The Government is to go ahead with the controversial private sector pension scheme, after making suitable amendments in consultation with trade unions and others, senior ministers said yesterday. The decision was taken at a discussion chaired by President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Friday night in the aftermath of Monday’s incidents at Katunayake and the subsequent developments including the protest campaigns.

The Indian Government will insist on following up on the points contained in the controversial Joint Statement issued a fortnight ago following the visit of Sri Lanka's External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris to New Delhi for bi-lateral talks.