Jump almost 70 per cent for Ministers
Hike in parliamentarians allowanceby Walter Nanayakkara
Parliamentarians are to receive increased monthly allowances and a bonanza shortly in the form of arrears effective from January, this year.Under a resolution to be moved shortly by the Minister of Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Cabinet Ministers, the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Deputy Chairman of Committees. Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament are to get an increased allowance with effect from January 1998.
Under the new proposals, Cabinet Ministers and the Speaker will receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 29,815 which is an increase of Rs. 12315. The present allowance is Rs. 17,500.
The Deputy Speaker, the Deputy Chairman of Committees and Deputy Ministers will receive a monthly allowance of Rs. 28,750 Ñ an increase of Rs. 11,750 from the present allowance of Rs. 17,000/.
Meanwhile the monthly allowance of a Member of Parliament will be increased from Rs. 13,500 to Rs. 22,100 an increase of Rs. 8600.
Cabinet Ministers and the Speaker are entitled to an entertainment allowance of Rs. 2500 and the Deputy Speaker, Deputy Chairman of Committees and Deputy Ministers to Rs. 2000.
Members of Parliament are entitled to an entertainment allowance of Rs. 1000, in addition to a Driver's allowance of Rs. 3,500 and a fuel allowance of Rs. 5,000.
The revision of salaries and allowances of parliamentarians are to be effected in terms of Public Administration Circular No. 2/97 of January 15, 1997.
Kelaniya University quiet: students leave campus premises
by Harini Dias Bandaranayake
All university students had left the Kelaniya University premises by 3.00 p.m. on Thursday, following orders issued by the university officials as a result of disturbances which had taken place on Thursday morning, university authorities told 'The Island', yesterday.University officials said that the university has been declared out of bounds for all students indefinitely. Officials also said that this order had been issued by noon on Thursday and the students of the hostel were granted time until 3.00 p.m. on Thursday to leave the university grounds.
Three students of the Kelaniya University had sustained severe injuries, while nearly eight students had been admitted to the Out Patients Department (OPD) of the Colombo National Hospital for minor treatment, following a clash which took place on Thursday morning at university premises, the Peliyagoda Headquaters Inspector Udahamulla told 'The Island', yesterday.
He said a clash between members of the United Students' Front (U.S.F) and the members of the Students' Solidarity Foundation(S.S.F.) which occurred the night before had been the main cause for the riots to have taken place.
HQI Udahamulla also said that according to university sources, students were preparing for the Students' Council nominations to be held on November 26. He said that some members of the U.S.F. had tied three members of the S.S.F. to a tree and had assaulted them around 11.00 p.m on Wednesday. The three students had been freed by members of the S.S.F. on Thursday morning, said HQI Udahamulla.
He also said that around 4.30 a.m. on Thursday, the two groups of students were preparing to confront each other, when the police, who had been notified of the clash by the university, had arrived and had managed to disperse them. He said that around 10.00 a.m. on Thursday, another clash between the two groups had taken place in which three students had sustained injuries.
Sources of the Colombo National Hospital, when inquiring about the patients, said that nearly 13 students had obtained treatment at the hospital while one of the three injured had been admitted to the Eye Hospital, Colombo, for treatment of an eye injury that he had received.
Japanese aid for food production and primary education
Two Exchanges of Notes for provision of grant aid to Sri Lanka, totalling yen 2.3 billion (approximately Rs. 1.2 billion), were signed on November 19, 1998, by Mr. Shoji Ogawa, the Charge d Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Japan, and Mr. Dixon Nilaweera, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Planning of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
The first exchange of notes is for grant aid for increase of food production, totalling yen 1.0 billion (approximately Rs. 500 Million), provided by the Government of Japan for the purchase of fertilizer and agricultural machinery to increase the productivity of three of the country's main staples: rice, maize and onions. The Japanese Government has been providing this form of assistance to Sri Lanka since 1977.
According to the exchange of notes, Sri Lanka is obligated to deposit an amount in local currency equivalent to at least twothirds of the yen disbursement, as a counterpart fund. This counterpart fund will be used for economic and social development projects in Sri Lanka, upon consultation between the two governments.
The second exchange of notes is to provide grant aid of yen 1.3 billion (approximately Rs.0.7 billion) to the Government of Sri Lanka for improvement of the primary school education sector.
Sri Lanka has achieved a high level of education within the country. Its high literacy rate, primary school attendance rate, and gender equality in education are testimony to that achievement. However, there are still problems to be solved, such as the disparity existing between schools in rural and urban areas, and between districts within urban areas. In many rural areas, in plantation zones, and even in some underprivileged sectors within urban localities, facilities such as school buildings, equipment, and manpower are inadequate. The Government of Sri Lanka, with the assistance of some donors, has made considerable efforts to improve the situation through the reform and restructuring of the school operational system, as well as revision of the school curriculum. In support of these reform efforts and in response to a request made by the Government of Sri Lanka, the Government of Japan has decided to rebuild or expand existing school facilities and to provide the necessary school equipment. The Basic Design Study of this project covers 25 schools in total, 4 of which are in the Gampaha District, 10 in the Ratnapura District, and 11 in the Kegalle District.
