14th Nov 07

ATTN: MR: CHANDIMA UDABAGE RUNDOWN THE STATE OF BUSINESS – 14th NOV, 2007 WIJEDASA

VTR

NILANTHA

02.10

TRAVEL

CARD

CHAMI

00.30

MIGRANT

CARD

DAKSHITHA

01.15

T-BILLS 00.15 ADD DEALING ROOM BRIDGE SANETH @ CITY BANK

01.00

ADD STATE OF BUSINESS BRIDGE TOWN

VTR

LASHINI

03.10

VTR

ANOUK

00.45

ADD CORPORATE BRIDGE CEYLINCO

BREAK 2 – ADD STOCK WATCH BRIDGE STOCK CURRENCY

CARDS CARDS

LINE UP EDITOR ANCHOR

ANOUK/NISHANI DAKSHITHA

HEADLINES 1.COPE CHAIRMAN SITS IN THE OPPOSITION AND, 2. YALA NATIONAL PARK-OUT OF BOUND FOR BRITISH TRAVELERS 1.SLUG-WIJEDASA THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ENTERPRISES - COPE, WIJEDASA RAJAPKSHE SAT IN THE OPPOSITION THIS MORNING AT THE PARLIAMENT. HE IS A NATIONAL LIST MP. ROLL VTR 2.SLUG:TRAVEL–VTR UNITED KINGDOM HAS AMENDED ITS TRAVEL ADVICE TO SRI LANKA CAUTIONING ITS CITIZENS TO AVOID VISITING THE YALA NATIONAL PARK DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. CARD IN THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED ITS CITIZENS QUOTE “WE ADVISE AGAINST ALL TRAVEL TO YALA NATIONAL PARK” UNQUOTE. THE AMENDED TRAVEL ADVICE ALSO SAYS THAT SINCE OCTOBER 2007 A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE PARK AND IT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. CARD OUT YALA NATIONAL PARK IS SITUATED IN THE DEEP SOUTH OF SRI LANKA WHICH IS A TOURIST HOTSPOT. READ ON

3.SLUG:MIGRANT-CARD IN A REPORT RELEASED TODAY HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH STATES THAT THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE TO PROTECT WOMEN FROM LABOR EXPLOITATION AND VIOLENCE WHEN THEY MIGRATE TO THE MIDDLE EAST AS DOMESTIC WORKERS. ACCORDING TO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH MORE THAN 660,000 SRI LANKAN WOMEN WORK ABROAD AS DOMESTIC WORKERS, NEARLY 90 PERCENT IN KUWAIT, LEBANON, SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATESCOUNTRIES THAT LACK STANDARD LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS. THE 131-PAGE REPORT TITLED “EXPORTED AND EXPOSED: ABUSES AGAINST SRI LANKAN DOMESTIC WORKERS IN SAUDI ARABIA, KUWAIT, LEBANON AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES” IS BASED ON 170 INTERVIEWS WITH DOMESTIC WORKERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND LABOR RECRUITERS CONDUCTED IN SRI LANKA AND THE MIDDLE EAST. THE AUTHOR OF THE REPORT JENNIFER TURNER STATES THAT THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE MONEY THESE WOMEN SEND HOME, BUT DOES LITTLE TO PROTECT THEM FROM ABUSE. THE REPORT FURTHER STATES THAT THE GOVERNMENT FAILS ADEQUATELY MONITOR AND REGULATE ABUSIVE PRACTICES RECRUITING AGENTS AND SUB AGENTS IN SRI LANKA.

