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Mahanayake Theras slate President for
'humiliating' statements The Maha Nayake Theras of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters, Ven. Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi and Ven. Palipane Sri Chandananda have, in a joint letter sent to President Chandrika Kumaratunga stated that instead of inquiring directly from them about matters relating to the Sri Dalada Maligawa,’ making Presidential Press statements is a gross humiliation caused to the Maha Nayakes’. ‘We are the chief custodians of the Dalada Maligawa and anything pertaining to this most sacred place of Buddhist worship should be directly taken up with us’, the prelates had stated in their letter faxed to the President yesterday. The Maha Nayake Theras were referring to a news report in the ‘Ravaya’ newspaper relating to the funds collected by the Dalada Maligawa and an inquiry made by a Committee into the utilisation of such funds. The two prelates have expressed ‘grave concern’ over this report.’ We were deeply shocked to read this news report’, they say in their joint letter to the President. The letter added;’ If you (the President) wanted to know anything about the Sri Dalada Maligawa you had a duty to inquire directly from us as we are the chief incumbents of this sacred place. Instead of doing so, your making statements ‘unnecessarily’ to the Press is a gross humiliation caused to us. We have still not received the documents that you had referred to although the newspapers had received them. The news item in question says that you had given instructions to send to the Maha Nayake Theras a copy of the findings of the Committee and particulars of the funds maintained by the Diyawadana Nilame. We have still not received the relevant documents, though instructed by you to do so’. The letter further stated;’ We treat the attempts made by certain responsible persons in the government to assist the newspapers to give undue publicity to statements accusing the two Maha Nayake Theras and the Diyawadana Nilame, who are the custodians of the Maligawa, of misusing funds as an endeavour to divert the incident of the bomb attack on this sacred place which was condemned by both Buddhists and non-Buddhists in the entire world. We categorically state that we do not approve of any attempt by the Cultural Affairs Minister to act beyond the powers vested with him under the Buddhist Temporalities Act of 1931.’ Troops repulse Tiger attack
on army camp: 30 Tigers, 2 soldiers killed Troops yesterday repulsed an LTTE attack on the Army detachment near Black Bridge on the Batticaloa Chenkalady road security sources said. At least 30 attackers had been killed sources said. Two soldiers and two PLOTE cadres too had been killed. One attacker, identified as Thangathurai Shanthikumar (22) has been arrested by Eravur police. The police have also recovered a hand grenade, cyanide capsule and a numberplate after the arrest. According to the police, the arrested LTTE member has been identified as Thangathurai Shanthikumar (22) alias Inparupan. The apprehended suspect had told the police that he was from Pandirippu in the Eastern province and a member of the Visalan Force of the LTTE. The suspect has also told the police that 250 terrorists who had passed out their training in the Ampara jungle had launched yesterday's attack on the Army camp in Chenkalady. In the counter attack by the security personnel he ran away for cover and was arrested by the police later, he has said. The suspect is now being interrogated and further investigations are being conducted under the instructions of OIC Eravur police Chief Inspector Nimal Ratnayake. The attack had started around 12.40 p.m. and continued till 3 a.m. Troops based at Chenkalady and Kallady camps fired artillery at the Tigers to help repulse the attack, security sources said. Some of the mortars fired by the LTTE had fallen on civilian dwellings and shops in Eravur and Chenkalady resulting in the death of a civilian and critical injuries to another. The security forces believe that around ten LTTE cadres had been killed in the counter attack by troops . Altogether 8 soldiers had been injured, along with a TELO member 5 PLOTE cadres and a civilian. They were admitted to Batticaloa and Eravaur hospitals. The Army detachment which came under attack is the farthest forward defence line, 13 kilometres from Batticaloa on Chenkalady-Badulla Road adjoining Black Bridge. The Tigers are believed to have removed some arms and a motor cycle from the battered detachment, security sources said. The injured TELO cadre was identified as Devanayagam Sathe-shkumar. The wounded PLOTE members were P Jegan, S. Suhirthan, N. Prabhakaran, R. Suhirtharajah, M. Kandasamy and civilian S. Mailvaganam. The