Rs. 500 million to upgrade recently liberated land route to north
With the opening of the 81 km long A-32 land route linking the Northern peninsula with the rest of the country, the Government has allocated Rs. 500 million for the upgrading of the road system, Defence Spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.He also emphasized that a fully fledged mechanism is in operation regulated by the Government while a separate programme has been introduced to look into the needs of the persons displaced due to terrorist activities in the region.
“About 309 civilians have crossed over to the Government controlled areas seeking the protection of the security forces via the Omanthai entry/exit point and the current development will continue in the upcoming weeks, resulting in more civilians to reach the liberated areas,” he said.
While commending the move of the Government of India to provide 900 metric tons of essential items to the needy in the north, Minister Rambukwella said that Government is pleased about the assistance granted by the Indian Government at a time when Sri Lanka is engaged in an endeavor to eliminate terrorism in the country.
Minister Rambukwella emphasised that it is the due responsibility and wish of the Government to ensure that all the citizens of this country enjoy the benefits of a peaceful environment.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
Govt reiterates stand on CFA : LTTE must disarm
The Government’s firm stand on the Ceasefire Agreement is unchanged, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said adding there will not be peace negotiations with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrenders.
Addressing the media yesterday on the weekly security situation at the MCNS, Government Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said during the last few days certain elements behind the LTTE proposed a CFA with the LTTE. “This was the normal practice of the LTTE when they were defeated militarily and weakened. They call for peace negotiation to halt the offensive and avoid the Security Forces’ humanitarian mission to liberate uncleared areas.
Our leaders experienced this during the last three decades,” he added. “Whenever the LTTE proposes a CFA, it always ends it with destruction and a calamity to the Government, public and sovereignty of the country,” Minister Rambukwella remarked.
Minister Rambukwella reiterated that the Government categorically rejects any peace negotiation settlement with the LTTE unless the Tigers lay down arms and surrender to Security Forces. “When President Mahinda Rajapaksa took office he immediately extended an invitation for peace negotiations with the LTTE. The President called the LTTE to the negotiation table in Geneva. The CFA was abused by the LTTE in many occasions since then,” the Minister said.
Minister Rambukwella said during the CFA the Jet Liner ship carrying unarmed forces on holiday and a Navy medical team had come under LTTE fire.
A vegetable market too was bombed in Jaffna. 17 Commandos were killed in an attack, then an attempt was made to assassinate the Army Commander finally and Mavilaru sluice gate was attacked to disrupt the daily life of people who depend on farming.
Following these abuses of the CFA by the LTTE, the Government had decided to erase terrorism and liberate civilians from the LTTE clutches. “The East was liberated and the democracy had been restored. The Easterners were allowed the franchise and their political rights restored, the Minister said.
Minister Rambukwella stressed that the North will be liberated and the humanitarian mission will be continued by the Security Forces. The Government has no any intention to negotiate with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrender. We embarked on an humanitarian mission in the North and troops are successfully marching forward and are now in the victory of Kilinochchi.
The entire North and our brothers and sisters entrapped in the Tigers’ grip will be liberated in near future. Democracy will be restored in the North as in the East,” he added.
Courtesy : Daily News
Govt reiterates stand on CFA : LTTE must disarm
The Government’s firm stand on the Ceasefire Agreement is unchanged, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said adding there will not be peace negotiations with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrenders.
Addressing the media yesterday on the weekly security situation at the MCNS, Government Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said during the last few days certain elements behind the LTTE proposed a CFA with the LTTE. “This was the normal practice of the LTTE when they were defeated militarily and weakened. They call for peace negotiation to halt the offensive and avoid the Security Forces’ humanitarian mission to liberate uncleared areas.
Our leaders experienced this during the last three decades,” he added. “Whenever the LTTE proposes a CFA, it always ends it with destruction and a calamity to the Government, public and sovereignty of the country,” Minister Rambukwella remarked.
Minister Rambukwella reiterated that the Government categorically rejects any peace negotiation settlement with the LTTE unless the Tigers lay down arms and surrender to Security Forces. “When President Mahinda Rajapaksa took office he immediately extended an invitation for peace negotiations with the LTTE. The President called the LTTE to the negotiation table in Geneva. The CFA was abused by the LTTE in many occasions since then,” the Minister said.
