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IGP orders police
bodyguards of politicos in NWP
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IGP orders police bodyguards of
politicos in NWP Policemen serving as bodyguards to politicians in the North Western Province have been instructed to don their uniforms when carrying out their official duties,according to a circular issued by Inspector General of Police,Lucky Kodituwakku. This directive has been issued by the IGP to make identification possible of those carrying arms during political activities in connection with the forthcoming North Western Provincial Council polls,police sources said. IGP Kodituwakku told 'The Island' yesterday that it's of paramount importance to protect the image and integrity of the police service. Police personnel assigned to provide security to politicians should therefore be in uniform when on duty not only for the purpose of identification but also for accountability. He said that strict instructions have been issued to police stations in NWP to take legal action against anybody,irrespective of political hues,who violate the law in the count-down to the January 25 PC poll. Political violence is reportedly on the increase in the NWP. In an incident at Kobeigane last Sunday PA supporters had surrounded the police station preventing UNP MP Sarath Kongahage from leaving the premises for 9 hours. Subsequently the MP's two police bodyguards were arrested by the police for allegedly firing into the air. Islandwide ceremonies to commemorate birth centenary of SWRD The birth centenary of the late S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike, a former Prime Minister and founder of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) which falls today (8) will be commemorated islandwide with a series of religious and cultural ceremonies. The main ceremony in this regard will be held will at Galle Face Green in front of the Bandaranaike statue presided by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Floral tributes will also be paid to the Bandaranaike statue by Ministers, members of political parties, diplomats and SLFP activists. Among the highlights are: * An exhibition with a collection of 400 photographs covering the life profile of the late Prime Minister Bandaranaike will be held by the Government Information Department from tomorrow (9) onwards at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. Internet web page * A web page depicting the political life of late leader will be launched today. This page has been designed by Prof. V. K. Samaranayake, Director, Institute of Computer Technology. * Two commemorative stamps in denomination of Rs. 3.50 in honour of the late leader will be issued by the Postal Department. * A commemorative volume incorporating important letters and articles on late leader will be released. * Dharma Desana followed by Sanghika Dana for one hundred Buddhist monks will be held at the Sithulpawwa Raja Maha Viharaya under the aegis of Archeological Department and the Central Cultural Fund tomorrow night (9). * Bodhi Pooja and Pahan Pooja have been organized to be held at Main Temples of the Cultural Triangle sites, which is under the Central Cultural Fund. These functions will be held at Polonnaruwa, Kandy, Sigiriya, Abhayagiriya and Dambulla. Exhibition of publications organized by the National Archives and the National Museum will be held from 05th - 11th January at the Auditorium of the National Archives Dept. Colombo 7. * A series of public seminars will be held from 05th to 10th daily commencing at 4.00 p.m. at the Department of National Archives. Eminent scholars on Bandaranaike Vision, Language Policy, Cultural Renaissance, concept of Economic Development and Social Transformation, will deliver lectures. Essay and poetry competition on Cultural progress through the vision of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike. Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and the Members of the Diplomatic Corps. will attend these commemorative ceremonies including Pinkamas, Shramadanas, and Blood donations organized by the Bandaranaike Commemoration Committees in the various parts of the country. Majority of foreigners languish in SL
prisons for drug offences Amidst ongoing investigations into this week's arrest of an Afghan and a Pakistani along with 4.5 kgs of cocaine and 300 grams of heroin respectively, a senior Prisons Department official said that the majority of foreigners in Sri Lankan prisons were serving sentences for narcotics offences. Of the 89 Pakistanis, Indians, British, Swiss, Philippine, South African, Maldivian and Omani nationals, the majority were serving sentences after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle in narcotics. "Barring a few, all of them had been serving prison sentences for narcotics related offences and sex," sources said. With this week's arrests the number of foreigners in prisons has gone upto 89, he said. Of them 24 were Pakistanis. Officials further said that the majority of foreigners arrested for narcotics offences were Pakistanis and Indians. Officials