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Govt. to put off PC polls under
emergency for next year ? The government is contemplating putting off the Provincial Councils election until January next year under emergency regulations, a senior government spokesman said yesterday. This follows the stand taken by Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte on the question of deploying police and security personnel for election duty in view of the North-East battle-front commitments. Gen. Ratwatte had informed Cabinet that it’s not possible to provide security for any election until the end of December this year. He has also told Cabinet that in the event of an election being called at this point of time candidates contesting Ministerial or Chief Ministerial posts will have to be provided an extensive security cover involving a large number of police and military personnel and other candidates at the rate of two security men each. This would work up to anything between 8000 to 10,000 security personnel. In addition to this another 20,000 security personnel would be required for election duty at polling booths. Under the prevailing circumstances such a security commitment is out of the question, Minister Ratwatte had informed Cabinet. However, by December this year new recruits to the police will complete their training and their services will be available for any election without disrupting the war effort, Gen. Ratwatte had said. Accordingly, the postponement of the PC polls is under active consideration, the government spokesman said. Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris is expected to inform the government’s decision to put off the PC poll to Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe in accordance with a directive by President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Smoker sues CTC for making
him an addict A lung cancer patient, Kurukulasuriyage Cecil Perera, a tailor, by profession, has sued Ceylon Tobacco Company Ltd., in a sum of Rs. 2,500,000 claiming damages allegedly for making him an addict to smoking by manufacturing and marketing cigarettes containing nicotine. The case has been filed in Colombo District Court by the plaintiff through his lawyers Kanishka Vitharana, P. J. Senaratne and Mrs Medha Gamage. The plaint stated that at the age of 15, the plaintiff had started purchasing and smoking cigarettes produced, distributed and marketed by the Ceylon tobacco Company. Initially, he smoked 4 cigarettes a day but by the time he reached the age of 35 years, he smoked about 18 cigarettes per day. The plaintiff became so addicted to smoking that he could not either stop smoking or even curtail the amount of cigarettes smoked. Instead, his urge to smoke the cigarettes, the products of the defendant company increased consequent to his addiction. Thereafter, the plaintiff became badly ill. In September, 1996, it was diagnosed by his physicians that he was suffering from cancer caused by excessive smoking. The plaintiff became addicted to nicotine in the cigarettes. It has been found that the inhalation or consumption of products that contain nicotine could cause habit formation. It could create an urge in the consumer to long for more and more culminating in an addiction. The defendants are aware that cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a habit forming substance, that consumers buy their products due to the addiction, that there would be no addiction, if not for the nicotine and that the substances contained in cigarettes could cause diseases including cancer. The defendants propagated and promoted the sale of their products through their advertisement in the media. The defendants have failed to make products as a non-habit forming ones so that they would not lead to addiction. They had neglected to produce cigarettes that are free of nicotine. They failed to make the public aware of the nicotine contents in the cigarettes that would result in addiction. As a result of manufacture and marketing of cigarettes containing nicotine, that could lead a consumer to addiction, the defendants have acted in contravention of the section 15 of the Sale of Goods Act. The plaintiff has become a cancer patient consequent to his buying and smoking cigarettes produced by the defendant. This has resulted in the plaintiff's lungs being affected. This has also resulted in curtailing his longevity. The loss and damage caused to the plaintiff was Rs. 2,500,000, the plaint concluded. Alleged attempt to rescue heroin
suspects An UNP Pradeshiya Sabha [PS] member of the Kataragama P.S was arrested by Central Anti-Vice Strike Force [CAVSF] last Friday [26] when he made an attempt to rescue four suspects arrested for selling heroin and ganja a senior police spokesman said yesterday. The politician and the suspects were produced before the Hambantota Magistrate on Saturday and remanded till July 8. A small group of policemen attached to the CAVSF headquartered at Walana, Panadura had arrested the suspects along with small quantities of heroin and ganja. The Pradeshiya Sabha member had tried to persuade the police to release the suspects. "He threatened the personnel," the spokesman alleging that several persons had attacked the police party. The spokesman also alleged that troops surrounded the police vehicle and prevented the police from leaving the area. The politician and some of his associates had called for troops claiming that a group of terrorists were in the area to mount an attack on Kataragama. Even after the officer in charge of the raid party