Dr. Mervin Silva against the whole UNP bunch ???

UNP General Secretary Thissa Aththanayaka said to Lanka-e-News that all the efforts of the government to destruct the rally jointly organized by the UNP and the SLFP People's Wing would be duly faced and the demonstration and the rally in the theme of the 'Country Devastated; Come Forward!' would be held successfully.

Mr. Aththanayaka said that the publicity banners and the hoardings exhibited in the Colombo city and outskirts were removed in the Urban Development Authority lorries. Posters were removed by Police officials and the duty of the Police had become removing posters now.

He said that Police assaulted the UNP supporters who were sticking publicity posters at Rathmalana, Kollupitiya and other places and in some cases their clothes were also removed by force.

UNP General Secretary said that he had informed the situation to the DIG Colombo region Mr. Ilanganthilaka and he had told that security arrangements would be made to hold the demonstration and the rally without any hindrance.

Mr. Aththanayaka said that the IGP Victor Perera promised to provide security and unhindered access to the participants to reach Colombo at the discussion held with himself, Joseph Michale Perera, John Amarathunga and Ravi karunanayaka. However, the number of checkpoints in the Colombo entry roads had been increased today.

He said that all attempts to connect the IGP to enquire about the situation failed and sometimes he might have avoided answering.

While the UNP and the SLFP-People's Wing have made arrangements to draw around 500,000 people to Colombo for the massive demonstration and the rally held tomorrow, the government has also organized picketing in Colombo and outstations.

The Colombo protest organized by Kelaniya SLFP organizer and Minister of Labor 'Dr.' Mervin Silva will be held at the Lipton Circle in close proximity to the venue of the UNP rally, Hyde Park.

Who gave such powers to Jeyaraj to talk in public like this ?!?!?!

The Treasurer of the newly appointed SLFP committee Mr. Jeyaraj Fernandopulle is going beyond his limits. The Minister yesterday, pooh-poohed the statement of Sripathi Suriyaarachchi accusing the President of purchasing the White House mansion of Baththaramulla for Rs. 260 million with the money allocated for the Presidential expenses. According to Mr. Fernandopulle, the President or the Rajapakse Company has not bought the said mansion.

He said that Sripathi Suriyaarachchci has bankrupted to the level of making such allegations to cover up the CID investigation over his purchase of a house in England.

The Minister expressed these views at a press conference held in Narahenpita information Department today (25).

Mr. Fernandopulle further said that he learnt that the said house had been rented to a Maldivian national named Mohammed for a monthly rental of Rs. 225,000. He had enquired about it from the owner of the ASP Group of Companies, Mr. A.S.P. Liyanage. The house belongs to his wife W.R.G.S. Liyanage. Mr. Fernandopulle said that he could not understand the motive behind such false allegations.

Fake allegations were made against the President that he cheated money from the Helping Hambanthota account before the Presidential, gave money to the LTTE and purchased a property belonged to the Australian High Commission, said the Minister. He said that the White House statement was a lie targeting to sling mud to the image of the President. Recalling that Sripathi Suriyaarachchi said that he would prove the charge if the President would resign from the post, Mr. Fernandopulle said that the President who came to power with five million people�s votes would not resign and at least would not respond to a charge made by an unimportant person.

Mentioning about Lanka-e-News that published this news, the Minister said that he said in an earlier occasion that criminal defamation laws should be brought to act against this kind of journalists who create false stories He said that the handful of this sort of journalists were the people who opposed such laws.

The journalists protested the Minister for accusing the media without answering Sripathi Suriyaarachchi's statement and asked what the government would expect from enacting criminal

Sea Tiger leader Susai in critical condition; Son and the guard dead

LTTE has suffered a major loss during their battle against the proud Sri Lanka Navy recently. Sea Tiger leader Susai's son and the bodyguard were killed in an explosion in Mullaithivu and Susai himself was critically injured, sources from Vanni said.

When enquired about the report from Rasaiyah Ilanthiriyan, he denied commenting as the incident was non-military. However, he said that it was an unfortunate mishap.

Susai was busy on 18th due to a naval exercise of the LTTE and his son and the bodyguard were killed in an explosion that took place in another boat that was close to the Sea Tiger leader's boat, Vanni sources said. Susai was admitted to the Kilinochchi Ponnambalam hospital and reportedly, he was in a critical condition.
The killed child was identified by others as Sankar, Susai's 5 years old son.

Vanni sources said that a conflict followed a warm verbal exchange between two groups of cadres each one in support of Prabhakaran and Susai respectively amidst the naval exercise.

When 'LeN' asked from Ilanthiriyan why the LTTE did not admit the defeat of Thoppigala, he replied that LTTE was not defeated in east and the Army was pushed into the jungle instead.

Ilanthiriyan said that the LTTE had camps in Tricomalee, Ampara and Batticaloa with their commanders and the time would decide whether the LTTE was defeated or not.

Rajapakse Company buy Baththaramulla White House mansion for Rs. 260 million?

