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Wijeyapala Mendis’ case against UNP
dismissed The application made by UNP former Minister Wijeyapala Mendis for an interim injunction restraining UNP from depriving him of his membership and other privileges was turned down by Colombo District Judge Sarath Ambepitiya yesterday. Court also dissolved the enjoining order that had been issued by Court. The judgement was delivered by Additional District Judge A. W. A. Salam. Court made order sequel to objections filed by UNP leader, Chairman, General Secretary and other respondents through Samararatne Associates. The plaint was filed by Ranil Ratnayaka Associates. The Order held that the plaintiff had failed to satisfy Court that there was a prima facie case that could be successful and that any grave prejudice could be caused if the interim injunction was not issued. The Order stated that the plaintiff had submitted that he had been found guilty by the Special Presidential Commission which in its interim report had recommended that he be deprived of his civic rights, and that thereafter a disciplinary committee appointed by the UNP had suspended him from the party. He stated that the said disciplinary committee had been appointed contravening the party constitution. Such a committee had no powers to suspend him from the party. He made an application for an enjoining order and an interim injunction restraining the party from depriving him of his membership and other priviliges he enjoyed. He further pleaded declaration that the suspension was not valid in law. The respondents filed objection to dismiss the action arguing that the decisions of the said committee were in conformity with the party constitution. It appears that on June 15, 1996 the UNP Executive Committee had passed a resolution devolving all its powers to the working committee. Consequently, this committee could exercise powers to suspend or expel any member from the party. The working committee could exercise such powers until they are withdrawn by the Executive Committee. It was the position of the plaintiff that the provisions of the party constitution overrides the decisions of the committee. It was also the position of the plaintiff that the working committee had no powers to appoint a disciplinary committee and therefore any decision by such committee could have no force of law. It appears ex facie from the objections of the respondents that the said working committee had been exercising such powers of appointing disciplinary committees and also suspension and expulsion of members from the party and furthermore that the plaintiff had been a member of disciplinary committees and participating in proceedings of such committees until his suspension from the party. It is clearly evident that the concept of the illegality of the exercise of powers of suspension and expulsion of members by the disciplinary committee has dawned upon him only after his suspension from the party. The respondents had cited a celebrated judgement that if a person had been a party to a certain commitment then he could not challenge the same when it is not in his favour. Court upholds the view that a political party could take measures against its members to maintain discipline, in the interest of the party irrespective of the considerations of his or her seniority or other contributions, or even the positions they had held. Court is of the view that the plaintiff has no right to seek an interim 'injunction' on basis of the illegality of the composition of the disciplinary committee when he himself had been serving on them in the past. According to our law, a plaintiff seeking an interim injunction must satisfy Court that there was a prima facie case. It is thereafter that Court considers whether there was any suppression of facts or grave prejudice caused to anyone. The respondents objected that the UNP had not been cited as a respondent in the plaint. The plaintiff had explained that all relevant persons holding important posts had been cited as respondents. It is the view of the Court ex facie it appears that the plaint is not perfect and that it could not be successful, the order concluded. Movement against Terrorism opposes talks with LTTE The National Movement against Terrorism expressed their vehement opposition against talks with the LTTE at a press conference held in Colombo yesterday. The members of the organisation said that calling for talks with the LTTE under any circumstances would set the stage for the slaughter of the sons and daughters of Sri Lanka. The movement put it down simply as both the UNP and the PA playing one against the other to get minority votes. The members recalled that the previous talks with the LTTE was a ploy by the terrorists to rearm themselves. The National Movement against Terrorism is organising a series of protests against the statements made by the leading political parties. The