explained, their mission and that they were law enforcement officers, the troops have not co-operated police claimed. Troops have been deployed in the deep south to assist police in curbing terrorist attacks in Yala and neighbouring areas. In the ensuing clashes between the police party and supporters of the heroin suspects, the police had managed to arrest the Pradeshiya Sabha member. All five were later produced before the Hambantota Magistrate and remanded till 8th of next month. Police said that apart from the arrested Pradeshiya Sabha member at least another member of the UNP controlled P.S. had been involved in the attempt to rescue the heroin suspects. The IG Police W. B. Rajaguru has been informed of the incident. Police headquarters was expected to inform the military of the incident. CAVSF headed by senior SP D. A de Fonseka functions under the supervision of senior DIG Lucky Kodituwakku. Personnel attached to this unit had met opposition from both UNP and PA politicians during raids in several parts of the country. Army yesterday confirmed the incident. A spokesman said that troops rushed after hearing of the presence of a group of terrorists in the Sella Kataragama area. Police officers said that troops did nothing to prevent the associates of the suspects from attacking the police party. Police said that despite threats CAVSF men were able to move into the Kataragama police station in the Tangalle division. "There were repeated attempts to secure their release," police said adding that there was evidence to suggest that the suspects were the main heroin dealers in the area. Asgiriya Prelate wishes
President good health KANDY: In a congratulatory message to president Chandrika Kumaratunge on her 53rd birth anniversary which falls today (29) Ven. Palipana Sri Chandananda Mahanayake Thera of Asgiriya has blessed that she would gain good health and courage together with the blessings of the guardian deities in her endeavours to solve the numerous problems and to go ahead with many development plans. Ven. Sri Chandananda has said that he was pleased to congratulate her on her birth anniversary. The people of Sri Lanka elected you as the President of the country after having taken into account the dedicated manner you performed the service for the people and the country with the experience and the guidance you inherited from your parents. The people entrusted to you the top-most administrative post with the confidence that you would lead this country to prosperity, the prelate has further said in the congratulatory message. I am aware of the interest and the enthusiasm you have been taking to solve the grave problems the country and the people face today. I sincerely wish you that you will gain the courage and good health in your mission to solve those problems to restore peace and execute successfully the development programmes you have designed, with the blessings of the Sacred Tooth Relic, the Triple Gem and the guardian deities prelate has added. Govt. officers fear death
threats from PA politico Several officers attached to Pallegama office of the Divisional Secretary have requested Matale District Secretary and Government Agent, Dias Amarasinghe that they be transferred out due to what they claimed to be death threats from a People's Alliance politician in the area. The officers had also informed the District Secretary that in the event their transfers were not granted they had no alternative but to vacate their posts. Already, Thejani Thilakaratne, an Assistant Secretary attached to this office of the Divisional Secretary had been transferred to Matale District Secretariat. The Divisional Secretary of Pallegama, himself had also asked for a transfer out of the area. He had also intimated to the Ministry of Public Administration that in case there was no suitable vacancy for him he be at least sent to the 'pool', according to reports. It is alleged that the local politician had come to the office of Pallegama Divisional Secretary and thrown a file at the Assistant Secretary and threatened her with death. The matter had been brought to the notice of Deputy Inspector General of Police, Central Province Sirisena Herath. Meanwhile District Secretary, Dias Amarasinghe had already brought the matter to the notice of the Ministry of Public Administration and the Minister of Forestry and Environment, Nandimithra Ekanayake. Troops last Friday [26] had killed 17 terrorists in three separate confrontations west, east and north of Elephant Pass the military said yesterday. Troops did not suffer casualties sources added. Colombo can’t cope with
increasing population, says Mayor The current drainage, sewage and storm water systems within the Colombo city cannot cope with the increasing population. That is the main problem when it comes to controlling the spread of cholera and dengue, Mayor of Colombo, Karu Jayasuriya, said in an interview with ‘The Island’ last Friday. He said, the biggest problem facing Colombo metropolis is that the systems created by the Europeans a long time ago, are outdated and are not equipped to cater to the ever increasing number of people in the city. " There are approximately 750,000 people residing in Colombo and in addition another 400,000 people come into the city to work on a normal day. The systems were designed to cater to about 150,000 people. They cannot cater to 1.2 million people," he pointed out. According to the Mayor, several steps are being taken to overcome this serious problem. The present system will be augmented by the end of 1998, in regard to the supply of