Ex-SL govt. varsity scholar challenges Dr. Clarke
Third millennium will dawn here on 31 Dec. 1999 at 6 p.m.Former Sri Lankan Government University Scholar and former Director of Energy and Planning of the Ministry of Power and Energy G. B. A. Fernando is challenging Dr. Arthur C. Clarke's contention that the Third Millennium begins with 2001 and not 2000. In an article titled: The Third Millennium, Leap Year 2000 and the Gregorian Calendar, Mr. Fernando staes Dr. Arthur C. Clarke claims that the Third Millennium begins with year 2001 and not year 2000. This misconception is easily dismissed. An examination of the Gregorian Calendar, which is now universally accepted, and a few other related interesting issues are also dealt with here.
Theoretically, A. D. (Anno Domino) begins with the Birth of Christ and B. C. refers to Before Christ. A. D. begins where B. C. ends. A.D. begins with zero. A.D. is in the positive scale and B.C. is in the negative scale, reckoning from zero.
When a child celebrates his first birthday, he is already one year old. His first year begins at birth. His second year begins on his first birthday, when he has completed one year. His second decade begins on his tenth birthday when he has completed 10 years. Similarly, A.D. began on 01 January 0000. The second decade began on 01 January 0010, the second century began on 01 January 0100, and the second millennium began on 01 January 1000. The third millennium begins on 01 January 2000. This is in accordance with the Gregorian Calendar which is now universally accepted.
When a cricketer scores a century, he has completed 100 runs. His second century begins with 101 runs. This scale is different.
The Gregorian Calendar
Prior to the Gregorian Calendar was the Julian Calendar. The Julian estimate of 365 1/4 days for the length of the year was too great by about 11.3 minutes - an error which amounts to about one day in 128 years. In 1581, the date of 21 March for the vernal equinox, assumed since the 4th century in the rule for computing Easter, was 10 days too late.To remedy this, Pope Gregory XIII ordained that in AD 1582, the day after 4th October should be reckoned as 15th October, and that in future, years which had a number ending in two cyphers (zeros) should not be leap years unless the number was divisable by 400. The Julian date for the beginning of the year, 01 January, was retained.
In England and Scotland, the Gregorian Calendar was established by Act 24 Geo II.c.23 (1751) which provided that the year 1752 and all future years should begin on 01 January instead of 25 March, and that the day after 02 September 1752 should be reckoned as 14 September and that the reform rule for the leap year should be followed. Subsequently this convention was universally accepted.
Leap year 2000
Thus, according to the convention accepted universally by the Gregorian Calendar, the years 1700, 1800 and 1900 were not leap years. Years 1600 and 2000 and 2400 are leap years. Years 2100, 2200 and 2300 would not be leap years.The Third Millennium
The New Year dawns in different parts of the world, over a period of 24 hours, depending on the standard time adapted. The Third Millennium in Sri Lanka will dawn at 06 p.m. on 31 December 1999 Greenwich Meridian Time (GMT).
Saturday Commentary
Governor Stanley out?By Prasad Gunewardene
Another Governor's resignation is on the cards. This time it will be the Governor of the Central Province Stanley Tillekeratne. Authoritative sources disclosed that President Chandrika Kumaratunga has called for the resignation of Mr. Tillekeratne following several complaints made to her by cabinet ministers and provincial councillors in the Central Province that the Governor was not accessible to them and the Governor was most of the time engaged in Colombo. Sources said that the President has been annoyed over the Governor's failure to comply with the directive of the President to represent the government at a funeral of reputed Buddhist monk in the hill country, some months ago.Sources disclosed that President Kumaratunga, after the conclusion of Kandy Esala Perahera had rushed to Colombo for official purposes and had requested Mr. Tillekeratne to represent the government at that funeral. Sources from the Presidential Secretariat noted that Mr. Tillekeratne had then informed the President that he had some urgent matter in Colombo to attend and therefore he could not accommodate the President's request. Mrs. Kumaratunga had then telephoned the Deputy Foreign Minister Lakshman Kiriella to represent the government at that important funeral. Mr. Kiriella who had prior engagements at his ministry office is reported to have cancelled his appointments to comply with the President's request. According to PA sources another allegation that is levelled at Mr. Tillekeratne is that he is flirting with the United National Party though being appointed by the PA to the office of the Governor. These sources added that another leading figure in the previous administration of the Central Provincial Council was not given renomination at the last CPC election because he too had been found flirting with the UNP Chief Minister to get benefits.