While misleading the Sri Lankan people with a message of Thoppigala victory, the Rajapaksha brothers are still filling up their pockets for the sake of their future generations. The Chief Co-coordinator of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party People�s Wing Sripathi Suriyaarachchi asks how the Rajapakse Brothers Company purchased the Baththaramulla White House for Rs. 260 million after the Presidential, if his statement that he had money neither to give to the Tigers nor to spend for the election is true. The said mansion earlier belonged to the owners of A.S.P. property trading company.

Mr. Suriyaarachchi posed this question to to the President during the UNP and SLFP-PW joint press briefing held today at the official residence of the opposition leader.

He said that there could be a shortage of money because Basil Rajapakse gave a bag filled with Rs. 200 million that was allocated to spend for the Presidential to the LTTE. Mr. Suriyaarachchi said that LTTE was given money first in dollars and then in rupees and he had the numbers of the notes given. He said that they will be produced before the public soon and he could prove these allegations if the President resigns from the post.

Mr. Suriyaarachchi challenged the President to say 'no' to the charge he made that the President gave millions of rupees to a company belonged to the wife of Emil Kanthan via a cabinet paper signed by him, during the battle for Mavilaru was in full throttle.

Kelaniya University closed...

Looks like the JVP is still interfering with the Sri Lankan education system to fulfill their lame targets. A student monk and few more students were injured and hospitalized due to a clash between JVP led Students' Council and the Science Faculty Council of the Kelaniya University yesterday (24).

Registrar of the University Mr. Karunarathna said that the authorities decided to close the university after a discussion between the Vice Chancellor and the Police. The date of opening is yet to be announced. The registrar said that 75% of the students had left the hostels by this morning. He further said that university buildings and the vehicles of the academic staff were damaged due to the exchanges of stones.

Science Faculty Council Chairman Saliya was taken into custody by the Kiribathgoda Police yesterday 11.45 PM and he was remanded until August 02 after producing before the Number 05 Magistrate Sujeewa Nissanka. Lawyer Manjula Pathiraja who appeared for the student leader said to Lanka-e-News that he had been arrested under act regarding the student ragging.

The OIC of Kiribathgoda police station said few more students are to be taken into custody over the attack.

Three students were suspended lectures since ragging by the JVP led Students Council. The Science Faculty Council is vehemently against ragging and the two factions clash time to time over this.

The JVP student union members yesterday protested in front of the Ministry of Higher Education, broke open the gate and burnt the letter they were to submit to the Minister under the portico. The two student factions clashed in the university after this incident.

Dr. Mervin Silva fined only Rs. 2000 for a fraud of Rs. 70000

Colombo High Court Judge W.G.M.G.B. Waraweva today (24) ordered to pay Rs. 2500 government costs to Minister of Labor Dr. Mervin Silva who pleaded guilty for a fraud.

Dr. Silva was accused for giving an invalid checque dated July 08, 1994 worth of Rs. 70,000 to one Mohammed Nazeem Mohammed Falul in a deal pertaining to a lease agreement.

The Attorney General filed this case against Dr. Silva following the investigations of the CID regarding the cheque that did not realize. Dr. Silva was accused of misuse of Rs. 70,000 through a checque dated July 08, 1994 issued from Hatton National Bank, Kotte branch. Amidst a long drawn legal proceeding, the Minister pleaded guilty today and court ordered him to pay a government cost of Rs. 2500.

Meanwhile, in another case regarding a fraud of Rs. 82.3 million done by another person, the Colombo High Court today ordered to refund that amount, fined Rs. 2.1 and sentenced two years suspended for ten years. This case was heard in High Court Number 7 while Dr. Mervin Silva's case was heard in High Court Number 4.

What exactly is Wasudewa doing?

The petition filed against the Defence agreement between SL and the US, by President Secretary- Wasudewa Nanayakkara was denied by the Supreme Court today (23rd July).

The case was presented to the judge panel that consisted of the Chief Justice - Sarath N. Silva, Shirani Thillakawardena, and Nimal Gamini Amarathunga.

The Petition challenged the Defence Secretary- Gotabhaya Rajapaksha saying that he had no legal or constitutional right to sign an agreement with the US without the approval of the body of Ministers.

In the course of the case, the Chief Justice explained to advice the President to do in what was right if the act was incorrect, since the petitioner was the President advisor. He also added that it was not beneficial to draw in the judiciary into such matters.

The Chief Justice further said that if the govt. could send soldiers to the US for training, it was not wrong to come to an agreement with the its military.

President trying to Conquer Kandy District over the UNP...?

United National Party (UNP) says that the corrupt Rajapakse regime will be defeated in the parliament in the right moment.

UNP said that all forces and elements would be gathered in this purpose and the protest campaign and the rally held in Colombo on 26th would be the first step of it. UNP parliamentarian Johnston Fernando announced these facts at a special press conference held at the official residence of the Opposition Leader.

He was responding to the President's statements made at Nawalapitiya and the SLFP general assembly over the UNP's time-to-time vows to topple the government.

