Striking Health Workers Return to Work

4 Friday 23rd March, 2012 Suspect on bail shot dead BY MADURA RANWALA A 30-year-old bachelor was gunned Watta’, near the house which his mother down in Grandpass on Wednesday (21) had built. The lone gunman, who shot by an unidentified gunman between 8.00 the victim at close range, had come p.m. and 8.20 p.m. walking. Police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana The friend who was with the victim said that Mohotti Arachchilage too had been threatened by the killer. Prasannakumara aka ‘Ukku Patiya’ had ‘Ukku Patiya’ had been released on been shot dead at ‘Weligoda Watta’ in the bail a few days ago and was said to have Grandpass Police division. The killer been involved in the narcotics’ trade, had fled the scene. He said that the vic- police said. tim succumbed to his injuries on admis- The Police spokesman said that the sion to the National Hospital, Colombo. police mobile service on duty at the time According to police, the victim, who was informed of the shooting. was not a permanent resident of the The Grandpass Police are conducting area had been with a friend at ‘Weligoda investigations. Over Rs 136.5 mn worth currency notes withdrawn in two years BY SAMAN INDRAJITH Currency notes to the value of over possible to estimate the fake notes in cir- Rs 136.5 million had been withdrawn culation but in 2011, law implementing from circulation in 2010 and 2011, officers of the Central Bank had detect- Parliament was told yesterday. ed 4,697 fake notes. In 2010, Rs 136.6 million worth of cur- He said that to tackle the fake note rency notes were withdrawn while in issue, measures have been taken to 2011, it rose to Rs 137 million, Senior introduce a new security mark for cur- Minister for International Monetary rency notes as well as to train relevant Affairs Sarath Amunugama said. personnel on how to tackle the printing He was replying to a question raised of counterfeit notes. by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayaka who Public awareness programmes too also queried the number of fake notes have been initiated to enable the public that are in circulation per year. to differentiate between fake notes from Minister Amunugama said it was not genuine ones. Popular actor/comedian Anton Jude’s last rites being conducted at the Catholic section of the General Cemetery, Borella yesterday evening. His remains were laid to rest amidst a large gathering. Pic Sajith Jayasekera UNP moves No-faith Striking health workers motion against John The United National Party yesterday justifiable procedure to absorb those brought a motion of no confidence graduates into the public service. “The against Public Administration and jobs are provided on the basis of politi- Home Affairs Minister John Seneviratne cal affiliations, family ties and relation- in Parliament on the issue of recruiting ships and bribes. It is our view that return to work graduates to the public service. these jobs should not be provided to a The motion signed by 32 UNP mem- list prepared by government politicians BY DILANTHI JAYAMANNE bers said that the Minister had promoted as it violates the provisions of the the recruiting of graduates on political Constitution. The Minister so far has The minor employees of to normal with no incidents,” in a number of hospitals. agendas instead of merit. There were failed to tell the nation on what basis hospitals and several other A disappointed Kumarasinghe Kumarasinghe said that over 40,000 unemployed graduates in the these jobs are provided,” the motion health sector unions in hospi- said adding that although the ACHSU was a part of the country but there was no systematic or said. (SI) tals strike had been successful, Troops Joint Health Trade Union country-wide called off the unions had only met with leave Committee (JHTC). The their trade union action last empty promises that their health employees’ demands morning. General Secretary demands would be met with. hospitals include an enhanced uni- UNHRC vote against SL due to of the All Ceylon Health “Nothing has been done so far, form allowance, permanent Services Union Gamini instead the nine unions which as striking appointments for casual Kumarasinghe said yesterday took part in the sick note cam- workers employees, introducing a that the army which had been paign were requested to give constitution for minor Govt.’s lack of foresight - Rosy deployed at hospitals to carry the government a few days to return employees, and several others. BY ZACKI JABBAR Colombo District UNP MP, Rosy out services of the striking settle their grievances,” A discontented Senanayake told “The Island” that the employees had withdrawn Kumarasinghe said. Minor Kumarasinghe said the Opposition and UNP leader Ranil failure of the Mahinda Rajpaksa regime once the normal work employees applied for sick Unions had previously held