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S. Africa denies involvement with LTTE
by Shamindra Ferdinando
A visiting South African diplomatic delegation yesterday said that the post-apartheid government of president Nelson Mandela was not backing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam [LTTE]. The three member delegation led by Head of the Economic Office, Ms. R. G. Moloi insisted that there was no truth in allegations, claims and speculation that Pretoria was involved with the LTTE. Addressing Colombo based local and foreign correspondents at Galle Face Hotel yesterday the delegation said that following allegations made by Sri Lanka, the government has ordered an investigation to ascertain the situation on the ground.However the delegation did not rule out the possibility of Nelson Mandela's African National Congress [ANC], various people and organisations having links with the LTTE. It also admitted that there was no existing laws operative in South Africa to prevent the LTTE from operating in the country. 'No, we don't have any such law at the moment,' First Secretary [Political] C. H. Qomoyi said.
When pointed out that the ANC was a part of the ruling party, the delegation maintained that the ongoing investigation will cover possible links the LTTE may have developed with various organisations. 'The government will also investigate the ANC-LTTE links,' the delegation said. The delegation repeatedly stressed that the government and the ANC were is one of the parties in the government,' the delegation said.
Secretary [Political] Jaco Schoeman.
They said that findings of the investigations will be made known.
Mr. Qomoyi said that their visit was a follow up to the recent meeting in Colombo between President Kumaranatunga and New Delhi based South Africa's top diplomat, J. M. Matsila. During the talks in Colombo , Sri Lanka raised several issues and levelled allegations,' he said.
Sri Lanka without revealing sources or producing evidence has claimed a South African helicopter had been sighted in the North-East region, Qomoyi said. The government also claimed that South Africa will support the LTTE and permit it to set up base there, some South Africans support the LTTE financially and some Sri Lankan politicians were seeking to involve president Mandela in the conflict here.
Asked to reveal the identities of the Sri Lankans who have sought president Mandela's intervention, the delegation said that they don't have that information. The delegation admitted that the government had not requested the president to play a role in solving the conflict.
Mr. Qomoyi said that South Africa does not provide weapons to armed groups and movements in areas affected by conflicts.
He said that no official request has been made to president Mandela to play a role in solving the conflict here. Commenting on the charges made by Sri Lanka, the First Secretary said that the government has ordered an investigation into LTTE activity in South Africa.
Replying questions raised by both local and Colombo based Indian journalists, Qomoyi said that during the recent Non-Aligned Movement summit in Durban, president Mandela during his speech mentioned Sri Lanka and Kashmir.When pointed out that both India and Sri Lanka were unhappy over the raising of internal issues, the delegation said that these places were not mentioned in isolation. 'The president's remarks are being debated in various platforms,' the delegation said adding that many people did not understand what he [the president] meant by his remarks.
'Some people over reacted,' the delegation said insisting South Africa never apologized to India over the president's remarks on Kashmir. 'We never apologized,' Qomoyi insisted. South Africa, he said explained to the Indian premier what the president meant by his remarks on Kashmir.
The head of the delegation Ms Moloi said that they were here to promote trade ties with Sri Lanka. She said that they wanted to identify areas where the two countries could work together with a view to improving economic ties.
She pointed out that Sri Lanka and South Africa should work together in this regard.
The delegation said that ' we believe Sri Lanka is more important to South Africa than the LTTE,'
The head of the delegation pointed out that they wanted Sri Lanka to introduce South African products here.
Asked whether South Africa's Sri Lanka policy has been changed, the delegation replied in the negative. 'No change in our policy,' the delegation said adding that South Africa consider Sri Lanka's conflict an internal one.
However the delegation did not deny the fact that there were people and organisations involved with the LTTE. There were over a million people of Indian origin and some of them without any doubt back the LTTE. The ongoing investigation, the delegation said aims to find out the extent of LTTE activity there and the people involved.
