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Clampdown on illegal Lankan
workers in S. Korea South Korea’s economic problems are now threatening to affect Sri Lankan workers in the country and hundreds of illegal workers are set to make tracks for home before August 31. Labour Ministry sources told ‘The Island’ yesterday that the South Korean government has declared an amnesty for illegal workers and residents in the country. Those without travel documents or work permits have been instructed to leave the country before August 31 after which the government will conduct a mass clampdown on illegal workers. According to sources from the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), there are about 3,000 Sri Lankans in the country, legally and illegally resident in South Korea. Meanwhile, Labour Minister, W. D. J. Seneviratne, told ‘The Island’ that the number of Sri Lankan workers sought by South Korea for its labour market has declined dramatically this year. In 1996, about 1,766 Sri Lankans had travelled to South Korea through the bureau for employment purposes. In 1997, this figure dropped to 1,068. This year, according to current trends, the figure will be lower still. According to the Minister, the numbers to South Korea may reduce by as much as 75% and it is so already. A SLBFE source said South Korean visas are also increasingly difficult to obtain. South Korea only employs semi-skilled and unskilled labour for heavy industries from Sri Lanka. South Korea promised the Sri Lankan government 10,000 jobs after President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the South Korean President held talks at a heads of state summit a few years ago. This promise was reiterated after President Kumaratunga paid an official visit to that country. The 10,000 figure, however, was never accomplished due to a number of practical difficulties. Among these was the fact that the South Korean industrialists operate independently of the government and the latter could not force them to create employment opportunities for the sake of keeping a promise. Another was that Sri Lankan workers were not the most sought after workforce by South Korean employers. The South Korean industrialists demand a high degree of discipline and this was found to be largely absent among the Sri Lankan workforce, members of which deserted their original workplace with alarming frequency in search of better opportunities. Employment sources explained that the desertion rate among Sri Lankan employees in South Korea was always high. In fact, it once threatened to jeopardise worker quotas given by the South Korean industrialists to Sri Lanka. Such workers will also be required to leave under the amnesty. South Korean industries have been badly hit by the South East Asian economic crisis and are generally cutting down on their workforce. Legislation was enacted in February allowing employers to make workforce reductions in a country where lifetime employment has long been considered a right. About 68,000 workers in South Korea are presently on strike after Hyundai Motors laid off 2,678 workers. Highest honour due him is
to follow his footsteps The remains of Tripitaka Vageeswaracharya Abhidhaja Maha Ratthaguru Sangharaja Prawachana Vissharada Mahopadya Agga Maha Panditha Rajakeeya Panditha, Most Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Maha Nayake Thera was cremated yesterday (23) evening with state honours at Balangoda Central College premises. The whole of Balangoda town and the premises of Balangoda Central College was glittering in yellow with the presence of Bhikhus from the four corners of the island to pay the last respects to the Most Ven. Thera. The crowd of laity present was innumerable. There were prominent representatives of different political parties as well as professionals present at the cremation. The funeral procession that commenced at Sri Dhammananda Pirivena wended its way to the cremation ground in the evening. The day was declared a holiday for schools in Balangoda and students in white uniforms were present at the cremation ground. Head of Vidyodaya Pirivena, Maligakanda and Chief Sangha Nayake of Southern Sri Lanka, Ven Akuretiye Amarawansa Nayake Thera speaking at the occasion said "Not only Sri Lanka but the whole world mourn the death of Balangoda Most Ven. Thera. Whenever he visited any country he was well received there. The Ven. Thera was well known all over the world as a scholar and a person of high discipline and nobility of character. He was a great asset to the Buddhist religion. At the Sanghayana held in Burma he exhibited the fine knowledge of Thripitaka among the Bhikkhus in Sri Lanka. "He had shown his scholarly bearing by learning several languages inclusive of English without attending a Pirivena or a University. Even Gods worship Bhikkhus like this most Ven. Thera. The loss created by the death of this Thera is irreparable not only to our country but to the whole world. May the most Ven. Thera attain his noble wish to become a Lord Buddha". The Maha Nayake of Amarapura Sangha Sabha, Most Ven. Madihe Pagnaseeha Maha Nayake Thera speaking said:— "Different forms of media had paid the greatest tribute to our Most Ven. Thero. "Our Nayake Thera was such an eminent scholar that