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trade fair in Colombo Top US trade delegation due |
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American trade fair in Colombo By Himangi Jayasundere The United States Ambassador in Sri Lanka, Mr. Shaun E. Donnelly speaking at a press conference said that the fourth American Trade Fair, organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AmCham) will be held at the Colombo Hilton from February 9-11. AmCham officials said that the AmCham Trade Fair is intended to increase awareness of American products and services, to help identify potential distributors in Sri Lanka and to encourage new American firms to enter the Sri Lankan market. Representatives of two important American companies, Abor Acres Farm Inc and Chemtec International Inc., will be part of the US trade delegation attending this year's fair. The officials said that the Trade Fair will provide a unique platform for increasing awareness of American products and services while providing an opportunity for new American firms to enter the Sri Lankan market. The United States is currently Sri Lanka's biggest trading partner and a key source of capital and technical know how for direct investment. Trade Fair Exhibitors will gain company and product exposure, have access to distributors and retailers and establish direct contact with decision makers. Mr. Michael Owen, Counsellor for Economic and Commercial Affairs, United States Embassy said that exports from Sri Lanka to the United States in 1997 amounted to $1.6 billion. While the vast majority of Sri Lankan products sold in the United States are garments, an increase is expected in other areas such as gems, jewellery, coir products, rubber products and spices. He said that the biggest import commodity from the United States which amounted to about 50% in 1998 was wheat. Other commodities included electrical equipment, machinery and computer software.The trade balance was in favour of Sri Lanka with a surplus of dollars 1.4 billion in 1997. While the final data for 1998 has not yet been received, it is expected to be around the same. Speaking at the press conference Mr. Shaun Donnelly said that 'there has been a resurgence in the economic relations between America and Sri Lanka which initially began in the 19th century'. He pointed out that there was a visible growth in trade relations in the private sector. In 1998 Sri Lankan exports to the US amounted to dollars 1.6 billion, he said. While garments have been the major export to the US, its consistency has been around 60% of Sri Lanka's garment exports. Other export products include rubber, coir, leather, etc. Mr. Donnelly said that a lot of exciting projects were being initiated in the private sector and new products were joining the export market. He envisaged further growth in the coming years. World investment is competitive and trade is driven by competition, however he voiced that there was room for further growth for investment opportunities here for the US in the coming years. He said that 'AmCham is a personification of the new partnership in the private sector'. It is an independent body and not an arm of the government, he said. The work of AmCham can facilitate not only the AmCham members but also the private sector in Sri Lanka. Speaking in relation to the trade imbalance and production in Sri Lanka Mr. Donnelly said that the advantage for Sri Lanka lay in the relatively skilled trainable work force not in low priced products manufactured with less technology. He said that there was a wide variety of possibilities in reducing the trade ratio. 'We have been working on two avenues, informing US companies of the opportunities available in Sri Lanka for trade and investment and informing the Sri Lankan business community of the products and technology available to them in US, Mr. Owen said. He explained that the embassy possessed a commercial library which contained much of the relative information. The mission of AmCham is to stimulate and strengthen economic and business relations between Sri Lanka and US, Mr. Sunil P. De Alwis, President, American Chamber of Commerce said. He said that AmCham then known as the American Business Council commenced in 1992 with 14 members. Its present membership constitutes 247. He said that the American Trade Fair would bring the Sri Lankan consumer closer to the US marketer. 'Although we are far apart in distance this will bring us closer', he said. This would increase awareness of US products and technology. Officials said that entrance was free. Approximately 50 US companies and local businesses with substantial US investment are now operating in Sri Lanka, and many of these firms will be represented at the Trade Fair. AmCham Sri Lanka, a growing association of over 220 SL and US companies, is associated with the US Chamber of Commerce, which is the largest business federation in the US, representing in turn the interests of over 20,000 US companies. According to AmCham US Ambassador Shaun Donnelly has recently affirmed that ' there is a substantial market for advanced US products in Sri Lanka and that US technology could play a key role in helping to maintain and enhance the competitiveness of Sri Lankan companies'. The US embassy's Economic and Commercial section will operate a booth at the Trade Fair to provide additional support and information to Sri Lankan and American businesses and traders. A popular catalogue show of state-of-the-art construction equipment and services will also be on display. The American Centres Information Resource Centre (AIRC) and the US - Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission will each have a presence at the AmCham Trade Fair. The AIRC will offer on-line reference services for Trade Fair visitors and participants, and the Fulbright Commission's educational counsellor will answer visitors' questions about opportunities for University study in the United States. The fair will officially open on February 8. Ambassador to the US Shaun E. Donnelly and Minister of Industrial Development, C. V. Gooneratne will be the chief guests. The fair will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm from February 9-11. Mid-Week
