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| PA group
meets tomorrow Poll postponement on the cards By Franklin. R. Satyapalan Despite opposition to such a postponement within the ruling party, there were firm indications yesterday that the elections will be postponed and Minister D.M. Jayaratne, the secretary to the PA, said as much. General Anuruddha Ratwatte, the deputy defence minister, is firmly of the view that securing such an election would necessitate the withdrawal of forces from the warfront and this would be inimical to the military effort. However, the leftist constituents of the PA comprising the LSSP and the CP as well as the smaller DVJP (Deshavimukthi Janatha Pakshaya) and SLMP (Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya) are opposed to a postponement. An emegency meeting of the LSSP Politburo had resolved last week that government should press on with the elections. The LSSP was of the view that such an election will not require the withdrawal of 30,000 policemen from the forward areas and alternative arrangements could be made. Meanwhile CWC leader S. Thondaman said that the provincial council system was devised to devolve powers to the people of the north and east and resolve the ethnic problem. But no PC elections are being held in those areas while they are conducted in other parts of the country. "This is a joke,'' Mr. Thondaman said. "If you are having elections, have it in the entire country inlcuding the north and the east.'' Tomorrow's PA group meeting will also discuss matters connected with the no-confidence motion against Posts, Telecommunications and Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera which is down for debate on Tuesday. The government strategy for this debate will be discussed. Minister D.M. Jayaratne, the general secretary of the PA said yesterday that the provincial polls, which they were confident they could win, cannot be held right now because of the war. He said that the government will constantly monitor the situation on a weekly basis and see whether the elections could be held by December the latest. "If the UNP and the JVP are ready to fight this election without the necessary policemen, we are ready to face them. But they must not blame us later and accuse us of having ulterior motives. The real reason for the postponement is that both the government and thinking people in the country know it is more important to win the war than hold these elections now,'' he said. He qualified this statement by saying that he was not talking of finishing off the whole war. They could at least demoralise the LTTE which is now scattered. Services morale also could not be damaged by diverting resources out of the theatre of war. Minister Jayaratne said that the president will proclaim a countrywide Emergency before Aug. 6 when the extension of the Emergency will be debated in parliament. The elections department, meanwhile, is proceeding with arrangements on the basis that the election is being held. Ballot papers are being printed and other arrangements are being made. |
| President to check allegations of Mossad
involvement in north-east by Zacki Jabbar The President was replying a question put to her at the press briefing that followed the closing sessions of the 10 the SAARC summit in Colombo. When a journalist asked her about reports of Mossad’s alleged involvement in the North and East she queried as to where he had got the information from. "I would like to meet the person who gave you this information". However when the questioner said he had read media reports about it the President cautioned him not to believe everything that the media reports. The President admitted that Sri Lanka’s North- East conflict had figured in bilateral discussions she had with the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Asked what the Indian position is on the issue she said " they normally support our position". Referring to the balance of trade between India and Sri Lanka the President said that Sri Lankan imports to India has over the last few years increased by about 150 percent. But in real terms the balance of trade is very much in favour of India. She observed that the trade concessions announced by the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the SAARC Summit on Wednesday, will facilitate the entry of many Sri Lankan items to the Indian market. Vajpayee in his address to the SAARC summit said that India will lift Quantitative Restrictions maintained for Balance of Payments reasons on a preferential basis for SAARC countries with effect from August 1. This would involve lifting restrictions on over 2000 products entering the Indian market. |