TO BY

IT ADDS THAT ITS CONSULAR OFFICIALS OFTEN PROVIDE LITTLE OR NO ASSISTANCE TO DOMESTIC WORKERS WHO APPROACH THEM WITH CASES OF UNPAID WAGES OR ABUSE. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH STATES THAT THE SAUDI, KUWAITI, EMIRATI AND LEBANESE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD PROSECUTE EMPLOYERS WHO ABUSE DOMESTIC WORKERS, AND ALSO NEED TO IMPOSE MEANINGFUL CRIMINAL AND CIVIL SANCTIONS ON EMPLOYERS AND LABOR AGENTS WHO VIOLATE THE LAW. READ ON 4.T-BILLS 5.DEALING ROOM WITH SANETH AT CITI BANK BREAK

6.SLUG:TOWN PLANNERS-VTR THE INSTITUTE OF TOWN PLANNERS YESTERDAY WARNED THAT THE COASTAL BELT AND THE CENTRAL HILL COUNTRY ARE PRONE TO MAJOR NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE FUTURE. THE TOWN PLANNERS WHO MET THE MEDIA IN COLOMBO TO MARK THE THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY, ADDED THAT PERADENIYA, MATALE, AND KOTTE ARE AMONG THE RISK AREAS. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT PROMPT AND EXTENSIVE TOWN PLANNING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WOULD HELP AVERT THIS POSSIBLE DANGER AND THE LIVES AND PROPERTIES OF THOUSANDS. ROLL VTR CORPORATE 7.SLUG:SEYLAN–VTR CEYLINCO TAKAFUL INSURANCE LIMITED LAUNCHED A NEW INSURANCE SCHEME BACKING THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR. ACCORDING TO THE INNOVATIVE NEW SCHEME, DAIRY FARMERS CAN NOW INSURE THEIR “MILKING COWS”. ROLL VTR BREAK

STOX ANALYSTS SAY THE MARKET WAS DULL THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH INTEREST ON SELECTIVE COUNTERS. JKH SAW A TOTAL OF THREE CROSSINGS AMOUNTING TO 0.94 MILLION AT 131 RUPEES. 201,000 SHARES OF DOCKYARD MOVED AT 50 WHILE 500,000 SHARES OF SLT ALSO CROSSED AT 35.25 TOPPING THE DAY’S VOLUMES LIST WAS C W MACKIE WITH 1.48 MILLION SHARES FOLLOWED BY FERN TEA AND JKH WHICH TRADED 1.05 MILLION AND 1 MILLION SHARES RESPECTIVELY. HIGHEST CONTRIBUTION TO TURN OVER CAME FROM JKH WHICH PUMPED IN 131.4 MILLION RUPEES AND WAS FOLLOWED BY C W MACKIE AND RIVERINA HOTELS FOREIGN BUYING FOR THE SAY WAS AT 144 MILLION AND FOREIGN SALES AT 35.6 MILLION. CARD 1 BOTH INDICES ENDED THE DAY ON POSITIVE GROUNDS. THE ALL SHARE GAINED 12.36 POINTS TO 2,629.67 WHILE THE MILANKA CLOSED TRADING AT 3,515.44 AFTER PICKING UP 23.99 POINTS TURN OVER WAS AT 389.4 MILLION CARD 2 PARAGON, CONFIFI HOTEL, C W MACKIE AND COMPANY, FERN TEA LIMITED AND RIVERINA HOTELS WERE THE TOP GAINERS FOR THE DAY CARD 3 WHILE THE TOP LOSERS WERE UNION CHEMICALS, BROWNS, SELINSING, LANKA ASHOK AND HEYLEYS EXPORTS CARD 4 A DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT CAME FROM COMMERCIAL BANK OF CEYLON LIMITED FOREX RATES CARD 5 CARD 6

SEGMENT: DATE: REPORTER: SLUG:

CORPORATE 14/11/07 NK SEYLAN – VTR

CEYLINCO TAKAFUL INSURANCE LIMITED LAUNCHED A NEW INSURANCE SCHEME BACKING THE LIVESTOCK SECTOR. ACCORDING TO THE INNOVATIVE NEW SCHEME, DAIRY FARMERS CAN NOW INSURE THEIR “MILKING COWS”. ROLL VTR ‘INSURING THE MILK!’ IN: OUT:

VOICE OVER – SEYLAN THE INSURANCE SCHEME WAS LAUNCHED AT A FUNCTION HELD IN COLOMBO LAST EVENING. MINISTER OF LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT C.B. RATNAYAKE WAS THE CHIEF GUEST AT THE EVENT. UNDER THE INSURANCE SCHEME, COMPENSATION WILL BE PAID TO THE OWNER OF THE INSURED COW IN THE EVENT OF ITS DEATH CAUSED BY NATURAL CAUSES, WHILE COMPENSATION WILL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE IN CASE OF TOTAL DISABILITY. THE SCHEME ALSO MEETS MEDICAL EXPENSES IN THE EVENT THE INSURED COW MEETS WITH AN ACCIDENT. SPEAKING AT THE OCCASION, MINISTER RATNAYAKE SAID THIS BOLD MOVE WILL ENCOURAGE DAIRY FARMERS THEREBY HELPING INCREASING LOCAL MILK PRODUCTION. ENDS./

SEGMENT DATE REPORTER SLUG

: : : :

MAIN 12/11/07 LASHINI TOWN PLANNERS-VTR

THE INSTITUTE OF TOWN PLANNERS YESTERDAY WARNED THAT THE COASTAL BELT AND THE CENTRAL HILL COUNTRY ARE PRONE TO MAJOR NATURAL DISASTERS IN THE FUTURE. THE TOWN PLANNERS WHO MET THE MEDIA IN COLOMBO TO MARK THE THEIR 25TH ANNIVERSARY, ADDED THAT PERADENIYA, MATALE, AND KOTTE ARE AMONG THE RISK AREAS. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT PROMPT AND EXTENSIVE TOWN PLANNING IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS WOULD HELP AVERT THIS POSSIBLE DANGER AND THE LIVES AND PROPERTIES OF THOUSANDS. ROLL VTR SUPER: J. M. L. Jayasekara Director General National Physical Planning Department TOWN PLANNING 25% of population live with in 1km of the cost– 2001 census

VOICE OVER – LASHINI – 12/11/07 – TOWN PLANNERS – VTR THE NATIONAL PHYSICAL PLANNING POLICY AND PLAN FOR 2006 TO 2030 WHICH WAS COMPILED BY THE NATIONAL PHYSICAL PLANNING DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO RELEASED TO THE MEDIA DURING THE BRIEFING. THE POLICY HAS BEEN COMPILED RESEARCH BY TOWN PLANNERS.

AFTER

A

SEVEN

YEARS

OF

THE REPORT CLEARLY IDENTIFIES TWO REGIONS IN THE COUNTRY AS ‘FRAGILE AREAS’. THE POLICY HIGHLIGHTS THAT WITH THE ISSUE OF GLOBAL WARMING THE SEA LEVEL IS EXPECTED TO RISE ABOUT ONE METRE IN A FEW YEARS. THIS, THE TOWN COASTAL BELT.

PLANNERS

SAYS

WILL

IMPACT

SRI

LANKA’S

36:48 IF THE WATER LEVEL RISES THE ENTIRE COSTAL BELT OF SRI LANKA IS FACING A POSSIBLE DESTRUCTION AND ALSO YOU KNOW WE ARE ALSO IN THE PLATE OF EARTH QUAKE NOW. 37:00 37:08 SO WE MUST PLAN FOR THAT AND PLAN FOR NOW AND WE CAN NOT WAIT 10, 12 YEARS FOR THAT IMPLEMENTATION. 37:16 THE NATIONAL PHYSICAL PLANNING POLICY ALSO IDENTIFIES 14,000 SQUARE KILOMETRES OF THE HILL COUNTRY AS ANOTHER FRAGILE AREA. ACCORDING TO EXPERTS SOME MOUNTAINS IN THE HILL CAPITAL IS UNDER THE THREAT OF COLLAPSE DUE TO FACTORS SUCH AS INAPPROPRIATE USE OF LAND. 40:22 PEOPLE IN THE UPCOUNTRY ARE FACING A MAJOR THREAT TO THEIR LIVES AND THEIR PROPERTY. 40:29 40:05 IF YOU DON’T LOOK AT THIS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND PLAN THE CITIES WE HAVE A PROBLEM PARTICULARLY IN THE UP COUNTRY MUST BE PROTECTED, POPULATION MUST MOVE OUT. 40:17

