4th Feb 08

ATTN: MS ANNIKA SENANAYAKE RUNDOWN THE STATE OF BUSINESS – 4TH FEB, 2008 INDEPENDENCE

VTR

CHAMI

FITCH

FLASH

RIYAD

BREAK 1 - ADD STATE OF BUSINESS BRIDGE CUSTOMS

VTR

RAVI

ADD CORPORATE BRIDGE WISH

VTR

ANOUK

01:00

BREAK 2 – STATE OF BUSINESS BRIDGE WORLD BANK

VTR

SHASHIKA

LINE UP EDITOR ANCHOR

- ANOUK - RAVI

04:00

HEADLINES 1. SRI LANKA MARKS 60 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE WITH PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHE HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF DEFEATING TERRORISM 2. SRI LANKA CUSTOMS REVENUE INCREASES BY 15 BILLION RUPEES IN 2007 FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS ROLL THEME ADDRESSING THE NATION DURING THE CELEBRATIONS HELD TO MARK SRI LANKA’S 60TH YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHE TOLD THE NATION THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO DEFEAT TERRORISM AND BRING LASTING PEACE TO THE COUNTRY. RAJAPAKSHE SAID DEFEATING TERRORISM IS NECESSARY AS THE COUNTRY HAD TO LIVE WITH FEARSOME EXPERIENCES OF THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AND CANCER OF TERRORISM FOR THREE OF THE SIX DECADES SINCE INDEPENDENCE. PRESIDENT MADE THESE COMMENTS WHILE SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY TO MARK THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE HELD AT GALLE FACE THIS MORNING. ROLL VTR

MEANWHILE IN THE SECURITY FRONT, A CLAYMORE MINE EXPLOSION IN WELIOYA TARGETING A CTB BUS HAS RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF 12 PERSONS WHILE 17 HAVE BEEN INJURED. THE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED AT AROUND 3.40 PM TODAY. WHILE AT AROUND TWO THIS EVENING A CLAYMORE MINE EXPLOSION TARGETING AN ARMY TRUCK IN GALGE AREA BUTTALA HAVE RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF ONE SOLDIER. ANOTHER TWO SOLDIERS HAVE BEEN INJURED BY THE INCIDENT.

2. FITCH LOLC- CARD FITCH RATINGS HAVE ASSIGNED A NATIONAL SHORT TERM RATING OF F1 LANKA TO LANKA ORIX LEASING COMPANIES PROPOSED COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUANCE OF UP TO 500 MILLION RUPEES. THE CURRENT STRONG RATING DISPLAYS LOLC’S TIMELY ABILITY TO MEET ITS SHORT TERM FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS RELATIVE TO OTHER ISSUERS OR ISSUES IN THE COUNTRY. FITCH SAYS THAT THE ASSIGNED RATING REFLECTS THE ABSENCE OF AN ADVERSE SHIFT IN THE MATURITIES OF THE COMPANY’S INTEREST BEARING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, AS WELL AS ITS EXCELLENT LINE OF CREDIT FROM THE LOCAL BANKING SECTOR. IN ADDITION TO THIS FITCH STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH LOLC DOES NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF USING THE LIQUIDITY WINDOW OFFERED BY THE CENTRAL BANK AS IT IS A NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, LOLC STILL HAS COMMITTED UN-DRAWN LINES OF CREDIT WHICH IT CAN UTILIZE FOR FUTURE NEEDS. READ ON BREAK 3. CUSTOMS SRI LANKA CUSTOMS SAYS THAT ITS REVENUE COLLECTION FOR LAST YEAR REACHED 265 BILLION RUPEES. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 15 BILLION RUPEES FROM THE YEAR 2006. WE SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SRI LANKA CUSTOMS TO FIND OUT MORE REGARDING THEIR PLANS FOR THIS YEAR. ROLL VTR 4. CORPORATE WISH J.M. WICKRAMARACHCHI AND COMPANY RECENTLY LAUNCHED THEIR AUDITORY VERBAL THERAPY CENTER, THE WICKRAMARACHCHI INSTITUTE OF SPEECH AND HEARING OR WISH ALONG WITH THE WARREN ESTABROOKS CENTER. THE INSTITUTE IS FULLY EQUIPPED WITH STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED TECHNIQUES IN THERAPY. BREAK

