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Panic grips airport as RPG goes off
accidentally There was chaos and panic at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) yesterday morning after an airman accidentaly fired off a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG). Passengers and employees had run in alarm following the deafening explosion,but the situation was brought under control after officials explained that there was no need for panic as a RPG had been accidentaly triggered off, sources said. British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka David Tatham and some officials were also at the VIP lounge to receive visiting British Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett, at the time of the incident, sources said. Security officials said that fortunately the RPG had been pointed to the air and the accidentaly firing had caused a big blast which rocked the area, but no one was injured or damage caused to the airport complex. ’Only the roof of an Air Force bunker was damaged’, they said. The spent RPG was later found by the Air Force on the Katunayake-Minuwangoda road. Preliminary investigations had revealed that two airmen had been on duty at a ‘RPG bunker’ in the high security zone of the airport and accidentaly one of them had activated an RPG. The missile had fired off blowing up the roof of the bunker. The airman has been arrested by police. A senior Air Force official said the incident had taken place during the morning ‘guard change’ when loading and unloading is carried out. He said there had been an "initial blast" which had burnt out the charges of the RPG. Scope for third party mediation,but
Britain will not ‘gate crash’ British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Derek Fatchett told journalists in Colombo yesterday, that there may be scope for third party mediation in resolving Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue, but Britain has not received any invitation in this regard. Describing his visit as a "strange visit" Fatchet who arrived a day late yesterday morning due to his plane developing technical problems at London’s Heathrow airport, said "At one point I thought this visit would not take place.I eventually got here via Dubai". Fatchett told the news conference at Westminster House in Colombo that Britain will be helpful if it can, but it does not believe in "gate crashing into parties uninvited". Asked if there was a parallel between the Northern Ireland issue and Sri Lanka’s ethnic issue he said "It is not one to one.There may be some overlapping, but basically it is a question of the people involved recognising each others legitimate interests. In the case of Northen Ireland Senator Mitchell was invited to mediate in the issue by the concerned parties". Describing his visit as "purely bilateral",Fatchett0 stressed that he was not here to build on the Liam Fox initiative. Nor is there a United Kingdom or Fatchet peace initiative. "The Labour Party welcomed the Liam Fox agreement while in opposition and it continues to do so in government.It is an agreement that can progress only with the support of the parties in Sri Lanka" Asked if he thinks the Liam Fox initiative has failed to take off Fatchet said "I don’t think so.Both President Kumaratunga and Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe have welcomed the agreement. I hope it will be implemented". Fatchet said it is inevitable he would raise the question of human rights with President Chandrika Kumaratunga whom he was to meet yesterday evening.Any reference to political rights will refer to respect for human rights and democratic institutions.No one has the right to maim or kill people. At the same time it should not be forgotten that a government has a duty to protect life and property. Questioned about Britain’s policy regarding the granting of refugee status he said they are constantly reviewing how asylum practices work. Fatchet observed that circumstances in individual countries are taken into consideration in approving asylum appplications. The policy of granting refugee status to genuine cases will not be undermined, he added. Fatchet said legislation introduced in Britain after the Omagh bombings makes it illegal for British soil to be used for terrorist activity in any other country. "We have also introduced new arms criteria in terms of which British equipment cannot be used for purposes that would endanger global security and the violation of human rights in any country". He denied that Britain has sold torture weapons to Sri Lanka. Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman and six others
