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Kilinochchi setback
Govt. rejects UNP call for PSC
by Shamindra FerdinandoThe ruling party has rejected the United National Party [UNP] call for the establishment of a Parliamentary Select Committee [PSC] to probe the last month’s terrorist attack on army positions at Kilinochchi-Paranthan sectors. “There is no need to appoint a PSC,” declared Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle yesterday.
The government rejects, the main opposition party’s call for a PSC on the Kilinochchi setback, he told The Island yesterday.
Last week, the UNP indicated that it will not seek to move a no confidence motion against the government over the losses, the army suffered at Kilinochchi-Paranthan sectors instead press for a parliamentary probe on the debacle.
Minister Fernandopulle admitted that the government forces suffered a setback at Kilinochchi-Paranthan sectors. “We don’t deny that,” he said insisting the government will go ahead with planned offensives in the northern theatre of operations.
“The Kilinochchi setback,” he said has infact propelled the government to go all out against the LTTE and do whatever necessary to destroy its capabilities.
Fernandopulle predicted fresh high intensity clashes in the Wanni region as Jayasikuru troops push northwards.
He pointed out that the army has already appointed a Court of Inquiry headed by Major General Sathis Jayasundara to probe the Kilinochchi setback. He said that the government accept that forces suffered setbacks both at Mullaithivu and Kilinochchi-Pranthan sectors.
Mullaithivu Brigade comprised two infantry battalions and several other elements was overrun in July 1996. Almost 1400 personnel died at Mullaithivu.
Kilinochchi brigade targeted in the recent attack had comprised four regular infantry battalions plus several other elements.
Mr. Fernandopulle said that soon after Mullaithivu setback, troops launched three phased Sath Jaya offensive to bring the Elephant Pass-Kilinochchi road under government control.
Sath Jaya operations had been conducted between July 26-October 3 1993.
“Now we have lost control of approximately 41/2 kms of road secured by Sath Jaya operation,” the Minister said. Troops at Kilinochchi were forced to pull back 41/2 kms northwards from Kilinochchi towards Paranthan and establish a new line of control south of Paranthan.
Mr. Fernandopulle said that the UNP never appointed PSCs to probe major LTTE attacks which occurred during their administration. The People’s Alliance did not create the LTTE, Minister Fernandopulle said adding that the armed forces were doing their best to destroy the LTTE and restore State control in all parts of the country.
He said that then UNP administration angered India by arming the LTTE secretly with a view to increasing pressure on the Indian Peace Keeping Forces. He recalled the government directive to police in the eastern province to surrender to LTTE when the latter resumed hostilities in June 1990. “It was not a secret approximately 800 policemen were executed after they surrendered,” Mr. Fernandopulle said.
Did they appoint PSCs to investigate these acts? He queried.
He said that the opposition does not admit the fact the forces, despite on and off setbacks had moved ahead with their plans. “Any army can suffer setbacks,” he pointed out.
Mr. Fernandopulle said that the ruling party has faith in the armed forces and police that they will be able to restore the Vavuniya-Jaffna Main Supply Route [MSR].
At the time terrorists attacked Kilinochchi on September 27, the Jayasikuru troops have been approximately three kms south of Mankulam on the MSR but several kms ahead on both the western and the eastern flanks. As a result of Jayasikuru operations following the Kilinochchi setback, troops who have been three kms south of Mankulam have been able to regain the town and push northwards along the MSR, he noted.
Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte during this month’s emergency debate said that troops have pushed approximately 11 kms on the MSR from positions they held three kms south of Mankulam.
Mr. Fernandopulle said that the distance between the Jayasikuru troops and Paranthan is not more than 25 kms along the MSR.
He said that since the launch of Riviresa in October 1995, armed forces and police had done a lot to break the LTTE power. Forces regained Waligamam [October 17-December 2, 1995], Thennamaratchchy [April 19-May 2,1996], Vadamaratchchy [May 15-May 25, 1996], Elephant Pass-Kilinochchi road [July 26-October 3, 1996], Vavuniya-Mannar/Medawachchiya-Mannar roads [February 1996].
He said that Jayasikuru offensive was launched after that. “I don’t deny that fact that terrorists were able to inflict considerable losses among forces,”
However forces, were able to push approximately 57 kms on the 76 kms long Vavuniya-Kilinochchi road.
