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'Golden handshake' for redundent SLCTB
employees to cost Rs. 1 billion Minister of Transport and Highways, A.H.M.Fowzie, is expected to seek Cabinet approval for the release of over Rs. 1,000 million (Rs.1 billion) to extend a ‘golden handshake’ to 8340 employees considered redundant at the Sri Lanka Central Transport Board and the Peoplised Bus Companies, authoritative sources disclosed yesterday. The modalities of the compensation package to be offered is in the process of completion and will be placed before Cabinet for approval shortly, these sources said. The three-member Committee appointed for the formulation of a report in this regard comprised a representative each from the Treasury, the Ministry of Transport and the Department of Labour. The quantum of payment to each employee will depend on a government decision on whether it will retain the excess staff of the technical grades and release those in the clerical grades, according to these sources. The former Minister of Transport, Srimani Athulathmudali, told Parliament in October 1996, that there was an excess staff of 6,000 within the Peoplised Bus Companies while the Sri Lanka Central Transport Board had an excess of 2,340 employees and requested Rs.920 million from the Treasury, to offer a ‘golden handshake’ to the excess staff at that time. It is reported that in some instances the employee ratio per bus within the Peoplised Bus Companies is 10 or 12. However, the proposal was rejected by the government. It was reported that improper management by the previous Boards of Management, the majority of whom were reportedly political appointments made under the United National Party regime, had led to the Companies’ liabilities to rise to over a Rs. one billion. Ministry of Transport also revealed that around 2,170 buses were lying in need of repairs in depots. This situation led to the government to auction buses beyond repairs of the Peoplised Depots for the generation of additional funds for the Companies. The auctioning brought in approximately Rs.62 million from 294 buses in late 1996. According to the Ministry of Transport reports that the monies borrowed from the State by the Peoplised Companies for the purchase of over 2,500 buses were yet to be paid back. Meanwhile Chairman of the Sri Lanka Central Transport Board, Ramal Siriwardena told to "The Island" that the SLCTB has already discontinued the process of new appointments to the existing cadres and has further restricted new promotions. "But even after restricting these practices in some companies it has continued. We have also issued instructions to all the Managerial Boards of the Peoplised Companies to discontinue these moves till a new proposal has been formulated on the formation of the cadres. "Even with recruitment they were in the practice of taking in various people to posts due to all sorts of political pressures. But we have brought in a new regulation where all the recruitment is made by the Minister himself," he said. He added that the Minister will submit a supplementary estimate to Parliament to the tune of approximately Rs.525 million, within the coming two weeks, for the payment of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) claims, of the Peoplised Bus Companies. According to the Chairman, the accumulative sum of Rs.525 million was as at December 31, 1997, when the cluster bus companies were formed. He said that of the total number of Peoplised Bus Depots of 93, 12 Companies so far had been able to pay their EPF claims. But more than 80 companies are still left with their EPF claims unpaid. Meanwhile it is further stated that the Commissioner of Labour has also filed cases, the Managements of the Peoplised Bus Companies that had failed to pay EPF dues of their employees. Criminal Defamation suit against Sunday Leader Prosecution in the criminal defamation suit against "Sunday Leader" yesterday objected to the first accused Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge testifying in English. The trial proceeded before Colombo High Court Judge Titus Cooray. At the outset senior defence counsel S. L. Gunasekera made an application to Court to permit his client to give evidence in English. Mr. Gunasekera argued that it would be fair and prudent to let his client give his testimony in English as the article relevant to the case was in fact in English. State Counsel Vasantha Navaratna Bandara submitted that the application regarding the testimony was contrary to law. High Court directed the prosecution and the defence to tender written submissions on this issue. Further hearing was put off for June 16. State Counsel Vasantha Navaratne Bandara with State Counsel Priyantha Nawinna prosecuted. S. L. Gunasekera with Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, Upul Jayasuriya, Maithri Gunaratne, Ronald Perera, Manohara de Silva, Indra Laduwahetty instructed by Samararatne Associates appeared for the accused. President's counsel Anil Obeysekera, with Percy Wickremaratne, Ashley Herath, A. W. Yusoof, Champany Padmasekera, Unantnna and Palitha Silva watched the interests of the aggrieved party. Editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and publisher Lal Raj Wickrematunge are the accused in the case. They are indicted with publishing an article in the Sunday Leader dated September 3, 1995 defamatory of President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Saudi