said that international drug traffickers continued to use foreigners to smuggle in narcotics into Sri Lanka. There had been cases of foreigners and Sri Lankans serving prison sentences for narcotics offences jumping jail, sources said. Authorities said that the arrest of an Afghan national last Monday [4] at the Bandaranaike International Airport trying to smuggle in 4.5 kgs of heroin worth approximately rupees 18 million was the first case involving an Afghan. The detection was the biggest ever cocaine recovery made in Sri Lanka. Officials said that the suspect and had tried to pretend to be a visiting Japanese scholar and was carrying a forged Japanese passport. Afghan's arrest was soon followed by the detection and arrest of a Pakistani national trying to smuggle in 300 grams of heroin. Both detections had been made by the BIA based customs. Customs last year in separate detections recovered approximately 10 kgs. of heroin. Customs recovery of 10 kgs last year was among approximately 56 kgs of heroin found by the Police Narcotics Bureau [PNB], local police stations and the Sri Lanka Navy. Navy last year made the biggest single recovery when patrolmen seized a fibre glass dinghy in Negombo lagoon carrying 16 kgs of heroin. A kilo of heroin is worth Rs 1-1.5 million depending on prevailing market trends, police said. Sad story of Danish national in
detention camp A Danish National Giovanni Del Buon is languishing in the Mirihana Detention Camp since November 23 because he has lost his passport and has been unable to get a new one. Even worse, he says that his daughter who was with him at the time of arrest has been taken away from him by the Sri Lankan authorities which he claims is a violation of the Child's Rights Convention. The sad story of Giovani commences with his fight against his former British wife over their daughter. After a long drawn out legal battle in Denmark he decided to come to Sri Lanka with his daughter with the intention of settling down here. Mr. Buon arrived here in 1997 on a tourist visa, met a Sri Lankan woman whom he intends to marry. He had rented a house in Nuwara-Eliya and was living there when his passport along with US$ 1000 had been stolen. He claims he had identified the thief and informed the police but no action had been taken. He had applied for a new passport which he had not received and meanwhile his visa had expired. He had intended travel to Italy with his Sri Lankan friend and daughter on getting the passport. In the meantime, he had heard his British wife had arrived in Sri Lanka. Mr. Buon had met her at the British High Commission on November 23 with the intention of settling the future of his daughter with his ex-wife. He could not reach an agreement with her, he says and as soon as he left the High Commission he had been arrested by two CID officers with his daughter and taken to the Mirihana Detention Camp. While he was there an official from the Women's Bureau had come and taken his daughter away, he claims. In the letter to "The Island" he states that he believes that his daughter is now at the Salvation Army Orphanage at Punchi Borella. When contacted by " The Island" however, an official of the Women and Child's Protection Bureau said the child is temporarily under the mother's care till January 14, following an order by the Juvenile Court. She, however said that at the moment neither parent has legal custody over the child yet. Police spokesman says A Police spokesman told "The Island" that Mr. Giovanni Del Buon, according to the terms of the divorce agreement, was allowed custody of the child for only 10 days a month. In September 1997 when the child had been in his custody, he had fled Denmark with the intention of settling down here thus violating the court order. The child will be with the mother till January 14, when a decision would be taken regarding the custody of the child. JVP to protest against violence Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna is scheduled to launch a protest in Anamaduwa today against the assault of some of their members and other incidents of violence directed at their party in the lead up to the North Western Provincial Council elections. Politburo and central committee member, Wimal Weerawansa, Ajith Kumara, JVP organiser in Gampaha and Bimal Ratnayake, the party's Wayamba organiser are expected to participate in the protest campaign with all JVP members in the Wayamba province. Body of suspected Lionair crash victim
