Madras Café banned in Tamil Nadu but screening in Sri Lanka soon

John Abraham starrer and Soojit Sarkar’s directed‘Madras Cafeé’ faces the heat of the Tamil Nadu activists and political parties. The film will see the light of the day today in every part of India except Tamil Nadu. The film is banned in Tamil Nadu for showing the LTTE group in bad light, but found place at a movie hall in Colombo. The pro-Tamil group demanded delete of some objectionable scenes but the leading actor of the film John refused to do so. He claimed that if censor board has not objection in any scene of the film then why should he delete those scenes. The film is set in the late 1980s and early 1990s and includes the time when Mr Gandhi was assassinated by Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels in 1991 at an election rally in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

A spokesperson for Viacom 18 Motion Pictures, the producers of Madras Café, told that the movie was released in Colombo after a cinema regulatory body there suggested a minor 10-second cut. But he did not reveal what it was about. “There were no apprehensions over Madras Café’s release. We secured its approval straightaway as it is neutral at all levels,” said the source. He, however, added that not a single theatre owner in the State was willing to screen the film as they were scared stiff over its repercussions. Director Shoojit Sircar describes the film, which will be released across India and many parts of the world on 23 August, as "an espionage thriller", but concedes that it draws from real-life events.

Scenes in Madras Café

“Theatre owners are worried that should the movie release, the halls would be vandalised. So they are not willing to take any risks. Our marketing personnel are in constant touch with them,” he added. Madras Café was slated to release in 200 screens in TN and Kerala on Friday.It now seems that the release of its Hindi and Tamil versions might be deferred to next week. Asserting that the movie was non-derogatory, he pointed out that the Hindi prints were certified U/A more than a month ago. The intent behind releasing it in Tamil, was to let people know more about the situation then. All allegations leveled against the movie are baseless and specious arguments, he averred. “There is no reference to Malayalees as suggested by some groups,” he said.

The movie’s overseas release, too, was marred with hostilities, ranging from bomb threats and opposition by outfits. Movie halls screening Madras Cafe in UK reportedly received bomb threats – pro-Tamil outfits had expressed displeasure at its screening in Singapore. ‘Madras Café’ is the third film in a row to face a ban in Tamil Nadu this year. Earlier, Kamal Hassan’s ‘Vishwaroopam’ and Vijay’s 'Thalaivaa' were objected to be released in the state.  

Top AAC Students rewarded at Annual Academic Awards Ceremony

A batch of talented Sri Lankan students who are due to leave to Kingston University London next month to complete their degree, were awarded at the annual awarded ceremony for their tremendous performance in their first two years of studies at AAC, for the 17th consecutive year. Asian Aviation Centre (AAC), incorporating the AAC Flight Academy and the AAC Engineering Academy held its Annual Academic Awards Ceremony  with the participation of  Nishantha Wickremasinghe, Chairman, Sri Lankan Airlines Ltd  as the Chief Guest.

Chairman Chandran Ratnam addressing the gathering

The engineering academy also conducted a programme of air craft maintenance technicians for a group of the Sri Lanka Navy who would be  expecting to join the aviation maintenance branch of the Sri Lanka Navy said Mr.Chandran Rutnam, the Chairman of the Asian Aviation Centre addressing the audience at the ceramonay. 31 cadet pilot officers those who have successfully completed their training programmes at the flight academy,  Ratmalana  have been given employments in Sri Lankan airlines, the chairman noted. It was highlighted that the various of commercial airliners are expecting to offer employment opportunities to the cadet pilots those who are from Asian Aviation Centre flight academy.

  

The Asian Aviation Centre (Pvt )Ltd was registered as a private limited liability company in 1985 to operate a flying training school providing ab-initio pilot training. The flying school Sri Lankas Premier Centre that molds the youngsters to reach the sky high limits yet again took glory for a remarkable job done by producing some of Sri Lankas finest pilots. The College Air Craft Maintenance students have been increasingly popular not only among the National Carriers but also the International. Once again a fistful of AAC Aircraft Maintenance Engineering fully qualified students were given recognition in order to be hired by many organizations around the World. The Asian Aviation Centre has been in operation for over 28 years with both a Flying School as well as an Engineering School.

In 1990 , apart from flying training activities, the AAC commenced a programme of  aircraft maintenance and  enable its students to sit for the Aircraft Maintenance engineers licenses examination conducted by the department of Civil Aviation of Sri Lanka (name later changed as  Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka). The AAC flight academy is the premier flying training school in Sri Lanka based at the  Asian Aviation Centre Complex,  Ratmalana. The ground school activities and the flying training are carried out at the main complex in Ratmalana. The flying school has been training many local and  international students from countries such as Germany, United Kingdom , Nigeria, Malaysia, India ,Switzerland, Holland , Iran , Norway , Singapore, South Africa, Korea and Maldives upto commercial pilot license with instrument rating (CPL/IR) and multi engine rating. The acedemay has also successfully provided a basic flying training for two groups of cadets from the Sri Lanka Air Force .