| South Asia back - tracks on trade pact South Asian leaders skirted the issue of establishing a free trade pact by 2001 and instead decided on a ''regulatory frame work'' to boost regional commerce. Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumara-tunga who took over the leadership of the South Asian grouping at its 10th summit here said they will appoint a committee of experts to finalise the text of the treaty by 2001. The seven-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) had earlier pledged to have a free trade pact known as SAFTA by 2001 but experts had warned that the deadline was too ambitious. ''We decided that it is not feasible for SAFTA to operationally take off by 2001,'' said Kumaratunga at the end of the three-day summit in the Sri Lankan capital here. She said members of SAARC—which groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Mal-dives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka —will in the meantime work on lifting non-tariff barriers and other hurdles that stifled intra-regional trade. A South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA), which should have been in place last year has been bogged down in a third round of negotiations, diplomats said. Talks are underway between member states on commodities for which they would grant preferential tariffs under the SAPTA. Trade officials said although tariff concessions were granted for some 2,500 commodities, most of them were covered by quota or import licences that inhibited free trade. Smaller countries have also expressed fears that their economies would be swallowed up by big countries such as India and Pakistan if they rush into a free trade area without a stronger economic base. The World Bank's chief economist for South Asia, John Williamson, has said some analysts considered SAFTA a waste of time while others thought it might benefit smaller member countries. ''Smallest countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and even Pakistan will find it difficult to develop their industries unless India opens its market to them,'' Williamson said during a visit to Colombo this year. |
| SAARC fails to lower telecom tariffs The seven-nation South Asian summit ended without agreement on lowering telecommunications tariffs in the region, officials said. Leaders of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) were expected to announce lower rates for telephone calls from one member country to another. Telecommunications ministers of SAARC, which groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal Pakistan and Sri Lanka, agreed in May to work out lower rates to be announced at the three-day summit which ended Friday. However, instead of declaring lower rates, the summit called for the speedy implementation of an ''action plan'' adopted by the telecommunications ministers to share expertise and improve services. The ministers had earlier agreed that they should allow the use of satellite phones by people travelling within the region while mobile phones should be permitted to take advantage of international roaming facilities. |
| Anti-terror Movement writes open letter to
Vajpayee In an open letter to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his visit here for the SAARC Summit, the National Movement Against Terrorism accused the separatists of seeking to "carve up the Republic of India, dismember Sri Lanka and establish a separate Tamil state.'' The four and a half page letter explained the background of the prevailing national crisis and said that the claim that Tamils are being persecuted and subject to oppression and harassment was not true. "The very fact that more than half the Tamil population of Sri Lanka live outside the north and east (which the Tamil racists claim as their homeland) in the south in peace and amity with the Sinhala people give the lie to this diabolical piece of propaganda,'' the letter said. It said that the Buddhists of Sri Lanka have never impeded Hindu worship here. But the separatist racists, in order to trigger clashes between the Buddhists and Hindus, had destroyed 261 places of Buddhist worship in the north and the east. The terrorists have attacked the two most revered pinnacles of Buddhist worship in the country, the Sri Maha Bodhiya and the Dalada Maligawa. It was not only the Tamils who can lay claim to an Indian heritage, the letter said. The Sinhala and Muslims too belong to the same heritage. Neither the Sinhalese nor the ordinary Tamils nor the Muslims have ever expressed opposition to India. They have never attempted to establish a separate state in the subcontinent. "On the other hand Tamil racist political parties such as the TULF and the CWC (classified as so-called `moderates'), the LTTE and its front organisations and certain NGOs which are now trying to pass off as friends of India, are endeavoring to break up Sri Lanka first and India next.'' The letter said that in the last five years at least 2.5 lakhs of Tamils for the north and the east have migrated to Colombo. About 50 new kovils have been built for their worship. The majority of swamis serving in these kovils are Indian. Despite the terrorist bomb attacks in the city which have killed over 500 and disabled 5,000 over the last decade, there was never any reprisal for such brutal attacks on Sinhala citizens of Colombo. "In addition, no Tamil is barred from living, working and engaging in politics in any part of Sri Lanka. But in the last 15 years more than 3,000 Sinhala and Muslim persons have been massacred in the north and east and more than 50,000 of them driven from their homes and reduced to the status of displaced persons or refugees living in refugee camps. At least a lakh of Muslims and Tamils too have become homeless due to harassment and pressure from the LTTE,'' the letter said. |
| Island