5. WORLD BANK – VTR THE LATEST REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE WORLD BANK FOCUSING ON AGRICULTURE POINTS OUT THAT IF NATIONS WANT TO REDUCE POVERTY AND ACHIEVE GROWTH, MORE INVESTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR. MORE ON THE WORLD BANK DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008 WAS REVEALED AT A MEDIA BRIEFING HELD AT THE WORLD BANK OFFICE IN COLOMBO LAST WEEK. ROLL VTR END OF BULLETIN

SEGMENT: DATE: REPORTER: SLUG:

MAIN 4 / 01 / 2008 SHASHIKA WORLD BANK – VTR

THE LATEST REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE WORLD BANK FOCUSING ON AGRICULTURE POINTS OUT THAT IF NATIONS WANT TO REDUCE POVERTY AND ACHIEVE GROWTH, MORE INVESTMENTS NEED TO BE MADE IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR. MORE ON THE WORLD BANK DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2008 WAS REVEALED AT A MEDIA BRIEFING HELD AT THE WORLD BANK OFFICE IN COLOMBO LAST WEEK. ROLL VTR SUPER Derek Byerlee Principal Co-author World Development Report 2008 Sarath de Silva – Chairman National Agribusiness Council INFO TAG ‘AGRI DEVELOPMENT’ Agriculture sector contribution in 2006 in local Economy stood at 17 to 18 % More investment needed for the sector : WB Report

VOICE OVER / AGRI FOR DEVELOPMENT / SHASHIKA / 30/01/08 THIS YEAR’S WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT WAS PUBLISHED UNDER THE THEME ‘AGRICULTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT’. THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS THAT COUNTRIES SHOULD WORK TOWARDS DEVELOPING THEIR AGRICULTURE SECTORS VIA IMPROVING ACCESS TO MARKETS, ENHANCING SMALL HOLDER COMPETITIVENESS, IMPROVING LIVELIHOODS IN SUBSISTENCE FARMING AND INCREASING EMPLOYMENT IN AGRICULTURE. THE REPORT SAYS THAT AS OF NOW AGRICULTURE OPERATES IN THREE DISTINCT WORLDS SUCH AS THE AGRICULTURE BASED COUNTRIES, TRANSFORMING COUNTRIES AND URBANIZED COUNTRIES. SRI LANKA COMES UNDER THE CATEGORY OF TRANSFORMING COUNTRIES WHICH MEANS AGRICULTURE IS NO LONGER A MAJOR SOURCE OF ECONOMIC GROWTH. IN SRI LANKA CURRENTLY THE CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURE TO THE ECONOMY FALLS BEHIND THAT OF SERVICES AND INDUSTRY WHICH WAS NOT SO A FEW DECADES BACK. 6.37 Sri lanka in our report is classified as a transforming country, because your non agricultural sector manufacturing textiles and so on are the major sources for overall growth but when you look at their poor people are located over 80 percent are located in rural areas.7.05 THE REPORT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF BRINGING IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENTS TO THE SECTOR, WHICH LOCAL AGRI-EXPERTS SAY IS NOT TAKING PLACE ADEQUATELY IN SRI LANKA. VOICE CUT – SILVA – IN – 01:58 WE HAVE TO BRIDGE THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR GAP. VOICE CUT – SILVA – IN – 02:47 PUBLIC SECTOR OWNS THE LAND THE WATER RESOURCES AND OF COURSE THE NETWORK OF EXTENTION SERVICES. THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS THE MARKET, THE TECHNOLOGY, THE KNOWLEDGE, THE INPUT AND THE INITIATIVE TO GET THIS FOOD RIGHT THROUGH. AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR DEFINITELY WELL ORGANIZED. OUT – 03:18 THE WORLD BANKS LATEST WORLD DEVELOPMENT REPORT ALSO ANNOUNCES THAT A STRONG POLITICAL WILL IS NEEDED TOWARDS “IMPLEMENTING AN AGRICULTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT AGENDA”. IT SAYS OVERCOMING POLICY BIASES, UNDER-INVESTMENT AND INVESTMENTS AND STRENGTHENING GOVERNANCE TO IMPLEMENT

MISGOOD

AGRICULTURAL POLICIES ARE AREAS ORDER TO DEVELOP THE SECTOR.

