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Fundamental Rights plea by police
officers The Supreme Court yesterday declared in a judgment that the Secretary, Defence, Chandrananda de Silva, on the investigation of the then I.G.P., W. B. Rajaguru, had subjected eleven police officers to illegal arrest and an illegal detention. The police officers said in their Fundamental Rights violation pleas filed in the Supreme Court that, they had been arrested and detained on Detention Orders of the Secretary, Defence on the grounds that they were making preparations to commit acts of violence against the members of the Commission, appointed to inquire into the establishment of a torture chamber at Batalanda and conspiring to disrupt the sittings of the said Commission. The Supreme Court in declaring the infringement of Articles 13 (1) and 13 (2) of the Constitution, and thereby the Fundamental Rights of the petitioners being violated, ordered that each petitioner be paid Rs. 50,000 as compensation and Rs. 5,000 as costs, payable by the State. The petitioners challenged the arrest and the subsequent detention, as being illegal and contended that there was absolutely no material to justify that they were either preparing to disrupt the proceedings of the Commission or cause harm to the members of the Commission. Mr. Tilak Marapana PC, with Mr. Nalin Ladduwahetty and Mr. Jayantha Fernando, appeared for eight petitioners, while Mr. Upul Jayasuriya appeared for four petitioners. At the argument, the respondents relied upon certain confidential material which they furnished to Court under confidential cover, as being the evidence upon which the arrest and the subsequent detention were made. The Court comprising Justice Mark Fernando, Justice Dr. A. R. B. Amerasinghe and Justice D. P. S. Gunesekera having examined the material concluded that, there is a flagrant abuse of power by the respondents. There was no material on which the Secretary, Defence would reasonably have formed the opinion that the petitioners had been found responsible for any offences, or that they were conspiring to subvert the course of justice, or to act in a manner prejudicial to national security, or that they might inflict violence on the Commissioners or the witnesses. The Court further held, it is distressing and disturbing that the entire process of arrest and detention of the petitioners, have been contrary to basic constitutional safe-guards. The petitioners' rights under Articles 13 (1), (2), infringed by the Secretary, Defence at the instigation of the I.G.P. The petitioners are, I. G. Jayaratne (Police Sergeant), M. M. P. Marasinghe (A.S.P.), K. K. Atapattu (A.S.P.), Lakshman Dias (P.S.), B. R. Jayasekera (Police Sargeant Driver), R. A. T. S. G. Ratnayake (Police Sergeant Major), H. K. Padmini Premalatha (S.I.), H. M. G. Ranjith Wickremasinghe (Chief Inspector), K. N. J. Vipula Kappagoda (P.S.), Upali Lak Hewage (P.S.) and M. Ranatunga (P.S.). The arrest had taken place around August 1996, the petitioners said. Samanalawewa reservoir leak plugged There was much rejoicing in the Ceylon Electricity Board last week when conclusive evidence emerged that the Samanalawewa reservoir leak is being had been effectively plugged. For the past 6 months engineers of a Japanese consortium had been pouring in 250,000 cubic metres of clay into the reservoir bed to plug a leak, which at one time, it was thought could lead to the abandonment of the entire Samanalaweva project. The evidence that the leak is being successfully plugged has been revealed by the groundwater level in the surrounding areas going down by almost 40 feet. This indicates that the leak is being effectively plugged, informed sources said. It is estimated that the leak has been plugged by 18% with another 750,000 cubic meters of clay to be poured on to the reservoir bed. This process known as ‘wet blanketting’, it is expected the entire leak could be plugged. The Samanalaweva reservoir is one of the biggest development projects where the water from the Walawe and Belihul oya are utilised. These two rivers are fed by both the South west and North East monsoons. Even with the leak which was estimated at 2 cu secs, Rs. 1.2 billion of electricity is being produced. Once the leak is effectively plugged the full capacity of the reservoir would be utilised and Rs. 2 billion of electricity would be produced. President addresses UN Assembly, confers with world leaders President Chandrika Kumaratunga who addressed the 53rd Session of the UN General Assembly yesterday, the first day of the general debate was scheduled to call on the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and also attend a luncheon hosted by the UN Secretary General in honour of the participating Heads of State or Government. The President who will confer with several leaders during her stay in New York, is also due to address a press conference today (Sept. 22). Among the other world leaders who addressed the sessions yesterday were U.S. President Clinton, South African President Mandela, President Kattami of Iran, Japanese Prime Minister Noguchi and British Prime Minister Blair. President Kumaratunga and party, including Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake who arrived at the John F. Kennedy Airport New York on Sunday morning, were received by Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, John de Saram and Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the USA Dr. Warnasena Rasaputram. The Sri Lanka delegation to the current sessions is led by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar who arrived in New York on Saturday. President Kumaratunga's participation in the current UNGA Sessions becomes particularly significant in the context that she is also