Politics By Prasad Gunewardene UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe interviewed by the MTV 'Sirasa' over the programme 'Sameepa Dasuna' on Monday night was asked about his current relationship with Mr. Cooray. The UNP leader replied that the relationship was now cordial and Mr. Cooray was free to join the party by taking membership. He, however, noted that he was not prepared to invite people to join his party and those interested could obtain membership. Mr. Wickremesinghe also dealt with a question regarding the Premadasa family. He said that the party had accommodated Sajith Premadasa and as a policy only one member from a family would be taken in and Mrs. Hema Premadasa was being treated by the party as the wife of the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa and nothing beyond that position. The state controlled radio last morning quoted Mr. Cooray as saying that the intended move by the UNP to boycott the other provincial councils elections was a foolish move and the UNP organisational capacity was so poor that it could not grab the floating vote in the North Western Province. The UNP argues that Mr. Cooray who boasts about his organising capacities had led the party to two defeats as the General Secretary, namely the Southern and Western Provincial Councils when the party was in power. 'If he was such a powerful organiser why did the party lose while being in power' queried a UNP stalwart. Allegations of rigging, thuggery and intimidation at the NWP PC elections is the subject of the day in all circles. Even the religious dignitaries have called upon the government to hold fresh elections. Cabinet Minister M. H. M. Ashraff too has openly criticised the manner how the poll was rigged. He had decided to divorce himself from the People's Alliance at the future provincial elections. The JVP claims that if the poll was not rigged it could have brought in at least another two members in to the council. This position was endorsed by Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe during his MTV interview. He also noted that there could have been representation from the Muslim community if the poll was free and fair. The SLMC claims that Muslim voters were threatened and intimidated not by opposition party supporters but by the supporters of the Peoples Alliance. The UNP claims that Mr. Cooray who is well aware of the situation in Wayamba was now talking like a new born baby and was trying to take undue advantage of the UNP defeat to display his political bankruptcy being in the political wilderness. 'If he is so concerned about the party he has only to pay ten rupees and join to show how powerful his skills are', a spokeman for 'Siri Kotha' said. 'What has he got to offer when we were defeated in two councils under his stewardship as General Secretary while the party was in power?', the spokesman added. Yesterday white flags and banners appeared in the city stating that democracy was buried after the Wayamba PC polls. The UNP had organised a massive protest at Hyde Park and several independent organisations too were expected to participate. The UNP leader stressed that the question was not victory or defeat but to protect democracy and uphold the constitution of the country. Mr. Wickremesinghe told this columnist that when the nation celebrates its fifty first anniversary after Independence tomorrow, the PA which assumed office to protect democracy had buried the vital ingredient of the people. The nation celebrates its fifty first Independence day tomorrow with many political parties calling upon the government to protect democracy and uphold the freedom of franchise which the people were granted since 1931. SLFP organiser to quit politics after witnessing Wayamba violence By Prasad Gunewardene Mr. Rajakaruna, hailed by the SLFP and the people of Panduwasnuwara as a honest politician resigned as chief organiser of his electorate condemning the violence that erupted in his electorate on the eve of the North Western Provincial Council election. He told 'The Island' that peace prevailed in his electorate even during the campaign and he was shocked to hear that some intruders into his electorate had bombed and attacked UNPers on the eve of the election. He said that the party could now appoint a new organiser to his electorate and that person could carry on the work as there were eighteen months more for the next election. Mr. Rajakaruna condemned all types of political violence and stated that the people should be free to exercise their franchise to elect their own representative. Mr. Rajakaruna who entered politics in the late 1940's was a staunch SLFPer till he resigned from the chief organisership on Monday. He is a leading lawyer in the Kurunegala District and had been very critical of the PA's devolution package to resolve the ethnic problem. Mr. Rajakaruna opposing the concept of regional councils firmly stood by his policy for the unitary character of the country. Disciplinary action against 5 police and army personnel By Sumadhu Weerawarne The Complaints Desk set up by the Presidential Committee on Unlawful Arrests and Harassments recorded 154 such incidents during the last six months, with the incidence of complaints recording a steady decline over this period. In July 44 such incidents were recorded while in December the figure had dropped to 10. The complaints included 41 incidents of ill-treatment or torture, three disappearances and 10 complaints of non-compliance with the Presidential directive for the welfare of detainees issued in September, 1997. Mr. Sherif told a press conference that the procedure adopted by the Complaints Desk was to seek reports from the police on the complaints and follow it up with necessary action. He said that where the police or the army take action themselves once the committee is satisfied that it is sufficient it will close the case. But where