Impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice:

Opposition and NGO activists get new lease of life

Opposition political parties got a new lease of life last week with Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake making a controversial walk out from the proceedings of Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to look into charges levelled against her.

Understandably, those who day dream of a regime change in Sri Lanka ironed out their differences and came forward to hold demonstrations in support of Dr. Mrs. Bandaranayake.

The most notable of them all were Sarath Fonseka, Palitha Range Bandara and Palitha Thewarapperuma, all those who have pending court cases. When they expect by attending such demos is anybody’s guess. Many NGO activists whose organisations get lavish foreign funding too were in their numbers with J.C. Weliamuna of Transparency International grabbing microphones to make his presence felt.

Fonseka, who has lost all his political confidants, too was seen playing an isolate role and then jumping to a television camera to further expose his political immaturity.

The UNP once again proved that it is not only the largest party in the Opposition but also the most unpredictable party in the Opposition when two of its members in the PSC – parliamentarians Lakshman Kiriella and John Amaratunga withdrew from the Committee. But what is the most interesting is that their withdrawal came minutes after Dr. Mrs. Bandaranayake walked out from the PSC proceedings.

All four opposition members appointed to the PSC to investigate into the impeachment motion against Chief Justice Bandaranayake said that they had decided to withdraw from the PSC from Friday.

UNP Parliamentarians John Amaratunga and Lakshman Kiriella, DNA MP Vijitha Herath and TNA MP R. Sampanthan made this statement at a press conference at a Committee room at the Parliament Complex. Amaratunga said the four members placed on record in the PSC a document that included several conditions, and said if the matters were attended to, they would continue to participate in the PSC proceedings.

He added that as those matters were not attended to they have decided to withdraw from the Parliamentary Select Committee.

Ranil strengthens his grip

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken complete control over the United National Party (UNP) as all reformists were showed after securing 337 votes against the proposal to extend the UNP leadership by six years.

Over 5,000 selected members took part at December 1 convention but only six percent had objected to the resolution to extend the party leadership by six more years.

Though several UNP Reformists did their lobbying against the move through television and at regional level, hardly anybody had guts to take Ranil head on.

Even Sajith Premadasa objected to it after getting prior approval. General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has previously told Sajith and all others that anybody has a right to object to the Resolution as the UNP is a democratic party.

Insiders said Sajith previously planned to make a vociferous speech but later diluted it after finding that there is hardly any support for him. When Sajith knew that the things are not too good for his leadership claim, he went of the defensive and pleaded that he would contest the next presidential election in the event the party leader refuses to contest.

But insiders say even such a harmless statement would not guarantee his place as the deputy leader of the UNP.

President on meting justice to people

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said last week that when efforts are being made inline with constitutional provisions to mete out justice to people accused of malpractices, some of the accused have made it a practice to blame the government in return.

He said those who wanted corruption and malpractice to be rooted out were now protesting when the government is doing exactly that. The President emphasised that all were equal before the law, and justice should be meted out to anyone irrespective of their status.

The President said he had the utmost respect for the Judiciary. He said today, with the dawn of peace, anyone had the freedom to express their opinions and move about anywhere freely.

However this was not the case sometime back. The President was speaking to a gathering which included ministers, MPs, businessmen, artistes and the public in Welipenna in the Southern Expressway, after opening the newly built rest area.

Legal action against CJ’s husband

National Savings Bank employees demanded authorities to institute legal action against former NSB chairman Pradeep Kariyawasam who is said to have caused huge losses to the bank.

NSB employees along with a large number of members of various labour unions held demonstrations near the Bribery Commission office displaying banners and posters.

Sri Lanka Independent Bank Workers Trade Union chairman Janaka Hewapathirana said what they strongly demanded was to speed up the inquiries into the complains made to the Bribery Commission and to punish the culprits and urging the authorities to act promptly to deal with the former NSB Chairman.

Some of the posters displayed had slogans such as: 'Husband of the Chief Justice destroyed the Reputation of NSB'; No legal suits against Kariyawasam - was it because he is the CJ’s husband; ‘Please Madam - go home’. The protesters then proceeded to leave, shouting slogans on the way.