convicted for killing Lankan maid KUWAIT, May 25 - Kuwait hanged three men for rape and murder over the weekend, the official news agency KUNA reported on Monday. The agency, quoting a Justice Minis-try statement, identified the men executed on Sunday as Hamad al-Hajeri, Musaed bou Ghaith and Badr Zaid al-Mutairi. Hajeri and Ghaith were convicted of murdering two men. Mutairi was con-victed of sexual assault and murder. The statement did not mention their nationality but newspapers on Monday said they were Kuwaitis and that a fourth man, a Saudi national, was spared. The Saudi was convicted of strangl-ing a Sri Lankan maid to death and then raping her, the Arab Times reported. His death sentence was commuted to life in prison after his relatives paid blood money to the victim’s family, it added. (Reuters) President
orders NSB chairman President Chandrika Kumaratunga has ordered the Chairman of the National Savings Bank to suspend implementation of the Political Victi-misation Committee recommendations which calls for the promotion of certain employees whom the Ceylon Bank Employees' Union (CBEU) claims were not politically victimised. A CBEU source said higher officials of the National Savings Bank (NSB) had met with President Kumaratunga on Friday and referred the committee recommendations to her. On this occasion, she had asked that implementation be suspended. The union was informed in writing by NSB top officials about President's instructions yesterday. In view of these developments, the union has put on hold further agitation campaigns against the recommendations. The Cabinet-approved recom-mendations caused much furore among state bank circles during the past week. The union admitted that the committee had recommended the reinstatement of a number of employees who were, in fact, politically victimised during the previous regime. They acknowledged that it had also recom-mended promotions to be granted to those who had been deprived of them. However, the union alleges, the National Savings Bank, People's Bank and the Bank of Ceylon were instructed to reinstate and grant four or five promo-tions ("lumped together") in respect of a large number of persons who were actually recipients of political favours during that period. They alleged that they had lost their jobs for various other offences but were not subjected to political victimi-sation. The union warned that this created administrative problems in the banks. They wrote to President Kumaratunga and the Cabinet last week asking for the immediate rein-statement of those who lost their jobs due to political reasons. They also requested the defer-ment of the imple-mentation of all other forms of relief, including promo-tions, recommended by the Committee. The source said they ask that relief be given to those who were actually politically victimised in the course of their employment. The union can, he said, identify the 'pre-tenders who try to fraudulently obtain benefits'.(NW) Mahanayake Theras, DN to keep
away from meeting The Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya as well as the Diyawadana Nilame will not attend the Sri Dalada Maligawa Restoration Advisory Committee meeting scheduled to be held today (26) in Kandy chaired by the Buddhasasana and Cultural Affairs Minister Lakshman Jayakody. The prelates of Malwatte and Asgiriya are keeping away from the committee meeting as a mark of protest against Minister Jayakody releasing information to the "Ravaya" newspaper of a report of a committee of inquiry appointed to investigate the expending of the funds of the Sri Dalada Maligawa without consulting them. The Mahanayake Thera of Asgiriya Ven. Palipane Sri Chandananda Thera has yesterday instructed Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyeratne to keep away from attending the meeting. Mr. Wijeyeratne told 'The Island' last evening that he would follow the instructions given to him by the prelate of Asgiriya. Disciplinary action against 2,000 arrested
deserters Army Director of Personnel Administration Brigadier K. B. Egodawela yesterday said that over 10,000 deserters have surrendered to police and army camps this month. He placed the total number of deserters who surrendered during the six day amnesty which ended on May 10 and last Sunday at 10,303. Of them 4,441 have surrendered on Sunday during the amnesty. Apart from those who surrendered, approximately 2,000 deserters have been arrested by both military and police. Junior officers were among those surrendered and arrested. A senior police headquarters spokesman said last night that police has resumed the operation to arrest the remaining deserters yesterday morning. Army headquarters earlier placed the total number of deserters at 15,000. "Less than 3,000 remain at large," Brigadier Egodawela said. Already both surrendered and arrested personnel have been sent to their respective Regimental Centres in the provinces. Senior officers said that those who surrendered will be able to re-join their battalions following re-fresher training. However others will have to face disciplinary action before being allowed to re-join their battalions. Return of deserters will strengthen Sri Lanka Light Infantry [SLLI], Sinha Regiment [SR], Gemunu Watch [GW], Vijayaba Light Infantry [VIR], Gajaba Regiment [GR] and the Sri Lanka National Guard [SLNG]. The Armour, Artillery, Special Forces and the Commandos will also benefit officers said. The return of deserters will help the ongoing effort to re-build under strength battalions. Almost all regiments, particularly the Infantry had suffered heavy losses as a result of high intensity engagements in the ongoing Wanni offensive, Jayasikuru. The army had committed three divisions in the Wanni. Each division comprises three or four brigades. Military officers said that the return of deserters will help the headquarters to fill thousands of vacancies in the Jayasikuru divisions. The offensive was launched on May 13 last year. Fierce resistance had forced the army to halt advances couple of times. The last big battle took place in April this year. Cooray’s a writ