to be tried in absentia The application by the Attorney General to try LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, his intelligence chief Pottu Amman and six others in absentia in connection with the Central Bank bomb blast was allowed by Colombo High Court Judge A. W. Somawansa yesterday. There was tight security provided by armed police both outside the Courthouse and along the roads leading to Hultsdorp when the case was taken up for hearing. State Counsel Sanjeeva Samaranayake representing the Attorney General submitted that CID report indicated that these absconding accused were residing in areas that are not presently under the control of the Sri Lankan security forces and therefore they could not be apprehended. Mr. Samaranayake outlined the steps taken by the CID to take the accused into custody and that those steps were abortive. Mr. Samaranayake continued that on January 26, 1998, Court issued a warrant to take the accused into custody. Thereafter the CID forwarded a report to Court that the accused could not be arrested as they were not residing in areas under the control of the security forces. Thereafter, upon an application by the prosecution, Court made a promulgation in the newspapers in all three media that they were persons wanted to be present at the trial, he concluded. Thereafter Mr. Samaranayake led the evidence of CID Chief Inspector P. Kumarasinghe. Inspector Kumarasinghe told Court that he joined the police force in October, 1979. He was attached to the CID in March, 1993. The CID sought the assistance of several agencies such as the Military Intelligence Unit, SSP Vavuniya, SSP Jaffna etc. to take the accused into custody. They could not get any information that could lead to their apprehension. The first accused V. Prabhakaran’s permanent place of residence is Valvetiturai. The police recorded the statement of Saravanamuttu Thurairasa presently residing there. But the police could not get any information about the present whereabouts of the first accused. The permanent residence of the second accused Pottu Amman is Ariyalai in Jaffna. No information could be elicited. The permanent place of residence of the sixth and the seventh accused is Kilinochchi. The address of the eighth accused is Manipay. The investigations revealed that these absconding accused are presently in Mannar and Vanni areas which are presently not under the control of the security forces. Mr. Kumarasinghe concluded that in the circumstances, it was quite unlikely that they could be apprehended and produced at the trial. V. Prabhakaran, Pottu Amman, K. Jeevamohan, Chelliah Navaratnam, Pathiru Kulasingam, Kandiah Ganesh, Ramiah Papathy and Karupiah Kamalanathan are the eight accused to be tried in absentia. Accused Vigneswaranathan Parthipan and Kathirgamathamby Sivakumar were produced by the Prison officials. The accused are indicted with conspiracy, exploding a bomb at Central Bank at Fort, that resulted in killing several persons, injuring many more and in causing damage to property on January 31, 1996. Further hearing was put off for February 22, 23 and 24, 1999. Budget proposal copies fly in House ! Copies of budget proposals were flying in the House yesterday morning as the Opposition UNP accusing the government of presenting what it called an incomplete budget demanded the immediate apprising of the House how government proposed to bridge the revenue gap created by the withdrawal of the 25 percent rail fare hike. Ronnie de Mel a former Finance Minister, rising just before the commencement of the debate questioned the prudence of going ahead with the debate. The withdrawal of a proposal to increase rail fares by 25 percent, by aaf Finance Prof. G. L. Peiris last Thursday demanded on explanation as to how the Rs. 300 million anticipated from the proposal is going to be raised. Ronnie de Mel threw the budget proposal on the floor of the House calling it a useless document with erroneous figures. Several other members of the opposition followed suit and through theirs. Minister Lakshman Jayakody said the UNP never presented a flawless budget. The UNP too hacked and chopped budget proposals during their tenure, he said. Prof. G. L. Peiris said he would explain the change in the budget in the course of the debate. House then resumed the debate. Airlanka flight delays British minister
by over 21 hours The Air Lanka airbus carrying British Foreign Office Minister Derek Fatchett to Sri Lanka had to return to London after the aircraft developed technical problems while flying over France on Monday, a senior Airlanka spokesman said yesterday. The A-340 Airbus returned to Heathrow airport where it was delayed for over 21 hours. The plane touched down in Sri Lanka yesterday morning, the spokesman said. The visiting British Minister was unable to inaugurate the British trade fair in Colombo as a result of this development. British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka stood in for the Minister and read out Mr. Fatchett’s message after inaugurating the trade fair. No-faith motion mooted for alleged
