• Saturday Commentary
  Preparing for elections
• Another 74 bodies of soldiers handed over
• No fighting during past 24 hrs.
  Troops consolidate positions south of Paranthan
• WB provide largest new loans this year
• Denzil Kobbekaduwa Trust Fund

• Dy. Chairman Kalmunai PS suspended
• Say 'no' to Saturday work teachers told
• Bank workers restrained from TU action
• Armed men rob gems, jewellery worth Rs. 2.5m from R'pura hotel
• North Mankulam troops exchange fire with Tigers
• Monk missing after K'nochchi battle
• Sri Lanka navy finds bodies, believed from Lionair plane

Restoration of civil administration, de-mining of the Jaffna peninsula and other ongoing development projects will be severely affected as a result of the flight ban which came into effect last Wednesday [30], a day after LTTE shot down Lionair flight 602 off the Mannar coast, government officials told 'The Island' yesterday. The UN was making arrangements to commence de-mining operations in the peninsula with the scheduled arrival of more experts and equipment when the tragedy occurred, they said.

There had been no movement of civilians to and from the peninusla since Tuesday afternoon after the flight 602 disappeared less than 15 minutes after leaving Palaly airbase.

Before the incident there were eight flights to and from Palaly daily. Approximately 400 people travelled bothways.

Officials of the UN, ICRC, UNHCR, foreign diplomats, members of various relief agencies including Medicine Sans Frontiers [MSF] used to fly in both Lionair and Monara flights.

The armed forces will also face problems as they too sometimes chartered private flights to facilitate the movement of personnel.

A senior Navy official yesterday said that the flight 602 had crashed into the sea between Iranathivu island and Nachchakudah off the Mannar [north] coast. 'We have recovered a life jacket of the ill-fated AN 24' he said admitting that there was no possibility in the Navy mounting a salvage operation.

'The scene of the crash is too close to Nachchakudah, home for several strong groups of Sea Tigers,' another security source said.

At the time of the aircraft's disappearance Tuesday afternoon, there had been four navy vessels operating in the vicinity.

The military said that the terrorists had shot down the aircraft.

The civilian air-bridge between Ratmalana and Palaly was maintained by four aircraft operated by Lionair and Monara. The transport of civilians in passenger vessels came to an end some time ago following repeated Sea Tiger attacks.

There is no overland route to the peninsula.

The ongoing Wanni offensive, Jayasikuru was aimed at restoring the overland route to Jaffna.

The EPRLF's K. Premachandran yesterday accused the LTTE of shooting down the aircraft. 'With the suspension of the flights to Jaffna the entire civilian population of Jaffna is cut off from the rest of the country' he said.

Officials said that if the flight ban continued for several days perhaps weeks it will create serious problems. Proposed de-mining efforts in the peninsula will suffer, sources said pointing out that alternate arrangements will have to be made.

Though the government is yet to announce which of the two elections, whether Provincial or Presidential would be held first, several front liners in the political field are vying to be independent candidates for the next Presidential election. The newly formed Eksath Mahajana Party of former UNP state minister H. R. Piyasiri has already intimated that his party would also take the field while Mr. Sirisena Cooray has made it known that he too would come forward if he is not taken back to the UNP. The left parties are holding talks these days to put forward a common candidate and that candidate is likely to be PA Parliamentarian and LSSP firebrand Vasudeva Nanayakkara. In a recent development, before a cabinet minister left overseas, a political party leader of a constituent party in the alliance is reported to have had a meeting at a Colombo venue where the minister is reported to have urged this leader to come forward as an Independent candidate for the next Presidential election.

Political sources said that the government was now in the process of scheming to split the vote bank of the United National Party at the next Presidential poll. This party leader in the alliance had met the said minister who is a powerful figure in the government in the company of a reputed businessman whose brother is a close friend of the Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremasinghe. Sources said that this businessman was playing the role of a 'broker' to get this political party leader to come forward as an independent candidate which would at least split some votes of the UNP. In recent amendments brought to this leader's party constitution has given exclusive powers to this leader to decide on party issues. However, the party politburo was to contest these amendments at a politburo meeting yesterday claiming that those amendments had been introduced in an arbitrary manner without the consent of the politburo.

The Eksath Mahajana Party leader H. R. Piyasiri who held his inaugural press conference in Colombo on Thursday was very critical of the UNP which he represented earlier and accused UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe of being behind the conspiracy to deprive him of nomination at the last General Election. The UNP leader at that time, President D. B. Wijetunga gave nomination to Mr. Piyasiri's brother H. R. Wimlasiri who was successfully returned to parliament from the Matara district from the UNP. Mr. Piyasiri at the press conference stated that his aim was to win at least fifteen seats at the next general election and that it would be a powerful force where the winning party would seek their support. In this context, if the UNP wins it is unlikely to solicit the support of Piyasiri's party as Piyasiri had been very critical of Mr. Wickremasinghe and his party. On Thursday Piyasiri described the UNP as a 'home for gypsies'.