They reiterated that South Africa prefer an internal settlement to Sri Lanka's problem. However in the event of Sri Lanka seeking a third party [mediator] South Africa, the delegation indicated was prepared to consider provided all parties to the conflict were ready to accept a South African role. Without naming any country, the delegation said that without support from countries in the region it would be very difficult to a country outside this part of Asia to play any successful role.
India in July 87 deployed forces in North East Sri Lanka. Indians withdrew in March 1990 after failing in their mission, initially a peace keeping operation aimed at restoring civil administration.
Saturday commentary
GL's DayThe fifth budget of the People Alliance kicked off with a 'point of order' raised by the opposition in Parliament. Minister of Justice and Deputy Finance Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, clad in an immaculate grey suit with red tie to match the ribbon of his secret box entered the chamber at 2.33 pm. In the past both the government and the opposition use to thump the tables whenever the finance minister arrives to deliver the secrets in his box. On Wednesday it was not so and to the surprise of many in the government ranks only a few of them did the traditional thump while the opposition remained silent. Public galleries had only officials from the Finance Ministry and the Speaker's gallery had a few diplomats present. A few of them in that gallery remained till the Professor delivered his goods after the tea break.
UNP's R. A. D. Sirisena took the floor before Prof. Peiris could even untie the ribbon of his secret box. Mr. Sirisena was forced to scream as his microphone was shut off to say -'Sir, yesterday we saw the Finance Minister , President Chandrika Kumaratunga doing the final touches to her budget in the page one pictures of newspapers and today we saw the learned Professor putting his final touches to that secret box before him. Let us know whose box is that and who is responsible for what's in the box?'. While Sirisena screamed to a dead microphone, the Speaker K. B. Ratnayake overruled him saying it was not a point of order.
Minister Peiris then began to unfold the preamble of his budget speech while many of his cabinet colleagues in the front row were not in at that important moment. In the front row, Prof. Peiris's neighbour on his right, the Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was a notable absentee while the Trade Minister Kingsley Wickremeratne, the experienced counter budget proposals man too was absent at the start. Mr. Wickremeratne is the architect of the Goods and Services Tax which replaced the BTT. The Professor's budget did not contain a single word about the GST which Minister Wickremeratne yet maintains it is not implemented in the proper perspective by the government.
It looked that none in the government and the opposition took the budget seriously. Those in the government ranks from the front to the sixth row at times were seen yawning and the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who had been the first to enter the chamber in the past when the budget was delivered arrived an hour late. Mr. Wickremesinghe however did not leave the chamber till the end of the speech of minister Peiris. He shared a smile with Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake when the Professor announced that the value of the Samurdhi food stamps were increased. UNP's former Finance Minister Ronnie De Mel was seen going through the budget proposals with his left hand on the forehead. After the conclusion of the Minister's speech Mr. De Mel commented to 'The Island' that it was a dying budget of the Peoples Alliance government.
Prof. Peiris announced the increase in liquor and tobacco which was welcomed by the opposition UNP. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe too thumped his desk when this announcement was made. UNP's Manodha Wijeratne, a lover of tobacco was heard saying, 'That is the only avenue for your government to get some revenue as all your foundation stones in Industrial Parks have now turned to be tomb stones'. Minister Peiris who spoke of many tax holidays for investors touched a little on the garment industry side. Last year in his budget he stated that the government would set up fifty garment industries by this November. Those in the industry claim that only five factories had come up within the twelve months under review.
The government which referred to the Workers Charter in the previous four budgets omitted its commitment on the charter this time. The deputy finance Minister who spoke at length on ways to utilise human resources to meet the next millennium never referred to the charter at all in his preamble and the proposals. Former Labour Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, the architect of the charter and the incumbent labour Minister John Seneviratne were seen together both inside and outside the chamber during the proceedings. When they met this columnist on the first floor during the tea break they quipped, 'We are both friends who are with the workers now on a 'charter'. Minister Seneviratne immediately changed the topic to ask about the views of the people on the government and Mr. Rajapakse wasted no time to call his friend to tea.