THE

COUNTRIES

SHOULD

FOCUS

ON

IN

VOICE CUT – SILVA – IN – 03:56 REPEATEDLY EVERY GOVERNMENT THAT TAKE ITS SEAT IS VERY KEEN TO DEVELOP THE POLITICAL WILL IS THERE. FROM THE POLITICAL WILL THE MACHINERY THE BUREAUCRATIC MACHINERY THAT HAS TO BE IMPLEMENTED IS SLOW THE PATH IS STILL NOT THERE. AND NOW AWARE THAT THEIR PARTICIPATION EXECUTING THE BOTTLE NECKS. BUT STILL NOT VERY READY FOR IT. OUT – 04:39 IN A SPECIALLY HIGHLIGHTED BOX UNDER THE HEADING “WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR GLOBAL FOOD SUPPLY’ THE REPORT PREDICTS AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE FOR THE WORLD WITH REGARD TO FOOD AVAILABILITY. THE CONTENT OF THE BOX SUGGESTS THAT IN ORDER TO MEET RISING DEMAND COUNTRIES WILL HAVE TO COME UP WITH GOOD POLICIES AND SUSTAINED INVESTMENTS, WHICH LOCAL AGRI EXPERTS TOO AGREE ON. VOICE CUT – SILVA – IN – 00:53 NO COUNTRY CAN SURVIVE WITHOUT FOOD AND OUR DEPENDENCY OF 67% OF OUR REQUIREMENT OF FOOD TO BE IMPORTED IS VERY SAD STATUES. WE STILL HAVE ENOUGH NATURAL RESOURCES AND HUMAN RESOURCES THAT CAN PRODUCE AT LEAST 50% OF THIS FOOD REQUIREMENT IN SRI LANKA. OUT – 01:21 END/

SEGMENT: CORPORATE DATE: 4TH FEB 08 REPORTER: ANOUK SLUG: WISH J.M. WICKRAMARACHCHI AND COMPANY RECENTLY LAUNCHED THEIR AUDITORY VERBAL THERAPY CENTER, THE WICKRAMARACHCHI INSTITUTE OF SPEECH AND HEARING OR WISH ALONG WITH THE WARREN ESTABROOKS CENTER. THE INSTITUTE IS FULLY EQUIPPED WITH STATE OF THE ART TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED TECHNIQUES IN THERAPY. ROLL VTR UNVEILING ‘WISH’

VOICE OVER/ 4TH FEB 08/ WISH THE WISH CENTER WHICH WILL ADOPT AN EXCLUSIVE ONE TO ONE THERAPY SYSTEM MAINLY FOCUSES ON CHILDREN WHO ARE HEARING IMPAIRED AND REQUIRE HELP TO LEARN NORMALLY. THE CENTER WILL TRAIN TEAMS FROM THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR TO ASSESS HEARING IMPAIRED ADULTS AND CHILDREN, TOGETHER WITH THE MINISTRY OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND EDUCATION. CEO OF J. M. WICKRAMARACHCHI AND COMPANY MIHIRA WICKRAMARACHCHI STATED THAT THE NEXT STEP WILL BE TO OPEN A COMPANY THAT WILL PRODUCE AUDIOLOGICAL SUPPORTING EQUIPMENT, THEREBY HELPING TO REDUCE COSTS AS WELL AS CONTINUING TO HELP RAISE THE STANDARDS IN AUDIOLOGY. ENDS/

SEGMENT: DATE: REPORTER: EDITOR: SLUG:

MAIN 01st FEB 2008 RAVI ANOUK CUSTOMS

SRI LANKA CUSTOMS SAYS THAT ITS REVENUE COLLECTION FOR LAST YEAR REACHED 265 BILLION RUPEES. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF MORE THAN 15 BILLION RUPEES FROM THE YEAR 2006. WE SPOKE TO THE DIRECTOR OF SRI LANKA REGARDING THEIR PLANS FOR THIS YEAR. ROLL VTR C. S. W. Jayatilake Director General Sri Lanka Customs ‘CUSTOMS COLLECTIONS’ Revenue from motor vehicles is the highest Revenue for 2006 was Rs. 250 Bn SL customs target for 2008 is Rs. 340 Bn 120 personnel recruited this year

CUSTOMS

TO

FIND

OUT

MORE

VOICE OVER / CUSTOMS/ RAVI / 01ST FEB 2008 / VTR SRI LANKA CUSTOMS SAYS THAT MOTOR VEHICLES HAVE TOPPED THE LIST IN 2007 AS WELL RECORDING REVENUE AMOUNTING TO AROUND 30% OF THE TOTAL COLLECTION. TOBACCO HAS COME IN SECOND WITH 10% CONTRIBUTION WHILE CEMENT IS THE 3RD HIGHEST REVENUE EARNING ITEM FOR SRI LANKA CUSTOMS. CARD IMPORT DUTY FOR 2007 HAS RECORDED OVER 55 BILLION RUPEES AN INCREASE OF 2 BILLION FROM THE YEAR 2006. HOWEVER SRI LANKA CUSTOMS HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE THEIR INITIAL TARGET OF 289 BILLION RUPEES. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF SRI LANKA CUSTOMS SAYS THAT THIS IS DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS SUCH AS THE 14 BILLION RUPEE TAX HOLIDAY GRANTED FOR THE IMPORTATION OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES AND THE SEVERE DROP SEEN IN THE IMPORTATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES. VC – JAYATILEKA 04:44 ITS NOT BECAUSE OF LEAKAGES OF REVENUE COLLECTION, BUT THE SIMPLE FACT OF IMPORTED VEHICLES BEING DROPPED DRASTICALLY. IF YOU COMPARE 2006 NOVEMBER AND 2007 THE FIGURES SHOW THAT IT’S EXACTLY ½ OF 2006. 05:13 ++ 04:28 LOSS ON THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT, AND FROM THE ESTIMATED 26 BILLION WE COULD ONLY REACH ABOUT 14 BILLION. 04:46 THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE REVENUE FOR THE CUSTOMS UNLIKELY TO BE REALIZED GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR IN IMPORTS.

HAS SET A TARGET OF 340 BILLION RUPEES IN THIS YEAR WHICH JAYATILLEKE SAYS IS VERY DUE TO THE VEHICLE PERMITS ISSUED BY THE ADDITION TO THE REDUCING TREND IN VEHICLE

TO HELP MITIGATE FALLING SHORT OF THE DESIRED REVENUE HOWEVER, HE SAYS THAT CUSTOMS HAVE INCLUDED MORE COMMODITIES SUCH AS TIRES, FABRIC AND WALL TILES FOR SPECIFIC DUTY.

17:45 WHERE THE DUTIES AND TAXES ARE UNDERVALUED BECAUSE OF THE VALUE BASED REVENUE COLLECTIONS WE HAVE BROUGHT THE SPECIFIC DUTY. THAT IS PER KILO, PER ITEM SO MUCH OF DUTY AND TAX. 18:03 ANOTHER STRATEGY TO BE ADOPTED CATEGORIZATION OF RISK CARGO.

IS

MAKING

A

COMPREHENSIVE

21:54 WHAT ARE THE RISK IMPORTERS, RISK FORWARDERS, RISK DECLARENCE, LIKE WHAT WE HAVE DEVELOPED A DATA BASE AND BY THAT WE DO THE RANDOM INSPECTIONS THROUGH OUR SCANNERS THAT WE ARE USING FOR SCANNING CONTAINERS. SO THERE-BY WE HAVE IMPROVED OUR RISK BASED SELECTIVITY CRITERIA. 22:23 MEANWHILE, HE SAID THAT 120 NEW PERSONNEL HAVE ALSO BEEN RECRUITED TO SRI LANKA CUSTOMS LAST MONTH TO HELP PERFORM THEIR TASKS BETTER THIS YEAR. END/