corrupt Matale PA politico UNP MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne yesterday accused a PA government politician in the Matale district of murder, corruption, ballot rigging, impersonation, plundering of ancient archaeological and religious relics, illicit felling of trees, quarrying of felspar and quartz among other charges. MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said so while addressing the press at Opposition Leader’s office in Colombo yesterday morning. Joining MP Dr. Senarantne to make these allegations by way of a video recording and affidavits was a former Private Secretary to Matale district PA MP. President of Matale District Private Bus Owners Association Dharmaratne Dissanayake, D. B. Elkaduwa a journalist of ‘Yukthiya’ newspaper from Matale and MP Jayatilleke a JP and an inquirer into sudden deaths — all four who were SLFP activists in the Matale district addressed the press conference yesterday. MP Dr. Senaratne said that the whole matter had been brought to the notice of police Deputy Minister of Labour Janaka Bandara Tennakoon and President Chandrika Kumaratunga almost four months ago but there had been no follow-up action. Dr. Rajitha said that he was to brief UNP and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe to move a no faith motion against the said PA politico shortly in parliament. Dr. Senaratne charged that there was inaction at the top of government although President Kumaratunga had declared the severest of penalties for those who destroyed or plundered ancient archaeological artefacts and the environment. The said PA politician revelled in luxury having appointed all his family members to institutions coming under his purview while using 27 luxury vehicles from Benzes, Intercoolers, Volvos and BMW’s for his personal use, Dr. Senaratne alleged. The revised postal rates proposed in the 1999 budget will come into effect from December 1, 1998, Post Master General, Soma Kotakadeniya said yesterday. According to the revisions, the postal charge on ordinary letters (which is now Rs. 2.50) will be increased to Rs. 3.50 while the charge on postcards will increase from Rs. 1 to Rs. 2. The rate of registration will increase from Rs. 8.50 to Rs. 10. Meanwhile, stamped envelopes, which are currently priced Rs. 2.75, will be Rs. 4 from December 1. Deputy Finance Minister, G. L. Peiris, in his budget proposals indicated that in terms of the prevailing rate structure, the Postal Department is projected to incur a loss of Rs. 547 million in 1999 due to a 30 per cent increase in its operational expenditure. He said expected revenue from the revised rates is around Rs. 350 million. (NW) A low pressure area is developing in the South west Bay of Bengal. It is likely to intensify further and move in northwesterly direction towards the east coast of India. Sky will be fairly cloudy. Occasional showers accompanied by thunder and fairly strong winds at times will continue over most parts of the island. Fairly heavy showers will also be experienced at several places in the Western and Sabaragamuwa provinces. Occasional shower and fairly strong winds will be experienced in the sea area around Sri Lanka. Seas will be fairly rough. July strikers to fast-unto-death The July Strikers Combined Union has decided to launch a fast-into-death campaign on December 10, which is International Human Rights Day. The union is also contemplating legal action to redress their grievances, if the government fails to resolve their longstanding problems. These decisions were reached at a meeting of the July Strikers Combined Union last Monday at the auditorium of the Public Library, Colombo chaired by its President P. Amaradivakara. It was also been decided to request the government to exempt the union from stamp duty. ICRC to gethering opinions from those affected by war Geneva/London (ICRC) : from November 1998 to August 1999, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will be gathering the opinions of thousands of people in a dozen countries who have been directly affected by armed conflict. They will be asked to share their views on the limits to warfare set by international law and on how to improve compliance with the Geneva Conventions and other humanitarian treaties. These will be published along with the results of a parallel survey conducted in countries at