By Kelum Bandara in The Daily Mirror, Nov 16
Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane said Sunday his ministry would introduce the teaching of the Chinese language to the school curricular soon.
The minister said he had already started the teaching of the Chinese language at Lumbini Vidyalaya in Colombo.“This is funded by China. We will expand it to other schools. The Chinese language will be one of the most dominant languages in the world in the future. Therefore, we must teach it to our children,” he said.
Mr. Gunawardane made these comments while speaking at the ceremony to mark the filling of water to the Hambantota harbour — a project funded by China. Besides, China is also funding the coal power plant in Norochcholai and the construction of the second international airport in Mattala.
China is now the world’s largest exporter and economists say it is expected to overtake Japan very soon to become the world’s second largest economy, next to the U.S www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-page-news/18603.html
2.Lanka needs support of world body: China
The Chinese government said Sunday Sri Lanka should receive the support of the international community in achieving its objectives as it had rid itself of terrorism and embarked on the course of accelerated economic development with determination.
Chinese Foreign Minster Yang Jiechi expressed these views when he met visiting External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris in Beijing, the Ministry said in a statement yesterday.Minister Jiechi said China would do everything possible to fulfil Sri Lanka’s needs as the country addressed itself to the task of improving the lives of its citizens, with the dawn of peace and stability.
“Countries big and small have their own problems, and it is important to remember that solutions have to be found to suit the circumstances of each situation in keeping with the wishes of the country in question without pressure from outside,” Mr. Jiechi said.
In an address delivered to the China Institute of International Studies, attended by leading members of the diplomatic community and representatives of local as well as international media in Beijing, Prof. Peiris explained Sri Lanka’s experience in defeating terrorism and putting the country on the fast track of economic development and national reconciliation.
He also addressed a largely attended Investment Forum at the Shangri-La Kerry Centre in Beijing for leading entrepreneurs of China, co-hosted by the Embassy of Sri Lanka and the China Chamber of Commerce for Export & Import of Machinery and Electronics, the ministry statement said.http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-page-news/18602.html
3. Sajith ready for talks
By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa in Daily Mirror online
Hambantota district MP Sajith Premadasa says he is ready to have discussions with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and is not looking for a position but instead wants to create democracy within the party.
The parliamentarian said this while addressing the Matale and Polonnaruwa party activists.
He also said that although he has been informed about a discussion with the party leader he has not been notified of a date or a time and that he will work for the party.
“People think we lean towards the government when we speak the truth. But there is no such thing,” he said. http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/5851-sajith-ready-for-talks.html
4. No invite for TNA: The Daily Mirror online
The TNA has not yet received an invitation from a group of Tamil political parties for talks on issues relating to the Tamil community, TNA General Secretary, Mavai Senathirajah told Daily Mirror online.
Senathirajah also said that the party has not arrived at a decision even if an invitation was to be extended.
He said the party would decide on this matter after the TNA Leader, R. Sampanthan who is in India on a private visit, returns to the country.
A group of Tamil political parties including the TMVP, EPDP and TULF who met in Batticaloa over the weekend decided to invite the TNA for talks on Tamil issues.
The Tamil parties had also decided to submit a memorandum to President Mahinda Rajapaksa making several requests including the implementation of the 13th Ammendment and the release of political prisoners.
http://www.dailymirror.lk/index.php/news/5847-no-invite-for-tna.html
5. JVP forming alliance to fight dictatorship
By Kelum Bandara in The Daily Mirror
Against the backdrop of the arrest of two of its MPs, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said it would join hands with other democratic forces here and abroad to form a broad front to fight against what it termed as the government’s anti-democratic and authoritarian attitude.
JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva told a news conference his party had already initiated talks with like-minded political parties, civil society organizations and the media for such a front to take on the government in a rigorous manner.
He said MPs Vijitha Herath and Ajith Kumara and provincial councillor Nalin Hewage were arrested by the Galle police and thus depriving them of their right to take part in peaceful demonstrations. Both MPs have since been released.
