Maligawatte issue resolved!
BY STANLEY SAMARASINGHE- January 24, 2014
The Supreme Court yesterday terminated the fundamental rights petition filed by 100 residents of Applewatte, Maligawatta, after both parties signed an agreement to settle the issue, subject to certain conditions.
When the matter was taken up before the Bench comprising Justices Chandra Ekanayake, Eva Wanasundara and Rohini Marasinghe, Deputy Solicitor General (DSG), Viraj Dayaratna, informed Court that both parties had agreed to settle the issue, subject to certain conditions.
DSG Dayaratna further submitted that the petition filed by the residents of Applewatte, had stated that the Urban Development Authority (UDA), had taken steps to demolish the houses they were occupying.
He further said the UDA intends to construct new houses for the petitioners, which will be provided to them in one year. The DSG said it was necessary that the residents vacate the area as the UDA had to commence construction at the site.
Dayaratne further submitted that the petitioners and the first respondents, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) had signed an agreement, based on certain conditions to settle the issue.
Explaining the details of the agreement, he said the petitioners had agreed to vacate their houses on or before 31 March 2014. The UDA had therefore agreed relocate them in new houses within one year.
The UDA had also agreed to pay a monthly rent of Rs 10,000, each, until the petitioners are provided new house.
Those who want to build houses as a temporary measure, until the completion of their new houses will be given Rs 75,000 and land to do so. Those who were registered as voters of Applewatta in 2009 will be eligible for house as well as those whose names are not in the 2009 voters list. The UDA will consider them as voters if their names had been included in 2008 and 2010 voters list.
However, if a husband and wife apply for separate houses, the UDA will grant only one house for the couple.
Attorney-at-Law J.C. Weliamuna, with Pasindu Silva, appeared for the petitioners.
Deputy Solicitor General, Viraj Dayaratna, with State Counsel, Suren Gnanaraj, appeared for the respondents.
Docs on token strike on 30 January BY STANLEY SAMARASINGHE- January 24, 2014
The Supreme Court yesterday terminated the fundamental rights petition filed by 100 residents of Applewatte, Maligawatta, after both parties signed an agreement to settle the issue, subject to certain conditions.
When the matter was taken up before the Bench comprising Justices Chandra Ekanayake, Eva Wanasundara and Rohini Marasinghe, Deputy Solicitor General (DSG), Viraj Dayaratna, informed Court that both parties had agreed to settle the issue, subject to certain conditions.
DSG Dayaratna further submitted that the petition filed by the residents of Applewatte, had stated that the Urban Development Authority (UDA), had taken steps to demolish the houses they were occupying.
He further said the UDA intends to construct new houses for the petitioners, which will be provided to them in one year. The DSG said it was necessary that the residents vacate the area as the UDA had to commence construction at the site.
Dayaratne further submitted that the petitioners and the first respondents, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) had signed an agreement, based on certain conditions to settle the issue.
Explaining the details of the agreement, he said the petitioners had agreed to vacate their houses on or before 31 March 2014. The UDA had therefore agreed relocate them in new houses within one year.
The UDA had also agreed to pay a monthly rent of Rs 10,000, each, until the petitioners are provided new house.
Those who want to build houses as a temporary measure, until the completion of their new houses will be given Rs 75,000 and land to do so. Those who were registered as voters of Applewatta in 2009 will be eligible for house as well as those whose names are not in the 2009 voters list. The UDA will consider them as voters if their names had been included in 2008 and 2010 voters list.
However, if a husband and wife apply for separate houses, the UDA will grant only one house for the couple.
Attorney-at-Law J.C. Weliamuna, with Pasindu Silva, appeared for the petitioners.
Deputy Solicitor General, Viraj Dayaratna, with State Counsel, Suren Gnanaraj, appeared for the respondents.
By Umesh Moramudali- January 24, 2014
Doctors will launch a countrywide, token strike on 30 January, demanding that the government implements the Amended Service Minute, as per circular 06/2006, the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), said yesterday.Addressing the media, GMOA Media Spokesman, Dr. Naveen de Soysa said, although they made numerous requests to the Public Service Commission (PSC) to implement the Amended Service Minute, the requests had been ignored.
As a result of not implementing the Amended Service Minute, doctors have to wait 18 years to obtain promotions.
"According to the circular 06/2006, a public servant needs to serve for only 10 years to obtain a promotion. Through the Amended Service Minute, the number of years a doctor has to serve to be promoted, had been reduced to 10 years from 18 years," he noted.
Dr. Soysa said a doctor who obtains post-graduate qualifications needs to be in service for 10 years to be promoted to the next grade. Consequent to the Amended Service Minute being passed, doctors with such qualifications need to serve six years to be entitled to a promotion.
The Amended Service Minute, as per circular 06/2006 was drafted by the Health Ministry and had been approved by the Ministry of Finance and the Salaries and Cadres Commission but, it has not been implemented so far due to the inefficiency of the PSC, he charged.
The GMOA doctors serving at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Castle Street Hospital for Women, De Zoysa Maternity Hospital, National Cancer Institute, Maharagama, and Sirimavo Bandaranaike Specialist Children's Hospital, will not be involved in the strike.