LSSP firebrand Vasudeva Nanayakkara appeared uninterested in the budget speech and was heard talking to his colleagues with much concern about the health of Education Minister Richard Pathirana who is after a brain surgery. Minister Pathirana now wears a white hat and all eyes were focused on him when he entered the chamber yesterday. Mr. Nanayakkara during the tea break made it a point to meet Mr. Pathirana to inquire about his health. The LSSP's 'firebrand man' Vasudeva summarised Prof. Peiris's budget as a delicacy for the rich people.
While Prof. G. L. Peiris was on his feet, another learned professor, a former Vice-Chancellor and a former Chairman of the University Grants Commission was too on his feet outside the chamber in a cubicle in the third floor taking down notes of the proposals. When the proposal in the budget book read about the twenty five per cent increase in rail fares, this learned professor told this columnist -'I think G. L. will have to withdraw that if he is going to maintain the silent trend in the chamber'. It was so and Prof. Peiris having read about the proposed increase in rail fares told the House that the government would not be proceeding with that proposal.
Policy change in S. Africa halts arms sales to Lanka
by Shamindra Ferdinando
South Africa has halted weapons sales to Sri Lanka, a visiting South African diplomat told The Island yesterday. Third Secretary [Political] Jaco Schoeman said that the government has taken a decision not to sell armaments to countries affected by ongoing armed conflicts.The leader of the delegation Ms. R.G. Moloi said that Sri Lanka was among other countries which were receiving South African armaments before President Nelson Mandela's government decided to halt military sales to trouble spots.Speaking exclusively to The Island after yesterday's press conference, they explained that Pretoria's new policy on weapons sales does not permit country's vast armaments industry to engage in sales without the approval of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee [NCACC].
Mr.Schoeman said that the NCACC under Minister Kadir Pismal will have to approve every weapons sale.
South Africa was among the countries which sold armaments to Sri Lankan armed forces when many countries declined to sell arms, ammunition and equipment, Sri Lankan sources said.
The South African delegates admitted that armaments were sold to Sri Lanka some time ago.However in view of the policy change, South African defence industry cannot engage in weapons sales to world trouble spots.
Armoured Personnel Carriers[APCs] and mines were among the items acquired from South Africa in the 80s.
South African built Buffel APCs were extensively used in operational areas before Sri Lanka acquired heavier infantry fighting vehicles.
The LTTE had requested the South African government, repeatedly to halt weapons sales to Sri Lanka.The visiting delegation insisted that there was no change in South Africa's policy on Sri Lanka. Both the leader of the delegation and the Third Secretary explained that weapons ban was a direct result of the change in country's policy on military sales. 'We do not want to sell weapons to any side engaged in a armed conflict,' the delegaion leader said.
Asked whether ban on weapons sales had affected the defence industry, she replied in the negative.
South Africa has one of the most powerful defence forces in the region and some times send in forces to support neighbouring countries. South African armed forces a few months ago moved into neighbouring Congo to support President Kabila's forces battling rebels.
Sri Lankan officials said that many representations had been made to South Africa regarding intensified LTTE activities there.Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar urged South African authorities to be vigilant of LTTE activities. Kadirgamar during May 1996 talks with his South African counterpart Alfred Nzo requested for vigilance, official sources said.
During the same year, Mr.Kadirgamar briefed the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Foreign minister Amre Mousa on the Sri Lankan situation. 'Views were also exchanged on the question of bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism.During his visit, Minister Kadirgamar also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Security Cooperation between Sri Lanka and Egypt,' the foreign ministry revealed in a publication released early this year.
Janata Party leader accuses India govt of being soft on LTTE
Janata Party leader Subramaniam Swamy yesterday charged the government with soft-pedalling the LTTE issue under the influence of Central ministers George Farnandes and Ram Jethmalani.
