.

Prominent citizens urge JVP too to join
Chandrika’s invitation to UNP a ‘historic challenge & opportunity’

A group of prominent citizen have seen President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s invitation to the opposition to join her to bring peace to the country as an "unprecedented and historic challenge and opportunity" to all political parties.

"The leader of the UNP has already expressed his willingness to respond positively to the president’s invitation. What is now needed is a firm and unequivocal commitment by both the PA and the UNP to a course of action that would enable them to work together to achieve the desired objective of restoring peace and ending the war," they have said.

The signatories to this "appeal to all political parties" include several prominent personalities. Among them are religious leaders, business leaders, senior retired public servants, academics, journalists and others.

The appeal points out that there appeared to be a willingness on the part of the PA to incorporate many of the proposals made by the UNP for securing peace. It said that what was needed from both sides was a firm political will to achieve consensus with a genuine display of mutual respect.

"The way is now clearly open to the UNP to extend their co-operation for the solution of the conflict. This they can do without compromising their integrity as a separate party in a national government which is formed specifically for this purpose," it said.

The signatories made clear that they were not advocating a national government as a means of conducting the nation’s affairs on a continuing basis. "We think the expedient of a national government is needed only in crises such as what we face today and that in all other times a `vibrant opposition’ (in the words of the president) is indispensable for democracy and for ensuring that the government is transparent and accountable.

The following is the text of the appeal:

"The speech made by the president on her re-election, inviting the opposition to join her in bringing peace to this country provides all political parties with an unprecedented and historic challenge and opportunity. The sincerity and national commitment of political leaders and party members will be judged by the people on their response to this opportunity. The language in which that invitation has been couched is also unique in our political history and seeks to transcend our deeply divisive political culture. In the speech that was delivered there is a clear recognition that the opposition represents nearly half of the country and that no party in power can solve a major national problem such as the ethnic conflict without the co-operation of the other half. This is a resolute affirmation of democracy for all citizens of this country.

"The leader of the United National Party has already expressed his willingness to respond positively to the president’s invitation. What is now needed is a firm and unequivocal commitment by both the PA and the UNP to a course of action that would enable them to work together to achieve the desired objective of restoring peace and ending the war. We earnestly appeal to both the PA and the UNP to agree on such a course of action. We also appeal to the JVP to join in the effort to achieve national consensus to bring peace to the country. We appeal to the PA and the UNP to include the JVP in this national effort.

"Both the PA and the UNP made the ending of the war and the political settlement, the main issue in their campaign. There was a difference in approach as well as in the sequence of actions that were contemplated but these are by no means an insurmountable obstacle to forging the bipartisan consensus that is needed. The disagreements that arose regarding the constitutional reforms were also of a nature that could have been resolved in a manner that was acceptable to the large majority of all the communities. There appeared to be willingness on the part of the PA to incorporate many of the proposals that were made by the UNP. What was needed on both sides was a firm political will to achieve consensus with a genuine display of mutual respect. The failure to achieve that consensus has led to a tragic and needless waste of human lives.

"The way is now clearly open for the UNP to extend their cooperation for the solution of the conflict. This they can do without compromising their integrity as a separate party in a national government which is formed specifically for this purpose. This cooperation must find concrete expression in a formal arrangement which enables the PA and UNP to share responsibility as equal partners in achieving a just solution to the ethnic conflict and ending the war.

"We believe that the two parties acting together in the national interest could implement the necessary constitutional reforms and initiate a process leading to a negotiated settlement within the eight months before the present parliament stands dissolved. This will enable the voters to enjoy the benefits of the constitutional changes at the next election. Hopefully the constitutional reform would have removed some of the shortcomings of the present constitution, ensured the independence of the authorities conducting the elections and created a more genuinely democratic and representative system.

"We wish to make it clear that we are not advocating a national government as a means of conducting the nation’s affairs on a continuing basis. We think the expedient of a national government is needed only in crises such as what we face today and that in all other times a "vibrant opposition" (in the words of the president) is indispensable for democracy and for ensuring that government is transparent and accountable.

"We believe that the course of action that we have indicated will also help to achieve a negotiated settlement of the ethnic conflict, despite the recent actions of the LTTE. We think that such a process of achieving a negotiated settlement could be initiated, along with the firm commitment and action to combat and end terrorist violence. We appeal to the LTTE and all persons in Sri Lanka and abroad who are able to reach the LTTE to appreciate that the bi-partisan consensus will provide an unprecedented and assured opportunity for negotiating a lasting solution to the ethnic conflict and to respond to it.

"We are certain that the appeal we make will be made independently by religious leaders, community workers and every civic organisation concerned with the national interest and the well-being of the people., We appeal to all citizens desiring the restoration of peace to make their voices heard in whatever way possible land call on the political parties to force a national consensus to bring peace land end the war."

The signatories to this appeal are: Ven. Dr. Havanpola Rathanasara Thero, Rev. Fr. Kenneth Fernando, A. T. Ariyaratne, Bradman Weerakoon, Rev. Pallewela Devarakkhitha Thero, Rev. Fr. Oswald B. Firth, Mahendra Amarasuriya, Bogoda Premaratne, Charitha P. de Silva, Radhika Coomaraswamy, Godfrey Gunatilleke, Jezima Ismail, Prof. Savithri Gunasekera, Desmond Fernando, Bernard Tillakaratne, Neville Jayaweera, Susirith Mendis, Jeevan Thiagarajah, Lloyd Fernando, Devanesan Nesiah, M. Z. M. Nazim, Manel Abeyratne, Sunanda Deshapriya, Anton Fernando, Newton N. Fernando, Ananda Wijesekera, Nihal Weeratunge, Ravi Algama, Jehan Perera, Basil Ilangakoon, Kingsley Rodrigo, E. L. Wijemanne, A. N. A., Abeysundera, Myrtle Perera, Nimal Breckenridge.

