Sri Lanka News

The clock back Independence of the Rajapakse Govt…

Jayalath Jayawardena. UNP M.P. at the UNP Media Unit today (28 Jan) speaking to the Media asked what right this Rajapakse Govt. has to celebrate independence after destroying the very foundation and every objective of independence .

Referring to the Govt.’s open and deliberate actions to destroy media freedom and freedom of speech of the people, he said, as the Govt. is unable to solve any of the people’s dire problems of which it is the architect, it is resorting to tyranny and lawlessness to stifle opposition and people’s agitation.

Even the Ministers have no discipline. Neither do they know what the laws of a country mean. The conduct of Minister Mervyn Silva and his underworld ‘kudu ’gang unlawfully entering a Govt. Institution and attacking a law abiding News Director bears ample testimony to the fact that the President has lost control not only over the administration of the country, but also over his Cabinet of Ministers. With no disciplinary action taken against the Minister, and a camouflage investigation on the episode by the Police are strongly suggestive that this assault was manipulated with the assistance of the higher ups of the Govt. It was alleged that the President has backed and had put Mervyn on the pedestal on that issue.

Even two days ago, the News Producer, Mawalage of the same Institution who spoke vociferously on that occasion against Minister’s attack has been brutally assaulted by a gang. The news producer who was critical is still in Hospital.

This President is trying to rule the country by implementing jungle laws with himself and his Ministers surrounded by lackeys of the Police, political stooges and underworld Kingpins, he exclaimed.

He urged the Media not to cower under these threats and intimidation. He told them to remember when their colleague’s house is ablaze their own is at stake.

He also assured the Media that the UNP will always stand by the Free Media as always as it has nothing to hide. Indeed, it is under the UNP tenure of Office, the draconian piece of legislation which stifled Press freedom was abolished, he concluded.

January 28, 2008 Posted by Multi-blogger | News and politics | Leave a comment

Bus fares up for masses – fuel allowances up for Ministers !!

In current Sri Lanka, with the so called ‘peoples’ Govt. of Rajapakse Bros., hardly a day passes without the people being rudely awakened by a disastrous news of steep price hikes of their essential commodities, tax or bus fare increases or some carnage of innocent citizens.

In keeping with this Govt.s mania to heap endless burdens on the people while giving itself relief (recent monthly fuel allowance hike of Rs.100,000.00, to Ministers !) it has now decided to raise the basic bus fares to Rs. 6.00 from Rs. 5.00 .with effect from 1st Feb.

Recently, President explained that he did not raise fuel prices of Air lines while burdening the poor masses using Kerosene which went up to unbearable prices, is because he wished the common man also to use economy class MihinAir.

May be the common man will find it cheaper to use Mihinair for travel than the bus under the new revised exorbitant bus fares!

January 26, 2008 Posted by Multi-blogger | News and politics | Leave a comment

60th Anniversary Of Independence Of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka observes its 60th anniversary of independence on Feb 4 in midst of a stubborn civil war and in the aftermath of the assassination of a government minister that was blamed on armed separatist rebels, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was expected to be the chief guest at the independence celebrations, but India has said he will not be attending because of prior commitments. The trip by Singh would have been the first diplomatic visit to Colombo by an Indian prime minister in 20 years.

January 24, 2008 Posted by Multi-blogger | News and politics | 5 Comments

Future of Sri Lankan Airlines

Ladies and Gentleman landing in CMB will be delayed by few hrs as we are instructed to land in Male and pick up a minister and his family vacationing there…

Via Email

January 24, 2008 Posted by Multi-blogger | News and politics | 2 Comments

what’s the price of a kilo of rice today in Sri Lanka?

Grade I samba is over Rs. 100 a kilo. The other varieties range from Rs. 60 to Rs. 70 and the cheapest rice is over Rs.50 a kilo.

The Trade Minister, ‘Badumila’ Gunawardena came on TV recently, and assuming the people to be asses, said the paddy stores had ample paddy and that some mudalalis were responsible for rice being sold in the market at exorbitant prices.

He said that in a week, quality samba rice could be purchased from government outlets at the wholesale price of Rs.52, and the retail price would be around Rs. 55 to Rs. 60. What a fantastic solution! As far as trade is concerned it appears that he admits that mudalalis are the decision makers.

January 23, 2008 Posted by Multi-blogger | News and politics | 1 Comment