he did a perfect job of servicing the Tripitakaya and translating it. I knew his capability in this respect because I was in the board of the committee to revise and translate the Tripitakaya. "The Most Ven. Thera always made it a point to discuss any problematic issue with us before taking decisions on such problems. "Theras like the Most Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera are a necessity in the world today. The highest honour that our Bhikkhus could pay to honourable thera is to follow his foot steps. "I was a close associate of this Most Ven. Thera. As such I am aware of his good qualities. Not only the Bhikkhus who should emulate his good qualities but also the Dayakas". Anu-Nayake of Ramanna Nikaya Ven. Madithiyawela Vijitha Nayake Thera speaking said. "Most Ven. Ananda Maithriya Thera possessed qualities even the Maha Sangha of ancient days did not have. He was the greatest Thera who was born in the 20th century. There was no other person in our country who brought such fame internationally to our country. I am wondering whether he would be the future Lord Maithri Buddha. Where simplicity was concerned he was incomparable. He was such a great scholar. We are indeed a fortunate lot to be able to listen to his sermons". A Maha Nayake Bhikkhu from Thailand speaking on behalf of foreign Bhikkhus said. "We have decided to hold a annual religious festival to commemorate the Most Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Nayake Thera. We sincerely hope that a day will come in the future when the Most Ven. Thera will preach us Buddha Dharma. Just as we respect the Most Ven. Ananda Maithriya Thera we respect all other Nayake Theras in Sri Lanka. We extend our sincere invitation to all those Maha Nayake Theras to visit our countries". Minister of Religious and Cultural Affairs, Luxhman Jayakody representing the President first read the message of the President sent for the occasion and thereafter said. "The greatest among the Ven. Bhikkhus present in the 20th century was Most Ven. Ananda Maithriya Maha Nayake Thera. If a person wished to attain Buddhahood he must be the greatest among living human beings. I sincerely hope that the present day Ven. Bhikkhus would follow his foot-steps. Though he had not been conferred with the title "Sangha Raja" he definitely was a "Sangha Raja". It is not enough to give the Most Ven. Thera state honours. But it is best to remember his deeds and actions and try to follow them. Though the Most Ven. Thera is no more yet the government has already decided to present to the Maha Sangha the Chiththa Vivekashramaya. Similarly government is dedicated to protect Buddhism. The whole world is one country. I am a resident of that country. We are all one family. I am a member of that family. That was the philosophy of the Most Ven. Thera. "If we all practice his philosophy this world would be a better place to live in". Minister of Labour, John Seneviratne read a message from Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Badulla District Member of Parliament, W. J. M. Lokubandara speaking said "This is a rare historic occasion. These people who participate in this occasion indeed are a fortunate lot. The Most Ven. Thera was an incomparable scholar. He also bore a rare character. He was an example to those Bhikkhus who had forgotten our culture. This rare occasion is not for us to grieve. The Most Ven. lived longer than Lord Buddha. It is in keeping with the philosophy of Buddhim that this Most Ven. Thera who had lived more than a century should die" said Lokubandara. On behalf of relatives of the Most Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera, Inspector of Police, R. D. L. Jayaratne speaking said. "The Most Ven. Thera treated everybody in similar fashion to his relatives. The honourable thera never did anything for his personal benefit. His aim was to serve everybody wishing that one day he would attain Buddhahood. I wish that the Most Ven. Thero be born again and again as a relation of us" said R. D. L. Jayaratne. The cremation was conducted in its all simplicity in keeping with the simple lifestyle of Most Ven. Balangoda Ananda Maithriya Thera. Aviation security men
threatened by AirForce personnel Some members of the SLAF contingent deployed at the Bandaranaike International Airport on Tuesday threatened Airport and Aviation security personnel. This was after the aviation security stopped some non-commissioned officers of the Air Force at the gate for taking out three luggage trollies out beyond the porch. The incident had occurred around 1 p.m. on Tuesday. Sources said that at least 30 Sri Lanka Air Force personnel armed, had gathered there to support their men if things got heated. Regulations have been framed by the air port officials, restricting the arriving passengers from taking the trollies beyond the porch. That was done to prevent any persons walking off with those trollies, the sources said. On Tuesday afternoon, three persons had tried to take out their luggage in those trollies out of the porch. The aviation security personnel who were at the entrance had stopped them and told them not to take the trollies out. The three passengers had obliged and had kept the trollies with the security personnel and carried their luggage