Piliyandala Central becomes first sports school

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday opened the playground and the pavilion of the Piliyandala Central College. The school has been upgraded into a sports school status and all infrastructure facilities are to be provided to the school to promote sports activities among the school children in the area. Three schools will be upgraded to the Sports School status under this program which is jointly implemented by the Sports and Education Ministries.Speaking on the occasion, President Rajapaksa said the Government is bound to provide what the children in the North and the East have lost due to terrorist atrocities for the past 30 years.

“The Children in the North and the East were forced to carry T56 weapons in the war front when the children in the South were studying in schools. They were deprived of their rights to education and sports,” the President said.

“Education and sports should be promoted in all parts of the island to unearth latent talents of our children,” the President said.

He said the officials should pay equal attention towards the quality of education and all attempts should be taken to ensure that a high standard of education is always maintained at schools.

The initiative to establish sports schools in the country will help produce national and international level sportsmen and women. Students should be encouraged to be more involved in sports as it help make perfect men and women. “Our students should not be book worms. They should be actively involved in sports from which they can learn leadership qualities. Sports help them to endure victory and defeat in same vain,” he said.

Killinochchi, Jaffna and Mullaitivu districts produced outstanding athletes like Ediriweerasingham and time has come to explore hidden talents of the students in the North and the East Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge was also honoured for his service to the people in the Kesbewa electorate. President Rajapaksa on behalf of the people in the Kesbewa electorate presented the award to the Sports Minister.

Education Minister Susil Premajantha said the government is in the process of formulating a special draft for the classification of schools which is similar to what former Education Minister C.W.W. Kannangara did in the 1940s.

The Ministry expects to develop 325 schools in every Divisional Secretariat area. “We have already identified 125 schools to be developed under this project which is funded by the Asian Development Bank.”

The Minister said 30 schools in the Northern province will be fully developed under this program.

Courtesy: DailyNews

Transport Minister presents supplementary estimate for SLTB

Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma yesterday presented a Supplementary Estimate seeking Parliamentary approval to obtain Rs. 2,299.83 million to continue the services of the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) within the financial year of 2009 beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31.The Minister presenting the Supplementary Estimate said Rs. 2,299.83 million should be obtained from the Government to pay the salaries and the Cost of Living allowance of the SLTB employees and conduct other development activities of the SLTB.

“The Transport Ministry has not requested this money from the Government to cover up any losses incurred by the SLTB. The SLTB has not defaulted even a single rupee to any State or private bank. The Government has been able to maintain a sound financial management within the SLTB.

The 2008 Budget had allocated Rs. 2,600 million to pay the salaries of the SLTB employees. However, the national budget has reserved only Rs. 600 million to pay the salaries of the employees for 2009. The proposed retirement scheme introduced for the SLTB employees have not yet been implemented. Therefore, Rs. 2,600 million allocated last year is required to pay the salaries of the employees attached to these depots, this year too, he said.

The Minister said the SLTB charges only 10 percent of the total cost of the season ticket from the students. The Treasury has given 55 percent of subsidy to provide the season tickets. However, the rest of the 35 percent loss is borne by the SLTB on behalf of the country’s children.

Therefore, the SLTB has to incur a huge loss on behalf of the season tickets issued every year. But the SLTB never consider this as a loss or burden.

The SLTB is rendering this service with dignity for the country’s students. According to estimates Rs. 1,383.60 million is required to issue season tickets to students this year. But the budget has allocated Rs. 860 million for this. Therefore an additional grant of Rs. 523.60 million is required to implement this program. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa assumed office, there were only 182 school buses operated countrywide. The fleet of school buses has been increased up to 552. There is a requirement of 1,100 school buses.

The SLTB has also issued warrants for the Armed Forces and Police. A huge sum of money is spent to provide these warrants as well. But the SLTB also fulfill this requirement by considering it as a service to be rendered to the nation from the SLTB. The SLTB has released nearly 300 buses for war heroes transport, he said.