The project includes the following:
Expansion of classrooms to increase floor area per person in compliance with new government regulations.
Refurbishment of classrooms to divide each class in order to enhance the studying environment.
Construction of new staff room, principal's room and store room for equipment to improve management operations.
Construction of new toilets, including adequate water supply and drainage, to improve sanitation.
This is the first commitment of Japanese grant aid to the country's primary education sector. The Government of Japan hopes that this project will meet the educational needs of Sri Lanka's young children, so that they may look forward to a more promising future.
Bomb blasts in two Kalutara schools
By Kalinga K. A. Weerakkody
Within the last 48 hours two bombs went off in two schools in Kalutara District. The second of them exploded in the compound of St. John's College around 11.30 p.m. on Thursday. Since it happened late in the night no casualties have been reported, police said.After the school authorities reported the incident to the police investigations have begun.
The first of the school bomb explosions occurred on Tuesday night at the Gnanodaya College, Kalutara South.
HQI of the Kalutara South Police C. M. Jayathilaka told 'The Island' that they had taken steps to send specimens found on the scene of the explosion to the Government Analyst for examination and report.
No casualties have been reported. However, some damage has been caused to the building, police said.
Police so far have not been able to make a breakthrough in their investigations into both incidents.
Police however, had questioned the security guards and the principal of Gnanodaya Vidyalaya.
Troops of northwest of Mankulam engaged in operation Jayasikurui, confronted a group of terrorists in a bunker on November 19. They confirmed four terrorists were killed during the attack, a Defence Ministry communique said.
During the day time south of Ampakamam terrorists fired mortars at troops manning defence. Troops retaliated with artillery and mortars. Two soldiers were injured due to the attack.
Troops continue to dominate newly captured areas.
On Novembr 19 around 11.55 p.m. at Trattalatotam in Jaffna district, troops confronted a small group of terrorists. On subsequent search troops recovered one T-56 weapon and small quantity of small arms ammunitions.
On November 19 around 5 p.m., at Neervely in Jaffna district, on information, troops conducted a search operation and recovered two hand grenades.
Jaya container terminal cleared of capsized ship
by Srian Bulathsinhala
The Sri Lanka Ports Authority managed to clear the damaged ship 'MV Leerort' yesterday after two months at the Jaya Container Terminal, SLPA sources said.The vessel Leerort capsized and was blocking the birth since September 19 this year after a container ship collided with it.
Sources said the salvation team were able to upright the ship on Thursday and the ship is now at the Colombo Dockyard.
The loss to the SLPA by this vessel blocking the berth was about 3 million dollars (Rs. 180 million). The estimated loss per day was about 50,000 dollars, they said.
The big main line ship which caused Leerort to capsize was about 10 times bigger than Leerort, was identified as MV Zim Pirraeus Bremen. Sources said that the ship had come towards the berth while the other ship, Leerort was there and it had brushed against one side of it. However, the collision had been serious and the smaller vessel had capsized.
The engineers suspect that a computer malfunction on Zim Pirraeus Bremen which caused it to go off course and collide with Leerort without any alarm going off to indicate that there is going to be a collision. From the investigations they have found out that there was an electronic fault in the main line vessel which cause it to alter course and bump into the smaller vessel.
Sources said that Leerort was valued around 4 million dollars. The estimated cost of repairing the damages had not been determined yet and the cargo which was mostly machines cannot be replaced, the sources said.
SLPA said that they were engaged in a huge legal battle with the consigner, the firm which owned Leerort and the operators of the main line vessel. The salvation was done by Master Divers Limited and a Singaporean firm.
Most Ven. Kamburupitiye Vanaratana Maha Nayake Thera's cremation on Nov. 23
The death occurred on Wednesday of the Maha Nayake Thera of the Sri Rohana Sangha Sabha, the Ven. Dr. Kamburupitiye Vanaratana Nayake Thera, a well known scholar and former Professor of Archaeology of the Sri Jayawardenapura University. He was of 87 years.
The late Maha Nayake Thera who had written a number of books on archaeology and history of Ruhuna had been a constant researcher. He was also a pupil and a great admirer of late Dr. Senarath Paranavithana.
State patronage has been extended to the funeral and the cremation will take place at Kamburupitiya at 3 p.m. on November 23.
Island Capers
Puddles piddlesThe Chief White Washer of the Kept Press (Samara Gaana Nayake) has devoted two editorials this week in his rag to The Island because we said that although we disagree with the objectives of NGOs who were present at the inaugural meeting of the National Alliance we do not agree with the disruption of the meeting by some demonstrators. This lickspittle who has not criticised his paymasters, the PA government, even once, since his appointment and instead sings his daily Bhakthi Gee dares call our journalism 'odious journalism'. Sorry Puddles, you can piddle at us. We have more important issues to discuss than your lapdog journalism in our editorials. Keep yapping at us and piddling too, for that is what you are paid to do.
by Franklin R. Satyapalan
The two day National Convention of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) that concluded on Monday saw a shake up in its hierarchy, a senior spokesman for the TELO said yesterday.N. Sri Kantha and A. Adaikalanathan MP were elected the leader and the president respectively of the organisation.