members of the organisation said that the UNP stance was more amazing as they had already rejected the political package of the government as unacceptable because it poses a threat to the unitary status of the country. They are now calling for talks. The members also questioned the rational behind the sudden need for talks by the government that assured the country the war is going to end. The movement pointed out that opposition is mounting among the citizens of the country who had suffered in the hands of a merciless terrorist organisation and sacrificed their sons and daughters for a cause they believed in. They also said that the terrorists would only gain more propaganda and the interference of foreign countries that has no interest in the matter would further complicate matters . The movement warned that history would repeat itself as in the Thimpu talks in 1985, Indo-Lanka talks, and the talks between the leader of the present government and the LTTE that resulted in disaster. (LS) Six
remand prisoners escape Six remand prisoners escaped from the Kalutara prison on Monday. Police investigations had revealed that the escape had taken place when prison guards had moved out to shift two other prisoners at about 8.00 p.m. from the remand jail where other prisoners were being held. Capitalising on this situation the six remandees had sneaked out. The escapees had been identified as K. B. Duleep Sujeewa on charges of 20 heists, R. M. Jayantha on charges of a murder and several heists, P. A. Priyantha - 15 heists, Hiran Jayalakshana heist of Rs. 400,000 from Lotteries Board branch at Kalutara, D. Sugath Preethiraj, heists and possession of firearms and Samantha Kumara several heists. Kalutara Superintendent of Prisons, R. Kulatunga told ‘The Island’ the full responsibility for this jail break must be borne by the prisons guards on duty at that time. It was a lapse on their part, he said. The Superintendent charged that the incident had taken place due to the sheer negligence and inefficiency of the prisons guards on duty. Kalutara police meanwhile had alerted all police stations. Lawyers organisation makes strong protest The Colombo Lawyers’ United Organisation yesterday demanded the interdiction of the CID officers who, it says, acted with callous disregard for the norms of justice and the law of the land in the execution of an order to arrest High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne and to take immediate action against them. The organisation also warned authorities, that, if they failed to take action against the errant CID officers forthwith, the organisation would be compelled to tell the country that totalitarianism is emerging again and this act of the CID is the precursor of it. The Colombo Lawyers’ United Organisation, claiming that the organisation is duty bound to counter propaganda carried out through the state controlled electronic media to justify the arrest of High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne, states that if the claim of the state owned "Sunday Observer" that the CID in arresting the High Court Judge acting on the advice of the Attorney General, is true, it would brand the action of the Attorney General as a complete distortion of the law. " If the Attorney General has ruled that a subject, released on bail by a Magistrate, could be re-arrested on the same offence that ruling goes against the spirit of all the laws of a civilised world," the organisation said in a press release. It further says, "This arbitrary action is an affront to the independence of the judiciary. Unless appropriate action is taken in this regard, the majority of lawyers of the country are compelled to take a course of strong action against it. They will continue their protest campaign. In the meantime lawyers within the jurisdiction of the Colombo High Court will continue their picketing campaign till September 17, the day, Judge Tillekeratne is scheduled to appear before the Kesbewa Magistrate." Recounting the course of events that preceded the arrest of Judge Tillekeratne by the CID on September 10, the Lawyers Organisation states: "On June 01 someone complained to the hospital police post about an incident of assault. In the statement made to that police post the complainant and his son had mentioned the name of the son of Judge Tillekeratne, his domestic servant and a third person. No mention had been made of Mr. Mahanama Tillekeratne. The Colombo High Court Judge Mr. Tillekeratne has made a statement on this matter voluntarily to the Kahatuduwa Police, which inquire into the complaint. The Kahatuduwa Police reported the incident to the Kesbewa Magistrate who ordered the Police to refer the matter to the Mediation Board, as the offence complained of was an offence which came within the jurisdiction of the Mediation Board. High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne, in the course of discharging his judicial