out, the sources said. After that, two SLAF men stationed at the bunker close to the entrance had approached the officers who stopped the three men and verbally abused them. They had told the security personnel that out of three men whom they stopped two were air force coporals and threateningly asked for an explanation as to why they were not allowed to proceed without being stopped. The security officers had told them that those were standing regulations. Then one of the two airmen had pointed his T-81 assault rifle at the security and while continuing to abuse them verbally had loaded the gun. At that time 30 odd SLAF men had gathered there, the witnesses said. Fearing a shooting the aviation security chiefs had asked the airmen to calm down and had dispersed them. According to sources after that incident the SLAF had started harassing aviation pass holders. The shutting of the side entrance was a result of that, the sources said. When the aviation security was in charge of the security they had completely closed the side entrance and opened it only if they wanted to send out any suspicious vehicles. When the SLAF took over the security they had opened up the gate. Since the incident on Tuesday afternoon they have stopped the aviation personnel from using the gate to enter the airport. However, they still let all others even the civilians use that gate, the sources said. They said that due to the restrictions imposed by the SLAF, the aviation officers have to walk about a quarter of a mile to the main entrance to get in. Even there they are subjected to harassment, they said adding that the airmen give them lengthy body checks. Both Chief Aviation Security Manager and the SLAF spokesman were not available for comment. IP on Moratuwa shooting Police headquarters had alerted police stations about a fortnight ago to be on the lookout for suspected LTTErs from Baticaloa who were attempting to infiltrate the city of Colombo in a white Hiace van. On the day of the police shooting on Wednesday, policemen manning the check point opposite the Katubedda Peoplised Bus Depot noticed a white van similar to the one they had been alerted about, travelling towards Colombo from, Moratuwa. The policemen ordered it to halt. When the driver failed to do so police had opened fire, Moratuwa HQI Jayantha Atapattu said yesterday. When asked by ‘The Island’ when policemen or security forces personnel are expected to fire at the tyres of a vehicle which fails to heed an order to halt, police had directed the gun fire at the vehicle body of the vehicle injuring three occupants, IP Atapattu said he did not fault his constables for the way they fired as most of these constables were new to the Police Department. It was only recently there was a firing practice and except for two constables all the others could not shoot straight, he claimed. "So I cannot fault my constables for not shooting straight. It is a matter for Courts to decide who was right and was wrong and the matter is now before Courts", he said. He said a full inquiry into all aspects of the shooting is in progress. When asked about the arrest of a youth from the scene of the shooting for allegedly intimidating a woman PC manning the checkpoint and later charged with snatching a chain belonging to the woman PC. HQI Atapattu said that the woman PC had consented to drop the charge against the youth after considering the matter from a humanitarian angle where in the ensuing chaos the chain could have fallen off. But the youth was being produced in Courts for having intimidated the woman PC while she was in pursuit of her duties, IP Atapattu said. Mrs. Shirani Thilakawardene, High Court Judge, Colombo has been promoted a Judge of the Court of Appeal. She is scheduled to take oaths before the President, Chandrika Kumaratunga today. ‘Journalists arrested for alleged LTTE connections’ Media Minister and Cabinet spokesman Mangala Samaraweera told yesterday’s cabinet press briefing that the two "Virakesari" journalists arrested by the Police Terrorist Investi-gation Unit are being questioned at an authorised place of detention. Samaraweera said that he and the Director Information Ariya Rubasinghe were mointoring the situation. "The defence authoriities say that the two journalists have been arrested not for their writings but for their connections with the LTTE," he said. ( ZJ ) Two professional
organisations hold joint sessions The surgeons in the region must convene as a SAARC group to promote regional cooperation to promote better health for people of the region said Prof. M. P. Sharma, President of the India Society of Gastroenterology . At the first joint sessions of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka and the Gastroenterological and Digestive Endoscopy Society of Sri Lanka. This is the first time two academic associations of Sri Lanka have combined to present a joint academic session. Prof. Sharma attended the inauguration as the guest of honour during the inauguration held on Wednesday. The High Commissioner of the United Kingdom David Tatham was the Chief Guest. Prof. Sharma said a convention of this nature is necessary between SAARC countries because the cost of attending conventions held in the West is very high and most medical practitioners cannot