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week’s salary to swell NDF The government has ruled out conscription despite shortage of men in armed forces to conduct and complete the ongoing offensives within a set time frame. Defence Ministry in a communique to secretaries of ministries and heads of departments and corporations, has stated that although the government was aware the number of personnel in armed forces were not enough to end the war against terrorists within a given time, it (government) does not favour the introduction of compulsory military service. The Defence Ministry while admitting that it was impossible for the entire nation to get involved in the war effort directly, has urged the secretaries of ministries and heads of departments and corporations to collect funds from employees for the war effort. The ministry insists that the government’s military campaign has entered a decisive stage. The ministry states that there was no doubt troops will regain areas currently under terrorist control in a very short time. The communique signed by Defence Secretary has requested ministry secretaries and heads of departments and corporations to collect at least a week’s pay of all employees as donations. The ministry has said that these donations, at once or in instalments can be made to the National Defence Fund (NDF). However, some trade unions and workers have opposed the fresh collection of funds to the NDF. The powerful Ceylon Bank Employees Union (CBEU) was one of the unions which has declined to make further donations. Senior CBEU sources said that they have decided against making further donations. According to defence ministry sources, Sri Lankans have contributed 727 million rupees to the NDF since 1985. Defence sources said that NDF funds have been used in support of both serving troops and those who have been wounded in action. NDF funds had been used to provide interest free loans to wounded personnel and also families of those who died in action. Fifty million rupees had been allocated for this and already 22.5 million had been given as loans, sources said. Another 25 million rupees had been spent to assist school going children of security personnel killed or wounded in action. One hundred and ninety-one million had been spent on medical facilities and rehabilitation. Another 102 million rupees had been paid to Sri Lanka Insurance Corporation. The government had insured all personnel with the corporation and monthly instalments have to be paid. Fifty-eight million rupees had been also spent on the Sri Lanka National Guard. According to records the biggest spending had been made in support of welfare facilities and the ongoing Wanni offensive, Jayasikuru. The ministry states that 236 million rupees had been spent on welfare and Jayasikuru troops. There was evidence that in view of heavy expenditure, NDF funds had gone down to less than 100 million rupees. In view of that the government has decided to call for fresh contributions to re-build the NDF. All funds made to NDF are tax free. The ministry has also called schools and other organisations to come forward with donations. The ministry had reminded that earlier students donated monies given for their lunch and tea. Port
operations normal Port Development, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Ministry yesterday said that notwithstanding the accident connected with the two vessels that took place within the Port of Colombo on Saturday. Port operations are continuing as usual. Yesterday around 6.00 p.m. the M.V. "Zim Piraeus" whilst approaching the JCT 1 berth collided with a small feeder vessel M.V. Leerort" which was already berthed at JCT to resulting in the small feeder vessel capsizing. Even after the incident the movement of vessels into and out of the harbour continued according to schedule including the berthing and operation of the main liner M.V. "Zim Piraeus". From the information that has surfaced so far it is believed that this accident could have occurred either due to the negligence and or failure of the Master of vessel. The Harbour Master’s Division is conducting inquiries with regard to this incident. According to investigations made so far the Main liner has not suffered any damage. Out of the full length 1310 meters of the JCT only a length of 150 metres will be temporarily out of commission until the capsized feeder vessel is salvaged. On hearing this incident M. H. M. Ashraff, Minister of Port Development, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction who was on official duty in Eastern province rushed to Colombo and summoned an emergency meeting attended by Reggie Ranatunga, Deputy Minister and other officials where he discussed different options for salvage operations. The Minister has directed the Sri Lanka Ports Authority to take every possible step to expedite the salvage process, the Ministry said in a news release. City
