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Broke
Lankan link in global pornographic VCDs |
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Broke Lankan link in global pornographic
VCDs A Police officer who busted the Sri Lankan outfit of an international ring dealing with pornographic Video Compact Discs (VCDs) has been transferred out of his Unit with immediate effect, according to reports. Inspector Kumarasiri Uduwella,Officer-in-Charge of the Special Operations and Intelligence Unit, Colombo South Police division, last Thursday made a major breakthrough when, after intense investigations, he apprehended a Pakistani national who is the alleged kingpin behind this worldwide pornographic VCD operation. The arrest also led to the seizure of 2800 blue film type VCDs, police said. In a subsequent inter-related raid, police swooped down on a ‘luxury brothel’ in the Colombo South area. The stock of VCDs seized by police is worth nearly Rs. 1 million, investigators said. Police said the pornograhic VCDs were smuggled into Sri Lanka in what was described as an ‘international operation’ and the local outfit handled the surreptitious distribution islandwide. The suspect Pakistani had been living in Sri Lanka for about a year and had travelled to many countries including India,Singapore and Malaysia during his stay. At the time of his arrest from a location in Kollupitiya he had returned after a brief stint in Karachi, police said. He is alleged to have used the ‘Green Channel’ on his return to Sri Lanka to avoid Customs checking. Police suspect that the original pornographic VCDs had also been used for ‘copying’ locally for wider distribution. The suspect was handed over to the Customs for interrogation as police continued investigations. IP Uduwella who was removed as OIC of the Unit has been transferred to the Fort Police station as a supernumerary, Police said. Police said SI Tillekeratne Jayalath has succeeded IP Uduwella as OIC, Special Operations and Intelligence Unit (Colombo South). Shortage due to limited demand Following a spate of complaints from the public, "The Island" investigated lack of certain drugs used for dermatalogical purposes in the market.The drugs were Dapsone, Collodion, Methoxalen and Trioxon .The last three of these drugs are also essential for the treatment of Leucoderma. Prof.Kamalgoda, Managing Director, State Pharmaceutical Corporation said that earlier drugs were imported on the basis of its reputation , recommendation by doctors and on the condition that they had not received complaints about them."The quality was checked by us but now even if the quality of the drug is good we can’t import it unless it is registered with the Cosmetic Drugs and Devices Authority (CDDA)", Prof. Kamalgoda said. He added that about 800 drugs were imported by the SPC. On Prof. Kamalgoda’s request ‘The Island’ contacted marketing manager of the SPC, E.F.M.Samuel. Mr.Samuel said that both Dapsone and Methoxalen were on order.The delay, he said, was due to the limited demand for these drugs from Dermatologists. Another reason was the result of suppliers quoting high prices. This is so especially in the case of Trioxon. Problems arose due to certain sectors importing drugs being restricted strictly to those which are registered with the CDDA, he explained. He assured that both Dapsone and Methoxalen will be available in the market within the next two to three weeks. President to amend budget proposal doing
away with duty free allowance President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday agreed to make adjustments to last Thursday’s budget proposal doing away with US $ 1,100 [approximately Rs 72,000] dollars duty free allowance permitted to Sri Lankans returning home after working abroad for more than one year. "She promised to make certain adjustments to help Sri Lankans working abroad," Labour Minister W.D.John Seneviratne told ‘The Island’ last night. He said that the proposal had been prompted by repeated complaints by Sri Lankan companies engaged in manufacturing electrical appliances and assemble various other items including television sets. The government last week proposed to withdraw duty free allowances to approximately 1.2 million people working abroad. "We are not talking only about workers particularly housemaids in the Middle East," Seneviratne said adding that if that particular budget proposal was implemented it would affect every Sri Lankan working abroad. Seneviratne said that the President promised to make adjustments to the proposal during yesterday’s discussions on the budget. Former Labour and Vocational Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Samurdhi and Youth Affairs Minister S.B.Dissanaayke had backed Minister Seneviratne’s call to make adjustments to the controversial proposal. Gampaha District MP Felix Perera too had supported adjustments to the proposal, Minister Seneviratne said. The