water. "At the moment, the city requires an additional 10 million gallons of water on a normal day. That requirement cannot be supplied. By year 2000 we are hoping to supply adequate water to the city," the Mayor said. It is the responsibility of the Water Board to supply the water and the Municipality is responsible only for distributing it. " We distribute what we are given", he said. When questioned about the piling heaps of garbage in the city of Colombo, Mr. Jayasuriya said that steps are being taken to streamline the process of garbage collection. " We have realised that the collection of garbage can be better streamlined through privatisation." Of the six divisions within the city, three will be handled by the private sector while the balance will be handled by the municipality. " The public and the private sector will co-exist in competition," the Mayor, adding that they were taking the St. Petersburg model in Russia as an example. The Mayor said that although pragmatic steps have been taken there cannot be a complete transformation within the next year, but they are ahead of schedule and that ‘step by step changes’ will take place. Dr. Tissa Seneviratne, Chief Medical Officer of the Public Health Department who was also present during the interview said that the spread of dengue is under control within the city. He said although this is the case, there can be instances where the disease is brought in from outstation areas. "There is a severe outbreak of cholera in the Puttalam and Chilaw areas and it is possible for people coming into Colombo from those areas to carry the disease." According to Dr. Seneviratne, the spread of cholera and dengue had not been as severe in the city of Colombo this year in comparison to the two previous years. In 1997 dengue claimed 57 lives, in 1998 it claimed 17 lives and so far in it has not claimed any lives. Dr. Seneviratne said that over 400 eating houses and tea kiosks have been investigated by a team comprising of 27 Public Health Inspectors (PHI) from the Public Health Department and 60 PHIs from the Ministry of Health. The team have temporarily closed down a total of 11 eating houses, of which one has been given approval to reopen. The approval to reopen is given after extensive testing of the food and the water supply is conducted, Dr. Seneviratne said. He added the eating houses and tea kiosks will be monitored regularly once they have been reopened. According to Dr. Seneviratne, the biggest hazard to public health with regard to the spread of cholera is the "unauthorised water supply" (in addition to the city main supply), that is being used by certain eating houses. He said that although people are encouraged to use tube wells, these wells are not dug according to the required standards. A tube well has to be a minimum 30 or 40 feet in depth, but the wells that are used by some eating houses only reach a depth of 10 feet. "They stop digging as soon as they find the surface water. The surface water in the city is highly polluted and this water when used in cooking and drinking contributes to the spread of the disease," he said. With regard to preventive measures, Dr. Seneviratne said the city water supply is tested daily for the level of chlorine. In addition, the eating houses are being monitored regularly and the food is also tested regularly in the Health Department laboratories. Another factor in the spread of cholera and dengue is the overcrowding of certain areas in the city, such as the shanties. These areas which do not have proper sanitary disposal methods are a high risk group. To curb the spread of disease among the residents, steps have been taken to disinfect these areas frequently. The public toilets and the public wells are also cleaned regularly, he noted. In addition a program has been launched, where every Saturday the PHIs go into six selected municipal wards and set out in cleaning the area with help of the residents. Dr. Seneviratne added that "the team of 87 PHIs cannot go into every single house. The public must be educated and their support must be obtained to effectively eradicate the spread of diseases such as dengue and cholera." Bad weather expected to continue according to Met Dept. The rainy weather that has wreaked havoc in many parts of the country is expected to continue with the Meteorological Department predicting more showers accompanied by strong winds. According to reports the affected areas include Kalutara, Wadduwa, Matara and Hambantota with over hundred houses destroyed in Kalutara and in the coastal areas with houses bordering the coastal belt washed away by the rough sea. Director of the Social Services Department Ms. N. Pathirana said that they are experiencing difficulty in trying to contact the affected areas but the people displaced will be looked after by the local cooperative societies that will provide bread and other food items. Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayaka has visited several affected areas and the victims will be provided with compensation later, Ms. Pathirana said. Meanwhile at Gonahena, Kadawatha a tree fell onto a boutique killing a woman who was inside it last Thursday evening. (LS) "Fisheries sector
