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US–UK to closely watch Saddam’s next move LONDON, Dec 21 (Reuters) - The United States and Britain, claiming success for four days of air strikes against Iraq, vowed to tighten sanctions and increase pressure on President Saddam Hussein as the focus switched on Monday to diplomacy. The U.N. Security Council was scheduled to meet in the aftermath of the raids which have angered Russia and China, caused unease in several Western countries, notably France, and sparked protests in Arab capitals. Ahead of expected diplomatic wrangles, London said it would send an aircraft carrier to the Gulf in the New Year as a warning to Saddam, who proclaimed victory for the Iraqi people just hours after the bombing and missile raids ended. Washington said it would scrutinise Iraqi actions and was ready to strike again if Baghdad tried to rebuild military structures hit in the attacks which ended on Saturday night. Iraq’s Ambassador to the U.N. Nizar Hamdoon, who said casualties from the strikes ran into thousands of dead and wounded, said Baghdad would ask the U.N. Security Council to lift immediately the economic sanctions imposed after it invaded Kuwait in 1990. "We think we deserve that," he said. Baghdad will argue that the lack of poisonous gases from the U.S.-led air raids showed it was not developing chemical or biological weapons, the ambassador added. Opposition to Washington and London maintaining the military option will almost certainly surface in the Security Council. Permanent members Russia and China have expressed opposition to the strikes. Russian President Boris Yeltsin termed them senseless, commenting after they ended: "Common sense has finally prevailed. Now the international community must draw serious conclusions from these tragic events." In France, President Jacques Chirac has called for a review of the eight-year-old international oil embargo on Baghdad. "First of all, we must improve the living conditions of the Iraqi people who have suffered for so many years. This is possible and necessary. We have to do it very quickly and France has a certain number of proposals to put forward," he said. Chirac indicated he thought the conditions should be eased so long as checks remained on Iraq’s weapon building programme. The United States and Britain, who both blame Saddam for the plight of the Iraqi people saying it is up to him to abide fully by U.N. resolutions, want the opposite changes. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the next move was to develop a "policy of containment" — the better to keep Saddam "in his cage". London would begin intensive negotiations with Security Council members, Arab countries and European allies "to forge a new strategy for stability in relations between the international community and Iraq", he said. Defence Secretary George Robertson said Britain would send the aircraft carrier Invincible to the Gulf in the New Year and that the 12 Tornado aircraft which dropped fifty 2,000 lb (900 kg) bombs in about 30 sorties, would remain in the area. "Deploying Invincible to the Gulf will send a very clear signal to Saddam that although military action has now ended, we are not going away," Robertson said. "We will be watching Saddam closely and remain ready to take further action if he again defies his obligations to the international community." Washington also warned Saddam its eyes would be on his every move, with Defence Secretary William Cohen spelling out American strategy: "We are going to be in the region, we are going to maintain our military capability, we are going to continue the sanctions and watch to make sure that he doesn’t pose a threat to his neighbours or try to reconstitute these programmes," he said. DIG’s transfer highly unjustifiable, says UNP United National Party (UNP) General Secretary Gamini Atukorala said in a news release yesterday that the government’s decision suddenly to transfer the DIG in charge of the North Western Province is viewd by the UNP as an act by the government which is politically motivated and highly unjustifiable. There had been no valid reason given to this transfer and the only possible reason one could imagine is his earlier association with security division of one of the former presidents of the country. It is a known fact that DIG Camillus Abeygoonawardana, has demonstrated impartiality and fairplay in the exercise of his duties throughout his career and it was this government who appointed him as DIG and posted to NWP. The United National Party feels that it is the duty of the President as Minister of Defence to see whether this transfer is reasonable and if not with whose initiative it was done. If his association with the presidential security division was the only reason for him to be singled out for this transfer it would be rather unfair by him and also will be an act that demoralize the police service. There are several other DIGs in charge of provinces who have been working with the security division of the former presidents. Therefore the sudden decision of the Government