Lawyers as a rule do not get much public support in their protests and their perorations over legal matters the subjects over which they come out collectively on pass over the head of citizen Perera. He as a rule is more concerned about the speedy dispensation of justice than rhetoric aired about the canons of jurisprudence. For once however the public seem to be agog over certain developments which the legal eagles of this country seem to think would erode the independence of the judiciary. For once Citizen Perera is anxiously awaiting the outcome of the issue.

Ginger not being a lawyer or an expert on procedure refrains from commenting on the issue in question. But in a general sense feels that the citizen is entitled to feel that the independence of the judiciary if eroded could mean that claims that the rule of law prevails here would ring rather hollow. Memory might take him back to the draconian laws of the early seventies and one court at least that seemed to endorse those laws that kept the citizen in constant state of fear and uncertainty. Fortunately upto this moment the powers that be have reacted sensibly since the rumpus began.

Middle age woman
Women when they reach middle age dread few things more than a dry and wrinkly skin just as much as male dreads the thought of falling hair. Though many remedies are touted in the market few if any have been really effective. Women however need not feel as hopeless about their skin. In fact some women get that kind of skin even rather early in life.

Now estrogen has come to the rescue of women who are experiencing a change of life and helps to ease the symptoms of menopause. That however is not the only good news about estrogen. Estrogen supplements help to prevent dry and wrinkly skin because it increases the quantum of collagen produced which is a fibrous tissue that helps to make the skin more elastic.

What ‘lat’ stand for
What does lat stand for. No it is not what we commonly use as shortened term for loo. In Hindi it could mean column — or pillar. More interesting is its use for a different meaning. It could also mean a very affluent person or an influential individual or even someone at the very top. The term was commonly used about a century ago.

A lat Sahib for instance was considered to be one like a British peer in British India. The term was also used when referring to the governor of an Indian Province or the Governor General though the latter was called Malk-i laat Sahib because Mulk meant country. Therefore as governor general he was lord of the country.

Lankan practice of giving appointments to friends and relations

In Sri Lanka the practice of giving appointments to friends and relations of politicians continue irrespective of their qualifications and experience required for that post. It is found that some of the Chairman and Executive Directors of very important institutions demanding high level of professionalism are ordinary persons without any professional qualification nor experience in that field. Their only qualification is either having financed the election campaign of a ruling party politician or being a relation of a Minister.

This practice has to be identified as the cause of the deterioration of the standards and efficiency in our public sector institutions. In these organizations the experienced, honest, hard working professionals are ignored. The incompetent political appointees who always toe the line with requirements of the politically appointed directorate are well looked after giving them foreign trips and various perks overlooking the professionals who are not prepared to carry out their unreasonable requests. This is the message given to others to toe the line. Those who fail to understand this and continue to work independently will earn the wrath of these politically appointed directors. In these instances he will have to seek redress only from the highest judiciary in Sri Lanka.

In such an environment similar to above can our senior public servants and professionals carry out their legitimate functions independently and conscientiously?

The irony of this whole situation is that some very important institutions in this country which are required to maintain International Standards are also not spared by politicians.

There is a fully government owned company coming under a ministry. The Chairman and the Board of Directors are appointed by the Minister. The company is managed by the chairman and three Executive Directors who are appointed for a period of two years. Under these Directors the relevant heads of department function. The department heads are professionals with long years of experience. These officers are discouraged to express their independent views but encouraged to be ‘Yes” men who should help the Directorate to achieve their political agenda to satisfy their political master contrary to develop the organization. Those who are unable to adapt themselves to this requirement will face a lot of difficulties.

Therefore if Sri Lanka is to achieve N.I.C. Status in the next millennium the appointment of Executive directors to government organizations by politicians should be stopped.

T. P. Fernando
Colombo

Speeding drivers along Sri Saranankara road

Being a resident in the area for the past 65 years, I wish to draw the attention of the public, to the condition of the above mentioned road before Independence. It was a narrow road where even two vehicles could not cross, and with the advent of development, portions of land and property were acquired by the Department of Highways, paying compensation to the owners involved, and widened up to 40 feet.

After that the Road Development Authority took over and, had this road, from the Hospital Road Junction up to Pamanakada bridge metalled and tarred, thereafter the Korean Company who was involved in reclaiming the polluted canal, did the carpeting of this stretch. The construction of the drains were entrusted to a firm of engineers and the Road Development Authority, who messed up the whole contract, as the drains at the moment are not flowing, and there is water stagnation thus helping the mosquito menace.