Wickremesinghe yesterday called on all to present a political solution after the resumed. leave on Wednesday (21) crip- several discussions with the political parties that have ruled the defeat of the LTTE, had led to yester- “Hospital services are back pling the day to day activities Ministry with little reward. country, to apologise to day’s vote against Sri the people for the rise Lanka at the UNHRC. of militancy and reper- She said that Rajapaksa had on May Why India ... From page 1 cussions that were Police Sergeant being experienced even 19, 2009 declared that he promotion of trilingual policy, reduc- about genuine reconciliation between all now. would set an example to tion of high security zones, curbing activi- the communities of Sri Lanka, including Addressing a meet- the rest of the world, in bribery net ties of illegal armed groups, return of pri- the minority Tamil community. ing to commemorate but his high sounding vate lands and demilitarization and “While we subscribe to the broader mes- the 60th death anniver- promises and joint BY MADURA RANWALA restoration of civilian administration. sage of this resolution and the objectives it sary of Sri Lanka’s first statements signed with This Council has also been briefed by the promotes, we also underline that any assis- Prime Minister D. S. the Indian Prime A police sergeant, attached to Kiriella Government of Sri Lanka in this session tance from the Office of the High Senanayake at Ranil Rosy Minister Manmohan Police Station, was arrested on on the series of steps taken to implement Commissioner on Human Rights or visits Wednesday by Bribery and Corruption Independence Square, Singh, were yet to be the report and other measures. We wel- of UN Special Procedures should be in con- he said that the father of nation had implanted. Commission sleuths, on a tip off from a come these steps. We are confident that sultation with and with the concurrence of developed a national identity after Sri The Presidents failure to implement lorry driver, Director General of the implementation of the report will foster the Sri Lankan Government. These are Lanka then called Ceylon gained inde- his pledges, was the main reason for Commission Lakshmi Jayawickrama said genuine reconciliation. norms which all of us in the Council sub- India also to vote against Sri Lanka, yesterday. “India has been involved in a substan- scribe to. A democratic country like Sri pendence. She said that a lorry driver who was Senanayake said adding that it saddens tial way in the rehabilitation and resettle- Lanka has to be provided time and space to If the country was to progress as a transporting sand was arrested by a ment efforts, and the reconstruction achieve the objectives of reconciliation united nation, a national identity has to her deeply to see the country being cru- policeman, around 10.00 a.m. on the process in Northern Sri Lanka. We are and peace. In this Council we have the be forged and safeguarded. This could be cified at international forums due to the Kiriella road at done only through an inclusive approach ruling party’s lack of judgement and Kurugammodara in Ratnapura, on happy that our engagement in Sri Lanka in responsibility to ensure that our conclu- the areas of housing, de-mining, education, sions do contribute to this objective rather and not by adopting a confrontational foresight. charges of transporting sand in excess of attitude, he observed. the permitted limit and operating the public health and connectivity have helped than hinder it. vehicle with an expired revenue licence. restore a degree of normalcy in the area. “In conclusion, as a neighbour with The said policeman was alleged to “In this context, we urge the Sri Lankan thousands of years of cordial relations have demanded Rs. 10,000 to clear the Government to take forward the process of with Lanka, with deep rooted spiritual and Strategic alliances... From page 1 driver of the offences, but had later broader dialogue and show concrete move- cultural ties, we cannot remain untouched The implications of this were not lost on ue to be guided by the vital interests and agreed to take Rs. 5,000, she said. ment towards a meaningful devolution of by developments in that country. We have many countries, he said wellbeing of the people of our country. It The DG said that the policeman was powers, including the implementation of been bound also by a shared quest for free- As far as Sri Lanka is concerned, our hardly requires emphasis that this cannot arrested while accepting the bribe at a the 13th Amendment and beyond. We would dom and dignity. We will continue to policy in respect of all matters will contin- yield place to any other consideration.” location near Kurugammodara in also urge that Sri Lanka takes forward the remain engaged with the Government of Ratnapura.

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