“Forces have also secured Nedunkerni,” he said.
In separate operations in the East troops have been able to regain the Kuchchuveli-Pulmoddai and Valachchenai-Vakarai coastlines.
Mr. Fernandopulle said that critics did not believe in the government forces capability to bring the Jaffna peninsula under control. However, the armed forces top brass was confident of completing the ongoing Wanni offensive aimed at restoring the MSR within the next couple of months.
He said that the Vavuniya-Jaffna MSR was lost to LTTE during UNP administration. They vacated camps and permitted the LTTE to take control of the road from just north of Vavuniya town right upto Elephant Pass. In the peninsula troops at Palaly and Kankesanthurai had been isolated. There had been no overland route from Elephant Pass to Palaly/Kankesanthurai, Mr. Fernandopulle said.
Today there is an overland MSR from Palaly/Kankesanthurai right upto Paranthan, he said.
IP arrested on bribe charge
By Norman PalihawadanaAn Inspector of Police who allegedly accepted a gratification of Rs. 10,000 was arrested last Sunday.
The suspect attached to the Police Special Investigations Unit had taken into custody a couple on a certain charge and to release them he is alleged to have demanded an inducement of Rs. 10,000. He had instructed the couple to bring the money to a certain specified place along the road to Parliament. The couple had then been released on the promise that they will pay up as ordered it's further alleged.
The couple had made a complaint to Mirihana police in this regard.
A police team had been deployed to remain under cover at the proposed 'meeting place' and the IP was arrested while accepting the cash, police said.
His official vehicle was also taken over by Mirihana police.
Ex-SSP's daughter-in-law abducted
by Norman PalihawadanaThe daughter-in-law of retired Senior Superintendent of Police, had been abducted last Sunday evening by three unidentified men while she was taking a stroll with her husband along the sea beach at Mutwal in the Modera area.
Police said Rita Jone (28), the daughter-in-law of Jude Mohan Manoharan, a retired SSP had been in the company of her husband on the sea beach at Crow's Island when three unidentified persons pounced on them at a lonely spot and kidnapped the woman after assaulting her husband.
The victim is an Indian from Bombay and the couple was newly married.
Mr. Manoharan said his son and daughter-in-law usually took an evening walk on the beach which is close to their residence.
He said his son had put up a fight to save his wife but the trio had succeeded in taking her away. A joint police-army team searched houses in the area but drew blank. Police said investigations are in progress to trace the victim. No arrests have so far been made in this connection.
Thungs disrupt UNP pocket meeting
by Sumadhu WeerawarneA UNP pocket meeting at Urapola, Nittambuwa was disrupted by a gang which arrived in unnumbered vehicles and assaulted the speakers before ripping out the microphones and wrecking the stage last Saturday.
The meeting was being held to protest against the postponement of the Provincial Councils poll, according to UNP Provincial Council candidate for Attangalla Srimani Wickramaratne.
She said that she was also assaulted. One of the thugs had hit her with a rubber hose. “This was when I refused to get off the stage when they demanded me to do so,” she said. Asked if anyone had been admitted to the hospital she said that no one had been seriously injured and most had suffered scrapes.
Ms. Wickramaratne who is also the co-ordinating secretary to UNP Parliamentarian Anura Bandaranaike said that the 100 strong group which had arrived in unnumbered vehicles and a bus belonging to the Nittam-buwa transport board at around 5 pm while the meeting was in progress had wrecked the stage and broken the microphones. ”The group came in three Pajeros with tinted-glasses, one Pick-up and a bus belonging to the Nittambuwa depot. The first four vehicles did not have number plates,” she claimed.
She explained that the meeting which was one of a series of pocket-meetings to protest against the postponement of the provincial council election had commenced at 3.30 pm. “Two parliamentarians who spoke at the meeting had left shortly before the group of men most of them drunk began shouting and disrupting the meeting. At first this group of hooligans shouted but then proceeded to force the ten of us on stage at the time to vacate the stage. Then they dismantled the stage, and disrupted the meeting altogether,” she said.
She further claimed that repeated telephone calls to the Nittambuwa Police station had not brought about positive results. “So we lodged a complaint at the Gampaha Police station,” she said. Asked if the Police had provided security for the meeting, she replied in the negative. She estimated the damage caused at Rs. 50,000.