Meanwhile, the government has so far not disclosed the reason behind the sudden resignation of the former North Western Governor Hector Arawwawela. The President appointed Mr. Siripala Jayaweera to succeed Mr. Arawwawela within hours of the latter's resignation. There was speculation that Mr. Arawwawela was tipped to be appointed to another high post but sources close to Mr. Arawwawela noted that the former Governor was not keen to accept further state positions. It is learnt that the former Governor was not satisfied with the manner certain transfers and administrative matters were being done in the province without consulting him since the election campaign was launched by the government.
As the days get closer to the North Western Province poll, violence appears to escalate day by day. The UNP is accusing the PA of disturbing their meetings and intimidating their candidates. The state controlled media has been directed to carry out the campaign against the UNP reporting that UNP terror has been 'once again unleashed in the province'. The UNP claims that all party banners were being cut off by PA supporters and the UNP leader Ranil Wickreme-singhe during his recent tour to Anamaduwa had witnessed how the party banners were being destroyed and taken in a lorry displaying the photograph of a PA candidate. Mr. Wickremesinghe who addressed his party candidates at Anamaduwa advised them to refrain from indulging in violence even if the PA incited them. He told the candidates to work at grass root level to emerge victorious with a silent protest vote against intimidation and thuggery perpetrated by the government.
President Kumaratunga who addressed a meeting at Yapahuwa noted that the UNP during its seventeen year rule had not done anything to develop Yapahuwa. Mr. Wickremesinghe argues that it was the UNP and the late Ranasinghe Premadasa who first developed the Yapahuwa electorate. Mr. Premadasa launched his first Gam Udawa project in Yapahuwa and personally supervised the construction of the new roads and provided more amenities to the people there. 'Even the roads where Mrs. Kumaratunga travelled to her meeting venue was contructed by Mr. Premadasa' quipped the UNP Chief Minister aspirant Gamini Jayawickreme Perera.
Meanwhile the tussle between the United Lalith Front hightened on Thursday with the suspended party General Secretary T. M. S. Nanayakkara summoning a meeting of the Working Committee. Ninety five per cent of the Working Committee members were present and Mr. Nanayakkara stated that his suspension was illegal and a dictatorial act by Mrs. Srimani Athulathmudali. They also discussed about the meeting held by Mrs. Athulathmudali a week ago to suspend him. He said that the late Lalith Athulathmudali was a democrat who listened to the views of others and Srimani behaved in the opposite. The suspension of Nanayakkara is likely to surface in courts within the next few days.
The Presidential Secretariat has been informed of an alleged move by a top hill country politician to get a finance company in Kandy to bid for the sale of the government shares in the Kandy Queen's Hotel and the other subsidiary companies. Sources said that the state owned seventy five per cent of the shares and it is to be put to the stock market shortly for sale. According to PA sources this finance company had in the past helped the politician in question to purchase a house in Kandy for rupees nine million. It is learnt that the value of the government shares in the Queen's Hotel project is worth nearly a thousand million rupees.
Protest against NWP violence
JVP demonstrate opposite police stationBy Padmasiri Herath
The JVP staged a demonstration at Anamaduwa yesterday condemning violence they allege associated with the North Western Province Council elections.About 2000 people participated in the demonstration carrying posters and shouting slogans watched by a 200-member strong armed Police contingent and a large number of members of the public.
The demonstrators said it was by peaceful campaigns they condemned thuggery to which their rivals had resorted and they needed no weapons.
The demonstration was headed by JVP stalwart Nimal Weerawansa. Among other participants were Bimal Ratnayake, Wayamba organiser of the JVP and the party candidates contesting the elections.
