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Over 300 Tigers, 150 soldiers killed, says
Defence Ministry While the LTTE yesterday admitted that it had lost 240 cadres in fighting in the Paranthan-Kilinochchi area beginning Sunday, the government claimed that over 300 Tigers and more than 150 soldiers had been killed in the fierce clashes. Clandestine Voice of Tigers monitored by civilians in the North said that 240 LTTE cadres were killed in the attack carried out to mark the death of senior LTTE’er Thileepan during the deployment of the Indian Army in 1987. However the military placed the number of LTTE losses well over 300. The Defence Ministry said that almost 400 terrorists and over 150 soldiers died in fierce close quarter battles in the Paranthan-Kilinochchi sector in the past 72 hours ending noon yesterday. At least 300 soldiers had been wounded in action. The military quoting monitored enemy transmissions said that the names and numbers of 377 LTTE cadres killed in the battle had been revealed. The Army has moved in additional forces to Paranthan-Kilinochchi sector in support of the formations which came under a multi-pronged assault on Sunday [27] resulting in heavy losses on both sides, military sources said yesterday. Defence sources said that enemy attacks on isolated positions in the early hours of Sunday later developed into a major offensive against positions in the general areas of Paranthan-Kilinochchi sector. Small groups of assault teams comprised both men and women had moved into defended areas of the sector amidst the heavy firing of artillery, mortars and other weapons. "They mounted suicide attacks on outposts," the military said adding that attackers started withdrawing after almost 48 hours of close quarter battles with troops. Initial reports from the Operational Headquarters of the Defence Ministry beginning Sunday placed the number of soldiers killed at nine and terrorists at 40. Later it [the ministry] said that 43 soldiers and 194 terrorists were killed in the battle. Military officials said that clashes were continuing in different locations and the artillery was engaging a number of enemy strong points in the Wanni. ICRC was in touch with both the LTTE and the military regarding the transfer of dead personnel to and from the uncleared area. "We will be able to know the exact number of bodies involved in the transfer today," ICRC Information Officer told The Island yesterday. The military said that tactics adopted by attacking groups were similar to the those of the enemy formations which overran the Mullaithivu Army Base two years ago. Army Commander, Lieutenant General Rohan de S Daluwatte is in Jaffna following the latest flare up. Security Forces Commander, Major General Lionel Balagalle yesterday declined to comment on the level of fighting. "I have nothing to say at this moment," he told The Island. In the first week of June [this year] hundreds of combatants died in fighting for the control of the Kilinochchi town. Less than 24 hours after fighting erupted in and around Kilinochchi, the government clamped censorship for the second time since the People’s Alliance [PA] came into power. Earlier censorship came into operation when troops mounted operation Riviresa to bring the Jaffna peninsula under government control. Lionair plane disappears three minutes after
take off A "Lionair" aircraft carrying 48 passengers from Jaffna to Colombo yesterday afternoon disappeared off the radar screen within three minutes of its take off from the Palaly air base the Acting Director of Civil Aviation G. S. Withanage said . Mr. Withanage told "The Island" yesterday evening that he had obtained the information from the relevant authorities whom he contacted no sooner he heard the news of the missing aircraft. An official of the Lionair office in Ratmalana confirmed yesterday evening that the Russian made An-24 aircraft carrying 48 passengers mainly Tamils , a crew of six and a labourer had disappeared within minutes of taking off from the Palaly air base around 1.40 p.m. The cockpit crew comprised four Russians while the two cabin crew and the labourer were Sri Lankans. The official who did not wish to be identified said that the aircraft with a maximum seating capacity of 48 had not landed at Ratmalana, but declined to give any further details. " We are told that the aircraft has disappeared. We do not wish to speculate beyond that" she added. A government release received around 8.30 p.m said that a passenger plane belonging to a private airline had disappeared around 1.45 p.m and investigations were being carried out jointly by the Air Force and the Army. Two weeks ago Monara Airlines which is also engaged in transporting people from Jaffna to Colombo received a letter allegedly from the LTTE asking it to stop operations immediately. Lionair commenced operations to and from Jaffna about seven months ago. Walkout