attend such sessions. Many other prominent scholars from US, UK, India and Japan also attended the proceedings. The scientific sessions were held yesterday and continue today. Prof. Dayasiri Fernando, the president of both professional organisations said that this combined session is an important event in the scientific history of Sri Lanka. There is also to be a post-congress video presentation which will show a live surgery being performed. During the live presentation the audience can watch a surgical procedure and talk to the surgeon from a lecture hall just as he would do so in an operating theater, he said. The demonstration is to take place at the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. This live presentation is performed for the first time in this level in Sri Lanka, he said. There is a close relationship between the UK and Sri Lanka. The surgeons of Sri Lanka continue and will continue to train as post graduates in the UK. The foreign participants have also brought much equipment to be used in Sri Lanka, he said. No one can deny that the surgeons of Sri Lanka have made their mark abroad, including the UK. Students of both countries have benefited from the mutual ties between the countries, he noted. "The official recognition of gastroenterology has been slow in coming and there were a very few surgeons who were post-certified," Prof. Janaka de Silva, the secretary of the society said. "Although presently most of the base hospitals have a facility for gastroenterology and more interest taken over it. Keeping abreast with the latest developments in the field was due to the pressure exerted by the trainees of the profession and the good training that was given. Despite the lack of funding the postgraduates must be sent to follow a rigorous training abroad, he said. Prof. Janaka de Silva also stressed the importance of a SAARC group convention, to improve further work in the field in the region. The inauguration was followed by the awards ceremony of the two institutions. Dr. Stanmore Salia de Alwis was presented the Honorary Fellowship for the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka. Dr. Indrajith Goonasekara was awarded the Fellowship of the College. Several other awards for outstanding work in the field were also awarded. The session that followed the inauguration will have guest speakers from the USA, UK and Japan delivering addresses. The Nihal Markus Oration and the Sir. A. M. de Silva oration were to be held. A pre-congress workshop was also held earlier in the Colombo North Teaching Hospital in Ragama. Customs fines Grain
Elevators Rs. 1,200m Customs Department imposed a penalty of Rs. 1,200 million (Rs. 1.2 billion) on a Singaporean-based company in Sri Lanka for malpractices in the import of grain, authoritative sources said. The penalty imposed on Wednesday was the biggest in the history of the Customs Department. According to senior Customs officials, the penalty was imposed on Lanka Grain Elevators Ltd. The company has been given 14 days time to pay the fine. The penalty has been imposed for irregularities in the import of maize to Sri Lanka where investigations by the Customs had revealed that the operations had violated the provisions of the agreement the Company has had with the government of Sri Lanka. The import company, according to Customs officials, had been afforded the monopoly on the import of maize for the manufacture and sale of poultry feed in 1982 with special duty waivers by the then government. It had carried out operations of the manufacture of poultry feed and fish meals in collaboration with Prima Ceylon. Grain Elevators had been importing maize from South Africa, the United States of America and Thailand. It had been revealed that under a letter issued by the Ministry of Finance, the company had also been granted a special import control licence for the import of maize with exclusive rights and freedoms not afforded to many investors at the time. However, according to Customs officials Grain Elevators had violated the provisions of the agreement with the government in their reported sale of the maize to the Pettah market without the knowledge of the government. Investigations had further revealed that Grain Elevators had, through the use of a third party under the name of "Paramount Exporters" quoted for a tender for the supply of imported maize for the "Triposha" programme of the Health Ministry, Customs sources claimed. In 1991 the Ministry of Health has called for tenders for the supply of 12,000 metric tonnes of imported maize for the manufacture of "Triposha", a special feed for pregnant and lactating mothers and infants, due to locally grown maize being below the required standards for this purpose. Customs officials said that the Company has had no competitors in the bid due to their import price being minus a duty charge and had won the tender for the supply. Following this discovery a penalty fee of Rs. 1.2 billion was imposed on the importer. Customs investigations in this regard had taken over a year, the officials said. The Company has for the past three years imported approximately 196,000 metric tonnes of maize to Sri Lanka, according to these officials. Customs have found out that these malpractices had been continuing for over a year. It’s reported that no earlier fine imposed by the Customs had exceeded Rs. 100 million. Mr. Eric J. de Silva, Director General, Education Reforms Implementation, has resigned from his post with immediate effect. GL says division of power