dead civilan was identified as Sin-nathurai Kathiramalai. LTTE disliked Larry Wijeratne’s ‘good relations with the people’ University Teachers for Human Rights [UTHR] latest publication, ‘Living Through Jaffna’s Sultry Sunset ’ has confirmed ‘The Island ’ reports on the deaths of a dozen LTTE cadres including a self styled lieutenant colonel in the hands of late brigadier Larry Wijeratne’s troops in the Vadamaratchchy area in December last year. Their killings were reported in stories in ‘The Island’ headlined, ‘eleven terrorist infiltrators killed’ dated 20/12/97 and ‘Vadamaratchchy Sea Tiger leader killed’ dated 17/12/97. The 10th anniversary UTHR publication has been issued before an LTTE suicide bomber killed brigadier Wijeratne, posthumously promoted to the rank of Major General on May 14. "Vadamaratchchy had become a sore point for the LTTE, which once considered its main support base, had under the command of brigadier Wijeratne come to enjoy markedly good relations with the army. People referred to Wijeratne with the kind of endearment ordinarily reserved for a popular member of parliament who is about the place solving their problems and keeping life going. The LTTE therefore had a huge stake in disrupting what prevailed," states UTHR while indicating that LTTE wanted to mount a sensational attack near Valvettiturai, birthplace of Velupillai Prabakaran to mark the National Heroes Day in late November last year. There was evidence to suggest that the dozen terrorist infiltrators killed in December were in the Vadamaratchchy area to mount a spectacular attack, probably on brigadier Wijeratne. According to UTHR, ‘lieutenant colonel’ Archunar [Rathinam Vasanthakumar of Jaffna], ‘major’ Thenamuthan [Jothy Cruz Prabakaran of Jaffna] ‘lieutenant’ Arunan [Aruthathy Jeyakanthan of Jaffna], ‘lieutenant’ Mehendran [Balasubramanium Chandrakumar of Jaffna], ‘major’ Elilarasan, ‘captain’ Illavarasan, ‘lieutenant’ Vanan, ‘second lieutenant’ Karuvelan, ‘second lieutenant’ Banugopan, ‘lieutenant’ Kanthasamy and ‘captain’ Maran of the LTTE were killed between December 11 and 19 in the peninsula. Of them, Archunar or Arjun was perhaps the senior most terrorist to die in the peninsula last year. Vadamaratchchy troops killed him at Pulavarodai, Irumpu-mathavady on December 16 last year. According to UTHR, Archunar, a senior Sea Tiger had been deputy to Sea Tiger commander, Soosai. Archunar and three others including ‘major’ Thenamuthan who first found the safe house were all killed on that day. Troops were able to recover armaments including rocket propelled grenades. UTHR states that both ‘lieutenant colonel’ Archunar and ‘major’ Thenamuthan had stayed in another safe house at Nelliady before moving to Pulvarodai, Irumpumathavady where they died on December 16. late brigadier Wijeratne’s troops on December 18 raided the Nelliady safe house where five more infiltrators died in action. Military officials said that LTTE believed that information provided by the people of Vadamaratchchy allowed troops to conduct successful operations. UTHR, in its 10th anniversary publication, blames both the LTTE and security forces for human rights violations. It claims that more than 300 people disappeared in the peninsula as a result of an operation conducted after the overrunning of the Mullaithivu army camp and the killing of popular Jaffna Town Commandant brigadier Ananda Hammangoda in July 1996. UTHR had also accused the military and groups assisting the security forces of torture. UTHR also reveals the involvement of former LTTE cadres in operations against the infiltrators." A large number of LTTE cadres who deserted, or were captured by the army became the mainstay of military intelligence. Among them are at least one leading intelligence operative, Oppi-lamani and a former leading Sea Tiger, Mohan," UTHR states. Among the Jaffna victims were many former LTTE cadres." Currently a significant number of the LTTE’s targets for assassination are former members of the group and often those who still have connections with it. In Vadamaratchchy itself, the number of LTTE killings in this category from early 1996 number more than a dozen," UTHR states. [SF] India nuclear tests show govt will-power COLOMBO, May 24 (Reuters) - A senior Indian minister said on Sunday the country's decision to carry out five nuclear tests earlier this month showed the government was strong. "The previous governments did not have the will-power. This government has the will power," Sushma Swaraj, minister of communications, information & broadcasting told Reuters in an interview. Swaraj was in Colombo for a three-day meeting of communications ministers of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) which groups India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. Swaraj said the nuclear tests, India's first in 24 years which stunned the world and brought in wide-ranging U.S. economic sanctions, had little to do with New Delhi looking at signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). "I don't think the nuclear tests had anything to do with CTBT," Swaraj said. India's Defence Minister George Fernandes said on Saturday that India was not going to sign the CTBT in its present form but added there was no harm in discussing it since everybody wanted New Delhi to sign it. Swaraj said the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party wanted to assure its neighbours that the tests should not be seen as a threat. Malpractice