The outgoing president Mr. J. Vinothalingan has been elected new Secretary General.
K. Mahendran and M. Ramachandran are the new Deputy Leader and the Vice President respectively.
In addition to the office bearers the outgoing leader and chairman of Vellvettiturai Town Council M. K. Sivajilingam and outgoing Vice President K. Indrakumar have been elected to the seven member presidium which is the supreme decision making body of the organisation according to its constitution.
Twenty one member committee was also elected. The committee among others include M. K. Abu Yusuf, a former Minister in the EPRLF led North East Provincial Council, (Administrative Secretary) and N. Kanagaratnam (propaganda secretary) and S. Sivathasan and Ravi Tillekesuriya (Financial Secretaries) of the party.
Former MP R. Rajakuganeswaran is also included in the new Central Committee, the TELO spokesman said. A number of political resolutions had been passed at the convention. According to TELO sources this reshuffle is an effort to revitalize the organization to meet the future political challenges particularly next years which is expected to be a year of elections.
These sources indicated that there is the likelihood of the organization fielding a Tamil candidate at next presidential elections if both the ruling party and main opposition, UNP continue to adopt the present policy of indifference in regard to the urgency of seeking a just political solution to the ethnic question.
Corporal 'an exemplary citizen of SL'
Recently my daughter had accidentally dropped her wallet containing her identity card, keys and cash to the value of Rs. 2,500 on Havelock Road from her car. She had not noticed it falling off.
A day or two later a young Army Corporal turned up at my house with a wallet in his hands and asked me who this person was. I told him it was my daughter. How he came to my place was because she had our address in the identity card.
He told me that a few days before that he was driving an army vehicle along Havelock Road and he saw something falling off a car in front which was about two three vehicles ahead of his vehicle. And he saw a boy picking up the wallet and running, he went after him, stopped his vehicle and took the wallet from the boy's hand. When he looked into it he saw an identity card, a bunch of keys and cash to the value of Rs. 2,500. He could have easily taken the cash himself and forgotten about it. But being the honest soldier he was, he came looking for our address to hand it over. My daughter too had just come in to my place on her way to work. She of course was pleasantly surprised to find her wallet. He handed it over to her with the cash Rs. 2,500. She thanked him profusely and offered him a reward of Rs. 1,000 but he refused to take it. But she forced it on him and I too told him to accept it.
His name is Corporal Gamini Wickremasekera from the village of Dopegama in Attanagalla electorate. The Brigadier whom he works for is Brigadier Alwis.
We just could not believe that there are still honest people especially among the poorer section of society. His action is all the more praiseworthy because he was only a Corporal. When we come across such honourable people we feel happy to think that all is not lost in this otherwise corrupt country even among the richer and upper society. The Corporal will always be remembered by us as an exemplary citizen of Sri Lanka.
Dr. M. Ratwatte.
Counsel concedes Commission used wrong term
By Chitra Weerarathne
Counsel Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa conceded before the Supreme Court that the Athulathmudali Commission had used the wrong term when it said Sirisena Cooray was 'convicted' of contempt of the Commission.The stand taken was the Commission only could determine that contempt proceedings should be instituted against a person in the Supreme Court, and only the court could punish.
Justice R. N. M. Dheeraratne to counsel: The commission report said Cooray convicted. He will thus lose civic rights is that proper?
Mr. Rajapakse: Word 'convicted' is wrong. May be found guilty.
Justice Asoka de Z. Gunewardena: That is wrong then. Error on record.
Justice Dheeraratne: That part you cannot support.
Mr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse: I cannot support. I only argue that Commission findings could not be set aside by writs, according to Section (9) and Section (18) of the Special Presidential Commissions of Inquiry Act. The warrant is issued by the President. The report is to be submitted to Parliament. No legal consequences in the report. There is nothing to quash by a writ of certiorari.
Justice Dheeraratne: Is the President to throw the report to the waste paper basket. The man loses his civic rights. Do you agree the evidence in the report is insufficient. Not a rat could be trapped on that evidence.
What is the evidence of conspiracy cited in the report. Is the evidence sufficient to say Cooray guilty of conspiracy?
Mr. Wijedasa Rajapakse was the senior counsel for the two respondent Commissioners Tissa Dias Bandaranayake (Chairman) and G. W. Edirisooriya Member and High Court Judge Matara.
Petitioner Sirisena Cooray has requested the Supreme Court to quash the adverse findings against him in the Athulathmudali Commission report.
The said Commission was appointed to probe the assassination of the late Mr. Lalith Athulathmudali.
The Bench comprised Justice R. N. M. Dheeraratne, Justice Asoka de Z. Gunewardene and Justice L. H. G. Weerasekera.
Mr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse took the position that the Commission proceedings bearing evidence was not before Court, and that the Commission had led the evidence of some witnesses.