only way to safeguard individual rights The problems Asia experiencing today are those that grappled Europe for years and it would serve Asia good to learn from Europe’s experience, Justice, Constitutional, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration Minister, Prof. G. L. Peiris said yesterday. Minister Peiris referred in particular to the system of democracy in Europe. He noted that in that continent, democracy is safeguarded by a system of checks and balances with the overriding concept that power is never absolute and never in the hands of one person. "Division of power is the only way to safeguard individual rights," he stressed. In Asia, however, there has been a tradition of ‘absolute kingship’ whereby the ruler is all-powerful. It would benefit Asia, therefore, to look at the comparative experience of Europe where wielding of power is concerned and gain from it. The Minister was addressing the gathering at the European Union and SAARC essay competition awards night and the launching of the book ‘The European Union and Sri Lanka - forging the future... together’ at the BMICH on Wednesday. The competition was organised by the Delegation of the European Commission in Sri Lanka in association with the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute BIDTI "I believe that it is a great mistake to try and re-invent the wheel," Minister Peiris elaborated, "One should consider the experiences of others. No two experiences are alike but one can look at what has happened, take what is useful and enact those that suit one’s own circumstances," the ministers said Minister Peiris also drew attention to the similarities between the two continents of Europe and Asia. Tracing the history of the development of Europe and Asia, he noted that both continents existed as small disjointed units and petty principalities long before the advent of the nation state. Both continents acknowledged the need to recognise certain cultural differences within the borders of one nation state. There was a thrust towards regional cooperation and the feeling that one’s region as a whole would benefit if all countries broke down national barriers, and so on. Speaking on the relevance of the essay competition that focused on regional ties, he praised the fact that the North and East had not been excluded from participation. The Ambassador, head of the Delegation of European Commission in Sri Lanka, Ilkka Uusitalo, also addressed the gathering. He noted that the European Union supports the efforts of the South Asian countries to strengthen their regional cooperation. "Though we are not suggesting any specific form or model for such a cooperation, in general terms we consider that such a cooperation, the same way as it has been beneficial in Europe, would be beneficial also for the countries and people in the South Asian region," he said. Speaking in the context of the upcoming SAARC summit, he stressed that processes leading to closer regional integration and cooperation are not easy. "They require strong commitment from all the participants and the vision and political will from the political leaders to overcome obstacles that may prevent such developments," he elaborated. He pointed out that it also requires readiness to make compromises as the cooperation has to be based on decisions acceptable and beneficial to all participants. Mr. Uusitalo expressed confidence that Sri Lanka will do its utmost to ensure the success of the summit. "As the future chairman of the SAARC, Sri Lanka will have a key role in promoting further concrete steps to strengthen the SAARC cooperation," he said. He also hoped that concrete actions could be taken based on the existing memorandum of understanding between the European Commission and the SAARC secretariat. Director of the BIDTI. Dr. Vernon Mendis, delivered the vote of thanks. Minister Peiris gave away the awards to the 21 winners of the essay competition. Party activists subjected to PA violence says JVP General Secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Perumana (JVP), Tilvin Silva has complained to IGP W. B. Rajaguru about attacks on members of his party. In his letter, the JVP General Secretary inter alia, says, "Being a political party engaged in peaceful democratic politics we have a right to continue our party activities without hindrance. You may accept that our party activists have a democratic right to work as members of a political party without being attacked. Recently our party members were attacked by that supporters of the People's Alliance (PA). On the July 7 two members of our party were attacked at a place near the Fisheries Cooperative branch at Kudawelle, Tangalle. The injured are admitted to the hospital. On the same day Laxman Jayawardane (JVP local councillor) and his colleagues were returning home after handing over the JVP nominations for the due Provincial Council polls when their vehicle has been forced to stop at about 4.10 p.m. by the mob at Queens junction. They have assaulted the candidates and