to transfer the DIG (NWP) creates doubts in the minds of the law abiding people of the North Western Province whether the Government’s move is a prelude to executing a hidden agenda of violence as done in the recent past thus intimidating the voters and preventing them exercising their legitimate rights. In all their utterances from the time of the nomination and even prior to that, it is clear that the Government is ‘hell bent’ to win this election as a face saving measure amidst their fast declining popularity, UNP claimed. In the meantime the United National Party wish to place on record their appreciation of the out going DIGs appeal to fellow officers of the NWP to maintain impartiality and fairplay in the discharge of their duties as law enforcement officers." Information Counsellor at SL mission in
UK ‘sacked’ Information Counsellor, Mr. Aruna Kulatunga was recently sacked from his post at the Sri Lankan High Commission in Britain, reports coming in from London said. A Foreign Ministry official when contacted by ‘The Island’ confirmed yesterday that the reports were correct and that Mr. Kulatunga had in fact been dismissed from his post. The spokesman told The Island that the Information Counsellor of our London High Commission, Aruna Kulatunga had been "discontinued from his services and his case referred to the Attorney General". He however declined to comment further on the matter saying that the case was sub judice. Aruna Kulatunga was dismissed from his post as Information Counselor at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London by the Public Services Commission in accordance with the terms of his contract. Although no exact reason has been given as yet, it is believed that his dismissal was due to some controversy regarding his comments to the media in London that is said to have endangered security measures adopted by Sri Lankan foreign missions. A Fundamental Rights plea was filed by Mr. Kulatunga last Friday at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka demanding his reinstatement and compensation. With reference to the news report under the headline "DIG NWP transferred" in yesterday’s ‘Island’, DIG Camillus R. Abeygoonewardena categorically denied having made any statement to the newspaper or to any person in this connection. The transfer of NWP DIG Camillus Abeygoonewardena was not politically motivated, IGP Lucky Kodituwakku said yesterday. He has been moved to Colombo to take over traffic operations, the IGP told ‘The Island’. International
medical school Chairman of BOI Thilan Wijesinghe in a statement said yesterday that certain false perceptions have been created on the International Medical School that has been granted approval by the Board of Investment. The Chairman says that the approval granted by the BOI is for the setting up of a training institute which will be affiliated to a foreign medical school. This training institute will provide in-house medical training to local and foreign students with internship facilities made available through recognised local private hospitals and a new hospital project to be set up by the same promoters. It should be emphasised that the proposed training institution will not grant medical degrees locally as this is explicitly prohibited under the University’s Act, Section 21. For this reason this application has not been referred to the Ministry of Health nor the University Grants Commission. Doctors obtaining degrees through the foreign university affiliated to this institution will be able to practice in Sri Lanka only if they sit for routine exams and abide by any other conditions imposed by the relevant ministry. In any case this would be applicable to any individual holding a medical degree form a foreign university. In contrast, the North Colombo Medical Campus (NCMC) set up many years ago conferred local degrees. Therefore, the proposed facility is in no way similar to the NCMC. As a matter of routine, under Section 17 of the BOI Law applicable to training institutions, the BOI has granted approval of several dozen institutions in the field of computer science, textile technology, management science, automobile training etc., over the last 3 years. The BOI has also stipulated that a minimum of 100 persons per year should be trained by each institute to qualify for BOI concessions which include a preferential income tax rate of 15% for 10 years. Among these training institutions approved are several institutions which are affiliated to foreign universities where degrees would be conferred offshore and not in Sri Lanka. A prime example is the Institute of Technological Studies (ITS) located in Colombo 5, he explained. Foreign liquor seized from supermarket A team of Colombo City Excise Officers (CCEO) seized foreign liquor worth Rs. 6 1/2 lakhs from a supermarket in Nugegoda on Friday evening. The raid was led by the Officer-in-Charge T. Mahendran. It was found that this supermarket was selling liquor without a licence. Whisky was being sold under the guise of hampers, for thousands of rupees, excise sources said. Duty free