Iraqi Shia militias accused of murder spree

Amnesty International says sectarian groups have abducted and killed scores of Sunnis during war against ISIL.
Last updated: 14 Oct 2014 02:54

 Shia fighters allegedly have carried out abductions and killings in retribution for crimes committed by ISIL [AFP]
Shia militias have abducted and murdered scores of Sunni civilians in Iraq in crimes committed in retribution against the actions of ISIL, according to a new report by Amnesty International.

The London-based rights group on Tuesday published what it said was evidence that Shia militias abducted civilians in Baghdad, Samarra and Kirkuk, and killed them even if families paid tens of thousands of dollars in ransom.

The Amnesty report, Absolute Impunity: Militia Rule in Iraq, said scores of unidentified bodies had been discovered handcuffed and with gunshot wounds, indicating a pattern of deliberate killings.

The group called on the Iraqi government, which has armed and encouraged militias including the Badr brigades and the Mehdi army, to fight ISIL, to hold them to account.

Militias operate outside any legal framework and without official oversight, and had contributed to a deterioration in security and to the increasing lawlessness in Iraq, Amnesty said.

"Shia militias are ruthlessly targeting Sunni civilians on a sectarian basis under the guise of fighting terrorism, in an apparent bid to punish Sunnis for the rise of ISIL and for its heinous crimes," Donatella Rovera, Amnesty's senior crisis response adviser, said.

"By failing to hold militias accountable for war crimes and other gross human rights abuses the Iraqi authorities have effectively granted them free rein to go on the rampage against Sunnis. The new Iraqi government of prime minister Haider al-Abbadi must act now to rein in the militias and establish the rule of law."

The Amnesty document included evidence from relatives of those who had gone missing or were killed.

It reported that one family had paid $60,000 to have a family member released, only to find his body two weeks later in a Baghdad morge, his head crushed and his hands cuffed.

Amnesty also accused Iraqi government forces of serious human rights violations, presenting what it said was evidence of torture and ill-treatment of prisoners, and deaths in custody of Sunni men held under the 2005 anti-terrorism law.

It cited one example of a 33-year-old lawyer who died in custody, his body showing open wounds and burns consistent with the application of electric shocks.

Another man was held for five months and tortured with electric shocks and threatened with rape before being released without charge.

"Successive Iraqi governments have displayed a callous disregard for fundamental human rights principles," Rovera said.

"The new government must now change course and put in place effective mechanisms to investigate abuses by Shi’a militias and Iraqi forces and hold accountable those responsible."

PFLP calls for unified revolutionary front of solidarity with the struggle of people of Kobane against ISIS

PFLP calls for unified revolutionary front of solidarity with the struggle of people of Kobane against ISIS
Oct 13 2014

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine expresses its solidarity with the Kurdish resistance in Kobane struggling to defend themselves and their community from the reactionary armed group, ISIS, whose entry into our region has been facilitated and supported by imperialist powers and their lackeys.

Comrade Khaled Barakat said that “All Palestinian and Arab revolutionary forces should unify their efforts to support the struggle of the Kurdish resistance in Kobane against ISIS and their imperialist supporters.”

People in Syria, Iraq and everywhere in the region have been under attack by imperialism – an attack that comes not only through air strikes and occupation, but through the support of reactionary regional powers, through the promotion of sectarianism, and through reactionary armed groups carrying out a program of sectarian chaos. They have sought to replace the central conflict in the region: that of the people with Zionism and imperialism, with sectarianism and the imposition of massive, reactionary violence against minority groups who are an integral part of the region, while these same reactionary armed groups leave the Zionist state and imperialist forces untouched. These attacks have been taking place simultaneously with the latest Zionist genocidal assault against the Palestinian people in Gaza.  “We stand with the people of Syria who are defending their unity against all attempts to partition the country and plunder its resources for the benefit of imperialism. This is the goal of ISIS and its allies,” Barakat said.

“Today, Kurdish fighters, women and men, struggle for their freedom and their lives against these reactionary groups whose presence in the region has been furnished, armed and supported by imperialism and its allies and agents in the region. It is no accident and not mere symbolism that ISIS is attacking Kobane today with U.S. weaponry,” said Barakat. “In particular, the role of women fighters in the Kurdish resistance at all levels of struggle and leadership present a heroic example of sacrifice.”

