Saturday, September 15, 2012

VIDEO: REDUCE ROLE AND PROFILE OF MILITARY IN NORTH – BLAKE

September 14, 2012 04:36 pm

The United States today reiterated calls for reducing military presence in the North and the need for accelerated progress to implement the recommendations of the LLRC and the National Action Plan.

The visiting US Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake stated that he had positive meetings with External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, leaders of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), and civil society.

“I discussed in all our meetings the need for accelerated progress to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and the National Action Plan,” Blake said at a press conference in Colombo.

He emphasized the importance of progress in reducing the role and profile of the military in the North, and full respect for human rights.

“On issues of accountability, it is our hope that three years after the end of the conflict, there can be a credible and transparent accounting, investigation and prosecution of some of the outstanding and serious allegations of human rights violations, as well as progress on the missing,” the US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Affairs said.

He also urged that the Northern Provincial Council elections be held as soon as possible and encouraged an early resumption of talks between the TNA and the government to agree on powers to be devolved to the provinces.

Who burnt houses of returning Muslim IDPs in Mannar?

“We can see how the people are suffering but who are we to tell? Nothing can be done. Who can fight against the Government? The news on the ground is that the Defence Ministry is trying to secure 1500 acres to build a hotel in this area. This is the main reason they don’t want these people to return to their homes. As we all know what the Defence Ministry wants, it usually gets. Who can stop them,” were the words of a rather unusual source – a Police officer, who was stationed at Marichikattu in the Musali Division of the Mannar district, where 7 huts belonging to Muslims were allegedly burnt on the 3^rd of September, 2012.

It is not clear who was responsible for burning these houses – but several Muslim villagers said they suspect the Navy, and that they could be trying to intimidate the villagers from returning to this area.

Click the images above for high resolution versions.

“On Monday the 3^rd evening at around 7-7.30pm, I got a call from one of my relatives in the area saying that they had seen a bright light in the area near my home. So I immediately went towards the area they described, but was stopped by the Navy and not allowed to go beyond a certain point. Villagers from the other side too were stopped at a point and not allowed to come near the scene until after the fire was put out. There were three tractors, one water-bowser and one Buffel (mine protected Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)) which were providing water to put the fire out. From a distance I could see some Navy officers with buckets putting out the fire and then removing the posts holding up the huts and the rafters of some of the un-burnt cadjan huts on the east of the main road. In the light of the tractors I saw that the utensils and goods belonging to the people that were kept inside the huts in the morning, weren’t there now,” said a village leader from Marichikattu.

There are about 250 Muslim families that live in the larger area of Marakarathivu, within which Marichikattu is located. Luckily there were no people inside the huts as every night people take shelter in a large building near the Marakarathivu junction, in fear of the many elephants that roam the area. Each morning the villagers return to their homes and get about their daily work. “These are our traditional deeded lands, so we have the right to reside here. In Puttalam where we’ve lived for the past 20 years, schools are not accepting admissions of our children for next year, so we have to return to our hometown,” explained another Muslim villager. (These Muslim people had been evicted from their village by the LTTE in 1990).

Someone from the village had called some politicians, but due to local election work, they hadn’t come, but had sent Police to the scene instead. Once the Police arrived on the scene, the villagers too had entered the area where the fire had broken out, along with the Police. The following day, the villagers had made a complaint regarding the incident at the Silavathurai Police Station. Later that day, a high-up in the Police had visited the village and deployed 25 Police personnel to the area to protect the people. On Wednesday, an Army Brigadier too had come to inspect the area and told the people not to protest or picket, that he would meet with the relevant parties and come to a favourable settlement soon. “We are yet to hear back from him,” said a village leader.

On the 6^thof September, the Army, Navy, local Government officials and the villagers had all met to discuss the issue. The Navy official had walked in late to the meeting and asked “who are the people who want to return to this village?’ “We feel the Navy is not happy about us being offered a housing scheme project as they don’t want us to have permanent houses here, particularly in the contentious 10 acre plot of land directly in front of the Navy Camp. The SLN has approx. 1500 acres of our land, but they still want more,” laments another villager. Later that day, the Divisional Secretary came and collected details from the people of Marichikattu. They have also been told that following the local Government elections, a meeting will be held with the relevant Ministers, the Government Agent, the Assistant Government Agent, the Army, Navy, Police and Wild Life Department, to settle this matter once and for all. However, they are yet to be notified of the exact date.