ruling party parliamentarians had gathered at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday to discuss the budget and gear themselves for the forthcoming debate, political sources said. Seneviratne said that the Deputy Finance Minister G.L.Peiris has proposed to do away with the allowance and pay Rs. 5000 to each Sri Lankan worker returning home. Seneviratne said that although the proposal has been made with a view to help the local industry, it would badly affect workers employed abroad. The Deputy Minister while proposing to do away with the allowance has proposed to give duty free vehicles to registered foreign employment agencies maintaining good track records and achieving targets specified by the Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau. However there were many cases of returning workers particularly housemaids selling their duty free allowances to outsiders. There was evidence to suggest that certain importers in electrical appliances too were engaged in various illegal activities to bring in duty free goods. CBEU assured of non-closure of bank
branches Written assurance was given to the Ceylon Bank Employees Union (CBEU) last week from the Board of the Bank of Ceylon (BOC) that its branches "would not be closed down in the near future", president of the BOC branch of the union, Nimal Perera, told ‘The Island’ on Friday. He said a written undertaking from the BOC Chairperson and its General Manager was given to the CBEU last Monday. It assured that the terms of a Memorandum of Agreement signed between the BOC Board and the Secretary to the Treasury did not necessarily require the closure of a large number of BOC branches. It held, instead, that efforts will be made to turn around ‘loss-making’ branches in order to make their existence viable, said Mr. Perera. This was contrary to reports that 130 branches of the BOC were to be shut down within 1999 and 2000. BOC Chairperson, Dayani de Silva, when contacted by ‘The Island’, confirmed the report. Recent reports in the press maintained that a Memorandum of Agreement was signed on July 16 between the Secretary to the Treasury and the Board of Directors of the BOC. The reports claimed that under Clause 28 of the MOU, 65 of the bank’s branches were to be closed down in 1999 while 66 were earmarked for closure in the year 2000. This, certain parties maintained, was to be done on the dictates of the World Bank. Mrs. De Silva said, most of these reports were ‘misconceptions’. Mr. Perera said the written undertaking was given following several discussions with the board. "There were initially reports in the press about the impending closure of BOC branches that were said to be making losses," he noted, "We met with the chairperson on August 5 and lodged our strong opposition to such a move. We also told her we will take to the streets if this proposal is implemented". He said discussions were conducted in an amicable manner and the result was Monday’s written undertaking. Mr. Perera accused an opposing faction of the CBEU in the BOC of spreading false propaganda to win a union election in the bank, coming up in the near future. Rumours that many bank branches in rural areas were to be closed down spread a panic in the state bank sectors intensified by the fear that it would lead to unemployment. Some also maintained that state banks must maintain their presence in rural areas for the greater benefit of the people. LTTE to commemorate ‘Heroes Week’ The LTTE is making preparations to commemorate ‘heroes week’ to coincide with the birthday of Tiger leader, Prabhakaran. A mass scale movement of Tiger cadres from the East to Mullaitivu jungles has been reported a senior police official said. Inspector General of Police, Lucky Kodituwakku told ‘The Island’ that precautionary measures have been taken to avert possible Tiger attacks on security installations during this so-called ‘heroes week’ from November 22-28. Spell out stand on LTTE: Swamy The Janata Party President, Dr. Subramaniam Swamy, has urged the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to spell out his government stand on the LTTE and the Sri Lanka strife. In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Janata Party leader has alleged that some of the Ministers in his Government and allies of the BJP are "abetting LTTE activities in India and in Sri Lanka". Copies of the letter were released at a news conference here today. Dr. Swamy referred to reports appeared in a section of the press and said two Ministers in the Union Government are working for the LTTE cause. — (The Hindu) Anura pays courtesy call on Malwatte
