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Children out of school due to
complacency As much as 50 per cent of 15-18 year old Sri Lankans are out of school system, according to Professor Swarna Jayaweera, head of the Centre for Women's Research. She made the observation at the launching of the annual State of the World Children Report of the UNICEF. Assessing the situation she said that despite education being one of Sri Lanka's success stories, there were lapses which were largely due to complacency. Commenting on the distribution of educational opportunity she said that 12 per cent of 5-14 year olds did not attend school, while in the low income area the drop out rate was about 30 per cent. This, she said led to the perpetuation of poverty because such children had no access to jobs and acquired no skills. Sri Lanka had come down a few notches in rank interns of education according to the Human Development Report of the United Nations. Sri Lanka had been ranked eight in the Asian region, whereas it had been ranked much higher earlier, she said. The quality of the education too she said was "not very good at all". Over the years, she noted that there had been a drastic reduction in spending on education due to various structural adjustment programmes. This means that the state spends sufficient money to maintain the existing system. In specific terms, she said that year five students lacked basic competency and also that there was a great disparity between the students in the capital and those in the outskirts. She added that the system had failed in the development of creativity and practical skills of children and the inculcation of values. Even though the literacy rate was 90 per cent the functional literacy rate was only 50 per cent, Prof. Jayaweera noted. She however, said that she was optimistic about the education reforms that were being introduced and also that educational had been made compulsory. Quoting from the report she said that it was the state that had the primary responsibility in the education of children and asserted that despite the fluctuating market forces and the changing economics the state must maintain that every child's right to education is non-negotiable. Deputy Minister of Education Prof. Viswa Warnapala who was the chief guest stressed the government's commitment to social welfare and added that it was very much part of its political agenda. He said that by the year 2001 there would be universal primary education for Sri Lankan children. Commenting on the government's educational reforms he said that even at the time free education was introduced there had been protests by certain sectors and it was the Maha Sangha and especially the Bikkhus of the Vidyalankara University who had propelled it on. He also identified the conflict between the centre and the periphery resulting in the lack of commitment on the part of the provincial bureaucracy to the process of change being the major constraints faced by the government in the implementation of the reforms. He identified the plantation sector as one of the special needs areas that had been long ignored. UNICEF representative Colin Glennie giving a global perspective to the problem, said that by the end of the century one sixth of the world population would be functionally illiterate. He noted that while the school enrolment rate was as high as 90 to 92 per cent there were problem areas in the context of child right. He said that 14 per cent of children do not attend school regularly and that a study in 1994 had indicated a drop in the quality of education. While commending the government on passing legislation to make education compulsory, he called for legislation to enable dropouts to commence their education. PA’s Colombo Municipal councillor
shot dead A Colombo Municipal Councillor was shot dead in broad daylight near Ananda College, Colombo, yesterday afternoon by some unidentified men who had come in a white Hiace van police said. The councillor M. M. Imtiaz of the Peoples’ Alliance had stopped the taxi he was travelling in at the top of Ananda Mawatha around 3.30 p.m. to purchase some provisions from a boutique when he was shot at. Police sources said it appears Imtiaz who had gone to the Cinnamon gardens area had been followed on his way back home by the men in the Hiace van. "It is an home and home affair. This is a clear case of underworld warfare. We have arrested some suspects" police sources said. Last week Imtiaz had been summoned by courts in connection with an attempted murder case. However he had failed to appear in court. Police sources said Imtiaz who had been wanted in connection with many murders and robberies was protected by a government parliamentarian. "He was so well protected that we were unable to even question him about the many complaints made against him by Maligawatte residents" the sources added. Police used fictitious informant to
