Mendis rejoins SL team in Bangladesh

DHAKA (Reuters)- Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis joined the squad in Bangladesh Monday after a quick recovery from an ankle injury that was expected to keep him out of the test series.

Mendis, 23, suffered severe soft tissue damage in his right ankle during a domestic game early this month and was replaced by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath for the two-test series.

“My ankle is alright now as I am feeling no pain,” Mendis told reporters on his arrival in Dhaka Monday.

He is now expected to play in the second test starting in Chittagong Saturday.

Sri Lanka are in command in the first test in Dhaka after taking an overall lead of 406 runs after the third day. Monday is rest day due to parliamentary elections.

The unorthodox finger spinner was declared Man-of-the-Series on his test debut against India in July-August, taking 26 wickets at 18.38 runs apiece to help clinch the three-game series 2-1.

If he plays in Chittagong, it will only be his fourth test.

(Reporting by Azad Majumder, editing by N.Ananthanarayanan)
Courtesy: Dailymirror

Let there be responsibility in reporting, Foreign Ministry urges

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama has emphasized the need for the media to report news and information with responsibility, at the inauguration of the orientation programme for media personnel attached to the Parliament, at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute.

Minister Bogollagama stated that this was the first time in the history of the Foreign Ministry that such an orientation programme was being held, specifically designed for the media.

The Minister said that he was particularly glad to be associated with this programme, since he is personally aware of the professionalism with which the media has been reporting proceedings of the Parliament, since his own entry into Parliamentary politics in 2000.

He pointed out that whenever he spoke in Parliament, he did so with a deep sense of responsibility and highlighted the importance of maintaining consistency and clarity in public speaking. Similarly, he expected the media too would perform their duties with utmost responsibility.

Courtesy: Government Information Department

FM explains Governments humanitarian efforts in North

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said that reports of a scarcity of food and essential items in the Wanni are far from true.

On the contrary, despite prevailing adverse weather conditions and obstacles placed by the LTTE, the Government has ensured that there is an uninterrupted supply of food and basic necessities to the civilians in the un-cleared areas of the Wanni, who are caught up in the current conflict.

The Minister made these observations during a meeting with the Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance of Australia and the Alternate Head of the Australian delegation Bob McMullan on the fringes of the Bali Democracy Forum in Bali, Indonesia last Thursday.

Responding to a query from the Australian Minister, the Foreign Minister said that the Government has a well organised distribution network administered by the Government Agents of Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu to ensure that the food and humanitarian aid that the Government sends to the North actually reaches the displaced civilians.

He charged that the LTTE is holding civilians as a human shield and preventing them from coming to Vavuniya, where the Government has made elaborate arrangements to receive them and provide food, shelter and other facilities. He emphasized the importance of the international community to exert its pressure on the LTTE to allow the civilians to leave conflict zone to safer areas under Government control.

He further stated that the Security Forces are on course to neutralise the military threat of the LTTE in the North and that the Government is keen to restore civil administration and democracy to these areas, so that the people who had been deprived of basic freedoms, due to the reign of terror imposed by the LTTE, can once again enjoy the fruits of democracy.

The Minister expressed his appreciation to Minister McMullan for the development assistance that Australia has provided to Sri Lanka over the years and in particular, the recent enhancement of the quantum of aid which has greatly helped the Government’s efforts for the uplift of the socially and economically disadvantaged sections of the people of Sri Lanka.

The Australian Minister thanked Minister Bogollagama for the comprehensive briefing on the situation in Sri Lanka and stated that Australia looks forward to a closer engagement with Sri Lanka in a number of areas of cooperation, including the expansion of bilateral trade and investment, as well as development cooperation.

He also said that Australia is keen to develop links with SAARC, in her capacity as an Observer. Minister Bogollagama welcoming this idea, informed Minister McMullan that SAARC under Sri Lankas Chair is presently working out modalities for SAARC Observers to play a more active and meaningful role within SAARC, especially for the economic and social advancement of the peoples of the region.

The Minister held bilateral talks with the Foreign Minister of Singapore, George Yeo, Head of the Japanese delegation and Special Envoy of the Prime Minister and former Foreign Minister of Japan, Masahiko Koumura and the Head of the Chinese delegation and President of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs Yang Wenchang, during which he discussed a range of issues of bilateral, regional and international interest with the respective delegations.

Minister Bogollagama also held informal discussions with the Malaysian Foreign Minister Dr. Dato Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim and Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Foreign Minister) of the Philippines Alberto Romulo during the Bali Democracy Forum.

Courtesy - Daily News

Karu committed to supporting Government in fight against terrorism

Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister Karu Jayasuriya, who resigned from the Government yesterday to rejoin the United National Party as its Deputy Leader, expressed appreciation at the President’s efforts to rid the country of the scourge of terrorism and pledged to support him to the end in this endeavour.

A Nation Building Tax on business turnovers

The government has sought the parliamentary approval for the newly formulated Nation Building Tax Bill which seeks to impose a tax on business turnovers.

Courtesy: Dailymirror