robbed about Rs. 2000 from Laxman. Later the injured candidates were admitted to Anuradhapura general hospital for medical treatments. At about 6.30 p.m. there had been a welcome ceremony for the Provincial Council candidates of the party at 5th mile post Rajanganaya. After the function the contestants have dispersed and at about 7.00p.m. the gang of PA supporters have come. They have assaulted the comrades who were there at that moment and some furniture have been destroyed. On July 11 several JVP members have been pasting posters in Polonnaruwa town. They were working for the propaganda campaign for a public gathering on the establishment of Polonnaruwa Electoral Federation of the JVP. The PA supporters who arrived at the place at about 10.30 a.m. have assaulted them without any reason. They have torn some 150 posters of the propaganda campaign and bicycles belong to the party members were damaged. The injured were taken for medical treatment and one of them has still not been discharged from hospital. On July 15 four of our party members were pasting propaganda posters for the Provincial Council polls at Kiribathgoda, when the son of a PA politician had come with his supporters who forcefully took comrade Nandana Nishantha into the vehicle and drove away. Two hours later, at about 4.30 a.m. victim was found left unconscious near a JVP local councillors residence at Peliyagoda. The abductors have brutally assaulted the party member owing to their political enmity and the worst thing is that they have shaved half of the head and painted using emulsion paint. This mob had painted all over the party member's body and along his backbone the letters "JVP". The party member is now receiving medical treatments in ward No. 7 of Ragama Hospital. "We cannot see any police action to bring the suspects of these crimes for proper investigations. Those incidents reveal that the JVP activists are attacked merely for the reason of using their democratic rights for the success of the political vision they accept," the letter added. Mr. Silva has also said that complaints regarding all these attacks had been made separately to the respective police stations. Thondaman's new political front
maps out strategy for PC elections The political front, Indian Vamsavalli Makkal Perani (IVMP) formed recently by CWC leader and Minister Saumyamoorthy Thondaman will hold its inaugural rally in connection with the forthcoming PC elections at Ginthupitiya junction, Colombo 13 on August 1. Mr. Thondaman will preside over the rally. Mr. Aiyathurai and Kandiah of National Union Workers, Mr. Ramiah of Red Flag Union, General Secretary, CWC Arumugam Thondaman, and CWC MPs P. P. Devaraj, R. Yogarajan and S. Sathasivam will be present among others. This is the first time that almost 14 plantation trade unions and political parties have formed as a political front and came forward to contest under the 'Peacock' symbol belonging to the National Union of Workers (NUW) a reognized political party from the plantations. On August 1 all the 223 candidates contesting under IVMP are expected to meet at the Ministry of Livestock Development and Estate Infrastructure Auditorium presided over by CWC leader Thondaman to map out the common manifesto of the IVMP. The I.V.M.P is contesting in the districts of Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Matale in Central Province, Colombo and Kalutara in Western Province, Ratnapura and Kegalle in Sabaragamuwa Province and Moneragala and Badulla in Uva Province for the forthcoming Provincial Council elections scheduled for August 28th. By Zacki Jabbar The Bhutanese King Singye Wangchuck will not attend the tenth SAARC summit in Colombo next week due to reasons of national interest,Foreign Ministry spokesman Ravinath Ariyasinghe told yesterday’s Cabinet Press briefing in Colombo. He said that due to certain constitutional changes taking place in Bhutan the King has had to stay back but will be represented by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and head of the Bhutan government Limpo Jigme Thinkley. "The SAARC process started this morning with the SAARC officials meeting." Foreign Secretaries of the SAARC nations will meet on Saturday and Sunday. The Chairmanship would be handed over to the Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary Wilhelm Wourtersz at this meeting, he said. The SAARC Foreign Ministers meeting will be held on Monday and Tuesday. The Heads of State he said will start arriving on Tuesday with the SAARC summit being held the following day. "A retreat out of Colombo for the Heads of State and their delegations is planned for July 30 with the concluding sessions being held at the Presidential Secretariat the following day.This would be followed by President Kumaratunga’s press conference in the afternoon", he added. Thondaman calls for common strategy to avoid worker turbulence S. Thondman, Minister of Livestock Development and Estate Infrastructure, addressing the Batu-SAARC Subregional Conference on "Impact of globalization on the SAARC Workforce: Struggle to Change Course" requested the delegates to focus attention on a common strategy to make the government of the SAARC region heed to the call of workers so that the workforce would not face the turbulent within