the current Chairperson of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC), which groups together Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka which covers approximately one fifth of the world's population, a Foreign Ministry news release stated. As mandated by the recently concluded 10th SAARC Summit held in Colombo, the SAARC Foreign Ministers led by Foreign Minister Kadirgamar will also be holding formal consultations with the troika of European Union (EU) and the Foreign Ministers of the Association of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) on the sidelines of the current sessions of the UN General Assembly. This would be the first time in the history of the SAARC, launched in 1985, that such formal interaction will take place with any external body and is reflective of the mood of the Association to work more closely with like-minded regional or other bodies particularly with the aim of promoting economic co-operation in South Asia. Following these meetings with the EC and ASEAN, the SAARC Foreign Ministers will also meet at a special session to be held in New York on September 28, the release added. President at UN slates LTTE’s claim of ‘liberation organisation’ The opportunity to join other Sri Lankans in negotiating a settlement of all outstanding ethnic issues remains open to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) if it eschews terrorism and its bloody call for a separate state,President Chandrika Kumaratunga told the 53rd sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York yesterday. ‘The LTTE’s claim to be a ‘liberation organisation’ is an insult to organisations such as the African National Congress (ANC) and the South West African People’s Organisation (SWAPO),which courageously struggled against minority rule, racism and oppression and, with equal courage, negotiated the creation of the democratic, non-racial States of South Africa and Namibia.The LTTE’s claim to be a ‘liberation organisation’ is negated by its unilateral resort to violence and its reluctance to put its claims to the true test — that of participating in an open,democratic and peaceful process of consultation with the people, the President said. She said that her government was firmly committed to redressing ethnic grievances peacefully through political discussion and negotiations in which the leaders of all ethnic communities, political parties and other groups participate. Only the LTTE chooses to prowl the path of violence resorting to terror to achieve goals which they alone espouse. The President further said: ‘Over the past few years the Government of Sri Lanka has in various international fora strongly advocated the need for collective international action in order overcome the scourge of terrorism. Our reasoning has been that a group like the ruthless LTTE which continues to frustrate my Government's efforts at finding a negotiated political settlement to our ethnic problem have found sustenance in the liberal asylum policies that prevail in some countries. This group which recruits children as young as 10 years and indiscriminately targets innocent civilians, assassinates the elected representatives of the people including Tamil political and human rights leaders and destroys places of religious worship, and assassinate foreign Heads of Government on their soil. Yet they are permitted to operate freely in many countries. They maintain an international network which engages in fund raising, narcotics trafficking, trade in illicit arms, the smuggling of illegal immigrants and in more recent times maritime and cyber terrorism. Addressing the United Nations 50th Anniversary celebration in New York three years ago, I observed, and I quote, "concerted international action is essential to combat terrorism and to compel the terrorists to renounce violence and enter the democratic process. Unfortunately effective action to that end has been frustrated through sterile philosophical debate about the nature of terrorism". "I am happy to note that since then significant measures have been taken in this sphere. The adoption of the "UN Convention on the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings" earlier this year, has been a considerable moral victory for the international community in its fight against terrorism. Sri Lanka is hopeful that all States will speedily take steps to implement the necessary domestic legislation, aimed at giving effect to the commitments made in the Convention, in order to ensure that terrorists are neither provided safe haven nor permitted to raise funds, within the borders of one state to sustain terrorist activities in another State. "While we enact legislation, we must also be eternally vigilant to ensure that terrorists do not find loopholes in our laws or use procedural delays to circumvent the emerging international consensus against terrorism. "We in Sri Lanka are particularly conscious of the capacity of terrorist groups to resort to the strategy of using front organisations for raising funds which end up in the LTTE war chest to contribute towards murdering and brutalising our people. Moral and legal sanctions against terrorist are not enough. Laws must be effectively implemented. Only by such concerted action would we be able to ensure that terrorists are compelled to renounce violence and enter the democratic process." President Kumaratunge added: "We must make a special effort to dissipate the effects of the discriminatory, social and psychological perceptions that affect the status of women. The SAARC Heads of State or Government condemned violence against women, as well as acts of discrimination and humiliation which further depress the dignity of women. There was particular concern over the plight of