Since their return in 2010, 1200 Muslim families have been registered in the three neighbouring villages of Marichchikattu, Karadikuli and Paalakuli. Of those registered, 300 families have settled in these three villages thus far, with many still shuttling between Puttalam and here. According to some villagers we met, UN-HABITAT has constructed 150 houses, 75 in Karadikuli and 75 in Paalakuli. These houses are all being inhabited now, and there are also two functioning schools in these two villages.

With regards to the displaced Tamils who are also looking to return to Mullikulam, the adjoining village, the Muslim leaders say “we are like brothers and sisters. It’s only that we won’t give our children in marriage to non-Muslims. We wholeheartedly support their struggle to return to their homes, as we remember before 1990, we used to help our neighbouring Tamil brothers to fish, and they would give us free fish in return. Our two communities always maintained good ties with each other, so we are more than happy to struggle together to reclaim our land.”

The Tamil community’s reaction to the incident

“We feel for our Muslim neighbours, but they have at least been permitted to return to their own lands, we are still waiting. And as we have faced a lot of difficulty to come this far, we can’t afford to risk it all by taking sides at the moment. So we’d rather not say anything further on the issue,” said a Tamil villager from the Malankaadu temporary resettlement camp.

On the 3^rd of September when they were awaiting the Navy water bowser which was later than usual to make their daily delivery to the camp, the camp Coordinator had called the Navy to find out the cause for the delay. The Navy had told them that some Muslim people houses had been set on fire in Maruchchikattu, and that their delivery of water would be delayed. It was only then that they had found out that there were troubles in the neighbouring Muslim village. When the Coordinator called the Navy again later that day, he had said that they were wearing helmets as they were being pelted with stones and therefore, the delivery would have to get delayed further. It was only at around 6pm that day that the Navy had arrived at the Camp, with Police escort, to deliver their water.

Clarifying this with the Marichchikattu Muslim community though, they said that nobody had thrown any rocks at the Navy.

Embassies Under Attack Over Anti-Islam Video

September 14, 2012

Protesters have attacked Western embassies in Tunisia, Yemen and Sudan, as a wave of demonstrations against an anti-Islam film swelled and swept across much of the Muslim world after Friday prayers.

Aljazeera news;

SL seeking support of friendly congressmen to defeat US resolution

FRIDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2012

Sri Lanka is lobbying the support of friendly US congressmen to defeat a resolution tabled in the House of Representatives by seven congressmen demanding an international inquiry into alleged violations of the international humanitarian law during the war in Sri Lanka, officials said.

In this resolution tabled on September 7, the congressmen urged the United Nations to establish an independent international accountability mechanism to look into reports of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other human rights violations by both sides during the war and after it ended.

The resolution also seeks international intervention to encourage the Sri Lankan Government to allow for greater media freedom and for access by humanitarian organizations, journalists and international rights groups to war affected areas and rehabilitated LTTE combatants. The seven congressmen have also called for a political settlement on a meaningful devolution of power.

When asked for a comment, External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunaratne Amunugama said the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Washington Jaliya Wickramasuriya had been asked to lobby friendly congressmen for their support to defeat this resolution.

“The tabling of the resolution does not mean much. Yet, our ambassador will work to defeat it,” he said. (KB)

Tamil Nadu: Jayalalithaa wants SC to take up Katchatheevu island case
Sunday, September 16, 2012,

Chennai: Tamil Nadu will petition the Supreme Court to immediately take up its case against the gifting of Katchatheevu island by India to Sri Lanka, according to Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

An official statement Saturday said the Chief Minister conveyed the decision to her officials late Friday.

"It was decided to petition the Supreme Court to take up the case challenging the gifting of Katchatheevu immediately. The government would file a petition in the Supreme Court."

Jayalalithaa said the livelihood of fishermen in Rameswaram had been affected because of the 1974 decision and that they were being attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The island was gifted to Sri Lanka in 1974 by the Indian government. The DMK then ruled Tamil Nadu.

India and Sri Lanka are separated by a narrow strip of sea known as the Palk Strait. Physically, Tamil Nadu is closest to northern Sri Lanka.

Jayalalithaa told the officials that in 2008 she had filed a case in the apex court stating that the agreement to transfer Katchatheevu was not legally valid.