function had acquitted Rajitha Senaratne MP, who had been indicted before him. The judge not only acquitted Senaratne but also strongly reprimanded the Criminal Investigation Department of fabricating a case against him. In the meantime the Government intervened and ordered the CID to take up investigations into the incident which was being investigated by the Kahatuduwa Police. Three months after the incident one day in September 1998, the CID is claimed to have found one more witness who is alleged to have given a statement to the effect that Mr. Tillekeratne was involved in the crime and that Mr. Tillekeratne also fired shots during the incident. Officers of the CID and a senior State Counsel has gone to the Kesbewa Magistrate to obtain warrant to arrest Mr. Tillekeratne, on the strength of the statement obtained by the CID. They first prayed for a search warrant. This had been turned down by the Magistrate. And thereafter they had applied for an arrest warrant. Kesbewa Magistrate issued an arrest warrant. On receipt of information that an arrest warrant had been obtained against him Mr. Tillekeratne immediately appeared before the Kesbewa Magistrate and the Magistrate recalled the warrant and ordered him to appear before him on September 17. Mr. Tillekeratne and his lawyers obtained certified copies of the order made by the Magistrate revoking the warrant and these certified copies were in their possession. When a group of armed CID officers arrived at Mr. Tillekeratne's residence later, they showed to them the certified copies of the Order of the Magistrate who revoked the warrant. The CID officers ignored the certified copies of the order, took Mr. Tillekeratne into custody and detained him in the 4th floor through the night. He was produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate, who ordered him to appear before the Kesbewa Magistrate on September 17. '. Arrest of Judge 'a despicable act' says
Jeyraj Minister of Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs, Jeyraj Fernandopulle yesterday condemned the arrest of Colombo High Court Judge, Mahanama Thilakaratne by the CID. The Minister described the arrest as "a despicable act" debasing the legal profession'. 'Mr. Fernandopulle who, himself is a lawyer said that it's the duty of the authorities to first verify the charges against the High Court Judge before proceeding to arrest him. High Court Judge Mahanama Thilakaratne had been taken into custody inspite of his informing the Criminal Investigations Department officials that the order for his arrest had been invalidated. Protests against the arrest are continuing. A delegation of lawyers have called upon Chief Justice G. P. S. de Silva to ensure that the Independence of the Judiciary is safeguard. Director CID Bandula Wickremasinghe was yesterday transferred to Police Headquarters, sources said. Kandy Bar condemns arrest of Judge KANDY: An emergency meeting of the Kandy Bar Association on Monday (14) unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the manner the Colombo High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekaratne was taken into custody by the CID. The resolution was proposed and seconded respectively by Kithsiri Seneviratne and the former president and former High Commissioner in Australia for Sri Lanka Mr. Nissanka Wijesundera. The resolution condemned the manner in which Mr. Tillkaratne was arrested and kept in custody by the CID thereby tarnishing the image, sanctity and the dignity of the judiciary. UNP wants Chief Justice to probe ‘illegal arrest’ of Judge The UNP yesterday called on the Chief Justice to immediately conduct an inquiry into the "illegal arrest" of High Court Judge Mahanama Tilleke-ratne, and to take necessary action for alleged violation of Article 116 (2) of the Constitution relating to interference with the judiciary. Tyronne Fernando MP said that in addition the UNP also calls on President Kumaratunga to take immediate action against "the offending" state officers and to take note of the ominous silence and inaction of the Justice Minister. Cholera has claimed two more victims during the past 24 hours in the Polonnaruwa area. According to the reports cholera has claimed two lives during the past 24 hours ending noon yesterday. The two cholera victims had died in a refugee camp in Welikanda, health officials said. Welikanda has been badly affected by the epidemic. During the past few days Welikanda recorded the highest number of cholera patients in the Polonnaruwa region. Fourteen patients were admitted to the Welikanda hospital during the past 24 hours. On Sunday 14 soldiers were admitted to the Welikanda hospital with symptoms of cholera. The Polonnaruwa Base Hospital had four new admissions. (LS). Fire hazard posing great threat in Colombo Only two of the network of around one thousand fire hydrants in Colombo are functional posing a great threat in the case of an emergency, the