“It must also be noted that the role of the Turkish state and government, one of Israel’s largest trading partners and a key military ally of the United States, has been to encourage the entry of these reactionary armed groups (ISIS and others) now attacking Kobane into Syria. At the same time, in the past several days, dozens of Kurdish protesters have been killed by the armed force of the Turkish state. The so-called ‘security zone’ being pushed by France and Turkey, and the airstrikes of the US and its allies, are nothing more than a cover for the entry of imperialism in the region. The only real security can be established by popular struggle and resistance, not imperialist armies and air forces,” Barakat said.

For many years, Palestinian fighters seeking freedom have struggled in the same trench as Kurdish strugglers. “There is a long history of support by Palestinian revolutionaries for Kurdish freedom fighters. We share a common enemy: imperialism. And we also share the common enemy of reactionary sectarian armed groups, like ISIS, who are, at their heart, a creation and a result of imperialism and its occupations and hegemony over the region. Reactionary Arab regimes, in particular Saudi Arabia and Qatar, have played a major role in encouraging, arming and spreading this threat to the people of the region,” said Barakat.

“No solution or assistance for our region will come from imperialist armies or imperialist airstrikes. These forces have only brought terror, sectarianism, reaction, and death wherever they go. It is the struggle of our united peoples that can confront and achieve victory over imperialism and Zionism, the primary sources of terror in the region, and over the vicious reactionary forces that seek to sustain their hegemony and plunder the resources of our people,” Barakat said.

Bolivia's Morales pledges no major nationalizations in new term

Evo Morales

Bolivia's Morales pledges no major nationalizations in new term
BY ENRIQUE ANDRES PRETEL
LA PAZ Mon Oct 13, 2014 9:22pm EDT

(Reuters) - President Evo Morales on Monday ruled out any major new nationalizations in Bolivia following his re-election victory and said he would be "realistic" as he pursued socialist policies in his third term.

Morales, an Aymara Indian and former coca grower who became Bolivia's first indigenous president in 2006, comfortably won the election on Sunday with an estimated 60 percent support and he will now lead the country until early 2020.

Morales' anti-poverty programs and prudent spending of funds from the nationalization of natural gas and oil businesses have earned him wide support in a country long dogged by political instability.

Some business leaders worried there might now be a new round of nationalizations, especially in the mining and banking industries, but he moved to ease those fears on Monday.

"There are no more owners left," he told Reuters in an interview in the presidential palace in capital La Paz, adding that only a few foreign mining companies who acted as partners in state-led projects remained and that he did not see them as an issue.

He also ruled out a wave of nationalizations in the banking industry.

"We have negotiated with the private banking sector. There were some groups (in the government) who said that we had to nationalize, but it's better to negotiate. As they are earning well, let them pay more taxes," he said.

Only a trickle of official results had been published by Monday evening, with the delay apparently due to technical issues, but a TV exit poll said Morales won about 60 percent of the vote and his main opposition rival, cement magnate Samuel Doria Medina, conceded defeat.

Exit polls showed that Morales' Movement towards Socialism party won the vote in eight of Bolivia's nine regions, including Santa Cruz, which is the country's most affluent region and traditionally an opposition stronghold.

WINNING FORMULA

During his first two terms, Morales delivered economic growth averaging more than 5 percent a year and ran fiscal surpluses even as he spent heavily on anti-poverty programs.

Although he is part of a bloc of socialist and anti-U.S. leaders in Latin America and he dedicated his re-election victory to Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro, Morales has been more pragmatic than some of his closest allies on economic policy at home.

"We are never going to abandon our principles and values. Within that, we are realistic, practical," he told Reuters. "If that means strengthening trade bodies and private businesses, fine."

Michael Shifter, president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue think-tank, said Morales' approach is unlikely to change much over the next five years.

"He seems to have found a winning formula in his second term and he will see how far he can take it in the third," he said.

Nonetheless, the socialist leader has been helped by a period of high natural gas prices, allowing him to spend on social programs without undermining fiscal stability.

Shifter said there are questions about how long such conditions will last and whether Morales is willing to develop a more diversified economy.

Bolivia remains one of the poorest countries in the Americas, and critics say Morales is autocratic, using his power to exert control over the judiciary.

But working-class voters see the ex-union leader as a symbol of the country's progress in the last decade.

"We have seen the president take Bolivia to where it deserves to be," said 50-year-old newspaper vendor Guillermo Mansilla in La Paz on Monday.

(Additional reporting by Monica Machicao; Writing by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Kieran Murray)

A Symbolic Vote in Britain Recognizes a Palestinian State

EUROPE

ENB: Snap shot BBC Parliament TV

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A Symbolic Vote in Britain Recognizes a Palestinian State
By STEPHEN CASTLE and JODI RUDORENOCT. 13, 2014 NYT

LONDON — Against a backdrop of growing impatience across Europe with Israeli policy, Britain’s Parliament overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution Monday night to give diplomatic recognition to a Palestinian state. The vote was a symbolic but potent indication of how public opinion has shifted since the breakdown of American-sponsored peace negotiations and the conflict in Gaza this summer.