Mahanayake UNP MP Anura Bandaranaike who was in Kandy during the weekend paid a courtesy call on the Mahanayake of Malwatte Ven. Rambukwalle Sri Wipassi Thera on Saturday. Mr. Bandaranaike is reported to have discussed with the Mahanayake on the current situation in the country and had exchanged views with regard to the PA government’s fifth budget. Details of the closed door meeting were not released to the media. Earlier in the day Mr. Bandaranaike paid homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic at the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Mr. Bandaranaike was also expected to visit the prelate of Asgiriya Ven. Palipana Sri Chandananada Thera who is warded at the Kandy General Hospital, for a medical check up. Liquor shops, meat stalls closed for two days All liquor sales outlets and meat stalls will remain closed today (9) and tomorrow (10) on account of the International Buddhist symposium which opens in Colombo this afternoon, official sources said. 'Kaneru
eaters' on the increase The lives of five persons who ate poisonous "Kaneru" seeds (Nerium Oliender) to commit suicide were saved by doctors by inserting pace makers to the heart, for the first time in a hospital out side Colombo, health authorities said yesterday. Three of them recovered fully and were discharged from the hospital Dr. W. K. J. H. Alexander, who performed the insertion, in the Polonnaruwa base hospital told "The Island" yesterday. About 350 patients who ate "Kaneru" seeds to commit suicide had been admitted to the Polonnaruwa base hospital during the past ten months this year. Fifty six of them died after admission. Doctors in the intensive care unit of the Polonnaruwa base hospital led by Dr. Alexander inserted pace makers to the heart of five of these patients and successfully managed their heart beats until they recovered. The chemicals of the poisonous seeds directly attack the heart and muscels. "At present only two pace makers are available in the hospital although daily average admission of "Kaneru" patients is five. So it is very difficult to ‘manage’ the situation," Dr. Alexander said. Two pace makers now available have been donated by a doctor in England to the consultant surgeon in the Polonnaruwa base hospital Dr. Karunaratne following an appeal for assistance over the Internet, hospital sources said. During some months the death toll of ‘Kaneru’ poison victims rose to 10 and most of them were students or youngsters. Their endurance in troubles or problems was very low and as a result they tend to eat the poisonous seed to take their lives," Dr. Priyantha Atapattu said. "So we need the facilities to treat them and some kind of programmes to educate students and rural folk as well. The preventive side is very important because this is a social and economic issue," he explained. UNP has always behaved as a responsible
opposition "United National Party has always behaved as a responsible opposition. It is unfortunate that the President and the PA Ministers are unable to comprehend this fact. They keep on misleading the people and put the blame on the UNP for not cooperating with them. Despite the chaos the PA has created on several occasions UNP did not take mean advantage of it and did not incite people for street demonstration and violence. On the other hand I must say that the PA has a long history behind them inciting violence and indulge in destructive acts. UNP is a party with a long history of democratic traditions. Hence our opposition to the government on their misleads has always been through democratic means and we will continue to do so," observed Tyronne Fernando, Colombo District MP and UNP Parliamentary Group Whip at a meeting of the Moratuwa Yovun Bala Mandalaya held recently. Recalling several instances the government has brought the administration of this country to near chaos. Mr. Fernando said that there were many instances such as the terrorist attack on Kolonnawa Oil Installation, Central Bank and the most venerated Dalada-Maligawa where the UNP could have incited the people to violence.’ But we did not. Citing another instance he said, "No sooner the government came into power they went for peace negotiations with the LTTE. But the abortive negotiations ended up with major assault on the security by the LTTE. The government made a big blunder by not keeping the security forces informed of the break down of the talks and the forces had to pay the price for it. But the UNP acted with restraint. So was with other incidents. While the PA leadership keep on accusing the UNP for non co-operation they keep on resorting to violence depriving the UNP even their legitimate political activities. Mr. Fernando further said "The reconciliation should begin from the seat of power. And it is not a one time act. The government, as a party in power should set in motion a process to build up confidence with the political parties who represent the electorate. If they are genuine in the efforts this is not the way they should treat the United National Party which represent at least 3 million voters in the country. But can you expect such an initiative from a president who at every opportunity attacks the Leader of Opposition in public