women and girl children caught in situations of armed conflict. In Colombo, the seven SAARC States finalized the draft text of a Regional Convention on combating the Crime of Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution, which will be signed at the next Summit in Nepal. Within Sri Lanka, my Government has adopted a national plan of action based on the relevant conclusions of the 4th United Nations Conference on Women held in Beijing and on the specifics of our own national situation. The Constitution of Sri Lanka enshrines the fundamental right of equality between the sexes. We have ratified relevant ILO Conventions guaranteeing equal remuneration and other benefits to women. Sri Lanka has also strengthened legal provisions against harassment and sexual abuse of women. "With regard to children, my Government has recently passed legislation setting up a National Child Protection Authority directly under my supervision. This Authority deal with such issues as child employment, the sexual exploitation of children, education, health and the plight of children trapped in armed conflict. We have formulated a "Children's Charter" and a National Plan of Action to provide for the safety and protection of our children. While we are conscious of the tragic incidence of child prostitution and pornography in Sri Lanka, we have also traced the insidious international linkages which aggravate the problem further. We urge the international community to tighten laws and enforcement mechanisms to ensure that those responsible for such heinous crimes will not receive refuge anywhere. "A particularly cruel offence against the innocence of children is their forced recruitment by a terrorist group in Sri Lanka to serve as suicide killers in the name of a cause they are too young even to comprehend. "This is just one sordid aspect of the activities of a group known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which seeks to dismember Sri Lanka with the objective of creating in our land a mono-ethnic entity - an objective totally unacceptable to the overwhelming majority in the country and even to the very community whose cause the LTTE claims to represent. "We believe that ethnic grievances exist in Sri Lanka. I said so publicly in my address to the nation at the 50th anniversary celebrations of our independence this year. I said that the golden jubilee of independence is an occasion for reflection, as well as the renewal of hopes and aspirations. It is an occasion to savour applause for our achievements; it is an occasion to rue the consequences of failure". Continuing President Kumaratunga observed: Today I have the honour and privilege of addressing this assembly as the newly appointed chairperson of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) which met in Colombo a few months ago. SAARC represents one-fifth of humanity. South Asia reflects a rich and complex plurality of cultural and religious traditions. It is heir to a profound cultural continuum of great antiquity. The message I bring from the Colombo Summit is that the prospects for enhanced economic, technological, social and scientific cooperation in our region are exceedingly bright. It is the will of our leaders, as vigorously manifested at the Colombo Summit. I am deeply indebted to my fellow heads of State or Government for their invaluable advice and cooperation during the Colombo Summit. I am especially grateful to the Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan for the magnificent spirit of friendship and understanding they showed for the collective regional interests and concerns. United Nations bodies must play a critical role in all this, particularly by facilitating and fostering international cooperation for equitable development that could resist the economic contagion that now afflicts us. The international monetary mechanism has proved desperately inadequate in handling the recent crises. If at this stage I mention Madam Aung San Suukyi of Burma it is because I am personally aware of the loneliness, the anguish, the difficulties and dangers that a woman leader faces in political life. The people of Sri Lanka and the people of Mayanmar and their Governments have been friends over many centuries. Our peoples share an invaluable heritage — the timeless message of the Buddha, the enlightened one who taught the world the meaning of compassion, tolerance and understanding. This message moves me to express the hope that political issues in Myanmar could be approached in spirit of conciliation and tolerance. In all this, a catalytic role can and must be played by the United Nations system. The United Nations has passed its half century mark. The Secretary-General has described the UN as "a noble experiment in human cooperation". Last year was designated the Year of UN Reform and we are happy that a major portion of the reforms introduced by the Secretary General have been implemented. Some others such as the proposals for time limits for initiatives, the revolving credit, the development dividend and the Millennium Assembly require further study. We are disappointed however that agreement has not been reached over the reconstitution of the Security Council to reflect better the generality of UN membership. The Council should be more transparent and democratic, responding more closely to the concerns of all, shedding its image, not entirely inaccurate, of largely serving the interests of the major powers. To achieve a consensus or a general agreement on reform we should be prepared to move away from long-held positions, suspicions and prejudices and focus on a just and equitable arrangement based on the current international realities".
If ‘no’ to coal plant project
