The Foreign Ministry has intervened to obtain the release of six Sri Lankans including the skipper and five crewmen of fishing vessel 'Rukmar Dulag 2' arrested for unauthorized fishing in Seychelles waters, Foreign Ministry sources said.

The Sri Lankan fishing vessel was arrested earlier this year and skipper M. A. Gerard Fernando was fined Seychelles rupees 250,000 on each of nine counts which was equivalent to rupees 25 million by the Supreme Court. He had also lost his appeal, the sources said.

Meanwhile Deputy Director Consular Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Asoka Meeriyagama said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs might repatriate the vessel's crew to Sri Lanka soon.

The captain who pleaded guilty to nine offences of unauthorized fishing was fined Seychelles rupees 250,000 each on the nine counts with an order that such fines be paid within three months and in default of payments he should go to prison in respect of each count, the sources said.

The sentence also included forfeiture to the state of Seychelles the vessel used for committing the offences as well as everything on board excluding the crew.

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Fisheries had released the fine money to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and despatched it to the nearest Sri Lankan mission in Kenya for payment of fine and release of crew members the sources said.

The appeal was mainly on the grounds that the charge should have been made a single count with the argument that unauthorized fishing expedition in the exclusive economic zone involving a single entry into that zone and fishing therein was one continuing act and that the sentences were harsh and excessive.

In its judgement on the appeal the court of appeal ruled that on the face of the charge there was nothing to show that only one offence had been committed.

The court of appeal added that the fact that several offences were of the same or similar character would not justify the charging of those offences as one.

Where an accused contends that he should have been charged with one offence and not several "the court of appeal added such issue should have been raised expressly when he asked to plead to the charge or, indirectly by pleading not guilty to the charge. On the harshness of the fine the court of appeal said it reflected the gravity of the offence.

"The gravity of the offence in this case is reflected in the maximum sentence to which the appellant was liable," the court of appeal pointed out.

"The sentence passed on each count cannot be said to be excessive and harsh in relation to the maximum fine the appellant was liable, it ruled while dismissing the appeal in its totality."

Meanwhile the five member crew and captain were said to be looked after by the Seychelles court guards.

GALLE: Following a lightning raid conducted by Hikkaduwa Police yesterday on a funeral undertaker's establishment at Gona-pinuwala, two firearms Ñ one a T 56 with live cartridges were recovered.

The Police party headed by Sub Inspector S. K. Ranaweera later arrested two persons in this connection.

In the meantime Police recovered another firearm in a raid conducted on a house at Ratgama yesterday. One person was arrested, police said.

Mr. Victor Ratnavale, former civil servant and his Swiss born wife Joyce were among the passengers of the ill-fated Swiss Airlines jet that crashed off the coast of Nova Scotia in Canada, family members said yesterday.

Mr. Ratnavale was a former civil servant who later served in the ILO and retired in the eighties.

Mr. Ratnavale is from a distinguished professional family, four of his brothers being medical specialists and another being a civil servant.

Mr. Ratnavale who was an outstanding student of Trinity College, Kandy entered the University of Ceylon and passed out as a history honours graduate.

Joining the Civil Service later, he served as A.G.A. Kalutara and Hambantota.

He had the distinction of becoming the first Sri Lankan to join the UN system (ILO).

The UNP yesterday filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal, challenging the postponement of the Provincial Council Elections of the Sabara-gamuwa Provincial Council.

The petitioner is Mrs. Vilagoda, a retired Government Agent.

The respondents are, the Commissioner of Elections, Dayananda Dissanayake, the respective returning officers and the Attorney General.

The petitioner complains that the postponement of the pall is a violation of the Constitutional provisions, enforced in respect of the establishment of the Provincial Councils.

The petition requested the court to issue a writ of Certiorari to quash the decision to postpone and to issue a Writ of Mandamus, compelling the Commissioner of Elections to nominate a fresh date and to proceed with the holding of the poll.

The petition requested the Court of Appeal to refer the petition to the Supreme Court to interpret the constitution and thereafter to exercise the writ jurisdiction, through the Supreme Court.

The petition will be supported by Shibly Aziz PC with P. Wimalachandiran, A. P. Niles, Gamini Senanayake instructed by Arjuna Kurukulasuriya.