enter and search Anura's residence The Police had used a fictitious informant, to unlawfully enter into, and unlawfully search the residence of UNP Parliamentarian Anura Bandaranaike, on 11.2.97, said Faiz Mustapha PC, yesterday in the Supreme Court. Mustapha argued the Fundamental Rights violation plea filed in the Supreme Court by Anura Bandaranaike, challenging the unlawful entry into, and the search of his Rosmead Place residence, on the night of 11.2.97, by the Police and the CID, on the pretext of searching for Susantha Punchinilame, the wanted man, in respect of the killing of Nalanda Ellawala, of the P.A. The respondents cited in the petition were, the IGP, (Luxshan Kodituwakku,) T. V. Sumanasekera. (D.I.G - CID), Bandula Wickremasinghe (Deputy Director, CID) and Ampavila (Inspector - CID). The former IGP W. B. Rajaguru, was subsequently substituted by the present IGP, L. Kodituwakku. At the outset Faiz Mustapha PC, said that, his client Anura Bandaranaike, had his residence at Rosmead Place, unlawfully searched, by the CID and the Police. The entry was unwarranted as petitioner Anura Bandaranaike was subjected to unequal treatment and discrimination on grounds of political opinion. This was in violation of Articles 12 (1) and 12 (2) of the Constitution. Anura Bandaranaike has entered Parliament at the age of 24 years, the youngest ever to enter Parliament in the Commonwealth, Counsel said, in explaining the political achievements of his client. The unlawful house search was done in the night of February 11, 1997. The residence of the petitioner is adjacent to the residence of the Prime Minister. The President's house too is nearby. The said houses are in the absolute high security area. There is a barricade at the McCarthy Road entrance, STF and the Army, occupy these security posts. The second and third respondents entered the house of Anura Bandaranaike. The fourth respondent had demanded entry, Counsel said. The respondent had received information from an undisclosed source. A private informant had telephoned at 11.20 in the night and said that he saw, the entry of Punchi Nilame, into the premises of the petitioner. But the caller Ędid not give his name. The caller remained anonymous Counsel Mustapha said. The respondents even in their affidavits to the Supreme Court did not disclose the name of the informant. This is absolute fiction, Council Faiz Mustapha said. The entry of Punchi Nilame is said to have been seen at 9 p.m. But the IGP had not alerted the security post. Justice Wadugodapitiya: Why did the IGP not alert the security post, upon receiving the telephone call? Mustapha: That remains a mystery. Counsel Mustapha, further explained that it is impossible for anybody to enter the absolute high security area, without a permit from the security personnel on duty. The Police and the CID did not check the credibility of the information received, prior to making an unlawful entry into Anura Bandaranaike's house, Counsel Mustapha said. The first respondent the IGP, knew about the telephone call. But he had failed to alert the security post. The other respondents had been directed by the IGP, to act. Justice Dheeraratne: There is no formal statement from the informant? Counsel: No formal statement recorded, as should be done. The evidence ordinance does not bar the respondents from giving confidential details to the Supreme Court. Counsel said. The informant had told the IGP that he had seen Punchi Nilame entering the house of the petitioner, through the rear side entrance, meaning, through the compound of the house of the Prime Minister, Counsel said. Justice Wadugodapitiya: Does the informant say that he was in the PM's compound. Did the IGP ask the informant what he was doing in the PM's compound? Counsel: Exactly, Lord. There is no credible acceptable documents of evidence at all. The IGP did not alert the STF on duty, because the IGP in reality did not receive any information, Counsel said. Justice Wadugodapitiya: How could a citizen enter this high security area.? Counsel: Even the Chief Justice cannot enter without getting a clearance from the security post. Even to a man with the meanest intelligence, it is unbelievable, he said. The second and the third respondents, had made a show of an entry into the petitioner's house. They had said that the IGP had ordered them to search Anura Bandaranaike's house, Counsel said. If the information was credible the police should have searched the PM's compound and the houses in the neighbourhood for Punchi Nilame. Even Anura Bandaranaike's house was not properly searched, Counsel said. Everybody was informed about this search. That would have been the purpose for all this, Counsel said. Police had entered without a lawful warrant, Counsel pointed out. Anura Bandaranaike had infact pointed that out to the intruders, he said. Justice Wadugodapitiya: I am surprised to think that