President Mahinda Rajapaksa extended his heartfelt wishes to the working community celebrating May Day worldwide. He said that it is a pride to admit that Sri Lanka is recognised among the South Asian countries as a country which enforced the conventions of the International Labour Organisation very successfully.
“First and foremost, I extend my gratitude to the Sri Lankan labour community for contributing fruitfully to increase the country’s economic development rate to eight percent”, the President said in his May Day message.
The message added that, with the defeat of terrorism, the Government expedited the programme to win the rights of the working class and the introduction of a pension scheme for the private sector, as a government which could recognise the interests of the people, is a “massive victory of the general public”.
“Compensation for male and female labourers for accidents at their workplace, was also increased. Timely amendments were also brought to the Workers Compensation Act”, the President said in his message.
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that workers the world over celebrate May Day with pride. The strength of the workers and their dedication are two main features of the development of a country.
In his May Day message, he said that the government is “violating the rights of the workers by establishing new pension schemes and forcefully taking charge of their Employee Provident Fund”.
Moreover, he reminded that, though the government said several times that they would increase the salaries of government and private sector employees, it is yet to be accomplished.
Secretary- Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Tissa Vitharana said that they support the government for leading Sri Lanka towards development, though there are many issues the government needs to look into that plague the labourers, such as inflation, anomalies in pension schemes, unemployment and the conditions of the estate workers.
Meanwhile, President- All Ceylon Estate Workers Union, Ramalingam Chandrasekar said that estate labourers face many hardships and discrimination in service. Lack of proper housing, drinking water, access to health facilities, adequate salary are issues the estate labourers still face, he added.
Kandy Police clash with Kandy Council over parking of vehicles
By L. B.Senaratne
The Kandy Police have told traders in the hill country town that the Kandy Municipal Council had no authority to collect monies from motorists who parked vehicles on the streets of Kandy.
Addressing Kandy traders at a meeting at the Puspahadana Hall, Kandy, Senior Superintendent I. M. Karunaratne said the Police were not out to harass traders but to ensure law and order, and that parking along D. S. Senanayake Veediya, also known as the A9, was not allowed.
Earlier in the week, the Kandy Police had cracked down on persons parking vehicles on D. S. Senanayake Veediya. Traders doing business on this road went to the Kandy Municipal Council to lodge a protest, but as there was no response from the council, the traders asked for a meeting with the Kandy Police to discuss the matter.
SSP Karunaratne said the Police would not obstruct traders going about their lawful business, but the Police would have to enforce the law regarding the parking of vehicles.
Traders can park their vehicles in the Kandy Municipal Car Park, but not in front of their business premises. Customers and wholesalers may stop their vehicles to purchase and unload goods, but only during certain hours.
Also present at the Puspahadana Hall meeting were Inspector Gamini Meegamana, Officer in Charge of Traffic, and representatives of trade chambers.
In the meantime, during a meeting of the Kandy Municipal Council on Thursday, council members protested criticising the Kandy Police for “high-handedness”, and accused the Police of trying to make Kandy a “police town.”
Councillors Anura Gonawela and Illhai Abdeen called on the Kandy Mayor to take action against the Kandy Police for attempting to “belittle” the authority of the Kandy Municipal Council.
Over 6,500 believed to have cheated at ‘O’Level exam
Commissioner says stern action will be meted out
Some 6,500 students are believed to have cheated at the last GCE ‘O’ Level examination. The allegation is based on complaints made by exam markers who had noticed that scores of exam papers carried identical answers – correct and incorrect.
Examinations Commissioner Anura Edirisinghe said other complaints have been lodged as well.
“Supervisors at examination centres say there were several instances of students producing unacceptable identification cards,” Mr. Edirisinghe said.
There were also complaints of misbehaviour at examination centres, with students refusing to following instrucions and even assaulting one another.
Referring to the alleged cheating, the Examinations Commissioner said this was the first time that such a large number of complaints about cheating had been lodged.
The Commissioner added that this was the last year that exam papers were being based on the old syllabus. From next year, the O-Level papers will be set according to the new syllabus. He said the fact that this exam might have been seen as a “last chance” for many of the students could explain the desperation to cheat.
Students who had failed on earlier occasions and were sitting for the exam for the second or third time might have felt “compelled” to cheat and pass this time, he said.
Mr. Edirisinghe said students found guilty of cheating would be dealt with severely, depending on the extent of the cheating. They may be banned from sitting at public exams, from periods ranging from five years to life.
The severity of the punishment would be decided once it was established whether the students had to re-sit exams because of a cancellation of papers. |
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