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academics blast US invasion In its signed statement the group of academics state that the US-led invasion of Iraq is a great danger to people and nations throughout the world: political relations and inter-state relations are increasingly driven by the principle that 'might is right' and international norms, rules and due process are being rendered irrelevant. Through the statement the group has appealed to the UN to regain its original mandate and moral authority so that it can once again become the world body that it was meant to be. Sunethra Bandaranaike, Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Prof. Ashley Halpe, Dr. Darini Rajasingham, Prof. Jayadeva Uyangoda, Prof. Sinnathamby, Dr. Deepika Udagama, Dr. Lal Jayawardena, Kumari Jayawardene, Dr. P. Saravanamuttu and Mangalika de Silva, Jezima Ismail are some of the signatories to this statement of appeal. The statement said: "Behind the rhetoric of liberating the people of Iraq from Saddam Hussein's regime lie economic as well as global political interests that the Republican establishment in the US has made little attempt to hide. The new US doctrine of preemptive unilateralism is a clear statement of the ruling party's agenda to impose post-Cold-War American domination on the world. "The failure of the United Nations to halt the Bush Administration's reckless militarism against Iraq is making powerless the world body's primary mandate of ensuring world peace. The Secretary-General's insistence that the UN would provide humanitarian and post-conflict assistance in Iraq appears to be an admission that the UN has lost sight of its primary mandate to maintain world peace and has thus been willfully ignored by the US government." No
price for headaches He said the
maximum retail price was given on the box or the full card but since
most consumers regularly bought two or four tablets it was necessary
for the maximum price to be clearly stated in advertisements. A
spokesman for the Action Committee on Justice for patients said
investigations had revealed that the cost of production of a popular
brand of Paracetamol was only about 10 cents but it was being sold
at Rs. 1.50 giving the manufacturer a monthly profit running into
tens of millions of rupees. The generic Paracetamol medically confirmed to be absolutely the same in terms of efficacy as any of the brand names, is available at 25 to 30 cents at Osu Hala outlets or other pharmacies. The spokesman for the committee said they hoped that tough new laws under the consumer protection authority act would be implemented by the authorities and that importers or manufacturers of essential drugs would be compelled to clearly advertise maximum retail prices. The new State Trading company (Medical Ltd) which has made available nine essential drugs at 35 to 50 % less than the market price has clearly marked the maximum retail price on all its drugs. GMOA
to strike if salary anomalies not settled According to Dr. Silva the GMOA on numerous occasions represented matters to the authorities concerned but ended up with nothing. Later they had been called for a Cabinet sub-committee meeting at which the GMOA was given the assurance that the anomalous situation would be corrected as soon as possible. But the letter they received contained less than even half of what had been promised at the meeting. After the several appeals made to the authorities, for a corrected version of the earlier letter, drew a blank the GMOA was compelled to launch a token strike. "We are having another meeting with the sub-committee on April 8, if we don't get what we want we will launch an all island strike", Dr. Silva warned. However he said that because of the GMOAs concern regarding patients was the reason those employed at the Maharagama Cancer Hospital and the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital were exempted from the strike. Name
the third force- EPDP tells SLMM The SLMM in a statement said that both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE leadership have claimed that they were not involved in the incidents, "at this moment SLMM does not have sufficient proof to be able to make one of the parties responsible. However, it is important to underline that lack of proof does not rule out the possibility that one of the parties is in fact responsible. Furthermore,
SLMM cannot rule out the possibility that armed elements - not recognized
by the parties - are operating in the Government or LTTE controlled
areas". However the SLMM pointed out that it is not pointing
a finger at specific political parties or groups known to the Government
and LTTE. EPDP Spokesman S Thavaraja told The Sunday Times that
they are yet to receive a reply from the SLMM. Referendum
plan faces snags Cabinet Spokesman G. L. Peiris said last week that the Government was considering a proposal by the civil society to hold a referendum on the peace process. But experts point out that under the constitution it was the President who has the right to make the proclamation of a referendum. The constitution says: "The President shall submit to the people by referendum every Bill or any provision in any Bill which the Cabinet of Ministers has certified as being intended to be submitted to the People by referendum , or which the Supreme Court has determined as requiring the approval of the People at a Referendum if the number of votes cast in favour of such Bill amounts to not less than two-thirds of the whole number of Members (including those not present)'. However the Supreme Court in a recent ruling held that the proclamation made by the President declaring a referendum in August 2001, to determine whether the country needs a new constitution, was invalid. It held that the question to be posed to the people did not fall within the scope of the Referendum Act. The court took up this position while examining the validity of the referendum in a Fundamental Rights application by lawyer Sujeewa Senasinghe. Meanwhile Presidential Spokesman Harim Peiris told The Sunday Times that the Government had not officially informed the President of a referendum. "It was not taken up in the Cabinet nor was it discussed with the President. There is nothing formal. This is just a kite flying exercise by the Government," Mr. Peiris said. Meanwhile the LTTE on Friday dismissed the proposal about the referendum as “illogical, impractical and unnecessary” Pointing out that the government had already got a resounding mandate from the people of Sri Lanka for peace, the LTTE’s Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham, said that his movement was totally opposed to a referendum at this stage to reaffirm public endorsement. “A
regular meeting” This follows reports that the US ambassador called on the President to clarify remarks she is reported to have made when she addressed a gathering at a Ranaviru medal presentation. "Protocol does not require for me to disclose the details discussed at the meeting" said Mr. Pieris. Commenting on the President's remarks made at the Ranaviru medal presentation ceremony that the United States was adopting double standards with regard to the LTTE, Mr. Peiris refused to deny, confirm or comment on the matter. Curtain
comes down on music maestro He was returning from a concert in Dubai. His body which was lying in his residence at Chandraloka Mawatha, Thalapathpitiya, Nugegoda was brought to the Art Gallery on Saturday morning to enable the public to pay their last respects. During a musical career spanning over three decades Kapuge placed his signature on the music industry of Sri Lanka with his haunting music and songs. Born on August 7, 1945 in Thanabeddegama, Elpitiya, Kapuge had his early education at Karandeniya Maha Vidyalaya where he studied up to Grade 5. He later joined Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda for higher studies. He was the second in a family of eight children. After studies in the science stream Mr. Kapuge later switched to his favourite subject of music and in 1963 he left the Haywood College of Music with a Diploma in Music - to follow a degree course in India. He qualified as a Visharada in Music at India's Bathkande Institute of Music. In the late 60's Mr. Kapuge joined the SLBC as an Operational Assistant. In 1973 he sang his first song 'Desa Nilupul Thema' over the airwaves. In the seventies he won the best singer award for 'Unmada Sithuwam' which he sang as a playback singer in the film Ektamge. A cricket lover, he was once interdicted from the SLBC when he returned to office after watching a match at the NCC. Visharada Kapuge has to his credit hundreds of songs and nearly two dozen cassettes. He has composed melodies for several films, stage dramas and teledramas. He leaves behind his wife Prema, son Mithra, daughters Sajani and Ridma, and many grieving fans. (NK) |
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