a person wanted in respect of a murder would walk into a high security area. I am thinking of human nature only. Counsel: Like walking into the Lion's den. Mustapha pointed out that even Anura Bandaranaike's house was highly guarded by the Police Department. Justice Wadugodapitiya: It appears as if the informant may have been in the PM's compound. Counsel: Exactly. There was in reality no informant, Counsel Mustapha said. There is a clear violation of Articles 12 (1) and 12 (2), he said. The Deputy Solicitor General, Palitha Fernando, addressed the court on behalf of the respondent police and CID officers. The D.S.G. said that, the police officers who went there had the authority to arrest any suspicious offender. The police had good reason not to volunteer the name of the informant to this court, he said. Justice Wadugodapitiya: On what evidence is this court to act? D.S.G. I will explain step by step, each detail. The first respondent the IGP had known who the informant was, the DSG said. He had said he had known the informant for 15 years. Justice Wadugodapitiya: That does not explain the situation to us. The D.S.G. said that it is understood that the IGP knew the name of this long standing informant. Justice Dheeraratne: The IGP should give this court, the details of this informant. Justice Wadugodapitiya: We want to know whether there was an informant at all. The DSG should help us out of this. Palitha Fernando (D. S. G.) Even if the affidavits do not give that the Supreme Court can call for the details. I will explain why the identity of the informant is not given. The police have not volunteered but not refused to do so. The police does not want to get dried of informants, by divulging even to the public. Justice Wadugodapitiya: But the Court will keep the name and details in confidence. D.S.G.: The reluctance of the police is because the wanted man was suspected of shooting a member of parliament, in broad daylight, in the presence of bodyguards. The informant will be exposed to great danger. But the police however will never refuse to tell this court anything in confidence. That is why the IGP had not stated the name of the informant in any public document open to the scrutiny of the public document at large. Justice Dheeraratne: When the details of the informant is not given is not the creditability shaken? D.S.G. We should not go on the basis, that the informant is fictitious. Justice Dheeraratne: But what if someone entitled to be there near the petitioner's house had seen the suspect entering the petitioner's house, is the IGP to shut it off. Justice Wadugodapitiya: To decide a case we need solid data before us, given in detail. Did the police not search the neighbouring houses, to search for a person suspected of two murders at Ratnapura. D.S.G.: The information was that the suspect was at the petitioner's house only. Justice Wadugodapitiya: If something is lost in your house, you do not stop at searching your almirah, you search the entire house. Palitha Fernando (D.S.G.) said that there was no reason for the police to fabricate an issue against the petitioner. Justice Dheeraratne, we cannot go on that argument. Justice Wadugodapitiya to the D.S.G.: Did not the IGP know that the petitioner is closely related to the deceased Nalanda Ellawala? D.S.G.: I do not know that. Mustapha said that the respondents in an affidavit has sought to justify, the publicity given to the search by the state controlled electronic media. The news bulletin had sought to damage the good name of the petitioner who is a senior UNP, parliamentarian. Mr. Palitha Fernando said there was no element of malice in this whole exercise. Court: Did they express regrets then when they did not find Punchi Nilame in the house of Mr. Bandaranaike. Mustapha: No. They did not regret. They got defiant. Faiz Mustapha PC, appeared with Ananda Kasthuriarachchi, Sanjeewa Jayewardene, Navin Dissanayake and Mrs. Faizar Mustapha Markar, for the petitioner, Bandaranaike. Deputy Solicitor General, Palitha Fernando with Senior State Counsel Buweneka Aluwihare, appeared for the respondent, Police and CID officers. The Bench comprised, Justice R. N. M. Dheeraratne, Justice S. W. B. Wadugodapitiya and Justice Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. UNP nominates team to Co-operate with business leaders The UNP has nominated MPs A. C. S. Hameed, Ronnie de Mel, K. N. Choksy and D. M. Swaminathan to cooperate with the Sri Lanka’s business leaders in securing the implementation of the Liam Fox Agreement. In a letter dated December 8 delivered to Lalith Kothalawela, the coordinating chairman of the business leaders, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has said that he appreciate that the co-ordinating chairman and his colleagues have no "hidden agenda". Mr. Wickremesinghe has thanked Mr. Kothalawela for clarifying the matters referred to in his letter dated 