The UNP would conclude its' Bala Mandalaya' organisation in the city of Colombo early next week. UNP Chairman Karu Jayasuriya who represents both Colombo West and East will address the people of Colombo East on October 12. On Thursday he began his house-to-house campaign in that area. Mr. Jayasuriya has appointed twenty office bearers for each polling booth in Colombo East. The UNP chairman said that after conclusion of the 'Bala Mandalaya' meetings in the city, the party was confident of facing any future election and would certainly emerge victorious.

PA's SLFP new organiser for Colombo East, Justice Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris too has started his campaign in the area. Party sources said that Prof. Peiris has adopted a concept of the 'Temple and the People'. An association of Buddhist clergy has been formed and some religious dignitaries have been appointed as JPs in his electorate. Prof. Peiris who met the people there prior to his departure to South Africa has assured them that he would modernise the city of Colombo and first provide new housing units to the shanty dwellers in Colombo East. The Minister has also started to provide legal aid free of charge to the people in the area under the free legal aid project of the government. Political analysts say that Prof. Peiris who would represent the Colombo district at the next general election will keep his hopes on the minority vote being the architect of the package to devolve power.

Meanwhile the UNP blames the government for fighting the war against the LTTE without a proper plan. They claim that as a result hundreds of young soldiers were killed in fierce battles in the North during the past few days. A party spokesman said that at a crucial moment the President who is the Defence Minister was out of the country for days while senior ministers Lakshman Kadirgamar, Dharmasiri Senanayake and Mangala Samaraweera, the cabinet spokesman, too, were abroad when the troops lost many lives and had withdrawn from a camp set up after the recent take over of the peninsula. He said, 'This is a regrettable attitude of a government which claims to be responsible. We can see government drifting without a proper Captain to guide the ship'.

In the political scene with many vying for the next Presidency, it recalls a statement made by the late President Ranasinghe Premadasa almost on the eve of his Presidential election. President Premadasa said, 'No Independent candidate can ever win a Presidential race and even this Premadasa who is so popular, came as an independent candidate. I am sure he would not poll more than fifty thousand votes. Only candidates from recognised political parties can win such elections'.

Under sporadic terrorist fire, troops continued to consolidate their positions just south of Paranthan yesterday as the military prepared to re-build the battalions involved in this week's high intensity battles in the Kilinochchi-Paranthan areas, security forces officer told 'The Island'. 'There had been no smajor confrontations in the past 24 hours,' a senior officer in the north said adding that troops were engaged in consolidating their positions south of Paranthan Brigade Headquarters.In support of the troops consolidating their positions, Airforce ground attack aircraft mounted strikes on two suspected enemy positions while the artillery engaged the same locations.

The attack codenamed 'Oyatha Alaigal 2' had been directed mainly against the Kilinochchi Brigade and to a lesser extent, at the Paranthan Brigade, the military said.

The Kilinochchi Brigade had comprised four regular infantry battalions.

Hundreds of Kilinochchi Brigade troops were killed in action in the first three days of fighting. The remaining troops who managed to fall back to Paranthan have been re-deployed in a low intensity deployment area at the moment. They have to be given a rest, re-equipped and the four battalions re-built for future operations, a senior officer said adding that certain adjustments have been already made to overcome the problems caused by the heavy losses suffered by the Kilinochchi Brigade.

The Kilinochchi and Paranthan Brigades were part of the Brigade Groups deployed within the area coming under the General Officer Commanding [GOC] 54 Division. Headquartered at Elephant Pass, the 54 Division controlled the road a few kms north of Elephant Pass right upto Kilinochchi. However as a result of the major terrorist attacks in February and this week,the division had lost control of five kms of road from Kilinochchi towards Paranthan.

The military said that in the first few hours of the fighting troops of the Kilinochchi Brigade were able to inflict a large number of casualties. 'Battalions continued to report the recovery of terrorist bodies along with weapons,' a senior officer said. However, the situation had changed around 3.30 am with troops being forced to vacate their positions and fall back towards Paranthan. [CENSORED]

The military said that they believe LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran has directed the assault. 'Anyone else would have called off the assault after suffering heavy losses in the first couple of hours,' a senior officer in Jaffna said. Waves and waves of assault groups were sent against well fortified positions until they overran them, the military said.

The Kilinochchi Brigade had been not an isolated fighting formation like the ill-fated Mullaitivu Brigade. 'Troops at Kilinochchi had a direct link to their division headquarters at Elephant Pass,' said another officer stationed in the north.

The Army Commander Lieutenant General Rohan de S. Daluwatte was expected to appoint a Court of Inquiry to probe the failure of the Kilinochchi defenders to hold onto the area.

The headquarters appointed a Court of Inquiry earlier after the February attack also on the Paranthan-Kilinochchi defences. The committee report had been handed over to the Commander.

The military said that some of the LTTE formations deployed against the ongoing Wanni offensive, Jayasikuru had been used in the 'Oyatha Alaigal 2' operation. These formations suffered heavy losses in the fighting. The military said that a large number of LTTE cadres of specialised groups had been killed in the three-day battles that left almost 1,500 dead on both sides. The military said that Jayasikuru forces will find a bit more easier to push northwards towards Paranthan.

