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| Sunday, 26 September 2004 |
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UPFA majority in parliament proved Weekly Newscan by Ajarath Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera said 850,000 public servants, including those in the Armed Forces and Police, would have impressive pay package through the Budget. He said that the Permanent Salary Commission headed by Tissa Devendra was busy reviewing the State sector cadre management and structure prior to making its recommendations. Out of the 850,000 government servants, around 400,000 work for the armed forces and police. If this number was taken away, the public sector employees engaged at national and provincial levels are under-staffed. Negotiated settlement Ports, Aviation and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that the government believed in a negotiated settlement to the ethnic problem. Addressing a ceremony to mark World Peace Day, Minister Samaraweera said war was not an answer to the conflict and that the government has shown flexibility in its approach to the negotiations. The Canadian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka Ms. Valerie Raymond urged the LTTE to return to peace talks and show flexibility with regard to peace negotiations. She met the LTTE political head S.P. Tamilselvan in Kilinochchi. The Canadian envoy conveyed her country's grave concern over the deteriorating security situation and ongoing political killings. She also urged the LTTE to fully respect the Ceasefire Agreement and promote and respect human rights. The government has already finalised agreements for more than 70 per cent of the aid pledged at the Tokyo Conference. According to Minister Mangala Samaraweera, the funds amounting to US$ 4.5 billion were pledged in Tokyo. No right to talk He said the UNP has no moral right to talk about or criticize the UPFA's management of the cost of living and the fulfilment of pledges given to the people since the UNP had not been able either to control the COL or fulfil the pledges it gave to the masses. Coffin at the gate EPDP supporters brought the coffin of slain EPDP activist Thambithurai Sivakumar to Colombo and demonstrated opposite the Norwegian Embassy. They also burnt the effigies of the LTTE leader. Former EPDP Parliamentarian V. Sivadasan led the protest. They left the coffin of Sivakumar at the gate of the Norwegian Embassy and demanded action from Norwegian peace envoys. Sivakumar was gunned down in Puttalam while cycling with his daughter. Meanwhile, another EPDP activist Somasunderam Varnakulasingham was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen suspected to be from the LTTE's pistol wing at Wellawatte. At the same time, the LTTE claimed that it had killed the brother of Karuna in the East. Majority proved The UPFA government's majority in Parliament was proved in the vote on the Inland Revenue (Regulation of Amnesty) Bill taken for voting. It was passed with a majority of 50 votes. The Government mustered 112 votes in favour of the Bill against the Opposition's 62.SLMC Hakeem Group voted with the UNP, while the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Kachchi members were absent at the voting. Compassion and killing Inspector-General of Police Indra de Silva stressed the importance of police service with men who display love, understanding and compassion towards the public who depend on their dedicated service. Police Officers should be able to serve the citizens and maintain law and order in the country, the IGP said. During rainy days European Union Economist Dr. Peter O' Brien said that Sri Lanka could export its products to the European Market jointly with India whenever the country found it difficult to meet the required volume of goods for these markets. He was speaking at a Seminar held on Possible Enhancement of Trade between the SAARC region and the European Union. |
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