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A U.S. opinion too?

From Sujeeva Nivunhella in London
Specialists at the Moorfield Hospital in London, considered the best eye care facility here, who examined President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s injured eye has given her the green light to continue her normal functions but warned that it may be at least six months before she could open her eyelid fully, sources here said.

They indicated that she may seek further treatment in the USA.

Very tight security arrangements were enforced during the President’s week-long stay here with former IGP Cyril Herath co-ordinating security with the British authorities. Visitors were not allowed and Mrs. Kumaratunga spent most of the week resting at the Carlton Towers Hotel where she usually stays while in Britain.

Many members of her entourage took advantage of the Christmas sales here and were seen shopping at Oxford Street and Brent Cross.

Sri Lanka’s new High Commissioner in Singapore, Mrs. Chitrangani Wagiswara, who previously served as Deputy High Commissioner in London was sent to help the mission here during the President’s stay. The special arrangement was made as both the High Commissioner and Deputy in London are new and the previous DHC "knew the ropes."

Sources here also said that the President’s teenage son, Vimukthi, was in London a fortnight before the presidential election to present himself at an interview at Cambridge University to read for a degree in veterinary science. His sister, Yasodara, is a medical student at the same university.

For lasting peace, terrorists must be defeated militarily — Army Chief

by Chittaranjan de Silva
Army Commander, Lieutenant General, Srilal Weerasooriya said yesterday that it is necessary to crush terrorism militarily to bring about lasting peace to the country.

Defeats such as in the Wanni, which are temporary, have to be borne sometimes when battles are fought, he said.

" Don’t be perturbed by the defeat in Wanni," he said while addressing a gathering of army officers, which included the top brass of the military, at the Army Headquarters to mark the dawn of the year 2000.

He urged the army not to dwell in the past, but to move forward with conviction.

Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya , while applauding the army for their victories in Paranthan and Elephant Pass, also commanded the soldiers for the bravery they displayed in these battles which raged even as the millennium dawned.

"The enemy tried several times and failed to take the Elephant Pass camp. They have now given up the attempt and have stopped attacking the camp after their causalities mounted", he said.

"The enemy has suffered heavily and has been defeated by the troops in Paranthan and Elephant Pass and we have the edge over them now," Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya said.

The army commander asked the people to always remember that the army is fighting and sacrificing their lives in the North-East on behalf of our motherland.

LTTE threats upset millennium celebrations at city hotels

By Suresh Perera
Several luxury hotels in Colombo were forced to slash the prices of their grand millennium bash dinner dance tickets as the unpredictable security situation in the city had contributed in great measure to dampened spirits, hospitality industry sources said.

The sense of insecurity and the looming threat, particularly after last month’s abortive assassination attempt on President Chandrika Kumaratunga, had forced many to think twice before wining and dining and dancing their way into the new millennium in five-star style, the sources pointed out.

‘Reports of LTTE hit squads in the city added to the confusion as the situation seemed risky and people expected anything to happen anywhere at any time’, a top executive in the hotel sector said.

‘Wild rumours also contributed to the fear psychosis’, he noted.

The five-star Taj Samudra Hotel and the 135-year-old Grand Oriental Hotel (GOH) slashed the prices of their dinner dance tickets by as much as 50%.

Tickets for the main dance at the Samudra Ballroom of the Taj Samudra which were originally priced at Rs. 10,000/- (Rs. 9,999/- to be precise) per head, were reduced to Rs. 5,000/- per head, a spokesperson for the hotel said.

Accordingly, the rates for the other events were also trimmed in a ‘last minute decision’ as the expected turnout was not forthcoming, she explained.

The Rs. 5,000/- dinner dance tickets at the colonial GOH were sold for half the price, General Manager Lanil Jayawardene said.

Hotel Ceylon Intercontinental said there was no change in the price of its dinner dance tickets which were sold for Rs. 8,500/- per person.

The Trans Asia Hotel also maintained its original pricing structure even though all the tickets were not sold out. ‘But with the response we had, we were comfortable’, the hotel’s Public Relations Manager, Chandrini Kariyawasam said.

‘Our tickets were realistically priced, Rs. 7,000/- for the first category and Rs. 4,500/- for the second, and though the expected enthusiasm was not in full gear, we had enough revellers for our ‘do’, she said.

There were so many reasons which created anxiousness, but come what may, people who party, go ahead with the fun. The overall success depended on the pricing itself and as for the Trans Asia Hotel, the rates involved were reasonable and realistic, Kariyawasam said.

The Colombo Hilton said ticket sales were low, but the prices were not adjusted. ‘We were lucky to have had enough to make a party’, a spokesperson said.

The Hilton Grand Ballroom dinner dance tickets were sold at Rs. 12,000/- net per head.

The Galadari Hotel altered its pricing formula to convert the original Rs. 12,500/- per head Lobby Dance tickets to a couple for the same price. It meant two people were accommodated for the price which was earlier meant for one.