Brandy and Wine, were also seized, total number of 481 of whisky bottles 28 bottles of brandy , 193 bottle of wine and 448 cans of beer were found in the Supermarket during the raid, the sources said. Lankan women better off despite war COLOMBO, Dec 21 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka’s political and ethnic conflict may have traumatised the country’s women, but it has also strengthened their position in society, a United Nations human rights award winner said on Monday. Sunila Abeyesekera told Reuters a large number of women were now running their homes following the disappearance or death of their husbands. "This has meant for the first time that not only community and society, but state and bureaucratic structures have to deal with the fact that women are the heads of households," she said. Human rights organisations have said some 60,000 Sri Lankan youths died or disappeared in a government crackdown on a radical youth uprising in 1988 and 1990. Thousands more have died or have disappeared in the 15-year ethnic conflict in which the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in Sri Lanka’s north and east since 1983. "In spite of all the trauma and all the terrible conditions...I still think that these factors have forced society to change the way they treat Sri Lanka women," Abeyesekera said. She was one of five people along with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to receive the U.N. award earlier this month. The other winners were human rights activists from Uganda, Brazil and the Czech Republic. Abeyesekera also said the migration of Sri Lankan women as workers to the Middle East and their employment in hundreds of garment factories in free trade zones in the country had given thousands of poor rural and urban women economic independence. "The economic independence has increased their bargaining position within the family," she said. Nearly 800,000 Sri Lankan women work in the Middle East and 65 percent of them are maids. Abeyesekera has been an active campaigner for women’s rights for more than 30 years. In 1988 she started a group called INFORM as a small, underground organisation trying to document human rights abuses and set up an office in 1990. Troops operating forward of defences Northwest of Mankulam last Saturday observed a group of terrorists constructing a bunker and engaged with small arms. Four terrorists were killed during the confrontation, Operational Headquarters said. New commander says army committed to
ensure peace and amity Kandy: The army is committed to ensuring peace and amity in the country, the new Army Commander Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya told journalists after paying homage to the Sacred Tooth relic. He subsequently called on the Mahanayake Theras of Malwatte and Asgiriya on Sunday. Taking time off from his busy schedule in Kandy to speak to journalists, Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya said that the prime responsibility of the army is to ensure security of the country and the people and its duty is to fulfil that obligation within the framework of the policy of the government in power. The new army chief received the blessings of the two Maha Nayake Theras. Ven. Palipane Sri Chandananda, Mahanayake of Asgiriya Chapter told the Army Commander that the army was expected to shoulder a heavy responsibility for restoration of peace and amity among the different communities, by fighting to protect and safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of the country. The on-going war should not be allowed to continue without an end in sight. There should be an end to the war which is responsible for loss of valuable lives resources and public and private properties the prelate noted. There are proposals for holding talks between the government and the LTTE in a quest for a settlement to the crisis. But such proposals are yet to be realised, the prelate said adding that these problems would not have aggravated so much if the two major political parties of the country reached consensus. The prelate expressed the hope that the new army commander with his 30 year service would be capable of successfully discharging his duties having won the hearts of his officers and men. Ven Rambukwelle Sri Wipassi Mahanayake Thera of Malwatte on whom the Army Commander called on earlier said that the war was a bane on the development process as well as the peace and social freedoms of Sri Lankans. Crime and social disorder of the country is rising day by day. Deserters of the army carrying with them weapons and explosives have become a social menace as instances of crime committed by those deserters are increasing steadily he noted. While protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the country the new Army Commander is responsible for curbing those responsible for creating terror by the use of illegal arms, the prelate added. Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya on his arrival in Kandy visited the Sri Dalada Maligawa where he was welcomed by the Diyawadana Nilame Neranjan Wijeyeratne. The army chief was accompanied by Major General Kularatne and Brigadier Rasaputhra of the Central Command. Eighteen Tamils caught attempting to
