|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 31 October 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
New electoral system will not affect minority parties Weekly Newscan by Ajarath President Kumaratunga promised to settle the ethnic crisis with the support of political opponents before the next elections-however tough the task may be. Speaking at the opening ceremony of a bus terminal in Kurunegala, the President said that she had invited the UNP, but it was of no use. She said the number of votes she might lose in solving the ethnic conflict did not bother her, but she pledged that she would do it in a manner that would not affect the sovereignty of the country. Dove takes the wing The first meeting of the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation's political committee will be held tomorrow. Two representatives from each political party represented in Parliament, have been invited to attend these meetings. President Kumaratunga will deliver the opening address. Meanwhile, the first meeting of the religious committee will be held on Tuesday, November 2 while the civil society committee will meet on November 4. These committees would discuss issues pertaining to the peace process and advance understanding and reconciliation among different communities. Not for third term The themes of discussion include, the commitment to peaceful and non-violent means for resolving the conflict, the urgent need for effective development in the conflict-affected North and East, the importance of political reforms that would help establish a permanent peace and the strengthening of human rights and pluralism. Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that a new electoral system would not deprive minority parties of their place in Parliament. He also said that there was an ongoing dialogue to remove Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara. `A Speaker is appointed by a Parliamentary vote, likewise, he can be removed by a Parliamentary vote. This is the true position', he said. Mangala Samaraweera said the government was for a change in the present election system, which had only been able to appoint weak governments consecutively. He also assured that the change in the present election process or the Constitution is not to ensure a third term of office for President Kumaratunga. Peace and aid Meanwhile, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse assured peace envoy Yasushi Akashi that the government was doing everything possible to resume peace talks with the LTTE. Akashi told the Prime Minister that the international community was waiting for the resumption of peace talks so that the 4.5 billion US dollar aid package could be made available to the country. Monitoring aid Government has announced that a Special Sub-Committee would be appointed to streamline the utilisation of foreign aid. President Kumaratunga will chair the committee. Sri Lanka receives foreign aid worth US $ 950 million every year, but utilisation has remained at a low level. The most critical problem is spending foreign aid effectively within given time frames and completing proposed development projects by the targeted time. During some years the percentage of foreign aid utilisation was about three to ten percent. Pyramid schemes Latest Customs investigations revealed that Rs.1.4 billion of Sri Lankan foreign exchange reserves had been siphoned out of the country via the Pyramid scheme. President Kumaratunga vehemently condemned the Pyramid operators and lamented over the drain in foreign exchange and decided to endorse legislative actions initiated by the Central Bank and Customs authorities to bring to a halt the Pyramid scheme. It was revealed that local agents had undervalued a stock of imported gold coins and artifacts to be US $ 38,000 when the actual amount exceeded US $ 200,000. The government had lost nearly Rs. 40 million as duty due to this undervaluation. President of the Union of the Customs Superintendents, Anil De Silva said several high ranking officials of a Government Department are alleged to have been involved in the scam. Multiple pensions Pension's chief K.A. Tillakaratne has requested the former Secretary General of Parliament and former Ombudsman Sam S. Wijesinha to pay back Rs. 1.5 million he drew as his 'second' pensions. The department intends to recover the said amount by deducting on a monthly basis 50 per cent out of his pension. Authoritative sources said the public servants turned parliamentarians were among the selected category entitled for two pensions. For example, a former school principal, who became an MP now receives two pensions. |
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
