Director General of Information refutes Dinamina Headline News

The Director General of Government Information Professor Ariyarathne Athugala refutes the headline news item published in Thursday’s “Dinamina” newspaper under the caption “Rs. 2000 Million worth of cinema equipment imported under French Aid remain still piled up unused in a Govt. warehouse”.
The Director General says that this cinema laboratory was imported from France in the year 2003 for Rs. 120 million and not for Rs. 2000 Million as stated in the said news item and the machine is carefully preserved for use at any time. He says that after he assumed duty as the Director General of Govt. Information in April 2010, as a person who loves the cinematic field and having close connections with the cinema industry, upon discussions with the Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information appointed a committee in May 2010 with veterans in the cinematic field Film Director D.B.Nihalsinha in the chair and with the participation of another veteran in the field Dr. Dharmasena Pathiraja and obtained their recommendations in respect of this cinema laboratory.

The committee had pointed out that there were technical shortcomings in this machine and at the same time there were no sufficient film productions annually in this country to meet the capacity of the machine. The committee had also pointed out that although there is a film developing machine connected to this laboratory, in par with that there are no film negative printing machines attached to this machine.. The Committee was also of the opinion that this laboratory has been designed for commercial film productions hence it was no use for a service depatment of this nature.
Prof. Athugala opined that it was a wrong decision taken in 2003 to import a laboratory of this nature to a service providing institution like the Govt. Film Unit of the Government Information Department.

He further states that the then Chairman of the Film Corporation Tissa Abeysekera took this lab to its Dalugama Studio, and they returned it saying that they cannot make use of it.

He also points out that discussions were held with the famous Indian Film Production Institute, the Prasad Laboratories and they also rejected the proposal of purchasing it saying that technically advanced laboratories than this are now available at cheaper prices in India

Prof. Atugala also states that action has already been taken to submit a cabinet memorandum seeking the advice of the Cabinet of Ministers in this connection based on the committee recommendations he obtained within one month of assuming office and the COPE Committee recommendations.

Burkina Faso Foreign Affairs Minister Calls on President Rajapaksa

The Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Burkina Faso Yipene Djibrill Bassole called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning at the Presidential Secretariat.
While thanking the government of Burkina Faso for its continued support to Sri Lanka in international fora, President Rajapaksa said Sri Lanka’s current foreign policy has prioritized expanding and strengthening bilateral relations among African countries.

Conveying a message from Burkina Faso President Blaise Compaore, Mr. Bassole commended President Rajapaksa’s “effort to develop the country and to increase stability and reconciliation.”

Bassole said one of the purposes of the visit to Sri Lanka is to strengthen south-south cooperation. Burkina Faso being a member of the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC), he said, “We have to show solidarity.”

Burkina Faso is one of the eight countries that abstained in the recent vote on the resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC. Bassole said he had been tasked with getting a first-hand look at the situation in Sri Lanka and informing the president and the people of his country.

Bassole said the government of Burkina Faso is also interested in enhancing cooperation between the two countries in a number of sectors, including in the area of youth development, and looks forward to drawing lessons from Sri Lanka’s success stories.

Ambassador of Burkina Faso in Sri Lanka Idriss Raoua Ouedraogo and the director of the Minister’s Cabinet and the director general for bilateral relations of the Burkina Faso Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation, Amadou Dicko and Gnama Henri Bacye, were a part of the Burkina Faso delegation.

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the Ministry of External Affairs Karunatilake Amunugama and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs I. Ansar also joined the meeting.

Sri Lanka's Defence University gets a teaching hospital.

Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry today signed a supplementary agreement with a Chinese company to construct a teaching hospital for the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU).
Vice Chancellor of the KDU Major General Milinda Peiris and Vice President of Poly Technologies Inc. of China Wang Xingye signed the agreement today 704-bed fully fledged hospital complex.
Chinese state owned company will carry out the construction work on the US$ 202 million locally funded project.
Once completed the eco-friendly state of the art medical facility will be on par with international standards, the Defence Ministry said. The project is expected to be completed in two years.
Established in 2009, the Faculty of Medicine of the KDU is the only national military medical institution of higher education in Sri Lanka. The faculty is responsible for training and graduation of military medical students
According to the Defence Ministry with the completion of the teaching hospital the faculty will be well equipped with ultra-modern facilities for teaching, training, service and medical research.
The hospital will also provide tertiary care facilities to the general public and service personnel while training both undergraduate and post graduate military medical students.
KDU, a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (UK), is the only university in the South Asian region offering graduate courses in defence studies.

