Preferential system on its way out

Water Supply and Drainage Minister and Chief Government Whip, Dinesh Gunawardena

Q: The country is eagerly waiting for electoral reforms. What is the present position?

A: The Local Authorities Elections Amendment Bill will be presented to Parliament on 17 January. This will be the first concrete move to introduce a new system which will strengthen democratic governance in the country.

Q: What are the merits of this new system?

A: First and foremost the preferential voting system will be done away with paving the path for the will of the people to reflect. The candidates will be made closer to the voters as a result of which development work will be expedited.

Plastic crates from Jan 15

Cooperatives and Internal Trade Ministry Secretary Sunil Sirisena

Q: The use of plastic crates to transport vegetables will be made compulsory from January15. Will this affect farmers?

A: Farmers are free to transport their produce from farms to the wholesale centres as they do now.

Q: Have you launched awareness programs for the agricultural sector regarding this new system?

A: Yes, there was an islandwide awareness program including a symposium at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Colombo for vegetable trader organisations and farmers' associations. The use of plastic crates to transport eleven varieties of vegetables will come into effect from January 15.

Sri Lanka must emulate 'Bollywood'

New Chairman Ashoka Serasingha, National Film Corporation (NFC)

Q: Cinema halls are again packed after the country became free from LTTE terror. Are there any plans to improve the local cinema industry?

A: There is a significant change in night life country, after the eradication of terrorism. The film industry should not miss this opportunity.

Q: Any plans to help film producers?

A: It is time to seriously consider the local film market and the foreign market. We have not explored the latter yet. In India, Bollywood is one of the major foreign exchange earners. Sri Lanka too should produce films for the world market, especially for the regional market; China, India, Japan and a few other countries.