Sri Lanka establishes diplomatic relations with Botswana
Sri Lanka and Botswana have established formal diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, guided by the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of April 1961.
The Joint Communiqué to this effect was signed on 27th October 2008 by the Permanent Representatives of Sri Lanka and Botswana to the United Nations in New York.
The decision to establish diplomatic relations between the two countries has been taken in order to strengthen the existing bilateral friendly relations and to promote mutually beneficial co-operation on the basis of mutual respect and the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference.
Botswana, which is located in the Southern African region, is a steadily developing country. Since its independence in 1966, Botswana has enjoyed political stability and economic growth under a stable parliamentary democracy.
Currently, there are approximately 2000 Sri Lankan nationals living in Botswana, whose consular needs are looked after by the Sri Lankan High Commission in South Africa. They are employed in different fields, in the public sector and the private sector.
Courtesy: Government Information Department
Prabhakaran is in waterloo -MP Muralitharan
Parliamentarian Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan said that Sri Lankan Government’s political will and military planning will defeat terrorists.
He made these comments in an interview with Reuters in Colombo.
Muralitharan said the LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran, about to be captured.
Muralitharan expressed that Prabhakaran has an autocratic policy and never respect others opinions.
He added that the power granted to the military is the key success of the Army’s battlefield and President Mahinda Rajapaksa has given the Army necessary freedom of operations.
Muralitharan said there is an unprecedented momentum in Army offensives and Army will be able to capture Kilinochchi shortly.
Courtesy: Lankapuvath
We could give petrol at Rs.85 - Ravi
UNP parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayaka today addressing a press conference said that under a UNP government, petrol could have been given at Rs.85 a litre at present with a profit.
Courtesy: Dailymirror
Development in Ratnapura to get a boost
Major steps have been taken to develop the Ratnapura electorate, including the development of facilities in major towns as well as small towns, the Minister of Highways and Road Development T.B. Ekanayake told local media.
The Highways Minister pointed out that due to constant rains and consequent floods the roads always go under water and get damaged. This is a situation that has been attributed to the lack of a proper drainage system, he pointed out.
The Minister also said that he intends to introduce a new Road Act in Parliament. The new Act will solve problems such as acquisition of land when widening roads and the payment of compensation to the land owners.
Media Minister Condemns Mangala’s Statement
Government’s aim is to establish a democratic environment, Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said in parliament yesterday.
The Media Minister said that they do not need to set up a dictatorial government in response to a statement made by MP Mangala Samaraweera condemning the government mechanism to eradicate terrorism.
The Minister further said that during the past three years the Security Forces proved that they can go forward without harming innocent civilians. The Forces launched a comprehensive mechanism to save Colombo and the South from the LTTE.
He also said that free and fair elections are held to establish democracy. Civil administration was also established in the Eastern Province after the elections.
The entire world counters terrorism. “We are not defeating terrorism for popularity” he added. JVP MP K. D. Lal Kantha said that certain parties with vested interests were attempting to stop the advancing Sri Lankan troops.
Courtesy: Lankapuvath
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