migrate to India Navy intercepted three boats carrying eighteen Tamils from Mannar attempting to cross over to India illegally last Sunday. The suspects along with the three boats were handed over to Mannar police by the Navy. Police in turn handed them over to the Government Agent Mannar. Permanent Atavisi Buddha Mandira for Mahabodhi Vihara A permanent Atavisi Buddha Mandira is now under preparation at the Mahabodhi Raja Vruksha Vandana Viharaya which was established in 1991 to commemorate the Mahabodhi Centenary located inside the Elvitigala Mawatha Jathikapola premises. This vihara was founded by Major Herby Seneviratne, presently the first MBS member counting 42 years of service and a member of the Board of Management heading the MBS Religious, Cultural & Social Service Council, with the full support and advice of the late Mr. Gamani Jayasuriya when he was the President of the MBS at that time. Atavisi Buddha Puja means paying homage to the known 28 Buddhas including the present Gautama Buddha. This is the first and presently the only permanent Atavisi Mandira for this purpose. The Mandira under construction is an elaborate and impressive structure and the inside actual Vihara work is now in progress. The Buddha statues representing the 28 known Buddhas donated by M/s Maliban Biscuits Ltd., are now on display at the Foster Robinson Free Memorial Ayurveda Institution opposite the Bodhi Vihara, from Monday 21st inst. till further notice. All well wishers and devotees are kindly requested to call over at the above location and take part in this pinkama. The Mahabodhi Society appeals for funds for the rest of the Mandira work. Please contact Major Herby Seneviratne by Telephone 591042 after 2 p.m. or call over at the Ayurveda Institution in the morning. International disputes should be
resolved peacefully President of the SLFP Muslim Federation A. H. M. Fowzie said in a message: "We, as a peace loving nation have always upheld the Charter of the United Nations and firmly believe that the use of armed action against another country should be governed exclusively by the conditions laid down by the Charter. We believe that international disputes must always be resolved peacefully without having to resort to armed intervention. When the Chris-tians world over are preparing to celebrate Christmas and spread the word of peace and love to all mankind, I am dismayed at the outburst of war and destruction by two most profound and respected nations of the world on a helpless country and her people who are preparing for the Holy month of Ramadan which is of such great significance to the Muslims. We the Muslims in Sri Lanka sincerely hope and pray that those involved will terminate all such violent action and extend a hand of love and peace during this festive season of both the Christians and the Muslims and request that armed action against Iraq be stopped forthwith". Over sixty employees of a garment factory at Katunayake had fallen ill after consuming meals at the annual party of the factory last Saturday, police said. They had been admitted to Negombo, Minuwangoda and Ragama hospitals. Katunayake police are conducting investigations. (NP) Labour Tribunal building needs repairs The Colombo Labour Tribunal situated down Vauxall Street is desperately in need of repairs. This building which belongs to the government has not been maintained properly since 1984 when it became the Labour Tribunal coming under the Ministry of Labour. At present it comes under the purview of the Ministry of Justice. The plight of the building is obvious to anyone who enters it. The main entrance can easily be mistaken for a rear entrance if not for the sign board. The dejected looking front entrance with its walls which are very badly in need of a coat of paint leads one up an unlighted old staircase. The elevator has been out of order for the last three years. The building lacks basic amenities such as electricity and water, says the Chairman of The Labour Tribunal Practitioners Association (LTPA), S. Sinnathmby. The staff are compelled to seek water from the temple situated opposite the Tribunal. The building does not have a water supply and the two water tanks in the building have not been cleaned for a long period. The toilet facilities are in a very poor state and there is only one labourer to attend to the maintainance of this vast building. Despite the fact that the government has been informed of the situation and help been requested, no steps have so far been taken to improve conditions, he told a news conference. Inspite of these obstacles five Labour Tribunals continue work. The first and third floors are not presently occupied. The third floor according to the members of the LTPA, is in an extremely bad state with chunks of the roof collapsing from time to time. The general condition of the building they say is a hazard to its occupants and those who visit it daily for the purpose of litigation. While