CARD REVENUE COLLECTION FOR 2007 Rs. Million VAT – Imports 98,466 Import Duty 55,442 PAL 25,703 Cess Levy 14,105 Excise Duty – Cigarettes 31,414 Petroleum 17,126 Motor Vehicle 15,154 Excise (Others) 4,610 SRL 1,164 RIDL 1,459 Total Revenue Collection

265,620

SEGMENT: DATE: REPORTER: EDITOR: SLUG:

MAIN 4TH FEBRUARY 2008 RIYAD R. ANOUK T. FITCH LOLC- CARD

TOP RATING AGENCY FITCH ASSIGNED A NATIONAL SHORT TERM RATING OF F1 LANKA TO LOLC’S PROPOSED COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUANCE OF UP TO 500 MILLION RUPEES. THE CURRENT STRONG RATING DISPLAYS LOLC’S TIMELY ABILITY TO MEET ITS SHORT TERM FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS RELATIVE TO OTHER ISSUERS OR ISSUES IN THE COUNTRY. FITCH SAYS THAT THE ASSIGNED RATING REFLECTS THE ABSENCE OF AN ADVERSE SHIFT IN THE MATURITIES OF THE COMPANY’S INTEREST BEARING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, AS WELL AS ITS EXCELLENT LINE OF CREDIT FROM THE LOCAL BANKING SECTOR. IN ADDITION TO THIS FITCH STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH LOLC DOES NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF USING THE LIQUIDITY WINDOW OFFERED BY THE CENTRAL BANK AS IT IS A NON-BANK FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, LOLC STILL HAS COMMITTED UN-DRAWN LINES OF CREDIT WHICH IT CAN UTILIZE FOR FUTURE NEEDS. READ ON LOLC ASSIGNED OF F1 (LKA) FOR ITS PROPOSED COMMERCIAL PAPER ISSUE OF UP TO 500 MILLION RUPEES.

SEGMENT: DATE: REPORTER: SLUG:

MAIN 4TH FEBRUARY 2008 CHAMINDA INDEPENDENCE – VTR

FIRST WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS ROLL THEME ADDRESSING THE NATION DURING THE CELEBRATIONS HELD TO MARK SRI LANKA’S 60TH YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHE TOLD THE NATION THAT HIS GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ALL STEPS NECESSARY TO DEFEAT TERRORISM AND BRING LASTING PEACE TO THE COUNTRY. RAJAPAKSHE SAID DEFEATING TERRORISM IS NECESSARY AS THE COUNTRY HAD TO LIVE WITH FEARSOME EXPERIENCES OF THE TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AND CANCER OF TERRORISM FOR THREE OF THE SIX DECADES SINCE INDEPENDENCE. PRESIDENT MADE THESE COMMENTS WHILE SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY TO MARK THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE HELD AT GALLE FACE THIS MORNING. ROLL VTR

VOICE OVER – INDEPENDENCE – CHAMINDA – 4TH FEB PRIME MINISTER RATHANASIRI WICKREMANAYAKE, CABINET MINISTERS, DIPLOMATS, TOP CIVIL SERVANTS AND SERVICE CHIEFS WERE AMONG THE DISTINGUISHED GATHERING WHO TOOK PART IN THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY OF THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE HELD AT THE GALLE-FACE THIS MORNING. PRESIDENT HOISTING THE FLAG NAT…. THE CELEBRATIONS WAS ALSO MARKED WITH A MILITARY PARADE BY ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE PERSONNEL ALONG WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF THE POLICE. NAT…. PRESIDENT SPEECH 36.50 / 37.2236.50 / 37.22 The challenge bestowed to us by history is the defeat of terrorism and the development of the country. You’re aware how many governments that accepted this challenge, later handed it over to its successor, as a heavy burden. Friends, during the last two years, However, we faced this challenge squarely without avoiding it. 38.23 When this becomes a victory of the people in the South, we must make it a greater victory for people in the North. When the people of the South are relieved by the defeat of terrorism, the people of the North have cause for even greater relief. ENDS.