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Handing
over nominations at K’gala Kachcheri today |
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Handing over nominations at K’gala
Kachcheri today United National Party’s candidate for the Chief Minister’s post of the North-Western Province, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera yesterday wrote to Inspector General of Police Lucky Kodituwakku requesting him to provide security to the supporters of the party accompanying the party’s group of candidates who are scheduled to handover nominations at the Kurunegala Kachcheri this morning. Mr. Jayawickrama Perera in his letter to the IGP has said, he had informationn that the ruling PA’s group of candidates, too would handover nominations today at the same venue and that the PA’s supporters were allegedly planning to harass the United National Party supporters. He has stated that he feared threats to lives and property of UNP supporters who are accompanying the UNP candidates. He also stated that the UNP candidates and their supporters would not arrive at the Kachcheri in motorcades to avoid any untoward incident. However, there will be a large crowd taking part on the occasion of the handing over of nominations and he is in the know that there are plans to cause bodily harm and destruction of property of UNPers, on their way to the Kachcheri and on their way back, he has stated. He has also stated that the People’s Alliance group of candidates are planning the use of a large number of vehicles. Both UNP chief ministerial candidate Jayawickrama Perera and People’s Alliance chief ministerial candidate S. B. Navinna yesterday tendered their resignations from their parliamentary seats to the Secretary General of Parliament, Bertram S. B. Tittawella. It is I who decide whether UNP or SLFP
will govern this country "It is I who decide which party governs this country though Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and United National party (UNP) are the main political parties in the country. I derived this power by serving the estate workers in the upcountry through non violent means and by giving them true leadership", Minister of Livestock Development and Estate Infrastructure, S. Thondaman told a meeting at Adawatte Estate in Lunugala to mark the opening of a library funded by the Ministry of Estate Infrastructure. It was organised by M. Ulagaraj, Co-ordinating Secretary for Uva Province in the Estate Infrastructure Ministry. Minister Thondaman further said: "I am the only person who continue to serve the people for 31 consecutive years. I represented only the Tamil people of Indian origin in this country who did not have any say. But Tamil people in Jaffna enjoyed all their rights and they had a powerful political leadership. Today they have lost all "that". Former Provincial Minister of Uva, M. Sachiththanandan former Provincial Counsellor, Siram Loganathan and Passara Pradesheeya Sabha Councillor, M. Ananda Silva also spoke. UNP,SLPF hand over nominations The United National Party (UNP) and Sri Lanka Progressive Front (SLPF) yesterday handed over nominations to contest Puttalam district in the forthcoming North Western Provincial Council elections. The UNP and SLPF submitted their nomination lists to contest Puttalam district, while a lone independent group handed in their deposit to contest Kurunegala district in the run up to the hustings for the provincial polls for the Wayamba. A strong contingent of armed policemen were deployed at Kurunegala and Puttalam as political parties started filing nomination papers yesterday. It was reported that UNP hierarchy was facing problems over the nomination of former DIG M. S. M. Nizam to the list of nominees for Kurunegala district in place of Kurunegala MC councillor Abdul Sattar. After last Friday's Jumma prayers a number of Muslims from Kurunegala staged a protest carrying placards in a bid to urge the UNP leadership to nominate Mr. Sattar. The protesters later demonstrated in the town. UNP activists Festus Perera, Harold Herath and A. H. M. Azwer were present with Asoka Wadigamangawa when he handed in the nomination list yesterday for Puttalam district which included the names of Mrs. Warnakulasuriyage Mary Larin Perera, a former provincial minister of Womens' Affairs, Abeysinghe Herath Mudiyanselage Arjuna Maya Wadigamangawa, Mrs. Gwen Herath and Asoka Wadigamangawa. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, a former chief minister of Wayamba is expected to hand over the nominations of UNP list for Kurunegala and be chief ministerial candidate while Nimal Bandara, who is also a former chief minister is to be among those fielded by the UNP for Kurunegala district. S. B. Nawinna is to head the PA's list of nominations as chief ministerial candidate. The PA, JVP and other contenders are to submit their nominations today. Nominations close this afternoon. Srimani says ‘no’ to contesting with the UNP United Lalith Front leader Mrs. Srimani Athulathmudali in a statement yesterday said the party will not be contesting with the UNP the forthcoming elections. "As Leader of the United Lalith Front I categorically state that no decision has been taken by the Working Committee to contest the North Western Province Election under the United National Party", she said. No plans to abandon restoration of M SR Oddusudan, December 6 - Army Commander Lt. General Rohan Daluwatte said that the armed forces have not abandoned plans to restore the Vavuniya-Jaffna overland Main Supply Route [MSR]. Last Friday’s calling off the Jayasikurui operation does not mean we have abandoned efforts to restore the MSR, he told The Island. "Our aims and objectives in the Wanni remain the same," he insisted adding that the decision to regain Oddusudan, 14 kms north of Nedunkerni was a part of the strategy to weaken the LTTE power in the Wanni. Last week the Operational Headquarters of the Defence Ministry announced the calling off of Jayasikurui fuelling speculation that government’s much publicised Wanni operations have come to and end. "Capture of Oddusudan will increase our options," he said adding that "the afternoon’s attempt to eliminate the defence top brass will have no effect on planned operations to take the battle into areas in the Wanni currently held by the LTTE. He said that clearing of LTTE strongholds on both the eastern and western flanks was crucial in efforts to re-open the MSR", he said. He pointed out that last week’s operation [Rivi Bala] had achieved the objectives of securing the Mankulam-Oddusudan [20 kms] and Nedunkerni-Oddusudan [14 kms] and bringing approximately 134 square kms under armed forces domination. Earlier Jayasikurui troops linked Nedunkerni-Puliyankulam and Mankulam-Puliyankulam. He said that government forces did not have access to these areas for many years. However ongoing operations have permitted the armed forces to regain some lost ground in the Wanni. Several journalists airlifted to an army camp at Nedunkerni had a closer look at the bloody battles taking place when terrorists fired mortars at the deputy defence minister and the armed forces top brass visiting Oddusudan for their first inspection after last week’s capture. The attempt on the lives of the top brass prompted a heavy counter mortar and artillery attack. Shells fired from the Nedunkerni camp whistled overhead towards suspected targets in the general area north of Oddusudan as journalists travelled in locally-built Unicorn Advance Protection Vehicles [APVs]. "Terrorists moved at least two mortar tubes to an area off Oddusudan soon after losing control of the town. Since then they had been targeting troops engaged in consolidating the newly captured area. During Sunday troops operating ahead of their defence at Oddusudan killed four terrorists. The day before terrorists killed two troops and wounded a few near Nedunkerni. The Deputy Defence minister Anuruddha Ratwatte said that the latest attempt to kill him will not change anything. Troops at Oddusudan are just 15 kms away from Mullaithivu, he said adding that terrorist targets there are well within the artillery range. He pointed out that current phase of operations will considerably affect terrorist movements in the eastern part of Wanni. Earlier in the day Wanni Security Forces Commander, Major General Lionel Balagalle said that the 53 Division comprised commandos, special forces and airborne troops, 55 Division and some elements of the 56 Division were involved in the Rivi Bala operation. "We were able to achieve total surprise," he said adding that troops completed the linking of Nedunkerni with Oddusudan and Olumadu east of Mankulam on the Mankulam-Mullaithivu road with Oddusudan with facing resistance. Before the launch of the last week's operation the road between Mankulam and Olumadu was under government control. "We are in the process of moving our former defence line forward," he said indicating that the current phase of the operations will have a considerable impact on future action. Junior officers said that troops had confronted small groups of terrorists operating in the area. "They are engaged in hit and run attacks," an officer said adding that operations were continuing against them. Earlier in the day minister Ratwatte answering a question said that there was no serious shortage of troops. "We'll be able to do a better job and do it fast if we have more men," he said. Major General Balagalle pointed out that youth should join the forces. "My son has joined the army," he revealed adding that his deputy Major General Neil Dias's son had joined the Air Force. The acting US Ambassador in the UN Peter Burleigh, will give a lecture on the current human rights issues at the auditorium of the Sri Lanka Bar Association at 4.30 p.m. today (8).prior to taking up the UN post. Mr. Burleigh was US Ambassador to Sri Lanka. Teenage gang spends stolen money on