at 3 p.m. today Employees in all Colombo branches of nine private commercial banks will walk out of their workplaces at 3.00 p.m. today in opposition of their managements’ failure to concede to a salary demand enshrined within a Collective Agreement. The powerful Ceylon Bank Employees’ Union (CBEU) has also threatened the bankmanagements that they would call upon their entire membership to resort to trade union action if the salary issue is not settled in their favour. This would include employees of state banks as well, sources told ‘The Island’. Meanwhile, the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon, which represents the managements, has refused to back down to the union’s demands and has offered no emergency discussion to prevent today’s walkout. It has instead asserted that the banks would "seriously consider abrogating the Collective Agreement as the only useful purpose of the agreement is the industrial peace it ensures". But a EFC source said last week that the banks "look like they are prepared to face the music if necessary". The employees are expected to participate in a protest rally at the Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU) hall in Kollupitiya following their walkout. Today’s walkout was preceded by two picketing campaigns held on Monday and Tuesday. The banks involved are the Hatton National Bank, Hong Kong Bank, Commercial Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, State Bank of India, Standard Chartered Bank, Habib Bank and Habib Zurich Bank. The protest, according to the union, is the result of the bank managements’ adamance not to give a ‘reasonable wage hike’ to employees and in so doing conclude the Collective Agreement discussions. The agreement expired in April this year (it was last renewed during the same month of 1995) and seven rounds of discussions have been held since then. The CBEU has rejected the managements’ proposal for a 15% wage hike for employees and has asked for more as they believe the profits being ‘raked’ in by the private banks must be shared fairly among their employees. The EFC, meanwhile, released a statement yesterday making representations on behalf of the managements. They explained that the union demand for increase of salaries was initially based on a 50% increase on the gross salary which the banks considered was unreasonable. Subsequently, they offered the union a 15% increase on gross salaries of employees with the possibility of granting additional increases based on seniority of service. "Thus, an employee with six years service would receive approximately 20% increase on salary," explained the statement, "In arriving at the 15% offer, the banks considered the fact that based on the salary of a banking assistant (clerical grade), the gross salary during the same period increased by 29%, whereas the overall increase for three years was 44% leaving a shortfall of 15%". However, at the sixth meeting between the banks’ negotiating committee and the union, the latter maintained that unless an increase of at 25% was offered on salaries "they will not be able to even go before their Executive Committee for further consideration". The EFC points out that the banks had made offers on other benefits as well. They note that on a 15% increase, an employee at clerical level with under one year’s service will receive a monthly initial gross salary of approximately Rs.10,630. On the same basis, a labourer with under one year’s service will receive a monthly initial gross salary of Rs.10,103. "These are minimum salaries without taking into account the incremental credit at the time of placement on new scales," said the EFC statement, "It is also significant to mention that without any increase the current cost of a recruit clerk to a bank is over Rs.16,000". The EFC maintains further that today’s walkout, as well as the picketing campaigns that preceded it, are in violation of the Collective Agreement as the union, under clause 30(a) of the agreement, has agreed not to engage in any strike or any other form of trade union action. This includes go-slow, boycott, demonstration or picketing or any form of collective action against any banks who are parties to the Collective Agreement in respect of any dispute related to the agreement. Govt. recalls four police officers for duty
after court order The government has recalled four police officers to service after Supreme Court stayed the compulsory leave order on them by Defence Secretary, Chan-drananda de Silva. The Supreme Court on September 14 stayed the compulsory leave order on senior SP H. G. Wickremesinghe [Director, Terrorist Investigation Department], SP Wilfred Mahanayake [Western Province/North], SP H. Chandrasena [Police Narcotics Bureau] and Chief Inspector Sudath Rohana Kumara Chandrasekera UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s security group], whose names were said to have transpired in the Batalanda Presidential Inquiry. Following the Supreme Court order the Defence Secretary has informed Messrs. Wickremesinghe, Mahanayake, Chandrasena and Chandrasekera that they should return to duty. All of them have been permitted to move into the posts they were holding prior to the Defence Secretary’s first order which placed them along with senior DIG Merril Gunaratne on compulsory leave for their alleged roles in the "Batalanda Affair" Officials said that except for Gunaratne, others have not been summoned before the Presidential Commission which investigated the alleged existence of a torture camp at Batalanda Housing Complex belonging to the State Fertilizer Corporation. The Commission had also investigated the disappearance of two junior police officers allegedly in the hands of those involved in the operation of the torture camp. The Supreme Court has said that the stay order was valid until the hearing and the final determination of the Fundamental Rights pleas filed by the four officers. Anti-coal fire plant lobby funded by drug