In 2011, after becoming chief minister, the government was asked to join the case.

Citing a 1960 apex court ruling, Jayalalithaa said in her petition of 2008 that any transfer of land belonging to India to a foreign country should be ratified by the both the houses of Parliament.
She said that since this was not done, the agreements between India and Sri Lanka signed in 1974 and 1976 regarding Katchatheevu were not legally valid.

The 285-acre island is situated on the Sri Lankan side of the maritime boundary.

Under the agreement of 1974, Indian fishermen could not fish around the island but could dry their nets on the island and worship at the shrine of St. Anthony there.

In 1976, after the International Maritime Boundary Line was agreed upon, a fresh treaty was drawn up.

Under the 1976 agreement, Indian fishermen lost the right even to dry their nets and worship at the shrine though traditional practices continued.

The Sri Lankan Navy would patrol these seas to prevent smuggling of arms by the now vanquished Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

There have been tensions in the sea, and Tamil fishermen from India have accused the Sri Lankan Navy of firing, killing and wounding them.

IANS

Sri Lanka, A Diminished Democracy

By Eran Wickramaratne -September 14, 2012

Eran Wickramaratne MP

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) is an association of Parliamentarians who are bound by their shared interests, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, and the pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy. The Association’s mission is to promote the advancement of parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance. The CPA consists of the Parliamentarians of the 54 states of the Commonwealth and many other smaller territories. The CPA has its roots in the Empire Parliamentary Association that was formed in 1911 which became the CPA in 1948 where all members share responsibility in the Association’s management.

It is to the CPA’s credit that their annual conference is currently being held in Sri Lanka, despite the country’s drift to an authoritarian style of governance. Many countries have drifted in and out of democratic governance over the past six decades. Some countries have been expelled from the Commonwealth and others have had their membership suspended for many reasons which include conflict, genocide, fraudulent elections and the undermining of democracy.

The CPA’s declared mission is to advance parliamentary democracy by enhancing knowledge and understanding of democratic governance. Even though the degree of democracy in a state is a highly debatable and contentious issue, the Commonwealth has often been able to censure countries which have deviated from its ideals. No global association including the United Nations would be of any use unless the common values of humanity are upheld over the narrow objectives of a nation state. The CPA’s overarching objective is to strengthen parliamentary democracy rather than legitimize government behaviour.

Sri Lanka evolved into a parliamentary democracy at Independence in 1948, while it had practised universal adult suffrage since 1933. Multi-party elections, shared Cabinet responsibility and constitutional protection for minorities were the hallmark of Sri Lankan democracy. With the adoption of the Republican Constitution of 1978 and a powerful presidential system of governance, the balance of power between the Executive Presidentand Parliament tilted in favour of the President. It was the beginning of the erosion of parliamentary democracy. In the Chamber of 225 members, there is less than a handful attending on a regular basis. While Parliamentarians cannot be excused for negligence of duty, the overriding reason for such neglect is the fact that parliament’s supremacy over the legislative process, as a check on executive power and public finance has diminished. Even though the Constitution gives Parliament control over finance, in practice, Parliament exercises little control. The weak oversight committees, the lack of a Parliamentary Budget Office, the inability to track expenditure by line and insufficient disclosure of financial information has made a mockery of the constitutional powers of Parliament over finance. The lack of a Right to Information Bill also leaves the public disempowered from obtaining financial information.

Despite the shift in power to the Executive President, there were a couple of significant checks and balances in the Constitution on the unbridled power of the President, who is immune from lawsuit in his private and public capacity. One such check on power was a two term limit on the Presidency. In democracies where there is an Executive Presidential System, there are term limits. A term is normally 4 to 5 years and an Executive President is limited to two terms. Countries that have no term limits are normally one-party states or dictatorships. Some of the countries without term limits are Azerbaijan, Syria, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Belarus, Algeria and Burkina Faso. Egypt and Libya also had no term limits for decades.

Sri Lanka had two terms of 6 years each. In 2010, a new amendment to the Constitution known as the 18th Amendment abolished the term limits which were the last check on the powerful executive Presidency. President Rajapaksa in the attempt to get Parliament to approve the amendment artificially created a two third majority in the legislature by encouraging crossovers from the opposition political parties to the government. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution was rushed through as an urgent bill with no public debate. Legislators had access to the proposed 18th Amendment on the morning of the debate where it was adopted into law. The Sri Lanka Constitution does not permit post legislative review. The above stated sequence of events does not speak for the best traditions of democratic parliamentary governance. Sri Lanka has a democratic system of governance with diminished democracy.