‘It was certainly below expectations and the entire tourist market felt the vibrations’, PR Manager, Nirukshi Rupasinghe said.

The Mt. Lavinia Hotel refrained from slashing its prices even though sales were not so good. ‘We offered the best all-inclusive package with unlimited food and drinks and in comparison, it was not bad’, PR Manager, Oshadhi de Silva said.

At the four-star Holiday Inn, where Desmond de Silva performed at the ‘Blast Thru’ dinner dance, 70% of the tickets were sold out, thanks to group and overseas bookings, Sales Manager, Bisthami Uduman said.

The tickets were priced at Rs. 8,888/- for the dinner dance and Rs. 5,555/- for the dance only.

Tickets for the main dance at the Golden Ballroom of the Hotel Lanka Oberoi were sold at Rs. 9,999/- and the events went on as planned, a spokesperson said.

Reports spoke of scores of Colombo-based revellers turning to popular outstation hotels to welcome the millennium in grand style.

‘Ours was a charming affair, but a huge success because we didn’t over-do and over-spend’, says Samantha Gunarathne, Resident Manager, Le Kandyan.

The dinner dance at the main restaurant cost Rs. 4,000/- while at the ‘Garage’ disco it was Rs. 2,500/- per head or Rs. 4,000/- per couple. ‘There was no unnecessary expenditure on so-called grand shows. We spent less, but gained more mileage in a simple but elegant millennium ‘do’ in keeping with our theme and traditions’, Gunarathne said.

At the popular 150-roomed Neptune Hotel in Beruwala, it was a grand celebration with all the hotel’s in-house guests joining in the fun.

‘We couldn’t take in any outside guests as we are 100% full with foreigners and it was a bash to remember with these European guests selecting Sri Lanka as the destination to usher in the new millennium’, said Upul Peiris, Neptune’s Resident Manager.

SLMC bothered over attacks on Muslims for voting UNP

By Franklin R. Satyapalan
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) is disturbed about some post polls incidents in Horowopatana and the NWP where PA activists are alleged to have attacked Muslims for supporting the UNP candidate.

An SLMC MP alleged that a PA Provincial Council Minister led the armed attack to Horowapatana in three vehicles. A woman Samurdhi animator had her blouse torn after her husband had been beaten and taken away for interrogation, he said.

"People coming out of the mosque had been harrassed and there had been firing to the air.

They had been made to worship the attackers. There had been no police investigation until SLMC leaders visited the area on Friday and demanded action,’’ the MP said.

He alleged that in Puttalam area a notorious politician had been responsible for violence against Muslims. A Moulavi had been cut with a sword and a grenade thrown near a mosque.

"In the same area the Muslim community had been threatened against voting and people did not cast their votes. But it was later found that their votes had been cast,’’ this source said.

SLMC General Secretary Rauf Hakeem admitted yesterday that there had been one or two "localised’’ incidents and said that they were best resolved within the PA.

He conceded under pressure that these incidents had occurred at Horowopatana but did not elaborate. Other party sources indicated that Muslims had been attacked for supporting Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe.

Meanwhile the SLMC will call for an urgent meeting of the PA’s Executive Committee to discuss post election issues, Hakeem said yesterday. The incidents complained of discussed by the party hierarchy are likely to be raised at this discussion.

Hakeem said that they would continue to give maximum cooperation to the government to resolve the ethnic issue. But it was necessary that the PA assess the current political climate and take decisions regarding constitutional reforms including electoral reforms.

SLMC leader M.H.M. Ashraff said that the solution to the ethnic crisis depended on the realisation of the reasonable aspirations of Tamils and the protection and preservation of the political, religious and cultural identities of Muslims of the north east.

Ashraff who said that the SLMC politburo had noted the fact that there was no reference in Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe’s "Pact with the people’’ on the Muslim question, said that his politburo has decided to initiate a dialogue with Wickremasinghe and the UNP to ascertain the UNP’s position regarding Muslims of the northeast and displaced Muslims from the north. Hakeem said that he would be writing to Wickremasinghe next week in this regard.

SLMC is disturbed about the Horowopotana and NWP incidents which Hakeem saw as a serious violation of the PA’s non-communal stance.

House of Fashions introduces 24-hour shopping

by Sumadhu Weerawarne
Welcome to the Mecca of shopping! is what the banner should read. But it doesn’t. Instead it makes known that the 24-hour shop-till-you-drop concept has been launched in Sri Lanka.

Ms. Nilamani Jayawardena, the proprietress of the House of Fashions notes, "This is historic. We are doing something that has never been done before." And why? "Well, its the millennium," she says and her husband nods in agreement. "We also thought that because of the Ramazan festival too it may be interesting to try out," an associate adds.

The House of Fashions has attained phenomenal success in just a decade of the husband and wife duo setting up business. From a dingy square in a decrepit "mall", the House of Fashions now virtually reaches to the skies. It has also received accolades from certain quarters, for what would seem to be a commitment to quality.

The 24-hour open house commenced on December 27 and lasted till the 30. It was originally supposed to stay open on the 31 as well, but was later abandoned because of the inability to cope. "The numbers have been so enormous that we find it hard to cope," was the assessment on Thursday when I met the duo at the store.