Even before this week's capture of Mankulam, the scene of many battles in the past several months some elements of Jayasikuru forces were ahead of Mankulam. The military spokesman was on record as saying that troops were approximately eight kms northwards of Mankulam.

Officers said that the decision to resume the assault on Mankulam soon after troops vacated Kilinochchi had taken the LTTE by surprise. 'They never expected the army to re-open the Mankulam front amidst heavy losses at Kilinochchi,' the military said adding that the seizure of Mankulam helped in a certain way to cushion off the losses at Kilinochchi.

At least 750-800 soldiers had died in the Kilinochchi battle. A further 100 died for the final battle for Mankulam.

The military has admitted the deaths of 400 personnel.

A senior officer said that they believe a considerable number of seriously wounded LTTE cadres had been shot dead. There was no doubt they have a serious problem at hand over their wounded cadres, medical sources said. Even the army finds it difficult to treat a large number of war wounded despite having several hospitals, both military and civil for their use.

Eight teachers' unions affiliated to the Sri Lanka Teachers' Federation decided at a meeting that they should not ad hoc to the Education Ministry direction to work on Saturdays.

Mr. P. Gunawardena, the convener of the meeting said that public servants are not legally obliged to work on Saturdays and Sundays. By this decision the Federation had only wanted to gain a right the teachers are legally entitled to and in no way they were going against the Government.

Colombo District Judge A. W. A. Salam yesterday issued an enjoying order restraining the Ceylon Bank Employees' Union from engaging in any manner of trade union action including picketing.

The plaintiffs in the case are Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank of Ceylon, The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and the State Bank of India.

Romesh de Silva, PC Senior Counsel for the plaintiff banks submitted that his clients and the defendant employees entered into a collective agreement dated July 31, '95.

The pith and substance of this agreement was that the industrial peace should ensure. By this agreement it was agreed that during the continuation in office, the members shall not engage in any trade union action in respect of any dispute referred to the agreement. Counsel further submitted that in any event no proper notice of trade union action was given by the trade union in breach of the agreement, the members of the union resorted to picketing and other forms of collective action.

As a result there had been disruption of the activities of the banks, loss of investors confidence, slash of overseas creditlines, loss of proper banking atmosphere etc. It will lead to deterioration of peace in the industrial sector.

Citing some of the provisions of the agreement, counsel submitted that any dispute had to be settled by voluntary arbitration.

The court also issued notice of interim injunction to the defendant Bank Employees' Union.

Romesh de Silva, PC with Palitha Kumarasinghe instructed by P. G. Arul appeared for the plaintiff banks.

Burglars broke into a leading hotel at Ratnapura on Thursday night and removed gems, jewellery and cash to the tune of Rs. 2.5 million, police said.

The gems and jewellery had been in a show room of the hotel. The hotel is patronised by foreign tourists also, police said.

They said that initial inquiries had revealed that a gang of over ten men armed mostly with 'galkatas' had entered the hotel after tying up the hotel security personnel. Till morning the hotel management had known nothing about the robbery.

Police believe the men according to available evidence could not have left Ratnapura and they could be hiding in the Kosgala forest. Police were combing the forest at the time this edition went to press.

Troops deployed north of Mankulam exchanged fire with terrorists on Thursday (1), military sources said yesterday. Sources said that mortars were fired at troops manning defence around 8.45 p.m.

"We fired artillery", sources said.

Meanwhile troops sniped and killed six terrorists at Sukanottukulam, Kilinochchi on the previous day.

A Buddhist monk who went to Kili-nochchi to invoke blessings on soldiers engaged in the on-going war has been reported missing since the Kilinochchi attack. According to information received at Vavuniya yesterday (02).

COLOMBO, Oct 2 - The Sri Lankan navy has sighted three bodies in seas off the northwestern coast that officials believe may be passengers from a civilian airplane that has been missing for three days, navy officials said on Friday.

They said navy boats scouring the area between Mannar and islands off the northern the Jaffna peninsula also had recovered a life jacket believed to be from a Lionair Antonov-24 that disappeared on Tuesday with 55 people aboard.

No further details were immediately available.

Lionair officials said they were awaiting details and would have no comment until the sighting was confirmed by the Sri Lanka Air Force, which was heading the search operations.

'There is talk that some bodies have been sighted, but the authorities have yet to confirm to us that they are of the passengers on the plane,' said Naomi Perera, Lionair's manager for marketing and promotions.

The Antonov-24, which had four cockpit crew members from Belarus, went missing soon after taking off from the northern Jaffna peninsula on Tuesday.

Lionair said on Thursday that a team of experts from the plane's manufacturer, the Antonov Design Bureau, and its agents, AAR Airlines of Kiev, were expected to visit Sri Lanka shortly to conduct a comprehensive, independent investigation.

The plane was reported missing as government troops fought savage battles with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels just south of the Jaffna peninsula in which hundreds of combatants were reported killed.