Arjuna Ranatunga to lodge a complaint against SLC President

A complaint is due to be filed with the Human Rights Commission by the Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga over the Sri Lanka Cricket Election held on January 3.

Ranatunga contested for the post of Vice President of SLC.

However He managed to poll only 80 votes and could not get elected.

Jayantha Dharmadasa and K Mathivanan were elected with 102 and 90 votes respectively.

Sri Lanka Cricket Election was held at the Ministry of Sports Auditorium on January 03.

Sarath Fonseka To swearing-in as MP

Democratic Party leader, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka is due to take oaths as an MP before the speaker tomorrow (09), say UNP sources.
He will be appointed to the national list position that fell vacant following the death of lands minister M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena.

The UNP working committee, at its meeting today, is to approve his being given the seat as per the MoU it has signed with the DP recently.

The elections commissioner will be informed of the decision later in the day, and the related gazette printed tonight.

Objections
However, the elections commissioner has reportedly received a petition against Fonseka’s being appointed an MP.

At a meeting the prime minister had with UNP ministers recently, justice minister Wijedasa Rajapakse has noted that it would be illegal to give an MP position to him.

In response, several ministers have said that it would be strength to the government in view of the reluctance shown by most MPs and ministers in the government to target the Rajapakas in parliament with regard to their serious acts of fraud, corruption and human rights violations, said the minister.

Hambantota port has high potential to boost tourism sector

The Captain of the MS Rotterdam-the first ever largest cruise ship called at Ha’ ta port, Marco Carsjen yesterday (07) emphasized that the Hambantota port have high potential to boost the tourism sector of Sri Lanka. He said the Hambantota port was also famous as a green port, among tourists. 

Describing his first impression of Hambntota port Captain appreciated the new development process of the port premises to make it big.

“It is easy to access to the port for the ships of this size. It is nice experience for us and it is a good location for more cruise ships. If you want to experience this part of Sri Lanka you need to be stay for several days here and visit South-East coast. You will really appreciate this part of Sri Lanka. It gets 40 minutes to reach Yala national park from Hambantota port. The tourists also can visit Bundala and Kataragama.  The Hambantota port will give an unparallel experience to the people who want to experience something from Sri Lanka other than Colombo and its surroundings. Many of them were enthusiastic to visit Hambantota port and the tourist destination in the area and specially to see the wildlife. And they have good impression on what Sri Lanka is like.  We hopefully to come back Hambantota,” the Captain further mentioned.

 The ship left the Hambantota port by last night. Measuring 238 m in length the luxurious cruise ship belongs to Netherland. The ship comprises a staff of 600 employees. The $2 million art and antique collection, wide teak decks have increased the attractiveness of the ship. The ship has carried 1176 of passengers. The cruise was to be arrived at, their next destination, Thllawa in Myanmar.

The local shipping agent of MS Rotterdam, Malship (Ceylon) Limited General Manager I.S Mohideen asserted that there were more new cruise ships to be arrived to the Hambantota port.  He further mentioned that the port had enough facilities for the cruise liners. Mohideen invited all the parties to grab the opportunity to develop the tourism sector by getting support from Hambantota port. 

Maithri ready to meet challenge

SLFP Leader and President Maithripala Sirisena is ready to face the challenge thrown by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa" who last week hinted that there was a need to form a new political party as there was majority support from grassroots level SLFPers" authoritative SLFP sources told us'

A senior spokesman for the SLFP said that the President who leads the SLFP would not stop anyone from leaving the party but was now in the process of re-organizing the SLFP' ‘New electoral and grassroots level organizers would be appointed shortly’" he added'

The Joint Opposition in Parliament comprising SLFP dissidents and smaller parties earlier mooted the idea to form a new political party as the smaller parties were not recognized as separate entities in parliament by Speaker Karu Jayasuriya'

The Speaker held that smaller parties in the Joint Opposition were members of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance ^UPFA& led by the SLFP and therefore they could not be given separate recognition to be included in the party leaders list'

The Joint Opposition over the past few weeks held closed door talks at several venues in Colombo to form a new political party'
They are now in the process of holding district level meets with SLFP local Government and Provincial Councillors to gather support towards a new political party'

Joint Opposition sources confirmed that a new political party would emerge before end March but declined to name the leader of the party'

However" the names of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa" former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and Former Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa are on cards" the sources noted'

They said former Transport Minister Kumara Welgama and Parliamentarian Udaya Gammanpila were vying for the post of General Secretary in the new political party'

According to latest reports" former Minister Dinesh Gunawardena who sits with the Joint Opposition in Parliament is yet to announce his position with regards the formation of a new political party'

Joint Opp. dashes coconuts against FCID in Seenigama

Joint Opp. dashes coconuts in Seenigama; Police prevents protesters entering Devala Premises

The Joint Opposition conducted a ritual of dashing coconuts at Seenigama Devala premises today, with the intention of praying to gods to dissolve the Financial Crimes Investigation Division.