Even during non-festive periods, the store attracts people in hordes. On a Saturday, this is very evident. The sense is one of frenzy, of frenzied purchase. Mamas, papas, teeny-boppers, grandpas and grandmas scurry at various speeds in search of their sartorial dreams. Clothes are whipped off hangers and quickly tried on. People jostle each other to get a look at themselves in the mirror, and opinions are shouted across. Those of whom are tired of the milling around seat themselves on the wooden steps and watch the others.

There are no fit-on corners, where one can admire oneself in private. But this is hardly a deterrent. With the aid of a very helpful staff, the people create their own little corners, imagining a veneer of privacy. There is every indication that the shoppers absorbed in their own little search have little interest in others struggling to try on their own selections. In total oblivion to their neighbours and indeed to where their elbows may dig into, they go about their tasks. But note, there is never any animosity as a result. It is just a hazard that one must face when shopping at one of Colombo’s most popular spots.

Of course another ‘mild’ inconvenience that the customers willingly undergo is the long wait, both at the entry and exit points.

During the 24-hour open house period, the numbers had hit the hundreds of thousands, according to the management. And according to one of the assistants, one day there had been queues until 3:30 the next morning. "It is really amazing. There have been customers from the outstations who came in hired busloads. This is from as far as Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. They are the ones who come at night and leave the next morning. We didn’t anticipate this at all," an associate says. He explains that at times they were worried about the success of the exercise because of the rather dead night transport system. "We thought that we would have to provide shuttle-buses. But this was not necessary. The people found their way here through their own arrangements," he adds.

And security concerns.. "Both the Police and a private security agency are involved. We were very thorough with that, given the rivalry in the business".

What the great numbers translate into is obviously an increase in turnover. But they refuse to divulge figures on the grounds of unfair advantage to their rivals. They even refuse to indicate the increase in terms of percentage. "We have seen a substantial increase during this period," is all that Mrs. Jayawardena will admit.

What underlies their success is their ability to tap into all levels of the social strata. There is no elusive reason for this. It is simple economics. The clothes are both qualitatively sound and reasonably priced. And in terms of casual clothing they would cater to a variety of tastes.

And it is certainly a house of joy to those who are willing to undergo the trials of endurance, brought about by its very great popularity.

Early parliamentary elections unlikely
Dinesh to get portfolio?

The PA is very likely to appoint a new cabinet of ministers this week, political sources said adding that MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena is expected to be among the new faces in the cabinet.

The day before President Chandrika Kumaratunga returned after undergoing medical treatment in the United Kingdom on Thursday morning, General Secretary of the PA D. M. Jayaratne said that Mrs. Kumaratunga is very much likely to appoint a new cabinet of ministers on her return.

The Island in its December 29, 1999 issue reported the possible cabinet reshuffle.

Political sources said that the PA feels that Mr. Gunawardena who supported Mrs. Kumaratunga at the December 21 presidential election should be included in the cabinet of ministers.

Mr.Gunawardena was not available for comment last night.

The sources said that the President is likely to form a bigger cabinet of ministers than the present Cabinet of 32 ministers.

Political sources said that the reshuffle is aimed at strengthening the government ahead of the parliamentary elections.

The sources said that a section of the PA are in favour of dissolving parliament soon and holding parliamentary elections ahead of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year in April. However, others have rejected calls for early parliamentary elections.

Samurdhi Minister S. B. Dissanayake said that there would not be parliamentary elections before April. He said that the government can remain in office till August this year and there is no necessity to dissolve parliament at this stage and go for parliamentary elections.

LTTE hands over bodies of 16 soldiers to ICRC

ICRC spokesman Harasha Gunawardene last night said they transferred bodies of 16 government forces personnel to Piramanalankulam and handed them over on Friday.

He said that the LTTE handed over these bodies to ICRC in the Wanni.

They were among the personnel killed in fierce clashes with terrorists in the Elephant Pass theatre late last week.

The following is the text of the Defence Ministry communique issued yesterday.

Jaffna Peninsula

On 31 December 1999 around 4 a.m. in general area Iyakachchi, Security Forces conducted a limited operation with the objective of expanding the controlled area. Advancing troops came under heavy terrorist mortar fire but advanced about 500 meters. Troops commenced consolidating the newly captured area by around 7 a.m. on the same day. On a subsequent search in the newly captured area troops recovered 01 terrorist dead body along with 01 Icom communication set and 01 T56 weapon.

On the same day around 6 p.m. in general area Elephant Pass, terrorists made two attempts to breach the southern and western defences and were successfully repulsed by the troops. In the meantime troops observed approximately 6-8 terrorist boats moving at a very high speed towards land and engaged effectively forcing the terrorists to retreat with heavy damages. MI 24 helicopter gunships of Sri Lanka Air Force also engaged the fleeing boats causing heavy casualties among them.

On the same day in Sankatthrvayal, troops operating ahead of defences killed 02 terrorists by snipping.

In the evening on the same day in general area Vathirayan, snipers operating ahead of defences killed 03 terrorists.

Monitored terrorist transmission confirmed that 30 of their cadres had been killed and another 15 had gone missing on 30th December 1999 due to confrontations.

Further, according to terrorist transmission, terrorists have suffered heavy casualties on 31 December 1999. 02 of their senior cadres and 02 sub leaders were among the injured.

08 soldiers were killed and 15 soldiers were injured during the confrontations in last 24 hours. Ground troops confirm atleast 20 terrorists would have been killed and a large number injured during the same period.

