Military to decide on CM

By Melanie Bamunusinghe


The Military will decide if to go ahead with the Court Martial (CM) against former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka next Tuesday as scheduled despite it clashing with Parliament proceedings or postpone it for a later date or time.

The next Court Martial hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, the same day Parliament is scheduled to convene and General Fonseka is expected to attend Parliament.

The Democratic National Alliance (DNA) had earlier claimed that the next Court Martial cannot proceed as scheduled as General Fonseka is a member of parliament and is protected under the parliamentary privileges and so he can attend parliament.

Military Spokesman, Major General Prasad Samarasinghe told Daily Mirror online that discussions regarding the date and time of the next Court Martial is still ongoing and a statement will be issued soon.

The Court Martial is probing into four charges against General Sarath Fonseka regarding military procurements under the section ‘disgraceful conduct’ in the Army. (Daily Mirror online)

Mervyn says will resign if guilty

By Jamila Najmuddin


Deputy Media Minister Mervyn Silva, who assumed duties at his Ministry in Colombo today, made a pledge that he will resign from his new post if there are allegations against him and if such allegations are proven to be true.

The Deputy Minister, who is known for his frequent clashes with the media, also urged journalists and media institutions to contact him directly if they have any concerns noting that he even sleeps separately from his wife at home just to make sure his mobile is reachable even at night.

The Deputy Minister, who is now the acting Media Minister in the absence of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is in Bhutan for the SAARC summit, said that he will setup a complaints desk at the Media Ministry for journalists to lodge complaints or make suggestions.

He also mentioned the name of one electronic media institution saying that media house has done a lot of wrong. However he was later seen serving cake to the crew of the same media institution who were also at hand at the event this morning when he took office.

“If I have done anything wrong against the media and if there is proof then I will resign from my Ministry,” Minister Silva added.

Minister Silva meanwhile added that the “Rajapaksa Company” has done a lot of good to the country and if not for them this country would suffer the same fate as some western countries who are facing economic issues. (Daily Mirrior online)

Akon ticket money refunded

Organizers of the cancelled Akon concert (which had been scheduled to be held here last Saturday) have begun refunding the cost of the tickets purchased, officials said; adding that the rescheduled concert in the Maldives had also been postponed.

“We have already begun refunding the money. Those who purchased tickets from Dialog and Cinnamon Grand Hotel will be refunded on Thursday 29th April,” an official at Platinum Entertainment told Daily Mirror online.

The concert by Akon was to be held in Sri Lanka last Saturday but had to be cancelled as a result of protests by some groups who charged that the singer had disrespected Buddhism by having a group of semi-nude dancers perform in front of a Buddha statue in one of his videos.

Platinum Entertainment had later made arrangements to hold the concert in the Maldives and obtained the approval of the Maldivian government as well. However, when contacted by Daily Mirror online today, Platinum Entertainment said that the concert had been “postponed” but would not comment on the reason for the postponement. (Daily Mirror online)

Gas companies seek price increase

By Mahinda Nissanka.

Shell and Laugf Gas companies have sought permission to increase the price of gas from May 1 with the Consumer Affairs Authority expected to take a decision today after meeting Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando.

A senior officer of the Consumer Affairs Authority said a price revision was due to be effected soon in keeping with the pricing formula according to which prices were due to be revised every two months.

He said price of gas in the world market had increased.

When the Shell and Laugf Gas companies sought permission for a price increase from the former minister but with the Treasury removing the import tax of Rs.8.70 a price increase was averted.

A 12.5 Kg cylinder of Shell gas is sold at Rs 1550 while Laugf gas sells a 12.5 cylinder of gas at Rs.1421.

General to take a leaf from JR’s book

Democratic National Alliance (DNA) leader MP Gen. Sarath Fonseka has borrowed a book from the Parliamentary library, which discusses how President J. R. Jayewardene fought against the Samagi Peramuna government of Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike between 1970 and 1977.

Mr. Jayewardene was the Opposition leader at that time with only a handful of MPs in his party. The then SLFP led government enjoyed a two-thirds majority in Parliament. The book written about his role as the Opposition leader describes how he withstood heckling and bullying by SLFP strongmen at that time, and led his party to a landslide victory in 1977.