peace. The participants’ personal stories will be portrayed in publications, the media and on an interactive web site. The project is intended to increase awareness around the world of the rules that already exist for people’s protection in wartime and to encourage discussion of humanitarian law in the context of modern-day conflict. In Colombia, the first round of the study is currently being conducted among displaced civilians, former hostages, soldiers, guerrillas, security detainees, medical personnal and members of the general public. The interviews conducted so far have yielded a fascinating insight into how people perceive the conflict in Colombia and its consequences for their country, as well as their views on the limits set by humanitarian law and the dilemmas that arise in practice. The project, entitled "People on war", reflects the ICRC’s desire to give a voice to those who have personal experience of war as well as to stimulate discussion. It will also mark the 50th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, on 12 August 1999. For the ICRC, the anniversary is an opportunity for the world to reflect on what has occurred in the half-century since the Conventions were adopted, to take stock of the present and to consider the future of international law and humanitarian action. The survey in each country will result in an individual report published both locally and worldwide. The findings will then be summarised in a final report drawn up at the end of the process. This will be presented to the 27th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, scheduled to take place in Geneva in November 1999. (The International Conference brings together the 188 States party to the Geneva Conventions, 175, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of those Societies and the ICRC itself.) The various surveys will be conducted by means of a questionnaire among a representative sample (involving at least 1,000 individuals in each country) of the populations concerned. The opinions of people directly affected by conflict refugees, prisoners of war, rives of missing peple, soldiers, war-wounded, etc. — will also be sought by means of detailed interviews and group discussions. This work will be carried out by ICRC staff and volunteers from the respective National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society, supported and assisted by local professional agencies. The ICRC has engaged an international opinion-survey specialist to advise it on methods, to help draft questionnaires and to analyse the results. Leave to proceed granted in Mahanama
Tillakaratne’s rights plea The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with the fundamental rights violation plea filed by Colombo High Court Judge, Mahanama Tillakaratne. He challenged his arrest by the CID, on 10.9.98, subsequent to his release on bail by the Kesbewa Magistrate. The respondents cited in the petition are, Bandula Wickremasinghe (Senior Superintendent of Police), H. H. M. R. Premaratne (SP-CID), Punya de Silva (DIG-CID), Sarath N. Silva (Attorney General) and the IGP. Leave to proceed was granted on the alleged infringement of the right to be free from degrading treatment and the right to be free from arbitrary arrest and arbitrary detention. Hearing was fixed for May 10. The respondents were given time till January 29, to file objections. Before granting of leave to proceed, at the beginning of the hearing, Justice A. S. Wijetunga said that, the court has unanimously decided not to hear the fourth respondent Sarath N. Silva, at that stage, only. But the court did not object in anyway to Sarath N. Silva being present at the hearing, yesterday. Mr. Silva appeared for himself. Ranjith Abeysuriya, President’s Counsel, with Geethaka Gunawardene and Miss Priyadarshini Dias, appeared for the petitioner, Mahanama Tillakaratne. Mr. Abeysuriya, submitted to court an affidavit by Romesh de Silva, PC, and the President of the Bar Association. The affidavit was dated 8.1.98. Mr. Abeysuriya said that the affidavit and a joint motion is a part of the petition. Additional Solicitor General K. C. Kamalasabaysan PC, who appeared for the office of the Attorney General objected to that procedure. At this stage he said he was not concerned about the contents of the affidavit. He will consider it later on. The documents had to be tendered by the petitioner, and not by Mr. Abeysuriya. That document is not properly placed before the court, the ASG said. Justice Wijetunga: The contents of the affidavit is similar to the averments in the petition. The petitioner had to get the affidavit after sometime. He filed the affidavit within 30 days. Under those contents