According to our correspondent, parliamentarians of the Joint Opposition, Southern provincial councillors as well as the residents of the area took part in the ritual.

Attending the event, MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena stated that they are conducting the ritual against the government’s un-democratic actions.

Meanwhile, the Patriotic National Front staged a protest march in Ambalangoda to protest against the ritual conducted by the Joint Opposition.

Former UNP Southern provincial councilor Pushpakumara de Zoysa and Southern provincial councilors from UNP as well as residents of the area participated in the protest march.

The march proceeded from Ambalangoda Railway station to Ambalangoda Bus stand, where they addressed the people and staged a protest.

Later when they tried to approach Seenigama Devalaya, the protestors were prevented by ASP of Ambalangoda, saying that they cannot reach the premises under the court orders.

Our correspondent stated that they dispersed following the decision.

6.4-magnitude quake traps more than 100 in Taiwan

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Saturday shook down a 17-story building, trapping about 170 people in southern Taiwan’s Tainan City.

The earth quake occurred in Kaohsiung city at 03:57. The first floor of the building was a mall and the rest were populated with more than 60 households of about 200 people. Rescuers have managed to rescue 34 out of the building as well as an infant. Pipeline was broken and roads were flooded. Traffic has been interrupted near the site.

Residents in Xiamen, Quanzhou, Putian, Fuzhou and other regions felt the quake; many said they were woken up in the middle of the night due to the tremors.

Update

Rescuers mounted hydraulic ladders and a crane to scour the wreckage and pluck more than 120 survivors to safety, with at least 26 taken to hospital, a fire brigade official said.

One elderly woman, wrapped in blankets, was strapped to a board and slowly slid down a ramp to the ground as the cries of those still trapped rang out. Rescuers used dogs and acoustic equipment to pick up weaker signs of life among the rubble.

“There are 60 households in that building,” said Tainan City Government Fire Bureau information officer Lee Po Min, estimating that there might be about 240 people living there.

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Embilipitiya incident - Ven. Omalpe Thero responds to accusations

Refuting the recent statement made by President's Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasuriya bringing up the name of Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera with regard to the Embilipitiya incident, Ven Budugala Jinawansa Thera yesterday told the Daily News that some groups were trying to tarnish his (Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera's) image by making baseless allegations against him.

Ven. Jinawansa Thera said that President's Counsel Hemantha Warnakulasooriya had allegedly made a statement claiming that Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera had threatened Shashika Nishamani, the wife of Sumith Prasanna Jayawardene, the youth who died after a confrontation with the Embilipitiya Police and allegedly offered a bribe to her.

"A close friend of Sobhitha Thera who wanted to financially help Shashika Nishamani had inquired whether Sobhitha Thera has any way to contact this lady. Sobhitha Thera had then allegedly coordinated with Chandima Kodituwakku who is an environmentalist and journalist who has connections with Shashika to introduce this donor to her," he said.

He said that this incident has been misinterpreted to tarnish the name of Ven. Omalpe Shbhitha who renders a great service to the people of the Embilipitiya area.

H’tota port to receive its first ever largest cruise liner

Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) said that the Hambantota Port would be received its first ever biggest cruise ship-MS Rotterdam, by this Sunday (07).

Measuring 238 m in length and comprises of 600 staff MS Rotterdam is a luxurious Netherland owned cruise ship. The ship is scheduled to be left from Cochin harbor of Indian and to be arrived at the Hambantota port at 8.a.m. There are 1176 passengers to be carried from the vessel.

However, ‘EUROPA 2’ was the largest cruise liner called at Hambantota port thus far. Measuring 226 in length the ship dropped anchor at the Hambantota port 29 of January this year.

 The MS Rotterdam is renowned as one of the biggest luxurious cruise liner in world and has capability of carrying approximately 1500 passengers.

SLPA said that thus far the Hambantota port has been received 13 of passenger ships.

 Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga asserted that it could notably see the trend of which Hambantota port is being received luxurious passenger ships from the recent.  He further asserted that the significant movement would carry out many business opportunities to the people in the area.

“We can focus on several sectors when carry out the development process of the Hambantota port. First one is developing the industrial zones at the port area. This area has a great cultural and historical value. Kirinda, Kataragama, Sella- Kataragama has great cultural and historical value. As well as Bundala, Palatupana, Yala and Udawalawa can be mentioned as environmentally significant areas. The tourists visit these places to see the wild animals. So it has great potential to increase the number of vessel arrivals to Hambantota port aiming our tourist sector. But the port would not be received notable income from the passenger vessels. But it creates indirect job opportunities to the people in the area. So I think increasing the number of tourist vessel receiving at the Hambantota port would be added value for the economy,” the minister added.