On the instructions of the Defence Secretary all traffic from the south, are diverted through Hospital Road turning off Sri Saranankara Road to Colombo, which has become a nightmare to the residents as they are unable to cross the road, due to these maniacal drivers, especially the container vehicles, and the petroleum bowsers who use this stretch as a race track. To eradicate this pavements should be laid over the red earth which was introduced by the contractors which is now washed away, and into the open drains. Further there is a stretch of roadway from the Bhikku Centre up to Pamankada bridge, where there are a garage and three wheeler repair joints. On this so called gravel pavements vehicles are parked, and in like manner three wheeler repairs. With all the heavy traffic on this road, and with these maniac drivers, whose one pleasure is to overtake the ongoing vehicles, the poor pedestrians sacrifice the main road and have to do so at the risk of their life and limb.

There is also a blind corner and many accidents have occured here. I hope meaningful action will be taken by the Road Development Authority, together with the Traffic Police to remedy this .So over to the Engineer R. D. A. Instal concrete slabs for the payments so that the pedestrians will be able to walk without fear of their lives.

Cutty Felsinger,

Checkpoints and ID cards

I have read Ginger’s comments on the above subject in ‘The Island’ of 16.09.1998

A photocopy would easily be made out of a forged original and that is why a photocopy is not accepted without on original.

Law enforcement authorities are made to check on the identity of individuals in the present context. With all the checking the LTTE cadres have infiltrated in the city and brought disaster. These sporadic checks are done in the best interest to save the common innocent citizen and it is our duty to co-operate with the personnel entrusted with the duty of checking identity. Let us always remember that the policeman/policewoman is another human being subject to human feelings, pangs of hunger, thirst etc. Let us look at them with sympathy. Why are we inclined and hell bent on finding fault with them all the time.

Nanda Nanayakkara
Kiribathgoda

An unauthorised Divisional Secretariat?

Can an unauthorised Divisional Secretariat function in this country only for a section of the Tamil community...? One is functioning with the name of “Kalmunai Divisional Secretariat — Tamil Division” in the Ampara district of North-East provincial council.

One Assistant Divisional Secretary is running the office on forged letter head. It is undoubtedly a criminal offence.

He has declared himself as “Divisional Secretary” and signs the official documents on behalf of the government with the help of some Tamil-speaking officers in top posts in the NEPC and the Central Govt.

How the NEPC could create a Divisional Secretariat only for this Tamil community in Kalmunai where Muslims (72.0%), Tamils (26.4%) and Sinhalese (1.6%) are living together with one another peacefully...?

As the Sinhala Commission has clearly pointed out in its report any type of communal creation — even in small scale — will definitely damage the nation.

It is our country’s fate that some top level officers in this country want everything done separately. They are in need of separate country, separate province, separate district, separate DS division, separate hospital, separate education office etc. while the terrorists damage the nation.

No office in this country has been established even for a section of the Sinhala community.

We understand that the Secretary to Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs has appointed this particular officer, as Asst. Divisional Secretary (ADS), but the NEPC has authorised him to function as Divisional Secretary. We are surprised how a provincial council could give an appointment of the status of DS...? and how a govt. agent could be allowed an unauthorised officer to function as DS...?

According to the circulars released by the Ministry of Public Administration and Home Affairs regarding the decentralisation – all vouchers for payments should be approved by a legally appointed DS and should be certified by a legally appointed accountant of the Sri Lanka Accountants Service.

But in this case this ADS approves the vouchers and one clerk, who calls himself “Financial Assistant” (FA) certifies the vouchers. There is no opportunity for the financial control at all on govt. funds at this sub-office.

Without having a legal approval and a legal certification even a single cent cannot be drawn from the govt. funds.

Nobody knows how a provincial council could allocate funds direct to an ADS without the knowledge of the govt.

We suspect that the purpose of this illegal creation of this communal DS office only for Tamils is to facilitate a merger of the Northern part of the Ampara district with southern part of Batticaloa district in the future.

A Citizen
Amparai

Who is a “Pommey”?

Recently, the English cricketers were referred to as “POMS” by Australian Test captain Mark Taylor, and former All-Ceylon cricketer Channa Gunesekera had called them “Pommies”.