women, massage parlours A teenage five member gang of thieves was arrested by Welikada police last Monday with goods worth over Rs. 3.5 million in their possession. Among the goods taken into custody were gold jewellery worth around Rs. 3 million and household goods such as video decks, TVs, cassette recorders etc. worth Rs. 5 million. Police investigations had revealed that the gang had robbed 34 houses in Mirihana, Welikada, Thalangama, Athurugiriya and among them were residences of two high ranking police officials. Police also seized a pistol, a magazine and four live bullets which had been robbed from the house of an Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to the Presidential Security Division. Investigations had revealed that the gang had spent over Rs. 500,000 realised by the sale of the stolen goods, on prostitutes and massage parlours. All five suspects were less than 20 years of age. Welikada police are carrying out further investigations under instructions of Western Province (South) DIG, Jayantha Wickramaratne. Eight youth arrested for harassing young
couple Police on Saturday afternoon arrested eight youths from Chilaw for allegedly harassing a young married couple from the United Kingdom, at the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens. The eight young men were produced before Kandy Chief Magistrate Ms. D. C. Mirinchiarachchi on Sunday (6) and remanded till today. The suspects, according to police, had harassed the couple and behaved indecently, while the duo was walking in the botanical gardens enjoying its scenic beauty. The suspects remanded are Pradeep Sudharshana, Manjula Kumar, K. Helisinghe, Dinusha Senanayake, Chaminda Senanayake, Chaminda Lal, Sumedha Priyantha and Samantha Sanjeewa of Kumarakattuwa, Chilaw. Anura's rights violation plea against
CID - hearing today The Fundamental Rights violation plea, filed in the Supreme Court by UNP Parliamentarian, Anura Bandaranaike is to be argued today. The petitioner had complained against the search of his Rosmead Place residence, by the CID, on the night of February 11, 1997. The said action of the CID had not been warranted by a Magistrate, according to the petition. The petitioner, has complained of degrading treatment, unequal treatment and the violation of his personal liberty, by the respondents, the Director CID and the IGP. The said residence is said to have been searched on the pretext of looking for Mr. Susantha Punchinilame, who had been wanted in connection, with the shooting of Nalanda Ellawala, PA MP. Leave to proceed with this Rights violation pleas was granted earlier. Mr. Faiz Mustapha PC with Mr. Amarasiri Panditharatne, will appear for the petitioner. Mr. Bandaranaike is seeking for a declaration that his Fundamental Rights have been violated by the CID and the Police Department. Appeal to Chandrika - include B'caloa
district in Netherlands grant housing project In response to the report appearing in " The Island" dated 4th December '98, the President of the Kattankudy Division - 6, Development Board, K. Adam Lebbe has written to the President of Sri Lanka that the project under which Netherlands Govt. has agreed to provide Rs. 90 million as a grant, has left out Batticloa district completely. The report which carried the story that Netherlands agreed to provide grant assistance in a sum of NLG 2.5 million, approximately Rs. 90 million in support of Sri Lanka's housing reconstruction programme in the Eastern province. The funds could be utilised only by Trincomalee, Kalmunai and Ampara districts. The Batticaloa district has been omitted from this programme. In his letter to the President, Adam Lebbe has stated that this serious omission should be look into and rectified. As such the project already prepared should be enlarged to include the Batticloa district also. The reasons for the non-inclusion has been given as that Batticoloa district been the worst affected district in the Eastern province in the ongoing ethnic war. The people are presently suffering without proper housing and basic amenities like electricity, water supply and health facilities. The leaving out of Batticloa district from the above project is feared as a direct outcome of the vengeance of a political party that is with the government, as it considers the Batticloa district as a whole is standing on its way to supremacy among an ethnic group in the Eastern province. He has earnestly requested the President to consider the above facts and include Batticloa district too in the project. Airlanka catering services call off