application inquiry The Writ Application filed in the Court of Appeal by the former General Secretary of the UNP, Mr. B. Sirisena Cooray against the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry, which probed the killing of the late Lalith Athulathmudali, was called before the Court of Appeal yesterday, and fixed for support on May 27. The respondents cited in the petition are the Chairman of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry, Mr. Tissa Dias Bandaranayake, Mr. G. W. Edirisiuriya (Commissioner) and the Attorney General. The petition alleged that the findings of the Commission made in respect of Mr. Cooray was unreasonable and requested the Court of Appeal to quash the said findings by a Writ of Certiorari. The petition will be supported by Mr. K. N. Choksy President's Counsel. The Court of Appeal bench yesterday comprised Justice H. S. Yapa and Justice Upali de Z. Gunewardene. Krishanthy rape and
murder trial State Counsel Miss Prashanthi Mahindaratne on May 19 told the three high Court Judge Bench hearing the Krishanthi rape and murder trial that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt pointing the commission of the offences by the accused. The Bench comprises High Court Judges Nimal Dissanayake (Chairman), Gamini Abeyratne and Andrew Somawanse. In this case there are eight army personnel and one reserve police constable as accused. They are D. Somaratne Rajapakse, D. Jayasinghe, Pradeep Priyadarshana, Priyantha Perera, W. Alwis, Muthu Banda, D. M. Jayatileke, Indrajith Kumara and P. Nishantha. They are indicted with being members of an unlawful assembly, abduction of teenager Krishanthy and murder. Miss. Mahindaratne stated: "Most important testimony emerges from three independent witnesses. One is Reserve Police Constable Punchi Appuhamige Samarawickrema. He was the police constable on duty at check point No. 2, on that fateful day. There was no material contradiction in his evidence. The Court must consider the fact that he was not an accomplice although he had a pardon from the Attorney General after arrest and being produced as a suspect. What is striking in the case is that he did not take part in the crime as an accomplice. He had made efforts to avert the incident, being a policeman on duty as a privy to the incident. There was proof that he had been familiar with the accused for they had been on duty for around three months. One need not look for corroboration of his evidence in view of the fact that he had not participated in the crime. Corporal Ajith Asoka told court that he had been a colleague of the first accused and had known him since 1990. He told that the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th accused had been on duty at the said check-point on that day. He revealed the steps taken by him and witness Samarawickrema to rescue the girl and three others who had been detained at the check-point on the orders of the first accused. He testified that the first accused explained that they had been detained after having informed the headquarters. The evidence pertaining to the chain belonging to the deceased Rasamma is interesting. The chain was recovered from the first accused. Prison official Jayadeva told that he took the chain from the first accused and later gave it to the brother of the first accused Cyril Rajapakse. Cyril Rajapakse told Court that he got the chain and identified the chain. Bank Manager S. Sanath corroborated this fact. Police constable Wimalasena took it from the brother of the first accused Cyril and his sister Rohini. Sivapackiam the sister of the deceased Rasamma identified the chain as the one belonging to Rasamma. She recalled that it was worn by Rasamma when she saw her last. Witness Navaratnam also identified the chain. The inference is obvious. The recovery of Pranavan’s cycle chain at the check-point is also very relevant to the trial. It makes it clear that whatever happened transpired there. Sivanesan who worked at the check-point found the cycle chain case there and gave it to one Kunarasa, a cycle shop owner. He too testified at the trial and corroborated. It was later collected by military police. Let me now dwell upon the recovery of the four bodies from behind the check point at Chemnuny. Witness Sinnathamby Kunam, a labourer attached to Jaffna hospital told that he dug four pits at the premises behind the check point. He told that clothes and slippers were found from the first pit. They collected two bodies from the second pit. Both could be identified as those of two males. They collected a body of a female from the third pit. There were a cloth and a tape around the neck and the wrists tied together. They collected another body from the fourth pit. There was also a school uniform in the pit. He told that he dug pits at the points shown by