Though the outcome of the 274-to-12 parliamentary vote was not binding on the British government, the debate was the latest evidence of how support for Israeli policies, even among staunch allies of Israel, is giving way to more calibrated positions and in some cases frustrated expressions of opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance toward the Palestinians.

Opening the debate, Grahame Morris, the Labour Party lawmaker who promoted it, said Britain had a “historic opportunity” to take “this small but symbolically important step” of recognition.

“To make our recognition of Palestine dependent on Israel’s agreement would be to grant Israel a veto over Palestinian self-determination,” said Mr. Morris, who leads a group called Labour Friends of Palestine.

Richard Ottaway, a Conservative lawmaker and chairman of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, said that he had “stood by Israel through thick and thin, through the good years and the bad,” but now realized “in truth, looking back over the past 20 years, that Israel has been slowly drifting away from world public opinion.”

“Under normal circumstances,” he said, “I would oppose the motion tonight; but such is my anger over Israel’s behavior in recent months that I will not oppose the motion. I have to say to the government of Israel that if they are losing people like me, they will be losing a lot of people.”

The breakdown of negotiations over a two-state solution, continued Israeli settlement building and the bloody conflict in Gaza all appear to have jolted Europe’s politicians, including Sweden’s new prime minister, Stefan Lofven, who this month pledged to recognize Palestine, the first time a major Western European nation had done so.

The conflict in Gaza also gave new impetus to efforts to pressure Israel through a campaign to boycott some goods made in West Bank settlements. And it helped fuel a surge in anti-Semitic episodes across Europe this year amid concerns that opposition to Israeli policies was allowing anti-Jewish bias to take root in the European mainstream.

Paul Hirschson, a spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, said that moves like the British resolution and Sweden’s recent statement “make conflict resolution much more difficult” by sending Palestinians the message that “they can achieve things” outside negotiations. Israel, the United States and most of Europe have long insisted that the only path to Palestinian statehood is through bilateral negotiations.

Mr. Hirschson said “there’s no legal weight behind” the British resolution and that it “contravenes the policy of all three” British political parties, including Labour, but acknowledged that it “sours” relations with a longtime and staunch ally.

“I don’t know how much of it is about Britain-Israel relations, or various different Israel-Europe relations, and how much of it is about Britain-Arab relations,” Mr. Hirschson said in a telephone interview. “Europe is in a way playing to the Arab world. Europe is in terrible economic condition, and they have to trade with the Arab world.”

Prime Minister David Cameron’s government opposes recognizing a Palestinian state at this point, and the parliamentary debate and vote are not likely to change British policy. But the issue is being debated in a growing number of capitals.

Romain Nadal, the French Foreign Ministry spokesman, said Monday that France “will have to recognize Palestine,” but he did not specify when the official recognition would take place.

The last conflict in Gaza “has been a triggering factor,” Mr. Nadal said. “It made us realize that we had to change methods.”

The European Union recently condemned Israel’s decision to expand settlements and on Sunday the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, pledged 450 million euros, or about $568 million, for the reconstruction of Gaza. The European Union has spent more than €1.3 billion in the Gaza Strip in the last decade.

Britain’s parliamentary debate comes amid pressure for a boycott of goods from Israeli companies operating in the occupied West Bank. One Labour Party lawmaker, Shabana Mahmood, recently joined protesters in lying down outside a supermarket in Birmingham selling such goods, forcing it to close temporarily.

“The problem is that we are drastically losing public opinion,” Avi Primor, the director of European studies at Tel Aviv University and a former Israeli ambassador to the European Union, told Israel Radio on Monday. “This has been going on for many years, and became particularly serious after the talks failed between us and the Palestinians after nine months of negotiations under Kerry, and even more so after Operation Protective Edge.”

That referred to failed efforts by Secretary of State John Kerry to revive the peace process and Israel’s military operations in Gaza in the summer.

If Sweden does recognize Palestine — and there is no timetable as yet — it will become the first big nation in the European Union to do so, although some East European countries did so during the Cold War, before they joined the union.

In 2011 a motion calling for recognition of Palestine won the support of Spanish lawmakers, though the government has not followed through on that vote.

In that same year the “State of Palestine” applied to become a member of the United Nations and, although that effort failed, in 2012 it successfully obtained the lesser status of nonmember observer state. The Palestinians leveraged their new status in April to join 15 international treaties and conventions, which helped bring about the breakdown of the latest round of peace talks.

