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| Sunday, 24 October 2004 |
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Sethusamudram project beneficial to both countries Weekly Newscan by Ajarath Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Secretary S. Wirithamulla said that Sri Lanka hoped the construction of the Sethusamudram project would end up in a manner that both India and Sri Lanka would benefit equally and it would not affect the long-standing and strong bilateral relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, local environmentalists have called for a joint Environmental Impact Assessment by Sri Lankan and Indian authorities as the Sethusamudram project, in the light of growing concern over its proposed construction neighbouring the Sri Lankan territorial waters in the Northern sea. A leading environmentalist Jagath Gunawardene said that Sri Lankan authorities should immediately initiate a dialogue with their Indian counterparts on the issue before it was too late. Defence agreement A five member delegation from India led by Ranjith Issar, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Defence held discussions with a team headed by Defence Secretary Cyril Herath, in regard to the proposed defence agreement between India and Sri Lanka. The Indian defence experts discussed mainly about the modernisation of the Palaly military airfield. Prelate warns politicians The Most Ven. Tibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera of Malwatta Chapter said they would be compelled to boycott functions attended by politicians if his repeated request to all political parties to unite to find a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict were disregarded. The Mahanayaka Thera met the deputation of Association of Secretaries to Ministers in Kandy. The Mahanayaka said some political leaders were criticising the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation without putting forward any meaningful suggestions to solve the conflict. Speaker's dilemma Party leaders of the UPFA decided to meet Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara and pointed out what they witnessed as his lapses and lack of impartiality on certain occasions. They said that if he failed to respond, the UPFA would move a vote of no-confidence against him. These decisions were taken at a meeting of government parties. Department on track The Transport Ministry has received Cabinet approval to place the Bill abolishing the Railways Authority before Parliament immediately. The final version of the Bill is being prepared at the Attorney General's Department. It seeks to abolish the Railways Authority, at the same time re-establishing the Railways Department. Easing the burden The government is seeking to effect changes to the legal system by presenting the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in Parliament which enables the Appeal Courts to sit in the provinces and to increase the number of Appeal Court judges from 11 to 21. Retiring Supreme Court Judge, C.V. Wigneswaran charged that subjective thinking, personal prejudices and preferences had interfered with the judicial decision making process in the country and it was not good for the future. Recalling the past `The original Courts, during my days gave us independence, room for innovative and there were direct relationship with the lawyers, litigants and the Court staff. But I wonder, whether such independence and freedom are still available. If we do not mend our ways, the people may have to think of alternative processes to those of the hitherto much cherished judicial process.' |
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