the staff exceeds forty, 150-200 people visit the building daily. The LTPA said that the building could collapse on them at any time. This was all because the officers concerned have not taken any initiative to attend to repairs and to maintain the building, he charged. One of the Labour Tribunals have been moved to Sangaraja Mawatha. The LTPA was of the opinion that this was needless if the government had repaired the third floor. They informed the press that an amount of about Rs. 6 lakhs was spent annually on rent for this new building at Sangaraja Mawatha. If a part of this money was used to reconstruct the Vauxall Street building, three new tribunals apart from the five that are presently functioning and a main office could be constructed, they maintained. Apart from the lack of basic amenities, the tribunal also lacks adequate staff. The LTPA said that they were badly in need of stenographers, translators and office aides. Since the commencement of the Labour Tribunal Association in October 1995 members have continuously asked the government to reconstruct the building. However no steps have been taken so far. They said several meetings had taken place with former Secretary of the Ministry of Justice Dharini Wijaytilleke and the present Secretary, M. S. Jayasinghe. Although they have requested for a meeting with the Minister of Justice it had not materialised, they said. Following the discussions, although the ministry had promised to start repairs in 1997 by calling for estimates from the State Engineering Corporation and tenders to repair the elevater no action has been taken they said. The association feels that if the necessary repairs are done lakhs of rupees spent by the ministry on rent can be utilised to upgrade the building and improve facilities. This will also help to resolve cases within the stipulated period of six months. The objective of the Labour Tribunal is to take judicial action in respect of applications made by employees when services are terminated. Through the help of Labour Tribunal employees can be reinstated or receive compensation At present there are 7000 cases pending at the Labour Tribunal. Members present at the Press conference included Messrs. L. R. De Silva, Nimal Mallalasekera, Bernard Dissanayake, Bandula Herat, L. M. Silva. "Private medical college, a threat to
free education" The setting up of a private medical college is a threat to free education, a spokeman and a senior committee member of Medical Faculty Students’ Union, Ausha C. De Silva claimed. Speaking at a press briefing after a picket campaign, in protest against a proposed private medical school, he said the solution to the dearth of medical practitioners is to increase the intake to the medical faculties. The students who could afford a medical degree at a cost of couple of lakhs are less than 1% of the science student’s population. Why is the government so concerned about a few thousand of students,? the spokeman asked. The government’s stand with regard to this issue is still not known. The Students’ Union has protested to the Sri Lanka Medical Board and is awaiting a reply. The union hope that this problem will be solved peacefully. If a soultion is not forthcoming then the union will decide on the next course of action, he added. In the recent past the establishment of a private medical college at Ragama in which MBBS degree lone on "sale" created much student unrest and demonstrations, the union recalled. The student unrest at that time led to closure of universities for over three years. Ultimately the government recognised the students’ cries and the PMC was absorbed in to the state sector and is currently functioning as the Medical Faculty of the University of Kelaniya, he said. The attempt of opening a private medical school in Sri Lanka would lead to a repetition of the "notorious past" which is inevitable. Creating an unnecessary number of doctors is a waste of the resources of the country and also will lead to sub standard medical care, Mr. de Silva added. Another point is, the unemployment of doctors, a fate which has befallen most other types of graduates in Sri Lanka, he said. The proposed international medical college is an approved BOI project. But the BOI should understand that it cannot control the Sri Lanka Medical College. There is a much more fundamental issue that mere investment involved in this decision, that is the health of Sri Lankans, a communique issued by the Union stated. ‘On the spot service’ —