Separately, 134 of 193 United Nations member states have extended diplomatic recognition to the State of Palestine.

Since the Aug. 26 cease-fire that halted the summer’s hostilities, the Palestinians have stepped up these diplomatic efforts, pursuing a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a deadline for Israel’s occupation; threatening with renewed intensity to prosecute Israel in the International Criminal Court; and lobbying for recognition in European capitals.

In Britain, where elections loom next year, Israel’s policies have become politically sensitive. In 2011, Britain’s foreign secretary, William Hague, laid down official policy saying that Britain reserved the right “to recognize a Palestinian state at a moment of our choosing and when it can best help bring about peace.”

But over the summer, the leader of Britain’s opposition Labour Party, Ed Miliband, said that Mr. Cameron was “wrong not to have opposed Israel’s incursion into Gaza” and rebuked him for his “silence on the killing of innocent Palestinian civilians caused by Israel’s military action.”

And while pro-Palestinian sentiment is clearest within the Labour Party, frustration with Israeli policy has surfaced in all three main political parties.

In August, Sayeeda Warsi, a Conservative Party politician, quit her post as a Foreign Office minister over the issue, describing government policy on Gaza as “morally indefensible.”

Martin Linton, a former Labour Party lawmaker who is editor of Palestinian Briefing, an online publication, said that the view in Parliament had shifted significantly in favor of recognition in recent years and was catching up with public opinion.

Stephen Castle reported from London, and Jodi Rudoren from Jerusalem. Maïa de la Baume contributed reporting from Paris.

வடக்கில் இழுவை படகு மீன்பிடிக்கு தடை

வடமாகாண சபைக்கு முன்பாக ஆர்ப்பாட்டம்

வியாழக்கிழமை, 09 ஒக்டோபர் 2014 10:47

-பொ.சோபிகா, எம்.றொசாந்த்

வல்வெட்டித்துறை கிழக்கு பகுதியை சேர்ந்த இழுவை படகுகளில் மீன்பிடியில் ஈடுபடும் மீனவர்கள் வடமாகாண சபையின் முன்பாக வியாழக்கிழமை (9) போராட்டமொன்றை முன்னெடுத்து வருகின்றனர்.

வடமாகாண காணி பிரச்சினைகள் தொடர்பிலான அமர்வு வியாழக்கிழமை (9) வடமாகாண சபையில் நடைபெற்று வருகிறது.

இந்நிலையில், மீண்டும் இழுவை படகு மீன்பிடியில் ஈடுபடுவதற்கு அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும் என்று கூறி மீனவர்கள் இப்போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர்.

மேற்படி பகுதியில் 23 பேர் இழுவை படகு மீன்பிடியில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர். இழுவை படகு மீன்பிடியால் கடல்வளம் முற்றாக அழிக்கப்படுவதை கருத்திற்கொண்டு இலங்கை கடற்றொழில் நீரியல் வளத்துறை அமைச்சு இழுவை படகு மீன்பிடிக்கு தடை விதித்திருந்து.

அந்த அடிப்படையில், மேற்படி 23 மீனவர்களும் இழுவை படகு மீன்பிடியில் ஈடுபட வடமாகாண மீன்பிடி அமைச்சு தடை விதித்திருந்தது.

தமது மீன்பிடி முறைமைக்கு தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டமையால் தங்களின் வாழ்வாதாரம்  பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாக கூறி இம்  மீனவர்கள் கடந்த 6 ஆம் திகதி உண்ணாவிரத போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.

தொடர்ந்து, வியாழக்கிழமை (09) வடமாகாண சபை முன்பாக போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர். 

ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல்: முடிவுகள் எடுக்காத கூட்டமைப்பு!

ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல் தொடர்பாக எவ்விதமான முடிவுகளும் கூட்டமைப்பு இதுவரையில் மேற்கொள்ளவில்லை- சம்பந்தன்


ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல் தொடர்பாக எவ்விதமான முடிவுகளும் கூட்டமைப்பு இதுவரையில் மேற்கொள்ளவில்லை என்று தெரிவித்துள்ள தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் தலைவர் இரா.சம்பந்தன் எம்.பி., உரிய காலத்தில் மக்கள் கருத்துக்களைப் பெற்று அதன் அடிப்படையில் அடுத்தகட்ட நகர்வுகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் என்றும் கூறினார்.

