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Sabotage suspected in Mirigama train
crash Four passengers were killed and 32 others injured when a Polgahawela-bound passenger train derailed and collided with a passing train at Wilwatte,Mirigama early yesterday,due to what General Manager of Railways,W. K. B. Weragama described as ‘an act of sabotage’. The bolt nails of a shoe plate on the rail track had been removed leading to the derailment of the first train and its collision with another passing passenger train,Mr. Weragama said. Shoe plates are used to join one railway line to the other along the track.The two trains involved in the tragedy are No. 109 plying from Colombo to Polgahawela and No. 856 from Kurunegala to Colombo,railway sources said. The injured were admitted to Mirigama,Wathupitiwala,Gampaha and Colombo hospitals.The condition of five of the injured was reported to be critical,police said. Among those killed was I.A.D.N. Sarath,an assistant guard of the railway. The GMR said the loss suffered as a result of the incident is around Rs. 10 million.’This is the work of some saboteurs’, Mr. Weragama said. Five compartments of the Polgahawela-bound train from Colombo had jumped the rails and collided with the train plying on the adjoining track.As a result, three compartments of the second train had also derailed, according to railway sources. The mishap had occurred around 5.15 am. Trains were operational only upto Mirigama yesterday.The Badulla-bound ‘Podimenike’ and ‘Udaratamenike’ and the Vavuniya-bound ‘Yal Devi’ ran only upto to Mirigama. However, arrangements had been made to transport the passengers from there by buses to Ambepussa to resume their journey by train,Mr. Weragama said. The GMR said action is underway to clear the track and repair it as soon as possible to enable services to resume. Demo by Tamils in Durban against
military operations Tamils demonstrated in Durban against the ongoing military operations in Sri Lanka as officials meeting of the Non Aligned Movement [NAM] countries got underway informed sources said last night. Demonstrators have marched in streets of Durban demanding NAM intervention to end the military campaign against the LTTE sources said. The presence of a large number of people with Indian origin, the majority of them South Indians has helped the LTTE to organise fund raising and other activities in Durban. "There are over 600,000 Dravidians in Durban alone and a further 100,000 to 150,000 in Johannesburg," diplomatic sources said. A top level Sri Lankan delegation was taking part in the two day officials meeting sources said adding that there was evidence to suggest that demonstrations were likely to continue for the next couple of days. The two day foreign ministers meeting is scheduled to begin today. It will continue tomorrow. Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has already arrived in Durban sources said. "Security has been tight for the Sri Lankan delegation," sources said. President Chandrika Kumaratunga is scheduled to attend the 12th NAM leaders two day meeting beginning Wednesday Sept. [2]. Security authorities have assured that there would not be any problems for the Sri Lankan delegation during the NAM conference. The Sri Lankan delegation in South Africa is expected to urge South Africa to take measures against covert LTTE activities particularly fund raising. Sri Lanka has warned South Africa on previous occasions of covert LTTE activities The Tamil Eelam Support Movement of South Africa was behind the anti-Sri Lanka demonstrations sources said. Attempts were also made to hold anti-Sri Lanka demonstrations in South Africa during Sri Lanka cricket team’s tour. Small groups of demonstrators had gathered outside stadiums where the Sri Lankans were scheduled to play. Sri Lanka in October last year established a resident diplomatic mission. "The establishment of the mission has provided a mechanism to combat LTTE propaganda campaigns against Sri Lanka," sources said. "We have repeatedly urged South Africans to be vigilant of LTTE operations there," sources said. Kadirgamar during a visit to South Africa in May 1996 had briefed his counterpart Alfred Nzo and requested the South African authorities to remain vigilant of anti-Sri Lanka activities carried out by the LTTE. Mr. Lucky Kodituwakku assumes duty as the new Inspector-General of Police tomorrow (Sep. 1). Mr. Kodituwakku joined the police department as a probationary ASP on November 1,1966. He is an old boy of S. Thomas' Preparatory School, Bandarawela, S. Thomas' College, Matale and St. Joseph's College, Colombo. He was a fine sportsman during his school days. He obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree. He served in various parts of the country, including Trincomalee, Kilinochchi, Anuradhapura, Chilaw, Polonnaruwa and Negombo and also in charge of the Prime Minister's Security Division (PMSD).