expect power cuts Any protests leading to the non-implementation of the proposed 300MW coal fired power plant in Norochcholai will result in the people having to face a three hour daily power cut beginning year 2004, Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board, Dr. Arjun Deraniyagala warned yesterday. Addressing the press at the auditorium of the CEB, the Chairman said that the CEB will in the face of failing to meet the future power demands, be forced to reintroduce power cut hours between the peak consumption hours of 7 pm and 10 pm on a daily basis. It will invariably be the average householder in this country like you and I who will have to face this situation. " he pointed out. He said that in 1996 when the country was facing a severe power crisis, the CEB was again forced to introduce power cuts daily. This was due to the inability to supply 10% of the daily demand for power. "In 1996 we had to impose power cuts because we had a shortage of 382 GWh, which was 10% of the daily demand, but in 2004 we estimate it to increase to a 25% of the daily demand. In 2004 there will be a power gap of 300 MW created if we fail to implement this power plant. So one can imagine the crisis we will face if we are not to implement this project right away." he noted. The CEB proposal for the construction of a 900 MW coal fired power plant in Norochcholai in 2004, has been met with various protests from a number of quarters. The public in the area protest against the plant on grounds that the creation of the plant will result in adverse environmental impacts due to fumes, the relocation of a large number of the populous and a threat to the Thalwila church situated in the vicinity. ‘Nothing of this sort will happen. The people are being misled, by an "interested few," the chairman claimed. He said it is a "total falcity to say that the Thalwila church will be affected in any way due to the power plant. "There is a responsibility on all of us to ensure that no harm befalls the church and that no damage is caused to any important place in the area. An assessement of these fears made by a panel of experts have proved this point. If there was even one doubt created in our minds on these adverse impacts we would certainly have looked in to it. But there is absolutely no damage to the church. "Even with regard to security, we are aware that the area has a history of smuggling taking place, including those involving the LTTE. Security will be looked into by the Defence authorities, but that does not mean that security will be enhanced to an extent that the normal fishing activities will be affected in any way, Dr. Deraniyagala said. "Only 43 families living in cadjun huts will need to be removed out of the area of the plant site, but we have assured them of alternate housing, ownership of land of approximately 2 acres for agriculture. "The power demand of the country is such that it is absolutely necessary that we have this plant operational by 2004. Every day and month we delay the project means that we increase the danger of the threat of a lack of electricity." he added. General Manager (Generations) D. C. D. G. Wijeratne said that to commission the plant by 2004 the project needs to get off ground immediately. "We need at least a year to find the funding agencies leaving us with only 4 years for construction. And until the protests by the people end we cannot seek financial aid from any agency. In view of the lack of any other viable option to meet this demand we need the support of the public to get this project off ground,"he said. Stage one of the project to involve 300MW is expected to cost Rs. 24 billion and the Japanese OECF has expressed interest in the project Mr.Wijeratne added. The Chairman said that in view of the economic situation in Japan and any inability on their part to fund the project will turn the CEB towards seeking the possibilities of "tapping the private sector sources for funding." Movement Against Terrorism takes to streets The Movement Against Terrorism stepped out on to the streets yesterday with banners and placards protesting against talks with the LTTE. Police diverted rush hour traffic as hundreds of protesters wended their way peacefully from the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress Hall in Bauddhaloka Mawatha towards the Anagarika Dharmapala statue in front of the Colombo Municipal Council. Ven. Madhuluwave Sobitha Thera addressed the protesters in front of the statue. The intention was to rally the support of the public and create awareness of the danger of ‘peace talks with the indomitable separatist guerrillas, who has destroyed innocent lives and rendered them destitute. The protesters rejected call for talks with the LTTE and pledged their support to continue the military offensive to end the separatist movement. "We are not opposed to peace but it should be an everlasting one that will erase fear from the minds of the people" (LS). Judges Forum requests President Chairman of IBA Judges Forum has requested President Chandrika Kumaratunga to investigate alleged efforts to prevent Colombo High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne from hearing cases. A statement issued by the Chairman of IBA Judges Forum says:- Disturbing information has been placed before IBA’s Judges’ Forum of the International Bar Association (IBA) suggesting that criminal process is being improperly used with a view to preventing Mahanama Tillekeratne, High Court Judge, Colombo from hearing cases, by securing his suspension from office. Any such action is likely to affect other judges who may be fearful of taking decisions which are unacceptable to the government. Parliament which meets at 9.30 a.m. today will consider a resolution by Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike