Jackson who stooped most rewarded best with a 'kuttiya' of Rs. 56 lakhs

There are reports that Actor Jackson Anthony has tried to collect a sum of rupees 200 million on the propaganda deal to popularize the SL image internationally .

According to information reaching Lanka e news, Jackson Anthony has presented his image popularizing program to the President.

Jackson Anthony has asked for a sum of Rs. Six million as an initial payment for this program. However, the Treasury has refused to make this payment in the present difficult circumstances. But, overriding the Treasury, on the orders of the President as the Finance Minister , a sum of Rs. 56 lakhs have been released to him , it is learnt.

Jackson Anthony was a leading Speaker among the stage and screen Artistes at the President’s election campaign. He has also written to the newspapers extolling the President.

Jackson Anthony was a lucky beneficiary of a Rs. 10 million loan from a Bank for the production of the film ‘Aba’. Besides, his advertisements of it were done by the State Rupavahini free of charge. The Rupavahini also telecast speeches of President and Ministers recommending filmgoers to see 'Aba'.

It is to be noted that even award winning films did not receive such State patronage via the Rupavahini. At the Sirasa Awards ceremony, 'Aba' was not able to reach anywhere close to the highest level films, and received no special awards, despite all the unilateral State patronage .

Govt.‘s aim and ambition to accelerate General’s death keeping him in jail: Poya day poojas for General’s health –Anura Kumara Dissanayake

JVP Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated on the 28th that the General’ s health has deteriorated: he is having breathing difficulties and speech problems. His wife could not decipher what he was speaking and his voice was also beyond recognition. Dissanayake charged that the Govt.‘s design and desire is to accelerate his death by indefinite incarceration and blame on natural causes. Dissanayake made this announcement when addressing a media briefing at the DNA leader General Sarath Fonseka’s office yesterday. Why has n’ t a specialist been summoned by the Govt. and Gen. Fonseka attended to,? he asked. While taking legal action against this Govt.’ course of action and staging protests, special poojas have been organized across the entire country today 29th (poya day) to invoke blessings on Fonseka and for his recovery, Dissanayake added.

Answering a question posed by the media that Fonseka has been assigned a Doctor from the Naval Force; Dissanayke, said, although this had been promised, nothing has materialized. In any case the Doctors in The Navy are not specialists; they are ordinary Doctors who treat coughs and colds of navy officers. This is not to underestimate them. But, the health problem of the General is not a cough or cold, it is much more serious. It is imperative that he is treated by a specialist. A number of specialists have already spoken to Anoma Fonseka offering their services. They are prepared to give of their best for the sake of General Fonseka, the true patriot. Gen. Fonseka‘s sickness is unlike that of others. This is the consequence of the bomb attack by a suicide bomber when he was an Army Commander in action sacrificing his all for the country. Bomb shrapnel are still embedded in his lungs and body. Despite the Govt. being fully aware of all this, this is its way of expressing gratitude to the Army Commander who saved the country from the terrorists and freed it from the fear that permanently stalked the land, even the President and his Govt.- so many Govt. politicos were victims of LTTE terror, he pointed out

Q Your allegation that the Govt. is trying to kill Gen. Fonseka by natural causes is a serious one ? A Why, in the place where he is kept in custody even the windows are shut with planks. The Bogambara prisoners on the other hand, get a better treatment, they are allowed to be in the open for two hours. He is not even given that facility. Because every effort made by the Govt. to punish him turned futile, it is taking revenge by these methods. Earlier Prabhakaran tried to kill the General through a suicide bomber and failed. Now, is n’t this Govt. trying to accomplish what Prabhakaran failed? Anoma Fonseka also speaking on the occasion, said, when she went to see the General on the 28th morning, the day of the meeting, his cough has aggravated and he was experiencing breathing difficulties. Daughters told him to take treatment promptly. I have already explained that following the suicide bomber’s attack, his body is embedded with shrapnel, and his lungs are affected due to the proneness for phlegm accumulation. Yet no medical services have been provided so far. Jayantha Katagoda … We do not approve this type of treatment meted out to the Army Commander by the Govt. under any circumstances. The country, people, the President and his Govt. are living in peace today because of him. He created the environment of peace for them. But, this Govt. is creating the worst environment and making life hell for him by inflicting all the sufferings and harassment. Why is specialist medical treatment not provided to the war Hero who freed the country from terrorism, who is the leader of the DNA political party, who is the Colombo District Candidates’ group leader? We totally condemn and denounce the Govt.’s ruthless and ungrateful attitude, he noted.

Govt. supporters forcibly paste election posters on Assist. election Comm.’s vehicle!!! –thank lawlessness or the Govt. for these violations?

The alarming proportions lawlessness in the country has reached and the open election law violations practiced by the ruling party with impunity was clearly demonstrated yesterday (28) when the Assist. Elections Commissioner’s car was pasted with a number of election stickers of a Govt. politician by a group of his supporters forcibly. This incident occurred when the elections officer was going home after work at about 8.30 p.m. on the Sri Jayawardenapura Parliament route.

The Elections officer has resisted this, and has had a tussle with the Govt. politico supporters. The Assist elections Commissioner has lodged a complaint with the Welikade police yesterday night itself.

Akon saddened by Sri Lanka uproar

Singer Akon on Wednesday said he was disheartened Sri Lanka planned to deny him a visa to perform on the Indian Ocean island nation, after Buddhists angered by a video he appeared in staged a violent protest. Akon's international booking agents, American Talent Agency, said in a statement they had postponed the show until the safety of both the performers and fans could be guaranteed, but were working to secure a new date. On Monday, hundreds of rock-throwing protesters attacked the headquarters of Sri Lanka's largest private broadcaster, which was the media sponsor of Akon's planned April concert in the Buddhist-majority nation. Four people were injured. The protesters were apparently angered by the "Sexy Bitch" video by French DJ David Guetta featuring Akon, in which a statue of the Buddha on top of a building appears briefly in the background as dozens of scantily dressed women dance near a pool. "I was not aware that the statue was even on the set of the video until now. I would never set out to offend or desecrate anyone's religion or religious beliefs," Akon said in a statement. On Tuesday, the government said it would deny Akon a visa to enter the country as a result of the religious uproar. "I myself am a spiritual man, so I can understand why they are offended, but violence is never the answer and I am disheartened," Akon said.

Sri Lanka's Buddhist clergy are hugely influential in ordinary life and politics, and in the past hardline Sinhalese nationalists have become violent against those they see as offending Buddhism. In December 2004, a hand grenade attack at a concert by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan that killed two people and wounded 19 was blamed on Sinhalese nationalists angry the concert fell on the first anniversary of the death of a renowned Buddhist monk.