Meanwhile, Nit-tambuwa Police said that no security had been requested for the meeting, and that they had only sought permission to use loudspeakers. “Police rarely provide security for pocket meetings. There were several meetings that night. We would ordinarily deploy a mobile unit,” a police spokesman said.
Police were in the process of recording the statements of witnesses. We have already launched an investigation and will take action once it is completed, he said.
Environment Foundation goes to court over ‘arbitrary’ approval of Upper Kotmale project
by Shakuntala PereraThe Environment Foundation Ltd. has filed legal action in the Appeal Courts against the Secretary to the Ministry of Forestry and Environment, K. A. S. Gunasekera and the Ceylon Electricity Board against an alleged “arbitrary” granting of approval for the controversial 150 MW Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project.
The legal action is filed under provisions of the Environment Act No. 47 of 1980, for the alleged violation of its provisions in approving the project without holding a public hearing.
The exclusion of parties concerned from a hearing the foundation alleges is “unreasonable, arbitrary and indicative of a bias on the part of the Secretary to Environment.
The foundation requests court to direct the secretary to conduct a fresh appeal hearing at which any interested parties may participate and the issueance of a stay order on the implementation of the project until such a hearing is held.
The present secretary granted approval for the US$ 260 million project following a second appeal to the effect by the promoters of the project the Ceylon Electricity Board early last month.
However the project failed receiving the green light from the former Secretary to the Ministry of Environment, Cecil Amara-singhe in January 1995, following a decision to the contrary by a special panel of experts appointed by the secretary to look into the viability of the project.
The Panel of Experts rejected the project on several grounds among which was the alleged threat to the waters of seven of the country’s major waterfalls. The experts revealed that the project would pose the threat to some of these falls namely the Devon, St. Clares, and Pundalu falls losing 50% of its waters if the project goes ahead.
The panel further stated that the Ceylon Electricity Board has failed to adequately examine the alternative site proposed to the CEB by the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau.
The Ceylon Electricity Board in late 1994 made an appeal to the Secretary to the Ministry of Environment following the rejection of the project by its own Ministry, the Ministry of Power and Energy. The CEB also failed in receiving approval from the Central Environment Authority based on environmental grounds.
Meanwhile the Environment Foundation alleges that the failure of the CEB in presenting a second Environmental Impact Assessment to the Secretary to Environment, allowed the CEB no room for an appeal “in the first place.” Under the provisions of the Environment Act no party can appeal for approval on a once rejected EIA according to the foundation.
The foundation is also alleging that the present secretary has no powers to consider or approve a project already rejected by a panel of experts “appointed by the Secretary to the Ministry” on grounds of infeasibility.
Meanwhile the panel of experts in their report of rejection in 1995 stated that the CEB had failed in assigning “economic values and contingent valuation exercises on the waterfalls”, which they said would have allowed a “better indication to the decision maker regarding the project”.
The foundation further alleges that the decision was arrived at by a “procedure that departed from the guidelines contained in the Public Participation Handbook issued by the Central Environment Authority.
Secretary Gunase-kera was not available for comment when contacted by ‘The Island’.
With reference to our headline in last Wednesday's (October 10) in the Midweek political column - "UNPers play a 'game' at the Colts" the Manager of the Colombo Colts Cricket Club at Park Road states the following:
"We refer to the above mentioned caption appearing in 'The Island's front page on the 10th October 1998 and wish to state that no incident of such nature ever took place within the perimeters of this Club, as stated by Mr. Prasad Gunewardene".
Reporter's Note:
We regret the error as mentioning 'Colts' as the CCC. The reported incident had occurred at the CCC at Maitland Place. We regret any embarrassment caused by the headline.
Not aware of any unidentified chopper over K'nochchi - Balagalle
Security Forces Commander, Jaffna, Major General Lionel Balagalle yesterday said that they were not aware of any sightings of unidentified helicopters over Kilinochchi on Sunday. “Our troops deployed at Paranthan have not seen unidentified helicopters or fixed wing aircraft,” he told 'The Island' yesterday.
There were claims, reports and speculation of a sighting of a helicopter over Kilinochchi on Sunday evening.
