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Jaffna Dy Mayor resigns TULF Deputy Mayor of Jaffna Municipal Council, D. Thirunavakkarasu has tendered his resignation from office. He submitted his letter of resignation on Wednesday indicating that he had ceased to hold the post of Deputy Mayor with effect from June 1, 1998. If was only last week Mrs. Doneta Devial a member of the Jaffna Municipal Council. TULF sources remained non committal about the reasons given by the Deputy Mayor and the municipal councillor for their decision to quit. Last month Mayor of Jaffna Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran was gunned down by two unidentified youth. Later a movement which described itself as "Sankiliyan Padai", widely believed to be a front for the LTTE claimed responsibility for the slaying. Meanwhile, neither the TELO which has 13 members elected to local bodies in the Jaffna Peninsula nor the EPDP which has 110 members to ten local bodies in the North have so far failed to swear Ñ in their members since they were voted into power on January 29, 1998. It was only last week another Jaffna Municipal Councillor resigned. A TULF Municipal Councillor of Jaffna Mrs. Doneta Devial has sent in her resignation to the leadership of party last week, TULF sources said. No reason had been given for the resignation. The TULF subsequently had informed the Returning Officer of Elections Department in Jaffna that S. Aravind has been nominated in her place by the party. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake was yet to gazette the nomination of TULF Attorney-at-Law Pon Sivapalan as the successor to late Mayor of Jaffna Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran, TULF sources said. Fierce fighting between Tigers and troops at K'nochchi Fierce fighting broke-out between troops and terrorists south of Kilinochchi yesterday. Both sides have suffered heavy losses, sources in the north said. However Operational Headquarters of the Defence Ministry yesterday evening denied any knowledge of fighting in the Elephant Pass-Kilinochchi sector. "Nothing has been reported," one officer said. Since May 28 operational headquarters has refrained from revealing the numbers of personnel dead and wounded in Jayasikuru operations. Security forces on May 28 resumed their assault on Mankulam. To make Pakistan self-reliant contribute
generously to new fund Pakistan Prime Minister Mohammed Nawaz Sharif has urged the nation to generously contribute to the newly formed National Self-Reliance Fund, and appealed to every Pakistani living in Pakistan and abroad to deposit their donations in the fund, he said in his brief address telecast by PTV Tuesday evening. Following is the message of Prime Minister to the nation: issued by the Pakistan High Commission in Colombo. "May 28 is a memorable day in the history of Pakistan. On this day, we decided to build our future as a self-reliant nation. "We have started the struggle to make Pakistan a dignified and prosperous country by making it free from foreign loans. The National Self-Reliance Fund is being created for this purpose. "I appeal to all Pakistanis living in the country or working overseas to wholeheartedly make donations for this fund to enable Pakistan to meet the challenges for achieving self-reliance and for making the defence of Pakistan impregnable. "You can send your donations for the Fund through all branches of Pakistani banks or Pakistan's Embassies in the world. For this purpose, two accounts are being opened in State Bank of Pakistan (SBP). One: NSRF-1, is for donation in foreign currency and the other: NSRF-II: in Pakistan rupees. Millions saved in hospital
scanning machine repair: cost only Rs. 85 Repairs to the broken CT Scan Machine at the Sri Jayawardenepura Teaching Hospital (SJTH) which a private sector company earlier estimated to cost Rs. 15 million had been done at a cost of Rs. 85, saving millions of rupees, Chandima de Silva, Chairman of the SJTH told ‘The Island’ yesterday. The sophisticated CT Scan Machine which is worth around Rs. 30 million was an outright donation to the hospital by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 1990. It was functioning well till it broke down in 1997. After the machine packed up the hospital had to refer urgent patients to other private hospitals for CT scanning at very high cost. "When the machine broke down, quotations were called to carry out repairs and several multinational companies responded to it. One company wanted Rs. 5 million while another sought Rs. 15 million for the job. Another company proposed to the Ministry of Health to repair and maintain the machine under the condition that the hospital should invariably send at least 25 cases a day each costing Rs. 3,400. The company wanted government to pay it whether 25 scannings a day done or not. When the Ministry referred the proposal to us, I asked for some time to look for a cheaper way of tackling it. Then we got down mechanical experts from the University of Moratuwa who assured us that there was no serious defect in the machine. Therefore they said the repair could be done with a much lesser amount of money. JICA also said the same and they were also ready to donate us a new machine," Mr. de Silva said. He said, "at this juncture, I spoke to some other private companies which inspected the broken machine and they too assured us that the expensive parts of the machine was still intact. Then another company asked for permission to dismantle the machine and identify the defect for which we agreed. Then they identified