they are deemed to be otherwise the police or the armed Forces will be directed to take appropriate action against whom the complaint is made. In the case of the three disappearances the Committee reported that one person had been found to have returned on his own having left his home at his own will. It said that the other two were 'still untraceable as full details regarding identification were not known and that they had disappeared long before the establishment of the committee'. According to statistics the complaints since the appointment of the committee in July have gradually dropped from 44 in July to 10 in December. The complaints recorded according to Mr. Sheriff are those of illegal arrest of persons in non-conformity with the Prevention of Terrorism Act or Emergency Regulations the undue delay in disposing the cases of arrested persons in police stations delay in taking action to prosecute persons under detention harassment caused by police or armed service personnel at the time of arrest, checking at check-points or cordon and search operations, the failure to issue receipts at the time of arrest in accordance with the circular, problems encountered at police stations when persons come to register their stay for a short period and the members of the family of a wanted suspect being taken as a hostage demanding the surrender of the wanted suspected. The Committee was established on July 12, 1998 on a directive of the President and include five Ministers and three others who are parliamentarians. By Azhara Raban DIG Jayawardene was in charge of the north western province during the elections and it is he who replaced DIG Camillus Abeygoonawardene less than two weeks before the election. The Police Election Secretariat had received a total of 1364 complaints, around 846 between December 7 and January 24 while 518 complaints had been received on election day. (January 25) The UNP, JVP and other political parties which contested the January 25 North Western Provincial Council elections accused the PA of resorting to malpractices, fraud, intimidation and impersonation during the poll and called on the Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayaka to hold fresh polls. The PA in return blamed the UNP for the violence. Nearly 5000 Tamils clamour for sea passage from Trinco to KKS By Shamindra Ferdinando Lanka Muditha, targeted by Sea Tigers several times last year is the only vessel available for civilians to move between Trincomalee and KKS. Both civil and military officials in Trincomalee said that since December 18 last year there has been no civilian movements from Trincomalee to KKS. Officials said that altogether approximately 16,000 persons were transported from Trincomalee to KKS last year. 'About 5000 people have registered with the Divisional Secretariat,' an official said revealing that all of them were not in Trincomalee. Some of them are still in Colombo, he said pointing out that last week's resumption of civilian air services between Ratmalana and Palaly will not result in any significant improvement with regard to transport facilities available to civilians. He said that the single SLAF aircraft operated between the peninsula and Colombo will be able to transport about 50 people each way. Although there have been no runs from Trincomalee to KKS, Lanka Muditha has been able to transport about 1200 people from KKS to Trincomalee on January 25. The Trincomalee-KKS sea route remains the Main Supply Route [MSR] both for at least 500,000 civilians and the armed forces and police stationed in the peninsula and the Kilinochchi district. Armed forces officers said that lack of tr rity personnel and cargo. AG files objections to Judge Tillakaratne's rights plea By Chitra Weerarathne Mr. Tillakaratne, challenged his arrest by the Police and the CID on the night of September 10 last year, subsequent to his release on bail, on an order made by the Magistrate of Kesbewa in the morning of September 10, 1998. The petition has cited Sarath N. Silva as the fourth respondent. Sarath N. Silva in his objections said that, he denied that there has been any violation of any of the Fundamental Rights of Mr. Tillakaratne, as alleged in his petition, which had resulted from any action or any omission of a duty cast on Mr. Silva by law. Mr. Silva has said in his affidavit filed last Friday that he had not been anywhere near the places at which Mr. Tillakaratne alleged that his Fundamental Rights were violated. Mr. Tillakaratne, has without any basis made Sarath N. Silva a respondent. Mr. Silva has said that he has not participated in the arrest or the detention of Mr. Tillakaratne, and at all times, he had advised the police bona fide, relying on the available material placed before him, and abiding by the law, paying attention to accuracy. The objections also stressed the fact that, Mr. Tillakaratne as a Judicial Officer, should not have any anxiety to hear a particular case and should not ordinarily be concerned about a transfer of a trial of a case, from his court to another High Court. The objection papers added that on September 8, 98 around 8 p.m., the third respondent Punya de Silva (DIG-CID), had telephoned Sarath N. Silva at his home. On that occasion Punya de Silva had informed Sarath N. Silva that, the CID officers, had gone to the residence of Mr. Tillakaratne, to arrest Mr. Tillakaratne and search the house for the purpose of the investigation. That they had refrained from taking further action since the lawyers who were present with Mr. Tillakaratne, had a letter recalling the warrant, issued earlier by the Kesbewe Magistrate. Sarath N. Silva, had asked Mr. Punya de Silva, whether he knew the contents of the letter, to which he replied in the negative. Then, Sarath N. Silva had told Punya de Silva, that in view of this complication, his officers, would have to act with caution. Mr. Punya de Silva had replied that there is nothing to worry and that he had sent the Director of the CID to the Petitioner's (Tillakaratne's) house to handle the matter. At that time