the accused to police. This is an important clue and material evidence. Lieutenant Mahesh Kumar attached to the military police revealed that the bodies were recovered from behind the check-point. He had been present at the exhumation. Lieutenant Colonel Khalinga Gunaratne too confirmed this. The prosecution has proved the offence for the accused themselves had confessed that they had committed gang rape on the teenager Krishanthy and that she and three others had been strangled to death and buried in the salterns behind the check-point, she concluded. Further hearing today. Additional Solicitor General D. P. Kumarasinghe (PC) with State Counsel Prashanthy Mahindaratne, Pensit Perera and Mahendra Kumarasinghe appeared for the prosecution. Ranjith Silva, Cyryl Wijekoon and Senarath Jayasundara defended the accused. Kumar Ponnambalam (Jr.) with T. Poopalan Nagarajah Tirucumaran, William Kenneddy and S. Paranitharan watches the interest of the aggrieved party. No decision on ‘mini elephant
drive’ at Handapanagala A final decision has still not been taken on the proposed ‘mini elephant drive’ at Handapanagala, reportedly fixed for August this year, according to officials attached both to the Ministry of Plantation Industries, under whose preview comes Wild Life and the Department of Wild Life Conservation. The Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industries, Mrs. Nita Wimalasiri and the Director of the Department of Wild Life Conservation, Berty Jayasekera, told ‘The Island’ that no date has been set for the proposed elephant drive at Handapanagala, or funds allocated for it. However, the Deputy Director (veterinary) Dr. Nandana Atapattu, has repeatedly announced that approval has been granted for the proposed drive and a time duration set for early August. Dr. Atapattu last week told "The Island" that approval has already been granted for carrying out of the ‘mini drive’ at Handa-panagala and necessary funding. These conflicting claims come in the midst of a continuing controversy over the alleged move by certain authoritative personnel within the Department to carry out a second "unsuccessful" drive at Handapanagala. A similar drive at Handapanagala in late 1997 resulted in millions of rupees of the Department allocations going waste due to the return of more than 80 elephants to the sugar cane plantation area for water. Sources alleged that despite claims of a ‘successful drive’, the early months of this year saw the return of the animals to the Handa-panagala tank, for the scarcity of water for over 180 of the driven elephants to Yala Blocks 3,4 and 5. Meanwhile Additional Secretary, Nita Wimalasiri said that the situation at Handapanagala will only be taken up for discussion at a meeting to be held with Director, Wild Life. She denied that any approval has been granted for the drive earlier. "All activities of the Department including any drive will have to be covered with the annual allocations made available to them. There is no decision to release any additional funds for this purpose," she explained. Director, Wild Life, Berty Jayasekera, said that the Department was yet to arrive at a definite decision on the date of the drive, if one is to be carried out at all. According to the Director, the Department was yet in the process of formulating a report on a drive, to be submitted to the Minister of Plantation Industries. This report he added, would be based on findings of a survey carried out by a team led by the Head of the Department of Textile Industries, at the University of Moratuwa, Dr. Lakdas Fernando. The report was expected to be handed over to the Department during the course of this week, he said. "This report will tell us if the earlier drive was a success or not. First we must decide if there needs to be a drive during this period, then only we will look towards funding. No cost estimate has been carried out as yet. Before the Ministry can approve it we must submit a report to the effect," he added. Meanwhile Dr. Atapattu denying that over 80 elephants have returned added that all allegations against a proposed drive was a "mud throwing campaign by those who failed to achieve their personal targets." "Some wanted to make money out of the elephants or build hotels in the vicinity and when that fails these allegations come out. The Minister is determined that he will look into the safety and welfare of the animals and the people," he added. Call tariff rates to be reduced
within SAARC region SAARC Communication Ministers had unanimously decided to reduce call tariff rates among member countries by the next SAARC meeting scheduled to be held in Colombo in July this year, Minister Mangala Samaraweera announced on Sunday. He said that Communication Ministers had been in agreement on a comprehensive strategy for co-operation to facilitate the enhancement and expansion of telecommunication facilities in the SAARC region. He was briefing the press at Hotel Lanka Oberoi on the outcome of the first SAARC Communication Ministers meeting which was inaugurated by President Chandrika Kumaratunga in Colombo on May 22 and concluded on Sunday. Minister Samaraweera said in recognizing the rapid technological changes taking place globally in the field of telecommunications and its vital role in promoting economic development and desirous of enhancing regional cooperation in the SAARC region the Communication Ministers reached agreement on the following goals and objectives.