அடுத்த வருட முற்பகுதியில் ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல் இடம்பெறவுள்ளது என்று அரசின் நம்பகரமான வட்டாரங்கள் தகவல் வெளியிட்டுள்ளன.

இந்நிலையில், ஆளும் ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சுதந்திரக் கூட்டமைப்பின் சார்பில் ஸ்ரீலங்கா சுதந்திரக் கட்சியின் தலைவரும் தற்போதைய ஜனாதிபதியுமான மஹிந்த ராஜபக்‌ச, தான் மூன்றாவது தடவையாகவும் போட்டியிடுவார் என்று அறிவித்துள்ளார்.

மறுபுறத்தில் ஜனாதிபதி மஹிந்த ராஜபக்‌ச மூன்றாவது தடவையாக தேர்தலில் போட்டியிடுவது அரசியல் சாசனத்திற்கு முரணானது எனவும், அதற்கான ஆலோசனையை நீதிமன்றிடம் பெறமுடியாது எனவும் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ள முன்னாள் பிரதம நீதியரசர் சரத் என்.சில்வா, 2016ம் ஆண்டுக்கு முன்னர் ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தலை நடத்துவதால் நாட்டில் சர்வாதிகார ஆட்சியே
ஏற்படும் எனவும் சுட்டிக்காட்டியுள்ளார்.

இதேவேளை, எதிர்க்கட்சிகளின் சார்பில் பொதுவேட்பாளராக ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சியின் தலைவர் ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க போட்டியிடுவார் என்று அறிவித்துள்ளதோடு ஏனைய கட்சிகளை பொது அணியில் ஒன்றிணைக்கும் முனைப்புக்களும் முடுக்கிவிடப்பட்டுள்ளன.

குறிப்பாக நியாயமான சமூகத்திற்கான தேசிய அமைப்பின் தலைவர் மாதுளுவாவே சோபித தேரர், ரணில் விக்கிரசிங்க பொதுவேட்பாளராக போட்டியிடுவது தொடர்பில் ஆட்சேபனை இல்லையெனத் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

அதேநேரம், ஜனநாயக மக்கள் முன்னணியின் தலைவர் மனோ கணேசன் மற்றும் ஜனநாயகக் கட்சியின் தலைவர் சரத் பொன்சேகா ஆகியோரும் பிரத்தியேக சந்திப்பொன்றை நடத்தியுள்ளனர்.

மேலும், மக்கள் விடுதலை முன்னணி (ஜே.வி.பி.) ரணில் விக்கிரமசிங்க ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சியின் வேட்பாளரே தவிர பொதுவேட்பாளர் அல்லர் எனக் குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளது.

ஆளும், எதிர்த் தரப்புக்களின் இவ்வாறான நிலைப்பாடுகளுக்கும் நகர்வுகளுக்கும் மத்தியிலேயே தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் தலைவர் இரா.சம்பந்தன் எம்.பி. மேற்கண்டவாறு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இது விடயம் தொடர்பில் அவர் மேலும் தெரிவித்தவை வருமாறு:-

ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல் குறித்த உத்தியோக அறிவிப்பு இன்னமும் வெளியிடப்படவில்லை. அவ்வாறிருக்கையில் நாம் ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல் தொடர்பாக இதுவரையில் எவ்விதமான முடிவுகளையும் எடுக்கவில்லை.

எனினும், ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தல் தொடர்பில் நாம் பொதுமக்களின் கருத்துக்களைப் பெறவுள்ளோம். அத்தோடு ஜனாதிபதித் தேர்தல் தொடர்பாக உத்தியோபூர்வமான நடவடிக்கைகளை விரைவில் ஆரம்பிக்கவுள்ளோம்.

இதற்காக கூட்டமைப்பு விசேட கலந்துரையாடலையும் மேற்கொள்ளும். எவ்வாறாயினும் எமது இறுதி முடிவு உரிய காலத்தில் அறிவிக்கப்படும் என்பதுடன் தமிழ் மக்களின் நலன்களையும் எதிர்காலத்தையும் பாதிக்காதவாறு அது அமைந்திருக்கும்.

குறிப்பாக தமிழர் தாயகமான வடக்கு, கிழக்கில் காணப்படும் தற்போதைய நிலைமைகள், இனப்பிரச்சினைக்கான நிரந்தர தீர்வு தொடர்பில் அதிகூடிய கவனத்தையும் கருத்தில் கொண்டதாக எமது இறுதி முடிவு அமையும்" - என்று கூறியுள்ளார் சம்பந்தன் எம்.பி.