The Chambers 20th Century Dictionary informs us that the word is of Australian origin, spelt as “Pommy” and defines such a person as “an Immigrant from the British Isles” and also “a British (esp. English) person in general.”

Hence, both Messrs Taylor and Gunasekera must be mistaken because the term clearly refers to Immigrants from England to Australia. It may perhaps be interesting to note that the vast majority of Australians refer to an English Migrant as a Pome - (E pronounced as in Me) - short for “Prisoners Of Mother England”.

Would anyone want to shed more light on this?

P. D. U Gamini Perera
Kelaniya.

Wrong attitudes

I am quite sure that the vast majority of Sri Lankans of all ethnic and religious affiliations will heartily endorse the very pertinent sentiments expressed in the editorial of the ‘Island’ of 14.9.98 [‘Talking to Terrorist’].

The UNP’s and TULF’s shameful knee jerk reaction - ‘Let us appease the Terrorist at the all costs’ - to the brutal LTTE’s latest bomb outrage in Jaffna must be severely castigated by all patriotic and right thinking people because it is a grave threat to the very concept of democracy and the rule of law.

One is not too surprised at the TULF’s reaction as it is in line with a tradition of trying to whitewash and shield its former proteges. that goes back to the late 1970s.

However the UNP’s demand that unconditional talks should begin between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, hard on the heels of the Tigers assassination of the mayor of Jaffna (A record third time!) beggars belief.

If the UNP thinks it can bag the Tamil vote bank in the next Presidential election by taking a soft line on the LTTE it is sadly mistaken.

The Tamil people have lost all the faith they once placed in the reasonableness or the LTTE and its leader and in their heart of hearts know that only when the security force’s crush the Tigers military machine can peace, economic and social rehabilitation be a realistic prospect for the North-Eastern region.

I cannot believe that the UNP which went through hell and high water during the JVP’s rabid killing spree during the late 1980’s, can allow its policies to be dictated by fear of Pottu Amman’s killer hit squads.

Therefore the only logical conclusion that can be drawn by this ‘unconditional talks” nonsense is that it is part of an ill thought out pre-presidential election campaign.

Prabhakaran is a man who respects one thing in this world and that is military might.

He knows that inspite of the heroic gains that they have made in the past two years that our valiant security forces are stretched to the limit because of a manpower shortage.

Even today their are large parts of the Jaffna peninsula where security force camps are nonexistent. These “grey zones” provide LTTE ‘stay behind’ squads with sanctuaries where food and ammunition can be hidden, operations planned and rehearsed and last but not least a safe zone to retreat on when the security forces counter attack.

The poor innocent civilians in these areas have to help the terrorist out of sheer fear.

It is not sufficient for the armed forces to sweep these areas and then withdraw.

It is vital that permanent army camps are established in these areas and the Tigers hounded out. Military discipline must be very strict and the civilians protected.

However to do this the army needs many more infantry battalions than it has at present.

Sri Lanka has an absolute need for a fighting army of 200,000 men (and women!).

During the Second World War Australia which then had a total population of only 7 million was able to raise an army of nearly a million and send them overseas to fight the Nazis and the Japanese.

Is it so difficult for us with a population of 18 million to field an army of just 200,000 within the borders of our own dear land in order to save it from this ‘pocket Hitler”? (perhaps a reincarnation?).

The manpower of the police can be raised to a 100,000.

The Air Forces and Navy should be beefed up with more men, aircraft and fast patrol boats.

A vast civilians Home Guard and Civil Defence Force (under strict police command) can be built up in the South based on the superb British effort during World War II.

Faced with such a potent manifestation of the national will the vicious rump currently scurrying about in the Wanni may well decide to sue for an honourable peace with the Sri Lankan government.

‘Anti-terrorist”,
Col. 3

People and events /Appreciations
T. P. Gunawardene

The demise of Mr. T. P. Gunawardane, popularly known as T.P. among his close associates, came as a shock to many of us who knew him closely. I came into contact with T.P. when I was working at Nationalised Transport Board, which was then known as C.T.B. T.P. joined the CTB Head Office as an Accountant in 1960s after his graduation from the University of Ceylon, after completion of the Final Examinations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka. Within a short time he made a mark as a young promising Accoutant who had many qualities of a future leader.