Mafia, says Minister Ratwatte The lobby against the proposed coal fired power plant in Norochcholai, Kalpitiya was a powerful one funded by the drug Mafia in the area, Minister of Irrigation, Power and Energy and the Deputy Minister of Defence, Gen. Anu-ruddha Ratwatte claimed. Speaking to journalists during a site visit to the Samana-lawewa reservoir, last Sunday the Minister said that it was only the smugglers of the area who will "suffer" from the proposed setting up of a power plant in the area as it will then become a high security zone. "All the drug dealers and addicts are those who will be badly hit by this power project. It is the smugglers who will suffer. As a result they have every right to protest against the power project. "It is these drug smugglers who are manipulating the innocent villagers against the project. But we cannot give into such manipulations. Genuine people will be genuinely hurt by the project and not crooks,"theMinisterobserved. Protests from various quarters have emerged over the proposal by the Ceylon Electricity Board for a 300 MW coal power plant to be set up in Kalpitiya. The Minister cited the seizure of a stock of 16 kgs of heroin worth over Rs. 20 million from the area a few weeks back as support to these claims. Gen. Ratwatte said that he had no intention of acting above the wishes of the people in establishing a coal fired plant at Kalpitiya. "The environmentalists who are objecting to the project over environmental grounds will have every possible opportunity of having their views expressed. There are various procedures to follow in instituting a project like this including the process of a feasibility study, and these will all be properly followed. "The Central Environmental Authority also has wide powers to counter such objections and they will use those powers," he said. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board, Dr. Arjun Deraniyagala assured that any representations made with regard to the alleged harmful effects of the power plant, by the public will be "very carefully looked at by the CEB and solutions offered". "But baseless and unrealistic fears obviously can’t be found solutions to. Any genuine concerns will however be seriously considered," he added. The Chairman earlier warned that such baseless protests leading to the non-implementation of the power project will result in the country having to face a three hour daily power cut beginning year 2004. This would be between the peak hours of 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., he added. He said that the coal power plant was going to be even more important in the power sector of the country because of the estimated increase in the demand for power in 2004 to 25%. "We had to impose power cuts in 1996 due to our inability to supply 10% of the daily demand. We had a shortage of 382 Gwh in 1996. There is estimated to be a power gap of 300 MW created if we fail to implement this plant. Leave granted to proceed in rights violation
plea The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with a Fundamental Rights violation application filed by Attorney-at-Law A. Lalanath M. de Silva who said in his petition that his fundamental right to life has been violated by the Minister of Environment and Forestry. The petition said that the said minister had failed to enact laws to regulate air pollution in the city of Colombo and thereby violated the right to life, recognised by Chapters (3) and (4) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka, and in particular supported by Articles (10), (11), 13(2) and 13(4) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The petitioner, a lawyer by profession, supported his own petition. He said that more than sixty percent of the vehicles imported to this country are running in the city of Colombo. Vehicular emissions, particularly in the Fort area, has caused the air to get polluted with lead and ground level ozone. The personnel employed in the city traffic police, had shown high levels of lead in their blood samples, subsequent to inhaling the polluted air in Fort. Dust pollution and pollution by sulphur dioxide blown out by belching vehicles have contributed to the deteriorated quality of the city air. The Ministry of Environment has failed in their duties by not gazetting the draft standards on emissions and absorptions of pollutants, into volumes of the atmosphere, he said. Right to life is the basis of all other rights. Article 13(4) of the Constitution states that death penalty or imprisonment should be imposed by court procedures only. This is a negative formulation which implies the right to life. The right to practise one’s own faith enshrined in Article (10) and the right to personal liberty enshrined in Article 13(2) are all supportive of the right to life. Lalanath de Silva referred to a publication titled, "Keen air 2000 application plan", a publication approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in February 1993, which had suggested ways and means to counteract air pollution by the year 2000. The Supreme Court bench comprised JusticeMark Fernando, Justice R. N. M. Dheeraratne and Justice Lakshman Weerasekera. The petiion requested the court to grant leave to proceed and to declare the violation of fundamental rights. Dharma Vijaya Foundation and Rotary in vocational service A workshop for school leavers, in the available job market, was held recently at the Dharma Vijaya Foundation at its headquarters at Sarana Road, Colombo 7 under the patronage and sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Colombo. Ms. Olcott Gunasekera, a Trustee of the Foundation, stated the most serious problem faced by school leavers is a shortage of job opportunities to meet with the growing demand. Several reputed speakers, addressed the participants who were mainly senior tutorial staff of leading colleges, schools and those drawn from the Ministry