Troops kill three LTTE infiltrators Troops last Friday (28) night attacked a group of infiltrators at Irupalai, Jaffna killing atleast three persons military sources said. Troops later recovered three bodies of dead LTTE cadres along with two T-56 weapons, three hand grenades, two claymore mines, two wire roles and three cyanide capsules. Jayasikuru troops operating southeast of Mankulam last Saturday (29) killed two terrorists. On the same day east of Mankulam troops destroyed a bunker killing several terrorists. During daytime Jayasikuru troops have recovered 13 anti-personnel mines. Meanwhile at Peraru, Trincomalee troops in ambush shot dead three terrorists. Mutual trust, understanding among groups of
'people’ a must to resolve ethnic crisis "Mutual trust and understanding among groups of people are a sine qua non for the resolution of the ethnic issue. But such trust could become a reality only by an appropriate legal and constitutional order" observed Attorney General Sarath N. Silva addressing the Alumni Association at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute yesterday. President of the Association Yogendra Duraisamy chaired the sessions. The A. G. noted that the ethnic issue is nothing specific to Sri Lanka alone. It is a global issue that has drawn several countries asunder. This problem arose in Yugoslavia, Switzerland, Brussels, Italy, Canada and so on. Switzerland resolved it nicely and they have attained the Zenith in peace. They managed to settle these issues effectively through a proper constitutional and legal order. Although we need mutual trust and understanding to resolve this issue, it cannot become a reality without an appropriate legal order. Language in one of the factors though sensitive, that contribute to ethnic unrest. It is language that signifies to an individual that a society is his or that he belongs to that society. If individuals do not recognize themselves in the public image, they will get alienated. There could be major disruption, he said. "I must say that we touched the most sensitive language issue in the most amateurish manner without a proper assessment or understanding of its implications. As far as the British are concerned there is no act in our statutes to say that English was the official language. The British were too shrewd for that. Sinhala Only Act of 1956 created the crisis for the first time. It was the spring board of action, - peaceful initially and when it did not bring fruitful results violence later. That is what has happened in our country. Fighting has become a lucrative business on both sides of the divide. Tamil Language Special Provisions Act of 1958 was a great mistake for it created two streams of learning and perpetuated the divide to the universities. The language of the Courts Act of 1961 thrusted the official language on courts. This drew the two groups to further asunder. A senior minister of the then government Mr. Lakshman Jayakody said when this bill was introduced in Parliament, a Federal Party parliamentarian begged them not to pass it. In 1972, we gave constitutional status to these acts. Even as at 1972 we had not appreciated the ramifications of this process. It is through devolution of power that the intensity of the issue of ethnicity could be diluted. It is by giving to each group some dignity, some element of self control that we can resolve this issue satisfactorily. It is a universal formula, he added. When the demand for separation emerged in India, where there is quasi - federal system, they set up a Boundary Commission and resolved the problem by devolving power on linguistic basis to different parts of the country and eliminated the trends of separation, the notions of separation, AG Sarath Silva said. Secretary, Charitha Ratwatte said that the intelligentsia who had the benefit of free education and has the necessary expertise should address its mind to the ethnic issue and contribute to solve the problems by appreciating the futility of the war. President of the Alumni Association Yogendra Duraisamy in his address noted that the war raging in the north and east spreads to other parts of the country, killing some, maiming many and destroying public property. Violence and counter-violence are the order of the day. Life appeared to be cheap while the cost of living is high. Allegations of illegal import of drugs There have been allegations that certain private sector firms are importing different kinds of drugs illegally into the country under the guise of ayurvedic medicines. Dr. Jayalath Jayewardena member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Health was presented with a report on this issue that at present there is a drug by the name of "Memory Plus" imported from India available in the open market. It has been reported that it is a preparation purely from Herpestis Monnieria (Lunuwila). The Commissioner of Ayurveda has permitted the import of these drugs for a period of two years from September 1, 1997. On a further scrutiny of facts, it was revealed that adequate legal provisions are not included for the implementation of matters regarding "Ayurveda drugs" under the Ayurveda Act No.31 of 1961. Under Sections 10 and 82 of this Act, the then National Assembly in 1976 has only passed ‘regulations which affect Ayurveda dispensaries’. Dr.Jayewardena told ‘The Island’ that the Parliamentary Consultative Committee chaired by the Minister of Health Nimal Siripala de Silva was requested to take remedial action. Dr. Jayewardena said that it had been found that the illegal drug ‘Viagra’ had also made its way into the country with the aid of these private drug companies. In the interpretation of the word "Drugs" under the Cosmetics Devices and Drugs Act No.27 of 1980, Ayurveda Drugs and Homeopathy drugs have been excluded, according to the Report. In the meantime, necessary regulations have not been framed for the registration of herbal preparations. The present situation in this regard is extremely complex, the report to Dr. Jayawardena further stated. Therefore an important step that could be taken in this direction is to appoint a committee comprising intellectuals from different fields and entrust the responsibility to them to study the matter in detail and submit their findings on it. |
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