Police power to detain crime supects to be extended

[TamilNet, Saturday, 04 December 2004, 18:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka government is to introduce an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) next week enabling the Police to detain suspects related to rape, murder and organized crime for seventy two hours in their custody since the time of arrest, Mr.John Seneviratne, Minister of Justice in the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government told parliament Saturday, sources said.
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Muzzling Parliamentary Speech will further estrangement- Premachandran

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 December 2004, 12:18 GMT]
''Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs participate in the Parliamentary procedures only because of their desire to promote amity between the two polarized peoples in Sri Lanka. But if the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and the opposition United National Party (UNP) members join forces to restrain free speech then it will be another step towards encouraging division of Sri Lanka,'' said Suresh Premachandran responding to attempts to curb privileges of TNA MPs in Sri Lanka's Parliament Wednesday, parliamentary sources in Colombo said.
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UPFA ignoring critical national issues- Prof Peiris

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 December 2004, 12:09 GMT]
"Political parties in the South should recognize the "potentially dangerous" situation Sri Lanka is facing. The United National party (UNP) is ready to support any genuine steps the Government of Sri Lanka takes to resolve critical National issues faced by this country," said Prof G L Peiris Monday in Kandy after meeting Asgiriya Mahanayake Thera in Dalda Maligawa, sources said.
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UNP protests against UPFA's budget

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 December 2004, 11:49 GMT]
Hundreds of supporters of United National Party (UNP) and many of its senior parliamentarians held a protest march against the Sri Lanka's budget, the price increases of essential goods and the increase of an hour in the working day, sources from Colombo said. The protest march started from Rajagiriya junction and moved towards the parliament square.
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UPFA's maiden budget passes

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 November 2004, 17:42 GMT]
Sri Lanka's parliament Saturday evening adopted the maiden budget of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) with a majority of 34 votes, 126 parliamentarians voting for and 92 against it. Only 218 members of 225 were present in parliament at the time of voting, parliamentary sources said.


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TNA MPs bring Heroes' Day event to Lanka's parliament

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 November 2004, 15:06 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians Saturday around 6.35 evening (Wanni time) created history in the Sri Lanka's parliament by lighting the flame of sacrifice to mark the conclusion of the Heroes Day (Maveerar Week), parliamentary sources said.
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Sri Lanka Cease Fire becoming irrelevant – Tamil MP

[TamilNet, Saturday, 27 November 2004, 10:30 GMT]
The Cease Fire Agreement would become increasingly irrelevant if there is not going to be any progress on the peace process, warned Tamil Parliamentarian Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam speaking on the on the second reading of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government’s first (2005) Budget on Saturday. “The Tamil people’s overwhelming desire for peace should not be allowed to be taken for granted. Our repeated recommitment to the ceasefire is being misinterpreted by this government to be a sign of weakness”, the MP said.
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“Budget ignores collective will of Tamil Nation”-Sampanthan

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 November 2004, 05:27 GMT]
Mr.R.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentary group leader speaking during the Budget debate in Sri Lanka's parliament Thursday morning, said that it is outrageous that the Finance Minister did not even consult the legitimate representatives of Tamil Nation. "The right to internal self-determination has been consistently denied to the Tamil people. This budget is yet another manifestation of that denial...Nothing can be more humiliating to the Tamil psyche than the non-recognition of their collective will. This situation if continued can have serious repercussions," he said.
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UPFA budget has no relief for Tamils - TNA

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 24 November 2004, 10:37 GMT]
''The maiden budget of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government has failed to address any remedy for the immediate humanitarian needs of the war-torn people of the northeast province who have suffered immensely for the past two decades of the war,'' said Mr.Joseph Pararajasingham, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) national list parliamentarian speaking on the budget debate in the parliament Wednesday.
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UNP to oppose SL government budget

[TamilNet, Friday, 19 November 2004, 05:11 GMT]
Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) decided Thursday evening to oppose the maiden budget of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government, UNP sources said.
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Ex UNP minister joins UPFA government