of Education. The Most Venerable Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayake Thero, Patron of the Dharma Vijaya Foundation and Professor The Venerable Dhammavihari Thero, focused attention on the fact that in modern society there is a noticeable deterioration in moral standards. In that context, they pointed out that it was the responsibility of all concerned to mould young persons, the nation’s great asset, to be upright and develop high moral standards. They said, that since it is generally so, young school leavers go directly into the job market, they should be prepared and adjusted to meet the various situations and demands of the employment scenario they may encounter. Hence the Dharma Vijaya Foundation invited principals of schools, teachers, officials from the Ministry of Higher Education, national planners and representatives of the private sector to conduct the workshop. The resource personnel included H. M. Sirisena, Deputy Director of Education, Patrick Amerasinghe, President, Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, M. C. Matupala, Management Consultant and Gamini de Silva from Singer Company. The speakers drew attention to the fact that while the children are in school, self confidence, an intelligent attitude towards the work ethic and self reliance should be instilled into them. It is the duty of the school to mould the student into disciplined, dedicated individuals with high moral standards. They should thus be prepared for entry into the job market. In order to achieve these aims it is necessary, they said, that the Ministry of Education prepare the relevant plans and programs and establish co-ordination and co-operation between teachers and parents. It was recommended that the biggest service which the Past Pupils Associations and Schools Development Societies could perform is to establish centres in the schools, in association with the school libraries, where information about job opportunities are made easily available to school leavers. A former principal of a leading college in Colombo, R. I. T. Alles had this to say: "Children who help their parents at home, develop both mentally and physically. It is in the home that a child lays the foundation to develop a liking for work, and later be able to cope with work in the outside world. Parents can also recognise a child’s abilities, talents and preferences in the home atmosphere, when the child is engaged in work there". Participants of this workshop were principals of Visaka Vidyalaya, Colombo, Buddhist Girls College, Colombo, Sanghamitta College, Galle, Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, Kalutara Maha Vidyalaya, Nugawela Central School, Minneriya National School, Meepawela Amarasuriya Maha Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura Central School, Ananda College and Royal College, Colombo. UN representative of Sri Lanka says "Sri Lanka has maintained its progress but other countries have made faster progress" said UN resident representative in Sri Lanka Peter Whitham on Monday. He said that Sri Lanka’s human development index has been ranked 90 among 174 countries in the 1998 Human Development Report. Canada has been ranked number 1 and Sierra Leone 174. The report which has been commissioned by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) since 1990 explore major issues of global concern. It looks beyond per capita income as a measure of human progress by also assessing it against such factors as life expectancy, literacy and overall wellbeing. This year’s report focuses on consumption of goods and services and examines how this can advance or hinder human progress. Reading excerpts from the report Mr. Whitham said that among 4.4 billion people who live in developing countries, almost three fifths live in communities without basic sanitation; almost one third are without safe drinking water; one quarter lack adequate housing; one fifth live beyond reach of health services; one fifth of the children do not get as far as grade five in school and an equal percentage are undernourished. Mr. Whitham explained that high per capita incomes were no guarantee of the human progress. As an example he indicated that in 1990 Sri Lanka’s GNP was only a fraction of that of Saudi Arabia .However the life expectancy of birth , higher education of women and such other factors were higher in Sri Lanka. He emphasised that sustainable development, which is sensitive to the environment and which can be self supporting in the long term was important. 86% of expenditure for personal consumption are made by just 20% of the world’s people. Global consumption expenditure this year tops US $ 24 trillion. It has doubled since 1975. Consumption has led to development with better access to health services etc. "We have to work together to initiate higher levels of consumption" Mr. Whitham noted. The report has also found that the gross inequalities in consumption opportunities have excluded over one billion people who fail to meet even their basic consumption requirements. It has also found that in total, the world’s richest nations are home to more than 100 million people who have incomes below the poverty line. Raising consumption levels of more than a billion people who have been left out of the consumption explosion, moving towards more sustainable consumption patterns that reduce environmental damage and protecting consumer rights are among the five goals set in the report. The UN hopes to launch the report on October 23 to coincide with the UN day which falls on October 24 To a question as to whether any initiatives have been taken regarding consumer protection in Sri Lanka Mr. Whitham said that the UNDP together with the ministry of health were working on a project to educate the public on food security. However no consumer protection groups as such have been set up. For the first time in Sri Lanka one of the best Rap-Dance Groups in France will present "Kelkemo" a Rap-Dance choreography on October 12 at 6.30 p.m. at Bishop College, Auditorium. It’s a presentation by Alliance Francaise. Mid-Week