the defect and repaired the machine within four days replacing a small gadget worth of only Rs. 85, which they refused to accept from the hospital," he told ‘The Island’. The SJTH Chairman further said that he has an idea of granting the tender for the maintenance of the machine to the company which handled the repair work without charging any money. The repaired machine resumed functioning on May 25, 1998 and the hospital had not charged any money from patients who had undergone the scanning tests till June 1. Patients were charged Rs. 750 maximum for each test before it broke down in 1997 but now the minimum rate had been brought up to Rs. 1000. The machine now is performing ten tests a day as done earlier, he explained. The Hospital Chairman also said that after he took over the post at the hospital he got many discarded equipment such as trolleys, beds and certain theatre equipment which had not been in use for years, repaired at very low cost and now they were in use. "I hope to repair the broken roof of the nurses’ quarters within the limit of Rs. 100,000 for which contractors had asked for about Rs. 500,000," he added. "I want to make this hospital one of the best in Asia. This, I can easily achieve if all other staff members extend their fullest support. I am now quite satisfied with the positive response from them," he said promising better facilities for good and honest employees of the institute to upgrade their living conditions. Tigers abduct young girls BATTICALOA: The LTTE abducted 15 young Tamil girls from their homes in Pesalai in Valaichenai in the Batticaloa district at midnight on Wednesday (3). The Tigers numbering around 15 to 20 cadres had come to Pesalai hamlet with a list of those to be abducted. They went to each of those identified houses and taken away these girls by force. The girl's had been aged between 15 and 25 and the armed LTTE cadres who came knocking at their doors had alleged that they were being taken away for questioning as it was alleged they had provided information about their activities to the security forces. However some of the girls wanted by the LTTE cadres had managed to escape when confronted. Villagers had complained that it was a long time since the last time the LTTErs came with the same ruse. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Nimal de S. Gunatilake has been appointed Commandant of the STF with effect from June 10. He had joined the department in 1967 as a Sub-Inspector. He was promoted ASP in 1982, SP in 1986 and DIG in April this year. He had held several positions. He had been the Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Bureau from 88-92, and functioned as SSP Jaffna last year. Bomb near K'chikudy phone
exchange defused On information received from a security guard attached to private security firm responsible for guarding the Kalawanchikudi telephone exchange, police recovered a powerful time bomb in Kalawanchikudy around 9.30 a.m. on Thursday. The bomb disposal squad of the Special Task Force in Kalawanchikudy had defused the bomb that was found close to the new one thousand telephone line Exchange in Kalawanchikudy. It was only last week the Tigers blasted a bomb at Kalawanchikudy Telephone Exchange damaging a part of building and two AC plants. Further investigations are being conducted by OIC Kalawanchikudy Police IP Niroshan Rupasinghe under the directions of ASP operations Kalawanchikudy S. Wijesinghe, police said. CAVSF officers trek 20 miles into jungle to destroy Ganja Over 20 officers from Central Anti Vice Striking Force in Panadura trekked over 20 miles of jungle in Hambegamuwa in Tanamalwila police area in Moneragala district to destroy over 5000 plants of ganja and arrest two suspects along with a shotgun and live cartridges on Wednesday. The ganja chena had been five acres in extent with over 5000 plants of around 3 to 4 feet in height. The raid was directed by SSP D. A. de Fonseka of Central Anti Vice Striking Force. Officers also recovered from the chena around 180 kilos of processed ganga valued at around rupees 30,000 each kilo. The owner, his assistant along with a 12 bore shotgun to protect the chena were recovered from the chena. (FRS). Wrong sashes given, say angry Sab. varsity
management graduands Thirty two management graduands of the Sabaragamuwa University were angrily protesting to the university authorities against what they claim the presentation of the wrong sashes to them at Wednesday's graduation ceremony. The students were seen in heated argument with some officials of the university after the first convocation of the university came to a close, and the first batch of graduates, the staff and the invitees were treated for tea at campus luncheon hall. Students told reporters who covered the event that the Business Management degree holders were entitled to golden sashes. But thirty two of them received the green sashes, which were meant for the agricultural degree holders. The thirty two golden sashes which the management degree holders were entitled to had been inadvertently presented to 32 agricultural degree holders. The affected management degree holders also told reporters that when they pointed out the error to those responsible they snobbishly ignored them. The convocation was given wide coverage specially by the Rupavahini Corporation and the ITN, and the affected management graduands told reporters that, the telecasts of the event would show them with the wrong sashes. Two hundred and eighty two students won degrees at the first convocation on Wednesday (3). President at Sabaragamuwa