Top exporter decries goverenment mishandling of exports sector

A leading exporter has charged that the government had done little, if nothing, to boost the country’s exports.
DSI Samson Group Managing Director Kulatunga Rajapaksa told a recent forum that 2012’s trade deficit was almost equal to total export earnings that year and despite export earnings being on a declining trend as a percentage of GDP, the country’s export sector was struggling in a challenging environment with little support from the government.
After growing nearly 100 percent in 2011, the country’s trade deficit declined by 4.1 percent in 2012 to US$ 9,313 million as at end December from US$ 9,710 million a year earlier. Imports fell 5.8 percent to US$ 19,086.5 million while export earnings fell 7.4 percent to US$ 9,773.5 million.
In January 2013, export earnings fell 18.2 percent year-on-year to US$ 726.7 million.
Export earnings at 30.58 percent of GDP in 2001, declined gradually to 16.44 percent last year.
Rajapaksa listed several impediments to much needed export growth:
"Energy costs are too high. In fact, the rates we pay are the highest in Asia. We have unproductive labour laws. There are too many holidays. Finance costs are high. It is also very unfortunate that budget allocations for research and development are low. General overhead costs are high. We have to maintain two desks to handle EPF and ETF contributions separately. The exchange rate is unrealistic," he said.
Rajapaksa lamented the absence of an effective incentive regime. "The Export Development Rewards Scheme (EDRS) is not operative," he said addressing a seminar on ‘Sustained Economic Growth in the Midst of a Widening Trade Deficit’ organised by the Sri Lanka Economic Association and Organisation of Professional Associations.
Cess collected from the tea, rubber and gem industries which were supposed to be ploughed back to develop those sectors, were diverted to the Treasury instead. "I am sad to say, nothing happened with regards to the cess."
"Anti-dumping laws are not active," Rajapaksa also said.
Charging that the economy was being manipulated ‘just like the stock exchange was manipulated’, where rupees are being sold to buy dollars to finance luxury vehicle imports, Rajapaksa suggested the government pursue a policy of import substitution and import restriction.
Economists at the forum argued against import substitution because creating trade barriers would only hurt Sri Lanka.
They argued that fiscal policy and monetary policy needed to undergo a structural shift so as to create a macroeconomic environment that would be conducive to both exports and FDIs, as heavy borrowings led economic growth could not be sustained for long. Upholding the rule of law was also cited as a critical ingredient.
Senior Economist Prof. A.D.V. de S. Indraratne said the twin deficits of the trading account and budget posed several problems for the economy.
"Always parallel to the current account deficits we experience budget deficits. When the budget deficit increases it increases aggregate demand that leads to increases in imports, if there is no compensating decline in private sector demand. We will not see a perfect correlation between the two in any given year but most current account deficits in the balance of payments are related to fiscal deficits over time.
"How do we meet these deficits? By borrowing or with FDI flows? While FDI has been flows have been low, borrowing has been increasing. Both foreign debt and domestic debt have been falling as a percentage of GDP but their absolute amounts have been rising significantly and our debt burden as measured by the debt service ratio has not been abating. And the implication is that our future exports have to pay for this increasing foreign debt, and hence we need to increase exports to meet these obligations in the future.
"Borrowing that leads to spending on non-tradable goods, result in rising interest rates and rising inflation because both increase aggregate demand. Government spending would crowd out private credit and thereby private investment and on one hand and raise the production costs of exports on the other and make them internationally less competitive," the President of the Sri Lanka Economics Association said.
"Service on the foreign debt must be paid from export earnings. So there are two major remedies: Higher export growth and higher FDI," Prof Indraratne said.