and call for his co-operation at the same time, he asked. In spite of this behaviour when it came to a national issue in the interest of the country, Leader of the Opposition offered his fullest co-operation to the President to proceed on the Liam Fox Initiative to search for peace. But the internal power play within the PA has stalled the process. While GL wants to resurrect his virtually dead political package General Ratwatte wants to pursue the war to fulfil his Prime Ministerial ambitions. Mr. Fernando charged People like Lakshman Kadirgamar are side tracked on this issue. But we feel that he is in a position to play a very positive role. The United National Party has reiterated its total commitment to the By-partisan approach based in the Liam-Fox initiative. It is up to the government to seize this opportunity and do something meaningful without blaming the UNP, and misleading people of this country and the international community’ Mr. Fernando, said. Gateway occupies superior place among
educational institutions This awards ceremony is a symbol of success and it is a pleasure to be a part of it, said the Directoress of British Council, Susan Maingay. Speaking at the Awards Day of the Gateway International School held at the BMICH last week, she said, in the field of education this school has a very good success rate in the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level. With the changing needs of the society and the growing competition, Gateway International occupies a superior place among the educational institutions. The Directoress expressed her wish in continuing the hard work in achieving the goals set up by the school. There is hardly anyone in this audience who has not given some thought to the long festering educational crisis, said the Chairman/Principal of Gateway International School, R.I.T. Alles. It is the failure of the education system that has created this problem. Explaining his point, the Principal quoted from what the British PM has said, "Children cannot be effective in tomorrow’s world if they are trained in yesterday’s skills. Nor should teachers be denied the tools that other professionals take for granted." The very fact that there are 30,000 unemployed graduates among us is a visible index that Sri Lanka had failed to effect the necessary changes in the education system in keeping with the fast changing world, he added. The flexible nature of the curriculum and the prompt changes effected therein, had made Gateway enable to meet these challenges fair and square. The school is training its children in "tomorrow’s skills" using the latest developments and methods of education prevailing in UK, he observed. Our students are recommended to buy the latest books that are prescribed by the subject coordinators and examiners of the University of London. The institution imports most of these titles direct from Britain to have them readily available to the students, he explained. The Principal said that the curriculum in the school has an important role to play, had been recognised by the tutorial staff. In this context it had to be remembered that education and discipline, on the one side and teachers and parents, on the other, are inseparable partners. The education and the disciplinary process of a child, has to be a partnership between the parents and the educational personnel within the school. It is time to open eyes to the growing suspicion in which international schools are held by the society at large, he said . The progress made by the Gateway International School was appreciated by the Principal. He requested his students to take victory and defeat in true competitive spirit. This ceremony was made colourful by adding a number of dancing items, presented by Primary and secondary school children. The special feature of the event was the award made for gallantry by the school and presenting four radio sets to Lakhanda for the use of soldiers. Rtd. DIG in Athens for meeting Ignatius Canagaretnam, Rtd DIG Police and Comptroller Administration and Security, Pramuka Bank left with a delegation of police officers to attend the 28th International Executive Committee Meeting of the International Police Association held at Royal Olympic Hotel, Athens, Greece Wayamba Bus Co. still unable to go solo KURUNEGALA: There is a complaint against me that UNP members are receiving supporting letters from me. But are the complainants directing me to turn back while UNP members are requesting my assistance claimed Co-operative Development Minister D. P. Wickremesinghe at a meeting held recently at the auditorium of the North Western Province Co-operative Rural Bank headquarters at Imperial Junction, Kurunegala. The minister was addressing delegations from the Wayamba Bus Company Limited in Kurunegala. He said that there are instances where people don’t have a proper eye-sight to come to me for supporting letters for a job. I