Speaking to media persons here yesterday Dr. Swamy sought to establish a nexus between a leading industrial house, one of whose top executives is facing police action in the Sharma case, and a senior BJP leader. Without naming the politician, he said he would be forced to reveal the identity of the leader if the BJP-led Central Government did not do so by Nov. 20.
He further alleged that efforts were on to hide the identity of the BJP leader. Dr. Swamy dismissed as 'rubbish' the claim by Delhi Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj that she did not know Romesh Sharma. Both she and her husband knew Sharma well, he asserted, adding that a 'proper and fair investigation' into the case could bring out these startling facts, which, if pursued, would help cleanse the Indian polity of such elements.
The former Union Minister further said that the Centre was being soft towards the LTTE because of the weakness of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. Or, perhaps, he seemed to be greatly influenced by the RSS to enter into an 'agreement' with the LTTE, he charged.
While questioning the stand of the government on the LTTE issue, he said it was astonishing that Mr. Vajpayee had refrained from seeking extradition of the LTTE leader Prabhakaran during his meeting with the Sri Lankan leaders in recent times. 'Mr. Vajpayee owes an explanation to the country on this issue', he added.
He demanded that the government should take a clear cut stand on the LTTE issue.
Chamber of Commerce says budget proposals very positive
by Sumadhu Weerawarne
The National Chamber of Commerce (NCC) yesterday said that the budget proposals were positive in the context of the stormy global economic climate and the situation prevalent in Sri Lanka.The President of the Chamber Armyne Wirasinha said that the increase in the defence levy was significant in highlighting the impact of the existing conflict. 'We can never make a compromise on the defence levy just as long as the war goes on,' he added. He expressed hope that the efforts of the private sector would receive due support.
Chamber member S. R. Balachandran, the Financial Director Millers Limited said that it was only possible for the business community to bring the two parties together, but it was the two parties which would have to engage each other in discussions. 'Medicine is needed when a person is sick. First of all it must be acknowledged that the person is sick. If the patient refuses to part his lips when the medicine is being administered, there is nothing that the doctor can do,' he explained in metaphor.
In all the President commented on the proposals as being 'positive, very positive'. He said that it was important for all concerned to recognise that Sri Lanka had been successful in steering a steady course in an otherwise stormy economic climate not only in the Asian region, but also in other parts. He added that it was necessary to understand the proposals in the reality of conditions in our country, as well that of globalisation because global markets play an important role for the country's exports.
The NCC noted that the budget had focused on such sectors as the construction industry with its attendant linkage to ports, harbours, highways etc., provided incentives for regional industrialisation through capital markets debt instruments and financing for industry and the enhancement of employment opportunities by specifically addressing training education incentives for foreign employment generation and the setting up of a Presidential Task Force towards creating 150,000 - 200,000 jobs.
The increase in defence levy was seen by Balachandran as being indicative of the fact that war expenditure was 'going up'. He said that the levy would necessarily be a burden on the business community and the public in turn. But he added the message to the nation is that war expenditure is going up and how the country is going to suffer as a result.
Commenting on the increase in excise and cigarette taxes Senior Vice President of the NCC Hari Selvanathan said that such an increase would only be acceptable if the illicit liquor trade is brought down to 5 per cent of the total industry. He said that as things stand taxation impacts on the income of 65 per cent of the industry, the rest being illicit. He said that the increase would affect regional liquor consumption, with greater numbers turning to illicit brews.
Chairman of the Finance and Taxation Committee of the NCC Changa Samaraweera, a management consultant said that it had been customary to view increase excise and cigarette levies being income methods. He added that these sectors were expandable were those in which demand patterns would not change inspite of the higher taxes. He warned however, that there would be an increase in the consumption of illicit brews.
ogy sector and the equity and debt markets were seen those which would help the business community counter the effects of recession.