When asked to name the political parties they had held talks with, he said, “It is too early to name them. Anyway, there are remonstrations gathering pace even in the international arena against these anti-democratic activities.” http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-page-news/18605.html
6. Hambantota Port Harbour opened
The Daily Mirror, Aug 16; Sri Lanka has stepped into an industrial economy from the long existing agricultural economy with the construction of the Hambantota Harbour which paves the way to an industrial revolution in the country, President Mahinda Rajapaksa said Sunday.
He made these comments at the water filling ceremony of the new Hambantota International Harbour soon after he poured a pot of water into the excavated harbour basin at the auspicious time of 9:58 a.m. to mark the completion of the first phase of the massive construction project.
He said as a schoolboy he watched hundreds of ships sail either way from the Far East to the West and from the West to the Far East passing Hambantota harbour and that his dream of a new harbour at Hambantota had come true.
“I do not intend to develop Hambantta habour as only a supply point on the international maritime highway in the Indian Ocean. There will be a range of new industries and services in Hambantota and nearby districts that would generate thousands of employment opportunities. There are certain elements who do not want to see Sri Lanka as a strong and economically independent nation. The government has brought about a new economic era while fighting a war against the most ruthless and powerful terrorist out fit in the world,” the president said.
He said the government would construct an international airport in Mattala in the Hambanota district and refurbish Palali and Ratmalana airports.www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-image/18609.html
7. Fonseka to challenge verdict in civil court
Colombo: Sri Lanka’s war hero and for mer Army chief Sarath Fonseka will approach a civilian court to seek the overturning of a military court’s verdict that stripped him off his rank, pension and medals, his political alliance announced on Sunday.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, spokesman of the Fonseka-led Democratic National Alliance (DNA) said his side will appeal against the verdict and seek restoration of the former Army chief ‘s prestige. "We will go to the Court of Appeal. We will mobilise public support and protest against the decision," Dissanayake said, a day after President Mahinda Rajapaksa approved a court martial’s verdict on Fonseka.
The 59-year-old former Army Chief, who is also a parliamentarian, was convicted by a court martial for dabbling into politics while in active service. The court ordered that Fonseka be stripped off his rank, pension and medals -a decision that was ratified by Rajapaksa. "There have been instances in the country when civil courts have overturned decisions of military courts," said Dissayanayake.
Fonseka, who is in custody since his arrest in January after his loss to Rajapaksa in the presidential election, faces another court martial on charges of corruption in defence deals. Fonseka, once close to the President, fell out with him in the last days of the war, and later challenged him in the presidential election. http://epaper.dailypioneer.com/THEPIONEER/PIONEER/2010/08/16/ArticleHtmls/16_08_2010_012_007.shtml?Mode=1
8. Court martial convicts Fonseka: Agency reports
COLOMBO: A court martial convicted Sri Lanka’s former army Chief Sarath Fonseka on Friday of meddling in politics while on active service and stripped him of his rank and medals.
"The guilty verdict was read out to General Fonseka at the court martial.
The president as commander-in-chief has since ratified the decision.
Fonseka’s hearing before the three-member tribunal began five months ago despite protests from his party and rights groups that the process was seriously flawed.
"The court (martial) has ruled that he should be cashiered. So he will be stripped of his rank and all the medals he had earned during his 40-year career.
Fonseka, 59, was accused of trying to secure a place in a political party following talks with an opposition MP between October and November last year, just before he quit as Chief of Defence Staff. Leaked intelligence reports said Fonseka had tried to stage a military coup, an allegation he has denied.
Although Friday’s ruling carried no prison term, Fonseka will remain in military custody. A separate court martial is still hearing charges that he engaged in corrupt deals. He also faces civilian charges of employing army deserters, an offence that carries a 20-year jail term. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/6307900.cms?prtpage=1