probe Recalled witness W. K. B. Weragama, GMR said that the report containing the recommendations of the committee chaired by him was "lying somewhere in the GMR’s (Silva) office in December ’90." Witness was answering Mr. Ranjit Abeysuriya P. C., before the Special Presidential Committee probing alleged malpractices in certain public bodies. The committee, chaired by Justice P. R. P. Perera includes Justice H. S. Yapa and Justice F. N. D. Jayasuriya, resumed proceedings last Wednesday. Additional Solicitor General Salim Marsoof with Ajith Wickramaratne State Counsel assisted the commission. Ranjit Abeysuriya P.C. with Ms. Priyadarshani Dias instructed by N. Sambandan appeared for Mr. P. W. A. K. Silva the party noticed. Mr. S. K. P. Bambarande is Secretary to the commission. Previous day’s proceedings revealed that on October 15, 1990 a meeting chaired by the GMR (Silva) was held in his office, where the devaluation claim from John Holland was considered. Ranjit Abeysuriya: It was your evidence that the document was lying somewhere in the GMRs office in December 1990. Is that what you said? Witness: That’s right. Ranjit Abeysuriya: Did you also say it had been lying there for two or three weeks in December somewhere in the GMRs office? Witness: I didn’t say that. Chairman: He said he was under the impression it was lying there but never specified a period. Justice Jayasuriya: Were you able to trace the document ? Witness: I was able to trace it. I also found that this letter has gone from the GM to the Secretary in the course of December. Witness was shown the report containing the recommendation. Counsel: Did you not say that until you last saw that document at the commission sitting on the last occasion, you did not know that if in fact the report containing the recommendation has been sent on December 4? Witness: I was not aware. Counsel: After your report dated November 23, 1990, was addressed to the GMR, you would have expected the GMR to submit his recommendation, in relation to the devaluation claim? Witness: Yes. Counsel: It was only upon the examination of the document that you learnt for the first time that the GMR’s recommendations on the devaluation claim of John Holland had been sent on December 4, 1990. Witness: Yes, but there was no question about that. Chairman: But there was some doubt that the files were lying in the GMR’s office for a long period of time. Witness: It is not that way. It all relates to the fax and what is mentioned in the fax. Witness read the middle and subsequent paragraphs of page two of document P86 (fax). Counsel He did not read the most important part of the fax. You realize in P86, there is an allegation in the last paragraph of the first type sheet that the devaluation claim which had been approved by numerous committees and Silva himself, has remained on Silva’s desk for six weeks waiting for him to pass it to the Cabinet ? Justice Jayasuriya: But you said it was sent on the 4th ? Witness: My explanation is this. On December 4, 1990 the claim was forwarded to the Ministry. Since the Cabinet paper has to be prepared, the secretary would have referred this paper back. In fact he had because I have sufficient evidence to prove that he had referred the paper back to Mr. Silva to prepare the cabinet paper. Chairman: The cabinet paper was delayed ? Witness: Yes, the cabinet paper was delayed. The cabinet memorandum dated around December 20, 1990 on the particular matter was produced on file by Mr. Marsoof. It contained an endorsement by the Secretary, Ministry of Transport. Witness explained that the Cabinet paper must be drafted and submitted by the Minister to the Cabinet. It must also be submitted to the Ministry of Finance before Cabinet approval is obtained. Witness was questioned on the fax given to Victor Ivan, editor of ‘Ravaya’ in September ’92. Victor Ivan was prosecuted by Attorney General on account of publishing the fax. Ranjit Abeysuriya: Were you told by Victor Ivan that he would give you anything to have access to a document like P86? Witness: He never told me such a thing. This is a tape recorded conversation that was taken down by somebody else. It is indicated that way. But if you listen to the tape, it wasn’t anything like that. Counsel: This can be tested. Witness: It can. Counsel: Are you disputing the accuracy of the transcript of the two recorded conversations? Witness: I am. Counsel: Did you not give evidence that the transcript is correct? Witness admits that he certified the transcript, but did not read the transcript in great detail. Witness: I did not read it very carefully. It seemed to me word to word of the conversation. It was only the glaring mistakes that were corrected. Witness verified that the corrections were made in his handwriting. Commission is proceeding. Settlement guarantee fund
