The JVP yesterday urged the government to immediately reveal to the country the proposed Constitutional reforms instead of resorting to undemocratic and underhand tactics.JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told a news conference that speculation was rife about the government’s plan to introduce Constitutional amendments soon.
“Speculation is also rife that President Mahinda Rajapaksa intends to discuss these matters with Indian leaders during his visit to New Delhi. However, the people of Sri Lanka should know about the amendments before anyone else does. Therefore, we urge the government to place these proposals before the country first,” Mr. Silva said. (Read More)
The JVP yesterday said that the country is in an economic mess and it is getting worse day by day due to the Mahinda Rajapaksa government’s corrupt administration and bad economic policies.
Speaking to the press at the party head office in Pelawatta, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that according to the Central Bank report for 2009, all products and earning of the country had decreased while local and foreign borrowings of the government increased.
"Tea exports had decreased by 9.1 per cent compared with 2008. According to the Central Bank report, the country has exported 318 million Kgs in 2008 but it had reduced to 289 million in 2009. Tea is the main export crop in Sri Lanka and now the industry is under threat," he said.
Silva said the annual coconut production was 2,909 million nuts in 2008, but it had reduced by 147 millions in 2009 and only 2,762 million nuts were produced.(Read More)
The LTTE rump is furious over its failure to thwart gathering of Indian film stars in Colombo. IIFA is the latest setback suffered by those bent on promoting the separatist cause.
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) says the country has not received any benefits from having the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Colombo.
The JVP-led political alliance said that though President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government had spent Rs. 600 million for infrastructure development and propaganda, several top stars had skipped the event.
Addressing the media at DNA head office yesterday, JVP MP Vijitha Herath accused the government of having ‘wasted’ Rs. 600 million on what it called a worthless event, while people recently displaced due to floods continued to experience difficulties. (Read More)
The recent tax reduction on vehicle imports was a mere gimmick by the government to increase its tax revenue, the JVP said yesterday.
JVP MP Sunil Handunnetti, commenting on the government’s move, told Daily Mirror that the government had adopted a jackpot style approach to increase its revenue during this trying time.
“When the tax rate is high, imports are discouraged. Then, the government’s tax revenue decreases. As a result, they have reduced the taxes on vehicle imports. Now, there will be more and more vehicle imports eventually resulting in the increase of state revenue by way of taxes,” Mr. Handunnetti said. (Read More)
The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) has decided to ask for a parliamentary debate on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to be signed with India.
The DNA has renewed its objection to this agreement in the backdrop of the lapse of ten years for the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) signed with India.
Party’s General Secretary Vijitha Herath told Daily Mirror yesterday that the government should disclose the contests of this CEPA agreement to Parliament immediately.
“That is why we are going to move an adjournment motion in this regard. Sri Lanka has had more minuses than plusses in terms of the SAFTA. We fear whether the CEPA will put Sri Lanka at a disadvantageous position,” he said. (Read More)
The JVP lashed out at the government yesterday for taking full credit for the war victory, without sharing it with detained former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka.
Commenting on the postponement of the victory day celebrations, JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva said that even the weather had interfered with the government’s plans because the gods did not approve of what it was doing to General Fonseka. (Read More)
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Mrs. Sumeda G. Jayasena said yesterday that she intended to seek the Cabinet approval next week for the issuance of duty-free vehicle permits for the MPs.
Mrs. Jayasena said she would consult the other party leaders in Parliament before taking a decision on this matter.
She said the MPs who had completed five years in Parliament would be entitled to this benefit, along with those who had elected to the House for the first time without representing any Provincial Council earlier. (Read More)
The national list nominations to Parliament of the ruling UPFA, the main opposition UNP, the JVP led Democratic National Alliance and the TNA were announced yesterday which included a number of new faces while leaving out several prominent personalities.
From the UNP the omission of the names of party’s Assistant leader Rukman Senanayake and longstanding MP and constitutional lawyer K.N. Choksy came as a surprise. Former Minister Tilak Marapone too had failed to make it to parliament from the UNP national list.
From the UPFA national list the surprise omissions were former Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara and former Higher Education Minister Prof. Wishwa Warnapala.  Some of the other notable names that have been left out from the final UPFA National List are: M.H.Mohammed, Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha thera, Anurudha Ratawatte, Lesley Devendra, C. Shanmuganathan, Dr. Harischandra Wijetunga and Presidential Candidate Sarath Kongahage. (Read More)
A Court yesterday ordered Democratic National Alliance (DNA) activists including Vijitha Herath, Sunil Handunnetti, Arjuna Ranatunga, Lakshman Nipunaarachchi and detained General Sarath Fonseka’s wife Anoma to make a statement to the Fort police.
Fort police officers told Colombo Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that the DNA had violated election laws by holding a public meeting opposite the Fort Railway Station 48 hours before Thursday’s general election to call for the immediate release of General Fonseka from detention.
Police said the public meeting had obstructed the movement of people at the Fort railway station on April 6 and that the DNA had committed an offence under section 70 of the Parliament Election Act No 1 of 1981 and moved Court to issue notice on them. Further inquiry was postponed for April 23.
In an assault by thugs on a politician at Dolosbage Road, Gampola and some supporters of Dilum Amunugama, Kandy District candidate of the UPFA, six had succumbed to injuries.
Thugs of a powerful candidate of the Front had assaulted them and set fire to the van they travelled in Mr. Amunugama said. A complaint had been lodged with the Gampola police.
Thugs had also indulged in attacks from Sunday afternoon in Helagama. A vehicle of Abdul Cader UNP candidate had been damaged.
A Kandy police high up said the SSP Gampola had been asked to conduct investigations on attacks to UPFA supporters at Nawalapitiya and Gampola.
An Army team had been deployed to assist the police in preserving peace in Nawalapitiya, a Senior Army Officer said.
Mr. Mahindananda Aluthgamage said at a media briefing at Kandy, two government politicians and the JVP were behind these attacks.