Air Force warned. Squadron Leaders F. Hashim and Senaka Liyanasuriya, in an interview with ‘The Island’ expressed concern over this matter and requested the Colombo Municipal Council to take immediate action to refctify the situation. In recent weeks, the Fire Department has conducted several fire drills in high rise buildings in Colombo. The latest was carried out at the World Trade Centre using a modern method of rescuing known as "rappling". Squadron Leader Liyanasuriya explained how this works. It involves the use of long tension ropes that enable a fire fighter to descend from a building with a person trapped inside. These ropes also make it possible to strap a stretcher with an injured person on it enabling all casualties to be rescued. The ‘rappling’ method is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and is a necessary precaution to prevent mishaps such as the ones faced in the Central Bank bombing in 1996 where the fire fighting vehicles were unable to make their way through the debris preventing rescue operations to be carried out effectively. Fire fighters have been expertly trained by a team of fire fighters from the Greater Manchester County Fire Department who were in the country around four months ago. They carried out a three week training programme for the Sri Lankan fire fighters which initially numbered 20. At present 60 have been fully trained in ‘rappling’ and new rescue methods, they said. The Fire Department is made up of 220 Air Force personnel and 130 Municipal staff. The efficiency of the Department was previously questioned but with the combined efforts of the Air Force there should no longer be any doubt. The Air Force was able to strengthen the duties of the Fire Department as they have in their possession helicopters, planes and fire fighting equipment. The Department has also acquired some new equipment which will contribute to its strength. Some of the equipment include a special vehicle which even India doesn’t possess, according to Sqdn. Leader Liyanasuriya. This vehicle can carry foam, water and dry powder to fight fires. This is in contrast to the other vehicles that can carry just one of these substances. The Skylift vehicles are a handy rescue method for very tall buildings. The Department owns three such skylifts, one which can reach a height of 32 metres and another two that can go upto 56 metres in height. The cutter and spreader machinery enables metal and wires to be cut which is useful in the event of an automobile accident, Squadron leaders Hashim and Liyanasuriya explained. The funds to obtain this equipment have been allocated by the Ministry of Defence and according to Fire Department sources it is sufficient to ensure efficient fire fighting, they said. The Chairman of the UNP Karu Jayasooriya issued the following statement yesterday. "I refer to the news item entitled ‘Major political parties boycott UNP’s All Party Confab’, published in ‘The Island’ edition of Tuesday 15th September 1998. The news item in question states that ‘the UNP’s All Party Conference was boycotted by all major political parties and all NGOs. It is correct that out of the political parties invited, including the SLFP, only the EPDP, DUNLF, TELO and EPRLF had sent their representatives. However, it is incorrect to state that all major NGOs had also boycotted the consultation as all major NGOs associated with the campaign for free and fair elections and depolitization of key institutions were in fact represented at the consultation. The NGOs that attended the consultation included the Movement for Free and Fair Elections (MFFE), People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Marga Institute, Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), Centre for Society and Religion, International Centre for Ethnic Studies (ICS), OPA and the All Ceylon Muslim League (ACML). By Dinasena Rathugamage A well known businessman in Vavuniya town had been abducted by an unidentified armed gang last Sunday. The businessman identified as Shanmugaraja had been at his residence at Vairavapuliyamkulam, Vavuniya when the gang had arrived in a threewheeler, called him out and taken him away, according to reports. The abduction had taken place around 7 p.m. Tough measures needed to stop pilfering