The 18th Amendment also eliminated a Constitutional Council which was instituted to provide diverse parliamentary representation. The Constitutional Council then appointed the independent commissions for elections, public service, police, finance, anti-bribery and corruption amongst others. The Constitutional amendment gave the President ultimate power to make appointments to these commissions with the concession of consulting a parliamentary committee. As recent as last week elections were held without Election Commissioners being appointed to the weakened Election Commission.

In a recent lecture delivered in Colombo at the Bakeer Markar Commemoration, Wadah Khanfar, the former Director General of the Al Jazeera Network stated that the Arab Spring was a revolt against authoritarianism of rulers who often ruled in the guise of democracy co-opting the opposition in the process of its governance. The result was the suppression of people who for long years were duped with economic crumbs and the trappings of democracy. What has begun to sweep the Arab world is the indomitable spirit of democracy.

The Government-appointed Commission of Inquiry on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation (LLRC) has widely documented the erosion of the democratic space and made recommendations for rectification. The opposition has pledged its support to implement the recommendations contained in the LLRC report. The government and opposition work together to make CPA objectives a success. Therefore, we must work together to make Sri Lanka a vibrant parliamentary democracy. Let us rise to our common calling – the advancement of parliamentary democracy.

Sri Lanka briefs UN delegation on war displaced
COL 2012-09-15

OMBO, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka briefed a visiting team from the UN human rights office on the resettlement of thousands of war-displaced people, the government said on Saturday.

Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa, who is also a senior advisor to the president, told the delegation that the human rights of the displaced and resettled people in the north and east of the country will be protected, the minister's office said in a statement.

"Now the people in these two provinces are enjoying very peaceful life after the three decades of uncertainty and fear about their life. There are no road blocks or check points, no mines, no fear of sudden explosion, no sound of gun fighting. The government has safeguarded the human rights of these people by providing facilities to start a new life in their original places, developing infrastructure and helping them to develop their livelihood," the minister told the UN human rights team.

The delegation headed by Hanny Megally, the Chief of the Asia Pacific, Middle East and North African Branch of the UN office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, includes Oscar Solers, the human rights officer at the UN human rights office.

The delegation is in Sri Lanka after a resolution was adopted at the UN Human Rights Council in March calling on the Sri Lankan government to implement a set of recommendation of a local war commission and also in the process obtain technical advice from the UN human rights office headed by the UN human rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay.

Sri Lanka initially refused to accept technical advice but later agreed to allow the human rights technical team to visit the country.

Rajapaksa told the delegation that the government is facing some issues in the resettlement process including getting back war displaced people who are in camps in India.

Thousands of Tamils fled to India during the 30 year war and a few had returned to Sri Lanka after the war ended with the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels three years ago.

Friday, September 14, 2012

CPA Welcomes Language Equality In Information On Pharmaceuticals

By Colombo Telegraph -September 13, 2012

“In spite of Sinhala and Tamil being the Official Languages of Sri Lanka the packaging of pharmaceutical drugs contain descriptions and instructions mostly in English. CPA believes that it is in the public interest that the information on such products should be available without any language barrier, to all citizens of the county. Therefore we have requested that dosages, compositions, side effects and other relevant information on all pharmaceuticals be included in Sinhala and Tamil. ” says Centre for Policy Alternatives.

Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director - CPA

Issuing a statement Centre for Policy Alternativessays that this development comes in the wake of two complaints lodged by Lionel Guruge of CPA with the Official Languages Commission and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

We below reproduce the CPA statement in full;

In light of the recent article carried by the Island newspaper dated 7/9/2012 and titled “All three languages compulsory to market drugs from next year” the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) welcomes the stance taken by the Ministry of Health and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL).

CPA notes that this development comes in the wake of two complaints lodged by Lionel Guruge of CPA with the Official Languages Commission and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

In spite of Sinhala and Tamil being the Official Languages of Sri Lanka the packaging of pharmaceutical drugs contain descriptions and instructions mostly in English. CPA believes that it is in the public interest that the information on such products should be available without any language barrier, to all citizens of the county. Therefore we have requested that dosages, compositions, side effects and other relevant information on all pharmaceuticals be included in Sinhala and Tamil.