Private sector speaks up before Budget 2015

Private sector speaks up before Budget 2015
Published : 12:05 am  October 13, 2014
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18 business leaders share priority recommendations with Finance Ministry officials at Daily FT-Colombo Uni MBA Alumni Forum

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam

A top group of business leaders on Friday presented key insights and suggestions for Finance Ministry consideration at a unique forum organised by the Daily FT and Colombo University MBA Alumni Association.

Eighteen leaders drawn from different economic sectors and businesses shared what they view as the most critical issues that the Government must address in Budget 2015, to be presented by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on 24 October.

The annual forum with breakfast, which was held for the fourth year running and sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank, featured Finance Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera as the Chief Guest along with senior officials from the Ministry of Finance including heads of Budget, Fiscal Policy, Trade and Tariff, Legal, Import Controller, Inland Revenue Department and Sri Lanka Customs.

The business leaders who spoke were John Keells Holdings Deputy Chairman Ajit Gunewardene, Brandix Lanka CEO Ashroff Omar, Aitken Spence Plc Deputy Chairman Rajan Brito, Hemas Holdings Plc Chairman Husein Esufally, Hayleys Plc Chairman Mohan Pandithage, Expolanka Holdings Plc Group MD Hanif Yusoof, Access Engineering Plc Chairman Sumal Perera, Royal Ceramics Plc Managing Director Nimal Perera, DSI Group MD Kulathunga Rajapakse, Akbar Brothers Director Azgi Akbarally, Laugfs Gas Plc Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya, Indian CEOs Forum Director and Lanka IOC Managing Director Subodh Dakwale, 99X Technologies Managing Director Mano Sekaram, Cornucopia Lanka Managing Director Dinesh Weerakkody, Emirates Area Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives Chandana De Silva, Grant McCann Erickson Sri Lanka Chairperson Neela Marrikar, Lanka Confectionery Manufacturers Association Chairman 

Sylvester Perera and Hambantota District Chamber of Commerce Consultant Azmi Thassim.
Their suggestions ranged from macro as well as industry specific as they were requested to present the three most important expectations from Budget 2015 from a sector and corporate perspective.

Most of the ideas were to further the Government’s aspirations to develop Sri Lanka as a hub for commercial/tourism, maritime, aviation, energy and knowledge as well as reach the per capita goals set by 2016 and 2020.

Taxation consistency as well as reductions or reforms where needed were emphasised. Favourable taxation was suggested to help new industries as well as SMEs and support outward investments. To promote local industry, effective taxation and levies was called for as well, whilst another suggestion was favourable taxation to reduce cost of raw materials. There was also a suggestion to recognise holding company structure in taxation.

Changes to the proposed Land Bill by introducing a deemed tax on foreign acquisitions was recommended whilst another suggestion was that the BOI and listed companies should be kept out of its provisions.

Levelling the playing field in tourism by absorbing those in the informal sector into taxation, a taskforce with an action plan that will allow the industry to achieve its maximum potential was also suggested. The mandate of the taskforce must include ensuring that the uniqueness of the country is protected while achieving rapid growth. Introduction of minimum rates for peak and off peak season to keep Sri Lanka competitive was another recommendation.

In the agriculture sector, better and urgent utilisation of the tea promotion CESS fund and subsidies for replanting for tea smallholders were recommended. For the rubber sector, the need to support smallholders on replanting as well as incentivise tappers was suggested to boost production. Another was removal of the ban on plantations diversifying into palm oil.

Several local industries called for implementation of anti-dumping and counter-veiling legislation to promote local production of tiles, discouraging of loopholes for under-invoicing on imported ceramic and sanitary ware products, reforms in public sector procurement and encouraging the sourcing of locally-made products.

In the case of footwear, a more effective import levy on imports was suggested to promote local manufacturers since importers were bringing down footwear in two parts to avoid the CESS.
Encouraging the mining of clay in tanks with a better tax regime was proposed rather than discouraging this more environmentally-friendly practice.

Also suggested was a one-stop-shop to issue both investment approvals and environmental licence for new industries, for industrial zones to be equipped with waste disposal and waste water treatment facilities, a one-stop place for quarantine approvals for floriculture and extension of triple taxation relief on research and development to in-house efforts to promote new product developments.

Other proposals included removal of 10% mark-up on the CIF value of imports, thereby reducing the cost of raw material, and levelling the playing field in relation to taxation on import of cement irrespective of whether own, chartered or third party ships are used.

In the aviation sector, suggestions included a more transparent jet fuel policy and a proper open sky policy.