The Sinhala version of the Biography of President J. R. Jayewardene will be released at a ceremony to be held at the J. R. Jayewardene Centre on Thursday 17th September 1998 at 4 p.m. the day coincides with the 92nd Birth Anniversary of President Jayewardene.

This Biography deals with the period from 1956-1977 of President Jaye-wardene's life, tracing his political career till 1977.

The original in English was written by Professors K. M. de Silva and Howard Wriggins and was published in London.

The book contains about 570 pages and several picture plates depicting events of his personal and political life.

The Central Bank advises holders of Malaysian Ringgit currency notes that Malaysian authorities will accept their currency for conversion only up to September 30. Details of the new exchange control regulations in Malaysia will be available from all commercial banks in Sri Lanka.

The Central Bank says that further details could be obtained from the Bank Negara, Malaysia. Telephone Nos. are Ñ 603-291-4827, 603-291-5741, 603-293-2330, 603-292-8736.

The Central Bank in a press release said 'The general public is here by informed to note the following changes when they enter into export and import trade and foreign exchange transactions with Malaysia.

It has been reported that the Bank Negara Malaysia, which is the Central Bank of Malaysia, has decided to implement a series of measures to insulate their economy from risks and uncertainties of external developments. These measures include a range of foreign exchange and capital control measures in dealing in gold and foreign currency, external accounts, general payments, export of goods, credit facilities to non-residents, investments abroad, foreign currency credit facilities and ringgit credit facilities from non-residents, securities, LABUAN international off-shore financial centre and import and export of currency notes, bills of exchange, assurance policies, etc.

Additional Secretary to Ministry of Defence (MOD) S. K. Wickremarachchi has informed Minister Lakshman Jayakody, Chairman Anti-Harassment Committee that the MOD was not in a position to arrange additional flights for the convenience of passengers to Jaffna in present circumstances, said Anti-Harassment Committee sources yesterday.

This position was explained when the Anti-Harassment Committee headed by Minister Jayakody including other ministers and MPs from all political parties, met at the Ministry of National Integration and Ethnic Affairs on Monday, the sources said.

Mr. Wickremar-achchi noted that taking the present situation into consideration the Ministry of Defence (MOD) had consented to process urgent applications for clearance for air travel only on Saturdays. This is a sequel to a request made by a member of committee, Secretary General of TULF, R. Sampanthan MP for Trincomalee District last week. He had requested to arrange additional flights and facilities to reduce the inconvenience caused to the passengers to Jaffna.

Mr. Wickrema-rachchi pointed out to the committee that landing space was a constraint in deploying additional flights to Jaffna.

Mr. Wickrema-rachchi further pointed out that there were inadequate facilities for parking additional flights at Ratmalana air base and that it was not feasible for flights to be extended to Katunayake International Airport.

He also pointed out that the MOD was unable to increase the number of two air services operating from Ratmalana.

Meanwhile the Chairman Minister Lakshman Jayakody consented to invite Attorney General Sarath N. de Silva and all OICs of Police stations in Colombo for a discussion to be held next Monday to find ways and means of how the police could carry out their security duties at the same time preventing Tamil youths being arbitrarily arrested and detained for long periods without trial.

This Anti-Harassment Committee was appointed by President Chandrika Kumara-tunga following complaints by Tamil civilians of harassment intimidation and indiscriminate arrests.

Also present at the meeting on Monday were committee members SLMC MP M. M. Zuhair, LSSP leader and Minister Batty Weera-koon, Secretary General of TULF MP R. Sampanthan, DIG Crimes Colombo Gamini Gunawardena and senior officials from the tri security forces.

Small and Medium Entrepreneur's Lanka Organisation [SMELO] said that the Board of Valuers of Bank of Ceylon [BoC] drastically reduce valuations made by licensed valuers appointed by them resulting in serious problems for local businessmen. D. G. W. Muhandiramge of the SMELO said that many businessmen have been affected by unreasonable reduction of valuation made by recognised professionals appointed by the BoC for the same purpose. Despite repeated protests, they do not take steps to change the situation.

"I have been compelled to bring this to the notice of the government," he said claiming that contrary to reports State Banks do not support the growth of small time industries.

Muhandiramge said that his attempts to acquire and develop rice mill at Minneriya have been seriously affected by what he described as unreasonable position taken by the BoC. Stanley T. Gunasekera, licensed surveyor, leveller and valuer on the instructions from the BoC branch at Kollupitiya has valued the neglected mill and the land, before informing the BoC that market value of the property is approximately 3,552,5000 rupees. He has placed the forced sale value at 3,000,000 rupees. This valuation has been made in October 1996.