contributes to total export earnings of SL" Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa speaking at the "Exporting value-added fisheries products" seminar yesterday said, the fisheries sector contributes around two percent to the total export earnings of Sri Lanka, and assured the continued support of the government for the development of the fishing industry, He said that last year Sri Lanka earned Rs. 4436 million from export of fishing products, up 7.5% from the figure in 1996. "The export fishing industry is growing steadily. With the present programmes of my ministry to expand deep sea fisheries, inland fisheries and aquaculture there will be a good resource base for expansion of the export fishing industry", he said. He said that the strategy should be to add value as much as possible for fishing products and that it will not only enhance export earnings, but also increase employment opportunities. The Minister said that there are two other aspects that require attention in order to sustain the exports and those are the sustainable use of resources, and meeting the quality requirements in respect of the products, which are being increasingly imposed by the importing countries. He quoted as an example the European Union directives on fisheries products." Meeting the quality alone is not sufficient to export fishery products to the European Union. We have to show them that we have mechanisms that ensure the quality of the product.," he added. Minister of Internal and International, Trade, Commerce and Food, Kingsley T. Wickremeratne also speaking at the inauguration session of the workshop, said that he is confident that the three day workshop could provide an added impetus, encouragement and technical expertise to the local seafood exporters to commence export of value added fisheries products and those who are already exporting these products to increase their exports and improve their quality and also to expand the product range. He further said the fisheries sector is important to the economy of the country as the exported fish and fisheries products earn valuable foreign exchange to the country and also provides employment to over 100,000 people. "It is also important due to its substantial contribution to the animal proteins consumed by the vast majority of the population. Fish contributes around 65% of the animal protein consumed in Sri Lanka," he said. The Minister also added that during the past 10 years the export of fisheries products have shown considerable growth in Sri Lanka and that these high valued products are exported to Japan, USA and Europe. The seminar organized by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board in collaboration with FAO/ INFOFISH Malaysia, Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development and the Sea Food Exporters Association also discussed Vietnamese experiences, Vietnam being a successful exporter on value added items. Two more FM broadcasts Asia Broadcasting Corporation will launch an English channel "SUN FM" on 99.9 FM and a Sinhala channel ‘HIRU FM’ on 107.9 FM from July 1. Asia Broadcasting Corporation will be the operating company for ‘SUN FM’ and ‘HIRU FM’ . ‘SUN FM will be a distinctive English channel aimed at urban and semi-urban, with a listenership profile of young adults and teenagers and an adult contemporary audience. By December this year, ‘Asia Broadcasting’ will have five channels in operation with islandwide coverage and will operate 24 hours a day. By launching five channels the ‘ABC radio network will revolutionize the broadcasting industry in Sri Lanka and take it one step further, with programming and state of the art technology of the highest quality catering to a listenership profile of all walks of life’, official sources said. Of these five channels, ‘SUN FM’ will consist of two channels, one with a listenership profile of young adults and teenagers and the other an adult contemporary audience. The Tamil channel is expected to draw in a wide listenership base featuring programming that enjoy highest listenership across the country. HIRU FM will be the Sinhala channel consisting of two frequencies, one with a listener-ship profile of young adults and teenagers and the other an adult contemporary audience, according to these sources. Deadly spray A group of female employees of a Korean-run garment factory at Divulapitiya had fainted while on duty last Thursday afternoon. They were given immediate medical treatment and revived. The company then made a search within the factory premises for a possible chemical leakage, but drew blank. The following day, another 19 female employees fainted again and they had to be taken to the Negombo base hospital for treatment. The factory was temporarily closed for a complete check on a possible chemical leakage. Meanwhile, certain female employees who were suspicious of the activities of a colleague informed the management who called in the Divulapitiya police. Police investigations had revealed that a 22-year-old female employee was in possession of a poisonous spray that could make a person senseless within a few seconds. On questioning the suspect it had come to light that this poisonous spray had been sent to her by her boyfriend studying in a university in California as she had informed him regarding another youth who had been following her, police said. To keep the youth away from his girl he had sent her the poisonous spray, it had been revealed. The suspect had tested the spray in her work place resulting the female employees fainting, according to police. The spray had been sent by the police to the Government Analyst. Divulapitiya police are conducting further investigations. AG's dept. must act with independence and
