mahinda Neither the for- R.Sampanthan said in a statement Talks in regard to a political solu- decided upon, on the basis of which Rajapaksa, who mer Securities that after the talks resumed last tion commenced on 10 Jan 2011 as dates would be fixed for the com- was also the Exchange month, and as per modalities proposed by H.E the President R.Sampanthan mencement of talks. Accordingly, Finance Commission agreed upon and confirmed in the held on Thursday December 1st between a delegation of the SLFP the delegations met again on 16th Minister and Chairperson nor minutes, it was “agreed that the on behalf of the government and 2011, the Hon. Minister of External September 2011, where the modali- Treasury the Director bilateral talks between the govern- the TNA as the major political Ravi Affairs, Prof. G.L. Peiris indicated ties were noted, included in the Secretary General, could be ment delegation and the TNA party representing the Tamil peo- at the very outset that without the minutes, and confirmed at the fol- P.B.Jayasundera, needed to held liable for the Stock would continue and the consensus ple of Sri Lanka. TNA nominating its representa- lowing meeting on the 20th October explain the wisdom of Market crisis. It was the arrived at would be placed before The TNA at the first meeting on tives to constitute the proposed 2011. increasing the Foreign Rajapaksa regime’s the proposed Select Committee of 10 January 2011 outlined its pro- Parliamentary Select Committee As per these modalities, and as Currency Reserve Fund, “lunatic” policies such as Parliament. The TNA reiterates posed political solution, and subse- (PSC), the bilateral talks could not confirmed in the minutes, it was while simultaneously the RUEUA Act and ad hoc that its nomination to the PSC quently, at the second meeting on 3 progress as previously agreed. inter alia agreed that the bilateral depreciating the rupee. tax changes that were to must await a substantial consensus February 2011, at the request of the blame, he said. Prof. G.L. Peiris was reminded talks between the government dele- The budget deficit was being reached at the bilateral talks, government, tendered it in writing. Karunanayake thanked that his request was contrary to gation and the TNA would continue actually 7.3 percent and not as was agreed.” At the further request of the gov- the large number of people what had already been agreed and the consensus arrived at would 6.2 percent of GDP as Full text of the TNA release: “At ernment more comprehensive pro- who had attended the between the parties that: “once be placed before the proposed claimed by the govern- the Bilateral talks between the agreement was reached with the posals were submitted in writing at November 29, UNP rally in Select Committee of Parliament. ment, Karunanayake said, TNA and the government delega- government delegation at these the third meeting on 18 March 2011. Colombo, which called for The TNA reiterates that its nomi- adding that the deficiency tion on the 16th of November the talks, which can be placed before The government then agreed to the release of former nation to the PSC must await sub- of Rs.5288 billion had obvi- parties identified the issues to be the PSC as suggested, they [TNA] submit its response to enable a Army Commander Sarath stantial consensus being reached at ously been computed prior discussed and agreed upon in would join the PSC process”. This meaningful and purposeful dia- Fonseka from prison. the bilateral talks, as was agreed. Responding to govern- evolving a political solution. The agreement was recorded in the logue to commence on these pro- to the rupee being deval- The TNA remains committed to ment allegations that the parties agreed on the specific order minutes of the meeting on 16th posals. ued by three percent. proceed with the talks constructive- people who had attended in which these issues were to be September 2011, which was con- Seven further meetings were The irony was that the discussed and for this purpose ly. The TNA urges the government the rally were traitors, he firmed at the subsequent meeting held in the course of the next five devaluation despite being a scheduled four meetings, on the 1st, to honour the mutual agreement said that the same thing held on 20th October 2011. It is months. But the government did budget proposal, had not 6th, 14th, and 15th of December reached and not to place new could be said of those who based on this agreement that at the not submit its response, despite been taken into account in 2011. Thereafter, a time-table set- impediments to achieving an did not participate, since it next meeting held on 16th repeatedly undertaking to do so. It computing the deficit. To ting out these dates and issues was acceptable political solution that is was Fonseka who had suc- November 2011, four dates were is in this context that, at the meet- rectify the situation Rs.81 also circulated. desired by all the Peoples of Sri cessfully led the battle fixed for talks in the first half of ing held on 4 August 2011 the TNA billion had to be added to against the LTTE. At the first of these meetings December itself, as was publicly Lanka.

Buddhist Assosocaition of the People’s Bank dis- tributed books and edu- Navy assists trawler in cational material among students of the Kotahena Girls School yesterday. Picture distress in Northern seas shows (From Left) Manager of the Sri Lanka Navy had rendered It said: “Arrangements were the time it was detected by anoth- Kotahena Branch of the assistance to the multi-day fish- made for the trawler to head er Sri Lankan trawler, “Yasa People’s Banka Ms ing trawler “Aradana”, which had home on completion of its Isuru 10”, approximately 47 nauti- Dulani Buddhika, been stranded in the Northern repairs. cal miles from Kankesanthurai. Regional Manager seas due to engine failure. It was The trawler had left for fishing The five-member crew was (Colombo North) Sunil S. safely brought to Kankesanthurai from Ambalangoda and found found to be in healthy condition Illukkumbura, Assistant harbour on December 1 along itself stranded at sea for 72 days and they extended their gratitude Regional Manager with its crew, a press release due to engine failure. The vessel to the Sri Lanka Navy for the K.A.Anura Lakshaman, issued by the Navy said yesterday. had been drifting towards land by timely assistance rendered. Principal of the School Akuresse Ariyasiri Thero and a teacher participate in the distribution of books. Pic by Nishan S Priyantha