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 November 2004, 13:18 GMT]
Mr. Rohitha Bogollagama, ex United National Party (UNP) minister, crossed over to President Chandrika Kumaratunga's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Thursday, while the UPFA's maiden budget was being presented in Parliament. He was immediately sworn in as Minister for Advanced Technology and National Enterprises. The cross over of the powerful UNP Parliamentarian from the Kurunagala district has further strengthened the UPFA's position in the Sri Lankan legislature.
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SL Budget, home grown, people friendly- Amunugama

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 November 2004, 11:39 GMT]
Dr.Sarath Amunugama, Finance Minister of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government which came to power in April 2nd general election this year began his maiden budget speech Thursday around 2.30 p.m. amid expectation in the trade union circles an impressive salary increase for public servants as promised during the hustings, parliamentary sources said.
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Expression of Unified position vital- Wickremesinghe

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 17 November 2004, 16:21 GMT]
''Sri Lanka's President must candidly discuss the peace process with leaders of Janatha Vimukthy Preramana (JVP) and arrive at a common position acceptable to both President Kumaratunge and the JVP,'' said opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the United National Party (UNP) New members intake meeting on Tuesday evening, held at UNP party Head office, political sources in Colombo said.


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LTTE wants UPFA to state its unified stand on peace talks

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 November 2004, 12:58 GMT]
''The Sri Lankan government and all its coalition partners should convey to us their unified stand, their consensus in support of the peace process. The Sri Lankan government's coalition partner, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and others are opposing the peace process. Therefore we cannot depend on the Sri Lankan President alone to take forward the peace process. This is what our leader conveyed to the Sri Lankan President through the Norwegian Foreign Minister'', said Mr. S. P Thamilchelvan speaking to the press Tuesday after a conference with MPs of the Tamil National Alliance in Kilinochchi.
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EPDP refuses to participate in Rights Seminar

[TamilNet, Monday, 15 November 2004, 17:19 GMT]
Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP), para military group and a constituent of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government has informed the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) that it would not participate in seminars on human rights organized for its members due to security reasons, sources said.
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Ex-Foreign Minister, new Governor for NorthEast?

[TamilNet, Sunday, 14 November 2004, 14:22 GMT]
Mr.Tyronne Fernando, Foreign Minister in the former United National Front (UNF) government, is tipped to be the next Governor of the North East Province replacing Major General (retd) Asoka Jayawardene who is to assume duties as the Secretarary to the Ministry of Defence with effect from December 1, provincial sources said.
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Sri Lanka's ruling coalition divided on Kotmale project

[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 November 2004, 19:27 GMT]
Minister of Estate Infrastructure Mr Muthu Sivalingam of the Ceylon Workers congress (CWC) told the press Friday that CWC will never permit the implementation of the upper Kotmale Hydro-power scheme and warned that United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government will be forcedout of power if it proceeds with the project disregarding CWC's protest.
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TNA MP protests Ministry order to remove two Hindu temples

[TamilNet, Saturday, 13 November 2004, 14:04 GMT]
"Destruction of Hindu shrines in areas where thousands of Hindus reside and construction of Buddhist shrines on State lands where there are hardly any Buddhists are blatant discriminatory acts and indicate State's willingness to condone acts committed in the name of Buddhism," said Mr.R.Sampanthan, Tamil National Alliance parliamentary group leader and member of parliament for the Trincomalee district in a letter to the Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources.
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Upcountry Union leader flays wage agreement

[TamilNet, Sunday, 07 November 2004, 02:58 GMT]
"Leader of Ceylon Workers Union and Minister in the United Peoples Freedom Front (UPFA) government, Arumugam Thondaman, who is one of the signatories to the Collective Agreement signed between the Estate Unions and Employers Federation has recently said that the Trade Union Leaders have to protect the workers and also Employers Federation. This mindset reveals the CWC's complete disregard for workers welfare and explains the meagre 10% increase in wages negotiated in the CA," said Mr D.V. Sennan, President of Ceylon Workers United Front (CWUF) Friday.
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Government workers demand salary increase

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 03 November 2004, 11:39 GMT]
Hundreds of Government workers under the "Committee For Salary Increase Of The Public Services" banner today held a protest demonstration at Lipton Square in Colombo against to United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government's economic policy and demanding increase in government workers salary, sources in Colombo said.


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