27/11/98 but added that clarifications sought by him became necessary in view of the phraseology contained in Mr. Kothalawela’s letter. Mr. Wickremesinghe has said that his nominees will cooperate with the business leaders with a view to securing the implementation of the Liam Fox agreement as stated at a meeting between the UNP and the business leaders on October 26. "I am nominating Messrs. A. C. S. Hameed, Ronnie de Mel, K. N. Choksy and D. M. Swaminathan to represent my party and to cooperate with you in securing the implementation of the Liam Fox agreement", Mr. Wickremesinghe has said. Earlier UNP officials told ‘The Island’ that it will not nominate people to represent the party to pursue the Sri Lanka’s business leaders effort to bring the ruling party and the opposition together to end the north-east crisis. The UNP leadership sought clarifications after the co-ordinating Chairman of the Joint Committee of the Business Leaders, Lalith Kotelawela in the last week of October requested UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe to name his representatives. In a letter hand delivered, Kothalawela has urged Wickremesinghe to name his representatives while informing the Opposition Leader that the President has appointed four representatives from the government side for what Kothalawela described as peace negotiations, the UNP said. The UNP said that they expect the business leaders to persuade the government to implement the April 1997 Liam Fox initiative. Justice Constitutional Affairs, National Integration and Ethnic Affairs Minister Professor G. L. Peiris recently told 'The Island' that the government has absolutely no difficulty with regard to implementation of the Liam Fox initiative. Responding to the UNP’s call to implement the April 1997 agreement worked out by the former Minister of State in the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Dr. Liam Fox, Minister Peiris said the government has repeatedly indicated that the constitutional process devolution package cannot be excluded from the scope of the Liam Fox initiative. The UNP insists that the devolution package could not be considered a part of the Fox initiative. [SF] Only Distilleries Company jacks-up prices Most of the local distillery companies are not expected to jack up prices of their products inspite of a revision on customs duty on rectified spirits. A spokesperson for Rockland Distilleries said yesterday that they had provided for the duty in their prices after the 10 per cent price hike in last month’s budget. There would be no further changes in their prices, the spokesperson assured. Managing Director of W. M. Mendis and Co. Ltd., Hiran Gunaratne said there will no price revision as a result of the duty hike on rectified spirits. ’We will absorb it and keep our prices stable’, he said. ‘There will be no change in the price of only of any of our products’, he added. Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka increased prices by 10 to 15 per cent with effect from last Monday in view of the customs duty hike. However, prices of coconut spirit based products remain unchanged. Industry sources pointed out that a further price hike on the heels of last month’s 10 per cent revision on liquor was a boost to the illicit hooch business and was in a way counter-productive as it meant more expenditure on the country’s health sector, which the government has to ultimately dish out. Harry
resigns from Air Lanka Chairman of Air Lanka, Harry Jayawardena said yesterday that there is nothing controversial or speculative about his decision to resign from his post. He told 'The Island' that his decision to resign was merely due to the fact that his period in office had come to an end. He added that though rumours about him were strife there was nothing more to his decision. "Air Lanka has been the most successful company in the private sector," Mr. Jayawardena said. He backed this claim by saying that the national carrier had recorded a profit of nearly Rs. 1800 million this year and the accounts were being tabled in Parliament. A Rs. 800 million dividend has also been paid to the government, he said. Mr. Jayawardena said that he had no criticism or complaints with regard to the post that he held. Parliament yesterday passed the extension of the state of emergency in the entire country by one more month by a vote of 112 to 78. The motion received 112 votes in favour and 78 against. The UNP and TULF voted against the motion while other Tamil parties voted with the government. Dhanapala says Iraq must comply over arms COLOMBO, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Iraq's drive to make biological arms has been its most secretive weapons programme and Baghdad has to come clean on what it is doing, a senior United Nations disarmament official said on Wednesday. "The biggest area where you have to do a lot of work is biological weapons," Jayantha