To achieve these objectives, the Minister agreed to adopt the following SAARC plan of action on telecommunications. • Telecom tariffs within the SAARC region should be reduced to the lowest extent feasible within the framework of cost oriented inter-regional tariffs and efforts should be made to reduce the present inter-regional accounting rates and to utilize direct links across borders whenever feasible. • Member states should offer special rates for transiting regional traffic and utilise the facilities of other members for their overflow traffic. For this purpose, information regarding capacity, standards, tariffs should be made easily accessible through websites. • Intra-regional communications for the traveller and entrepreneur should be facilitated by promotion of country direct services, calling cards, cellular roaming and liberalised leased lines within the regulatory frameworks of the Member States. For this purpose Member States should: • complete digitalisation of inter-country links preferably by December 1999; • encourage the establishment of backbone facilities for regional data networks and CCSS 7 signalling; • allocate sufficient bandwidth for regional telecommunication links; • encourage liberalisation of exchange control rules to allow revenue exchanges and inter-operator accounting; • ensure prompt settlement of revenues from country-direct services; • promote calling card services by facilitating centralised or decentralised credit verification systems; • establish an intra-regional high bandwidth hub for leased lines; and • consider allowing free flow of cellular and GMPCS handsets for personal use within the region. • Member states should encourage co-operation among regulatory authorities and administrations to develop appropriate performance indicators for the region. • Member States should adopt Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRA) for terminal equipment standards to encourage regional manufacture and simplification of regulatory procedures. For this purpose, Member States should study adoption of MRAs similar to that of APEC and other regional organisations. •Member States should set up Websites/Databases to exchange information on telecommunication standards, policies and technologies including human resource development. • Member States should promote R&D activities and exchange of expertise in telecommunications disciplines. • The development of human resources in the telecom sector should be enhanced through greater co-operation and better utilisation of the existing training facilities in the region. • While liberalising telecommunication services, Member States should give due consideration to ensure: (a) universal access; (b) development of rural services; and (c) affordable tariffs. • Member States should consult at multiple levels among communications ministries and regulatory authorities to evolve common positions on issues of regional concern on telecommunications at international fora. The Minister agreed that the SAARC Technical Committee on Communications may be entrusted with the responsibility for implementing the above Plan of Action. Malpractice
Probe Witness under cross examination W. K. B. Weragama, GMR said at the time of the conversation with Mahinda Seneviratna in mid-November he (Weragama) was living in fear. He said this was because the former GMR’s powers were such that there was nothing the GMR could not do. The witness was testifying before the special Presidential Commission probing alleged malpractices in certain state institution. The commission chaired by Justice P. R. P. Perera includes Justice H. S. Yapa and Justice F. N. D. Jayasuriya convened at the Superior Courts Complex last Friday (22). Additional Solicitor General Salim Marsoof with Ajith Wickramaratne State Counsel assisted the commission. Ranjit Abeysuriya P. C. with Priyadharshani Dias instructed by N. Sambandan appeared for P. W. A. K. Silva the party noticed in the inquiry. Mr. S. K. P. Bambarande is the secretary to the commission. Ranjit Abeysuriya: At the time, you had this telephone conversation with Mahinda Seneviratna, about 15 or 16 November 1992, did you have a fear of being in someway associated with this alleged fax? Witness: It was not that I had done anything wrong. It was that I might be implicated that I have fabricated documents. It would have happened that way if I hadn’t tape recorded the conversation. Ranjit Abeysuriya: So the