rates to go up? The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has been forced to explore the possibility of generating additional revenue following the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Deputy Mayor Omar Kamil said yesterday. He did not rule out the possibility of enhanced taxes for current rate payers. The CMC, since April 1 this year has to pay 12.5 GST on every item purchased, Kamil said adding that the Inland Revenue Department has suggested that they (CMC) in turn charge 12.5 GST on some of the services and facilities provided by them. He further said that council’s expenditure will rise by over 200 million rupees as it has been compelled to pay GST. "Every time we acquire a tractor, bitumen or any other item we will have to pay GST," he said. The CMC was not the only body affected by this he admitted. However, the effect on CMC was bigger he said. The estimated collection of taxes from rate payers has been placed approximately at one billion rupees. "We generate more revenue from other sources," Kamil said insisting that the introduction of GST had resulted in considerable problems. "We are contemplating new taxes," he revealed. He said that the CMC is responsible for maintaining roads within the city. However roads in other Municipal Council areas are maintained by Road Development Authority. Whatever said and done, ultimately the people have to pay extra for services. Inland Revenue officials were on record as saying that the generation of returns funds from GST, was upto its target at the completion of the first quarter on July 31 this year. The GST came into operation on April 1 this year. Informed sources said that returns/funds in the first month in the second quarter has been good. Asked whether, the Investigations Branch of the Inland Revenue Department has initiated any investigations into GST related cases, sources replied in the negative. "Not at the moment," sources said adding that the implementation of GST remains in the initial stages. "It’s too early to start enforcing rules and regulations," sources said. Cops pose as businessmen to recover priceless
guardstone Cops posing as businessmen in search of artefacts recovered a priceless guardstone of Medirigiriya Watadage site, police said on Saturday. The guardstone carrying a "Punkalasa" a symbol of prosperity is over 2000 years old, but not the one of five stolen a month ago, archaeological sources said yesterday. (20th). Hingurakgoda police was tipped off that a guardstone of Medirigiriya was to be sold for Rs. 500,000/- at Medirigiriya, and a sample piece of the stone was with the broker. The particular stone known as crystal limestones was identified by police as that of a guardstone at Medirigiriya Watadage site. The special police team disguised as businessmen met the owner of the guardstone and discussed the deal on Thursday and after eliciting the whereabouts of the stone raided a paddy field where it was buried for safe keeping, sources added. The guard stone bears a neatly carved "Punkalasa" which is identical to Madirigiriya era that is 1st century to 12th century A.D. Officer in charge of Archaeology Department Polonnaruwa inspected the recovered guardstone and confirmed it to be one belonging to the Medirigiriya Watadage site and that it was about 2000 years old, sources further said. AI issues ‘urgent action appeal’ for release of five SEP members Amnesty International has issued an "urgent action appeal" on behalf of the five members of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) of Sri Lanka who have been apprehended by the LTTE states a communique issued by the Socialist Equality Party. The full text of the communique is as follows: Titled "Fear of Torture," the appeal was issued by Amnesty International’s research headquarters in London on September 11. The appeal lists the names of the five SEP members who are LTTE captives — Thirugnana Sambandan, Kasinathan Naguleshwaran, Rajendran Sudarshan, A. Rasaratnam and E. Nayalvale — and emphasizes that none has been seen since their apprehension by the LTTE. The appeal documents the escalating campaign of repression the Tamil secessionist organization has mounted against the SEP in Kilinochchi, an LTTE-controlled district just south of the Jaffna peninsula, since last July. It also expresses fear for the safety of other local members of the SEP. The AI appeal draws attention to the fact that because they are Tamils, the SEP members are especially liable to abuse by the LTTE. Although the ICRC (International Committee of the Red Cross) is able to visit a small number of prisoners held by the LTTE, including members of the security forces and Sinhalese fishermen, it has not been able to gain access to Tamil prisoners held by the LTTE, on political grounds. The appeal concludes by calling for messages to be sent to the LTTEs leadership in-exile urging it to provide assurances the SEP members will not be ill-treated or tortured, to allow ICRC representatives and relatives to visit its SEP captives, and to clarify the reasons for their detention. AI issued its urgent action appeal on behalf of the SEP members only after conducting its own inquiries to verify the information given it by representatives of the SEP in Sri Lanka and the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS). Its appeal confirms the