Politics The United National Party in a statement issued last week, announced that its former General Secretary Sirisena Cooray’s challenge to contest the next Presidential election as an independent candidate was no threat to its candidate, Party leader, Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. Mr. Wickremesinghe now in the United States was in constant contact with his party men during the past few days since the MTv telecast the interview with Mr. Cooray about the future plans of Mr. Cooray. The UNP which analysed this interview of Cooray claims that Cooray is playing his last card in a bid to force the UNP to take him back. ‘The substance in that interview appears that Cooray is yearning for a return’, said a party spokesman. He said that Mr. Cooray paid scant respect to his supporters who put up posters calling for his return saying —‘They do want me because not that they love me but to get their work done’. While a section of the UNP is totally opposed to the return of Mr. Cooray there are some in the party who want to reconsider the issue and invite Mr. Cooray back. They feel that with Mr. Cooray back in the fold the party organising capacity could be strengthened. Those opposed to Mr. Cooray dismiss the claim that Mr. Cooray is an able organiser. They say that Mr. Cooray talks big of UNP election victories when those were only achieved when the UNP was in power. They challenge him to prove his organising ability as an independent candidate at any future election. UNP Media spokesman Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku contends that the threat of Cooray will wane off him as he has no force on the United National Party. In a statement last week Dr. Kodituwakku described such men as ‘jokers’ in the political field. The UNP claims that though Mr. Cooray in his interview took up the position that his principles did not permit him to criticise any political party leader, he in fact did criticise the UNP leader in an indirect manner. They claim that there was no vacuum that has to be filled in the party as claimed by Mr. Cooray. Mr. Cooray throughout his interview made it a point to show that the people were calling him back as there was a vacuum in the UNP that should be filled. He pointed out that vacuum was there as the UNP had no man to represent the common man in the country. The UNP argue that as a party it does not believe that certain individuals must be there to represent the common man as the party throughout its history had been representing all sections of the communities in the country. The UNP claims that Mr. Cooray unnecessarily dragged Mrs. Hema Premadasa’s name during the interview to state that Mrs. Premadasa had told him that she has no interest in representing the Colombo Central electorate of her late husband. Mrs. Premadasa has so far not made her intentions known about Colombo Central after the death of her husband. It further claims that the statement of Mr. Cooray had embarrassed the former first lady who maintains silence in politics now. The party notes that Mrs. Premadasa was aware of the appointment of the two chief organisers for Colombo Central, Messrs. Mohammed Maharoof and Henry Jayamaha and she has not dissented over these appointments made by the UNP leader. Meanwhile several senior UNPers gathered at a residence of a former UNP minister in Colombo yesterday to discuss the conduct of Mr. Sajith Premadasa who was reported to have criticised the UNP leader in an editorial office of a newspaper in the city. Those in the editorial have informed the party authorities that the reported criticism made by Mr. Premadasa was unbecoming of him as a party organiser. It is learnt that some of them are to meet the UNP leader on his return to apprise him of the alleged comments made.the senior UNPers who met on Monday pointed out that there was a big contrast in the behaviour and conduct of Mr. Sajith Premadasa and Mr. Naveen Dissanayake. They claimed that Naveen was never in the practice of criticising party men and also does not get involved in the disputes of the party seniors. One of them recalled how Sajith issued a press release in favour of Anura Bandaranaike when Mr. Bandaranaike clashed with Mr. Ronnie De Mel some months ago. Young Premadasa’s close links with a cabinet minister in the South and about the frequent meetings he has with this minister was a topic in the discussion. According to party sources these senior men are to meet Mr. Wickremesinghe on the latter’s return to the country to pressurise Mr. Wickremesinghe to take action against Sajith who was openly criticising the party leader without any fear. One of the seniors at the discussion said that Sajith cannot start from where his father left and he should start from the grassroots level as once told to him by the late party Chairman and General Secretary Gen. Ranjan Wijeratne. They expressed satisfaction over the manner Mr. Naveen Dissanayake had begun his political career from the grassroots level without trying to continue from where his father left. |
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