UNP rebels ... From page 1

“We appointed Gampaha from the Working Committee for over to the SLFP under the leader- District MP and proposing him. ship of Wickremesinghe, the MP as Co – Deputy He said that under said. leaders at the controversial work- WIckremesinghe’s leadership, the He said that the party mem- ing committee meeting in April,” UNP lost four of five general elec- bership and supporters expected JVP taking... From page 1 he said adding Premadasa tions and two presidential party’s unity immediately and the Korean language... made that sacrifice for the elections in 1994, 2000, 2004, only way for that to happen was to politburo member Lal Kantha, too, party’s unity which was the 2010 and 1999, 2005 respec- appoint Karu Jayasuriya as the From page 1 are scheduled to attend the meeting. wish of party membership tively. leader. The JVP alleged that the Rajapaksa countrywide. “Wickremesinghe could The rebels had already However, not face the 2010 informed their decision to Employment (SLBFE) said that the government had ignored the plight of the masses, though the President Maddumabandara said that Presidential election as he Jayasuriya and he agreed, first special examination would be con- Wickremesinghe’s dictator- was politically bankrupt Maddumabandara said adding ducted today for those who scored more repeatedly boasted of a people’s friend- ly government. ship hijacked the National and the country’s biggest that it would be decided in the than 172 marks at the KLPE (3) at Organiser post and those party supported an outside very first working committee Sarvodaya Training Centre at Ratmalana. The JVP is planning a series of protests to pressure the government who proposed him candidate,” Madduma Bandara meeting as the majority of party The tests for the other best scorers (Maddumabandara) to the post, said. MPs, Provincial Council members would be held in the next few days. The over soaring cost-of-living, media free- dom and waste, corruption and irregularities. Imitiyaz Bakeer Maker and Unfortunately, 63 hardcore and local government representa- candidates’ names and exam dates would Dunesh Gankanda were sacked UNP MPs had already crossed tives were with the reformists. be displayed in the SLBFE web site Responding to a query, the official said that the release www.slbfe.lk, he said. of the latest COPE report had revealed the rapid deteriora- tion of economic stability due to corruption. Search for... From page 1 Bankrupt SLC’s... From page 1 regularly present batches of ponent of the Standard Model of The sheer amount of data the their most recent data, there is physics. researchers have to wade through An irate Gunasekera said nothing could on Dec. 1 pointed out that the construction of particular excitement surround- While finding it in its expect- means it is highly unlikely they be as shocking as the failure on the part of new playgrounds and expansion of existing ing the seminar on December 13. ed form would confirm common will be able to announce a defini- SLC to make due payments to national crick- facilities had cost SLC a staggering Rs. 7.18 Although scientists are theories on how atoms are put tive result at the seminar, but if eters, whereas those running the once-highly bn, in spite of the estimated cost being Rs. 3.3 profitable operation squandered money with mn. unlikely to announce conclusive together, identifying a number of the data from the two teams impunity. The MP said that SLC owed nation- Sri Lanka spent $ 8 mn to promote the evidence of whether or not the Higgs bosons with different mass- match it could provide the al players nearly 500 mn rupees. country’s games bid. Though some UNP MPs, particle exists, their data could be es or disproving the particle strongest hint yet of the existence The outspoken politician said that the including Dr. and Harin strong enough to make a confi- entirely would overturn many – or non-existence – of the so- unprecedented crisis at SLC obviously fueled Fernando lashed out at the UPFA over the dent guess one way or the other. called “God particle.” fears that Commonwealth Games 2018 could be a bid, UNP leader offered to There is added excitement Dr Barr said: “It is anticipated disaster due to mismanagement and corruption. go ahead with the preparations in the event of a within the scientific community there may be some interest in this The COPE in its latest report tabled in parliament change in government. because the two teams, both of because we collected five times which include British experts, more data this year than we Saudi report: Women... From page 1 will not be comparing their anticipated. This is enough to results beforehand to avoid bias- give pointers of what is happen- The king has already promised some reforms, lows a strict brand of Islam known as Wahhabism. ing their interpretation of their ing – whether there is a Higgs including allowing women to vote in municipal elec- While Abdullah has pushed for some changes on own data. boson, there is no Higgs boson, or tions in 2015. women’s rights, he is cautious not to push too hard This means even the there is something completely dif- There was no official criticism or commentary against the clerics. researchers involved will not assumptions of modern physics. ferent, and even more interesting. on the scholar’s views, and it was unclear whether In October, Saudi Arabia named a new heir to know until the seminar what Dr Alan Barr, of Oxford “Physicists require one in a they were solicited by the Shura Council or submit- the throne, Prince Nayef, who is a former interior their findings mean in the con- University, the Physics million odds [of an error in their ted independently.But social media sites were flood- minister and considered to hold traditionalist ed with speculation that Saudi’s traditional-minded views, although he had led crackdowns against sus- text of the results from the other Coordinator for the ATLAS UK result] to claim a discovery. clerics and others will fight hard against social pected Islamic extremists. His selection appeared to group. collaboration, said the meeting Gaining that degree of confi- changes suggested by the 87-year-old Abdullah. embolden the ultraconservative clerics to challenge The Higgs boson is a theoreti- was likely to produce an interme- dence is likely to need careful Saudi’s ruling family, which oversees Islam’s any sweeping social reforms. cal particle which scientists diate result rather than conclu- analysis well into next year.” holiest sites, draws its legitimacy from the backing Prince Nayef was picked following the death of believe gives mass to everything sive evidence, but added that © Telegraph Group of the kingdom’s religious establishment, which fol- Crown Prince Sultan. in the universe, and is a key com- there “could be some surprises.” London 2011