Minister Alahapperuma said the SLTB has deployed 800 buses in non-profitable routes where private buses are not operated. The SLTB has to incur Rs. 165 million loss monthly due to this. If the SLTB will stop the buses running in these non-profitable routes and deploy those buses in profitable routes, it can be turned into profit-making venture very soon. But as the instructions given by the President, the SLTB always think of the passengers without considering its profits.

The Minister said Rs. 1,018.83 million is required to pay the cost of living allowance arrears of SLTB employees for 2008. Of this amount, Rs. 870 million has been allocated from the national budgetary estimates of 2009. Therefore, an additional amount of Rs. 299.83 million is required to pay this cost of living allowance arrears of SLTB employees.

The Government has taken a series of measures to develop the transport sector in the North and East Provinces. As a result, the SLTB depots in these provinces have achieved a rapid progress. The Jaffna SLTB depot was selected as the third best depot in the country last year. We should appreciate the dedication made by the employees to turn Jaffna depot into such developed stage. Arrangements have been made to promote Jaffna SLTB depot into a model depot as a mark of respect to the people of Jaffna, the Minister added.

Courtesy: DailyNews

Cabinet decisions

Providing concessions to Pirivenas
The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Education Minister Susil Premajayanth to provide facilities such as making available the affiliated service of Pirivena teachers, bursary, textbooks and uniforms (robes) etc. under the Pirivena Education Act No. 64 of 1979, for the Pivivenas functioned with the authority of Sri Lankan Bikkhus in India and Nepal.

Assigning repair work to State Engineering Corporation
The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge to repair the flood light towers in the outdoor stadium at Rs. 5,602,000 and the flood light towers in the indoor stadium at Rs. 2,734,000 by the Sri Lanka State Engineering Corporation without following the tender procedure.

'World View Impact Sri Lanka' to undertake feasibility study
The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by the Child Development and Women's Empowerment Minister Sumedha G. Jayasena to undertake comprehensive feasibility study on the 'World View Impact Sri Lanka' project proposal after identifying suitable state lands that could be used for rubber cultivation as highlighted in the officials Committee Report.

Revised project proposal disaster response network
The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Janaka Bandara Tennekoon and Disaster Management and Human Rights Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to accept the project revised proposal of International Centre for Emergency Techniques (ICET) of Karperweg 2.4941 SL Raamasdondveer, P.O Box 430,4940, the Netherlands for Upgrading the Disaster Response Network phase II in Sri Lanka and award the contract to them for Euro 24,945,483.12 and to direct the Director General of External Resources to negotiate with the Rabobank International TCF Export Finance through the Netherlands Government, for obtaining and using funds for the implementation of this project.

Railway Museum Trust Board establishment
The Cabinet has approved a memorandum submitted by Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma to appoint a Railway Museum Trust Board headed by the GMR consisting of representatives of the National Museum, Archeology Department, Transport Ministry, the General Treasury, Chief Accountant of the Railways and the Chief Engineer of the Railways (Buildings) and a professional on historical heritage conservation nominated by the Transport Minister and to entrust the Board of Directors of the Trust with the responsibility of financial control of the Museum, appointment of its staff and personnel Management.
Also to entrust the Board of Directors with the responsibility of displaying the Museum to the public under the accepted Museum practice , protection and maintenance of the exhibits and to entrust the Board of Directors with authority to credit the Railway Museum Fund with revenue generated from the Museum and meet the relevant expenditure out of that Fund and to regulate the accounting matters of the Railway Museum as a collective responsibility of the Board and to present the accounting records for auditing by the Auditor General, and to closely monitor the management progress and the future expansion of the Museum by the Transport Ministry.
Courtesy: DailyNews

Wanted drug peddler shot

A most wanted drug peddler was gunned down by unidentified persons in Applewatte, Maligawatte last morning, police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekera said.Police found the bullet riddled body of M. Nisthar (40) in a lane leading to Applewatte. “He was a key drug peddler and wanted by police for his crimes”, he added.

