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Tigers stop civilians from
entering Mannar The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has banned civilians living in areas under their control from coming into Mannar following the ‘Princess Kash’ incident, defence sources said. This ban has been imposed by the Tigers to prevent information about their latest plans and strategies leaking out to the military, according to these sources. Civilians living in areas under LTTE control arrive in large numbers on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays of the week at the Uilankulam army checkpoint to proceed to Mannar. It had now been observed that four armed terrorists stand obstructing the road about 200 metres away from the checkpoint chasing away civilians who attempt to cross the road to reach the checkpoint, security sources said. Normally civilians from areas still under LTTE domination come into Mannar for their day-to-day work. With the prohibition order now in place, the Tigers prevent people from crossing over. The identity cards of civilians who attempted to resist LTTE ‘orders’ were snatched and burnt and their bags and baggages ripped open with razor blades by the terrorists, these sources said. Security officials here view this as a manoeuvre to curb information about LTTE activities leaking to the military. The Tigers are still holding the four Sri Lankan crew members of ‘Princess Kash’. Ex-DIG Udugampola at UNP Hyde Park rally United National Party [UNP] yesterday defended former DIG Premadasa Udugampola’s presence at the August 14 Hyde Park protest rally. Udugampola who kept a low profile in the past couple of years attended the UNP rally organised to protest the government decision to postpone provincial council polls. The rally was preceded by the party’s first National Executive Committee meeting for this year. Asked to comment, UNP Chairman and Colombo Mayor Karu Jayasuriya said that anybody was free to attend a political rally. "I don’t see anything wrong in Udugampola or any other person attending a protest rally," he told The Island yesterday. Asked whether Udugampola has secured party membership, Jayasuriya , the western province chief ministerial candidate, said that "we have almost a million members," He was not aware of Udugampola becoming a member. Jayasuriya denied claims that the turnout at the Hyde Park rally was not satisfactory. "We estimate there were at least 12,000 at one time," he said. Party spokesman and Colombo District MP Karunasena Kodithuwakku was not available yesterday. Udugampola who battled the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna [JVP] and its military wing, Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya [DJV] inspired campaign of death and destruction in the South, North Central and Central provinces during UNP administration kept a low profile for about five years. He appeared at the Colombo rally just six days before the government sent on compulsory leave five police officers involved in counter-insurgency operations in the Gampaha district during the final states of the insurgency. A leader of the 1971 JVP inspired insurgency and Industrial Development deputy minister Athula Nimalasiri Jayasinghe [Gampaha Distirct] asked to comment on Udugampola’s entry to politics said that there was no problem. Udugampola was most likely to engage in party work in the Gampaha Distirct. He lives in the Gampaha police area. Politicians [not UNP] said that there was nothing wrong in retired policemen entering politics. Udugampola was not the first policeman to take an interest in politics one source said adding that not only law enforcement officers even military officers some times engage in political activity. "A brigadier contested August 94 polls," another source said reminding that a retired senior SP plays a crucial role in UNP activity in the Batticaloa district. Central Committee member and JVP spokesman Wimal Weerawansa said that appearance of Udugampola was clear evidence that UNP has not changed. "People like Udugampola were among those who are keen to bring the UNP back into power," he said. When pointed out that JVP too was responsible for a bloody campaign of death and destruction, Weerawansa claimed that people fight back ‘murderous governments’. He said that the government [PA] has failed to punish those responsible for extra-judicial activities during counter-insurgency operations. He described the recent placing of five senior police officers on compulsory leave ‘as an attempt to win votes at the next polls’. According to police reports JVP assassins were responsible for hundreds of killings of political opponents. Victims include several politicians. They also destroyed billions worth of government property. However the government has not initiated an inquiry into JVP actions. President presents act of appointment to new