warnings of the SEP and WSWS that the lives of the five SEP members are in grave danger. More than seven weeks have now passed since the LTTE arrested the first two SEP members. Yet neither the LTTE’s London-based leadership or LTTE officials in Kilinochchi have responded to requests from the SEP, the ICRC, the detainees’ relatives and the many individuals and organizations who have supported the SEP-WSWS defence campaign for information concerning the whereabouts and well-being of the SEP members. In effect the SEP members have been ‘disappeared’ by the LTTE. That the LTTE has failed to lay charges or present any evidence against the SEP members underscores that this is a case of political repression. The SEP members have been targeted because they uphold socialist political convictions and have counterposed to the LTTE’s nationalist perspection of establishing a capitalist statelet in the north and east the fight to unite Tamil and Sinhalese workers and peasants in the struggle to establish the United Socialist States of Sri Lanka and Tamil Eelam? The SEP has a long and proud record of championing the democratic rights of the Tamils. Like its predecessor the Revolutionary Communist League, the SEP has always opposed the anti-Tamil legislation and policies of the Sri Lankan state, including the privileged status of the Sinhalese language and Buddhist faith under the Sri Lankan constitution. It is an indefatigable opponent of the racist war and demands the withdrawal of all government troops from the Tamil majority areas. For these principled stands, several of its members have been murdered by Sinhalese chauvinists. Socialist Equality Party urgently calls on all labour, human rights and Tamil organizations, and all those who defend basic democratic rights to send faxes and letters to the LTTE condemning the repression of the SEP and demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the five SEP members. CB issues price index to supplement that of census Dept. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has compiled a new Consumer Price Index for the Colombo District for the period from January 1996 onwards. As a measure of inflation, this Index will supplement the available consumer price indices, i.e. the Colombo Consumers' Price Index (CCPI) and the Greater Colombo Price Index (GCPI computed by the Census and Statistics Department. The weights of the Colombo District Consumers' Price Index (CDCPI) are based on the expenditure patterns of the poorest 40 per cent of households (when ranked with income) in the Colombo District as revealed in the first three rounds of the Consumer Finance and Socio-Economic Survey of the Central Bank 1996/97. The Survey collected detailed data on food and non-durable expenditure from households in the island excluding Northern and Eastern provinces. Price data for computation of the new Index are obtained regularly by the Central Bank through its Countrywide Data Collection System. The price data are collected from several markets including Pettah, Moratuwa, Homagama, Hanwella and Avisawella. Sub Indices are computed for the categories Food, Clothing, Fuel and Light, Housing, Personal Care & Health, Transport, Recreation & Education and Miscellaneous Items. When the weights of the Colombo District Index are compared with those of the CCPI and GCPI, it is observed that the weight for food is lower than in both Indices. The weight given to clothing is higher than in the GCPI but lower than in the CCPI. The weight of housing is in the CDCPI substantially higher than in both the CCPI and GCPI. Also it may be noted here that the index for housing is moved in the new index unlike in the CCPI and GCPI. The rate of inflation as measured by the Colombo District Consumers' Price Index as at August 1998 was 8.5 per cent. This was lower than the CCPI inflation rate of 10.3 per cent. In July the Colombo District Index registered a rate of inflation of 8.5 per cent which was again lower than that of the CCPI (10.3 per cent) but higher than that of the GCPI (7.6 per cent).(Central Bank) Ownership deeds for 9,000 dwellers in NHDA
schemes The government will offer deeds to approximately 9,000 families living in schemes owned by the National Housing Development Authority (NHDA) next month, officials said this week. The majority of these people had moved to NHDA schemes for low income earners when late Ranasinghe Premadasa was the Minister of Local Government, Housing and Construction, sources said. "They have been living in these schemes for many years", sources said adding that the government has decided to issue deeds for the plots of land where low income earners have put up structures. Housing and Urban Development Minister Indika Gunawardene has instructed the NHDA to make necessary arrangements to give ownership of these structures to low income earners to mark the World Habitat Day. The NHDA owned schemes in all four Colombo electorates, Kotte, Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia and Moratuwa Municipal Councils and Kolonnawa Urban Council have been included in the programme. Officials said that they believe handing