Under maritime and aviation, proposals called for greater public private partnerships to better leverage the logistics, aviation and maritime hub goals, faster adaption to e-documentation and extending the lower 12% corporate income tax enjoyed by shipping to the logistics industry as well. The continuity of 2014 Budget measures on Terminal Handling Charge (THC) was also suggested.
Aggressive promotion of the hub strategy and incentives provided was another key recommendation, in addition to further support for investments in ship repairs and ship building.

In the energy sector, calls were made for an automatic pricing formula for fuel to ensure long-term investment, further development and planning and favourable taxation to boost bunkering as part of maritime hub aspirations and earn higher foreign exchange.

Encouragement of greater investment by supporting development of energy infrastructure and security to serve both local and regional needs was another key suggestion.

A favourable tax rate to promote fully electric vehicles and concessions to set up solar harness electric discharging stations was also recommended.

With regard to human resources and skills development, a fresh round of labour laws and education sector reforms and setting up a public-private skills development council like in Singapore bringing all skills and training infrastructure

under one entity to ensure alignment with country’s development goals as well as restructuring the Skills Development Fund to better cater to demands of new sectors such as apparel, financial services, retail, BPO, etc. were proposed,

while another suggestion was effective measures and incentives to draw back skilled and professional Sri Lankan talent currently abroad, in addition to support for automation given the shortage of labour.
In the marketing arena, favourable taxation to stimulate the advertising industry and the development of local brands were suggested. Another recommendation was better country marketing and branding globally, given the considerable

post-war development. Avoidance of excessive legislation that adds cost to FMCG business with the safety sticker issue was cited as an example.

In the financial services sector, a key suggestion was encouraging banks to focus on the housing mortgage market, with the twin objective of encouraging long-term lending and housing for all policies of the Government with multiplier effects on several other sectors. Further support to develop long term savings/pension products was also highlighted.

In the IT/BPO sector, support to promote venture capital and foster start-ups with private-public partnerships, incentivise development of industry-ready human resource for the IT/BPO sector and further support to fully harness the knowledge hub aspirations of the Government were among the suggestions shared.

At provincial level, proposals revolved around higher investments in education, health, training and tertiary education as well tourism infrastructure, support for SMEs, favourable taxation, extension of lower interest rate currently given to livelihood projects to women entrepreneurs and tax relief for district chambers of commerce to support entrepreneurship.

Dr. Jayasundera, in his response, welcomed business leaders’ suggestions and said new ones would be considered as some were already being implemented. He was also happy that the list of private sector recommendations wasn’t long as last year.

He said that in an era of greater free trade globally and with the country forging new free trade deals with China and Japan in addition to existing ones with India and Pakistan, restrictions on imports as well as protectionist measures would be challenging. “Somebody’s input is another’s output,” he added.

It was emphasised that local producers need to focus on improving efficiencies and productivity as well as branding.

The Finance Secretary also warned that labour would continue to be expensive and lacking as the country’s economy moves up in the prosperity and development scale, apart from greater mobility and wider choices.

It was also emphasised that tax revenue was critical as the country is seeing rapid infrastructure development, which is key. He also said the Government’s move towards lower fiscal deficit was a bigger benefit for the private sector along with sound macro fundamentals.

The need for private sector to consolidate itself, partner where necessary as well as work in collaboration with the Government was emphasised as well.

FDI growth nearly 50%

FDI growth nearly 50% 

October 13, 2014 2:00 am

By Mario Andree

Ceylon Finance Today: After receiving more than US$ 1.36 billion during the first three quarters through Foreign Direct Investment, the government now needs US$ 640 million more to achieve this year's revised FDI target of US$ 2 billion.

Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena recently told journalists that the country received US$ 1.36 billion during the three quarters ended 30 September, which was a nearly 50% increase over the FDI received during the same period last year.

According to him, now the country required only US$ 640 million to achieve this year's FDI goal of US$ 2 billion. The government considering the country's failure to attract the anticipated Foreign Direct investment during the last...two years revised this year's target to US$ 2 billion from US$ 2.5 billion announced early this year.

The country failed to achieve the FDI targets for the last two years, falling short by US$ 160 million in 2012 and US$ 610 million in 2013 to achieve US$ 1.5 billion and US$ 2 billion respectively.

Abeywardena said that the Ministry and the country's investment promotion agency were pushing to achieve this year's FDI goal, and there were a few inflows which were guaranteed to arrive.
Further, the BOI would also open two counters at the Bandaranaike International Airport to facilitate investors, through a specialized privilege card scheme to minimize hassle.

Many businessmen and experts while highlighting the importance of FDI, warned that foreign investors were deterred due to issues pertaining to rule of law, governance and transparency, currently prevailing in the country.

