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| Sunday, 2 October 2005 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Tamil Press mirrors NE politics by M. P. Muttiah Tamil National Alliance's Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan in a letter to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has urged to cancel the recent appointments made to State banks in the North-East. He said that only 6 out of 59 appointees were Tamils. He had asked the President to appoint Tamils or Tamil speaking recruits to these banks. (Thinakkural 26/9). Plantation workers expressed their concern over the delay caused to them in obtaining birth and death certificates. They said estate managements failed to forward relevant documents to the authorities on time. (Sudar Oli 26/9). Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian S. Kanagaratnam said in an interview with the Virakesari that no permanent houses had been built for tsunami-affected people of Mullaitivu. He said schools had not been repaired and medical facilities were in a poor condition. People still languish in temporary shelters. Only 200 fishermen go to sea. Decision had been taken to build permanent houses beyond the 200-metre buffer zone and the Government had already allocated land at Theerthakarai. (VK 26/9). 18th death anniversary of LTTE martyr Lt.Col. Dileepan was commemorated in the North and East. Shops and enterprises were closed in Vanni. A procession carrying the portrait of Dileepan took place there. There were memorial meetings in Mullaitivu and Jaffna. A special dais was built at the Nallur North Street,where Dileepan had been fasting before his death. Several TNA parliamentarians took part in the events. (SO 27/9). Estate Infrastructure and Community Development Deputy Minister M.S. Sellasamy said that decisions taken by the Ceylon Worker's Congress had never been a failure. He said nobody could buy over the Congress. His party's decision would be centred on the improvement, development and welfare of the people of Indian origin. He spoke at a meeting held in Elkaduwa, Matale, to hand over a cheque to provide electricity to line rooms. (TK 28/9). Jaffna Catholic Diocese's Justice and Peace Commission Chairman Rev. Fr. A. K. Bernard said that the history of Tamils is at a turning point. Now the time had come to establish a clearly defined political structure that would ensure Eelam Tamil identity in the future. ``We strive to regain the sovereignty which had been robbed from us. Therefore, we call upon the international community to support our cause and recognise it," he said in a statement. (VK 27/9). One thousand two hundred workers from Karawanelle Estate in Badulla have launched a work-to-rule campaign against the sale of Namunukula Plantations shares to Richard Peiris Co. The workers pointed out that they might face difficulties in the future as this deal had been struck without any discussion with the trade unions. However, Namunukula Plantations said that it had to sell its shares as the estates were running at a loss. (VK 30/9). Pongu Thamizh Resurgence Resolution adopted in Jaffna yesterday alleged that the European Union has helped the half-baked solution of the Sri Lankan Government to the ethnic crisis. Tamils did not appreciate the delays caused in the name of peace process. European Union's travel ban on the LTTE was a shock to Tamils, and it had denied the equal representation of the LTTE at the negotiation table. (SO 1/10). Agricultural and Plantation Worker'S Congress (APWC) has demanded that the Rs. 1000 wage increase to private sector employees should be extended to the plantation workers. In a letter to the Labour Minister, APWC President R. M. Krishnasamy said that plantation workers receive less than Rs. 2000 per month. Their basic wage per day is Rs. 135.00. Due to the prevailing drought they are offered work for only 15 days a
month. Therefore, the increased wages of the private sector ewmployees
should be extended to the plantation workers,the letter said. (VK 1/10). |
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