Courtesy: DailyNews

The Ultimate Truth as told by Tamil Doctors

The auditorium of the Media Centre for National Security was teeming with media personnel as more than 70 odd members of the fourth estate, the highest number of them ever to attend a press briefing in recent times, gathered there at the auditorium on Wednesday afternoon.All media personnel had arrived well before the scheduled time, 3 p.m. despite the short notice issued to them in the morning to see the five Tamil doctors namely Dr. Sathyamoorthy, Dr. Ilancheliyan, Dr. Sivapalan, Dr. Shanmugaraja and Dr. Vartharaja.
It was an important event, especially for the international media who were still awaiting to have a clear picture of the situation that prevailed in the No Fire Zone at the last stages of the battle in Puthukudiyiruppu, Puthumattalan and in Mullaivaikkal areas since these doctors were the only link the international media had inside the No Fire Zone at the final stages of the battle.
The statements they had made to certain media during the last stages of the battle had given the impression to the international community that thousands of civilians were being killed due to shelling by the Security Forces into the No Fire Zone in violation of the commitment made by the Government not to use heavy calibre weapons considering the safety of the civilians.
The statements they were giving were so damaging to the Government and the Security Forces? humanitarian operation to liberate the civilians from the clutches of the LTTE as they were giving exaggerated figures about the civilian deaths and casualties.
Ultimately those doctors who were serving inside the No Fire Zone till the end of the battle had to end up their journey in the Government controlled areas along with the thousands of civilians who were flowing into the military controlled areas during the last three days of the battle in Mullaivaikkal.










Dr. Shanmugaraja
“The LTTE grabbed major part of the food brought in ICRC shipments for use of their cadres. Civilians did not get them.”
Dr. Sivapalan
“They shouldn’t have brought the war to the No War Zone. Now LTTE leadership is decimated and people are liberated”
Dr. Vartharaja
“Eight times Government sent medical supplies but the people didn’t receive them. The problem was that LTTE took medicine from us to treat their injured.”
Dr. Sathyamoorthy
“The LTTE even quoted us in their websites even without our knowledge and approval to give exaggerated figures about civilian casualties”
Dr. Ilancheliyan
“I see no difference between the blood of Tamils and Sinhala. Youth of both communities lose life and limb”
Pictures by Rukmal Gamage



Five doctors
And the five doctors who had arrived in the Government controlled areas were detained by the Security Forces and later handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department for further investigations considering the extent of damage caused to the Government and the Security Forces due to their statements given to certain international media including the BBC about civilian deaths and casualties.
On the one hand, the media personnel were keen to learn what had happened there at the last stages of the battle and to have eye witness accounts about the civilian casualties and deaths. On the other hand, the Government was also keen on to give a clear picture about the civilian casualties as the question about the civilian deaths and casualties remained unresolved until this moment.
It was during the interview the Hindu editor had with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President gave indications that the Government would give a chance for the five doctors under detention to give their version of the story about their experience in the LTTE controlled areas during the final stages of the battle.
So, it was an opportunity media personnel were awaiting to grab, at the MCNS auditorium on Wednesday evening armed with their questions to be thrown at the five doctors during the press conference. They were also keen know who was conducting the press briefing and why they had selected the MCNS auditorium as the venue. The purpose of their queries was clear. They wanted to see whether the doctors were under pressure from the Government. The five doctors who were in good health were introduced to the media personnel and were meeting the media not under the pressure.
However, many journalists who were concerned whether they were under pressure of the Government to make their statements were not worried to learn whether they were under pressure from the LTTE when issuing their initial statements about the civilian deaths.
There was no mention about their plight when they were quoted in their news reports about the situation there in the No Fire Zone when the intense fighting was going on between the Security Forces and the LTTE whilst thousands of civilians were under the detention of the LTTE.
However, the doctors were clear when they said that it was under the pressure of the LTTE they had to give those statements to the media exaggerating the number of civilian casualties and deaths. ?It was under the pressure of the LTTE we had to give exaggerated numbers of civilian deaths and casualties?, the five doctors said in unison. The doctors denied the stories about thousands of civilian deaths as claimed by the United Nations which said that 7,000 civilians were killed during the final stages of the battle to fully defeat the LTTE based on unrevealed sources.
They explained how they were pushed by the LTTE to exaggerate figures about civilian deaths when they saw dozens of civilians that got killed in the crossfire.
?The LTTE even quoted us in their websites even without our knowledge and approval to give exaggerated figures about civilian casualties?, Dr. Sathyamoorthy explained.
LTTE controlled areas
They simply explained how people were shot dead by the LTTE when they were trying to flee the LTTE controlled areas and the way the people got caught in the explosions of shell loaded trucks by the LTTE.
?Their strategy was to keep the civilians around them and survive. That was why they came along with the civilians once Safe Zones were demarcated for the civilians by the Security Forces?, Dr. Shanmugaraja said.
Since it was a gathering of press personnel too big even for a Spokesman having a regular press briefing, the doctors were little shy in their answers as the pressure from the journalists was little high on them as they were asking many questions at once on different subjects.