what should the court do? Mr. Kamalasabaysan: Who would tender a document before the court. Justice (Dr.) Bandaranayake: Cannot the lawyer submit the affidavit on behalf of the petitioner? Mr. Kamalasabaysan (ASG): The court should act on the evidence before court. Justice Wijetunga: Has not it been the practice that documents are tendered in this way in rights violation cases. Mr. Kamalasabaysan (ASG): The petition itself is not adequate. An affidavit is needed as evidence. Affidavit should not originate from an unconnected third party, as in this case. The affidavit is not referrable to the petition. Not sufficient for a petitioner to tender an affidavit through an attorney. Justice Bandaranayake: Is not his attorney representing the petitioner. Mr. Kamalasabaysan added that, the affidavit is a part of the petitioner’s case, and that it has to be rightly submitted to court. Mr. Abeysuriya said the affidavit was submitted by the person who filed the proxy, and was done properly. Mr. Kamalasabaysan, said that, the affidavit may be admitted as an admission. Ranjith Abeysuriya, PC, resumed support the petition of Mahanama Tillakaratne. Mr. Abeysuriya said that while the petitioner was in CID custody, overnight, from 9 a.m. on 10.9.98, till 1 p.m. on 11.9.98, the petitioner had no access to lawyers. The petitioner had been kept under humiliating and degrading conditions, at the CID headquarters. The petitioner was denied sleep. There were people watching him. A sitting High Court Judge had been degraded by police officers. The judge had to go down and plead with the police officers. The detention was totally unnecessary, as far as recording a statement, Mr. Abeysuriya explained. A sitting judge had to ask the police officers, whether they will object to granting him (the petitioner) bail. All this is undoubtedly degraded treatment, counsel said. When Judge Tillakaratne was produced before the Chief Magistrate on 11.9.98, a Senior State Counsel had appeared for the Attorney General. The first respondent, Bandula Wickremasinghe (SSP, Police Headquarters and the then Director, CID) had been present in court. This was around 1 p.m on 11.9.98. The Senior State Counsel, and Bandula Wickremasinghe had taken the stand that they did not know that the Kesbewa Magistrate had enlarged Tillakaratne on bail the previous day. This was callous disregard to the order of the Kesbewa Magistrate. Superintendent of Police Premaratne was shown the bail order, issued by the Kesbewa Magistrate the previous day, at the house of Tillakaratne. Premaratne had said he will inform his superiors. DIG-CID Punya de Silva had informed the fourth respondent that some sort of letter was shown, which indicated the granting of bail. Tillakaratne was arrested to fulfil some other plan. A bail order by the Magistrate could be set aside only by a higher court of law. Not even by the Attorney General, or by any police officer. Here they chose not to know about the bail order, made by the Kesbewa Magistrate. The arrest has been justified solely on the basis of a warrant, in respect of an incident that had occurred on 1.6.98. That warrant had been revoked by the Kesbewa Magistrate. Petitioner Tillakaratne was never informed of the reason for his arrest, by the CID on the evening of 10.9.98. he was never told the charge against him. There was no document indicating the time and the place of the arrest. The first respondent Bandula Wickremasinghe accompanied by the second respondent Premaratne had arrested Judge Tillakaratne, on a warrant that had already been revoked, Mr. Abeysuriya said. Time and place of arrest was not indicated in writing since Wickremasinghe disregarded the law. Judge Tillakaratne was released on bail by the Kesbewa Magistrate on 10.9.98, thereby the warrant issued earlier, being vacated. When the warrant was issued the Kesbewa Magistrate had directed the CID, to immediately notify court, about the fact of arrest and to immediately produce him before court. The Senior State Counsel who went with Wickremasinghe to get the warrant would have known that, counsel Abeysuriya said. Bandula Wickremasinghe had pre-planned to detain Judge Tillakaratne at the fourth flour of the CID, Colombo, overnight. The warrant issued by the Kesbewa Magistrate in the forenoon of 10.9.98 was revoked, when Judge Tillakaratne surrendered and was released on bail. Bandula Wickremasinghe subsequently at 4 p.m. on that day, took steps to arrest Judge Tillakaratne on the already revoked warrant. Judge Tillakaratne was arrested, detained at the fourth floor on the night of 10.9.98, and produced before the Chief Magistrate Colombo at 1 p.m., on 11.9.98. The warrant had been cancelled by the