Strengthening maritime and aviation sectors

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said on Friday that Sri Lanka’s independence would not have been threatened, if previous governments strengthened its maritime and aviation sectors. “If our friends in power thought of strengthening the aviation and maritime fields, it would not have been easy to drop dhal to our country,” he said.

The President was speaking at the centenary celebration of the civil aviation sector of the country, at Temple Trees. The cancellation of four new postage stamps also took place to mark this occasion and the first day cover was presented to President by Postmaster General Rohana Abeyratne. The President said Japanese planes carried out sorties on Colombo during World War II, while the LTTE did the same thing at the height of terrorism.

He was of the view that politicians made a mistake by paying less attention to strengthening the country’s aviation and maritime sectors. Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne presented a replica of the first aircraft in Sri Lanka to the President in appreciation of his services to the civil aviation sector. President Rajapaksa described how the country was affected with the attack on the Bandaranaike International Airport by LTTE terrorists.

The President said certain groups launched a massive campaign against Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the attack. “They issued adverse travel advisories against Sri Lanka which had negative effects on our tourism industry. This situation was exacerbated with the terrorist BIA attack”, he said. President Rajapaska added that the situation has completely changed now and tourists have started visiting Sri Lanka with the dawn of peace.

“According to latest reports, Sri Lanka has become the safest tourist destination in the region. SriLankan Airlines would also be among the top 10 airlines in the world, if it works with dedication and perseverance”, he said. He said Sri Lanka should have to produce experts in the field of aviation and aerospace,if it wants to leap forward in the satellite industry.

President Rajapaksa said the country’s airline achieved more victories and development during the last few years. “We should get away from the poor mentality as a nation. We will hand over the country to the next generation after developing the aviation and maritime fields.

These opportunities are no longer confined to the children of pampered class. The children of rural villagers should grasp these opportunities,” he said.

The President said there was a time in which country’s airline was sold for a song to a fraudster. The President said he as the Head of State had to face a predicament in travelling by the country’s airline due to this situation. He said the Head of the State was refused permission to travel by national carrier due to this fraudulent act. President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka has started to think of its aviation and maritime industries after a lapse of over 50 years under the Mahinda Chinthanaya policy framework.

He said the government’s policy of conquering the air is clearly mentioned in the Mahinda Chinthana policy framework.

The President said that his government took prompt action to bring the national carrier - SriLankan Airlines under the government’s fold. “It has become a money spinning institution”, he said.

“The Aviation industry plays a pivotal role in making the country the Wonder of Asia as enshrined in the Mahinda Chinthana. There was an era in which people thought that air travel is a luxury and it was limited to a section of the society,” he said.

He said air travel has become cheaper and easier mode of transport today and more than two million of Sri Lankan expatriate workers use airlines. The President said the highest income derived by SriLankan Airlines is from Sri Lankan expatriate workers.

Amaradeva’s 85th birthday

Sri Lanka’s foremost exponent in classical music and household name Pandit W.D. Amaradeva celebrated his 85th milestone in life in the simple style characteristic of the man who bequeathed an indigenous music ethos to the nation during his near seven decade long artistic career, with wife and pillar of strength, Wimala at his side.

 Amaradeva was the foremost influence that pioneered what could be called a truly indigenous music genre immersed in the national ethos and cultural identity. His creations cut across over five generations of Lankan classical music lovers in their mass appeal and uniqueness.

Amaradeva’s renditions are still in vogue despite their antiquity and will remain timeless for generations more to savour. Culture and the Arts Minister T.B. Ekanayake, Sri Lanka Arts Council Board chairman Prof Carlo Fonseka and Sri Lanka Music Panel chairman Rohana Weerasinghe with journalist Gamini Sumanasekera were present wishing the Thespian a long life at his home in Maharagama.

Amaradeva mimed some of his famous songs, which brought back nostalgic memories of the past to those present.

