The Tamil National Alliance announced yesterday that the party would nominate members to a proposed Parliamentary Select Committee on Reconciliation on the strength of bilateral talks with the government.
The TNA issued the statement after talks with External Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris, and said bilateral talks would continue and that “consensus arrived thereat would be placed before the Select Committee.”
The TNA delegation met government representatives on Thursday and yesterday.
“The TNA reiterates that nominations to the Select Committee must await substantial consensus being reached at the bilateral talks, as has been agreed,” the statement said.
“The TNA remains committed to proceed with the talks constructively. The TNA urges the government to honour the mutual agreement reached and not to place new impediments to achieving an acceptable political solution that is desired by all the peoples of Sri Lanka.”
Lanka 4th largest tea producer, House told
By Chandani Kirinde
Sri Lanka’s share in the global tea market stands at around 17.3 per cent according to the figures for 2010, Parliament was told yesterday.
Last year Sri Lanka produced 331 million kilograms of tea while the global tea production was 4,160 million kilograms, Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe revealed. Sri Lanka however ranked as the fourth largest tea producer in the world with China leading the list with 1,363.8 million kilograms, India with 975.4 million kilograms and Kenya with 353 million kilograms, being the average annual production between 2008 and 2010.
The Minister said the Government has taken measures to improve the yield of tea in the country and said that the projected increase of tea production in the country is 341 million kilograms by 2022 and 350 million kilograms by 2030.
The Minister gave the details in response to a question raised by UNP MP Ravi Karunanayake.
Mano Wikramanayake passes away
Mano Wikramanayake, a Group Director of Capital Maharajah Organisation, died yesterday morning. He was 62 years.Mr. Wikramanayake collapsed while playing a game of golf at the Royal Colombo Golf Club and passed away while being taken to hospital. An old boy of Trinity College, Kandy, and S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia, he was a qualified Chartered Accountant. He joined the Maharajah Organisation in 1977.
New traffic scheme around Kandy Clock Tower
By L. B. Senaratne
The Kandy Police have implemented a “Partial Circle Bus Service”, under which a limited number of private or state buses – those plying three routes – Digana-Kandy, Kandy-Wattegama, and Kandy-Matale – are permitted to park near the Kandy Clock Tower Bus Stand.
Other vehicles may pause only to pick up passengers. Commuters say the new arrangement is effective, and time-saving. The system was introduced by the Traffic Division of the Kandy Police, under the supervision of OIC Traffic Inspector Meegamana.
Soldier shoots wife at police station
A soldier shot his wife during a Police inquiry inside the Tissamaharama police station yesterday morning, Police said.
A senior police officer at the station said that the husband, an Army deserter, had pulled out a pistol and opened fire on his wife. He had also flung a hand grenade, but it did not explode. Police said the complaint was lodged by the 26-year-old soldier against his wife’s family for not allowing him to live together with his 19-year-old wife.
The wife who was in a critical condition was rushed to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital, Galle. |
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