He said that he was able to acquire the property for 2.5 million rupees. The BoC has contributed Rs. 900,000.

After the acquisition, the new owner claims he took steps to improve the buildings and was able to restore the mill. At the moment almost two dozen people were working there.

Later BoC Kollupitiya branch has directed S. P. Gunasinghe, licensed surveyor, leveller, court commissioner and valuer for District Courts [Kurunegala] and five banks including BoC, to value the Minneriya property again. Gunasinghe has determined the market value at Rs. 6,779,750,00. The forced sale value is approximately Rs. 6,500,000,000.

Muhandiramge said that after this was submitted to BoC authorities, they have indicated that they were not prepared to accept the valuation. Later they have indicated that approximately Rs. 3.2 million rupees can be made available as a loan. Muhandiramge said that the previously given Rs. 900,000 was included in the proposed loan.

"I was expecting at least 80% of the valuation made after renovation of the mill," he said. He pointed out that BoC which accepted the first valuation [market value (552,500 rupees] done before renovation has lowered the value of the property after he spent heavily to restore the mill and commenced work and also gave employment to almost two dozen people.

COLOMBO, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Amnesty International on Friday appealed to the Sri Lankan government to shut down unauthorised detention camps run by armed Tamil groups opposed to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

A statement from the international human rights group said it had reliable information that the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE) and the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) were running more than 20 detention camps in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

The appeal came after recent reports of a spectacular escape of a prisoner who had been held in the custody of members of PLOTE in the northern town of Vavuniya since June 13.

Amnesty said Pararajasingham Kugathasan escaped on August 31 and fled to a nearby church with "signs of torture all over his body, including bleeding wounds on his legs and arms."

"Three armed PLOTE (members) followed him into the church and threatened the priest, demanding that Pararajasingham Kugathasan be handed over. Both their lives were saved after the timely intervention of police from a nearby checkpoint," Amnesty said.

The human rights watchdog called for a prompt and impartial investigation and said those responsible for keeping prisoners at such unauthorised camps must be brought to justice.

Several former rebel groups, including PLOTE and TELO, assist the military in its campaign against the LTTE, which has been fighting for a separate homeland in Sri Lanka's north and east since 1983.

The government said in 1996 more than 50,000 people had died since the war began. Since then, several thousand more soldiers and rebels have been killed or wounded in many battles.

The smashing up of four telephone booths in Colombo and four others in Kandy has caused much concern to the Department of Telecommunications. The damage has been estimated at rupees five lakhs.

Christy de Alwis Director Public, Telecom told 'The Island' that all the necessary steps have now been taken to deal with the mischief-makers with the help of the police. He added that a technical vigilance monitoring system will soon be worked out to get the culprits netted.

Head of the maintenance division L. N. Joseph said that 600 payphone booths known as payphone data management system are operating in Colombo City. Each telephone booth is connected to a central point (console) at Telecom headquarters from where it could detect the total amount collected in each cash box. Each collection box has a capacity of Rs. 2,400/- (in rupees 2/- coins).

The money collected in the boxes vary according to their locations. He further told that the money in the boxes are collected by two officers when they are filled to its capacity.

The pay phone boxes in the city will be increased up to 2000 depending on the demand.

The Writ Application filed in the Supreme Court by Senior DIG, Aditiyapala Sumanasiri Seneviratne, against the findings of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry, which probed the killing of the late Mr. Lalith Athu-lathmudali is to be argued on December 17, 18.

The application was called before the Supreme Court yesterday. Mr. Wijedasa Raja-pakse, Senior counsel appearing for the two respondent Commissioners took time till October 15 to file objections, on behalf of the two respondent Commissioners.

The two respondent Commissioners are retired Supreme Court Judge, Tissa Dias Bandaranayake, Chairman and High Court Judge, G. W. Ediri-sooriya, member of the Commission.

President's Counsel K. N. Choksy, is senior counsel for the petitioner, A. S. Sene-viratne.

The application was on Friday called before a bench comprising, Justice Dr. A. R. B. Amerasinghe. Justice Dr. Asoka de Z. Gunewardene and Justice D. P. S. Gunesekera.