The JVP had earlier complained that one of its candidates S. S. A. Ranasinghe was dragged by the shirt and assaulted mercilessly by supporters of the People's Alliance on Tuesday afternoon and several other incidents of violence committed against them causing much obstruction to their election propaganda campaigns.
R. Sunil Ratnayaka, another JVP candidate seeking election to the Provincial Council had complained to Anamaduwa police that an armed gang led by a PA MP for Puttalam district stormed his house on November 30 threatened him with death, ransacked he house and went away carrying all his campaign propaganda literature. The MP had also warned him that there would be serious consequences if he dared to proceed with his campaign.
Vehicles carrying UNPers shot at
Anamaduwa Corr.
A convoy of vehicles carrying UNPers campaigning in Puttalam district led by UNP MP Gamini Lokuge, Wayamba candidate Arjuna Wadigamangawa and several others were fired at by unknown gunmen while travelling from Madawakkulama to Anamaduwa yesterday afternoon, police said.The driver of the vehicle Kasun Daminda and two others P. Epasinghe and Mervyn Earnest were critically injured. They were taken to Nikaweratiya hosptial and later transferred to Kurunegala hospital as their condition was bad.
Arjuna Wadiganmangawa had complained to Anamaduwa police that one of their vans was fired upon by a gunmen at Andahena.
Police are reported to be inquiring.
Refrain from violence appeal by religious leaders
By Sumadhu Weerawarne
Religious leaders in the North Western Province in the wake of escalating violence in the area have made a joint appeal to "all political parties to act in a manner" that would ensure a "peaceful, free and fair" poll.The Chief Sanghanayake of the Province Ven. Tumbulle Sri Seelakkande, the Chief Adhikarana Sanghanayake Ven. Rekawe Jinaratane the Secretary of the Sasana Bala Mandalaya Ven. Kattabuwawe Gnanaratane, Bishop Andrew Kumarage, Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando and Bishop Raymond Prins were the signatories to the joint statement.
The statement said that "the NWP election more than any other one in recent times put to test our democratic system. It will have a big impact on the elections that will follow and for the future of party relationships".
The religious leaders made a categorical appeal to the two main political parties. "We ask the two major parties to recognise that each of them continues to represent a large and almost equal section of Sri Lankan people all of whom have the right to the freedoms and the fair and equal treatment that a democracy assures its citizens. We appeal to party leaders and politicians to act in a manner that will lead to the healing of old wounds and promote reconciliation and peace. We urge them to rescue our politics from its present degraded state by upholding ethical norms and the basic human values that their religions have taught them and help build a genuine democracy for our people."
They also appealed to the "peace loving voters of the province to express more openly their disapproval of the violence and the electoral abuses that are committed by those who seek to represent them" and to organise themselves into peace committees within their communities "in order to restrain party rivalry violence and safeguard their rights as voters".
Meanwhile PAFFREL spokesperson Kingsley Rodrigo who is in the team monitoring the election said that all parties had signed a declaration urging "all the people in the NWP to go about their political activities in a peaceful manner and behave in a lawful manner". They categorically stated, "It is our policy not to participate or encourage any violence and we hereby declare that we will take all necessary action to maintain peace and harmony amongst the people". The declaration was signed by S. B. Navinne for the PA, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera for the UNP, Bimal Ratnayake for the JVP, Patrick Fernando for the New Left Front and Kamal Nissanka for the Liberal Party.
However, a litany of complaints have been made against the two main parties.
High Level Road tense after lance corporal's death
By Bandula Dinapurna
The death of an army lance corporal resulted in turning of a jeep and manhandling of its occupants by residents along High level Road, Pannipitiya last evening, police sources said.Traffic along High Level Road came to a halt and the area was tense with Police and fire brigade and military police from Panagoda arriving on the scene to bring the situation under control.
According to police two army lance corporal cyclists Chuladeva (24) and Gamini Amukotuwa had been training along High level Road cycling from the direction of Maharagama to Panagoda Army Camp around 5.45 p.m. yesterday. Nearing Pannipitiya the duo got involved in an altercation with some occupants of a jeep that was passing them. Police said that, as a result of a man in the jeep pushing one of the riding lance corporals Chuladeva, he had crashed into a stationary car and died instantly.