Indian colleges reopen after Indian tamil issue

Engineering, arts and science colleges reopened in the state on Wednesday after a two-week holiday in view of closure on the Indian Tamils issue. Managements of colleges plan to conduct classes even on Saturday and Sundays to make up for the lost time.
Several students with whom this newspaper spoke after they returned to campus were seen pretty worried as they had missed lessons for the past two weeks. “We have to complete one full unit but we don’t have much time to study it. We are not sure if teachers can complete the syllabi. Even if they teach us at a faster pace, how can we study everything in a short time span,” K. Subash, a third year engineering student, asked.
Shravanthi, another engineering student, felt that Anna University should postpone semester exams as colleges were closed for over a week. “I am sure that most of the students may not score good marks if the exam is conducted within one or two months as we need more time to prepare,” she said.
The chairman of a private engineering college said the lost days will have to be compensated. “Even thou­gh it will be tough for us to run the college keeping the logistics in mind, we have to use the weekends and public holidays. We are waiting for a clear-cut directive from the university about conduct of exams,” he added.

Sri Lanka Health Ministry terminates striking substitute employees

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Health today decided to terminated the employment of substitute health workers who are supporting a strike launched by a minor staff union at the Colombo National Hospital.
The Ministry said the substitute health workers who failed to report for duties by the today's deadline have been terminated. The employees who reported for work but refrained from the duties were also considered as vacated their posts.
The Ministry issued an ultimatum yesterday to the employees yesterday that if they fail to report to work today they will be considered as resigned from their duties.
Tense situation occurred when the Senior DIG Anura Senanayake arrived at the hospital grounds to remove the terminated employees from the premises.
Employees belonged to the All Island Health Services Union launched the strike three days ago to protest the transfer of the union's chairman D. S. Somarathne after a disciplinary inquiry by the Public Services Commission.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Nihal Jayathilake said the Public Service Commission investigated a misconduct the employee committed two years ago and the Ministry has no power to change the Commission's disciplinary action. The transfer will take place regardless union action, he said.
Meanwhile, some hospital services were affected by the strike today inconveniencing the public.
The authorities deployed Sri Lanka Army soldiers to the hospital to cover the minor duties interrupted by the strike
Responding to a request made by the Maradana Police yesterday, Maligakanda Magistrate L Liyanarachchi ordered the trade union to refrain from courses of action that would inconvenience patients.
The trade union accused the government of attempting to suppress the union action and said the strike will continue.

Tamilnadu actors protests for Sri Lanka

Expressing support to Tamils in Sri Lanka, South Indian actors including artistes of the cinema industry launched a hunger strike a short while ago at 9 in the morning, in Chennai.

This hunger strike which is supposed to go on till 5 in the evening at the South Indian Actors-Actresses Association Hall in South India located at Abdullah Mawatha, Walluwarthotam Thiagaranagar, Chennai popular actors of South India such as Kamal Hussan, Vije, Sarathkumar and Rajinikanth including film directors, technicians of the cinema industry and employees of the industry have participated in the strike.
The announcement accompanying signatures of the President of South Indian Actors-Actresses Association and Radha Ravi, Gen.Secretary say that South Indian Actors-Actresses Association and the Tamil Artistes Worldwide are holding this hunger strike in order to give support to the Tamils of Sri Lanka. A prominent stand in this respect have been taken by Sarathkumar, President of South Indian Actors-Actresses Association followed by Gen.Secretary Radha Ravi and Treasurer Vagai Chandrasekeran.
The Association makes an invitation to everybody held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. a success in view of requesting for a safe and free existence for the relatives of Tamils who suffered during the ethnic war of Sri Lanka.
It is reported that the South Indian Film Producers Association, Kildu Film Diectors Association, Cinema Employees--labourers and Distributors Association, the Film Owners Association, Rupavahini producers, artistes and and those of Actors-Actresses Associations are in attendance. As a result, it is said that all shooting of filmshave been cancelled.

Kahawaththa Dharmasiri Discharged(New update)

Former member of Godakawela Provincial Council, Lokugam Hewage Dharmasiri, the suspect who was taken into custody in relation to the murder of a mother and daughter of Kotakethana area and which incident caused a huge uproar was released yesterday (02) by Pelmadulla Magistrate Mrs.Neranjala Chandani Dias after being after being in remand for over an year.

The Magistrate informed that the order for release is given by her on instructions of the Attorney General. While three-wheel driver Sanath Nandana too was discharged, the Attorney General presented the orders to the Courts that he does not wish to involve Sanath Nandana and L.H.Dharmasiri when inquiries into the complaint are conducted in future.