University Convocation: President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on Wednesday (3) made an impassioned plea to the university students to join together for their own sake and for the future prosperity of their country to defeat ideologies that destroy the nation and to contribute to the more salutary task of building a new Sri Lanka. The President made the plea in her address to the first Convocation of the Sabaragamuwa University held in the auditorium of the University, in Belihul Oya, in the Ratnapura District. The text of the President's Convocation Address, printed and handed out to the university community, the media and the invitees, is as follows: "I am very happy to be able to participate in this historic occasion, the first convocation of the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. When we consider university education we cannot forget the fact that we have a heritage of a history and a civilisation that go back 2500 years, and a system of education of our own. Our ancient literature reveals that scholars from many countries had come to study in our institutes of Buddhist learning. Even though we had such a tradition of education, the concept of the modern university was introduced to us during the British colonial period. Thus, the University of Ceylon looked up to the universities in Britain for guidance in academic education. However, with the advent of the market economy and the necessity to concur with the socio-economic transformations that occurred, universities that taught practical and technical curricula, somewhat removed from the purely academic fields, emerged in many countries. The objective of this government in inaugurating the Sabaragamuwa and Rajarata universities was to produce intelligent youth able to face the challenges of the 21st century and survive within the new economic order. The traditional universities had followed a predominantly academic curriculum and consequently we have a group of graduates lost in society, unable to respond to the economic requirements of the country. I believe that the violence prevalent in the university community at present is a result of the inability of the youth studying at these universities to have any dreams of a bright future. Ragging and university politics are full of violence. It is not an exaggeration to say, that not only the university, but the entire social structure is consumed by a culture of violence. On the one hand, is the violence directed towards others in the form of killings, plunder, abuse of women and children, and war; on the other is violence directed towards oneself in the form of suicide. Sri Lanka has the highest suicide rate in the world. All these symptoms show a kind of sickness in Sri Lankan society. These symptoms that are almost psychotic reflect a situation born out of injustices and frustrations, primarily the result of violence springing from religious, caste, ethnic and political divisions, as well as an inappropriate system of education. Even though only a minority in our society is prone to such violent behaviour, since they exercise their dominance over a majority, this situation is a threat to all social institutions and the progress of civil society. You, as the university community, need to study contemporary trends in society and offer solutions. Our government identified these trends from the beginning and looked at education as a sector in which the maximum investment must be made. The new reforms in school education, higher education, as well as technical and vocational education were undertaken in this manner. Since our country does not have a system of education which guides students to face social changes successfully, it has not produced persons equipped with the necessary capabilities. Even though there are a few individuals with such capabilities, the majority of them serve the developed Western nations. We have not been able to achieve the level of socio-economic development of our neighbouring countries. The prime objective of the educational reforms is to endow the country with a group of innovative people who have the ability to think new thoughts and create new things. At this point a verse written by Munidasa Kumaratunga comes to my mind. The nation that cannot make new things, Will not rise in the world, When begging is no longer possible, It will lie down singing the chant of death. It almost seems that this verse was written about contemporary Sri Lanka. All developed countries achieve progress by strengthening the foundation of their research and analysis. The situation in Sri Lanka is completely different. Even though there is some progress through sporadic research, as a whole this has been limited merely to reports. In order to overcome this problem our government has brought all national research institutes under a national research policy. I have appointed a National Development Council to guide the development of the country. To direct human development activities I have appointed a human development committee of experts at the national level. The university is one place that provides us with the expertise, the superior technical knowledge and the wisdom necessary for the economy of the country. In order to achieve that status it is necessary for you to perfect your language proficiency (Sinhala, Tamil and English), research abilities and technical skills. Certain economic processes have stagnated because of the lack of creativity and basic research output. This is the avenue through which your abilities can be given