Irate on ookers who saw what happened went berserk thereafter setting fire to the jeep and assaulting the four occupants of the jeep one of whom according to unconfirmed reports, was a soldier.
Though Homagama and Maharagama police were able to put out the fire by the time the fire brigade arrived, the military personnel from Panagoda had to come into quell the situation.
The other army cyclist lance corporal Amukotuwa escaped unhurt. Maharagama police are conducting inquiries.
375 Lankans jailed for working without permits
Work permits a must for jobs in S'poreBy Shamindra Ferdinando
Hundreds of Sri Lankans have been arrested and jailed in Singapore for staying there without valid visas and work permits, an authoritative government official told The Island yesterday. 'At least 375 persons, approximately 90 percent of them male workers had been jailed,' a senior Sri Lanka Foreign Employment Bureau [SLFEB] spokesman said adding that more people were likely to be arrested in ongoing police operations against those staying there without valid work permits and visas.At the time of the arrests, they had been working in various places without work permits.
Sri Lanka's High Commission in Singapore had informed Kapila Abeyratne, the chairman of the SLFEB of the current situation, the spokesman further said. Mr. Abeyratne had been informed of the increased entry of Sri Lankans there seeking employment.
Almost all of them had travelled there with the help of illegal job agents and middlemen who had promised employment in Singapore. 'They had arrived there without work permits,' officials said.
The High Commission has advised the SLFEB to inform the public that those who seek employment in Singapore should secure work permits before departure.
Officials said illegal job agents and middlemen had charged thousands of rupees from those who sought jobs in Singapore. Singapore continues to jail those arrested without work permits before deporting them to Sri Lanka.
They said that almost all the jailed persons had been promised employment in Singapore. 'They were not trying to use Singapore as a transit point to leave for another country,' sources said adding that measures are underway to tackle the problem created by the illegal entry of Sri Lankans to Singapore.
Meanwhile at least 40 Sri Lankan housemaids had been sheltered by the Sri Lankan embassy in Jordan. They had run away from their working places, sources said adding that action will be taken to bring them back to Colombo.
Forty three other housemaids had been given shelter by the Lebanon embassy. They were also expected to come back within the next couple of weeks.
SWRD Bandaranaike's birth centenary commemorated
By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
The late Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike was a common man's leader and he was very close to the hearts of all the people in this country, said the Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Dharmasiri Senanayake speaking at the ceremony held to pay floral tributes to the statue at Galle Face to mark the 100th birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike.Minister Senanayake told that the vision of Prime Minister Bandaranaike had, was respected and accepted by the ordinary man for the reason of his being a colossus in the political arena.
Unlike the other leaders the country had for the past few decades, Mr. Bandaranaike had worked hard for the benefit of people at large. For the past forty years the country had organized various ceremonies to commemorate him.
The late Prime Minister was well known for his oratory all over the world had no peer, said the Chief Incumbent of Pepiliyana Viharaya, the most venerable Dr. Medagoda Sumanatissa Thero.
The creation of common man's era is the most valuable contribution of the late Prime Minister. He will live in the hearts of the people of this country for ever. He came in to power in 1956, but even today he is living in the hearts of the common people. This is the highest tribute a leader can earn, Thero added.
The freedom of man was highly valued by the late Prime Minister and his followers numbering thousands and thousands would stand for his policies and guidance, said the Minister for Provincial Councils, Alavi Moulana. He was a person with a clear vision for the future and his death has created a void that could not be filled, Minister added.
The Bandaranaike statue erected at Galle Face was garlanded by the Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Lakshman Jayakody. The family members including the Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike paid floral tributes.
The awards were handed over to the winners of the essay competition by the Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and this event was organized by the 'Silumina'.
The Bandaranaike commemorative song was sung by the students of Nittambuwa Sanghabodhi Vidyalaya, Gampaha.