THEY RECOMMENDED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FOUR METRO REGIONS TO PROVIDE URBAN SERVICES TO ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. THIS THEY SAY WILL ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE FRAGILE AREAS. TOWN PLANNERS SUGGEST THAT ANURADHAPURA, POLONNARUWA, AND TRINCOMALEE BE DEVELOPED AS THE MAIN METRO REGION. THEY ALSO RECOMMEND THAT HAMBANTHOTA IN THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE, COLOMBO IN THE WESTERN PROVINCE WHILE AMPARA AND BATTICALOE IN THE EAST TO BE ESTABLISHED AS THE METRO REGIONS IN THE RESPECTIVE AREAS. 34:32 SUBTITLES: AFTER THE TSUNAMI TOWN PLANNERS UNANIMOUSLY SAID, EVEN TO THE CABINET AND THE MEDIA THAT USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THE CITIES INLAND, TO PLAN NEW CITIES. 34:54 35:35 AS YOU KNOW ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF 3 BILLION US DOLLARS CAME TO SRI LANKA AT THAT TIME. MAY BE MORE SOME PEOPLE SAY 6 BILLION DOLLARS. SOME MONEY IS STILL LYING IN THE CITI BANK IN NEW YORK 35:47 ENDS.

SEGMENT:

MAIN

DATE:

14 / 11 / 2007

REPORTER:

CHAMINDA

SLUG:

TRAVEL ADVICE – VTR

UNITED KINGDOM HAS AMENDED ITS TRAVEL ADVICE TO SRI LANKA CAUTIONING ITS CITIZENS TO AVOID VISITING THE YALA NATIONAL PARK DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. CARD IN THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS ASKED ITS CITIZENS QUOTE “WE ADVISE AGAINST ALL TRAVEL TO YALA NATIONAL PARK” UNQUOTE. THE AMENDED TRAVEL ADVICE ALSO SAYS THAT SINCE OCTOBER 2007 THERE A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE PARK AND IT IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS. CARD OUT YALA NATIONAL PARK IS SITUATED IN THE DEEP SOUTH OF SRI LANKA WHICH IS A TOURIST HOTSPOT. READ ON “We advice against all travel to Yala national park” United Kingdom

STOX ANALYSTS SAY THE MARKET WAS DULL THROUGHOUT THE DAY WITH INTEREST ON SELECTIVE COUNTERS. JKH SAW A TOTAL OF THREE CROSSINGS AMOUNTING TO 0.94 MILLION AT 131 RUPEES. 201,000 SHARES OF DOCKYARD MOVED AT 50 WHILE 500,000 SHARES OF SLT ALSO CROSSED AT 35.25 TOPPING THE DAY’S VOLUMES LIST WAS C W MACKIE WITH 1.48 MILLION SHARES FOLLOWED BY FERN TEA AND JKH WHICH TRADED 1.05 MILLION AND 1 MILLION SHARES RESPECTIVELY. HIGHEST CONTRIBUTION TO TURN OVER CAME FROM JKH WHICH PUMPED IN 131.4 MILLION RUPEES AND WAS FOLLOWED BY C W MACKIE AND RIVERINA HOTELS FOREIGN BUYING FOR THE SAY WAS AT 144 MILLION AND FOREIGN SALES AT 35.6 MILLION. CARD 1 BOTH INDICES ENDED THE DAY ON POSITIVE GROUNDS. THE ALL SHARE GAINED 12.36 POINTS TO 2,629.67 WHILE THE MILANKA CLOSED TRADING AT 3,515.44 AFTER PICKING UP 23.99 POINTS TURN OVER WAS AT 389.4 MILLION CARD 2 PARAGON, CONFIFI HOTEL, C W MACKIE AND COMPANY, FERN TEA LIMITED AND RIVERINA HOTELS WERE THE TOP GAINERS FOR THE DAY CARD 3 WHILE THE TOP LOSERS WERE UNION CHEMICALS, BROWNS, SELINSING, LANKA ASHOK AND HEYLEYS EXPORTS CARD 4 A DIVIDEND ANNOUNCEMENT CAME FROM COMMERCIAL BANK OF CEYLON LIMITED FOREX RATES CARD 5 CARD 6

