Allegations of underworld characters in NWP
Wayamba tense with polls feverBy Franklin R. Satyapalan
While the UNP and PA make allegations and counter allegations against each other about election related violence Wayamba is already teeming with underworld characters from all corners of the country representing both political factions.Mr. Kingsley Rodrigo, Executive Director of People's Action for Free and Fair Polls (PAFFREL) told "The Island" that underworld elements belonging to both UNP and PA had entered the Wayamba from outside.
Several MPs of UNP were joined by over a thousand members of general public who picketed and demonstrated opposite Maradana railway station on Thursday and appealed to government to pave the way for free and fair polls in Wayamba and not interfere or intimidate police officers and public servants carrying out their duties, a senior spokesman for the UNP said yesterday.
Already more than 40 election related incidents such as shooting, attempted murder, arson, mischief, threats, assaults, intimidation causing damage to property have been reported since nominations closed at noon on December 8th.
Mr. Rodrigo who had 16 monitors observing the pre- elections violence yesterday warned that various gangs of both parties UNP and PA had gone to Wayamba. So escalated violence could be expected after January 2nd which was very bad for free and fair polls.
Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils Alavi Moulana yesterday refuted the UNP's allegations saying the UNP could have any number of pickets because they are free do so under the present democratic set up.
If the then Opposition had attempted to picket during the 17 year rule of UNP they would have been issued a ticket by the UNPs underworld to the other world.
On Thursday the UNP headed by MPs Tyronne Fernando, Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, M. H. Mohamed, Mrs. Renuka Herath, Tilak Karunaratne etc., picketed and demonstrated opposite Maradana Railway Station from 3.00 to 4.30 p.m. against "State sponsored political thuggerism by the PA," said MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene yesterday.
Today why the UNP advocates an Independent Police Commission, Election Commission and Public Service Commission is to prevent such type of political thuggerism, and intimidation and interference of public and police officers by the PA.
The UNP protests against transfer of six high ranking police officers from Wayamba by the PA. If the people are to have trust and confidence in multi party political democracy we have to protect the rights of the civil society by way of protesting against political thuggerism and undue interference to public servants and the police.
We would continue our struggle against "PA's political thuggerism" throughout the country on behalf of peace loving people of our country, Dr. Jayawardene said. Minister Moulana said some of those UNPers who picketed on Thursday are in political mindedness and it is rather amusing that they are trying to focus attention of general public in order to direct their attention from what they did during their 17 year regime.
Minister Moulana said we never used the members of the underworld or police as the UNP did. There were "black sheep" in the police who did everything at UNP's bidding.
We were victims personally at the hands of UNP thugs during those dark days.
PAFFREL boss said that elections are for the people and it is very horrible and frightening when such gangs invade the political field.
Mr. Rodrigo said that in January 1999 the PAFFREL was opening 4 Regional offices in Puttalam and 8 in Kurunegala with 3000 monitors in the field on election day January 25th 1999 with 25 to 30 mobile monitoring teams.
President to visit India to sign free trade deal
COLOMBO, Dec 25 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga will go to New Delhi next week to lay the foundation for a new rest house for Buddhist pilgrims and probably also sign a free trade agreement with India.
But the deal has drawn criticism from local media and analysts who say cheap, duty-free products from Sri Lanka's giant neighbour will crush the island's industry and farmers.
Government officials said the trade deal was still being negotiated and there was a chance Kumaratunga could seal it if the two sides iron out their differences.
"Discussions are continuing. If mutual finality is reached then it could be signed, otherwise the dialogue would continue," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ravinatha Aryasinha told Reuters.
"There are certain basic minimums that would be needed to be met before the agreement is signed," he said without elaborating.
Kumaratunga will meet Indian businessmen, opinion-makers and officials during her two-day visit starting on Sunday.
Diplomats said the free trade agreement will give Sri Lanka greater access to the huge Indian market.
"Both sides will have a negative list of products that cannot be exported under the zero-duty regime," one diplomat said.
"The Sri Lankan negative list is going to be much larger than India's, which means the advantage will be with Sri Lanka."