Dharmasiri who was jailed for over an year finally bowed to the courts and accepted the orders given.

It is reported that Dharmasiri who achieved freedom had got into his own motor vehicle which was brought in front of the Courts and had gone away happily.

Suspect three-wheel driver Jayasekera Vidanelage Sanath Nandana whi is supposed to have disappeared at Henegama, Gampaha on being released on bail after having been taken into custody in relation to the killings too was discharged yesterday.

On 31 January last year, Nayana Nilmini (58), a mother of two and her daughter Kavyandya Chaturangani Sellahewa, an A/L student were brutally murdered at Kotakethana, Kahawatta.

In this connection, investigations conducted by security forces and the CID took Lokugamhewage Dharshana alias Raju, his wife Rasika Chandani Morapitiyage, Jayasekera Vidanelage Sanath Nandana and the then member of the Godakawela Provincial Council and a brother of the first suspect L.M.Dharmasiri into custody and remanded on suspicion.

The second suspect and third suspect who were among the four sent to remand prison in February 2012 were given bail by Ratnapura High Courts by magistrate Mr.Mohan Seneviratne last December 12th.

The suspect Sanath Nandana who was given bail was subject to abduction when in Henegama, Gampaha while second suspect Rasika Chandani refused bail as her husband was jailed and still in jail at Kuruvita Prison upto now.

Several appeals had been made on behalf of Dharmasiri to the Ratnapura High Courts and it was successful yesterday.

Dharmasiri was brought to courts from Kalutara Prison while Dharshana and Rasika Chandani was brought from Kuruvita Prison.

Further hearing on this complaint was put off for April 09th.

Those who stood for bail of Sanath Nandana too were discharged. Officers of the CID appeared for the complainant party.

Ravana Balaya surrounds cricket institute

A group of people including monks staged a protest in front of the Sri Lanka Cricket Association protesting against Sri Lankan players who had joined the IPL Tournament.

The group concerned was Ravana Balaya Organisation. It was mentioned there that the Sri Lankan players who have joined the IPL competition have forgotten their motherland and that their life-slogans have become money. It was further mentioned that no Sri Lankan player has joined the IPL Competition will be able to escape consequences of this betrayal.

It was seen from the slogans which depicted that not only players but even the Sri Lankan Cricket Association too had succumbed to the influence of money.

It was further reported that some restlessness took place during the protest and that Senior DIG Mr.Anura Senanayaka too was present in front of the Sri Lanka Cricket Association to disperse the protestors.
Subsequent to a harsh exchange of words between the protestors and Senior DIG, it was reported that only 5 monks entered the Sri Lanka Cricket Association.

Rathmalana Triple Murder

It was reported from Courts quarters that suspect Maduranga who had killed his wife and two children in Ratmalana has faced a problem in not being able to pay the lawyers' fees
Maduranga who drew a salary of one and a half lakhs holding an Executive position in a garment industry had maintained a number of accounts and as a custom had most of those accounts in a joint-account form together with his wife
The reason for his lack of finances is that however much he was clever in planning the murder, he had maintained fixed joint-accounts with his wife which then are bound by legal conditions of both parties.
As such, it is possible to withdraw cash from his fixed deposit accounts only with signatures of both parties. According to his plans,if it was however proved at the post mortem that his wife had died from a fire caused by natural circumstances, he would have been able to have some of the conditions of the said accounts relaxed. But since he is suspected of murdering his wife, in order to make a change in the accounts he requires a court order.
Therefore, the suspect's lawyers pointed out that in order to pay their fees, the monies in Maduranga's possession is not sufficient and that he could transfer monies in the accounts in his mother's name because she had looked after him, of course on the wishes of Maduranga and that through such a process she could withdraw the required amount of cash from the bank.
Mt. Lavinia Courts Chief Magistrate Nirosha Fernando has rejected this request saying that on the other hand the deceased Sachetana's mother expresses opposition as her daughter too holds rights to those accounts.
By now, a number of Maduranga's accounts have been disactivated on Court Orders and though lawyers have requested that the accounts be activated, the Magistrate that further investigations should be carried out and for this purpose the Case was postponed till the next 11th.