go-slow Airlanka Catering Services (ALCS) employees have decided to call off their go-slow temporarily following an assurance by the management that their demands will be looked into. A meeting was expected to be held yesterday at the Tourism and Aviation Ministry with the employees union, Airlanka management and the Deputy Minister Munidasa Premachandra to sort out the issues at hand, authoritative sources said. The discussion will focus on the crucial additional payment of Rs. 40,000 the employees are demanding along with four months salary as bonus this year. The Airlanka management is agreeable to pay 4 months salary, but has rejected the Rs. 40,000 additional payment demanded by the employees as unacceptable. A trade union official justified their demand saying that profits have gone up. So has the Dollar appreciated against the Rupee and revenue made is mostly in hard currency, he claimed. The union argued that last year's profits were made when Thai International, Airlanka's joint venture partner in ALCS, ran the company. Thai held 40% of the ALCS while Airlanka held the majority 60% equity. They also argue that Emirates who took over the management in April this year should have no say on this matter. The union said the go slow is temporarily off until a satisfactory solution is mutually worked out. Meanwhile, an Airlanka spokesperson said yesterday evening that talks aimed at reaching a settlement will continue with the employees, union. At a meeting held yesterday, the employees agreed to continue to work without any disruption until the dispute is sorted out through discussions. 'They gave a commitment that they will continue to work without disruption and we are hopeful of reaching a settlement soon through discussions', she said. Kotapola PS gets loan for bulldozer A cheque for Rs. 3 million was handed over by the Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Alavi Moulana to Kotapola Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Mahinda Seneviratne recently to purchase a bulldozer (pako). The money will meet half of the cost of Rs. 6 million. The Chairman who accepted the cheque said, "We will buy the bulldozer through this loan and clean up our area, build roads, serve the people and further hire the bulldozer at a nominal rate whereby monies could be recovered to pay the loan." Minister Moulana said, the Ministry has decided to help local authorities to serve their areas and to implement new development projects and it is ready to grant loans for this purpose. The Minister expressed his fervent hope that the people of these areas would be benefited. The local authorities should engage themselves in activities that would be advantageous to the people, the Minister said. Lankans turn maniacs when they sit at
the wheel "Sri Lankans are known the world over as very courteous people but behind the wheel they are the most ruthless monsters", Transport and Highways Minister A. H. M Fowzie said referring to the large number of lives lost and damage caused by motorists. Addressing a seminar on "Indiscipline on the road and law enforcement" organized by the Automobile Association of Ceylon last week, the Minister said that road accidents is a major cause of hospitalisation in Sri Lanka. He said that victims of road accidents occupy 24% of the beds in the National Hospital Colombo and traffic accidents cost the government more than 1% of the gross National Product. In financial terms annual loss to the country due to road traffic accidents is more than Rs. 3 billion rupees. This account for 50% of the budgeted allocation for the highways sectors, he noted. Around 2000 people die every year due to road accidents and 40% of these victims are pedestrians, the most vulnerable road users. Pedestrians also constitute 88% of all casualties of road accidents, majority of them are young people, Mr. Fowzi revealed. "Apart from road traffic accidents, indisciplined behaviour of motorists and other road users including pedestrians is a major cause of traffic congestion in the city", he pointed out. Mr. Fowzi said that motorists rarely give way to pedestrians at legal crossing locations designated for the pedestrians. Over 50% of the pedestrians' accidents have occurred while they attempt to cross the road. According to statistics 32% of pedestrian victims suffer head injuries and 57% suffer leg injuries. These victims are mostly treated in government hospitals and they consume scarce resources that could have been used to treat other patients. The best way to remedy this situation is to get best use of the existing transport infrastructure and services. "To do this we should cater to the majority of road users- the 98% who use public transport", the Minister said. UNP MP Susil Moonesinghe-MP said that law enforcement is a necessity. He said that 99.5% of bicycles go around at night without lights and nothing is done about it. Although there is a law that prohibits Pajeros with fenders, most often members of Parliament violate this regulation. Therefore all politicians must take the blame for the indiscipline on the roads, he said. Anyone is brought to book for violating road rules, but sometimes the case is not proceeded with because there is no system. "Computerization of systems is necessary; for instance - the customs", he said. Mr. Moonesinghe said that the police should be an independent unit and operate under a commission without any political interference. A monitoring regulatory board should be set up to protect the people, he said. Electrification scheme in Halwitigala Galle: Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Power Piyasena Gamage at the opening of the Halwitigala Electrification Scheme in Tawalama Divisional Secretariat area said that water, electricity, school and hospital are the four