Kesbewa Magistrate, and it is recorded so, Counsel Abeysuriya said. Judge Tillakaratne had been illegally arrested, illegally detained and subjected to degrading treatment, counsel said. Mr. Abeysuriya read out a judgement by Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake, where it had been said that aggravated treatment or punishment, could amount to degrading treatment and humiliation. Is it possible that the police would embark to arrest a sitting High Court Judge, without referring the issue to the Attorney General’s Department? Counsel Abeysuriya submitted to court. The "B" report has said that the police had sought the advice of the AG’s Department, in respect of the arrest. A Senior State Counsel had gone to the Kesbewa Magistrate to obtain a warrant against Judge Tillakaratne. Romesh de Silva, PC and the President of the Bar Association, called over personally at the chambers of Sarath N. Silva in the day time on 9.11.98, to prevent the impending arrest of Judge Tillakaratne. Romesh de Silva had been told that it was only to record a statement from Judge Tillakaratne. Romesh de Silva had told Sarath N. Silva, that it was not necessary to arrest Tillakaratne for that and that Romesh de Silva could arrange for the recording of the statement. Romesh de Silva had told Sarath N. Silva, that Tillakaratne will go to the CID, to make a statement provided, Sarath N. Silva gives the undertaking to Romesh de Silva that Tillakaratne will not be detained. But Sarath N. Silva said he could not give that undertaking to Romesh de Silva. There had been a plan to detain Judge Tillakaratne, counsel Abeysuriya submitted. Romesh de Silva in the evening had contacted the Chief Justice G. P. S. de Silva and told the Chief Justice, that Judge Tillakaratne is likely to be arrested, subsequent to his being released on bail in respect of a warrant issued earlier in the day by the Kesbewa Magistrate. Mr. Abeysuriya said that the Chief Justice had then spoken to Sarath N. Silva, around 7.30 p.m. on 10.9.98. Romesh de Silva had told the Chief Justice that Judge Tillakaratne is to be arrested after the warrant was recalled by the Magistrate, Mr. Abeysuriya said. Counsel Abeysuriya read out a newspaper report quoting Sarath N. Silva who had said that the Chief Justice had called him at 7 p.m. on 10.9.98. Justice A. S. Wijetunga: But Sarath N. Silva had told the Chief Justice, that he has not been given the details, and that he got to wait and see, according to that article. Mr. Abeysuriya: But Sarath N. Silva should have called the Kesbewa Magistrate and found out the details, at least when a High Court Judge was to be arrested. The fourth respondent had been admittedly spoken to by the Chief Justice about the Mahanama Tillakaratne affair. Mr. Abeysuriya said that Punya de Silva had telephoned Sarath N. Silva around 8 p.m. on 11.9.98 and said that Tillakaratne had some kind of document said to be releasing him from the warrant. Even Wickremasinghe had telephoned Sarath N. Silva. The CID officers had called Sarath N. Silva at that time, because they had been attending on what the Attorney General wanted them to do, Counsel Abeysuriya added. Senior State Counsel had gone before the Chief Magistrate Colombo the next day and said that he knew nothing about Judge Tillakaratne being bailed out. Mr. Abeysuriya further said that three days before the arrest of Judge Tillakaratne, the case against Sarath Kongahage (UNP-Parliamentarian) was transferred from the court of Judge Tillakaratne to another High Court, by the Attorney General. Judge Tillakaratne was not wanted by them, it showed. K. C. Kamalasabaysan, PC and Additional Solicitor General submitted on behalf of the sixth respondent, the Attorney General. He said that it is left to the court to decide whether the petitioner has submitted a reasonable plea, a violation of fundamental rights. The petitioner has contradicted his case. Leave to proceed should not be granted. The fourth respondent, Sarath N. Silva is brought in with a motive. Not one word of mala-fides set out in the petition. This is an attempt made to throw mud and to bring down the dignity of an institution. The discussions between the President of the Bar Association and the Chief Justice are issues of courtesy. The ASG, referred to an offensive weapon being found in the house of Judge Tillakaratne by Superintendent of Police, Premaratne. The ASG was reading a report in the "Sunday Leader" newspaper. The DIG-CID had ordered Premaratne, to arrest Tillakaratne, to question him on how he had obtained unauthorized ammunition, which were found in the house of Tillakaratne, the ASG, explained reading the said newspaper report. A High Court Judge