globalisation. He also advocated caution and tact among trade unions when dealing with employers and the government and wanted a more dynamic and active role for trade unions in the SAARC region. The conference is being held at Hotel Galadari and is being sponsored by the SAARC Sub-regional Secretariat in association with the National Workers Congress. It is being attended by representatives from SAARC countries. The Minister of Labour, S. D. J. Seneviratne, who was Chief Guest while emphasising the universality of globalisation and the interpenetration of trade, investment and capital flow across borders, drew the attention of the audience to the necessity of drawing up an action plan from the deliberations at the seminar. He said that if there is no positive plan to circumvent the effects of globalisation the people will have to leave unpalatable transformations in the spheres of political, economic and social structure. He further commended the silent and dedicated activities of the NWC and wished success in further ventures. The Director ILO, Ms Shizue Tomoda stated "The new work organization imposes on the worker, additional responsibilities and some leadership. This new trend is said to have undermined trade union leadership, which is reflected in declining membership and increased decentralization of collective bargaining which have had a great impact on traditional industrial relations systems." Mr. R. P. Wimalasena, Commissioner General of Labour stated "Globalization can affect labour and labour institutions in two ways - it can effect through the creation of "regulatory deficit" where the national institutions which given the labour market are rendered less effective by the internationalization of markets. For e.g. long standing national policies on education and training would be less effective on account of the demands placed on them by the internationalization of markets. Secondly it can affect through the multinational enterprise which is the 'engine' of the tendency towards globalization. The process of globalisation creates pressure on multinational enterprises to become global actors resulting in far reaching organizational changes within and between these firms. After the opening ceremony the seminar commenced with the keynote speech delivered by Dr. Saman Kelegama - Executive Director, Institute of Policy Studies. He made a penetrative analysis on globalisation - what it is and focused specially on the impact on the workforce in the SAARC region. He stated that "only about 10% of the SAARC workforce is unionised and is in the formal sector and we could assume that they are unionised.This also we have to keep in the back of our minds when we are talking about globalisation. A feature of SAARC countries is that the workforce in individual SAARC countries is categorised by collectivist tendencies sometimes this is ingrade in our culture at the village level, the panchaya system the gansaba system, to collective unity in the company when there is some problem employees would be with the management in regard to the problem but when it comes to showing solidarity the employees will identify themselves with the trade union because of the collectivist tendencies and collective efforts. So this is also one feature of the workforce in SAARC countries. Also the workforce is very slow to change in behaviour they are comfortable with what they have and cautious about change. Then there is the increasing marketisation with globalisation i.e. all countries when they are integrating with the world economy should reform their economies to be flexible enough to be able to respond to international demand and supply forces." Thereafter, in the afternoon session - Dr. Laksiri Fernando, Senior Lecturer, Political Science of the University of Colombo spoke on the "Role of Trade Unions in Open economic systems". He stated that "It is true that there are initiatives amongst our countries, even before the formation of SAARC, to change this pattern and to have bilateral relations with each other. But SAARC has accelerated this process and in fact is trying to overhual it through multilateral relations and policies. If SARRC wants to become a strong economic region, for example, like European Union (EU), it has necessarily to follow open economic policies. This is a major goal of the proposed SAFTA or SAARC Free Trade Area. This cannot be done under closed economic policies. I am not trying to say that open economic policies are a product of SAARC, but a necessary ingredient. Perhaps it is more than a necessary ingredient. It is more of a necessary framework. It is an economic imperative. Perhaps this is one reason why the formation of SAFTA should not be postponed from year 2001 to year 2008 as now proposed by some circles." Traffic plan for SAARC Summit The Colombo Traffic informs the public that several traffic control measures have been adopted for the areas around the Colombo City and the Colombo-Katunayake highway for the duration of the SAARC heads of state meeting in Colombo. Addressing a press conference, DIG Jagath Jayawardena said the special measures have been taken as a means of reducing inconvenience to the public during the Summit and ensuring the security of the heads of state and other dignitaries of