abroad of artefacts The Department of Archaeology has called for enhanced powers to the Customs to scrutinise goods taken out of the country through diplomatic channels, the Director General Dr.Siran Deraniyagala said. In an interview with "The Island" he said this decision follows reports of priceless artefacts of archaeological importance being smuggled out of the country through various channels. "I am not saying that everybody is involved in such illegal acts, but there could be persons who may be using such privileges to engage in such despicable deeds. "We are looking at ways of strengthening the Antiquities Act to allow containers sent through diplomatic channels also to be examined. We are also hoping to have persons trained in identifying artefacts of archaeological importance at the Customs to check on the goods leaving the country. "An efficient control at the Customs need to be introduced immediately to curb the plundering and smuggling out of archaeological artefacts", Dr.Deraniyagala said. Moves to strengthen laws come in the wake of the continuing destruction of sites of archaeological importance by treasure hunters. Five priceless guardstones at Medirigiriya were also robbed by treasure hunters. It is beieved that the guardstones may have been taken out of the country. The Director General pointed out that the provisions within the amended Antiquities Act were insufficient to protect archaeological sites and monuments. An enhancement in the fines and the prison sentences imposed on the offenders, than what they stood at present is necessary, he noted. The Act was amended in May this year, increasing the fine for those found guilty of destruction of a site or monument of archaeological importance from Rs.1000 to a Rs.50,000 and a prison sentence of up to one year to a sentence not less than two years or below 5 years or both. "These amendments are insufficient. I am not satisfied with them," he added. Meanwhile the, Director, Excavations, Department of Archaeology, Senarath Dissanaike contacted by "The Island" said that the last reported case of an attempt to remove artefacts from the country was last year when the Customs had arrested one person with 4 Buddha statues and over 20 halos belonging to the Kandyan era. "Till the laws pertaining to the antiquities of Sri Lanka were introduced in 1940 under the Antiquities Ordinance, a lot of such artefact are reported to have been removed from the country. Some have been removed for museums and others for private collectors. But we have no reports of how many have been removed as there were no inventories kept then," he added. Following a newspaper advertisement by the Department requesting public assistance in the form of information on such treasure hunters, the Department with the assistance of the police have been successful in apprehending over 30 persons attempting to destroy or remove artefacts within the past two weeks, he said. It is further reported that from April 1997 todate 134 such incidents of offenses have been reported. Three foreign private hospitals Board of Investment of Sri Lanka has approved the setting up of three private hospitals of international standard. Apollo Hospital Company in India will be the first investor to start construction of a hospital under this project in Sri Lanka. Work is expected to commence next January and is to be completed within two years. The other two investors are companies in Australia and Singapore, according to official sources. Calls for UNP to lend hand to solve ethnic crisis The following is the statement by Mr. Yogendra Duraiswamy, President Hindu Council of Sri Lanka at the consultation convened by Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of the United National Party on September 14: "As President of the Hindu Council of Sri Lanka, a federation of Hindu societies, I had to refer your letter 9th September 1998 to our Board of Management for its views on the issues raised by you regarding free and fair elections and depoliticisation of key institutions in our country. While accepting your invitation the Board wanted me to convey the following:- "The greatest challenge facing our country today is the ethnic conflict, which is eating into the vitals of our body politic, causing death and destruction on a massive scale. Our country is gradually bleeding to death. At present there is no other theatre of war in the world where the death toll on an average per day is as high as in Sri Lanka. The international media now hardly reports on the tragedy in Sri Lanka as violence and counter violence have become a common occurrence in our country. Three days ago a shattering explosion in Jaffna killed the Mayor, senior army and police officers and key officials reminding us once again of the seriousness of the crisis facing our country. This conflict which was at one time mainly confined to the North East of our country is gradually spreading its tentacles to other areas. The time may come when no area in our country could be considered as safe, if urgent steps are not taken to settle this question. "It has been and continues to be our consistent view that the paramount concern of us as responsible citizens should be to bring about a political solution to the ethnic conflict on the basis of equality and justice. This can only be done in a united Sri Lanka by sharing of power at the Centre and the periphery. "You are the leader of a political party — the United National Party, which has governed Sri Lanka for the most number of years since Independence. You no doubt will share