Capers Attendant and waitress! Minister C.V. Goonaratne who served as minister-in-attendance for Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Shariff during the SAARC Summit gracefully accepted a host of compliments from the Pakistanis about the elegance of his clothes which have of late acquired some golden trappings. The minister was also not averse to poking some fun at himself by saying he was the attendant (minister-in-attendance) while his wife who was Mrs. Shariff's lady-in-waiting was the waitress! "Puggy may be a minister, but he will always be Puggy,'' said an old school chum referring to his boyhood nickname which remains in use among intimates. "He doesn't lose a chance of making a crack even if it is at his own expense!'' |
Our photographer captured the lighthearted moment between Mr. Anura Bandaranaike nad Ministers D. M. Jayaratne and Alavi Moulana at the SAARC Summit. "Are you joining us?" was the question the SLFPers asked Anura. (pic by Sri Lal Gomes) |
| Wrong headline says Commision We have been informed by the Special Presidential Commission that the headline of our July 19 report under the caption, "Commission apologises to Cooray" is absolutely misleading and factually incorrect. "Mr. Cooray had been summoned by the Commission on the said date for the purpose of recording his statement relating to an ongoing inquiry before the Special Presidential Commission. However, undue publicity had been given to this matter by certain sections of the media which gave the impression that Mr. Cooray had been summoned before the Commission to give evidence on that date. "In the above circumstances, the Commission merely informed Mr. Cooray that it regretted, the undue publicity given to this matter by the media and directed Mr. Cooray to make a statement to the Investigating Unit of the Special Presidential Commission. The question of the Commission tendering an apology to Mr. Cooray did not ever arise and no such apology was tendered by the Commission to Mr. Cooray," the Secretary to the Commission said. |
| Sri Lanka Artillery Band performs in London By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya It is an honour and dignity that for the first time, in the history of Sri Lanka a brass band visiting in London and saluting Her Majesty the Queen, on the invitation of the Royal regiment of Artillery, said Col. Bathiya Jayathilake at a press conference held at Panagoda Army Camp to brief the media regarding the band’s performance in London. Speaking at the conference he further said that it was the week, during which a series of ceremonies in London are held every year to commemorate the Queen’s official birthday. Royal Artillery Sunset Ceremony was one of the colourful events among those few. This performance was held at House Guards Parade in London from 8 th to 11 th June. It was a memorable combination of firepower and music. Almost all the Artillery weapons used in Royal Artillery were displayed during the ceremony. It was in 1986 where the massed bands of the Royal Artillery performed last on House Guards Parade. This opportunity for Royal Artillery on House Guards Parade was after 12 years. Further it was the first time that foreign Artillery bands were invited to participate in this ceremony. Bands from foreign countries which performed during the display were the Sri Lanka Artillery Band, 3 Bandsmen from 62nd United States Army Band and a Band from French Army, Col. Jayathilake explained. In addition to the above bands, the company of pikeman and musketeers, the honourable Artillery company also performed making the display more colourful. 17 bandsmen including one drum Major ( Sgt. Wasantha Nithul-gahamuduna) participated in the group from Sri Lanka Artillery. The group was accompanied by Major AS de Z Wickramarathne IG SLA during the visit. Major General AS Peiris RSP USP IG Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Artillery also was invited by the Royal Regiment of Artillery to witness this unique display, he added. When ‘The Island’ interviewed the band master Sgt. Wasantha Nithulgahamuduna, he said that this experience will not be forgottened in his life time. We were afraid that we would not be able to perform properly at the display, but the things went right for us. Even the Queen has expressed that our performance was at high level. We have made our country proud been a 8 year old band living up to expectation, he added. |
| Bellanwila
Perahera The Annual Esala Festival at the historic Bellanwila Vihara will commence on August 6 with a week long pirith chanting ceremony. The ‘Kap’ planting ceremony to will take place according to ancient rituals on August 9 followed by recitation of Dorakoda Asna and Kumbal Perahera scheduled for August 12. Mal Perahera dedicated to Buddha will parade within the precints of the vihara on August 13. Pavada Perahera in which sacred relics carried on head, will be on August 14. The final Randoli Maha Perahera will parade along Sri Bodhi Raja Mawatha, Bellantara - Pepiliyana Road and Vihara Mawatha on August 16. In view of the prevailing security situation this year's perahera activities are to be conducted on a low profile adhering to the traditions of the Esala Festival. The water cutting ceremony will take place on August 16 followed by the Deva Dana organised by the devotees of Boralasgamuwa. Kohuwala Police have drawn up a special traffic scheme for the final night — August 15. |
| Sri Lankans in New York celebrate Anton Isidor Jayamanna Sp. Corr.