should not be treated differently, before the law, merely because of the position he holds. The fourth respondent, could not be held responsible for subjecting the petitioner to degrading treatment while in CID custody. Justice A. S. Wijetunga: The IGP is brought in whenever, degrading treatment is alleged against police officers. ASG: The allegations of degrading treatment is made against the particular police officers, who were directly involved. The fourth respondent is not connected with the Police Department. How could he be responsible for degrading treatment while the petitioner is in police custody. The proceedings against the fourth respondent will not be possible, the ASG said. At no stage is there an allegation of mala fide made against the fourth respondent, Sarath N. Silva, the ASG said. No grounds to make the Senior State Counsel a party to the alleged rights violation. The police were left high and dry, since the suspect had surrendered to court, before the warrant was executed. The police had no assistance from the court. Justice A. S. Wijetunga: The lawyers of the petitioner had a certified copy of the journal entry of the court, granting bail to the petitioner. Additional Solicitor General K. C. Kamalasabaysan PC, with Additional Solicitor General C. R. de Silva PC, and Senior State Counsel, Uditha Igalahewa and State Counsel Sanjeewa Samaranayake appeared for the fourth respondent, the Attorney General. Ranjith Abeysuriya, PC with Geethaka Gunewardene and Miss Priyadarshini Dias appeared for petitioner Tillakaratne. The bench comprised, Justice A. S. Wijetunga, Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake and Justice L. H. G. Weerasekera. Three thousand families displaced due to
floods The numbers displaced in the Negombo, Chilaw, Katana, Madampe and Ja-Ela areas due to the heavy torrential rains have arisen to nearly 3000 families since Monday, a Social Services Department source told ‘The Island. Action is being taken to grant relief to these people in the form of foodstuff. Cooked meals as well as dry rations are being distributed among them, the Social Services Department said. Grama Sevaka officials, Divisional Secretaries, social services officials and co-operatives in the badly affected areas of Negombo, Chilaw, Madampe and Katana have been asked to assist the displaced according to their requirements. While most of the affected people in these areas are presently seeking shelter with their friends and relatives, temporary shelters have also been set up in Community Centres. A number of 719 displaced families from the Madampe area alone was reported by Tuesday noon. Arrangements have also been made for these people to occupy the Community Centre hall temporarily. Indian HC reception for Lankan students postponed The Foreign Students Day celebration which was earlier scheduled to be held today (11) at India House has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. It has been rescheduled for November 24, between 6.30 - 8.30 p.m. at the Golden Ballroom at Lanka Oberoi, Colombo 3. All students who have studied in India are welcome. Those intending to attend this get-together may please inform the Education Section of the Indian High Commission at telephone No. 422788-9 (Extn. 605) before 20th November, 1998. (Press Release) International Consultant Dr. D. K. Dey in Sri Lanka International Consultant Dr. D. K. Dey will be in Sri Lanka from 13-24 November 1998 on the invitation of the Population Division and the United Nations Population Fund field office in Sri Lanka. Dr. D. K. Dey is a specialist in the private sector involvement in reproductive health. During his stay the Population Division of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have organised four workshops on ‘Partnership with Civil Society’. The first workshop will be jointly organised by the National Youth Services Council. It will be a preparatory workshop for youth leaders to hold three regional conferences on ‘New Generations: Meeting the Needs of the Young’. The preparatory workshop for the youth leaders will be held on the 17th of November at the National Youth Service Council Centre at Heiyanthuduwa. This workshop will culminate in three regional conferences for the youth. Three other workshops will be organised for the private sector, plantation sector and for the private practitioners/pharmacists, on 18th 19th and 20th November 1998, at Hotel Taj Samudra in Colombo. ‘A conference of Katheebs, Trustees of Jumma Mosques Ulemas, members of the All Ceylon Jammiyyathul Ulema and representatives of the Ministry and Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs will be held at the Colombo Grand Mosque (Inc) on November 24 at 4.15 p.m. to determine the date of Barath and tentative date for the eve of Ramazan Fast. The Muslim public is requested to look for the new moon of sha’aban on Thursday 19 and to inform the Colombo Grand Mosque (Inc) on telephone No. 432110 or 434651, immediately on sighting the New Moon of Sha’aban to enable the Ulemas to make a decision. Duty