The General Officer Commanding [GOC] Army’s 54 Division said that there was no truth in claims that an unidentified helicopter had moved over Kilinochchi. “Troops have been alerted to expect possible terrorist threat from the air,” he said adding that so far troops deployed in the Elephant Pass-Paranthan have not seen any unidentified helicopter.
Ground troops, he said are aware of the movement of SLAF aircraft and helicopters.
Forces deployed at Paranthan were the closest to Kilinochchi.
Air Force sources said there had been no sightings of unidentified helicopters or any other type of aircraft by armed forces, despite claims of the LTTE at least one helicopter. [SF]
Action plan to prevent phone booth vandalism
By Azhara RabanSri Lanka Telecom has launched an action plan to prevent the continuing destruction of its telephone booths installed at public places in Colombo and other parts of the country.
A Telecom official said that during the past few months 48 boxes valued at a total of Rs.3,840,000 have been destroyed by vandals.
He said that prevent this vandalism, Telecom has started setting up new telephone booths close to grocery stores and other such establishments. These booths would be placed under the supervision of the owners of the establishments who will be paid a commission.
Telecom is also conducting an awareness campaign to educate the public on the value of these booths, their usefulness to the people and the need to exercise vigilance to nab the culprits. They suspect that those responsible for damaging these booths are drug addicts and other thieves who are after the coins in the boxes.
The official explained that there are 3 types of telephone booths each valued at Rs.75,000, Rs.80,000 and Rs.230,000.
There are 1450 telephone booths installed throughout the country out of which 700 are in Colombo. The largest number of booths destroyed was in Colombo Fort where 16 out of 17 telephone booths were damaged , the official said.
Phone users invited for TRCSL public hearing today
by Lishanthie SiriwardenaThe second day of the public hearing on “Improvement of Subscriber bills and billing related disputes” convened by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) will be held today at the TRCSL Conference Hall, Elvitigala Mawatha, Colombo 8 from 9.30 am to 12.45 pm. Petitioners who sent in written submissions have been invited to orally submit their questions to the authorities regarding matters related to Sri Lanka Telecom, Suntel and Lanka Bell companies’ subscriber bills and disputes arising therefrom, at these sessions. TRCSL invited written submissions from the general public regarding subscriber billing on fixed access telephones in August 1998.
TRCSL says that there was an enthusiastic response from the general public to this invitation. Over 40 petitioners who sent in written submissions have been invited to take part in the sessions. The public who have not sent any written submissions can take part in these sessions as observers, the officials said.
The public hearing will cover issues such as billing integrity, dispute resolution, periodicity of charging, itemized billing and taxes.
Representatives of the operator companies are invited to give preliminary oral submissions on the last day of the first phase of the public hearing (15th).
This public hearing is convened by the commission under Section 12 of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Act No. 25 of 1991 as amended and will be heard by the committee appointed under the said section.
Embargo on exports to US puts garment industrialists in a quandary
by Prasad GunewardeneGarment industrialists who are traditional exporters of jackets to the United States made under categories 334 and 643 specified by the Textile Quota Board are up in arms against a government embargo on the export of their products.
Industrialists say that they have already prepared the goods in question and are ready to export but, in view of the embargo placed by the government they could face bankruptcy which would result in many workers losing their jobs or complete close down of several factories.
The May Department Stores International, a company incorporated in the USA has warned the Sri Lanka Garment Buying Offices Association in a letter dated September 30, this year that the total market disruption was detrimental to the interest and development of their business and that of the entire garment trade and the effect would be seen in the next couple of years.
It had noted that the Textile Quota Board in Colombo and other relevant authorities have lost all control over the management of quotas and are subject to ridicule by the US government authorities.
The letter adds that the TQB decision to place an embargo and differ shipments was like sweeping the dust under the carpet to cover the present sin.
It had further alleged that it could not understand why it had to resort to differed payments while allowing all the over allocations, fraudulent usage of visas, etc. to go unnoticed or unattended to.
The May Department notes that absolute transparency and proper management in the quota system is of paramount importance to regain their credibility in the Sri Lankan market.
Local industrialists told 'The Island' that the future of the trade was in jeopardy as several American buyers have threatened to pull out orders in view of the uncertainty of quota availability.
They claim that in August the TQB differentiated 15 per cent of quota holding exports to be released in the months of September to December and note that in September a further 15 per cent of balance quota had been differed arbitrarily to December.