expression. Not only should university education in our country be structured to suit the needs and expectations of a developing country, but it also requires a radical change in the teaching methodology of university lecturers. The state spends about Rs. 25 billion on education. When we came into power only 37 percent of university students had hostel facilities in 1994/95. It has been increased to 54 percent by 1996/97, and it is expected to reach 75 percent in 1997/98. We also have increased the university student intake; it was 8770 in 1994/95, 9780 in 1995/96 and 11,200 in 1996/1997. In 1994, Rs. 1.8 million were spent on bursaries for students; today we have increased the amount to Rs. 2.4 million. In this context, it is the expectation of the people that you, the cream of the student population, fortunate enough to enter the university, would control your behaviour by an ethical code of conduct on your own volition. Furthermore, I expect that you, who have been educated with; public funds and are becoming a part of society, would commit yourselves to serve the people in the future. I also have a question that I would like to put to the entire generation of university students. What benefits does the country receive from posters and statements carrying meaningless words and empty heroic sentiments, activities that waste national wealth? The time has come for all of you to think intelligently about this. It is possible to build a positive image of universities if you would join hands and employ yourself in activities fruitful and beneficial to society. Today there seems to be a reluctance in the labour market to give employment to graduates because of the behaviour of a minority among students. Furthermore, students in schools and other educational institutions in Sri Lanka look up to you expecting a model of exemplary leadership to follow. It is good to examine what kind of model has been manifested by the university community of recent times. I should mention another important matter that should concern you. The main condition necessary for the progress of a society is the strength of the people built on national unity. In 1994 we inherited a society that was deeply divided. The younger generation was antagonistic towards the older generation. Certain Tamil youths had distanced themselves from the political mainstream. As there was no national unity, the country had no vision that could illuminate the path the nation should take. Our government, realising this truth, embarked on the difficult task of forging national unity. It is not the responsibility of a single political party alone, but the sacred duty of all those who are concerned with territorial integrity to rebuild the national unity that has been disrupted for several decades. What we can still observe, however, are groups agitating to mislead the people through Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim racism. Finally I request you, who have enjoyed the benefits of higher education, to join together for your own sake and your country's future prosperity, to defeat ideologies that destroy the nation, and to contribute to the salutary task of building a new Sri Lanka. MP seeks court order to stay
auctioning of his vehicle by Customs Mr. P. Harrison, UNP Member of Parliament for the Anuradhapura District, has filed a Writ Application in the Court of Appeal, seeking a stay order against the Director General of Customs, restraining him from proceeding to auction a vehicle imported by the petitioner. The petition said that the said vehicle is being held up at the harbour, since the approval for a duty waiver, to which the petitioner is entitled to, is being delayed, by the Secretary to the Treasury, the first respondent in the petition. The said approval for a duty waiver, should be sent by the Secretary to the Treasury, to the Director General of Customs, and The Commissioner of Motor Traffic. The said duty waiver is to be issued under Section 19 A of the Customs Ordinance. The import licence has been issued to the petitioner, in this capacity as a Member of Parliament, the date of issue being 16.7.97. The delay in the issue of the duty waiver has caused the petitioner to pay high costs as demurrage, and other expenses, due to the Port of Colombo. The petition has claimed damages to meet these expenses. The petition has requested the Court of Appeal to issue a Writ of Mandamus, compelling the Secretary to the Treasury, to send a letter of approval, to grant the petitioner, a duty waiver, to enable him to clear his vehicle, from the Port of Colombo. SC overthrows Fundamental Rights
violation plea of The Finance Co. Ltd. The Supreme Court in a recent judgement dismissed the Fundamental Rights violation plea filed by The Finance Company Limited of 97, Hyde Park Corner, Colombo 2, challenging the refusal by the Controller of Exchange, approval to the petitioner, to accept a loan from the Netherlands Development Finance Company. The refusal was dated 11.9.97. The proposed loan was of the rupee equipment of four million Dutch Guilders, repayable with interest in eight equal half-yearly instalments, over a four year period, with a grace period of one year. The purpose of the loan was to enable the petitioner, to provide lease finance for small scale enterprises. The judgement said that the fact that the petitioner’s application was being processed between June and December 1997 could not be ignored. It was a time when countries all over Asia, even some with strong currencies had begun to face serious financial problems, which are now generally