Ramanya Nikaya Maha Nayaka Thera President Chandrika Kumaratunga made the ceremonial presentation of the Act of Appointment of the new Maha Nayaka of the Sri Lanka Ramanya Maha Nikaya Most Ven. Weweldeniye Medhalankara Maha Thera, yesterday (23) evening at a state function in the Independence Hall. Most Ven. Weweldeniya Medhalankara Maha Thera becomes the 12th Maha Nayaka of the Sri Lanka Ramanya Maha Nikaya after it was revived in the year 1862, by Most Ven. Ambagahawatte Siri Saddharmacharya Indrasabhawaragnana, Sami Maha Thera. President Kumaratunga addressing the invitees who included members of the Maha Sangha lay leaders, parliamentarians and officials wished the new Maha Nayaka thera would be a blessing to the Sri Lanka Ramanya Maha Nikaya which has an ecclasiastical member-ship of about 8000 Bhikkhus and would carry forward the traditions, rites peculiar to the Nikaya. She said it was a noteworthy fact that the new Maha Nayaka of the Sri Lanka Ramanya Maha Nikaya received his ecclasiastic education in the Vidyananda Pirivena of Nittambuwa of which her family was the benefactors since the times of her father late Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. She also com-mended the religious and social activities the new Maha Nayaka had been spearheading after going back to the Sasana Wardhana Pirivena in Mirigama. President also remembered the past President of the Sri Lanka Ramanya Nikaya Arakshaka Sabha; late Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake late Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake and late Minister Maithripala Senanayake and late Lalith Athulathmudali. At this function the "Vijinipatha" was presented to the Maha Nayaka by Minister of Buddha Sasana and Cultural and Religious Affairs Lakshman Jayakody. Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike who was scheduled to do the presentation of the "Vijinipatha" was not present. Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe, Minister of Internal and International Commerce and Food, Kingsley T. Wickremaratne, Mayor of Colombo Karu Jayasuriya and Ediriweera Premaratne MP presented Atapirikara to the Maha Nayaka. Negligence alleged for death of pregnant
woman at govt. hospital A pregnant woman admitted to Gampaha base hospital for confinement had died, due to alleged negligence of the hospital staff. The woman was identified as thirty-two-year old M. D. Midona Priyanthi of Delgoda, Kanduboda. Inquest on the death was held by the Inquirier into Sudden Deaths M. A. K. Jayawardena. W. D. Chandra-kumara, husband of the deceased giving evidence charged that the death was due to negligence on the part of the hospital staff. He said that his wife was admitted for confinement last Monday by him and that she had died at 11.50 a.m. the following day at child birth. The Inquirer into Sudden Deaths referred the matter to Judicial Medical Officer, Ragama for a medical report. The JMO had in turn sent parts of the body to the Government Analyst for a report. Foodstuff sent to Jaffna not received Different government institutions involved in supplying Jaffna with food cargo have initiated inquiries after at least 14509 metric tonnes of rice, sugar dhal and powdered milk sent to the north by the Commissioner General of Essential Services (CGES) have not reportedly been received by divisional secretaries officials said yesterday. The Auditor General has asked the Secretary to the Ports and Shipping Ministry as to what happened to these food stocks. Missing food cargo is approximately worth Rs. 310 million. The AG has pointed out that disappearance of food cargo has taken place between April 4 to December 31 last year. However, at the time of the incident CGES has been under the direct control of the Presidential Secretariat. Both the CGES and the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority for the North (RRAN) have been under the Presidential Secretariat. Both CGES and RRAN comes under a chairman who directly reports to the President. A spokesman for Ports and Shipping Ministry yesterday said that AG has asked the Ministry to explain as to what happened to rice, dhal, sugar and powdered milk stocks sent to the north. "We have requested the CGES to return certain documents relating to food supplies sent north" he said adding that inquires have been already initiated to establish the reasons for the disappearance of food cargo. Sothi Upali, Somapala and Renganath out on
bail Arambawale Don Upali Ranjith alias Sothi Upali, Renganath Karu-naratne and Kariya-wasam Lokugamahe Somapala, all convicts in an attempted murder case were allowed bail pending appeal by Colombo High Court Judge Nimal Dissanayake last Friday. Imposing bail conditions High Court ordered the convicts to pay a cash bail of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 5 lakhs surety bail each. High Court also ordered that the convicts should not leave the country. The Registrar was directed to indicate this decision to the Controller of Immigration and Emmigration. High Court also ordered that their passports be impounded. The bail application was supported by Defence Counsel Tirantha Wallaliyaddhe. These petitioners had earlier been convicted of the attempted murder of Susantha Prematilleke and had been sentenced to 8 years rigorous imprisonment each. Business re-engineering will save much needed