Sri Lankan officials said differences remained over what should be included in the negative lists, critical rules of origin and the time frame within which the markets will be opened.
Sri Lanka is demanding that India lower its value addition stipulation for exports to 25 percent from the current 50 percent and plans to include agriculture products in its negative list to ensure local farmers were protected.
The idea of a free trade agreement was mooted by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during a South Asian summit in Colombo in July. Since then officials from both countries have been working towards it.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar said last week he hoped the deal would be signed during Kumaratunga's state visit to India, but warned the continuing marked imbalance in trade was a matter of concern.
India had a mammoth trade surplus with Sri Lanka in 1997.
Its imports from Sri Lanka amounted to a mere 2.582 billion rupees ($37.8 million), while exports were 33 billion rupees ($483.1 million).
From 1990 to 1996 Sri Lanka's imports from India rose by 566 percent and are likely to be over $600 million this year.
Analysts said the deal could kill local industry, already burdened with high production costs.
"We do realise that India is our giant neighbour with whom we should have good relations. But there is no need to ruin our economy and make our farmers commit suicide," the independent Island newspaper said in a recent editorial.
Independent economist and former trade secretary J.B. Kelagama said Sri Lanka made few products that had a market in India.
"The export production structure in Sri Lanka, like most other ex-colonies, is geared to meet the demands of developed countries whether it is in agriculture production of tea, rubber and spices or industrial production like garments," he said.
Thieves steal all the Christmas cakes
Residents of Palliyawatta in the Hendala area who usually celebrate Christmas on a grand scale were in for a rude shock this time, for the Christmas cakes they gave numbering about 800 for baking to a popular baker in Hendala on the eve of the great day were stolen by a gang who had entered the bakery in the early hours of the Christmas morning.
So their position this time is they cannot either eat the cake nor have it.
The baker after complaining about the matter to the Wattala police was busy from early morning yesterday compensating the irate customers. The estimated value of the stolen cakes had run into several thousands of rupees.
Time bomb sold for Rs. 10,000 to Tigers by ex-policeman
From our Polonnaruwa Corr.
Investigations have revealed that the time bomb detected at Manampitiya road block on December 12 was one that had been sold by an ex-policeman of Kokkadicholai toand employee of rice mill to be carried to a given destination and a sum of Rs.10,000 was paid by the ex-policeman to the rice mill employee for undertaking the job.This sophisticated time bomb containing C 4 high explosives, hidden in the bottom of a travelling bag was detected by police sergeant Cristy Fernando at the Manampitiya road block. The timer had been set for the explosion, and it contained about 190 g of explosives, police said.
Subsequently, police apprehended thirteen Tamil youths who were working in a rice mill along with the mill owner who is a Sinhalese from Kaduruwela, Polonnaruwa. Thereafter the investigations were taken over by the CID in Colombo.
The ex-policeman, believed to be behind the bomb deal had also worked in the same rice mill till the 9th of this month and left for Kokkadicholai after he received a special message by a terrorist leader in that area, sources added.
Bomb experts in army have revealed that the bomb had the capability of destroying people and property within 25 square metres, completely.
A special police team conducts further investigations.
LTTE admits death of twelve Sea Tiger 'officers'
From Batticaloa Corr.
The LTTE's "Voice of Tigers" broadcast on Thursday night announced the death of 12 Sea Tiger officers in a confrontation with Naval personnel in the seas north off Mannar.Among the dead were two majors, one lieutenant colonel, three lieutenants, six captains including four female Sea Tigers according to the announcement.
This year's Christmas up to the time this edition went to press has been celebrated in a peaceful note sans any major incident.
Police headquarters said no incident of note had been reported.
National Hospital sources said there had been only one admission resulting from burns caused by fire crackers.
Minister to transfer Samurdi deposits to other Banks
By Walter Nanayakkara
Bank of Ceylon and the People's Bank would soon lose Samurdhi deposits amounting to more than half a billion rupees to their rival private sector banks unless the two state banks opt to pay higher interest rates for these deposits.Minister of Samurdhi, Youth Affairs and Sports S. B. Dissanayake in a public statement last Sunday spelt out government' s strategies to generate funds for community level action for elimination of poverty through the compulsory savings scheme and the voluntary savings scheme.
