General Secretary of the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS), Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera, confirmed that he and certain other members of the movement had met with some of the members of the Tamil Diaspora in the US and the meeting was initiated by a Norwegian well-wisher.

The Thera also said the movement's US tour had taken place with the blessings of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Planning.

The main Opposition, United National Party (UNP) said, in Parliament yesterday that it would attend the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) appointed to find a solution to the national problem, if the government is ready to bring back the 17th Amendment to the Constitution.
Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe, said his Party will definitely support the PSC, in the event the government shows similar commitment by reinstating the independent commissions proposed under the 17th Amendment.
"Even if the TNA would not attend the PSC, the UNP would participate and help find a solution to the national problem, but the government should make it clear first that it would re-establish the independent commissions," he said.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU) have pledged their support for the strike the Trade Union Alliance (TUA) is scheduled to hold on May 21 against the electricity tariff hikes.

TNA parliamentarians Mavai Senathirajah, M. K. Sivajilingam and M. A. Sumathiran yesterday told a delegation of the Trade Union Alliance (TUA) yesterday in Colombo that their party would support the strike. They also lashed out at the government for acquiring land belonging to civilians in the North for military purposes.

The US has been targeting Sri Lanka at every turn at the instance of the Tamil Diaspora ever since the LTTE was wiped out and the government appears to be at a loss on how to counter this campaign; but we Lankans living in the US are shocked surprised and perturbed to learn that the government of Sri Lanka has retained the services of two PR firms in the US at a colossal fee by any standards (USD 66,000 and USD 50,000 per month respectively) to counter this anti-Lanka campaign and to create:

1.A political environment in the US that is more than conducive to enhancing Sri Lanka’s long-term political and economic situation.
2. A comprehensive information platform where decision makers in the US receive clear and accurate information about Sri Lanka’s current achievements and future plans.
3. A higher volume of trade and investment in Sri Lanka.

The broad trade union front that declared May 21st as day of protest with the trade unions deciding to go on a Token Strike against electricity price increases, have run into unexpected opposition from Dr. Vikramabahu and his United Federation of Labour deciding they will not support strike action, if the JVP is there in the front.

Dr. Vikramabahu is in alliance with Health sector unionist Saman Ratnapriya and Education sector unionist Joseph Stalin, who have also decided to oppose the May 21 token strike, saying they have no time for decisions taken by JVP.

Tamil Nadu has no right to demand Katchatheevu, for it is Sri Lanka’s as per an agreement, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprises Development Minister Douglas Devananda has said.

His statement comes in response to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s recent demand that the Centre retrieve the island ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974.

Last week, the State Assembly passed a resolution in this regard, in the wake of “continued violent attacks, torture and arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.”

President has ordered Pavithra to grant the electricity tariff concession promised on the May day

At the cabinet meeting H E President has informed the Minister of Power and Energy Pavithra Wanniarachchi to grant the concession on electricity promised at the May Day rally. He has instructed her to prepare the formula of doing it.

H E President Mahinda Rajapakse said at the May Day rally that not to increase up to 60 units and there will also be a concession up to 180 units.

It is reported that the proposed 19th Constitutional Amendment is now being drafted under the guidance of Prof.G.L.Pieris . The new amendment will reduce the Presidential period of office fro 6 to 5 years and will reduce the minimaum time period for holding Presidential elections from 4 years to 3 years.
Insider sources say that under these changes, even the Police and Land powers which have been given to Provincial councils will be removed.

The Former Deputy Mayor of Colombo Azad Sally, who was being held by the Criminal Investigations Department under detention orders, was released today.

Sally is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.

Azad Sally, who was being treated at the National Hospital in Colombo under CID detention, was admitted to a private hospital in Colombo, subsequent to being released.

His family said that Sally's health had deteriorated, as he had refused food for several days.

'When we look around what we see is the fall of democracy, the flouting of the law and how injustice reigns supreme. The people as a whole want democracy and justice. To achieve such a transformation, the constitution plays a major role. When you look at the constitution, since its inception in 1978, we can see how it has gradually been steered towards the wrong side. If we continue to remain with this constitution, there will be serious problems. Let us start from one point.