Dhanapala, under-secretary-general in charge of the U.N.'s Department for Disarmament Affairs, told Reuters in an interview. "There of course I think we have to pressure our Iraqi colleagues to be more forthcoming and provide the evidence, and then I think we can wrap this up as quickly as possible," he added. But he said that significant progress had been made. "There are a lot of common grounds between the Iraqi authorities and UNSCOM (United Nations Special Commission)," he said. "On the nuclear front the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) feels that they are ready to move from the disarmament phase to the ongoing monitoring and verification phase," Dhanapala said. Dhanapala, a former Sri Lankan diplomat, was speaking in Colombo. Dhanapala told Reuters that despite the world's sanctions fatigue, Iraq still has to cooperate with the United Nations to ensure a comprehensive review of its progress in disarmament. "It is in the interest of both the Iraqi regime and the international community to seek a speedy conclusion to this matter... and this is why the secretary general's programme of a comprehensive review becomes important," he said. Today is Human Rights Day. This year's Human Rights Day is of added significance as it marks the 50th Anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, the United Nations Information Centre said. The anniversary year theme is "all human rights for all". The adoption of the UDHR is widely hailed as a triumph uniting very diverse, even conflicting political regimes, philosophical and religious systems and cultural traditions. The Declaration has not only influenced International Human Rights Law, but has also inspired countless national legislation around the world. Human Rights have been one of the major concerns of the United Nations since its inception in 1945. The Charter of the UN signed in San Francisco on 26th June, 1945 is the first international treaty whose aims are expressly based on universal respect for human rights. One of the first major achievements of the United Nations in this direction was the adoption of the Universal Declar ation of Human Rights. Article 1 and 2 of the Declaration state that "all human beings are born equal in dignity and rights" and are entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Declaration. "Without distinction of any kind such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political and other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." Article 3-21 set forth the civil and political rights to which all human beings are entitled to. During the 50 years following adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more than one hundred documents on human rights have been adopted and implemented by the United Nations. The International Covenant on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights and two optional protocols to these covenants, the international conventions on genocide, torture, racial discrimination, apartheid, international conventions on the rights of women, refugees, children and migrant workers and the Vienna Declaration and programme of action of the World Conference on Human Rights are among them. The United Nations Information Centre, Colombo has organised a series of activities to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration. The publication of the Bill of Human Rights and the convention on the elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in Sinhala and Tamil, series of seminars/workshops for teachers, NGO activists and students, essay/oratorical contests among the school children of the Southern province organised in collaboration with the movement for the Defence of Democratic Rights (MDDR) and the Organisation for the Defence of Human Rights in Galle and several multi-media programmes were among them. The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan in his message to mark the occasion said 'Today , we celebrate the half century of United Nations' milestone. We honour the highest of human aspirations and renew our promise to conquer the worst of human cruelty. We pay tribute to the minds of those who conceived of these human rights and to the memory of those who died for them. Human Rights Day is a day for all of us who enjoy human rights to imagine life without them - and to think how hard we would fight for them to retain them. It is a day for those who are still denied their human rights to dream again of asserting them, and to know that their dream is our dream - the dream of all human rights for all. I began this year by reaffirming the universality of human rights, and by arguing that human rights are foreign to no culture and naive to all nations. From the streets of Asia to the towns of Africa to the courts of Europe this past year has been a year of protest and progress," he added. |
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