free allowances issue UNP General Secretary Gamini Athukorale yesterday called upon the government to a formal statement in the House immediately regarding the duty free allowances issue. The alternate proposals being considered are even more dangerous, namely to impose Income Tax on NRFC holdings and to abolish the convertibility of the NRFC and convert it to Rupee Accounts, Mr. Atukorale claimed in a news release. A vast majority of these accounts are in the State Commercial Banks thus enabling the Ministry of Finance to interfere with their operations. Just as much as the UNP opposed the abolition of the Duty Free Allowance, we will carry on this agitation against this move to abolish the NRFC Accounts, he added. Mid-Week
Politics Developments within the Peoples Alliance government during the past few days was focused on the fifth budget of the government presented to Parliament last Thursday. Deputy Finance Minister has withdrawn two proposals that were envisaged in the budget. The first was the proposal to increase rail fares. This the minister withdrew immediately after announcing the proposal in the House. The man who firmly stood on his way for this increase was none other than the Transport Minister A. H. M. Fowzie . Minister Fowzie fought hard within the government ranks on the morning of the budget day when he heard that rail fares were to be increased. He made it clear to the government leadership that the people were already burdened with the cost of living with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax and in no way he would agree to any increase in the rail for bus fares. Mr. Fowzie assured that he was capable of tackling the bus operators who were pressing for increase and urged the government to withdraw the proposal to increase rail fares. Minister Fowzie emerged victorious that evening in Parliament and the opposition UNP thumped the tables and praised Mr. Fowzie when Prof. Peiris withdrew the rail fare increase. The government later withdrew the proposal to do away with the duty free tax concession earlier enjoyed by Sri Lankan workers who returned from abroad. This was done forty eight hours after the budget was presented on a Presidential directive as many members in the government expressed their dissatisfaction over the proposal in the budget. Government backbenchers appear unhappy with many proposals in the budget. They say that no attempt had been made to mention or reduce the GST which was a burden on the common man and they found it difficult to meet the people in their electorates. The government mainly based the budget to utilise human resources to meet the advanced technological challenges in the next millennium. Backbenchers claimed that little was spoken of new investments to create employment generation which was an absolute necessity of the hour. Meanwhile, in the investment circles, foreign investors are closely monitoring the dispute between the government and the Sri Lanka Telecom. The Sri Lanka Telecom authorities allege that the government was interfering in its activities and it was a hindrance to the smooth functioning of the Company which has to compete with two major private telecommunication networks who offer telephones at competitive rates. Sri Lanka Telecom sources ask why the government was giving step motherly treatment to them when no such interference was seen after Air Lanka was privatised. Sri Lanka Telecom Department was privatised for Rs. 13.2 billion which was the highest ever revenue collected by the government in its privatisation programme. Four loyalists of late President Ranasinghe Premadasa have challenged former UNP general secretary Sirisena Cooray for a live TV debate to decide on who were real loyalists of the late President. The four men are: Colombo Municipal Councillors T. A. S. Almeida, Ariyaratne Sathiagupillai, V. A. Ananda Nimalasiri (he identifies himself as the eldest son of V. A. Premadasa, the closest associate of President Premadasa) and T. M. Sanghadasa. Sanghadasa was a one time loyalist of Mr. Cooray too when the latter was a minister in the previous UNP government. Last week Messrs. Almeida, Santhiagupillai and Nimalasiri addressed a letter to Mr. Cooray delivering their challenge while Sanghadasa sent in another letter stating the same. |
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