The government is expecting more than US$ 4.5 billion by 2016 for the country to reach US$ 100 billion GDP by that year. The minister confidently said the Board of Investment would continue to push for mixed and strategic development to attract more inflows, while smaller projects would help cover the balance.

The BOI has planned to introduce several tax concessions through the budget, expected to be presented in Parliament in November.

Further, to facilitate investors, the Board of Investment also has decided to introduce an exit route through Sri Lanka's capital market.

பொது வேட்பாளர் நானே: ஜனாதிபதி

பொது வேட்பாளர் நானே: ஜனாதிபதி

சனிக்கிழமை, 11 ஒக்டோபர் 2014 16:52

அடுத்த வருடம் நடைபெறவுள்ள ஜனாதிபதி தேர்தலின் பொது வேட்பாளர் நானே என்று ஜனாதிபதி மஹிந்த ராஜபக்ஷ தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

பொல்காவெவை பிரதேசத்தில் இடம்பெற்ற நிகழ்வொன்றில் கலந்துகொண்டு உரையாற்றும் போதே ஜனாதிபதி மேற்கண்டவாறு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

கட்சிகள் மாத்திரமன்றி பொதுமக்களும் என்னுடன் இணைந்தே உள்ளனர். இவ்வாறானதொரு நிலையில், பொது வேட்பாளர் நானே தவிர வேறு யாரும் அல்ல. இந்த தேர்தலில் போட்டியிடும் ஏனைய வேட்பாளர்கன் தனி வேட்பாளர்களே ஆவர் என்றும் ஜனாதிபதி இதன்போது சுட்டிக்காட்டியுள்ளார்.
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Presidential election likely before Jan. 13

Minister Rambukwella

Presidential election likely before Jan. 13 
– Minister Rambukwella

The next Presidential election was likely to be  held  before Jan. 13 2015 the government said on Friday night.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, who is also the Cabinet Spokesman, when asked    for a tentative date for the Presidential Poll amidst various time frames  ranging  between January to March being mentioned by members within the ruling UPFA , told The Island that  it might be held  around mid January 2015.

Queried if the election  would be conducted before or after Pope Francis’s visit to Sri Lanka, which is due to take place from January 13 to 15, the Minister replied  "I think it will be before his arrival."

Iraqi city falls to ISIL as army withdraws

ENB: File Photo

Iraqi city falls to ISIL as army withdraws

ISIL "100 percent control" Hit in Anbar, says police colonel, after troops are relocated to reinforce nearby airbase.

Last updated: 13 Oct 2014 14:49 AJ



The Iraqi army has withdrawn from its last base in the city of Hit in Anbar province following weeks of fighting with the ISIL, leaving the group in full control, security sources have said.

Hundreds of troops were pulled out of the base and relocated to help protect the Asad air base, the AFP news agency quoted a police colonel in the provincial capital of Ramadi as saying.

 "Our military leaders argued that instead of leaving those forces exposed to attacks by ISIL, they would be best used to shore up the defence of Asad air base," he said.

"Hit is now 100 percent under ISIL control."

Asad, northwest of Hit, is one of the last still under government control in the western province. It is surrounded by desert and a tougher target for ISIL fighters.

Other security officials said military aircraft picked up senior officers from the Hit base, and the rest of the force drove in a convoy to Asad.

An Iraqi officer and Sunni militia fighters told the Reuters news agency that ISIL looted three armoured vehicles and at least five tanks, and then set the camp ablaze.

Government forces have suffered a series of setbacks in Anbar in recent weeks, and officials have warned that their grip on the capital Ramadi was increasingly tenuous.

Al Jazeera's Imran Khan, reporting from the Iraqi capital Baghdad, said that ISIL's takeover put nearby towns including Amiri under threat.

"Amiri is a very key town, that is where the main supply line from Anbar province into Baghdad and the rest of the south of the country goes from," he said.

Up to 180,000 people have been displaced by fighting in and around Hit, the UN office for humanitarian affairs said on Monday.

The city had been home to 100,000 people who had fled other areas of Iraq which had fallen to ISIL, it said.

During a visit to Baghdad on Monday, the British foreign minister Phillip Hammond said ISIL would only be defeated by "heavy work on the ground" by Iraqi forces.

''We've always understood that the air campaign alone was not going to be decisive in turning the tide against ISIL but it has halted the ISIL advance ... and it is degrading their military capabilities and their economic strength," he said.

"The heavy work on the ground is going to have been done by Iraqi forces and it is going to have been done by the Sunni communities in the areas that ISIL occupies.''