funds to develop infrastructure -Minister "Business process re-engineering would save much needed funds for infrastructure development and other investments and make the institutions as well as everybody involved in trading much more productive said Minister of Internal and International Commerce and Food Kingsley T. Wickramaratne. The minister was speaking at a national seminar/workshop on trade facilitation on the theme "Business Process Re-engineering and Electronic Commerce. He further said that in introducing EDI (electronic data interchange) it is of paramount importance not only to look closely at the requirements of trade but also at the technology available today which we could take advantage of. The minister pointed out that re-engineering the business process, electronic commerce, and introducing EDI are all matters not only for the public but for the private sector as well. Although the government could provide the leadership as it has always done, the trade in this country should take adequate interest for their own sake. They must learn to shoulder their fair share of responsibility. The process should as a matter of fact be driven by trade and not by the government or technology The minister said that he believed that the seminar would address the key issues involved in trade facilitation and take appropriate action to implement them. On our part I assure the government and my ministry will provide the necessary support to implement all good proposals and recommendations that will be made, he added. Dr. Nadadur Janardhan, Regional Advisor on Trade Facilitation of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific said the goal of ESCAP was to bring together policy makers of the region and build common understanding and consensus in social and economic development and develop international and regional trade. Speaking on electronic commerce he said that the advent of internet revolutionised electronic commerce. It has made messages cheaper and thus provided an opportunity for small and medium enterprises to promote their goods to the international market. He added however that to be heard in the cacophony of the internet you need a commerce enabled infrastructure or business to business transaction procurement.. Speaking on the role of the state, he said that the state should ensure what needs a group of people want. Those competent people in trade facilitation should get together under one pilot project along with the private sector so that all that wisdom and knowledge is encapsulated in the electronic and commerce technology. The state should have acted yesterday even today is too late, he said because the world is moving so fast with the advancement of technology. The seminar was organised by ESCAP in collaboration with the National Trade Facilitation Committee. The National Trade Facilitation Committee was appointed by the Minister of Trade and Shipping in August 1980, as an advisory committee to the EDB. Its objectives are, to study and recommend improved and simplified trade documentation and procedures to meet national and international requirements and ensure that the country keeps pace with and derives the full benefit of international transportation and communication technology. Welcome address was delivered by EDB (Export Development Board). Work for the betterment of country - New
Nayaka Thera Most Ven. Weweldeniya, Medhalankara Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Mirigama, Sasana Wardhana Pirivena who received the Act of Appointment as the new Maha Nayaka of the Sri Lanka Ramanya Nikaya, yesterday re-minded political leaders of the country the need to unite, and to work for the betterment of the country. The 87-year-old Most Ven. Medhalankara, Maha Thera succeeds Most Ven. Pottewela Panyasara Maha Thera, who died recently. Most Ven. Medhalankara Thera also adviced the political leaders to use the consultative process to solve the problems that are facing the country. He said: The most serious problem facing the country is its failure to catch up with the economic develop-ment. The interscine terrorist war is a black spot on the whole moral fabric of our country. It is clear that our country has fallen into a formidable abyss. Therefore all political leaders must dedicate themselves to the task of working together. The only way out of the present crisis is to treat every citizen alike whatever their faith or race is. "I also make a general appeal to every citizen to work with unity transcending all their differences. The Maha Nayaka also advised the members of the Maha Sangha to be conscious of their primary obligations. The Maha Nayake also urged the political leaders of the country to keep them aloof from acts which are detrimental to the nation as a whole. |
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