attributed to inadequate checks and controls on foreign borrowings. Greater caution was a public duty, the judgement said. The petition had said that an application was made by the petitioner, in December 1995, for the approval of a similar loan, to the value of the rupee equivalent of two million, Dutch Guilders. It was payable with interest in ten equal half-yearly instalments, over a five year period; had been approved in February 1995. The petitioner received the principal sum of Rs. 66,380,000 in November 1995. The Netherlands Development Finance Company had then offered the petitioner a second loan in or about February 1996. The rate of interest for the first loan had been three percent per annum, above the average weighted deposit rate, while for the second it was 4.5 per cent per annum, above the average weighted deposit rate. The judgement quoted submission made by the Deputy Solicitor General, K. Sripavan, who had appeared for the first respondent The Monetary Board of The Central Bank of Sri Lanka, the second respondent The Controller of Exchange and the third respondent, the Attorney General. Sripavan had referred to the figures submitted by the petitioner to the Central Bank, according to which the total time deposits had increased by Rs. 1,124 million between 31.3.96 and 31.10.97, from Rs. 2,459 million to Rs. 3,583 million. That was almost ten times the amount of the second loan. However, since the loan was repayable over a five-year period, including the grace period of one year, a fairer comparison might be the petitioner’s time deposit of thirty months and over: those showed an over all increase of Rs. 195 million over the same period. The judgement said that the aforesaid statement strongly supports the Exchange Controller’s position that the petitioner could have raised the amount of the second loan locally, without difficulty, by means of time deposits from its customers. The judgement held that it was not unreasonable, arbitrary or capricious, for the Exchange Controller, to refuse the petitioner’s application on that basis and in any event, the petitioner suffered no loss by that refusal. The judgement added that prima facie, there was sufficient justification for approving a foreign exchange loan, at a time of low liquidity and refusing one at a time of high liquidity. The senior counsel for the petitioner, R. K. W. Goonesekera, had submitted that, the effect of the said loan, in a few million Dutch Guilders on the national money supply, would not be significant and that the amount was a small quantum, when compared with the country’s total foreign exchange liabilities. But the judgement explained that the Controller of Exchange, could not have considered the petitioner’s application in isolation. He had to proceed on the basis, that if he approved that loan, he could not thereafter, refuse to approve other similar loans, even of higher amounts. He had to consider the impact on the economy not just of one loan, but of a number of loans. But, however, the judgement had said that the Exchange Controller should have given more publicity about the policies of his department and its practices, that could have lessened the petitioner’s sense of grievance. The application was dismissed but no costs were ordered. R. K. W. Goonesekera, with D. C. M. Swarnadhipathy appeared for the petitioner. The Deputy Solicitor General K. Sripavan, appeared for the respondent Monetary Board, the Exchange Controller and the Attorney General. The judgement was by Justice Mark Fernando with Justice S. W. B. Wadugodapitiya and Justice Dr. Asoka de Z. Gunewardene agreeing. Sri Lanka notes with deep concern the further nuclear tests which have occurred in the South Asian region. Sri Lanka continues to reiterate the position it has maintained on previous occasions of such testings, say a press release from the Foreign Ministry. Sri Lanka believes that the entire international community should continue its efforts to achieve global nuclear disarmament leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons without which peace and international security will continue to be in jeopardy. SL bogus asylum seekers to be affected by new German law The Federal German Parliament facing an increasing abuse of refugee status, is about to adopt a modification to the law of granting social benefits for asylum seekers, said a press release issued by the German Embassy. "Germany has a refugee population of over 1.7 million persons. 60,330 are of Sri Lankan origin. However, only an average of 12 percent of the Sri Lankan refugees are recognised as political refugees under humanitarian considerations. The overwhelming amount of Sri Lankans have come to Germany seeking a better economic life. Basis for this is the social framework being granted to any newly arrived refugee. "The law in question will drastically cut down social benefits for asylum seekers. Any foreign person without legal permit for residence in Germany and all illegally entered persons to Germany, shall from then on, be restricted in claiming social benefits. The same restrictions will apply to persons who have not been conceded a legal status to stay in Germany and are consequently asked by the German authorities to leave the country. "The German Government is certain that this decrease of financial benefits will particularly limit the number of illegal immigrants who have been entering Germany after having paid thousands of US-dollars to human-smugglers for a risky and dangerous journey to Germany. |
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