Monday 28 February 2011

Puttalam Muslims may not be able to vote, says EC


A large number of displaced Muslim voters in Puttlam could be denied their right to vote at the March 17 elections, officials said yesterday. “They might not be able to vote at the March 17 local government elections because of practical difficulties in transporting them to polling stations in their orgininal places of residence in the North on the day of polling,” officials said yesterday.

These voters have been displaced from areas like Jaffna, Mannar and Vavuniya for more than two decades now.
However, the election has been withheld in the Jaffna district now.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake, at a recent meeting with the representatives of the political parties in the fray, had cited that there were no legal provisions for him to arrange alternative polling stations in and around Puttalam for these voters to cast their ballots.

Also, he had noted the practical difficulties in providing transport facilities. An official who attended the meeting told Daily Mirror that the state buses that were arranged for the transportation of such voters at the last elections were kept in hiding for political reasons.

However, the Commissioner had postponed the elections to Maritime Pattu and Puthukuduiruppu Pradeshiya Sabhas in Mullaitvu since most voters had not been resettled. They still stay at welfare camps in Vavuniya. Altogether, the elections have been postponed for 64 local bodies.

SLMC alleges key supporter targeted in Puttalam


The SLMC alleges that some of those contesting the forthcoming LG polls on the UPFA ticket are resorting to violence.

The SLMC, which switched its allegiance to President Mahinda Rajapaksa last year and voted for the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, says the government should discipline those causing mayhem in the provinces.

R. Makbool, SLMC politburo member and the chief candidate for the Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha at the March 17 polls told  that a gang had set fire to hotel in ‘Al-Cassim city’, Puttalam owned by a staunch SLMC supporter, Rafeek in the early hours of Sunday.

According to him, Rafeek had been targeted as he supported the SLMC campaign in Mannar.

The SLMC identified the attackers as supports of a person contesting the election on the UPFA ticket. The SLMC has lodged a complaint with Puttalam police.

SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem campaigning in the eastern Batticaloa district told that their victory couldn’t be prevented by such attacks on its supporters.

SLMC General Secretary Hassen Ali, MP, said that the SLMC had fielded candidates for 42 LG bodies on the UPFA ticket. "But we are contesting 52 LG bodies on our own," MP Ali said.

Media Minister inaugurates training workshop for Tamil medium journalists


Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella inaugurated the "Asi Disi Vinisa" Media Training Workshop (Tamil Medium), at the BCIS Auditorium, BMICH Saturday. Secretary to the Ministry Mr. W. B.Ganegala, Prof. Chandrasekaran, Mr. Mohan Samaranayake, Mr. N Kachchi Mohamed, Mr. M. S. M. Ayub and Mrs. Yasodara Kadirgamar also present.

Sunday 20 February 2011

No work will remain for another gov. after 7 years


There will be no work left for another government to do after work is completed in the 7 years to come, expressed Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management. No matter what anybody says the present government will be in power for another 7 years, he declared.

Addressing the gathering in Puwella , Badulla during a election propaganda meeting the Minister mentioned that when the President was campaigning for the election a kilogram of rice was at Rs.125, but still the voters  liberally casted their vote for the President.

The public did not suffer any loss from that vote; it provided the people with an opportunity to live freely as terrorism was completely eradicated in the country, he pointed out.

“As of today rural villages are being developed, job opportunities have emerged, development work are rapidly moving ahead.”  

Even if the United National Party wins the coming Local Government election the government will not be overthrown by it, Nimal Siripala emphasized and pointed out that even if a UNP member wins he will not be allotted funds for a development project as there is no government force.

Therefore those who vote for the UNP in this LG election will ultimately have to drink air, he further stressed.


Sri Lanka beat Canada


Sri Lanka won the first “Group A” match against Canada by 210 runs at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium a short while ago.

The Sri Lankan’s batting first scored  332 runs in their 50 over for the loss of  7 wickets while, Canada were bowled out for 122 runs in the 36.5 overs.

Stay away from protests


Sri Lankan expatriates in Middle Eastern countries have been requested to stay indoors and not to get involved in any of the demonstrations taking place, Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera told Daily Mirror

Ministry of External Affairs had informed Sri Lankan Embassies in all the Middle Eastern countries where there are mass protests to inquire about the safety of Sri Lankan expatriates. 

Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera told Daily Mirror that the Ministry had asked the embassies to inform the Sri Lankan expatriates in those countries to stay indoors and not to get involved in any of the demonstrations. “We have made this decision as Sri Lanka is not prepared to get involved in any of these crisis situations, “ he said

No Sri Lankan had been hurt in the protests that are taking place in Bahrain and Libiya according to the Deputy Minister. 

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment had decided to temporarily stop sending Sri Lankan expatriates to Bahrain for employment. 

Some 5929 have flown to Bahrain as in November 2009 according to the statistics of Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment. In addition only 161 have flown towards Libya which is another country where mass protests have erupted. 

Protests which began in Egypt several weeks ago have spread towards several other nations in the region including Bahrain and Iran. News agencies reported that the Iranian opposition was planning a mass protest today.

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Wife burnt with iron

Police are on the hunt for a man who had brutally assaulted his nineteenth wife using a hot iron in Galgamuwa.
The suspect identified as 33 year old Sarath Kumara had burnt his wife with a hot iron waist downwards after demanding money from her.
 The victim who was admitted to Hospital with serious burn injuries returned home today also with a broken arm after being assaulted by her husband.
 Doctors who had treated the 27 year old victim said that she will have to undergo further treatment for the injuries she had sustained while the police said that they were still looking for the suspect.
 The victim had told the police that her husband had assaulted her as she could not give the money that she had wanted.
 She had also said that her husband had married 18 times before and she was his nineteenth wife.