to determine the new salaries of the Chairman of the National Education Commission (NEC) and the two Vice-Chairmen of the Commission. The holders of the three top posts of the NEC are persons seconded to serve in the Commission from University Service. Their monthly salaries in the Commission are to be made equivalent to the salary points they would have reached by now had they continued to remain in the University Service. This resolution seeks the approval of the House to pay a monthly salary of Rs. 35, 350 to Chairman NEC, Prof. Lakshman Jayatilleke, Rs. 27,120 to Vice-Chairman (Planning), Prof. K. D. Arulpragasam and Rs. 27,820 to Vice-Chairman (Policy) Dr. (Mrs.) Tara de Mel. Dr. Tara de Mel is also an advisor to the President and the allowance paid to her in respect of this post is also to be revised on the same terms. (WN) Authority to develop Inland Fisheries The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic resources will shortly establish an "Inland Fisheries Authority" to develop inland fisheries according to Ministry Secretary Neville Piyadigama. The Bill will be presented to Parliament by Mahinda Rajapakse, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources on October 7. Assistance to the inland fisheries had been stopped in 1991, by the previous government and as a result the entire industry has been neglected. The products had gone down drastically, reducing the inland fisheries supplies in this sector, Mr. Piyadigama said. As a result Minister Rajapakse had decided to establish the Inland Fisheries Authority to strengthen the activities of the inland fisheries industry. Mr. Piyadigama said with the establishment of this separate authority , inland fisheries could be developed efficiently and faster rather than having it as a division of the Ministry as before. Mr. Piyadigama said with the establishment of the Authority they hope to develop aquatic resources and aquaculture to increase fish production in the country, promote the creation of employment opportunities through the industry, promote and develop small, medium and large scale private sector investment in aquaculture, increase the protein consumption in rural areas and also enhance self employment opportunities. Naval craft on patrol detected three fast moving terrorist boats out at sea off Mullaitivu and engaged with Naval guns damaging one enemy craft. Terrorist craft retaliated with large calibre guns on last Sunday. After a brief fire fight the terrorist craft fled the area and beached at Mullaitivu under heavy Naval fire. SARF makes first investment in Sri Lanka The South Asian Regional Fund (SARF) recently made its first investment in Sri Lanka participating in the international placement of Aitken Spence equity. SARF is the latest in a series of equity investment funds established by the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) in response to the growing equity needs of developing regions within the Commonwealth and outside. The US$ 108 million fund is able to invest throughout the SAARC region with its objective being to achieve long-term capital appreciation through equity investments in private sector companies. Russell Seal, Director CDC addressing the Press said that whilst being in its 50th year of operations, this year was one of considerable change for CDC. He said that it was announced at the last Commonwealth Heads of State meeting that CDC was to be privatised and a lot of this year has been spent working on the privatisation process which is subject to an Act of Parliament. "It is technically a public-private partnership which will involve bringing in 60% investors from the private sector with the British government holding 40% of CDC shares" he said. One of the main aspects of this public-private partnership will be to enshrine CDC’s involvement in countries which attract less general capital from the private sector and countries where the average per capita income is rather low. "We will continue as well to be an investor in the medium to long term. We are emphatically not interested in short term speculations," he pointed out. CDC has a portfolio of US$ 78 million in Sri Lanka. This includes investments in National Development Bank; Sri Lanka’s leading development bank and the country’s largest private power producer and Ayojana the foremost venture capital fund. SARF has presently disbursed US $12 million in Sri Lanka. Steven Enderby, Country Manager CDC when questioned as to what sectors were covered by this investment declined to divulge much information, however he did reveal that it included the Telecommunications sector. The fund makes investments of between US$ 1m-10 million taking significant minority equity positions and can invest in management buy-out, expansion, start up and management buy-in opportunities where there is significant growth potential. Fund in memory of Gamini Dissanayake launched A fund in memory of the late Gamini Dissanayake was launched yesterday at the J. R. Jayewardene Cultural Centre in Colombo. The employees of the Mahaweli Authority who would be voluntarily retiring from service contributed towards this fund. The money collected from this fund would be utilised to erect a monument of Gamini Dissanayake, facing the Kotmale reservoir. The rest of the money would be used to upgrade the living standards of the poor families of employees of Mahaweli Authority. Speaking at the inaugural meeting held to establish the fund Mayor of Colombo, Karu Jayasuriya said that it is our duty to remember with gratitude the name of Minister Gamini Dissanayake, who held the post of Minister of Mahaweli Development for over a decade and performed an invaluable service to the country to accelerate this giant project and to make it the main life-blood