over of ownership of these plots of land will result in further development. They admitted that some of the families which moved into these schemes had left after giving their plots of land to others. Asked whether 'outsiders' will be removed forcibly, sources replied in the negative. "We don't intend to do that", sources said adding that arrangements will be made to give the deeds to families presently living in schemes. However they will have to pay 1,000 rupees to the NHDA, at the time of hand over, sources said. The NHDA has commenced programmes to educate the people of the proposed changes. The biggest scheme selected for the project is situated at Seevalipura in the Borella electorate. Other schemes are situated at Mutwal, Modera, Kotahena, Mahawatte, Grandpass, Kuppiyawatte, Borella, Dematagoda, Wellawatte, Havelock Town, Kirulapone, Narahenpita, Narahenpita-Mahawatte, Thimbirigasyaya Road, Rajagiriya, Kotte, Meetotamulla, Wellampitiya, Attidiya, Dehiwela and Moratuwa. However housing remains a serious problem in the city and suburbs, senior government officials admit. Colombo's Deputy Mayor, Omar Kamil said that despite ongoing efforts to improve the living standards of the people, serious problems exist. "Almost 50% of Colombo population live in tenement gardens and shanties", he revealed adding that existing facilities were not enough at all. He placed the number of people living in Colombo approximately at one million. He said another 400,000-500,000 people enter Colombo daily. However some believe that the number of people entering Colombo is not that high. Kamil said that the NHDA, UDA, CMC and other connected departments will have to get together to solve the problems faced by the people living in the city. Asked whether the CMC is permitted to spend funds to provide facilities to people living in NHDA lands, he replied in the negative. However, the CMC has recently obtained approval from Attorney General's Department to spend funds to provide and maintain basic facilities in lands not belonging to the CMC. Kamil said approximately 53 million has been allocated for this. He claimed that the Common Amenities Board was not doing enough to help the people who are not living in lands belonging to the NHDA. Kamil said that the government must provide funds for the Common Amenities Board. However a senior board official yesterday said that they do work on requests made by the NHDA. "Funds are provided by the NHDA", he said. Kamil said that situation has been further worsened by the construction of unauthorised structures. "We keep on pulling down unauthorised structures", he said claiming that since the present administration came into office no unauthorised structures have been permitted with the knowledge of the CMC. However others said that if the present CMC administration was not responsible for this situation, previous UNP administrations had permitted unauthorised structures in the city. Pakistani national caught with heroin Customs at Bandaranaike International Airport, took into custody a Pakistani national who attempted to smuggle in one kilogramme of brown sugar heroin with a market value of around Rs. 1.5 million early yesterday. The suspect arrived aboard an Air Lanka flight from Bangkok. The stock of heroin was found stored in eight separate covers and concealed in the false bottom of the briefcase he was carrying, Customs sources said. The Pakistani had come from Karachchi via Bangkok. The suspect had been handed over to Police Anti-narcotics' Division. Customs officials under the direction of Assistant Superintandent C. H. Rajaratnam carried out investigations. Norway provides Rs.400 mn. for plantation sector development Norway has offered a grant of 50 million Norwegian Kroners (approximately Rs 400 mn) for the implementation of a Plantation Development Support Programme (PDSP). The Norwegian Government has been extending this support since 1985 to Sri Lanka, for the development projects in the Plantation Sector, Finance Ministry sources said. The main purposes of the PDSP are to support the creation of settlements for plantation communities with good living & housing conditions, improve the health status of the plantation community and improve the working conditions and labour relations of the plantation workers. The Government of the Netherlands also has extended grant assistance for the implementation of this project. This programme will be implemented by the Plantation Housing & Social Welfare Trust in collaboration with the Regional Plantation Companies, under the guidance of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs & Plantation Industries. Ex-Tiger leader shot dead by LTTE A former LTTE political leader of Vettimaran is reported to have been shot dead by the Tigers for failing to carry out orders. He had earlier been suspended for some time by the LTTE, but re-appointed political leader of Vettimaran. His body had been found in Kokkadicholai by his family members. The LTTE had ordered the family members to perform the final rites within five hours according to reports. |
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