The local exporters say that they were shocked to learn that another 50 per cent of balance quota holding had been differed again at a subsequent TQB meeting held after the first two deferments.
These exporters claim that step-motherly treatment was being meted out to the jacket exporters as these were not favourite categories of those' powerful' persons who enjoy quotas in the trade. 'If they were affected their excitement would have been attended to by providing instant solutions', claimed an exporter.
At a recent meeting of these exporters it has been decided to seek compensation from the government for the loss they are to suffer due to the embargo placed on their products by the government.
They express regret that the relevant authorities at several meetings had not focused attention on their plight and they appeal again to the Minister of Industrial Development to find a solution to their burning problem which would affect the country of massive foreign exchange running into million of US dollars.
Caddillac Garments, Moratuwa, has already informed the TQB that due to the curtailments of the 634 category they would suffer a huge loss of US dollars 936,000 with the imminent cancellation of exports due to the embargo. It had warned that this situation may compel them to shut down one third of their production lines causing large scale retrenchment.
Innovative Knitwear (Pvt) Ltd. of Seeduwa has informed the TQB that as a result of the TQB action to differ quotas they are unable to meet commitments to banks in settlement of import loans obtained to service orders.
A number exporters have made similar representations to the TQB regarding their plight over the differment of the quota categories which they claim have put them in a grave financial crisis.
Textile Quota Board Director General J. M. U. Jayasekera has explained the utilisation of quotas to all exporters in his letter to the exporters in the last week of September noting that categories 334 and 634 have been over-utilised.
Mr. Jayasekera noted that these categories had exceeded by 92 per cent against the adjusted limit for the current quota year 1998.
Mr. Jayasekera convened a meeting of the exporters the next day of some selected exporters as stated in his letter to explore the possibility of staggering shipments to avoid a possible embargo situation.
Local exporters claim that this meeting held with some 'selected' exporters have not been of any benefit to the majority affected by the current embargo.
Uva province estate workers stage token strike in support of Passara Group workers
by Namini WijedasaEstate workers in the Uva province staged a one-day token strike yesterday in support of workers of the Passara Group who are demanding the removal of an estate superintendent.
Meanwhile, estate unions have hinted that they may organise a full-blown strike in the Uva province if the Passara Group problem is not settled soon. The Passara workers (numbering over 800) have themselves been on strike for the past one month demanding the removal of the superintendent who works on one of the estates belonging to the company. They allege that the superintendent has breached labour regulations by under-paying them. A team of investigators is to be sent from the Labour Department this week to look into the dispute. They will present their report to the Commissioner of Labour on their return.
About 50,000 workers participated in yesterday’s strike. They belonged to the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union, Ceylon Workers’ Congress, Upcountry Peoples’ Front, National Union of Workers, Ceylon National Workers’ Congress and the Estate and General Services Union.
The dispute erupted when some workers from the Passara Group asked clarification from the superintendent with regards to their wages. (Trade union sources explained that these workers are paid daily wages and alleged that the superintendent had paid them less than what was due them). The superintendent then informed the police and two workers were arrested.
The workers started their strike following the arrests and have been demanding the removal of the superintendent. They alleged that there have been several occasions on which he used the police to harass them.
A spokesman for the Employers’ Federation of Ceylon (EFC), which represents the company, noted that if there is, in fact, an underpayment of wages, the company would be willing to settle the issue as per the results of the investigation. However, he added, the company is not willing to concede to worker demands that the superintendent be removed.
Suspension of Colombo-B’coloa train service continues
by Kalinga K. A. WeerakkodyTrain services from Colombo to Batticaloa continue to remain suspended due to security reasons.
According to the Railway Department, train services are currently operating only to Polonnaruwa on the Batticaloa line.
Government Agent of Batticaloa A. K. Padmanathan told ‘The Island’ the train services remain inoperative for almost for a year now.
He said that it hasn’t affected much because all essential items such as food, flour and fuel are being transported by road.
Fuel is transported from Orugodawatte and flour and food items are brought from Trinco-malee. The goods are mostly transported by private merchants, he said.
The AG said that the Vakarai region in ‘Koralaipattu’ north in Batticoloa has however been affected due to restrictions, placed by the army. Most of the civilians there used to get their essential items from Valachchnai town which is 40km from Vakarai, he added.