  

Air Vice Marshal E.G.J.P. De Silva ( Retd)- Director of studies , Asian Aviation Centre, Ms.Nihara Jayatilleke –Managing Directress - Asian Aviation Centre,  and Mr.Prasanna Wickramasuriya –Chairman at Airport and Aviantion Services (Sri Lanka)Ltd  also expressed their views in this academic awards ceremony. 

Economic ties between Sri Lanka and Israel are growing

Diamonds, brought down from Israel to Sri Lanka, are cut and polished here and shipped back to Israel. Annually, such diamond exports exceed US $ 40 m mark and in 2012, Israel became the second largest Lankan diamond buyer with a total of $ 54 Mn. According to the Export Development Board, Sri Lanka’s overall exports to Israel increased by a strong 30% in 2012 to US $ 74.36 m. Diamonds were the leading export in 2012 with 73% of total exports, followed by tea, frozen fish, rubber products, and textile articles.

The Lankan embassy in Tel Aviv has lined up nearly 50 business giants and personalities to visit Sri Lanka for partnerships and joint ventures in dairy, agriculture, high tech, water and tourism. Some of the visiting firms are experts in advancing underdeveloped agricultural lands and other underdeveloped industries and they already work with Companies in China and USA. As a result of the Sri Lankan embassy’s  in Tel Aviv effort,  a top Israeli Business and High-Tech mission is arriving in Colombo next week.

“This is the strongest such delegation to arrive in Sri Lanka in recent times. Among the delegation are high-end Israeli companies in dairy, agriculture, high tech, water and tourism and they are willing to share their knowledge and experience gained in these sectors, with our industries" said Sarath Wijesinghe, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Israel , speaking from Tel Aviv. The Ambassador shall be leading the 30 strong Mission to Sri Lanka whose visit is now scheduled from 25-31 August. Among the firms included in this mission are Naan Dan Jain (agro-irrigation), Earnix (Banks, Financial Institutions, Insurance), A & G Partners (innovative consulting), Niru Group (diamonds), Magic (enterprise software), Afimilk (dairy farming), and Agrotop (livestock). While in Colombo, the delegation is scheduled to take part in a B2B Forum, and will undertake several on-site visits.

US$ 200m ADB loan to improve the secondary education in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan government receives a US$ 200 million loan facility  from the Asian Development Bank has granted to ‘revamp’ the country’s secondary school system. The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Sri Lanka Country Director, Rita O’Sullivan, and Secretary to the Treasury and Alternate Governor for Sri Lanka in ADB, P. B. Jayasundera, have signed an agreement for a US$ 200 million loan to help the Government of Sri Lanka revamp its secondary school system to cut youth unemployment and meet the country’s urgent need for a skilled workforce, a joint statement said.

Getting ready to next step 

The money would be utilized to upgrade the school facilities, train teachers, enhance the number of students studying science and commerce and also to train school administrators to improve their leadership, management, and planning are among several other planned activities. "The loan marks the first results-based lending program approved by ADB. Loan payments will be linked to the achievement of goals such as the rollout of a full curriculum in schools, implementation of a technology stream, and training principal teachers. The program supports the Government of Sri Lanka’s Education Sector Development Framework and Program for 2013-2017.

"Effective schools with competent teachers and good facilities are critical for young people to learn the skills they need to find good jobs once they graduate and, in doing so, to contribute to economic growth in Sri Lanka," said Ms. O’ Sullivan. "Under the Education Sector Development Program, ADB’s loan will finance the development of a national student assessment framework, which integrates school assessments with external exams to improve pass rates, and supports the introduction of technology classes to allow secondary school graduates to move more easily into vocational courses. School facilities will be upgraded and training and placement of teachers carried out to raise the number and enhance the capabilities of students studying science and commerce. School principals and education agency staff will receive training to improve school leadership, management, and planning, and a financing facility will be developed to ensure that upgraded equipment and facilities are properly maintained", She further added.

The government will spend US$ 4.8 billion to implement the National Education Section Strategic Plan for General Education over a period of 5 years from 2013 to 2017 under the Medium Term Expenditure Framework of the government and the ADB has agreed to give 4 percent of the total cost. While Sri Lanka has achieved strong primary education enrolment and high literacy levels, the end of the civil conflict and the anticipated rapid economic growth had made improvement of survival rates through secondary education and the increase in relevance of the knowledge and skills to meet the requirements of the private sector more urgent and necessary. The government's five-year plan envisages these challenges and the ADB will provide technical assistance to implement the project. The Cabinet has approved the Sri Lankan President's proposal to enter into a loan agreement with the ADB. 

3,000 kidney patients in Uva may die within six to ten months

The Uva Provincial Health Ministry today said it feared that a majority of the 3,000 kidney patients now receiving treatment might be dead within the next six to ten months. “Some 3,000 kidney patients are receiving medical treatment in Uva Province and their lives are at risk,” Uva Provincial Health Secretary Sandhya Ambanwala said. She said the investigations carried out by doctors, university professors and health ministry officials had revealed that the disease was caused by the use of arsenic, pesticide and chemical fertilizer.