Vavuniya

On 31 December 1999 during daytime 14 NGO vehicles moved to uncleared area through Piramanalankulam check point of which details are as follows 02 vehicles of MSF, 02 vehicles of Sri Lanka Red Cross, 05 vehicles of UNHCR, 02 vehicles of ICRC and 03 ambulances.

60 civilians including 18 children crossed over to cleared area through Security Forces defence line Northeast of Iranai Illupaikulam due to terrorist harassments.

Wanni

On 31 December 1999 around 6 p.m. at Thaddankulam, troops on a fighting patrol detected a group of terrorists and engaged with machine guns and small arms killing 03 terrorists. On a subsequent search troops recovered 03 dead bodies along with 01 T56 weapon, 01 T81 weapon, 01 LMG and 03 FNC packs.

Trincomalee

On 31 December 1999 around 2 p.m. in Padavi Sripura, 02 civilians were fired upon by a group of terrorists. 01 civilian was killed and the other was injured due to this incident.

December 18 suicide attack
PSD officials not available: Police unable to complete inquiry

A senior police officer yesterday said that they have asked for time to complete the inquiry into the December 18 suicide attack on the PA’s final campaign rally at Town hall. The three member team probing the blast last week informed the IGP that the inquiry could not be completed until the team speaks with all officers involved in security that day.

He said that they were unable to at least submit an interim report on the security lapses leading to the blast as key officials of the Presidential Security Division [PSD] were not available.

DIG Victor Perera, head of the PSD and SP Nihal Karunaratne, director of the PSD had not been available so far, police sources said.

Police denied claims that the team comprised senior DIG Indra de Silva, DIG Lionel Karunasena and DIG Jayatissa Herath had submitted an interim report to the IGP holding the PSD responsible for the security lapses.

Smooth rollover to year 2000

by Chittaranjan de Silva
The rollover to the year 2000 immediately after midnight in Sri Lanka yesterday, occurred smoothly with no major incidents of breakdown owing to the Y2K bug being reported throughout the country, National Y2K Co-ordinator B. R. O. Fernando said.

Major Y2K related breakdowns or incidents have not been reported from most parts of the world with countries in North and South America,

Russia, China, and Canada and other countries relatively unaffected by the Y2K bug according to the Reuters News Agency.

Critical sectors such as Sea Ports, Aviation, Power, Electricity, Health and Banking sectors, which were earlier declared Y2K compliant, lived upto expectations, the Event Management Centre of the Council of Information Technology (CINTEC) said. All these sectors have not reported any faults or breakdown with the dawn of the year 2000, Fernando said.

Professor V. K. Samaranayake, Chairman of CINTEC and the National Y2K Task Force while thanking everyone for helping to bring about a smooth transition, also said that Y2K readiness reached in all critical sectors had helped to evade any possible impact of the adverse affects of Y2K.

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has confirmed that the Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) were not affected by the Y2K bug, Fernando said. There was no panic withdrawal of money from the banks, and even the limit which the banks expected the public to withdraw was not withdrawn from the banks, he said. The prospects for the future is bright for the country especially for the tourist and garment industries of the country, he said.

These industries could now cash in on the opportunity because businessmen and tourists throughout the world, when they know that Sri Lanka was not affected by the Y2K bug will be more interested in working with local industrialists, he added.

The Bandaranaike International Airport and the aircraft, were not affected by the bug and are functioning normally, Fernando said. The first flight left Katunayake around 8.00 a.m. yesterday. By 9.45. a.m. around four flights had left the airport and the first incoming flight was due to land at 11.50 a.m. on Saturday, he said.

There have been no Y2K related incidents reported from the hospitals, Fernando said and added that around 5% of the equipment which were sidelined before the dawn of the year 2000 will be tested within a week and will be put into use.

Permanent polls chief back at work

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake will resume duties tomorrow, he said yesterday.

Dissanayake was on medical leave during the presidential election which was run by an Acting Commissioner, D. M. P. B. Dassanayake who was appointed after the election had been proclaimed to succeed M. C. Arunthavachelvam, Deputy Commissioner of Elections, who was appointed Acting Commissioner when the permanent incumbent fell ill.

Dissanayake who is still under medication said that he will resume his normal duties when he reports for work on Monday.

Dassanayake who was Chief Secretary of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council at the time of his acting appointment said that he will report to the president when the permanent commissioner resumes duties. (FRS)

Tamils lose king-maker status

by Amal Jayasinghe
COLOMBO, (AFP) - Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s re-election after narrowly escaping assassination has shattered the king-maker status previously enjoyed by the country’s minority Tamils.

Political analysts note Sri Lanka’s Tamil community have lost the balance of power they enjoyed when they gave block support to Kumaratunga, head of one of the two main majority Sinhalese community groups.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga managed to cobble together a fragile one-seat majority coalition administration in August 1994 thanks to the support of Tamil legislator P. Chandrasekaran.

But the MP defected just before the election and another key Tamil ally, S. Thondaman, died in the initial stages of the election campaign.

Nevertheless when the election results were announced Wednesday, Kumaratunga’s hold on power was unaffected.

Until the December 18 suicide bombing blamed on the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Sinhalese appeared to favour negotiations as advocated by the opposition’s Ranil Wickremesinghe.

"The bomb changed the entire picture overnight," said an Asian diplomat who had predicted a swing in favour of Wickremesinghe during his campaign. "Suddenly we see a great polarisation in society.

"From the politics of the minority, we are now seeing a shift to the politics of the majority."