Two hearings were held regarding the complaint HRC 2249-12 made to the HRC (SL.) Respondents in this case included the Chairman, State Pharmaceutical Corporation, Managing Director, State Pharmaceutical Corporation, Director, Cosmetics, Devices & Drugs Regulatory Authority, Sri Lanka, Dr. Ajith Mendis, Director General of Health Services, Dr. Kamal Jayasena, Director, Health Services Section, Dr. Salaka Athauda, Chairman, Indigenous Pharmaceutical Producers Association and the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Authority.

Accordingly the HRCSL informed in a hearing on August 7th 2012 that the respondents and complainants mentioned above should submit their recommendations by 30th September 2012.

As a National Health Policy is currently being formulated, CPA also suggests that a National Policy on Pharmaceuticals be included containing provisions outlined above.

Language equality implemented, in the printing of currency notes

That the sentence “This currency note that has been issued on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka is valid for any transaction within Sri Lanka” is not included in Tamil, and that the information is not presented in an equal way, in the printing of currency notes of Sri Lanka, was the basis of another complaint filed by Lionel Guruge of the Centre for Policy Alternatives with the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRC 2184-12). According to a decision given on 16th July 2012, the Superintendent of Currency who represented the Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka at the inquiry, promised that equal opportunity will be given to both Sinhala and Tamil, the Official Languages of Sri Lanka, in the printing of currency notes in future.

These two actions are part of a programme promoting Language Rights in Sri Lanka, carried out by the Centre for Policy Alternatives.

- Awaiting News: Disappearances & its impact on families

- Awaiting News: Disappearances & its impact on families
On the 30th of August, the world and Sri Lanka marked the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, with events taking place in several parts calling for justice for the victims and their families.
Disappearances is not a new phenomena in Sri Lanka and it's prevalence is linked to the culture of impunity which have allowed disappearances-a crime against humanity to go unchecked and very little in the form of investigations being carried out.
On this report however we move away from the circumstances that led to the disappearances and look at the impact it has on loved ones.

- In Prison for reasons Political?
On this report we revisit the issue of some of those prisoners who have been imprisoned for long periods without any charges being leveled against them or are among those who surrendered to the government forces during the last phase of the armed conflict in 2009. We hear views on whether they can be categorized as “Political Prisoners” and look into the specific problems they face in detention.
2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee on Post-war Recovery

- 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee joins us on Connections to share her views on Reconciliation in Liberia and Sri Lanka. She discussed amongst other things the series of instruments introduced at a national level for reconciliation, the importance of addressing the past and issues of justice and the disbanding of the National army following the end of the war.

- Mediated- An Exhibition of Data through Art
An Art Exhibition at the Saskia Fernando Gallery in Colombo that communicates aspects from constitutional theory, economics, social polling and writings on religion through art. The exhibition is curated by Sanjana Hattotuwa and will be open till the 15th of September 2012.


Fresh call from US to reduce military in North

Visiting US Assistant Secretary of State, Robert Blake today called on the Sri Lanka government to reduce the presence of military in North and accelerate implementation of LLRC action plan.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo a short while ago, Mr. Blake said that during his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, he has promised to hold the election in the north by December 2013. “But I hope that the election could be held sooner,” he told the reporters.

He also expressed his disappointment over the lack of talks between the government and the Tamil National Alliance. (Dianne Silva)

Statement by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State

Great to be back in Sri Lanka. I have had a wide-ranging and productive series of meetings with political leaders, business community leaders and members of civil society. Before I go further, let me take the opportunity to welcome the arrival of our new Ambassador Michele Sison. She only arrived last week, but comes ready to serve the United States as one of our most experienced career diplomats and experts in South Asian affairs. I know Sri Lankans will extend her the same warm welcome and hospitality you extended me throughout my stay in Sri Lanka.

The United States has had a long and productive partnership with Sri Lanka. We have provided over $2 billion in assistance and have an important economic relationship – the United States is the largest single export destination for Sri Lankan goods. And we have a strong partnership in counterterrorism and maritime security. We have also worked closely together on issues such as demining and support for the IDPs.