day-to-day matters attended to A special programme of a full day "On the spot service" will be held (22) to extend an opportunity for residents of Colombo South to get their day-to-day problems attended to by Government Departments, M.S.Jayasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration, told a news conference. He said that this programme was organised on the direction of Minister of Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration Prof. G. L. Peiris after a series of consultations with representatives of the Tamil Community. Mr. Jayasinghe said that at these consultations it surfaced that they together with members of other communities undergo various hardships and problems with regard to dealing with matters such as renewing National Identity Cards, obtaining Birth, Marriage or Death Certificates or having their pensions transferred or adjusted. He said that these problems were found to be more serious among the Tamil speaking community as they are handicapped due to their inability to communicate in Sinhalese while many officers are unable to comprehend Tamil. He said that people in the areas of Kirulapone, Gokampura, Pamankada West, Pamankada East, Wellawatte South, Wellawatte North, Kollupitiya, Havelock Town, Bambalapitiya, Thimbirigasyaya, Narahenpita and Milagiriya will be able to get their grievances redressed by the respective Departmental representatives and Grama Niladharies who will be present at the "On the spot service" centre at St. Mary’s School, Lauries Place, off Duplication Road, Bambalapitiya tomorrow. M.M. Sheriff, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration Division, told the Press conference said that this would be the first ever programme of this nature to remedy all difficulties and inefficiencies borne by the public and that such "On the spot" service centres will be launched in other areas as well to cater to the people. He said that this programme is intended to take place on a monthly basis. Provision has also been made to address language barriers and other delays at this programme scheduled from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.Services of interpreters, photograph booths and advisory services regarding all matters dealt with in the departments of Registrar General, Registration of Persons, Pensions, Attorney General, Police, Army, Navy and Airforce, will be available Mr. Sheriff said. He said that the Immigration Department has been omitted, though, because it was felt by the organizsing ministry that matters pertaining to this department needed particulars of the National Identity Card and therefore priority should be given to the N.I.C. Mr.Sheriff said that a ‘front-office concept’ would be adopted at the services centre while all departmental functions would be activated on this occasion to grant more efficient and speedier service to the public. He also assured that if business is not attended to in an efficient manner or if expected results are not achieved by the public their complaints would be entertained by the Ministry. He urged the public to take maximum advantage of this opportunity. Student training camp in self-employment BELIATTA: Following a request made by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mahinda Rajapakse, Industrial Development Board of Ceylon conducted a training camp for the students of Beliatta Technical College. The workshop which began on October 21 was a part of the planned crash programme to develop the Hambantota district. Students possessing skills in certain areas were given a training with a view to direct them towards self-employment projects. Garment industry, textile printing, repairing of sewing machines, introduction to latest machinery in baking trade, manufacture of fibre glass items dehydration of fish and the production coir were the items. Beliatta Technical College Principal told "The Island" that this workshop is a golden opportunity for his students to take a good start for their future. Nearly 200 students were registered to undergo the training. In addition to the workshop in training a separate seminar was held to give guidance and initiatives towards self-employment projects for the would be small scale entrepreneurs. 1000 schols TANGALLA: Thousand scholarships were awarded by Tangalla Future Vision Computer Centre to the students of Tangalla Divisional Secretariat area at a ceremony held at Tangalla Town Hall recently under the patronage of Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mahinda Rajapakse. The minister addressing the meeting said that the knowledge of the computer system is a requirement for developing countries such as Sri Lanka. He also explained how it will help to face the modern compititive world. He further said that it is very essential to encourage our children to learn the computer system by introducing to them the benefits of that subject. UNP supporter’s car set on