The NCC was of the view that the government was seeking to move away from capital market's heavy dependence on banks encouraging the development of secondary markets such as debentures, debt securities and share warrants. This was in light of the exemption of capital gains or trading profits arising on the sale of bonds and debentures or other debt instruments which were quoted at the time of sale, from income tax, the removal of stamp duty on the issue of listed debentures and other debt instruments including promissory notes and repose for tea bills and the exemption of capital gains on share warrants and derivative instruments from income tax on the necessary amendments are made in April, 1999.
On the question of employment the NCC said that the government had taken several steps towards addressing new employment in introducing incentives for institutions setting up training facilities, to foreign employment institutions, the purchase of equipment for training purposes and through setting up a Presidential Task Force to create 150,000 to 200,000 jobs.
Mr. Samaraweera commenting on measures to curb unemployment said that according to a survey done by an audit company for the period from 1989-1997, overall employment had in fact decreased, the figure for 1997 being 10.4 per cent. He conceded that the results in all probability were partially influenced by the number employed overseas, which he estimated to be 900,000. He noted that what was important was to view the creation of employment in terms of the countries that Sri Lanka must compete with in order to draw foreign investment. Mr. Balachandran identified the need to relax existing labour laws in order to make them more realistic.
The NCC as in previous years said that there was a need to introduce mechanisms to monitor the effectiveness of the implementation of the budget.
Secretary of the NCC Chandra Embuldeniya, the treasurer Ananda Wehella, Council members M. Reza, N.S.M. Samaratunga and Lakshman Atukorale and Secretary General Neil Seneviratne were also present at the post budget press conference.
EPRLF says government package inadequate
The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) says that the government's draft proposals put forward as the solution to the Tamil National Question are inadequate and incomplete and do not satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil community and therefore the front - EPRLF cannot accept them.
The EPRLF also expresses disappointment over the Government's failure even to consider some of the proposals of the EPRLF and other political parties. It has also urged the Government to create a forum where the Tamil political parties and the Government could have discussions and arrive at a just and reasonable solution.
The full text of a press release issued by the EPRLF in this connection is as follows.
The draft proposals put forward by the government as the solution to the Tamil National Question after three years of deliberations at the Parliamentary Select Committee is inadequate and incomplete and do not satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil People and therefore cannot be accepted by the EPRLF and our people in it's present form and content. We are also disappointed to note that the amendments and constrictive suggestions made by EPRLF and other political parties were not even considered while formulating the final proposals and no attempt was made by the government to initiate and engage in a meaningful and serious dialogue with the Tamil parties who have opted to seek a solution within the frame work of united Sri Lanka. We therefore urge the government to create a forum where the Tamil political parties representing the majority of our people and the government can engage in serious discussions to arrive at a just reasonable and implementable solution.
The above resolution was passed at the Central Committee meeting of the EPRLF which was held on the 2nd and 3rd of November in Colombo. Following are the other resolutions passed at the meeting.
The EPRLF completely rejects the claim by the LTTE to be the sole representative of the Tamil people in a civilized world where the democratic norms and values are respected, there is no such thing as sole representative of people. The concept itself is anti-democratic in nature. The EPRLF believes that the self declarations by the LTTE as sole representative of our people itself demonstrate the dictatorial character of it's leadership. We appeal to the LTTE to recognize and respect the basic democratic rights of our people to organise themselves, to agitate for their rights and to express their opinion without fear of being killed. A people oppressed and terrorised from within are powerless and weak to wage a struggle against any external oppression.
The EPRLF believe that at this critical juncture it is imperative that all Tamil political parties must shed all the petty partisan differences and stand united in formulating and expressing the just demand and inspiration of our people. Although many previous attempt to forge a unity among the Tamil parties were not successful, we appeal to all the Tamil political parties concerned to take fresh initiative in this respect.