Sarath N. Silva, had not known that the first respondent, Bandula Wickremasinghe, was a Director of the CID, Since all matters, connected with the CID were handled by the Additional Solicitor General who is in charge of the subject. Punya de Silva, had called Sarath N. Silva, within one hour of the first call, and informed him that the petitioner, had been brought to the CID office, and his statement is being recorded. A case would be filed the next day. Sarath N. Silva had advised Punya de Silva, to see to it that everything is done in order. He had assumed that caution addressed to Punya de Silva, earlier was being adhered to. An incorrect note made by the first respondent, Bandula Wickramasinghe, regarding the aforesaid conversation, had led to protests by certain members of the Bar, against the Attorney General's Department. Sarath N. Silva, had further explained that, the Chief Justice had telephoned him at about 6.30 p.m. on 10.9.98, and inquired from him, whether he was aware as to what was happening in the case, with regard to H.C. Judge, Tillakaratne. The A.G. had replied that, the Magistrate issued a warrant, for the arrest of the petitioner upon a report filed by the CID, but that he was unaware, as to what had taken place thereafter. The C.J. had asked the A.G. whether anything could be done, and the A.G. had replied that nothing could be done at the moment, but that they had to wait and see as to what happens. The Chief Justice had not told Sarath N. Silva, about any conversation he is alleged to have had with, Romesh de Silva PC, regarding this matter, as reported in a Sunday newspaper. The objection paper by Sarath N. Silva added that 'As far as I recall I did not respond to His Lordship, by saying anything so obvious as that, the law must take its course.' Sarath N. Silva, has specifically denied that, Romesh de Silva, gave any undertaking on behalf of Tillakaratne, that the petitioner Tillakaratne, will present himself at the CID for the purpose of investigation, nor did Romesh de Silva, seek an undertaking from the A.G. that the petitioner would not be detained, by the CID. It is not within the province or the authority of the Attorney General, to give any undertaking as regards the action on the part of the police, the objections explained. The objections papers, added that, the Kahathuduwa Police had investigated and reported, on some injuries caused to one Somachandra on 1.6.98. The said Somachandra had been attacked, at a location near the house of Mahanama Tillakaratne. The injured party had complained that the petitioner had interfered with the investigations done by the Kahathuduwa police. Thereafter the CID had taken over the investigations. The statements recorded by the Kahathuduwa police and the CID, implicated the son of the petitioner and some others, causing grievous hurt to Somachandra. The petitioner had been around the place with firearms. There had also been previous incidents, in which Tillakaratne (petitioner), is alleged to have used a firearm to intimidate the family of the injured person and had fired at their house, causing damage to the premises, the police and CID reports have said. By Lishanthie Siriwardena This advanced technology would contribute to Sri Lanka's efforts to become the business hub of South Asia, Prof. Samarajeeva said. Sri Lanka cannot afford to shut its borders to this revolutionary new technology but must instead welcome multiple providers of this service in the spirit of our stated liberal telecommunication policies, the TRCSL stated in its announcement. GMPCS handsets communicate directly with a satellite or a constellation of satellites in different orbits and would facilitate quicker and congestion free direct international communication, Prof. Samarajeeva said. The Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) will be signed after consultations with the Ministry of Defence and once the MOU is ascertained to be consistent with Sri Lankan law. Iridium India Telecom Limited have been given temporary authorization to use frequencies for testing purposes Prof. Samarajeeva said. The frequency will be converted to a formal frequency license by the commission following normal procedures once the fee is determined. The license will cover both the frequencies and the frequency emitting apparatus namely handsets. The commission is considering tariffs submitted by Sri Lanka Telecom Limited for calls from Sri Lanka to Iridium terminals and will issue its determination in consultation with the Minister shortly. Local companies including telecommunication operators are free to enter into agency arrangements with the multiple GMPCS systems that will be coming on stream in the near future. Companies that apply for this will be allowed to use the frequency and charge a fee, Prof. Samarajeeva said. Being an inherently global system there can be no exclusive franchises for GMPCS providers. GMPCS tariffs will not be regulated, he said. It is believed that competition in the open GMPCS market will keep prices at reasonable levels, Prof. Samarajeeva said. Done on shramadana basis BADULLA : I greatly appreciate the step taken by co-operative inspectors of the Uva Province to conduct a Shramadana campaign to clear and clean the environment of the Rawana Ella, said the Deputy Minister of Plan Implementations Samaraweera Weerawanni at a shramadana campaign held in the vicinity of the Rawana waterfall with the participation of members affiliated to Uva Province Co-operative Inspectors' Navodaya Welfare Society. The Deputy Minister happened to visit the venue of the Shramadana unexpectedly while he was travelling on the Ella-Wellawaya road on some official work. He further said that most government officials only work for their own benefit and advantage. Here the co-operative inspectors have come forward with the intention of doing a social service. Uva Province Commissioner of Co-operative Development and Registrar. G. L. S. Fonseka and Moneragala DCO - R. M. Karunaratne also spoke. |
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