EELAM NEWS:140707

Sri Lanka government to dispose its paddy stocks
Thursday, July 12, 2007, 18:29 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

July 12, Colombo: The Sri Lankan government has decided to dispose its paddy stocks purchased and collected by the Sri Lanka Agricultural Products Marketing Authority (SLPMA) on government account with immediate effect.
A stock of approximately 110,181 metric tons of paddy purchased and collected by the SLPMA during 2006 Yala and 2006/07 Maha seasons are lying in stores currently, the Cabinet Spokesman Minister Anura Priyadharsana Yapa said.
“Taking into consideration the present trend in the relative increase in the price of local rice, and the existing shortage of paddy stocks in the market and the high price level created due to the increasing demand, it would be feasible to sell approximately 45,000 metric tons of stock available in the SLPMA stores,” the Minister said.
He said that the Cabinet has granted its approval to dispose 45,000 metric tons of paddy at Rs. 19.70 per kilo for White Short variety and Rs. 18.70 per kilo for White Long variety.


Sri Lanka's Western Province Chief Minister says govt aims to push Tigers to negotiating table

Friday, July 13, 2007, 16:41 GMT, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.


July 13, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Western Province Chief Minister Reginald Cooray says the national government's policy is not to end the North and East problem through war. He says the war is a strategy to push the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to the negotiation table.
The Chief Minister expressed these views at a meeting today to announce the details of the Western Province’s celebrations to mark the capture of Thoppigala. The provincial celebrations are to be held parallel to the national functions.
The Western Provincial Council has advised the heads of public departments to give priority to appreciating the service and sacrifices of war heroes from the police and armed forces and their families.
In government schools, television sets should be used to show the chiefs of the armed forces handing over the official statement of the capture of Thoppigala to the head of the state and the President’s address to the nation. The circular on the celebration advises to cheer peacefully and proudly.
The government has also recommended holding celebrations in public offices with the patronage of the trade unions and to invite a police or security forces senior official to address the gathering.


Local elections to be held in east - Minister
[TamilNet, Friday, 13 July 2007, 10:15 GMT]

Mr.Janaka Bandara Tennekone, Minister of Local Authorities and Provincial Councils, at a press briefing held Friday said that amendment to Local Government Election Ordinance would be tabled in parliament on July 19 to call for fresh nomination to ten local authorities in the Batticaloa district, political sources in Colombo said.
Nominations were called last year for these local bodies but elections were not held due to unsettled climate in the east.
Two weeks ago the Elections Department cancelled all nominations submitted earlier and decided to call for fresh nomination when new election date is announced.
Elections to thirty three of forty three local bodies in the east were held last year.

Army Commander, CDS visit Thoppigala

THOPPIGALA: Chief of Defence Staff Air Marshal Donald Perera and Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka flew to Thoppigala yesterday to express their gratitude to the valiant troops and all other service personnel.
They were received by Brigadier C. Gallage, Commander of Commando Brigade that captured the centre of Thoppigala. They first reached Illuppadichenai where the visiting military chiefs met senior officers serving the area and praised them for their valour and dedication.
They spoke to senior officers and instructed them to continue follow-up clearing operations and assist and coordinate with authorities in launching subsequent development plans upon clearing of minefields and booby traps.
Their second stop was the rocky plateau, Ruchiramale, where LTTE terrorists had their Nagesh base. The Commander spoke to his soldiers, congratulating them on their dedication and commitment to the Motherland.
Both Perera and Fonseka lauded their contribution to salvage the country from the grip of terrorism during these meetings before they saw for themselves a few buildings that had been used by the LTTE for their terrorist acts

Bill in Parliament soon for Eastern polls

Uditha Kumarasinghe and Rajmi Manatunga
COLOMBO: The Government will present a Bill in Parliament next week to facilitate the holding of Local Government elections in the Eastern Province which came under the full control of the Security Forces on Wednesday.
Chief Government Whip Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle told the media yesterday that the Bill seeks to cancel the nominations already submitted for Local Government polls in the province and call for fresh nominations.
“The draft legislation has been sent to the Supreme Court to be examined for its constitutionality. We expect to receive its determination by Tuesday and hope to place it before the House and get it passed on the same day,” he said.
Once the Bill is passed, elections will be held for every Urban Council and Pradeshiya Sabha in the province where polls were not held.
Fernandopulle said the Government’s intention was to enable the people of the East to exercise their political powers which they were long deprived of.
“The President is also considering holding a separate Provincial Council Election for the Eastern province in line with the Supreme Court ruling on the North and the East merger. It will be held after or at the latter part of the Local Government poll if necessary,” he added. The Government has commenced a movement from the East to win the hearts of the people, he announced.
The Government will take immediate measures to develop the road network and provide water and electricity to the liberated areas in Thoppigala, Nation Building Minister Susantha Punchinilame told the Government’s weekly press briefing held at Information Department yesterday.
He said: “Thoppigala possesses a series of geographical patterns. However, the LTTE has laid lot of landmines in Thoppigala area. Before resettling the people, the Government has to clear all these landmines because the UNHCR should give an assurance that all landmines have been cleared to resettle the people.”
He said the Government intends to develop Thoppigala as a model. The Government is also exploring the possibility of establishing a Military Training Centre at Thoppigala.

World Tea production up 2.5% : China and India lead

Sri lanka Tea production down 6.3 million

kilosForbes and Walker Tea Brokers Private Ltd., released their publication ‘Sri Lanka tea Review’ this week which as usual gave authoritative comment on the tea industry not only in the local context but internationally as well. World production had reached approximately 3.5 billion kilos last year registering increase of 2.5 per cent.

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