brought to Colombo An orange coloured life jacket and an aircraft window believed to be from the missing Lionair flight, have been handed over to the Mannar police by a Christian religious dignitary,senior police sources said. Father David Alexander de Silva of Thevenpiddi in Kilinochichi,which is still an uncleared area,had told police that these items were handed over to him by some fishermen. Police suspect that they belong to the Lionair plane which disappeared with 48 passengers and a six-member crew on September 29,1998 while on a run to Colombo from Palaly. The recovered items had been sent to Colombo to be referred to the Lionair head office for identification.Police will then seek a magisterial order to send the life jacket and the window to the government analyst for report. Recently a highly decomposed body suspected to be that of a passenger or a member of the crew of the missing Lionair flight,was found with the remains of a life jacket at Arumpalamchetti in Mannar.The body was brought to Colombo for an autopsy and identification is still pending. Police said that identification was difficult as the body is in a highly decomposed state. Posters in city to be cleared by machine The rash of posters marring Colombo's walls are now being given the 'Poster Buster Treatment' using a machine imported from Germany. Identified as 'Poster Buster', the machine is being effectively deployed by Municipal employees to remove posters from walls using a high pressure water flow, Director of Solid Waste Department of Colombo Municipality, Lalith Wickremaratne told 'The Island' yesterday. 'We are carrying out poster removing operations day and night', he said. Posters which deface the city had turned out to be a growing problem earlier and at that time CMC workmen embarked on the tedious task of removing them using pieces of glass from broken bottles. It was a time consuming exercise and moreover stubborn posters could not be ripped off in that manner, he said. Now only four employees including the driver of the 'poster buster' vehicle, are deployed for the job which is carried out expeditiously and effectively, Mr. Wickremaratne explained. So far only one machine had been imported at a cost of Rs. 1.5 million. When asked whether it is sufficient, he said for the area covered CMC limits, it was sufficient to tackle the problem adequately. Mr. Wickremaratne said the machine sprayed water at high velocity. It was so powerful that if it's aimed at a human being it will throw him off his feet. The machine is being operated by separate teams on a shift basis day and night. In the night it's deployed in busy areas such as in Maradana, Pettah and Borella. The poster removing process continues as a circle in the city limits of Colombo, Director Wickremaratne said. He said this new machine was imported on a decision taken by Mayor Karu Jayasuriya as the rash of posters is defacing the city. Country ruled by a mother of two
children,but no relief for women and children Batapola: ''Our country is ruled by a mother of two children. But it is disheartening to note that she doesn't realise the agony and sufferings of the fair sex. The civilization of the country has deteriorated so much so that even a little girl finds it risky to stay alone in her own home due to the increase of sex prevents in the country" said the MP for Nuwara-Eliya District, Renuka Herath when she addressed a meeting of the UNP in connection with the formation of the 'Lak Wanitha Bala Mandalaya' in the Ambalangoda electorate held at the Town Hall, Ambalangoda. It was presided over by the Opposition Leader of the SPC, M. S. Amarasiri. She also said that the government media is reporting that 50 percent of school children are suffering from mal-nutrition but the lady in power has taken no steps to reduce this amount. During the UNP regime expectant mothers and under weight babies were provided with 'Thriposa'. But this government has done away with that step although the head also happens to be a mother. Malnutrition in the country has increased by 50 percent now. Our leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe is an experienced hand in the field of politics who would leave no stone unturned to do the needful to better the lives of the people when he grabs power again. His vision is ideal for the people of this country. He is the only leader who has got the benefit of free education and knows the heart-beats of the masses. Therefore we should be vigilant enough to see that the destiny of our country is placed in the hands of this leader. Galle district MP, Vajira Abeywardane said that in an UNP regime in the future the fair sex would be given the pride of place and with that aim in mind the UNP has already formed a very strong women organisation under the able guidance of the leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. Thirty three percent of the new borns are under-weight and due to that the future leaders of the country would be unhealthy ones. The present government has taken interest in arresting this sad situation. Forty three percent of the propulation is young ones but they are in a plight for the want of suitable job opportunities. The Leader of the Opposition in the SPC, M. S. Amarasiri said that the present government is world renowned for breaking election pledges. Although the masses were gulible enough at the last elections to believe her words, they would not be fooled again and the masses are awaiting to oust the PA regime at the very first opportunity. Opposition Leader of the Ambalangoda UC, G. M. S. de Silva and SPC members, Jayantha Jayaweera and Upali Sirisumana also spoke. Classical performances by Lankan duo Ashan Pillai and Rohan De Silva, two musicians who have done Sri Lanka proud as truly international