When Kumaratunga called the snap election in October, some 10 months ahead of schedule, the Tamil community went into a spin, unable to agree a common candidate to challenge Kumaratunga.

The man who helped Kumaratunga form the government in 1994, P. Chandrasekaran, boasted he would ensure Wickremesinghe’s election. He was to be proved wrong.

Former Tamil chief minister A. Varadarajah Perumal commented: "The Tamil vote is also getting divided ... that is a good thing for the Tamils because they cannot be accused of making or breaking a government."

The Tamils, who constitute 18 percent of the population, previously retained influence as the 70 percent Sinhalese community was divided between Kumaratunga’s People’s Alliance and the opposition UNP.

The ultra nationalist MEP, or People’s United Front, which just a few weeks before the election began supporting Kumaratunga, is already crowing about a "Sinhala majority vote" to defeat Tamil ambitions.

"President Kumaratunga won because of the majority Sinhala vote," said MEP leader Dinesh Gunewardena. "Patriotic forces have defeated attempts by Ranil Wickremesinghe to please separatist LTTE terrorists."

In her first public statement after suffering an eye injury in the bombing that killed 21 others, Kumaratunga called for the LTTE to be rejected and made it clear she meant to take a tough line against violence.

"The moment of truth has come," Kumaratunga said, calling on the public to reject the "useless violence" and "terror" advocated by the Tigers. "We need strong and honest leadership."

Kumaratunga also sounded a warning to Tamils.

"I urge you to persuade, with every conceivable argument, anyone who is a member or a supporter of the LTTE to renounce violence and join us in establishing peace," she said.

"The days of terror in this land are numbered, and the number is small," said Kumaratunga, her right eye still bandaged from injuries sustained in the assassination attempt.

"Let all the citizens of this country be warned that this government will not for one second be deterred from taking the strongest possible action against anyone who supports terror."

Sri Lanka hopes baby elephants too cute to resist

COLOMBO, Jan 1 (Reuters) - Big ears, long, long nose and way too heavy to cradle in your arms but Sri Lanka’s wildlife department hopes its babies are irresistible.

Faced with rising costs and increasing numbers, the department is offering a scheme to adopt a baby elephant. "Most of them are orphaned or recovering from gunshot and other injuries. They are not in a position to fend for themselves...," state-owned newspaper the Daily News quoted wildlife department deputy director Nandana Atapattu as saying.

For 10,000 rupees ($139) a month "foster parents" could name their adopted elephant and stay free at the wildlife department’s bungalows.

Some 22 elephants are being kept at the southern Udawalawe elephant transit camp before release into the wild.

More than 560 injured in New Year revelry

By Kalinga Weerakkody
More than 560 persons were treated at the Colombo National Hospital for injuries sustained in incidents during the New Year celebrations, Dr. Hector Weerasinghe, Director of the hospital said yesterday.

Thirty one persons suffered burn injuries due to fire crackers and the condition of 4 of them is serious, he said.

However, the number treated for burn injuries relating to fire crackers was far less than in previous years, Dr. Weerasinghe added.

Of the total number brought to the hospital, only 185 had to be admitted while the others sought OPD treatment. There had been 80 cases of stab and cut injuries while 64 patients were transferred to the CNH from outstation hospitals on December 31 night, he said.

Most of the victims were under the influence of liquor and in most cases even the people who brought them to the hospital were drunk. In one instance, some people who brought in a patient from a five-star hotel, had an altercation with the hospital staff and the police had to be summoned. They were later arrested, Dr. Weerasinghe explained.

Several road accidents were also reported in Colombo during the New Year, reports said.

Police said a shop selling fire crackers caught fire and was completely destroyed at Kollupitiya early yesterday. A car which was parked close to it also went up in flames.

Kumar wants Sinhalese and Tamils in two compartments

All Ceylon Tamil Congress leader Kumar Ponnambalam has in an open letter to President Kumaratunga said that his "considered conviction" is that a political solution to the Tamil problem is in the hands of the Tamils themselves and only in their hands.

He has said that the Sinhalese and the Tamils can continue to live in this island and in peace only if they live in two definite and distinct compartments, each minding their own business unfettered by the other.

Ponnambalam has said that he was personally disgusted and tired of talks, third party intervention, etc.

Ponnambalam’s two-page letter was a response to President Kumaratunga’s acceptance speech of December 22 following the oath taking as President of the Republic for a second term.

Every govt. depends on cigarettes and liquor to increase revenue, creating social problems — Ven. Soma Thera

By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
The objective of setting up the Janavijaya Foundation is to gather the well-mannered citizens of this country and to voice their opinion to the political leaders so that their attention could be drawn on the important issues of the country, said the Ven. Gangodawila Soma Thera.

Addressing a press conference at the Vajiraramaya Temple, Ven. Soma Thera said that the government is not in the habit of listening to the people’s opinion and there are a lot of issues which were settled in an unfavourable manner. The people are frustrated because of this and the Janavijaya Foundation would enable them to form a group which is stronger than one individual, in voicing concern to the government over the issues that are relevant to them.

Ven. Soma Thera said that the problems faced by the people are mainly based on either misconduct or due to economic reasons and they could easily be overcome by adhering to the path showed by Lord Buddha. Every government that came in power depended on liquor, cigarettes and the like to increase the revenue. But this created a lot of social problems which are evident today, the Thera said.