The Ceylon Transport Board was never a peaceful place. There was many undercurrents working in various directions. With changes of government, there were upheavals at the top with struggle for power at different levels. Under the above conditions the survival in the CTB was a difficult task. T.P. was a strong personality that he could withstand stormy weather with comparative ease. Even though he was a small in size, he stood like a giant in the face of adversity. He welcomed challenges in life and advised his friends too to take challenges. He worked with grit and determination and discharged his duties efficiently and effectively. Due to these outstanding qualities, within in a short spell of time, he rose to the position of the Chief Accounting Officer CTB where he had more than 60 Accountants working under him.

At that time, I was working as a Statistician in the Research Division. He advised me to do accountancy under a scholarship scheme offered by the Board. I was rather reluctant to venture into a new profession which was an unknown field for me at that time. He persuaded me to do it and gave me all the necessary encouragement,. He also had a theory behind his suggestion. He said that the quality of the public sector was fast deteriorating and that was more so in the CTB. Therefore there was the risk of loosing the job in the CTB was greater. If you had acquired a professional qualification in a recognised discipline, the chances of finding an alternate employment was very good. The subsequent turn of events in the CTB proved that T.P. was correct. The change of government that followed brought disaster to many high ranking officials. A large number of top executives were unceremonialy bundled out of the office with quit orders. Those events were repeated with every change of government.

When I look back, I see how correct T.P. was. I followed his good advice and followed course of study leading to the membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Sri Lanka. I was fortunate that I was able to complete my examinations on time. T.P. left CTB to take up the post of General Manager of State Plantations Corporation. But he was always available for advice and assistance for any one who wanted his services.

I was faced with a major problem after T.P. left CTB. His successor did not remain in the post of Chief Accounting Officer for long. He had worked out a place elsewhere to leave CTB. But before his resignation was accepted he was asked to recommend a successor to the post. To my surprise he had recommended my name as his successor, thereby bypassing several other senior deputies.

The above course of action by the outgoing Chief Accountant created a crisis situation for me. I had been offered a promotion, which I never bargained for. However my colleagues had concluded that I had manoeuvred my way to get the post, even though the truth was otherwise. I was happy to serve under any of the senior deputies. But now I had been appointed as C.A.O. was it correct for me to refuse it. In such an eventually it would have had sounded like a cowardly act. If I were to accept it all the senior deputies would not cooperate with me. That was the dilemma faced by me as a beginner in the accountancy career. I consulted T.P. on that issue. His reply was prompt. He advised me to accept the post and face the challenges in the future. That was the only way one could come up in life, he said. I followed his advice. It was true that I had to labour hard to carry out the arduous duties of the post. I was fortunate that I was able to overcome the obstacle and discharge my duties to the satisfaction of the Board,

The training and experience gained under T.P. stood in good stead to shape the career of many upcoming accountants in the later years.

Mr. T.P. Gunawardane had certain qualities which made him unique personality. He was bold enough to express his views without fear even though that may be not be palatable to some. He had confrontations with trade union officials as he refused to be bullied by them. He always stood by what he felt was correct and fought to the last to maintain it.

His decision making ability was remarkable. His wit and sense of humour kept the audience entertained at various forums and social gatherings where he made presentations. The fact that he had been able to rise to the top in both public and private sectors would alone prove that T.P. was an outstanding personality.

He was a shining beacon in the business world. He who excelled in quick decision making had immense capacity for indefatigable work. It is difficult to believe that T.P. is no more with us. His friends and the organisations that he served with total commitment and dedication such as Ceylon Transport Board, State Plantations Corporation and Unilever Ceylon Ltd., will, no doubt, remember him with gratitude. May he attain the Nibbanic Bliss

H. M. Weerasuriya

People and events /Appreciations
Lennie (K. L. A. Goonewardena)

When in August last year Oliver de Soyza died, we mentioned in our appreciation that we had lost a benevolent educational bureaucrat of the English Unit of the Ministry of Education. This year also in August another such benevolent ministry official of the same calibre and from the same school (St. Thomas), Lennie Goonewardena, Director of Education (English), left us, like Oliver, after a brief illness.

Lennie was the founding father of that small department, known as the English Unit of the Ministry of Education at Malay Street. He spearheaded the English teaching programme in our schools and, single-handed, laid the foundation of what was later to become a prestigious and vital sector of the Ministry.