have to hesitate first, and then issue a letter on humanitarian grounds at that time. Clarifying the present condition of the Wayamba Bus Company Ltd., the Chairman of the Company Ratne Tennakoon said that the company was progressing but still we are unable to go solo. We need government assistance. We received 50 new bus engines recently and hope to add to our fleet 50 new buses by using them. There is also good news to the public that we will be recruiting 200 new personnel for posts of drivers and conductors. Already, there are 1600 applications from GCE A/L qualified youth. An apptitude test will be the best means of choosing the crew and we will do that. Managing Director B. A. Leonis requested Minister Wickreme-singhe and other politicians who attended the meeting that ‘cluster bus companies should be provided with a GST release, as they are undergoing serious difficulties in maintaining the resources and administration. Minister Wickre-mesinghe responded that he will be able to draw the government’s attention to the request.Mr. Leonis continuing said that there is no necessity to increase bus fares if the tax rlief can be offered. The Wayamba Bus Company covers 1/6 of the total motorable route network in Sri Lanka. Th company should cover a route network of 166,161 kilometres daily. But, unfortunately the company is only capable of covering 103,390 kilometres at present. The daily average of benefitting commuters is 228,900. The number of school children is 39,795. At the beginning the company owed Rs. 88,121,832. By August 30 this year, the company was able to reduce the amount to Rs. 81,233,629. The company owns 761 buses which are being used by eleven depots operating through the company. More buses will be added to the company’s fleet next year and that could be possible with the assistance of the government. Mr. Leonis praised the Transport Minister A. H. M. Fowzie who pledged to provide the Wayamba Bus Company with 51 large buses and 65 small buses. Union Leader Ratnayake from the Sri Lanka Jatika Pravahana Sevaka Samitiya said that you should administer the country properly and effectively or you should lose power with all what you are presently enjoying. Pro-government or pro-party persons should be offered opportunities. But they should be demoted once they commit wrong as well. The meeting which was held to evaluate the progress achieved by the Wayamba Bus Company was addressed by Mr. Jayarathne Herath, Opposition Leader of the North Western Provincial Council, Mr. I. M. Jayetileke, Mr. Senerath Sugathadase and Mr. Dharmasiri Dassenayake all members of the NWP Council, Mr. A. S. Ihalagame, Opposition leader of the Polgahawela Prade-shiya Sabha and Mr. Sisil Bandara Senarathne Kuliyapitiya SLFP Organizer. Disputes a curse to industrial
development KULIYAPITIYA: Industries cannot be developed as long as there are industrial disputes. The workers should be treated well and their rights and privileges be granted. It is then only that employees are satisfied. The industrial development depends mainly upon the satisfaction of the workers. The final result of workers’ satisfaction would be the reduction of the cost of living said the Minister of Industrial Development C. V. Gunaratne at a meeting which followed the ceremonial inauguration of the new plant at Giriulla Bieco Link Carbon Factory. The Minister added that the industrial policy of the government had three fold targets. They were economic development, solution of the unemployment problem and increasing the income. Bieco Link Carbon Company would function to achieve those targets. Our industrial policy is based to face the challenges of the 21st Century. Under that policy outdated slogans and theories would be discarded. Our policy is practical, elastic and results oriented. We have given tax concessions for up front cost of importation of plants and machinery. Bieco Link Carbon had utilised those concessions for the plant expansion. We have declared a productivity decade with the view of improving the standard and the quality of the production as only the quality productions have the demand in the international market. He also said that industrial estates is another concept we introduced. There are 11 industrial estates functioning and they would be provided with 15,000 direct job opportunities and 30,000 indirect job opportunities. The Deputy Minister of Forestry and Environmental Affairs Munidasa Prema-chandra said that industrial development would be an environmental hazard as industrial wastes were directed to the air, soil and water. It is essential to have environmental evaluation before the inauguration of industries. If the development is hazardous to the health and environment we would be deprived of the real benefit of development. So special attention should be paid on environmental aspects when recommending industries. |
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