The EPRLF strongly condemn and reject the recent statement made by the TULF Parliamentarian Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham that only the LTTE is the relevant force and the other Tamil parties are only second fiddlers to LTTE. If the TULF believes that they are fiddlers to LTTE, they can proclaim that, but including all other Tamil Political parties in the list is an unwanted utterance. We believe that this statement of the TULF MP is not only an insult to the noble principles and norms of Democracy but also an insult to thousands of Tamil people who voted for them despite the death threat from the LTTE, and is an attempt to belittle the supreme sacrifice made by the two late Mayors of Jaffna.
The EPRLF is concerned about the immense hardship faced by the people due to the lack of transport facilities to and from Jaffna. The EPRLF urged the government to arrange a safe and permanent Sea and Air route to for the civilians. Utilising the civilian transport facilities for military purposes must be stopped. We also demand from the government that the civilians should not be used as shield to transport troops and war material to the North. We also call upon the LTTE to stop disrupting the sea and air transport facilities to the civilians.
We strongly condemn the actions of the LTTE in the Jaffna district to destabilize the functioning of the local government bodies. Under the present conditions our people need an effective civil administration. Disrupting this will not in any way help our people. Therefore we urge the LTTE leadership not to destabilize the elected civilian administration in Jaffna.
We call upon the government to expedite the excavation of the Chemmanni mass grave and bring to justice and perpetrators of the this crime. At the same time hundreds of Tamils have disappeared in the eastern Province in 1990. We call upon the government to set up a body to inquire into these disappearances and to bring the truth to light.
We appeal to the government to send immediately all essential items including food and medicine to the suffering people of Vanni.
We appeal to the LTTE to stop disrupting the electricity supply to the Mannar and Batticaloa district. The LTTE must realise it is only our people who will suffer most from these activities. We also urge the government not use these conditions as an excuse not to repair these damaged installations.
Parliament passed by a majority of 27 votes the extension of the state of emergency in the whole island by one more month yesterday evening.
The motion received 107 votes in favour and 80 against.
Budget shows incapacity, incompetence of govt - Ronnie
by Harini Dias Bandaranayake
'The P.A government has made one of the biggest 'faux pas' in the history of budget making in the world ' said Ronnie de Mel addressing the media at a U.N.P press conference at Sravasti,yesterday.An original proposal to increase railway fares which would have generated a revenue of Rs. 300 million in 1999 after being included in the budget speech was dropped he said.
Mr. de Mel added the entire budget was unacceptable. He said that this shows the incapacity and incompetence of the present government. The former Finance Minister questioned the P. A government's ability to rule the country when it presented a budget like that.
When asked about the UNP view with regard to the Provincial Council elections, Mr. de Mel said that if the elections are delayed the U.N.P will strongly protest.
Speaking of the adjustments of baggage allowance, Dr. Karunasena Kodithuwakku, said that 700,000 Middle East employees would ultimately face the consequences of it.
Ronnie de Mel, when asked about foreign finance consultation, said 'I don't know about the consultation before preparation, but I know what the International Monetary Fund (IMF) wanted to do when they came to Sri Lanka in May/June.' He accused the government of poor finance management.
FAO Director-General to visit Lanka
Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations will make a visit to Sri Lanka from 9th to 10th November.
The Director-General will arrive at the Bandaranaike International Airport on November 9th morning and will be received by H. M. C. Kapilarathne (Secretary), Dr. Nimal Ranaweera (Additional Secretary, projects), Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, The Chief of Protocol, Peter Witham (UN Resident Coordinator) and G. Bernard (FAO Representative).
During his stay Mr. Diouf will meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, K. B. Ratnayake, Speaker of the Parliament, Ministers, Heads of the UN agencies and Donors.
On the first day a Working Meeting for Mr. Diouf has been organized at the BMICH with different Ministers concerned followed by a Press Conference where he will interact with media personnel. In addition to the series of meetings planned with government high officials related to FAO's mandate, Mr. Diouf will meet the UN and Donor Community Representatives in Sri Lanka on the second day as well as Representatives of the Civil Society.