of the country. The Mayor expressed his happiness over the voluntary contributions made by Mahaweli Authority employees. The generosity of the employees showed that they appreciate the leadership of Gamini Dissanayake, he added. The keynote address was delivered by Vice President of the Commemorative Committee, P. Dayaratne MP. He said, at this point of time, four years after Mr., Dissanayake, a victim to a cruel terrorist assassination while in service to the nation, the employees of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority have in unison decided to remember forever the great services rendered by Gamini Dissanayake. Through the Mahaweli Project the upliftment of irrigation activities and thereby, feeding the nation, supplying of electricity and employment to thousands of people, he actively performed invaluable service. All those employees who contributed to the success of the giant Mahaweli project, the largest development project has at all times brought pride to our nation, will undoubtedly live forever. Though there is no need to build statues to remember Gamini Dissanayake, the evidence displayed by in the Mahaweli project itself is sufficient, he observed. Addressing the gathering Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku said, that the late Gamini Dissanayake was a capable leader who successfully completed the accelerated Mahaweli project. He had a clear vision for the 21st century and his death was indeed a loss to thecountry. The wish he had was to make Sri Lanka the best country in Asia, is yet to be achieved. Though he is no more with us, his name will be proudly remembered until the electricity is supplied by the Mahaweli water, whenever our cricketers perform at the international matches and till this nation lived, he noted. The unmeasurable contribution Gamini Dissanayake made to the country was highly appreciated by Parliamentarian P. Dayaratne in his speech. No-confidence motion against PA Mayor Leader of the Opposition group in the Dehiwala-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council, Srinath Lalaka Kumarasinghe has given notice of a no-confidence motion against Mayor Jayaratna Perera and the P.A. administration of the Council for ‘advancing the Finance Committee meeting as well as the Tender Board meeting concerning the awarding of a tender for the construction of a new Municipal Council building at a cost of Rs. 85 million’. According to the motion, the date with regard to these two meetings had been advanced from August 21,1998 to August 14, 1998, at 3.30 pm. The motion says that August 14,1998 was the day on which the UNP held a protest rally at Hyde Park and obviously the U.N.P. group in the Dehiwala- Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council should give preference to the protest rally at Hyde Park than to the tender board meeting. Six held over Watadage guardstones robbery The special police squad of Medirigiriya police conducting investigations into the robbing of artefacts had taken into custody six suspects last Sunday (20) in connection with the removal of five guardstones from the historic Watadage in Medirigiriya. Five of these suspects were residents of Medirigiriya while the sixth suspect was the driver of the van used to transport these five guardstones. Two of the guardstones had been detected dumped in a pit of refuse at Medirigiriya while the other three had been recovered from a paddy field close to Hingurakgoda. The van that had been used in the transport of the guardstones also had been taken into custody. On questioning the suspects it had been revealed that certain persons from Colombo had arrived at Medirigiriya and had promised them a sum of rupees 30,000 per guardstone. These persons from Colombo was said to have arrived in a white and blue coloured Dolphin van. But so far there was no other lead on these persons, stated police sources. Another carved guardstones robbed earlier from this historic Watadage also had been recovered last Thursday (17) by a special team from Hingurakgoda police and had been arrested two suspects in this connection. In the case of robbing of three guardstones from the ancient Thalathu Pirivena at Iha-kuluwewa, Bakamuna five suspects had been arrested by Bakam-muna police and were produced before Magistrate Courts, Polon-naruwa. These five suspects have been remanded. In this case too certain persons were from Colombo who had placed orders for these guardstones according to information revealed by the suspects. Police stop 'Antique Silva' antics KANDY: A special police squad raided a house at Kaikawala in Matale and seized a haul of ancient rock monuments, including several statues of guardian deities and stone pillars. An occupant of the house Karunatilleka de Silva who is also known as 'antique Silva' was taken into custody by the police team and he was later remanded by the Kandy Chief Magistrate Mrs. D. C. Mirinchiarachchi till September 23. Police believe that the collection of archaeological itetrip to the U.S. Open semifinals with a 6-4 6-4 victory over two-time champion ms had been stolen from Yakabendi Ela area near Eppawala in Anuradhapura. The police team had detected them in the nick of time as arrangements had been made to dispose of themone out of the tournament. The 17-year-old top seed, who is without a title si police said. The special police team comprised CI, Bowala, IP, Janaka Tennakoon, SI, Yatawara, SI, Rafaithu, PS, Tennakoon, PC Shanmugam, PC Abeykoon, PC Lionel, and PCD Tilasn't my best so far in the tournament and I lost to her the last two times we lakaratne, who are conducting further investigation on the directions of the DIG, Sirisena Herath and Kandy SSP, Nimal Mediwaka. |
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