There were thousands upon thousands of untrained English teachers in those days of the early sixties, valiantly doing what they could to teach English in our rural schools. Lennie initiated a perennial series of in-service training courses during school vacations and week-ends for these teachers.

Our untrained English teachers of that time, languishing in our rural schools, began to enjoy a feeling of being wanted and recognized. They attended Lennie’s training courses at their own expense.

Lennie harnessed the services of several experienced English teachers to conduct his training programmes in various centres across the country. They travelled from Colombo in different directions to Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Mannar, Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Ratnapura, Kandy, Galle and Matara — on Friday evenings, conducted their courses throughout Saturday and returned to their homes on Sundays.

They travelled not in state Pajeros but by public transport, but they did it without a murmur because Lennie needed their services; they gave of their time and knowledge for the sake of their neglected fellow English teachers.

The in-service training of English teachers was Lennie’s most significant contribution to good English teaching and his name became synonymous with the Ministry’s English teaching efforts.

In the late sixties, the English Unit grew in stature when Lennie sought and obtained approval for the appointment of Circuit Education Officers (English) to supervise the English teaching programme in the country. These CEOs relied on Lennie for his unfailing direction and guidance, and together they formed a frontline for the field work of the English Unit.

Lennie remained in the English Unit until he retired; it was his brainchild and it was where his heart lay. Not seeking to climb the bureaucratic ladder, disinterested in status and glory, and not piqued by the onslaughts and machinations of mice and men, which were inevitable occupational hazards then as they are now, he performed his chosen work.

Unobtrusive and imperturbable, Lennie only laboured on, serenely and philosophically. We who had the privilege and, more importantly, the sheer joy and delight of working with him shall gratefully remember, during the brief remainder of own lives, Lennie Goonewardena’s benign ways and quiet leadership as much as we shall

Oliv Soyza’s.
C.N.S.

Rita Goonesekera

It was with profound sorrow the relations and friends bore the news of the passing away of Rita Goonesekera. Her mortal remains were laid to rest at the Holy Emmanuel Church, Moratuwa on the 10th of August amidst the presence of a large and representative gathering.

Rita, who hailed from Galle was married to Lyn Goonesekera, retired Head Guard in the Railway. She was a loving and a devoted wife, dutiful mother and a sincere friend.

I first met the Goonesekera family whilst serving at Trincomalee in the early 1980s. They were very helpful to all Railwaymen and their families. Be it in times of sickness or any other need, Rita was ever ready to help them with a smiling face and open arms.

There were instances where she offered food and lodging to Railwaymen who came to take treatment from the famous Horiwila Vedamahattaya. She even went to the extent of nursing them. Even after Lyn’s retirement she never failed to visit her friends in the railway.

She took a leading part in religious and social activities at Moratuwa. She was an indefatigable worker.

Her unexpected demise is a tremendous loss not only to her family but to all relations and friends.

Her merciful deeds and kind words will linger in our memories for ever.

May the turf lie gently over her remains and her soul rest in peace.

Maurice Goonesekera

Shunith Goonetilleke

Yet another Marrs Hall and Peradeniya University Friend has gone to the Life Beyond. I have known Shunith for the last 38 years. My first meeting with him was as a Freshman at Peradeniya. My first impression of him was that of a very protective elder brothers. It was he amongst others who made sure that we were not ragged by our Seniors, when they were very keen to do that, because we came from certain schools.

My last meeting with him was in a Ward of the Colombo National Hospital. Shunith was recovering from a stroke. However, he was his usual self watching a cricket match on TV. His companion in that room was an MP. On that memorable occasion by his bedside we walked down memory lane. We indulged in nostalgia. Amongst other things we remembered the Marrs Hall High Table Dinner, when we used to have well known National Leaders speak to us after dinner.

We remembered the Table Tennis that we used to play, the Net Ball Matches with Sangamitta, when some of us needed a valid reason to visit that Hall, so well run by the late Dr. Florence Ram Aluvihare. We spoke about Lovers Lane and the Kissing Bend. We remembered teachers whom we admired.

In the context of Cricket, we remembered the time we used to spend, in between Lectures,, at the Common Room, listening to the Radio. Those were the days when we had no TV. We remembered very specially, the time when the West Indies were touring Australia, under Frank Worrell, the famous Test that ended in a tie, and the Fourth Test when Australia because of Ken McKay drew the Test.

Recently, when my father died, Shunith was one of those who thought it necessary to write to me. So in our various ways we kept in touch with each other.