SEGMENT: MAIN DATE: 14TH NOV 07 REPORTER: ANOUK SLUG: MIGRANT- CARD IN A REPORT RELEASED TODAY HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH STATES THAT THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO MORE TO PROTECT WOMEN FROM LABOR EXPLOITATION AND VIOLENCE WHEN THEY MIGRATE TO THE MIDDLE EAST AS DOMESTIC WORKERS. ACCORDING TO HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH MORE THAN 660,000 SRI LANKAN WOMEN WORK ABROAD AS DOMESTIC WORKERS, NEARLY 90 PERCENT IN KUWAIT, LEBANON, SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATESCOUNTRIES THAT LACK STANDARD LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS. THE 131-PAGE REPORT TITLED “EXPORTED AND EXPOSED: ABUSES AGAINST SRI LANKAN DOMESTIC WORKERS IN SAUDI ARABIA, KUWAIT, LEBANON AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES” IS BASED ON 170 INTERVIEWS WITH DOMESTIC WORKERS, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AND LABOR RECRUITERS CONDUCTED IN SRI LANKA AND THE MIDDLE EAST. THE AUTHOR OF THE REPORT JENNIFER TURNER STATES THAT THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE MONEY THESE WOMEN SEND HOME, BUT DOES LITTLE TO PROTECT THEM FROM ABUSE. THE REPORT FURTHER STATES THAT THE GOVERNMENT FAILS ADEQUATELY MONITOR AND REGULATE ABUSIVE PRACTICES RECRUITING AGENTS AND SUBAGENTS IN SRI LANKA.

TO BY

IT ADDS THAT ITS CONSULAR OFFICIALS OFTEN PROVIDE LITTLE OR NO ASSISTANCE TO DOMESTIC WORKERS WHO APPROACH THEM WITH CASES OF UNPAID WAGES OR ABUSE. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH STATES THAT THE SAUDI, KUWAITI, EMIRATI AND LEBANESE GOVERNMENTS SHOULD PROSECUTE EMPLOYERS WHO ABUSE DOMESTIC WORKERS, AND ALSO NEED TO IMPOSE MEANINGFUL CRIMINAL AND CIVIL SANCTIONS ON EMPLOYERS AND LABOR AGENTS WHO VIOLATE THE LAW. READ ON

CARD 1 SRI LANKAN MIGRANT WOMEN FACE SERIOUS ABUSE - HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH CARD 2 MORE THAN 660,000 SRI LANKAN WOMEN WORK ABROAD AS DOMESTIC WORKERS, NEARLY 90% IN KUWAIT, LEBANON, SAUDI ARABIA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES- COUNTRIES THAT LACK STANDARD LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS. CARD 3 “THE SRI LANKAN GOVERNMENT WELCOMES THE MONEY THESE WOMEN SEND HOME, BUT DOES LITTLE TO PROTECT THEM FROM ABUSE”. “THE GOVERNMENT FAILS TO ADEQUATELY MONITOR AND REGULATE ABUSIVE PRACTICES BY RECRUITING AGENTS AND SUBAGENTS IN SRI LANKA”. HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH

Saneth Gamage Country Treasurer Citibank

THERE AND IT I 'We advise against all travel to Yala National Park. Since October 2007 there have been a number of incidents there and it is currenty closed due to security concerns. See the Terrorism and Local Travel sections of this advice for more details. Notes for Editors Full details of the revised travel advice for Sri Lanka are available on the Foreign Office website (www.fco.gov.uk). FCO Travel Advice can also be obtained on the following telephone number: 0845 850 2829. FCO Travel Advice is kept under constant review. This advice is based on our latest assessment of the situation in Sri Lanka.