New York, USA Cultural shows and sports are in the day’s agenda. A stall of the Sri Lanka’s handicraft and food has been organised by the Seva Vanitha branch of New York in connection with the occasion. |
| Netherland’s Welcome Village celebrates
2nd anniversary by Danielle Boekel Herman Steur, Founder/Advisor of the Family Help Programme in Sri-Lanka constructed this village with the assistance of the Board of Directors of the Family Help Programme in Sri-Lanka. Realising that Sri-Lanka has many destitute elders living on the streets and that something had to be done to relieve this situation he went about with the idea of constructing a place that would be a home to these destitute people. Construction started in 1994 and the village situated on 18 acres of land in Gonawila was completed by July 1996. It was ceremoniously opened under the patronage of Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Steur, being from the Netherlands designed the village to resemble one back home. It consists of 100 cottage type homes, a multi religious building, a 16 bed hospital, a 20 bed invalid house, a laundry, bakery, and recreation facilities. Each elder living in the village is sponsored by a resident in the Netherlands or Belgium and the best care is provided to them. |
| Criminal
arrested on tip-off Kamal Bandu Edirisinghe, a man most wanted by police in connection with a series of robberies in the South including the 1.5 million robbery committed recently in a house at Thavalama Junction, Galle, was arrested by police at Marambe, Akuressa on Friday night. Police said they arrested him while hiding in a house on a tip-off. He was arrested with three other wanted men by a team led by Sub-Inspector Asoka. The gang had been terrorising residents down South over the last several months, according to police. |
| Rohan, Druvi at Sunethra Bandaranaike Trust
presentation An interesting combination of Western and Eastern classical music will form the programme at the Golden Jubilee performance by Sri Lanka’s Maestros Rohan and Druvi de Saram, with guest artist, Piyasara Shilpa-dhipathi at the drums, to be presented by the Sunethra Bandaranaike Trust at the Lionel Wendt on 25th August. Proceeds of the performance will be in aid of establishing an integrated Theatre Workshop for disabled and non-disabled young persons. Rohan and Druvi de Saram who have won the acclaim of world masters and critics alike for their renditions on Cello and Piano need no introduction to Sri Lankan audiences. The forthcoming concert will provide a rare opportunity for hearing them perform the John Mayer Prabhanda for Cello and Piano and an improvisation for Cello, Piano and Drums. The first part of the programme will feature Rohan (Cello) and Druvi (Piano) in Beethoven’s Sonata in A Major opus 69. Next will be the John Mayer Prabandha with the improvisation for Cello, Piano and Drums after the interval, followed by the GrIEg Sonata in A Minor, Opus 36. Rohan de Saram who has been conferred the national honour of Kalasuri has added the drum rhythms and melodies of Sri Lanka to his repertoire. Druvi who gave a world premiere of John Mayer’s evocative piano work Calcutta Nagar at St. John’s Smith Square in London was commended as a "pianist with a rare command of emotional nuance". Kalasuri Piyasara Shilpadhipathi’s virtuosity has won him acclaim in Sri Lanka and abroad. He has performed in over 30 countries worldwide, and has conducted teaching courses in institutions such as the Royal College of Music, London. This Golden Jubilee performance is sponsored by the People’s Bank and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Tickets will be available for sale at the Lionel Wendt Theatre from Monday 3rd August. |
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