impartiality The Attorney General's Department must act with utmost independence and impartiality in the areas of its activity where it plays a quasi-judicial role, said Minister of Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration and Deputy Minister of Finance Prof. G. L. Peiris last Thursday in Colombo. He was speaking at the ceremonial opening of the new Attorney General's office building in Hulftsdorp. President Chandrika Kumaratunga was the chief guest on the occasion. Prof. Peiris said that two areas in which the Attorney General's department played quasi-judicial roles were decisions to prosecute a person after considering the evidence and the issue of Nolle Proseque Orders, where the Attorney General is of the view that no prosecution should take place. He said the institution of Attorney General has a history of several centuries. In Britain there is an amalgam of Judicial, executive and legislative power in the President of the House of Lords. He was an apex of the judicial executive and legislative powers, he said. Prof. Peiris lamented that people of high calibre were leaving the Attorney GeneralÕs Department and admitted that the advantages open to them are inadequate. This is receiving the attention of the government, he assured. Referring to Law's delays, he said that an experiment was made by the late Felix Dias Bandaranaike when he was Justice Minister to do away with the non-summary proceedings, but the government that followed re-introduced by re-amending the Criminal Procedure Code. Attorney General Sarath N. Silva said that President Chandrika Kumaratunga is being present in the citadel of justice for the first time as head of state. 'You have visited us in your thoughts and speeches and in particular your bitter criticism of law's delays, he said. He recounted how one of her predecessors devoted his full speech to criticise the laws delays in a speech titled 'Justice delayed is Justice denied' and how the then President of the Bar Association in a speech on a subsequent occasion replied by saying 'Justice hurried is Justice buried'. Quoting George Bernard Shaw he said: 'There are two qualities in the world; efficiency and inefficiency'. There are also two sorts of people: the efficient and the inefficient'. 'I would dedicate the building that you have opened to an institution that will be efficient to be manned by officers who will be efficient and righteous guardians of law, the AG told the President in his speech. Continuing he said: 'In the presence of those who will follow me as the head of this institution, at different times, up to 30 years or more from today, I give a solemn assurance that we shall adhere to the qualities that I adverted to in this address, of righteousness and efficiency'. Solicitor General Upawansa Yapa moved the vote of thanks. Commercial HC judge dismisses case filed by
Cellate International Commercial High Court Judge P. Wija-yaratne recently dismissed a suit filed by Cellate International Co. against Znover Stainer East Asia Ltd and Overseas Reality Ltd. for the recovery of certain sums of money on the strength of a writing dated November 15, 1993. The case which was set down for trial before Colombo District Court wherein this action was originally instituted, was transferred to this council in terms of and by virtue of operation of High Court of Provinces Act. The order stated that the tenor of the totality of the points of contest that are proposed on the respective pleadings by the parties suggest two main areas of dispute. One is whether there was any payment due and a liability to pay such sum as claimed by the first defendant who admits having entered into an agreement with Cellate International. The other issue is the locus standi or the right of the plaintiff to sue the first defendant when the admitted agreement was with Cellate International. The plaintiff, not withstanding the fact that it has no right to claim any sums of money from the first defendant, has not proved facts necessary in the eye of the law to justify its claims against the first defendant the order concluded. Romesh de Silva (PC) with Hiran de Alwis and A. R. M. Faiz instructed by Hussain Ahamed appeared for the plaintiff. K. N. Choksy (PC), L. C. Seneviratne (PC), with Wijedasa Rajapakse and Kuvera de Zoysa instructed by Daya Weththasinghe appeared for the defendants. ATM facilities in Polonnaruwa District For the first time ATM facilities will become a reality in Polonnaruwa district with today's opening of the Hatton National Bank's Kadurawela branch. ATM services will be available 24 hours a day. This electronic card banking service will serve our customers, particularly farmers and other businessmen related to paddy cultivation and their banking needs will be met irrespective of time of the day, Manager HNB, Polonnaruwa branch Shirley Fernando told ÔThe IslandÕ. Maithripala Sirisena Minister of Mahaweli Development and MP, Polonnaruwa will be the chief guest. Estates staff union office bearers The 13th bi-ennial Delegates Sessions of the Ceylon Estates Staff Union was held on June 20th at the CMU Hall, Kollupitiya presided over by Keerthi Mannapperuma, President. The following office-bearers were elected for the ensuing two years. President: Keerthi Mannapperuma, Mahawela Estate, Ratnapura, - Deputy President: M. Shanmugavel, Drayton Estate, Kotagala, - Vice Presidents: K. A. P. Dharmaratne, Loolecondera Estate, Deltota and K. A. R. Weeratunga, Nicholoya Estate, Rattota, - Hony. Treasurer: Anton Warnakulasooriya, Hulandawa Estate, Akuressa. Shortly after the Delegates' Sessions, the 78th General Meeting of the union commenced at 5.00 p.m. at which the chief guest was D. de S. Daluwatte, chairman, JEDB/SLSPC. |
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