FAO is the largest specialized agency in the United Nations system and the lead agency for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and rural development. 174 member nations, including Sri Lanka plus a member organization, the European Community are members of fAO. FAO has had a long and fruitful relationship with Sri Lanka, dating back to 1949.
A Wayamba University shortly - Richard Pathirana
Kuliyapitiya - The Divisional School Development Project was introduced to eliminate the congestion in the urban popular schools. Under that project three schools in each electoral division would be developed by providing almost all the facilities, said the Minister of Education and Higher Education Richard Pathirana at a meeting that followed the opening of the new three storeyed building of Kuli/Kumbukgahamulla Sri Bodhi MMV. The building consists of a library, science laboratory, home science laboratory and computer unit.
The Minister added that the Wayamba University with new cources of study would be opened before the end at this year. In addition, three vidya peetas would be opened before long.
The rural children who are deprived of educational facilities could enter the vidya peetas.The teachers problem is grave. There is a surplus of teachers in urban schools, but a shortage in rural schools. Some teachers celebrate their Silver Jubilee after continuous service in the same super schools while several others serve in mosquito stricken remote areas, walking long distances without proper transport services and also no proper food and lodging. That is a grave injustice. To eliminate that injustice a proper teacher transfer policy would be introduced.
The Minister also said that education is not meant for the benefit of the teachers but the children. The teachers should go to the particular school they are transferred, if not they are violating the fundamental rights of the children.
Every child whether in urban areas or remote areas has the right to learn. We have to safeguard that right. The teachers are there to teach them. They are not entitled to be in the same super school for their entire period of service
Promotions in the teachers service would be given considering the period of service in difficult areas. Several teacher trade unions are against that policy.
Shakespeare's best-loved plays at British Council
In November 1998 the British Council is sponsoring a visit to Sri Lanka by the highly acclaimed 11 member Watermill Theatre Company.
This highly physical and inventive company will be focusing their powers of imagination on two of Shakespeare's best loved plays: 'The Comedy of Errors' and 'Henry V'.
'The Comedy of Errors' - is Shakespeare's shortest play and is certainly one of his earliest works, written in the late 1580s. This is the only play by Shakespeare to feature the word comedy in its title. It is without a doubt a comedy: a finely balanced mixture of pathos, suspense, love, force and fun - all of which is greatly enhanced by the audiences' knowledge of everything that the characters don't know.
'Henry V' - This 'landmark production' was presented at the Watermill and at the Shakespeare Festival in Neuss in 1997 and was a huge artistic and critical success in both England and Germany.
The play is told through the eyes of a squadron of soldiers who fought at Agincourt, and who are now fighting in the subsequent wars of the Roses. Prince Hal, rejecting his former companion, has now become Henry V. In order to delay the passing of anti-clerical bill, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely persuade Henry to invade France. Director Edward Hall's production is tough and even-handed: he does not flatter the English and he does not mock or patronise the French. This is a modern army wearing battle fatigues and fond of watching sport on television: these are British men at war, with the usual mixture of cynicism, dumb insolence, brutality, fear and guts.
Henry V 'this is such enormous fun....the whole production is a firm riposte to anyone who thinks Shakespeare is boring.' '
The Guardian
'The Company acting, with eleven men playing all the roles, is excellent, bold, athletic and intimate....hugely enjoyable. '
The Sunday Times
Watermill Theatre Company - performance schedule
Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo
Wed 11th 7.00 p.m.- 'The Comedy of Errors'.
Thur 12th 7.00 p.m.- 'The Comedy of Errors'.
Fri 13th 7.00p.m.- 'Henry V.
Sat 14th 2.30 p.m.- 'Henry V'.
Tickets Rs. 300/-, 200/-, 100/- and 75/- (balcony) are now on sale at the Theatre and at the British Council's Cultural Affairs office (open weekdays from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.)