He told a large gathering which included Divisional Secretaries, Samurdhi Managers, Samurdhi Animators, office bearers of Samurdhi banking societies, officials and parliamentarians, at the Sports Ministry Stadium on Reid Avenue, Colombo that over Rs. 200 million in compulsory savings and over Rs. 500 million in voluntary savings are in deposits in the two state banks. The deposits carry an interest of 7 percent.
'We will not give Samurdhi monies at interest rates so low as seven percent in future. We want at least 13 to 14 percent interest for our Samurdhi deposits. If the Bank of Ceylon and the People's Bank are unable to pay a higher interest on Samurdhi deposits we will take the deposit it in other banks which are ready to pay the higher interest rate. A mere one percent increase meant an additional Rs. 5 million return. That is a lot of money which we can use to increase the salaries of the Samurdhi Animators and also give more jobs' the Minister added.
Kumar Abeynaike, General Manager of the Sampath Bank Ltd., passed away yesterday after a brief illness.
His funeral will take place on Sunday at General Cemetery, Kanatte at 9.30 a.m.
Police baffled by sudden disappearance of librarian
BATAPOLA: Librarian of the public library of the Ambalangoda UC, 49-year-old, Jayantha Chandrasiri has been missing since the evening of December 22. Police have drawn a blank in their investigation so far.
He reported for duty on December 22, and left the library around 4.45 p.m. without telling anything to the two assistant librarians and the minor employee on duty at the time. They have thought that he must have visited the nearby boutique. He was to finish his work at 6.00 p.m. on that day though the library closes at 7.00 p.m. His motor-cycle was by the side of the road opposite the library and even his travelling bag along with the pay-packet he had collected that day was in the library when he had just taken a walk towards the Galle-Colombo Road which is about 50 yards away from the library.
He was wearing several rings, a bracelet and a gold chain, all worth around Rs. 1 lach.
His residence is at Randombe on Galle-Colombo Road, about 1 1/2 miles away from the library.
Suspects rounded up in spate of transformer blasting
By Kalinga K. A. Weerakkody
Ampara Police arrested on Friday three suspects who were involved in a spate of transformer blasting incidents in Akkaraipattu, Samanthurai and Kalmunai area within the past six months.OIC Ampara Police P. Hettiarachchi told 'The Island' that with the arrest of these suspects they found the motive behind the incidents.
Due to the tight security LTTE activities in these areas have almost come to an end. So to distrupt the law and order situation the LTTE and hired several persons in these areas and given them the contract to blast the transformers, OIC further stated.
"We are now questioning them under detention orders and they have revealed the names of fifteen persons who were involved in this connection. So 20 transformers have been blasted causing damage to the tune of Rs. 5 million".
Parents drink poison after throttling child
Neminda Samarajeeva Our Galle Corr.
A tragic incident of a school master and his wife committing suicide by consuming poison after throttling their only child ailing from cancer was reported from Baddegama on Wednesday.Investigations by Baddegama OIC IP Lucian Suriyabandara revealed that the father A. H. Sarath (32); a school teacher and living in Agaliya area of Baddegama had taken their only child Shammi Kumudini (4) to a doctor who had informed the parents that their daughter was ailing from cancer.
Returning home around 2 p.m. on Wednesday the father had taken a strip of cloth to suffocate to death the ailing child.
Thereafter around 3 p.m. both parents had consumed an insecticide and committed suicide.
Neighbours who rushed to their home found A. G. Sarath (32), wife Swarnamali Samanmali (29) and child Shammi Kumudini all dead.
Inquirer into Sudden Deaths, Elpitiya, A. R. Victor stated that the child had died due to suffocation caused with a strap of cloth.
DMO Elpitiya Dr. W. Dharmadasa in his report said that the parents had died due to poisoning.
Further investigations are being conducted by Baddegama police under the directions of OIC IP Lucian Suriyabandara police said.