answer to the question was you had a fear? Witness: I did have a fear, not only of the alleged fax, but also I was living in fear at the time. Justice Jayasuriya: Fear of being implicated or fear of being associated? Witness: Not associated, implicated. Witness was later questioned on his involvement with the ‘Ravaya" publication. Ranjit Abeysuriya: So in the conversation with Mahinda Seneviratna you have been giving your mind whether you and Mahinda Senevirata might be questioned by somebody as a result of the Ravaya publication? Witness: Yes. Subsequently witness was questioned on the alleged fax (P86). Ranjit Abeysuriya: The alleged fax which you say Mahinda Seneviratna gave you, did you honestly believe at that stage that was a genuine copy of the fax ? Witness: Yes I did. Justice Jayasuriya: That it is a copy of the authentic fax? Ranjit Abeysuriya: Did you think the document contained genuine information? Witness: Yes. Ranjit Abeysuriya: If that is so, why did you say that you had fears about being questioned about what you believed to be a genuine fax ? Witness: I was in fear because, from the day I was sent on compulsory leave on the September 16, 1992, I was under surveillance. I was told by my neighbours that there were people watching me. I knew I was under surveillance. I don’t know for what purpose. For whatever it is I was living with a certain amount of fear at that time. In the course of his conversation with Mahinda Seneviratna what he told me was probably something he had already discussed with somebody. I was going to be implicated in a something which I had never done. Ranjit Abeysuriya: I am suggesting to you straight away that you were in fear at the time you had this conversation with Mahinda Seneviratna in mid November ’92, of being implicated in the fabrication of a false document? Witness: That was not my fear. Ranjit Abeysuriya: Did you make any representation to any person that you were needlessly being shadowed by the CID? Witness: No. Chairman: Why didn’t you ? Witness: I knew as I mentioned earlier there wasn’t any thing that Mr. Silva could not have done at that time. Chairman: He was omnipotent. Witness: No. He had the powers at that time of the Ministers and the President. He had thrown the entire public service to disarray. I was actually living in fear because I knew that there was nothing that he couldn’t do. The fact that he was able to remove me like that from my post itself was an indication that there was nothing that he could do and the fact that I went and met our Minister. I met our Minister during this period and was told that the orders had come from the top. Chairman: What did you understand by ‘from the top’ ? Witness: Top meaning over the Minister Justice Jayasuriya: Over the Minister ? Witness: That’s what the Minister told me. It will be over the minister, that would be the President. Witness was further questioned on the fax. Witness said that he had a high regard for Jim and he believed him to be a gentleman. Ranjit Abeysuriya: It was Seneviratna who told you he had received the fax (P86) right? Witness: Seneviratna told me. Ranjit Abeysuriya: Looking at the fax you thought it was the work of a gentleman ? Witness: Yes. Ranjit Abeysuriya: Were you not perturbed as to why this gentleman did not have the decency to sign his name ? Witness: I don’t know whether he signed it. Ranjit Abeysuriya: What do you mean ‘you do not know’. Look at P86, is that signed ? Witness: P86 is a photocopy. Ranjit Abeysuriya: You knew fully well that the copy given to you was unsigned? Witness: What was given to me was unsigned. Ranjit Abeysuriya: Did you ask Seneviratna whether in the real fax, there was a signature? Witness: I didn’t ask why ? Ranjit Abeysuriya: Why didn’t you find out from him whether the document a copy of which he gave you bore the signature of the sender. Witness: There was no necessity. Because the name was there. It said ‘From Jim’, ‘To Mahinda’ Ranjit Abeysuriya: Didn’t you realize it was on a separate sheet of paper? It was only on the front page which did not contain any text of the message the sender was given as ‘Jim’. It was decided by the commission to review the two taped telephone conversations between Mahinda Seneviratna and Weragama during the next sitting, to clarify certain discrepancies between the CID transcript and commission transcript. Commission is proceeding. |
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