the achievements and failings of Sri Lanka during this period. The ethnic question is one of those problems remaining unresolved since Independence despite attempts made by both the major political parties to resolve it. An opportunity has arisen once again to bring about a political settlement as the government is keen on a settlement and has put forward proposals towards this end. As we have mentioned earlier we cannot afford to miss this opportunity. We therefore appeal to you to use your experience and influence to settle this question as soon as possible. The issues you have raised for this consultation though laudable could be considered after an overall settlement of the ethnic question is reached, for which the support of the United National Party is vital. A Team Physician Development Course devised on FIMS guidelines by the Sri Lanka Sports Medicine Association, which was given accreditation as a FIMS course, at the XXVIth World Congress of Sports Medicine held in Orlando USA, in June 1998, is being held from 18th to 20th September 1998, in Colombo. The venue is Jaic Hilton Tower, Conference Hall. This course becomes the first occasion a National Association has been given accreditation by the International Federation of Sports Medicine, to conduct a FIMS course. There will be 3 guest lecturers from abroad, two of whom are nominated by FIMS. This course will give recognition to our doctors to follow a career in Sports Medicine, and will entitle them to follow more advanced FIMS courses which are conducted by the American College of Sports Medicine, and the FIMS European Chapter. The teaching faculty will consist of well known consultants and specialists in Sri Lanka who are in the SLSMA, in addition to guest lecturers from abroad who will include FIMS Education Commission lecturers from Oman and Hong Kong, and a lecturer from Australia. This course will have FIMS supervision, and will consist 16 hours of lectures and 3 workshops. It is expected that doctors from the South Asia region will also attend this course. This milestone was when Dr. C. Thurairaja, the President of SLSMA, who was in the Education Commission of AFSM from 1992 to 1996, and presently in the Executive Committee of AFSM for the period 1996 to 2000 submitted the contents and syllabus of this course which was prepared by the Ex. Co. of SLSMA. This course will ensure that the doctors who accompany teams abroad, and provide medical care to our sportsmen and sportswomen will acquire the expertise and the necessary qualification in sports medicine that is required for the task. The NOC, the Ministry of Sports and all Sports Associations should now ensure that doctors who provide medical care to sportsmen obtain the necessary expertise. This course will be limited to only 40 doctors. Doctors should contact Prof. Rohan Jayasekara, Chairman, Education Committee SLSMA, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, Group Capt. Dr. Nimal H. Gunaratne, Secretary of SLSMA, Airforce Base, Rat-malana, or Major General Dr. C. Thurairaja, President SLSMA, Military Hospital. This is the first course of this nature, and will provide career prospects for doctors who are committed to Sports Medicine. Mahapola trade fair at Hingurakgoda school Mahapola Trade Fair and Exhibition conducted by the Ministry of Internal and International Commerce and Food will be held from 26th September to 3rd October, 1998 at Rajarata Maha Vidyalaya, Hingurakgoda. This is the 191st Trade Fair arranged by this Ministry and is held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the school which was started by the Church. Centenary celebrations were concluded recently. So far more than 200 stalls have been reserved by the state and private sector enterprises at this fair. Since the harvesting season has began in the area it is expected that the Trade Fair would be patronised by a large crowd. Mahapola will have several exhibition stalls in addition to the trade stalls. Ministry of Commerce and Food has made arrangements with the Director of Education to conduct several educational seminars to facilitate Advanced and Ordinary Level students attending schools in the vicinity. These educational programmes are conducted by the Dept. of Internal Trade, Export Development Board, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Meteorological Dept. and National Dangerous Drug Control Board. Cycle marathon races and three wheel scooter parades will be organised by the Hingurakgoda police in connection with this Mahapola. The Sri Lanka Army Bomb Disposal Unit will also have a exhibition stall at this fair. Several ministers will visit the Mahapola Fair during the 8-day period. There will be cultural items daily performed by local students and each day’s programmes will culminate with musical programmes by popular Radio and TV artistes. Artistes of "Kopi Kade" fame will perform a play on the 3rd of October. Sri Lanka Export Development Board will demonstrate the use of Internet and Tradenet to school children at the Fair. Ministry of Internal and International Commerce and Food hopes to donate 40% of the nett profits to the school for its development work. Organisers expect large crowds at the Fair and arrangements have been worked out with the co-operations of the Army, Air Force, Police and other government organisations in the area. (Press Release) Jaffna