The Telcom Engineers Union has threatened to resont to trade union action in protest against the recent rulings by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) and on a alleged proposal to remove the present Chairman of Sri Lanka Telcom (SLT), Hemasiri Fernando. The union has requested the minister to revoke the rulings by TRCSL, which the union considers as favourable only to the Suntel and Lanka Bell companies.
The union sources say there has been no response to their demands so far and if they don't receive any response soon the union will resort to trade union action.
Minister of Health, Nimal Siripala de Silva has assured the Acupuncture Patients' Beneficiary Association that the services of the Acupuncture Clinic will be continued with foreign specialists from China.
Over two and a half million patients have been treated at this clinic free of charge, according to official sources.
Nine anti-personnel mines recovered
In Wanni during daytime on Thursday south of Mankulam troops recovered nine anti personnel mines, according to a press release of the Operational Headquarters, Ministry of Defence.
In Jaffna on Thursday around 3.30 p.m. at Paranthan troops sniped and killed one terrorist.
They have received information from sources in Wanni that LTTE Sea Tiger group leader Walluwan was killed along with nine senior cadres in a naval attack. Altogether 14 Sea Tigers had been killed and a large logistic consignment completely destroyed in this attack.
UNP left with a few leaders - Anura
MIRIGAMA: During the last few years the LTTE had killed most of the UNP leaders like President Premadasa, Ranjan Wijeratne, Gamini Dissanayake and Weerasinghe Mallimarachchi. Now the UNP has only a few leaders. They want to go around the island excluding the Northern Province. As a result they are unable to visit Mirigama regularly said Gampaha district and Mirigama Chief UNP Organiser Anura Bandaranaike at a UNP meeting held at Mirigama, Loluwagoda.
The meeting was presided over by Mr. Bandaranaike.
He also said 'I am not only the chief organiser at Mirigama as I must look after 12 other electorates within the Gampaha district.
Former Minister and Mirigama former MP Mahendra Wijeratne and I were born at Mirigama. I must live and die here I have served you for a number of years.
Udena Wijeratne PS member and Chandrasoma Sarnalal PS member Mirigama also spoke.
Panadura-Wadduwa dual rail track will be ready shortly
KALUTARA: The dual rail track from Panadura to Wadduwa will be completed shortly, said a high official of the Railway Dept.
The second stage is to extend the track from Wadduwa to Kalutara South railway station.
The extension of dual rail-track will have the inter city train fare as Rs. 65.00 from Galle to Colombo against the Rs. 50/- charged for by the inter city bus. There will also be an additional third class compartment at a reduced fare.
At present, only the government employees with 2nd class warrants travel in the inter-city and it is a great loss to the Railway Department.
NAMAL opens office in Kurunegala
National Asset Management Ltd., (NAMAL) recently opened its first branch office in Kurunegala, with a pledge to make investing in the financial markets easier for people in this populous trading hub.
Speaking at the occasion, the company's Chairman Deshamanya C. A. Coorey said NAMAL's objectives were consonant with the government's efforts to promote capital investment in various parts of the country. 'Pooling financial resources through Unit Trusts is the most effective way to fund large projects,' Mr Coorey said.
NAMAL's Acting General Manager S. Jeyavarman said Sri Lanka's financial markets have become volatile and increasingly complex, making it imperative that investment decisions be based on accurate information. 'NAMAL will provide investors in Kurunegala with the information and advice they need to invest their money productively,' he said.
The Central Bank's Superintendent of Public Debt T. S. N. Fernando said very few people outside Colombo were aware of the existence of risk-free instruments that can be purchased at any time. Hence the opening of NAMAL's branch at Kurunegala was welcomed by the Central Bank, Mr Fernando said.
NAMAL which pioneered Unit Trusts in Sri Lanka now manages three funds, the National Equity Fund (NEF), the NAMAL Growth Fund (NGF) and the NAMAL Income Fund (NIF).
Pinnaduduwa benefits four storeyed super market complex - Kingsley Wickremaratne
GALLE: A two storeyed super-market complex put up at a cost of Rs. 115 million at Pinnaduwa New Town was declared open by the Minister for Internal, International Commerce & Food Kingsley T. Wickremaratne recently. It included a branch of the Peoples' Bank, a tractor requirement store, a CWE outlet and a petrol filling station.
