UK help for military dangerous: GL

Accepting UK help for military reforms dangerous: GL
2015-12-09 17:21:13  1  2105
   
An offer by the UK to provide  six million pounds to upgrade Sri Lankan Armed forces and a move followed by the offer to appoint the Military Attaché of the UK High Commission in New Delhi to oversee these reforms were detrimental to the national security of the country, former External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris said today.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron had made an offer to President Maithripala Sirisena six million pounds to upgrade the Sri Lankan military during his visit to Malta.

Prof. Peiris said a government which had self-respect should not accept such offers given by any country to reform its own Armed forces. He said the requirement to reform the armed forces should come within a country and not from outside.

“A government should spend for the requirements of its own armed forces. Accepting funds to reform armed forces from other countries without any prior request is very dangerous. Apart from the offer, the UK will appoint its Military Attaché of the UK High Commission in New Delhi to observe as to how the funds should be spent, when reforming our armed forces,” he told a news conference held at the Dr. N.M. Perera Centre in Borella (Lahiru Pothmulla)

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Farmers take to streets of Tambuttegama against Budget
December 9, 2015, 8:41 am

By Subashini Samaranayake

Farmers of the All Ceylon Farmers’ Federation (ACFF) yesterday staged a protest at Tambuttegama, Anuradhapura against what they termed the government’s discriminatory policies towards the agricultural sector as evident from its 2016 budget proposals.

National Organiser of ACFF Namal Karunaratne said that the agricultural sector and farmers in Sri Lanka would undergo much suffering and hardships due to 2016 budget proposals.

The budget had proposed to give farmers Rs. 25,000 each per hectare instead of the fertiliser subsidy for the two cultivation seasons in the country. Thus, according to new proposals the farmer had to incur an additional expenditure of Rs. 6,000 in each season. The previous government had provided fertiliser at Rs. 350 per 50 kg bag, which cost Rs. 3,500 and the farmers had to spend only Rs. 2,000 extra, Karunaratne pointed out.

Earlier, the subsidy had been given for five acres of land, but this time it had been restricted to 2.5 acres, he added. The guaranteed price of Rs. 50 per kilo of samba rice in the 100-day budget had been reduced to Rs. 41 by the new budget, he said. "We urge the government to restore the fertiliser subsidy and increase the guaranteed price for paddy."

He said the proposal to hand over the underdeveloped state lands to the private sector as an incentive would deny most seed farmers of their arable land.

The ACFF would also hold demonstrations in Ambalantota, Ampara, Mahiyangana, Kurunegala, Polonnaruwa and Trincomalee, the National Organiser said.
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Farmers island-wide are conducting protests, marches and satyagrahas in all farming districts owing to the Government scrapping the fertilizer subsidy, the All Ceylon Farmers' Federation (ACFF)/All Ceylon Peasants' Union (ACPU) noted.
JVP North Western Provincial Councillor and National Organizer of the ACFF/ACPU, Namal Karunaratne said that the farmers were against the proposal to give them financial assistance instead of the fertiliser issued on a subsidised basis. They also ask that the government open a pensions fund for farmers.

Ranil insists new deal with India

PM insists no CEPA, new deal with India, China

December 9, 2015 10:01

RANIL_WICKRAMASING_2521384fPrime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today insisted that Sri Lanka will not sign the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with India.

He told Parliament that the Sri Lankan Government is negotiating a new agreement on economic and technological cooperation with India.

The Prime Minister said that the Government hopes to sign a similar agreement with the Chinese Government as well.

However he said that before the agreements are reached, the Government will have talks with local trade unions on the proposals.

“There is no CEPA agreement. Some are attempting to say there is one and create instability in the country,” he said.

The Prime Minister denied claims made by the Government Medical Officer’s Association (GMOA) with regards to the proposed agreement with India.

He said the GMOA had attempted to give the impression Indians will get employment in Sri Lanka and that Sri Lankans will lose job opportunities locally.

The Prime Minister said that under the new proposed agreement with India, local youth will get more job opportunities in Sri Lanka.

Wickremesinghe also accused the GMOA of not backing the revolution in Sri Lanka which led to establishing democracy.

He also accused some members of the GMOA of backing former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. However he insisted that the Government will not allow the silent revolution to be reversed.

Opposition member Dinesh Gunawardena urged the Prime Minister to have a discussion with the opposition before the new agreement is finalised with India.

The Prime Minister agreed to the request and said he will have a meeting with the opposition before December 19 to discuss the new deal. (Colombo Gazette)

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