As 80% of the population are being Sinhalese, this has directly affected them and if preventive measures are not taken immediately, we will become a poorer nation, Ven. Soma Thero warned. The opening up of bars in every corner, and near temples is a common occurrence at present and he questioned as to how the proper conduct of people can be expected under these circumstances. Are we to prolong with the culture of misconduct and misbehaviour in our society in the years to come, he asked. This could be the end of our nation. If we are to continue this trend, he said and added that the Sinhalese would become the minority in this country in less than 40 years time, if people limit the birth of children as they do now.

Ven. Soma Thero requested the responsible citizens to join the Janavijaya Foundation which has been set up for a noble cause and said that as the country is at crossroads it is our duty to guide it in the correct way.

Modern building complex for fast expanding computer company

by Chittaranjan de Silva
A modern building complex at Kirulapone, equipped with IT facilities such as video conferencing and ISDN, constructed at a cost of 70 million rupees by Computer Island (Pvt) Ltd (CIL) was opened yesterday, the first day of the new millennium.

The Chairman of CIL, Janaka Ratnayake told a news conference last week that the company which was formed in 1993 with only a single employees, has a work force of 50 employees and three subsidiary companies at present. "We will be the first local company to obtain ISO 9002 certification in the local computer industry," Ratnayake said.

Over 5000 ‘CIL’ computers, assembled locally have already been sold and we hope to export computers to other countries in the near future, he said. The company’s aim is to popularise the CIL brand of computers, he added.

The new building, built to withstand even earth tremors, is a modern entity equipped with IT, the Chairman of Isuru Engineering (Pvt) Ltd, Mahesh Pasqual, constructors of the building, said. It took the builders only six months to construct it, he added.

Elaborating on the growth of CIL, Ratnayake said it has grown into a multifaceted group with three subsidiary companies dealing with computer related equipment and rentals.

The components which make up the CIL computers which are assembled by his company is imported from China, Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan, he said.

The IT equipment rental facility, Rent A Comp Services (Pvt) Ltd deals with a wide range of products such as computers, printers, multimedia projectors and other computer related equipment, he said. The CIL Multimedia Centre ( Pvt) Limited deals with over 50,000 CD, VCD, LD, DVD formats, he added.

The facilities provided by the centre can be used for education, software, games and entertainment under one roof, Ratnayake said.

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Call to declare Prabhakaran an ‘International terrorist’

An organisation representing a number of Sinhala associations based in London has appealed to all foreign ambassadors and other heads of foreign diplomatic missions in Sri Lanka to request their governments to urge United Nations to declare the Tamil terrorist leader Velupillai Prabhakaran an International Terrorist and a War Criminal. An international warrant on charges of crimes against humanity is called for to be issued against Prabhakaran and his associates.

United Organisation for the Defence of Sri Lanka (Sinhale), (UODSL) (S) has quoted the London Times (16th October 1999) which stated that the ‘Tamil Tigers terrorist leader Prabhakaran is responsible for the death of over 90,000 Sri Lankan citizens’.

UDOSL (S) has also appealed to the various governments to shut down the fund raising operations of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) front organisations in their respective countries. The atrocities committed by the Tamil terrorists during the past sixteen years listed in the petition, is a horrendous litany of gross inhumanity and barbarity.

The systematic genocide of over ninety thousand men, women and children most of them Sinhalese, a record second only to that of late Pol Pot.

Sri Lankan political leaders are reminded that to negotiate with terrorists, with a view to handing over control of any part of the sovereign territory of Sri Lanka or which cause secession are a treasonable offence under the Constitution.

International conference on terrorism

An international conference on terrorism on ‘Measures Against Terrorism’ organised by the National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) will take place at 9 am on Tuesday, January 4 at Conference Room F of the BMICH.

The welcome address will be delivered by Aruna Batuwantudave (NMAT) and the speakers listed are Ven. Akuratiye Nanda Thera, Prof. A. D. V. De S. Indraratna, Prof. Oliver Abeynaike, Dr. Arjuna Zoysa and Rohan Gunaratne. The moderator will be Prof. K. N. O. Dharmadasa.

There will also be a book presentation ‘Gonagala Massacre’ by Anuradha Yahampath (NMAT). The concluding address and the vote of thanks will be by Champika Ranawake (NMAT).

Imperial hopes dashed at local hustings

By Amal Jayasinghe
COLOMBO (AFP) - Britain was Sri Lanka’s last foreign ruler, but the latest elections have brought a bit of British politics back to the island in a new power play nearly 52 years after independence.

The Conservative Party of Britain, despite dire electoral fortunes at home, advised Sri Lanka’s main opposition United National Party (UNP) how to return to power in the run-up to last week’s poll.

Expectations of the Tory-backed UNP were high as the campaign picked up, with Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe attracting large crowds to witness giant screens introduced by British experts.

But their hopes were dashed overnight when a suspected Tiger suicide bomber tried to assassinate incumbent President Chandrika Kumaratunga during her final campaign rally just three days before the poll.

"What seemed like a good campaign of the UNP backfired with the bomb attack on the president," an Asian diplomat said, adding many had expected former premier Wickremesinghe to do much better.

However, their projections were revised after the December 18 suicide bomb attack that wounded Kumaratunga and killed 21 others. At the same time the UNP too suffered a bomb attack in which 12 people were killed.

But the UNP and their Tory support seemed shell shocked and were unable to pick up the pieces. Meanwhile Kumaratunga, who suffered eye injuries, picked up an evident sympathy vote.