residents return home ‘Lanka Muditha’ sailed from Colombo to Kankesanthurai on Monday with 1425 Jaffna returnees and 75 private passengers to Jaffna. These Jaffna returnees were sent from Mannar and kept at the 3rd mile post transit camp before sending them to Jaffna. This is the third voyage of Lanka Muditha from Trincomalee to Kankesanthurai carrying passengers. On earlier two occasions Lanka Muditha carried 2125 Jaffna returnees. The first voyage was on 3rd Sept. with 1100 passengers and the second was on 5th Sept. with 1025 passengers. Meanwhile there are still more than 3000 persons in Mannar to be sent to Jaffna via Trincomalee. They are to be sent to Trincomalee to be accommodated at the 3rd mile post transit camp. CWE to purchase local rice, big onions The CWE yesterday decided to purchase three varieties of rice and big onions from local cultivators, the Acting CWE chairman S. B. Chandradasa said. Samba rice is to be purchased at Rs. 10.50 per kilo and raw rice (both white and red) at Rs. 9 per kilo, while big onions will be purchased at Rs. 17 per kilo. Big onions will be purchased only by Cooperative outlets. However the three varieties of rice will also be purchased by CWE collecting centres, franchise dealers and cultivators’ organisations. DIG Gunaratne challenges compulsory leave order by Chitra Weerarathne Senior DIG of Police, Manage Methananda Gunaratne, has filed a writ application in the Court of Appeal challenging an order made by the Secretary Defence, Chandrananda de Silva, sending M. M. Gunaratne on compulsory leave, with effect from 17.8.98. The letter dated 17.8.98 had said that the said DIG Gunaratne, is being sent on compulsory leave, consequent to what is contained in the report of the Batalanda Commission of Inquiry. The writ application filed by Gunaratne said that, the petitioner was only a witness at the said Commission of Inquiry. The petitioner was never charged by the commission as a person whose conduct, is a subject matter of investigation. The petitioner had not been informed by any authoritative persons, as to what the "findings" of the commission were, that is adverse to the petitioner, and amounts to sending him on compulsory leave. The petition added that only the PSC could send the petitioner on compulsory leave, since the rank of DIG is appointed by the Public Services Commission. The petition has requested the Court of Appeal, to issue a Writ of Certiorari, to quash the order made by the Secretary Defence, to send the petitioner on compulsory leave. The petition has also requested the court to issue a stay order restraining the order to send the petitioner on compulsory leave, until the hearing and the final determination of this application. The petition is to be supported in the Court of Appeal today by Mr. K. N. Choksy, PC, with Mohan Peiris. Srimani says ULF did not attend UNP APC United Lalith Front leader Srimani Athulathmudali says that the media has given publicity that the United Lalith Front was present at the UNP All Party conference held on Monday 14. 'This is incorrect. The ULF did not attend the Conference, as we were not aware of what form the Conference would take and no documents were received for study to enable us to participate in the deliberations, Mrs. Athulathmudali stated in a news release yesterday. Mid-Week
Politics While former UNP General Secretary Sirisena Cooray returned to the country in the early hours of this morning after long holiday in Australia, a massive pro-Cooray poster campaign calling for the comeback of Mr. Cooray to the UNP was launched in the city on the eve of his arrival. An expensive four colour poster with Mr. Cooray's picture was titled' ‘Both the elephant and the party were in the lurch without Cooray'. Mr. Cooray prior to his departure to India he proceeded to Australia as well told this columnist that he had no intention of coming back to active politics and that some people were acting on his be half without his knowledge. He said that he was in 'peaceful retirement' from politics. During the absence of Mr. Cooray a group which claimed to be Cooray loyalists once staged a protest at Hulftsdorp demanding the return of Mr. Cooray to the UNP. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe warned that he would not give into any pressure from any quarter to bring back Mr. Cooray. Party General Secretary Gamini Atukorale pointed out that if Mr. Cooray was keen to come back he should first obtain a membership card to become a member of the party as Mr. Cooray at present was not a member of the UNP. This group led by a Journalist turned Ex-Provincial Councillor and a Buddhist monk summoned a meeting at a famous Centre in Colombo Central on the eve of the UNP Colombo Central Bala Mandalaya meeting to stage a protest meeting near the UNP venue the next day. This too did not materialise and Premadasa supporters were seen flocking to the UNP meeting venue early that evening. Yesterday, the UNP launched an investigation to find out as to who was behind the Sirisena Cooray's poster campaign in the city. According to a party spokesman the poster campaign is reported to have been spearheaded by Mr. Cooray's youngest son Manjula Cooray who had suddenly emerged to carry out the campaign for his father. Asked whether the UNP was ready to accommodate Mr. Cooray, a senior party man replied, ‘The doors are open for him and he must first get the membership rather than getting his people to ridicule the party and its' leadership’. The UNP says that Mr. Cooray himself should make a statement early whether he is keen to return to the party. Meanwhile, the Colombo Central Premadasa loyalists are up in arms against the poster campaign launched yesterday in the city. They claim that they do not want Sirisena Cooray back in the Premadasa electorate and are happy with the present chief organisers. Premadasa loyalists said that it was Mr. Cooray who abandoned Colombo Central during the Wijetunga days and it was the incumbent party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who took up the challenge to look after the Premadasa stronghold. Mr. Wickremesinghe having assumed the role of the UNP leader, has now appointed Parliamentarian Henry Jayamaha and former Deputy Mayor Mohamed Maharoof as the chief organisers in Colombo Central. Both Jayamaha and Maharoof had been working very closely with Mr. Premadasa for over thirty years. Premadasa loyalists in Colombo Central are now to oppose the reintroduction of Mr. Cooray to Colombo Central in the event Mr. Cooray decides to rejoin the UNP. Last weekend the PA veterans including President Chandrika Kumaratunga were campaigning in the Kandy District for the SLFP when the bomb went off at the Jaffna Municipal Council building. Both Mrs. Kumaratunga (Defence Minister) and Gen. Ratwatte her deputy were informed about the explosion within minutes. The SLFP Kandy District meeting took off on schedule. The SLFP, according to a survey conducted by the government has found out that the party was weak in its' organisation outside the city limits of Kandy. Political analysts say that it was a pity that no responsible person from the government visited the home of Brigadier Susantha Mendis to pay last respects for this gallant man who sacrificed his life for the nation. This gave an opportunity for the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to attack the government on this issue at last Monday's UNP rally at Dehiwala. Mr. Wickremesinghe said that he as the Opposition Leader managed to find time despite his busy schedule to at least pay last respects to the late Senior Superintendent of Police Chandra Perera. The PA is busy campaigning round the country of Provincial Councils elections being held in January being a possibility. According to PA sources, the government is seriously considering to re-offer a cabinet portfolio to the Lalith Front. Sources said a senior cabinet minister was behind this move. Lalith Front sources said that the politbureau and ninety nine per cent of the party were against the move by the government to buy over the party by offering cabinet portfolios at a time when elections were round the corner. ‘If we accept, it will be a betrayal of the policies of our late leader Lalith Athulathmudali', claimed a party spokesman. Meanwhile, the LSSP firebrand Vasudeva Nanayakkara has decided to move a private members motion in Parliament calling for the abolition of the Executive Presidency. A similar motion was given notice of to the Secretary General of Parliament eighteen months ago by Lalith Front MP Ravi Karunanayake and is still in the Order Paper. Mr. Karunanayake says that he would speak to Vasudeva Nanayakkara about his motion and seek Vasudeva's help to move his motion first in Parliament before the end of this year. Mr. Karunanayaka's efforts may not be successful as he is not even given time to speak in Parliament since he clashed with Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle during Air Lanka-Emirates debate. Similarly Vasudeva may also face the same fate as he had openly criticised the President and government both inside and outside Parliament. A few weeks ago Vasudeva told a public meeting that the most suitable next Presidential candidate was not Chandrika but Mahinda Rajapakse if a Presidential poll would be held under the present constitution. |
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