The huge destruction created by the LTTE inside the No Fire Zone using their shell loaded trucks.




But they were clear in their answers about the civilian casualty figures that described nearly 700 to 800 civilian deaths during the period from January to May this year which is way off from the figure given by the United Nations quoting the unrevealed sources.
Even after the disclosures of these doctors about the civilian casualties the UN stood by its claim as quoted by certain media in their reports.
If the UN is so certain about the number of civilian deaths during the final stages of the battle it is now high time for them to come out with their evidence to prove their statements without blaming the Government and the Security Forces for causing an unconfirmed number of civilian deaths.
The doctors also cleared the picture about the food shortage inside the No Fire Zone saying that it was due to the LTTE taking charge of the food stocks sent by the Government for the use of the civilians.
They dismissed as a total lie reports about civilian deaths due to starvation.
?The LTTE grabbed major part of food brought in by ICRC shipments for use of their cadres. Civilians did not get them. First we opted to remain in the uncleared area for the sake of our families and other civilians?, Dr. Shanmugaraja said.
?Eight times the Government sent medical supplies but the people didn?t receive them. The problem was that LTTE took medicine from us to treat their injured. They asked us to tell the media that we don?t have medicine, There was a shortage of medicine because LTTE took the whole stock,? said Dr. Vardharaja.
The factor that had to be highlighted here is that all the five doctors had obtained their MBBS degrees from the Medical Faculty of the Jaffna University at different years and had served in Government hospitals. Dr. Sivapalan and Dr. Shanmugaraja were part of the LTTE and had worked with the LTTE.
Dr. Sathyamoorthy was the Acting Medical Superintendent of the Kilinochchi hospital. Dr. Vartharaja was the Regional Director of Health Services in the Mullaitivu district whilst Dr. Ilancheliyan was the Medical Officer of Health Mullaitivu.
Little nervous
Dr. Ilancheliyan was arrested by the LTTE as he was trying to escape from the LTTE controlled areas early this year.
Although they were little nervous, in answering the questions thrown at them, they later adjusted to the situation and even talked freely with the journalists at the end as there was no barrier between the journalists and the doctors.
?We thought LTTE were liberators of the Tamil people. They forcibly recruit 3 - 4 children and youth from every family. I treated girls and boys of 14 - 15 age group who had been child recruits. It was a useless war. Their strategy was to use civilians as a human shield and to mislead the international community and obtain their support?, Dr. Sivapalan who worked with the LTTE for more than a decade said when he was asked to give his message to the Tamil Diaspora.
No Fire Zone
?They shouldn?t have brought the war to the No Fire Zone. Now LTTE leadership is decimated and people are liberated. We hope Government will develop the area and Tamil diaspora should support,? Dr. Sivapalan added.
?We regret very much for providing false information to foreign media while we were working in the LTTE controlled area due to intense pressure from the LTTE?, confessed Dr. Sivapalan.
?I had to serve as a surgeon too in the South and the North. I see no difference between the blood of Tamils and Sinhala. Youth of both communities lose life and limb. War is over. All of us should unite to develop the country. I take this opportunity to thank the President and the Security Forces who rescued us. All Sri Lankan youth should unite and work selflessly?, appealed Dr. Ilancheliyan conveying his message to the Tamil Diaspora.
Now, doors are open for the international community to closely scrutinize the situation and come out with their correct assessment on the situation that prevailed inside the No Fire Zone during the final stages of the battle as the Government has exposed the false information that was disseminated to the international media by the five doctors.
Courtesy: DailyNews