Minister Rambukwella said during the CFA the Jet Liner ship carrying unarmed forces on holiday and a Navy medical team had come under LTTE fire.
A vegetable market too was bombed in Jaffna. 17 Commandos were killed in an attack, then an attempt was made to assassinate the Army Commander finally and Mavilaru sluice gate was attacked to disrupt the daily life of people who depend on farming.
Following these abuses of the CFA by the LTTE, the Government had decided to erase terrorism and liberate civilians from the LTTE clutches. “The East was liberated and the democracy had been restored. The Easterners were allowed the franchise and their political rights restored, the Minister said.
Minister Rambukwella stressed that the North will be liberated and the humanitarian mission will be continued by the Security Forces. The Government has no any intention to negotiate with the LTTE unless it lays down arms and surrender. We embarked on an humanitarian mission in the North and troops are successfully marching forward and are now in the victory of Kilinochchi.
The entire North and our brothers and sisters entrapped in the Tigers’ grip will be liberated in near future. Democracy will be restored in the North as in the East,” he added.
Courtesy : Daily News
“SAARC leaders pledged to fight terrorism” – Defence Spokesman
LTTE was carrying out their propaganda to influence the international community and regional leaders at a time it is facing a heavy defeat in the conflict, Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella yesterday (22) said.Addressing the media Mr. Rambukwella noted that this has been the regular practice of the LTTE terrorists when ever they are severely beaten at the battle field by the Security Forces.
“We have experienced this over the decades with the LTTE when the Security Forces were approaching the edge of the LTTE strongholds. Then they raise a cry to halt the offensive citing humanitarian concerns,” he added.
Minister Rambukwella noted that as a sovereign nation, Sri Lanka will initiate discussion with leaders of any country but not with provincial party leaders.
He reiterated that Government of Sri Lanka capable in ensuring the wellbeing of civilians in the north and said that the well-being of Tamil people, the LTTE claims to represent is furthest from the LTTE’s concern.
Minister Rambukwella said that terrorism is not an issue confined only to a single or several countries in the world but a global menace that is spreading all around the world day by day.
“Terrorism is a main problem of the regional countries, particularly in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Heads of the SAARC nations solemnly promised to defeat terrorism and to cooperate against terrorism. The world and the SAARC nations are joining hands with us to defeat terrorism,” the Minister said.
During the last SAARC summit in Colombo Indian Premier Manmohan Singh pledged to fight terrorism. “Prime Minister Singh made his clear comment and steady stand on fighting terrorism in his speech at the 17th SAARC summit in Colombo. Therefore, the SAARC country leaders solemnly promised to cooperate on defeating terrorism as it battered and dented the economy of the region,” he pointed out.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
In future focus will be on enhancing opportunities for skilled migrant workers
The Government is determined to increase the job opportunities for skilled male and female workers and gradually reduce the proportion of female workers employed abroad, especially in the Middle Eastern countries, Minister of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare, Dr Keheliya Rambukwella said in an interview with a foreign news website.The remittances that the country has received through migrant workers in the first half of this year is USD 1.5 billion which is not only a record for the half year, it is the biggest foreign exchange earner for any industry, Minister Rambukwella told Asian Tribune.
He also stressed that the President Mahinda Rajapaksa has made a public statement that he would like to stop house maids going out by the end of this year.
Therefore, in line with the thinking of the President, we have decided to phase out the number of house maids going out of the country.
“When I took over the Ministry, 63% of the outflow was women. Every year about 425,000 people leave the country for temporary and moderate employment and out of that 63% were women. In the first year I managed - and it was the first time in the history - the male category surpassed that of women.
We will manage to bring down the women category very soon to 30 to 35 percent” he said, adding that the Government after having several rounds of discussions with the employers in the respective Middle Eastern countries have fixed a minimum monthly salary of USD 250 for this year only.
He said that further discussions with the respective parties will be made to get a further increase in the fixed rate of salaries.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