Mr. Wickremaratne said that he had decided to put up this complex in Galle at the request of the Ministr of Education & Higher Education Richard Pathirana who had earlier done him a similar favour in deciding to open an Information Technology Centre in his electorate at Kaduwela. This centre would contribute much towards revolutionizing the education system by the Year 2000 and would also help our youth to face the new millenium with fortitude.
The minister went on to say that he was questioned on the increase in food prices, especially on commodities such as potatoes and chillies. He had called up a conference of potato merchants and was surprised to find that there were even police officers of high rank among them. He understood that there was a monopoly of the trade which resulted in high prices and in order to break this, decided to import potatoes from abroad. Prices came down and with it the price of dhal also came down. 'At one state we exported 'samba' rice to countries such as England and America. This was done with the purpose of bringing out the hidden stocks of rice which some farmers had hoarded to sell at high prices when an artificial shortage was created'.
Although people speak of the war in the north and east being a hindrance to our administration, we more or less have the situation under control. The 'Tiger Courts' no longer exist. We have opened a CWE outlet in Jaffna which is manned by both male and female employees. Food is regularly supplied. I was happy to be invited as a witness to the marriages of three young girls who found employment there. This is proof that all is well. Tea auctions were conducted in England for over 130 years but since July 19, 1997 we have taken over as the prices of our tea have spiralled as our President has given a boost to the tea industry here'.
He also said that 'Richard Zoysa was a neighbour of mine and the Minister of Education has questioned me as to whether I was a witness to Mr. Zoysa's abduction by stooges of the UNP. I replied that I was. We have not banned the TV programme 'Always Breakdown' although it is a parody on us. Such a situation would certainly not have been tolerated by the UNP. Perhaps those responsible would have suffered the same fate as Richard Zoysa'.
Mr. Amarasiri Dodangoda, Minister of Rural Development and Vocational Training said that the planters in the south were indebted to the Minister of Food for giving them the opportunity to sell their tea at attractive prices. This has resulted in being able to solve their problems regarding payment of rentals, taxes, electricity and water bills and the like. Under the U.N.P. regime a kilo of tea was Rs. 8.00. This has now risen to Rs. 26.00. The new branch of the Peoples' Bank would enable the villagers to do their transactions regarding loans, deposits etc. on the spot without having to go through the inconvenience of travelling to Galle for the purpose. 'Our government has done a yeoman service over the past four years. What did the U.N.P. do for 17 years? We regret that although the north east war cost Rs. 100 per person per day at the initial stages. This has now risen to Rs. 250. Three thousand three hundred kilometres in the North are under our control. Ranil says that the U.N.P. will have unconditional talks with the L.T.T.E. What does he mean? We will talk to them on our terms with the aim of putting an end to the war. We will not surrender to them. When this is done, the P.A. will be invincible, Ranil and Co. notwithstanding'.
Mr. Richard Pathirana, Minister of Education and Higher Education said that he was happy about the fact that he was able to fulfil an election pledge that he would bring Pinnaduwa from darkness into light by converting it into a new city. He was sorry that Mr. Fowzie, former Minister of Health, was not present at the function due to illness. He played a major role in the development of the area. A new education centre will be opened in August 1999 in close proximity to Pinnaduwa to train 1,200 teachers a year. These progressive steps have been taken by us. We will follow up this success at Pinnaduwa with similar ones at Talagaha in Akmeemana'.
Mr. Indina Gunawardena, Minister of Housing and Urban Development said that he had come to attend this function after laying the foundation stone for a housing scheme at Wekunagoda. The occupants would become owners after a period of 20 years.
The Chief Minister of the Southern Provincial Council, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, the Mayor of Galle Lionel Premasiri, the Chairman of Salu Sala, H. G. Sirisena and the Chairman of the Petroleum Corporation Anil Obeysekera also participated.
Two books authored by Sumithra Rahubadda - 'Aga Pipi Mal' and 'Ranga Soba' were released recently without much fanfare. 'Aga Pipi Mal' is a novel and the latter 'Ranga Soba' is a translation of a Norwegian writer Liv Ullmann's, 'Changing'.
