UNP to take tough line against its opponents
At its last Working Committee meeting the United National Party (UNP) passed two resolutions, one condemning the attacks on the Party headquarters "Sirikotha" and another aimed at strengthening the grassroots level membership of the Party so as to build up a new force to challenge the administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
In the first resolution, the Working committee strongly condemned the attack on its headquarters which it said was carried out by those wanting to achieve petty political objectives and decided to pursue both legal and disciplinary action against them.
It was also decided to note that the news network of Maharajah Organisation is sowing the seeds of discontent within the UNP and hence to propose the setting up of guidelines for the electronic media on the lines adopted by Great Britain.
In the second resolution it was noted that the Rajapaksa administration had mishandled areas such as education, higher education, health, and power and energy and hence there was the need to strengthen the grassroots network of the UNP to take on the Government.
Attack on power plant: Accused PS member, 3 others absconding
By L.B.Senaratne
A UPFA member of the Aranayake Pradeshiya Sabha and three others are said to be absconding for the last week or more after an attack, allegedly carried out by them on a power generating plant which was supplying 1.5 megawatts to the national grid of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB).
Six others have already been remanded by the Mawanella Magistrate, for an identification parade, according to Inspector M.B.Padeniya, the Officer in Charge of the Aranayake Police. The suspect Pradeshiya Sabha member Stanley Tillekeratne with nine others had allegedly attacked the power generating plant situated at Deiyannewela in the Aranayake Police area, causing damage estimated at one million rupees.
Jet Power Generating Company Project Director Manesh Karunaratne has lodged a complaint against the Pradeshiya Sabha member and nine others, for having illegally entered the power generating plant premises, assaulting the workers and damaging the machinery.
He has also told the Police that the loss to the Company amounts to nearly Rs. 300,000 a day.
Soldier weds ex ‘Tigress’
Soldier E.M.D. Sandaruwan hailing from Galgamuwa, on Friday wedded ex-LTTEer 18-year-old Chandrasekaran Sharmila who underwent rehabilitation and socialized.
The event took place in Kilinochchi during one of the programmes organised by the President’s office to promote reconciliation.
Sharmila’s father is due to speak of experiences on his visits to Sandaruwan’s hometown, at a function at the Kilinochchi Maha Vidyalaya today afternoon.
Five-year rule for school van drivers shelved
But other proposals being studied: Minister
A move to impose a minimum requirement of five-year driving experience for school van drivers has been shelved although a series of proposals are being studied to prepare a guideline for them, Child Development and Women’s Affairs Minister Tissa Karaliyadde said yesterday.
He said the five-year requirement, if implemented, would lead to job losses and pose other problems such as finding a temporary driver when the permanent driver was not available.
However, he said other proposals such as the driver to possess an accident-free record and a police report clearing him of any child abuse incidents were being studied and a comprehensive guideline “We will not do anything in a hurry,” he said.
The move to impose tough guidelines on school van drivers followed the recent school van accident, which left seven children injured.
The accident gave rise to a public uproar for strict guidelines for school van drivers.
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