basic needs for human life, despite political or any other differences. A power supply to the rural peasantry helps to make an additional change to their life - styles. He was addressing a meeting at Halvitigala, Electrifican Scheme, in Hiniduma, after commissioning four rural electricity supply projects in four remote villages such as Pitigala Tawalama Ranapaladeniya and Talgaswala-east at a cost of Rs. 5.3 million provided by the ADB. He also said that though the funds were allocated long ago the supplies were delayed due to a back log of work in the C.E.B. Now many rural areas in Hiniduma pattu were developed by roads and electrification schemes launched by the government during the last three years. President Chandrika Kumaratunga's belief is that once those remote villagers are provided with electricity, they will automatically obtain further economic benefits after changing their lifestyles. They would be encouraged to indulge in more income earning ventures. Thereby their children too would be much happier to read and write than under the light of the bottle lamp. As a result they would improve in their studies. The land problem, which was one of the major problems in the area was solved. Tawalama Divisional Secretariat played a vital role under the direction of Divisional Secretary of the Divisional Secretary Mr. Wijewickrama, the Deputy Minister also said. YP- a man who never strived to gain
wealth through ill-gotten means Amidst a heavy down pour where nature gods cried, a distinguished gathering of Cabinet Ministers, fellow Deputies, MPs, leaders of political parties of all hues and people from all walks of life the late Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP) leader and Deputy Minister of Food Y. P. de Silva was cremated at General Cemetery, Borella last evening. The funeral procession winded its way from the Keppettipola Mawatha, official residence of late SLMP leader and took almost one and a half hours to reach the General Cemetery where thousands of mourners had gathered to pay their last respects to a great humanist and socialist of the past era. At the outset Ven Kamburugamuwe Vajira Thero spoke at length extolling the virtues and characteristics of the late SLMP leader that stood out from among the rest Sri Lankan politicians. The Anusasana was delivered by Ven. Brahmanawatte Seevali Thero, General Secretary of Amarapura Nikaya, later MP Baratha Lakshman Premachandra, Deputy Leader of SLMP reminisced on the life of the late leader, followed by General Secretary of SLFP Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake said the death of the late Y. P. de Silva was a loss to all progressive and socialist forces in the country and promised that the ideals which he stood for were realized at least after his death and referred to him as guru guide, philosopher and friend - a man who strived to bring the ethnic issue to an end and read out the speech of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. General Secretary of PA Minister D. M. Jayaratne read out the speech of Prime Minister Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike and said that the late SLMP leader was one who never strived to earn wealth through ill-gotten means although he may have faced untold problems during his lifetime and his death was a great loss to all progressive forces in the country. Former Deputy Minister and Gampaha District MP John Ameratunga representing Ranil Wickremesinghe read out his speech and said how late Y. P. commenced his politics in the Communist Party and strived all throughout his life for the down trodden masses of this country and his death was a irreparable loss to the country. Speaker K. B. Ratnayake speaking on behalf of all parliamentarians said how he had come to know the late Y. P. through Ratnasiri Wickramasinghe and Dharmasiri Senanayake. He said Y. P. de Silva was a great man who never accumulated wealth, property and material things as most politicians but worked for the upliftment of the poor. He said Y. P. as he was fondly called was a very humble man respected by all parliamentarians. He also asked all members not to fail to look up the Hansard for the last speech made by late Y.P. on the Budget which speech would be an example to all. Senior Vice President of TULF Ananda Sangari speaking on behalf of all Tamil political parties said that the late leader was an example to all where he strived to bring ethnic peace and equality among all races and that other leaders should follow in his footsteps so as to bring peace to this county and said that none of the Tamil political parties or people would disagree if one said that late YP was someone special whom none of present leaders could equal and one whom Tamil people will never forget. New Lalith Fronts MP Kesara Lal Gunasekera speaking on behalf of his leader said that late Y.P. had the ability to agree and understand various views and aspirations of other political parties and it was very difficult to find a politician of such a calibre. |
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