the seven SAARC nations. The areas where traffic will be restricted under ins-tructions of the Ministry of Defence will be as follows: July 26th - Travel on the following routes bet-ween the Taj Samudra Hotel and the BMICH will be restricted between 8.15 a.m. and 10 a.m. Approaching this route from any by-roads is also prohibitted: From Galle Face towards the traffic light junction in Kollupitiya, left from there to the Liberty Circle, Dharmapala Mawatha passing Glass House, turning right from Nanda Motors through Independence Square, Bauddhaloka Mawatha. These routes will remain closed on the day of the Summit (July 29th) from 8.15-10 a.m. and 12 noon-2.30 p.m during which time the heads of state will leave and return to the hotel Taj Samudra. On July 28th - When the heads of state will be arriving in Colombo. The road from the Bandaranaike International Airport through Peliyagoda, Ingurukade Junction, Port Access Road, Presidential Secretariat to Taj Samudra hotel will be disrupted at times between 12 noon to midnight. The police also request the public to use the following alternate routes during these closures: 1) Turning left from Thelwatte Junction, Negombo to Minuwangoda through Gampaha approaching Kandy Road from Miriswatte to Colombo. 2) Turning left from Mahabage Junction to Ragama and reaching Colombo through Kadawatha. 3) Turning left from Kanuwana Junction near the Rukmani Devi statue at Ja-ela to Ekala, Gampaha, Miriswatte to Kandy Road and Colombo. All vehicles plying from Colombo to Negombo will also be diverted from near Hamilton Canal, Hekitta, Wattala through Pamunugama to Kotalawela bridge Negombo. Only vehicles travelling towards Negombo will be allowed on this day. Arrangements have also been made to divert all vehicles travelling to Negombo left from Kandana Junction through Pamunugama Road towards Negombo. Traffic Police also informs that similar arrangements have been made for the departure dates of the invitees on July 31 and August 1. To facilitate traffic for the SAARC conference, normal traffic flow will be restricted at the following juntions on the 29th from 8.15 a.m. Lotus Road/York street Junction, Elephant House Roundabout, Sir James Peiris Mawatha/Nawam Mawatha/Perahara Mawatha, Dharmapala Traffic Lights Junction, Roland Roundabout, Park Road Jt./Dharmapala Mawatha, Lipton Circus, Horton Roundabout, F. R. Senanayake Mawatha, Horton Place/Maitland Crescent, Horton Place/Wijerama Junction, Kynsey Road/Gregories Road, Kanatte Roundabout, Thimbirigasyaya Road/Torrington Avenue/Jawatte Road, Thunmulla Junction, Bullers Road/Duplication Road Traffic Lights, Galle Road/Bambalapitiya Traffic Lights Junction. MP for Badulla district W. J. M. Lokubandara has been appointed Chief Opposition Whip. He replaces Wijeyapala Mendis UNP MP for Gampaha district, Mendis was suspended from the party membership recently. Strange things are happening in electorate 'This man ventured into politics from Maskeliya. Then he changed over to Dompe. From Dompe he moved to Attanagalla. Now he is haunting the Mirigama electorate. From there he has only the Maha Oya to go, to, said President Chandrika Kumaratunga referring to one of her close relatives without naming him, at a public rally at Mirigama recently. She said that with elections round the corner, strange things were happening in the electorate. Men in green caps are reported to be seen frequenting village homes and fondling children. There are people who have never been seen by the village folk. They have come from various far off places and engaged in election antics to try and win the hearts of villagers, she added. These people are also reported to be visiting homes, and asking for a glass of water and making frivolous efforts to befriend the people, she noted. This relative of mine, whom I referred to, was a big bodied gentlemen. He had been changing his electorate from the days he started off from Maskeliya, she added. He is going round here abusing me in filth. But I would not use such words on him, the President said. (WN) Troops close to Mankulam Military spokesman Brigadier Sunil Tennekoon told yesterday’s cabinet press briefing that "Operation Jayasikuru" troops are "very close’ to Mankulam. Asked as to how close the troops are to Mankulam, he said about six kilometers on the eastern side. He said that the security forces on Wednesday identified and engaged LTTE targets North-East of Mankulam. Thirty nine anti personnel mines were recovered. The LTTE had exploded a mine at Karaganayankulam. Brigadier Tennekoon said that since June 26, 1998 the army has lost six officers and 69 soldiers, while two officers and 63 soldiers were wounded in action. About a 100 soldiers who recieved minor injuries have now returned to the battle front. During the same period 158 terrorists were killed and 21 injured. Also on Wednesday in Nagarkovil the army had found five anti personnel mines, one land mine weighing 10 kilograms, a 30 meter long wire and twelve batteries. "With the 309 persons who arrived at the Gurunagar Jetty from the uncleared areas on Wednesday, the total number of persons coming into government controlled areas from the uncleared areas since March 1997 stands at 22,346,"he added. |
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