Meanwhile, a majority of ordinary patients suffering from chronic renal failure in the North Central, North Eastern and Mahaweli B zone areas had to buy costly drugs from pharmacies to be used in the dialysis machines.Although the Health Ministry spends around Rs.3,500 million annually for the treatment of nearly 30,000 kidney patients, adequate funds had not been allocated to purchase drugs required for renal dialysis treatment,Health Ministry sources said.

North Central Province Medical Officer (Planning) Dr.Dammika de Silva told that the patients had to purchase the required drugs from private pharmacies and due to this many patients were compelled to neglect the prescribed treatment. Dr.de Silva said that hundreds of people living in Madawachchiya, Padaviya, Kebethigollawa, Elahara and Mahaweli B Zone are seeking medical attention due to chronic kidney failure.Although medical experts were of the view that ,cooking in aluminium pots,illicit liquor brewed with agro-chemicals and drinking water without boiling were the cause for chronic kidney failure.

Referring to the preventive programmes,Dr.de Silva said that the root cause for kidney failure had not been detected and mismanagement of preventive programmes introduced had also aggravated the rapid spread of the disease.Even though the spread of kidney disease was on the increase so far no action had been taken to conduct scientific research with the assistance of international medical experts.Local and international medical experts had substantiated that high content of fluoride in the water was not the cause for chronic renal failure.

Preventive programmes and research work were mismanaged so that new cases had increased.Clinical management on kidney patients left much to be desired.If the health authorities fail to take appropriate action to prevent the spread of the disease there will be thousands of new patients in another five years time. Health authorities warned. He noted that babies born to kidney patients could have deformities.Purchasing drugs for renal dialysis machines at subsidised prices could relieve ordinary people from neglecting treatment.

Sri Lanka’s FDIs on the rise, a US $ 2 billion target for 2013

Sri Lanka received US $ 537 million worth Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) in the first half of 2013, CeyNews reported. Sri Lanka has set a FDI target of US $ 2 billion for 2013. In 2012, Sri Lanka received US $ 1.34 billion in FDIs, falling short from a target of US $ 1.5 billion. Meanwhile, net inflows to the stock market and commercial banks in the first half stood at US $120.2 million and US $ 664.3 million respectively. Net inflows to the government securities market amounted to US $ 664.4 million. Sri Lanka targets FDIs to be at least 2 percent of GDP for the next 4 to 5 years.

Notable inflows to the financial account include FDI inflows amounting to $ 537.0 million, net inflows to the stock market of $ 120.2 million, net inflows to the Government securities market amounting to $ 664.4 million and inflows to commercial banks of $ 664.3 million during the period. Such inflows display that foreign investors’ confidence in Sri Lanka has remained unchanged despite the volatility caused by global markets reacting to prospects of the tapering of quantitative easing by advanced economies,” the Central Bank said in its statement following the August Monetary Policy review. It also said that in the external sector, merchandise exports in June 2013 have showed some turnaround, recording a positive year-on-year growth after the decline observed in the past 15 months.

Meanwhile, imports have also inched up in June (year-on-year), driven partially by the importation of certain one-off items, expanding the trade deficit during the month. However, the cumulative performance in merchandise trade depicts a salutary 7.1% decline in the trade deficit for the first six months of 2013. Earnings from tourism and workers’ remittances have continued to improve, whilst financial inflows have been substantial in the first half of the year. Central Bank stated that the recent global developments have been reasonably encouraging with the US economy and the Eurozone showing signs of economic recovery in the second quarter of the year.

“The positive developments in advanced economies, if continued, would augur well for domestic economic growth as a result of a stronger performance of the external sector. At the same time, however, the wide fluctuations of currencies of trading partners and competitors in the international market would need to be closely monitored in order to address any adverse effects on Sri Lanka’s external balance in the period ahead,” the Central Bank added.   

Transfer of sentenced Indian prisoners from Sri Lanka to India

An illegal Indian fishing boat arrested in Sri Lankan waters is escorted by the Sri Lank Navy 

Total of 31 sentenced prisoners under detention in Sri Lanka were found eligible for transfer to India pursuant to the signing of the bilateral agreement on transfer of sentenced prisoners between India and Sri Lanka in June 2010, the Indian high commission in Colombo said .  As stipulated in the Agreement, to facilitate the social rehabilitation of sentenced prisoners into their own country, cases of these prisoners were duly processed by the Government of Sri Lanka and forwarded to the Government of India for completion of required formalities on the Indian side.   

On completion of all formalities, these prisoners have been transferred back to India in two batches.  The first batch of 20 prisoners (6 from Kerala and 14 from Tamil Nadu) were  earlier transferred in February-March, 2013, whereas the process of transfer of  the second batch of 9 prisoners to Tamil Nadu was completed between 12 to 15 August, 2013. This brings the total number of prisoners transferred under this Agreement from Sri Lanka to India, to 29. The Indian High Commissioner acknowledged the assistance rendered by all concerned departments of the Government of Sri Lanka  and expressed hope for continued cooperation in this area.