DNA General Secretary MP Vijitha Herath told the Daily Mirror yesterday that Gen. Fonseka who had a discussion with his MPs on Tuesday burrowed this book from the library to be read while being held in detention.

Besides, the DNA has decided to vote against the state of emergency on May 4. Gen. Fonseka will speak during the debate on the extension of the state of emergency on that day.

Mr. Herath said that Gen. Fonseka acquainted himself with the Parliamentary staff and knew how to access the research division of the House meant for MPs.

Asked how the DNA would act in Parliament in the future, he said that his party would stand together with the UNP on common issues.

“Otherwise, we will act independently,” Mr. Herath said.

Di Mu is new Prime Minister

General Secretary of the People’s Alliance (PA), Dissanayake Mudiyanselage Jayaratne was sworn in as the Prime Minster before President Mahinda Rajapaksa a short while ago. Mr. Jayaratne entered parliament from Gampola electorate following the General Election in 1970 from the United Front led by Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Born in June 7, 1931 he is one of the earliest members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party when it was founded in Kandy in 1951. He was educated at Doluwa Maha Vidyalaya where he was later a teacher. He was later postmaster at Doluwa, Gampola from 1960-62. He was defeated in the General Election of 1977 and later re-elected from the Kandy District. In the 1989 General Election, he obtained 54,290 votes; the highest polled by a candidate of the district from the SLFP and was a member of the opposition in the parliament. He was a key member in organizing the People's Alliance and in the General Election of 1994, he was elected again with the highest number of votes from the Gampola electorate and appointed Minister of Land, Agriculture and Forestry in the cabinet of Prime Minister Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. Following the election in 2000 he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Corporative. With the General Election victory of the PA in 2004, he was appointed Minister of Post and Telecommunication and Upcountry Development and later in 2005 he was appointed Minister of Post and Telecommunication and Rural Economic Development under President Mahinda Rajapaksa. From 2007 to date he has been the Minister of Plantation Industries. In 2001 he was elected Chairman of the Asia Pacific Region of Food and Agriculture Organization. Mr. Jayaratne is the 20th Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

Trouble brews as it begins: No wishes or greetings from Weerawansa to Speaker

After Chamal Rajapakse was appointed as the Speaker of Parliament, all leaders of the political parties spoke well of the Speaker and wished him well. But, Wimal Weerawansa , the NFF leader and who parades as a prominent partner of the UPFA did not express such eulogies .

Among those who used the tongue most to bring the Rajapkses to power, Weerawansa was leading.

It is reported that Weerawansa is in deep despair and disappointment over the allocation of slots to his party members in the National list, and non appointment of MPs as promised. During the election campaign, he identified himself as the 'Mawbime panchayudha' ( weapon of the motherland).

Whether Weerawansa who is now in total despair will use the weapon to battle out his political disappointment or lay down his weapon ? political analysts ask.

22 Armories of Sinha regiment Headquarters sealed

According to reports reaching lanka e news , 22 Armories of the Sinha regiment Headquarters at Gampaha have been sealed. This sealing had been done at the time when Gen. Sarath Fonseka became a candidate at the Presidential elections. Gen. Fonseka was the Head of the Sinha regiment before he became the Army Commander. It is reported that during the Presidential elections , instructions had been given to the Head Commander of the Sinha regiment that no vehicle shall be taken out from the Regiment camps without the orders of the Defense Ministry. During the Presidential elections , the Sinha regiment Headquarters administration was transferred to the Military Police by the Defense Ministry . After the elections , a large number of officers suspected of being close to Gen. Fonseka were transferred to Kilinochchi, reports say.

Where owing to special reasons, the Sinha regiment armories had not been sealed , every armory of the Army had been ordered to be sealed every day from 5.00 p.m . to 6.00 a.m. the following day . These seals cannot be opened by anyone except by the Army spokesman Major General Prasad Samarasinghe , the duty officers and others on special occasions, according to Prasad Samarasinghe. When Lanka e news inquired from the Army spokesman about this sealing , he answered in the affirmative.