enhances infrastructure of CSM A Settlement Guarantee Fund was inaugurated by the Securities Exchange Commission in association with the Colombo stock exchange last week. The chief guests at the event were Minister of Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration and Deputy Minister of Finance G. L. Peiris and Ambassador for the United States Shaun Donnelly. The fund was a result of the concern expressed with regard to the delay between the transfer of ownership and transfer of funds by foreign and local fund managers. The main purpose of the Settlement Guarantee Fund is to guarantee the settlement of trades between the clearing members of the Central Depository System of the Colombo Stock Exchange. It is hoped that this system would dispel any concerns investors may have about the consequences that can arise from a failed settlement. In such an event the liability to pay would be on the broker of the defaulting client. Although minimum requirements have been formulated, that alone may not always be sufficient to offset the entire liability which would devolve on the broker in the case of a failed trade, the Settlement Guarantee Fund would come into operation and clear the defaulted trade. This fund will be a fund of last resort and would result in the defaulting broker being suspended from doing business until he makes good the amount advanced by the fund with penalties and interest thereon. The fund is being established as a trust under the trusts ordinance. The board of trustees would comprise the chairman of the Securities Exchange Commission, the chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, the Deputy secretary to the Treasury, the Director General of the Commission and the Director General of the Colombo Stock Exchange. The fund has been established with a grant of Rs. 150 million provided by the government, allocated by the Deputy Minister of Finance in his budget speech of 1998 for the establishment of the Settlement Guarantee Fund and Compensation Fund. Sponsorship for technical assistance for the project has been procured from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Security markets facilitate the mobilisation of capital, both local and foreign for speeding up the development process. Although Sri Lanka now has a well functioning securities market it is still too small to be an effective vehicle for capital mobilisation observed Mr. W. Hettiarachchi, chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The size of Sri Lanka's stock market in relation to the overall economy remains small compared to other developing countries in the region he said. In 1996 just prior to the East Asian crisis the stock market capitalisation in Sri Lanka was only US $1.8 billion compared with a combined market capitalisation of US $ 240 billion in 10 South East Asian emerging markets. The number of companies listed in the Colombo Stock Exchange is about 240 at present and is increasing at a slow rate. The securities market is believed to have become even more important in the context of increasing globalisation and the drying up of capital flows such as grant and aid to developing countries. The Director General of the Stock Exchange Hiran Mendis stressed that confidence played a vital role in investments. "If we take confidence out of the market, we wont have investors" he said. "We at the stock exchange have to do a balancing act " he said speaking in relation to the expectations they have to cater to. The Settlement Guarantee Fund was a part of a strategy developed by the SEC in association with the Colombo Stock Exchange and it's members to reduce Settlement exposure and risk and to bring the Colombo Stock market in line with the recommendation of the group thirty (G30) ,on this subject Mr. Kumar Paul ,Director General of the SEC said. It is hoped that the relatively long interim between the transfer of ownership and the receipt of proceeds which has been of some concern to local investors and foreign fund managers will be very much less. |
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