SEGMENT: DATE: REPORTER: SLUG:

MAIN 14/11/07 NK WIJEDASA - CARD

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ENTERPRISES - COPE, PRESIDENT’S COUNSEL WIJEDASA RAJAPKSHE CROSSED OVER TO THE OPPOSITION THIS MORNING AT THE PARLIAMENT. HE IS AN MP COMING UNDER THE NATIONAL LIST. ROLL VTR IN: OUT:

VOICE OVER - WIJEDASA FOLLOWING THE CROSS OVER PARLIAMENTARIAN WIJEDASA RAJAPAKSE MAKING A STATEMENT SET SEVEN CONDITIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT TO MEET IN RETURN FOR HIS SUPPORT FOR THE BUDGET 2008. THE FIRST AMONG THE CONDITIONS IS THAT THE DISMISS TWO CABINET MINISTERS AGAINST WHOM ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION BY THE COPE.

GOVERNMENT THERE ARE

HE ALSO ASKED THAT THE GOVERNMENT REMOVE THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY WHOSE NAME IS ALSO MENTIONED IN THE COPE REPORT AND ALSO REQUESTED THE REMOVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE. RAJAPAKSHE ALSO REQUESTS THAT THE CABINET OF MINISTERS BE REDUCED TO 30 WITH THE NUMBER OF DEPUTY MINISTERS TO BE DECREASED TO 30 AS WELL. ALSO AMONG THE CONDITIONS IS THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES TO PARLIAMENT THE DETAILED ACCOUNTS PERTAINING TO THE EXPENDITURE OF THE 19.87 BILLION RUPEES ALLOCATED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL BUDGET UNDER THE APPROPRIATION BILL OF 2007. HE ALSO REQUESTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES DETAILS REGARDING THE 50.67 BILLION RUPEES THAT IS ALLOCATED UNDER THE SAME HEADING FOR NEXT YEAR. HE ALSO NOTED THAT 23.75 BILLION RUPEES HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE PRESIDENT AND MINISTERS – BUT FOR SAMURDHI BENEFICIARIES AMOUNTING TO AROUND 1.9 MILLION FAMILIES – ONLY 9.6 BILLION HAS BEEN ALLOCATED. HE FURTHER ASKS THAT THE GOVERNMENT TAKES FULL RESPONSIBILITY IN SOLVING THE ETHNIC ISSUE AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE A PARLIAMENT SELECT COMMITTEE SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO COME UP WITH PROPOSALS IN THIS REGARD. THE PARLIAMENTARIAN ALSO SAYS THE COUNTRY’S ANNUAL CRIME RATE HAS RISEN TO 2000 AND STEPS MUST BE TAKEN TO LOOK INTO THIS AREA AS WELL.

RAJAPAKSHE, A SENIOR MEMBER AND A LEGAL ADVISER OF THE SRI LANKA FREEDOM PARTY, HAD ALSO SERVED AS THE MINISTER OF STATE BANK DEVELOPMENT. READ ON. CARD 1: COPE CHAIRMAN WIJEDASA RAJAPAKSHE JOINS THE

OPPOSITION

CARD 2: RAJAPAKSHE’S SEVEN POINTS TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT AT THE BUDGET 1. TWO CABINET MINISTERS WHOSE NAMES ARE MENTIONED IN COPE REPORT SHOULD BE REMOVED 2. REMOVAL OF TREASURY SECRETARY & INLAND REVENUE CHIEF 3. CABINET & DEPUTY MINISTERIAL POSTS SHOULD BE SLASHED TO 30 EACH 4. TO DISCLOSE ACCOUNT DETAILS OF RS. 19.87 BN ALLOCATED UNDER NATIONAL BUDGET DEPARTMENT HEADING 5. INCREASE OF “SAMURDHI” BENEFIT 6. APPOINTMENT OF PARLIAMENT SELECT COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND SOLUTIONS FOR ETHNIC ISSUE 7. ADDRESSING THE RISING CRIME RATE