professionals, are here to give of their best, yet again, to a local audience. Ashan Pillai, a youthful Sri Lankan born British violist has not only performed as a chamber musician at international festivals throughout North America, Asia and Europe but has also performed as a soloist as well as an orchestra musician. Ashan, who developed a natural ear for string music at a very young age, initially started out playing the violin and gradually took up the viola because, as he says simply, he "liked the sounds it created". Having graduated from college in London at age 18, Ashan, then a very undecided youngster went on to study music at the Royal Academy at London under John White where he managed to prove himself as an upcoming musician by being awarded all the prestigious viola awards. Ashan, a resident of London and the eldest brother of three siblings, completed his academic studies at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles while playing for the University orchestra of high repute. He has not only toured Sri Lanka previously with the English Chamber Orchestra where he performed as a soloist at the Gala Concert attended by Prince Charles at the Golden Anniversary of Sri Lankan Independence last February, but has also managed quite naturally to seize some of the most esteemed awards of the music world such as the Countess of Munster, Edward Boyle Trust, Ian Fleming and the Myra Hess award. A laureate of the Tertis International Competition in 1994, the Royal Overseas League Competition in 1995 and the Rome International Competition also in 1995, this young professional loves spending his limited free time reading or capturing his favourite Directors' works on film. Ashan's genius in viola created a great impression on Rohan De Silva, a pianist of equal prestige, teaching at the faculty at Juilliard School, when he first came across Ashan who was performing together with another graduating Polish student at the School. Rohan De Silva, a pianist internationally renowned as a chamber musician as well as a collaborative artist, who had also been a former student of the Juilliard School, told 'The Island' at an interview that he had the greatest admiration for Ashan as a musician who had through his talent and perseverance gained prominence in the classical music arena. He said that this admiration was enhanced because Ashan too , like himself, was Sri Lankan born. Rohan De Silva, who's musical career was evident from his childhood when he followed in the footsteps of his famous musician mother, Primrose De Silva, has the prize for the best Accompanist at the 1990 Ninth International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow to his credit among numerous other prestigious awards. Rohan spent six years at the Royal Academy at London where he was awarded the coveted Chappell Gold Medal for best overall performance upon graduation. The first ever recipient of a special scholarship in the arts from the President Fund by the late President J.R.Jayawardene, he was then able to enter the Juilliard School to complete his Bachelor and Master degrees in music. To Rohan, socializing with his non-musician friends is a passion apart from his first love, performing as a pianist. Rohan, who used to devote five to six hours a day to the perfection of his music as a student, reminiscing on his great leap to fame, says that he is more than satisfied with the distance he's covered in the Jewish dominated world of classical music. This, though , is by no means where Rohan, the Sri Lankan genius who has made his home in New York, intends to give his music a rest. Having performed at many of the most prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Lincoln Centre's Avery Fisher Hall and Alice Tully Hall, the Kennedy Centre and the Mozarteum in Salzburg with some of the most famous musicians such as Itzhak Perlman, Cho-Liang Lin, Midori, Joshua Bell and Julian Rachlin, Rohan who is acknowledged as one of the peak classical music performers, is already scheduled this year, too, to tour the globe for concerts together with his scientist wife. The two musicians, Ashan and Rohan, have not only their birth land and their passion for various types of food as common traits but have also performed together on quite a few occasions, their most recent such performance being at the Tully Hall at the Lincoln Centre in New York in 1996. The musical duo are expected to resurrect local enthusiasm and interest in classical music at their classical performances both on Friday, January 8 at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel in Kandy at 6.30 p.m. and on Sunday, January 10 at the Hilton Ballroom at 7.00 p.m. sponsored by Deluxe Forsyth and Company Ltd. In association with the British Council, Hilton Colombo and TNL Radio for which tickets will be available at the Mahaweli Reach Hotel and Kandy, British Council and the Colombo, British Council respectively. Works by Brahms, Gavin Bryars, Chopin and Kriesler would be performed by the maestros, so make sure to be a part of this historical experience. |
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