fire A car belonging to a UNP supporter in Anamaduwa was set on fire by an unknown group around 2.00 am yesterday. The car worth about rupees seven and a half lakhs was in the garage of its owner Siriwimal Herath at the time it was set ablaze, police said. The vehicle was completely burnt. The fire also destroyed a section of the house, according to police. A can used to bring fuel for the purpose was found by the police, near the garage. IP O. K. D. Gunadasa, OIC Anamaduwa police is directing investigations. Warakapola dist. hospital to be upgraded Warakapola — Warakapola district hospital is to be raised to the status of a base hospital following a promise made by Tourism and Aviation Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake. The hospital prior to the upgrading will be provided with several new buildings and quarters for doctors and nurses. The hospital which is situated on the Colombo-Kandy road serves people from the Dedigama and Mirigama electorates. Woman (29) drinks chemical and dies ARANAYAKA: At the request held by Inquirer P. A. Meegahawelahena into the death of K. A. S. Sepalika Damayanthie (29) of Waharakgoda the statement given by her mother-in-law B. G. Gnanawathie revealed that the deleased had consumed a chemical used in the manufacture of gold jewellery. Sepalika had died on the way to the Mawanella hospital. The mother-in-law also said that Sepalika Damayanthie was a psychiatric patient for about three months. The Inquirer returned a verdict of suicide. An autopsy was held by Dr. K. Dayarathna of the Mawanella hospital. Sgt. W. O. L. Senevirathna of the Aranayake police led evidence. Power for temple on summit ? Aranayaka — A politician allocated with power, invariably finds access to wealth and in the course of time succumbs to corruption and vice. Classic examples of this feature can easily be found if you go back to the 17 year rule of the UNP. The fall and the subsequent decline of the UNP, should draw the attention of all politicians in our country. The need for honesty and impartiality in politics where none will have to fear the ballot or the bullet has been clearly demonstrated by the PA government during it’s four year rule, said the Deputy Minister of Transport and Highways Athauda Seneviratne at Hathgampola at a meeting convened by the people, ‘to say thank you’, for funding a power extension scheme at a cost of Rs. 1.2 million to light up the Bauddhaloka Vihara situated on the summit of the historic Batalegala and also the villages below. The Deputy Minister further, said that during his chequered but unblemished life as a politician, all his actions were honest and impartial. I say this without any fear, as my heart is clean. The meeting was presided over by Ven. Hungampola Sirirathana Thero, Chief Sanganayaka of the Kegalla District. Kegalla VC member Sirisena Rajapakse and Chief Organiser PA for Aranayaka Lalith Dissanayaka also spoke. Five illicit timber depots raided Trinco and China bay — Five illicit timber depots in the town area of Andankulam and Palaiyuthu were detected in a raid conducted by the Vice Branch of the Trincomalee Police. The raid was conducted by OIC N. P. K. Rajapakse and others. Five suspects were arrested and utensils used for sawing timber, logs and turned out furnitures and logs were also recovered. Woman fined in ganja case Batapola — Madampage Hilda of Kalupe, Hikkaduwa was fined Rs. 10,000 by the Balapitiya Magistrate, Mr. K. P. Fernando for being guilty of possessing 5 grains of ganja. When the Meetiyagoda police raided her house on a tip-off they found the packet of illicit drug inside a shirt pocket in her residence. She denied any previous charges. But the police proved two such cases committed by the woman. The magistrate also severely warned her. Fined Rs. 10,000 Trincomalee — Mutur Magistrate Mr. R. M. P. Jayawardene imposed a fine of Rs. 10,000 on a person who pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing 112 drams of kasippu. The accused was arrested and produced by the Serunuwara Police. The accused was T. M. Muthu Banda of Serunuwara. Promotion of coconut cultivation in Uva BADULLA: A new effective programme has been initiated by the Coconut Cultivation Board, (Moneragala divisional office) to promote coconut cultivation in the Uva province. Under the project, Kandeketiya, Mahiyangane and Rideemahaliyadde areas and Bibile, Badalkumbura, Buttala and Wellawaya areas have been selected for the cultivation. Arrangements have also been made to distribute more than 75,000 coconut saplings among farmers who are engaged in home coconut gardening. "Madel Season" starts Kalutara — The ‘Madal Season’ in the coastal belt from Panadura to Beruwala has commenced and providing seasonal employment to over 20,000 from the poor families of the fishing community. Meanwhile the toddy tapping season will end with the commencement of the Madel Season. The small size parava and salaya and other varieties are sold at rock bottom prices. The fishermen said that ‘balaya’ katuvalla and sear are rarely caught and cost a packet. However, the price of coconuts have shot up to Rs. 15.00 each in the open market and the housewives are affected as a result. The red-onion are also sold at Rs. 40.00 a kilo at Wadduwa’s Sunday fair. The prices of vegetables and rice have also sky rocketed beyond the reach of the ordinary masses. Jail, fine in ganja case Trincomalee — A woman who pleaded guilty to the charge of possessing 45 grams of ganja was sentenced to 4 months R.I. in addition to fine by the Trincomalee Magistrate Mr. P. Swarnaraj. The accused was D. H. Gunawathie of Fort Frederick Road, Trincomalee. She was fined Rs. 9,000. She pleaded guilty to three previous convictions. The raid was conducted by OIC Vice Branch, Trincomalee Police N. P. K. Rajapakse. |
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