I had positive meetings with the Minister of External Affairs Peiris, Minister de Silva, Minister Samarasinghe, Secretary to the President Weeratunga, Defense Secretary Rajapaksa, leaders of the TNA, and civil society.

I discussed in all our meetings the need for accelerated progress to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) and the National Action Plan. I emphasized the importance of progress in reducing the role and profile of the military in the North, and full respect for human rights.

On issues of accountability, it is our hope that three years after the end of the conflict, there can be a credible and transparent accounting, investigation and prosecution of some of the outstanding and serious allegations of human rights violations, as well as progress on the missing. I also urged that the Northern Provincial Council elections be held as soon as possible and encouraged an early resumption of talks between the TNA and the government to agree on powers to be devolved to the provinces.

On the economic front, I am pleased that the American Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a trade fair to celebrate its 20th anniversary. I met with members of the AmCham at a lunch earlier today to discuss both the opportunities in sectors such as tourism and information technology, and the challenges that need to be overcome for Sri Lanka to attract greater investment.

On a related note of partnership, I wanted to pay special recognition to the fact that the U.S.-Sri Lankan Fulbright Commission is celebrating its 60th Anniversary. Thanks to this program, nearly 650 Sri Lankan students have gone to the United States, while Sri Lanka has hosted over 380 Americans as researchers, teachers, and students.

This powerful legacy has touched generations in both of our countries and made both of our societies stronger as a result. We are so pleased to be continuing this important bilateral cooperation and I also wanted to thank and commend Fulbright executive director Tissa Jayatilaka for his leadership of the Fulbright Commission for more than two decades.

Our hope remains that all Sri Lankans will be able to enjoy the same rights and dignity, and share a democratic, secure, and prosperous future.

Sri Lanka-China ties to get stronger on top official visit

By Uditha Jayasinghe

COLOMBO, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka is ready to promote relations with China during an official visit of the latter's top legislator, which is the most high profile visit to the island nation in recent years and could have enormous economic potential, an economist said here on Friday.

Economist Sirimal Abeyratne who is also the head of the Economics Department in the University of Colombo is upbeat about relations between the two countries and insists that it needs to expand to trade and not just loans to become sustainably productive for Sri Lanka.

Speaking to Xinhua ahead of the visit by Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on Saturday, Dr. Abeyratne pointed out that Sri Lanka's exports to China was still around 1 percent of the island's total trade.

"Trade between the two countries is still at an early stage but is very important given the size and depth of China's market. Relations need to expand beyond investment and loans. If it does so then it would be enormously beneficial for Sri Lanka," he noted.

With the rapid development of bilateral relations, China is involved in almost all the large scale projects under construction in the Indian Ocean island.

Some of the biggest projects include a 1.3 billion U.S. dollar coal power plant on the north western shore as well as a host of other investments in the south of the country including a 1.2 billion dollar port and 209 million U.S. dollar airport.

China has also pledged 760 million U.S. dollars to improve the road network and is also heavily involved in highway construction.

So close has the relationship become that Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Wu Jianghao described it as being the "best in history" since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1955.

More than 10 agreements are earmarked to be signed during the Chinese top legislator's visit, the ambassador told reporters earlier this week.
Special Report: Top Legislator Wu Bangguo visits Iran , Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Fiji

“Dogs should be in cages and not on roads” – Gota

Friday, 14 September 2012

Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, angered by the attack on an Army major by Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva’s son, Malaka Silva and Sri Lanka’s ambassador to Turkey, Bharathi Wijeratne’s son, Rehan Wijeratne on the 9^th morning, had said that dogs should be in cages and not on roads.He had ordered the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD) to arrest both of them.

The arrest has been delayed due to the close friendship between CCD DIG Anura Senanayake and Minister Mervyn Silva. Realizing this situation, the Defence Secretary had called Senanayake to his office and demanded that the two boys be arrested within 24 hours regardless of their connections.

Senanayake had explained the situation to Silva and asked him to get Malaka and Rehan admitted to hospital. The plan had been initiated to ensure that they would remain in hospital even if they are remanded.

Global stock markets rise on US Fed stimulus plan

Market Data

LAST UPDATED AT 15:42 ET

Dow Jones	13557.26	Up	17.40	0.13%
Nasdaq	3180.91	Up	25.08	0.79%
S&P 500	1462.11	Up	2.12	0.15%
FTSE 100	5915.55	Up	95.63	1.64%
Dax	7412.13	Up	101.81	1.39%
BBC Global 30	6475.11	Up	13.87	0.21%

Global stock markets have risen after the US Federal Reserve moved to kick-start recovery by pumping more money into the economy.