A tearful Kumaratunga appeared on national television with her two children on the eve of the poll. She appealed for unity and support from all Sri Lankans to wipe out terrorism.

"No public relations company in the world can easily counter that at a time when emotions are running high," said a local journalist.

Kumaratunga went on to win the election the next day.

When the results were announced, the UNP cried foul. UNP chairman, Karu Jayasuriya, said it was the most fraudulent election in Sri Lanka since independence from Britain in 1948.

"I have never seen anything worse than this in my life," said Jayasuriya, who had been confident of a Wickremesinghe victory.

Rubbing salt on the UNP wounds and embarrassing the Tories was British Labour-appointed Lord Megnath Desai, who declared the electoral process "by and large, free and fair" despite minor rigging. ("We are unable to corroborate the UNP allegations," said Desai, among 26 foreign poll observers.

Several other monitors from Australia, Bangladesh and Canada reported major violations of election laws and the misuse of state-owned media by Kumaratunga’s People’s Alliance.

The Tories helped the UNP put on an effective counter propaganda campaign through private radio and television stations.

Wickremesinghe offered punchy quotes to the print media and gave good sound bites to radio and television thanks to scripting done by the British team of four who operated from his Colombo office.

The Tory support came through a foundation that allows like-minded parties to work with those in other countries.

Sri Lanka’s right-wing UNP, which is credited with liberalising the economy when they were in power in 1977, has close links with the Conservatives.

It was a Tory junior minister who in April 1997 bordered a bipartisan deal between Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe to adopt a common approach to solve the country’s long running Tamil separatist war.

And even though the Tories’ horse did not win, the 12 other contenders, including Kumaratunga, want to return to a Westminster style of government that existed until 1978.

Kumaratunga herself has castigated the 1978 constitution which gives sweeping powers to the president and promised to change the electoral system which is currently based on proportional representation.

British politicians may have failed this time, but Sri Lankan politicians are moving towards back closer to their colonial roots.

DFCC Bank embarks on major restructuring programme

by Chittaranjan de Silva
The DFCC Bank which has embarked on a major re-structuring exercise to make it more service oriented, is going in for more branches. The lending and the leasing sections which were earlier based in the bank’s Head Office at Colpetty were relocated at the DFCC’s Colombo branch, which was ceremonially opened by its Chairman, E. M. Wijenaike last Wednesday.

Mr. M. R. Prelis, Director, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DFCC Bank said " We have a very large portfolio today, unlike in the past, and we felt that we would not be able to provide the type of service the customer requires, unless we improved the services provided by the bank."

He expressed confidence that modern facilities and the efficient hand-picked team of the new Colombo Branch, managed by Lakshman Silva would achieve this objective in providing a speedier, user-friendly and better services to customers.

The new branch is the best equipped of the DFCC’s seven branches, he added.

Prelis, who made an immense contribution towards building stability during his 19-year stint at the DFCC Bank, also announced that he is retiring from office.

While congratulating Mr. Nihal Fonseka who has been appointed as his successor, Prelis bade farewell to DFCC wishing every success to the institution in the future.

Fonseka will assume duties when the bank opens for business in the new millennium on Monday, Prelis said.

Lesbians to hold conference put off by snap poll

COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lankan lesbians fighting harassment in their conservative country, have been forced to reschedule a "coming out" conference after it clashed with presidential elections, but say it will go ahead.

Companions on a Journey, an informal group under the umbrella of Sri Lanka’s main gay rights organisation, had planned their inaugural convention for December, later chosen by President Chandrika Kumaratunga for a snap poll.

"We didn’t expect the elections at the time we were planning our conference in August," a conference spokesperson said.

The presidential ballot was announced 10 months ahead of schedule and held after a violent two-month campaign on December 21.

Companions leader, Sherman de Rose, said the conference was now expected to convene early in 2000 with funding from a Dutch humanitarian organisation, HIVOS, and with the participation of two Indian gay groups.

Sri Lankan lesbians had been keen to meet and put up resistance in a society where girls have even been driven to suicide because of social rejection of their sexual orientation.

One of the organisers identified only as Gail, 43, said up to 150 women were expected to take part.

When plans for their meeting were first reported in August, the group came under attack in the local press, with one letter to the editor urging convicted rapists be unleashed on the lesbians to "cure" them.

De Rose, a Roman Catholic priest-turned-activist, said the women have now got the logistics organised with the funding in place.

The women, who have no place of their own to gather, meet at de Rose’s Drop In Centre on Sunday when the men are asked to stay away.

Gail said she tried to take her life twice because of her inability to confront her parents with her sexual orientation when she was in her early 20s.

Two women from a less affluent social background in southern Sri Lanka were not so lucky. One, a married woman, and the other a factory worker, committed suicide together recently unable to express themselves openly.

Lesbians here say they are generally accepted by society if they are financially independent and come from upper middle class backgrounds but others suffer harassment at home.

De Rose said gay rights activists from India’s Calcutta-base Sahodaran and the Humsafar gay organisation in Bombay would attend the conference.

‘They will come in as resource persons but won’t be participants," de Rose said.

"We want the society we live in to understand and accept us as we are and respect our personal dignity," said a document put out by the lesbian support group. "It is a fact that many intellectuals and creative women in Sri Lanka come from the lesbian community."

The women also stress that they believe in steady relationships.

"In our society there are lot of long-standing stable relationships," one activist said.

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