At this funeral this week, I was privileged to say a prayer before the cremation, at the invitation of his daughter. I was glad to do that, for I had the opportunity of saying farewell to a dear friend.

Those who gathered at Kanatte and elsewhere to say farewell, I am sure will miss Shunith in the days to come. Shunith in his own characteristic way had his own values. So he will be missed. Farewell, Friend. It was certainly good to know you.

The Very Rev. Fr. Sydney Knight

Appointed JP for All Island

Divaina and The Island correspondent for Kesbewa Mr. Leonard Jayasekara took his oath as Justice of the Peace for the all island before the Kesbewa Magistrate and Additional District Judge Mr. Chandradasa Nana-yakkara.

Mr. Jayasekara was a bright student in the Piliyandala Central College and after completing his higher education served thirty five years as a lecturer in Maharagama, Mirigama, Giragama, Pattalagedera and Dambadeniya training colleges.

He was also a visiting lecturer for number of years at the open university in pre-school teachers’ training course. At present he is the course director of pre-school teachers’ training programme conducted by the higher institute of education at Piliyandala. He holds many offices in the — benificiary associations of the area.

Tribute to a Golden Jubilarian

Rev, Bro. Benildus FSC, has completed fifty years of fruitful service to thousands of Catholic and non-RC children of Sri Lanka, as an educator.

During this period he taught in various schools managed by the Christian Brothers and it can be said the greatest fulfilment of his vocation was at St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa.

He became sub director of the school in the early sixties at the most critical period of Catholic education in Sri Lanka. All schools had been taken over by the Government and a few opted to go private. Soon he was appointed Director/Principal of St. Sebastian’s and his main headache was to find funds to maintain the school. He pioneered several projects, among them a farm (cows, poultry and pigs). This was an instant success. He also cultivated a paddy field at Wattala bringing in good harvests.

Helped by the Old Boys, and the funds from parents, the school developed and was almost self-sufficient. The ten years of his stewardship can be called the golden years of St. Sebastians. He built several classrooms too.

When he was transferred to St. Benedict’s as principal, he cried. He had come to consider St. Sebastian’s as his own! After St. Benedict’s, he retired; But volunteered to serve in the farm at Panama, a remote jungle area in Chilaw. There he nearly met with his death. JVPers attacked him and robbed and ransacked the farm.

The Authorities said enough. Now earn the absolute rest you richly deserve. He is now in retirement at the ‘brothers’ house in Muwual. Grateful past pupils of St. Sebastian’s will felicitate him at the College, with Holy Mass and a garden party at 5.00 p.m., followed by a festive dinner at 7.00 p.m. at Ramal Holiday Resort, Gorakana, Moratuwa on 26th Saturday.

Gerard Perera

77th Anniversary of the Birth of the Legion of Mary

Legion of Mary is a lay apostolic movement of the Roman Catholic Church, which is one of the oldest, efficient, tried and tested and universally proved organisations held in high esteem by the Church Authorities. It consists of 3 Million Active and 30 Million Auxiliary members belonging to 165 geographical countries of the world.

All these members commemorated the 77th Anniversary of the Birth of their movement on 7th September this year, the eve of the feast of the Nativity of Our Blessed Mother. This event is of special significance this year on account of the forthcoming Great Jubilee of the birth of JESUS CHRIST in the year 2000 and also because of the introduction of the Cause of Beatification on Mr. Frank Duff, the founder of the Legion two years ago.

The object of this movement is to enable its members to come closer to GOD through MARY, His mother and their mother by prayer and work. The first and foremost duty of a member is to attend the weekly meetings conducted by a Praesidium (i.e. a basic cell) and carry out the work assigned to him at that meeting in the spirit of Mary i.e. the spirit of service of her Divine Son.

This year an All Island Council Officers Conference is being conducted by the Senatus of Sri Lanka (i.e. the highest Governing Body of the Legion in Sri Lanka) on the 24th and 25th of October at Maeliya, Ja-Ela on the theme: “Good Governance in the Legion” with the object of making the Government of the Legion system strong and effective to make the Legion Praesidium in every Parish and Institution to become a vibrant force.

It is hoped that all Officers of the various Legion Councils functioning in the different parts of Sri Lanka will take part in the Conference, pray and deliberate together to formulate an Action plan to achieve the object of this Conference.

Tony Rodrigo