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 04:00

LINE UP EDITOR - ANOUK

ANCHOR - RAVI
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: MAIN
DATE: 4 / 01 / 2008
REPORTER: SHASHIKA
SLUG: 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 MIS-

INVESTMENTS AND STRENGTHENING GOVERNANCE TO IMPLEMENT GOOD
AGRICULTURAL POLICIES ARE AREAS THE COUNTRIES SHOULD FOCUS ON IN
ORDER TO DEVELOP THE SECTOR.

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: MAIN
DATE: 01st FEB 2008
REPORTER: RAVI
EDITOR: ANOUK
SLUG: 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 CUSTOMS TO FIND OUT MORE

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

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 HAS SET A TARGET OF 340 BILLION RUPEES IN

REVENUE FOR THE CUSTOMS THIS YEAR WHICH JAYATILLEKE SAYS IS VERY
UNLIKELY TO BE REALIZED DUE TO THE VEHICLE PERMITS ISSUED BY THE
GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR IN ADDITION TO THE REDUCING TREND IN VEHICLE
IMPORTS.

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 IS MAKING A COMPREHENSIVE

CATEGORIZATION OF RISK CARGO.

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: MAIN
DATE: 4TH FEBRUARY 2008
REPORTER: RIYAD R.
EDITOR: ANOUK T.
SLUG: 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: MAIN
DATE: 4TH FEBRUARY 2008
REPORTER: CHAMINDA
SLUG: 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.