Appreciating the service of Pandit Amaradeva, Minister Ekanayake said it was a pleasure and honour to wish Pandith Amaradeva who is the greatest musician produced by the country. “I am here to convey the best wishes of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the government to Pandit Amaradeva. He hailed from Moratuwa and became popular all over the country in a very short period. He won many international awards especially the Magsaysay Award and Padma Shri Awards,” Minister Ekanayake said.

Former Hindu Editor on strongest SL Govt

Former Editor of The Hindu newspaper, N. Ram said that there have not been any previous Governments in Sri Lanka which had been stronger than that of the present led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Speaking to a team of Sri Lankan editors, including the Chief Editor of Dinamina Gamini Jayalath, Ram had said that no government had so much of strength as the present one, said what the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) should do is to extend their full support to President Rajapaksa to find a lasting solution to grievances of the people in the North and the East.

Ram said the TNA leadership was silent when the LTTE leadership was acting in similar fashion to the Pol Pot group. They remained silent until the LTTE was defeated. They did all what the LTTE commanded of them and today, as the LTTE has been destroyed by the war, the TNA should use the political freedom for the benefit of the entire country. Hence, the TNA leaders should join hands with the President and support the Government in finding a lasting solution to the ethnic issue.

“In 1987, the LTTE declared war against the Indian Peace Keeping Force. In 1991, they assassinated Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. This resulted in the people of India distancing themselves from the LTTE. The LTTE lost any rapport and sympathy the y enjoyed up to then with India,” he pointed out.

”Today, the Indian people and especially people in Tamil Nadu have expressed their dislike towards the LTTE. When a group of Sri Lankan Media personnel went over to the Asian Training Centre for Journalists in India, former Hindu Editor Ram disclosed these facts to them.

Sigh of relief for Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka had a sigh of relief when the Obama administration on Friday extended waivers of US sanctions it has granted to major Asian petroleum consumers, including China, India, South Korea and Sri Lanka, for reducing their imports of Iranian oil.

 Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the extensions in a statement. In addition to those four countries, the waivers will apply to Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Turkey and Taiwan.

All nine were originally granted six-month renewable exemptions from the sanctions in June. The banks and other financial institutions based in these countries will not be hit any more with penalties under US law enacted as a way of pressuring Iran to come clean about its nuclear program. A total of 20 countries and Taiwan have been granted the waivers. The others — Belgium, Britain, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Japan — will come up for review in March.

 The administration says the exemptions are a sign that pressure on Iran is increasing. In her statement, Clinton said Iran’s oil production fell by a million barrels per day in September and October, compared to the same period in 2011.

The U.S. sanctions target foreign financial institutions that do business with Iran’s central bank by barring them from opening or maintaining correspondent operations in the United States. The sanctions would apply to foreign central banks only for transactions that involve the sale or purchase of petroleum or petroleum products and then only if the administration determined that there was enough non-Iranian oil available to make up the difference without disrupting oil markets.

President at Green awards

Sri Lanka’s industries and service sector organisations which made outstanding contributions to maintain a cleaner and greener environment through pollution control, waste and resources management, cleaner production and green productivity were recognized and rewarded for their good environmental performance at “National Green Awards - 2012” held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the BMICH on Monday. President Rajapaksa whilst stating that the performance of award winners was an example for others to follow, also noted that such recognition will encourage both award winners and others to reach even greater standards in future in demonstrating good environmental performance.

The President also stressed the present government always gives priority to protecting the natural riches bestowed on the country by nature. He also added that the country plans to reach its development goals, while protecting and preserving the environment.

Forty nine awards were presented under 16 categories with environmentally-friendly organizations being selected by an expert panel of judges after a lengthy review of their performance. The Green Awards organized by the the Central Environmental Authority and the Ministry of Environment were held for the second consecutive year.

The former CEA Chairman and the current Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information, Charitha Herath was bestowed with a special award in recognition for services rendered during his tenure as the CEA head. Environment Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and CEA Chairman Wimal Rubasinghe also spoke.

Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake, Enviornment Deputy Minister Abdul Cader, A.H.M. Azwer MP, provincial politicians and environmental officials were also present.