It followed the Fed's decision on Thursday to inject $40bn (£25bn) a month into the US economy.

UK, German and French stocks closed up 2%, while Wall Street opened higher.

But fears over the global economy persisted as the International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank denied they were in bailout talks with Spain.

Eurogroup finance ministers are meeting in Nicosia in Cyprus for talks on measures to end the current eurozone debt crisis.

On Friday, Jean-Claude Juncker, head of the Eurogroup, announced that the new eurozone rescue fund would be up and running by the end of October.

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) - originally due to launch in July - would control up to 700bn euros ($920bn; £566bn).

The ESM is an essential part of a European Central Bank plan to buy bonds from indebted governments such as Spain and Greece in order to bring down their cost of borrowing.

Countries such as Spain would need to make a formal request to the ESM for help before the ECB could intervene.

However, IMF chief Christine Lagarde and an ECB spokesperson strenuously denied reports that they were in talks with Spain about a rescue: "I can assure you we are not," Ms Lagarde told reporters in Nicosia.

Mr Juncker added that there would be no decision on the next steps in Greece's EU and IMF bailout before the end of October.

However, there were indications that Greece may be given more time to pay its debts.

"Greece has already produced a huge effort but will have to continue to do so," Ms Largade said.

"The target when it comes to achieving debt sustainability is very high, so there are various ways to adjust. Time is one that needs to be considered as an option."

Federal Reserve action

The plan to buy up US mortgage debt will continue until further notice, the Fed said on Thursday. The central bank also kept interest rates at below 0.25%.

The aim is to reduce long-term borrowing costs for firms and households.

On Friday, Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 2.7% and Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.8%.

Investors hope the Fed's measures will revive growth in the US economy, the world's biggest and a key market for Asian and European exports.

The Fed's promise that the quantitative easing programme was open-ended and would continue until the US economy showed signs of recovery has bolstered confidence, said analysts.

"They're saying that the punch bowl, the fuel for the economy, isn't going away - it's going to be here as long as you need it," said Tony Fratto, managing partner at Hamilton Place Strategies, a policy consulting firm.

'Obstacles removed'

In a research note from HSBC, analysts said that the Fed "is trying to convey to financial market participants that they can count on low interest rates and accommodative monetary policy for a long time and not to expect a reversal of policy in reaction to modest improvement in GDP growth or in the unemployment rate".

Yields on Spanish and Italian bonds also fell, easing pressure on borrowing costs for the two heavily-indebted nations.

On Friday, Italy's 10-year borrowing rate fell under the 5% mark for the first time since March.

However, the depth of Spain's problems were underlined on Friday with official data showing that public debt has reached a record 75.9% of gross domestic product, fuelling doubts over the country's ability to manage its finances.

There was fresh speculation in the European media that the ECB and IMF would discuss a bailout for Spain during a meeting of finance ministers that took place in Cyprus on Friday.

However, at a news conference after the meeting, Ms Lagarde denied the suggestion. Earlier, an ECB spokesman said: "The reporting is unfounded. No negotiations are ongoing."

There were also suggestions that the meeting would discuss a bailout of Spain. However, any immediate decision looks unlikely after the country's economy minister said on Friday that the government was working on a new set of structural reforms.

Luis de Guindos said a new plan should be ready by the end of September. Olli Rehn, European commissioner for monetary affairs, added that the Spanish plan would have "very clear commitments and precise timetables".

'Across the board'

There have been growing fears about the global economy, with a weak recovery in the US and the continuing debt crisis in the eurozone.

US unemployment, which has topped 8% for three years, is likely to be a key battleground in the upcoming presidential elections.

The slowdown in China's economy, the world's second-largest and one of its biggest drivers of growth since the global financial crisis, has fanned those fears.

Prompted by these concerns, policymakers in these regions have been taking measures to try to spur a fresh wave of growth.

The Federal Reserve's announcement came days after the ECB announced its new unlimited bond-buying programme.

Meanwhile, China has cut its interest rates twice since June to bring down borrowing costs for businesses and consumers. Beijing has also lowered the amount of money that banks need to keep in reserve three times in the past few months to encourage further lending.