Trinity College Hall, Kandy
Sun 15th 6.30 p.m. - 'Henry V'
Tickets Rs. 200/-, 100/ and 50/- (balcony) are now on sale at the British Council, Kandy.
Past pupils pay tribute to Alma Mater
Bobanza for university students of Weeraketiya Rajapakse MMVPast Pupils Friendly Associa-tion of the Weeraketiya Rajapakse Madhya Maha Vidyalaya (Colombo Branch) will hold the 7th Annual General Meeting at the Royal College Hall at Reid Avenue, Colombo 7 today.
Weeraketiya Central School as it was known earlier commenced its business in October 1940 as a primary school with 33 students and three in the teaching staff, in an abandoned farm school premises called Miriswatte, 7 miles off Tangalle town on the Weeraketiya Road. Later it was upgraded into a Central School in par with the free education system enunciated by late Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara. This is one of the five Central Colleges established in the country under the free education movement. The down trodden peasantry population of the area are ever thankful to the founder of this institution, late D. M. Rajapakse, State Council Member for Hambantota district for the role he played in establishing this institution. The people of Giruwapattu very enthusiastically remember this great leader as 'Lion of Ruhuna' for the services rendered by him for the suffering lot in the Hambantota district.
When talking of different periods of the history of this school, Anthonisz era has a landmark in making progress on all aspects of the school to bring it in par with any other college in the country. It was Edward Charles Mac Anthonisz, an old Thomian, the principal of the school from 1952 to 1957 who laid the foundation for the rapid development of the school. It is worth mentioning that he got the blessings of late D. A. Rajapakse, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and late George Rajapakse who later became a minister in getting new buildings for the school. When Mr. Anthonisz took over reigns as principal all classes were held in cadjan sheds partially covered with wooden planks. The whole school had only two lavatories - one for the girls hostel and the other for the boys hostel.
While doing all he could do to improve the conditions of the school Mr. Anthonisz sacrificed his living quarters for the girls hostel and volunteered to live in the abandoned cattle shed converting it into a habitable cottage on his own expense.
Even under these poor conditions of facilities, the school was able to produce men for higher grades in the field of Public Administration, Medicine, Engineering. It was during the period of Mr. Anthonisz the Art Master Mr. Bandula Fernando was able to present the
skills of his students at international art exhibitions and win awards. The dancing teacher Mr. Francisco presented his students dancing competitions conducted by the UNESCO and won prizes at several stages.
It is very interesting to mention that the products of Weeraketiya Central School never became jobless even if they had failed examinations. The reason was that the school was a semi-technical institution with practical subjects like carpentry, agriculture, dairy farming, lacquer work, motor mechanism and painting in the school curriculum.
However, now the school is promoted as a national school and caters to about 3,000 students with 123 teachers on the staff. Hostel facilities are available for both girls and boys. We are very much pleased with the progress made by the school specially in the field of sports and the services rendered by some of the past principals of the school - Kalugampitiya Rasingolla, C. T. M. Fernando, W. B. Epa, Mac Anthonisz and P. Dissanayake are well remembered.
'The biggest challenge the school is facing today is the acute shortage of water supply and low voltage in the supply of electricity. The past pupils of Colombo wish to make an appeal to Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Deputy Minister Nirupamala Rajapakse to initiate action on a water supply scheme since it is a basic need specially for a dry area like Weeraketiya.
The past pupils in Colombo are very much pleased with the progress made by their school and as a token of gratitude, a consignment of valuable books to the tune of Rs. 100,000 were donated to the school library in November 1994. Steps are being taken to raise funds to assist the financially handicapped children gaining entrance to universities. Past pupils of Colombo wish to request the past pupils who were not in a position to become members of the Past Pupils Association Colombo branch to extend their cooperation by becoming members to promote this worthy cause. Particulars of enrolment can be obtained from its President Mr. M. S. Siripala, on phone 311661 on weekdays and at his residence on 739006 or 713071.
G. C. Karunaratne