He said that a MP who is still in the parliament representing the President's party, himself has accused the government that Rs. 700 and 800 million were given in two occasions. However, the President said at Nawalapitiya that UNP was slinging mud at him, said Mr. Johnston. He also said that Mr. Sripathi Suriyaarachchi stated that the deal between the LTTE took place after discussions Basil Rajapakse, Lalith Weerathunga and Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundara had with the LTTE. "He made the allegation not at the Nawalapitiya junction in the way the President accused the UNP but in the supreme institute of parliament," said the MP.

He said that the President had granted Rs. 800 million to an account belonged to the wife of Emil Kanthan whilst the battle for Mavilaru was waging and what the President had to do was not shouting from Nawalapititya but proving his innocence through the parliamentary select committee requested by the UNP.

He said that the UNP had not engaged in bogus treaties with the LTTE and the UNP which had public support did not want the LTTE assistance to topple this government.

Maithripala trying to recover the Prime Minister post ???

Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena said yesterday that next parliamentary election would be in 2010 and the Presidential in would be in 2011. He said that elections would not be held according to the will of the opposition and the SLFP was ready to face the challenges of the opposition.

The SLFP General Secretary Mithripala Sirisena expressed these views addressing the 17th general assembly of the party held at the National Youth Centre in Maharagama. A large crowd participated in the convention.

He further said that the Central Committee had decided stern action would be taken against the parliamentarians and the provincial councilors who had violated the party discipline.

Addressing the convention President Mahinda Rajapakse said that although an agreement was signed with the United National Party (UNP) to work together, a strong parliament was set up eventually taking in a group of the UNP who were ready to join hands, as the leadership of the UNP could not be trusted. He further said that ironically the people who shouldered to establish a dictatorship in the party were now accusing over an internal dictatorship in the party.

Sripathi files FR asking for an interim order against the sale of Hingurana Sugar Company

Coordinator of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Mahajana wing Sripathi Suriarachchi filed a fundamental rights petition yesterday (23) asking the courts to issue an interim order stopping the Hingurana sugar company being transferred to the Gal Oya cultivation company.

20 persons have been sited as the respondents including the secretary of the Ministry of Finance P. B. Jayasundara, former president of the PERC W.M. Bandusena, Basil Rajapakse and the Attorney General.

The parliamentarian requests the court to issue an interim order preventing the government from selling 49% of the shares of the Hingurana sugar company to the Gal Oya cultivation company. He adds that the deal is being performed
arbitrarily and without a proper tender process.

The petitioner has also revealed that the deal is being processed without any transparency with the intervention of Basil Rajapakse.

22nd gun Salute at Eastern Sunrise from Hakeem

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader, Minister of Posts and Telecommunication Rauf Hakeem said in the parliament yesterdayday that he participated in the Eastern Sunrise ceremony held in the Independence Square (19th) against to his conscience. He said that the politicians should not celebrate the military victories.

He asked the effect of addressing the nation to obtain political advantageous and said that as civilized people we should celebrate not the war, but the end of war.

Hakeem asked what the message given to the Tamil community through the function held at the Independent Square yesterday. He also said that we should be braver to peace than to war.

Mr. Hakeem expressed these views participating in the debate for the Local Government Special Provisions Act.

Don't take cover behind the security forces while doing wrong in the guise of waging war, says Ranil to the President...

Since the most recent discovery of the the President & the government the war at Thoppigala is attaining the best profits at the present. The people who talks against this fraud of the government are labeled as Sinhala tigers or betrayers; especially the opposition is facing a crisis in this effort against all the government media fighting against them with the Rajapaksha alliance.

"I ask from the President Mahinda Rajapakse not to take cover behind the security forces while doing wrong in the guise of waging war and don't betray the lion�s flag," said Opposition and United National Party Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe at the parliament addressing the gathering after signing the Memorandum of Understanding with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party People's Wing today.

The Leader of the Opposition said to the applauding crowd that he and Mangala Samaraweera signed this agreement to save the country from corruption and terror, to establish democracy and to save people from the reign of Rajapakse Brothers Company.

Mr. Wickramasinghe extended a special thank to Messieurs Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Suriyaarachchi for stepping out giving up the posts and their benefits at a difficult time of the country.

Mr.wickramasinghe further said that the country was experiencing the ill effects of the secret pact between Rajapakse and Prabhakaran and because of it; the Tamils lost the chance to vote, disabling the people's mandate. He also said that the security forces re-liberated the Eastern Province that was earlier freed in his and President D.B. Wijethunga's time and the total effect of the victory could not be achieved by the country as 900 Tiger cadres were allowed to escape with weapons to Vanni instead of eliminating them.

Urging the President Mahinda Rajapakse not to take cover behind the security forces while doing wrong in the guise of waging war, Mr. Wickramasinghe challenged the President to debate in the parliament the Rajapakse-Prabhakaran secret pact, which the President had not denied.

He said that the MoU signed today was an agreement that would work for the people and more and more groups from the government and other parties would join the new alliance. He said that this agreement would pave way to end the time of the government and the famine of the country. The Opposition Leader requested from all to unite to establish democracy destroying the brothers' company.

He also urged all Sri Lankan people to join him who had no family ambitions.