Senate opens Clinton trial amid confusion
WASHINGTON, Jan 8 (Reuters) - The Senate opened the first presidential impeachment trial in more than 130 years on Thursday, sitting in judgment on whether President Bill Clinton should be removed from office over the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Standing at their desks in the Senate chamber, the 100 senators raised their right hands to take their oaths as jurors before presiding officer Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Rehnquist had been sworn in minutes earlier by Senate President Pro Tempore Strom Thurmond as the Senate began a constitutional process used only once before in US history.
But the trial opened with no clear decisions on how to proceed, as a flurry of closed-door meetings failed to reach an accord on how long it should last and whether witnesses would be called as requested by the House of Representatives. In a series of false starts and blunted initiatives, a bipartisan meeting of all senators was announced and then postponed, with a vote on competing Democratic and Republican trial plans announced and then postponed almost as quickly.
By the end of the day, both sides had fashioned proposals that differed primarily on calling witnesses -- the Republicans would leave the door open for them, while the Democrats would not allow them. Republican Leader Trent Lott and Democratic Leader Tom Daschle vowed at a joint news conference they would continue to work for a bipartisan agreement. A meeting of all senators was scheduled for Friday morning, with a vote planned in the afternoon -- either one vote on an agreement that would be included in a summons to the White House, or two votes on the competing proposals. "Senator Daschle and I are not dictators," Lott said of the standoff after the two leaders conferred on the floor of an otherwise nearly deserted Senate chamber. "We have to bring along 98 other senators." The White House objected to any attempt to continue the trial without clear rules on how to proceed. "I would suggest that that would be a situation, an environment, that is manifestly unfair to the president," White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said. Lott met with Hyde and the House managers who will act as prosecutors for two hours late on Thursday to try to work through the possible arrangements. The House managers said afterward they had given Lott some additional ideas to take back to the caucus. Under a plan discussed by Republicans late Thursday, the House and White House each would get 24 hours of floor time -- approximately three days -- to present their cases, with the House beginning next Thursday. Senators would get 16 hours for questions, and each side would get eight hours for closing arguments. If either side wanted to call witnesses, it would then have to explain why and the Senate would vote on each request beginning January 25. The rules of the Senate require a majority vote of 51 senators to issue subpoenas, meaning six Republicans could join Democrats to block a witness being called. "Let's have the presentations, the opening statements, the evidence, and the House explain why they might need this particular witness to clarify this particular fact, or the White House, then let the Senate consider that and vote," Lott said. The plan by Senate Democrats would not allow witnesses. It would begin Tuesday, giving each side two days to present its case and senators two days to ask questions, with one day for closing arguments, two days for deliberations and final votes on January 26. Democrats have said calling witnesses would open the door to a prolonged and contentious trial that could break into the kind of partisan rancour displayed during the House inquiry. A two-thirds vote of senators would be required to convict Clinton and remove him from office, which at this point is considered unlikely. The day began when the group of 13 House managers walked across the Capitol and into the Senate chamber. House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde read two articles of impeachment alleging Clinton should be removed from office for committing perjury and obstructing justice in hiding his affair with Lewinsky. Senators sat solemnly as Hyde read the articles, passed on largely party-line votes by the House in December. Senators and spectators were instructed by the sergeant-at-arms to remain silent on "pain of imprisonment." "I was saddened by the fact that we have to do this," Hyde told reporters afterward, adding that during the presentation he was "not so much jittery -- it's a little depressing. All of us wish we could move ahead and get this over with." Among the witnesses House managers have said they might call are key players in the drama such as Lewinsky and Clinton secretary Betty Currie. "I believe that there are a number of moderate Republicans who just don't want to see the debacle of Monica Lewinsky on the floor of the Senate," said Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat. "What will this degenerate into? Where did he touch you? How did he touch you? How did it feel?" The need for witnesses could depend on how much evidence the White House and prosecutors fail to agree on. Hoping to head off witnesses or the presentation of new evidence, the White House said on Thursday it would be willing to accept the evidence presented by the House in its impeachment report. "We're willing to have the case tried based on that record," Lockhart told reporters. Senators in both parties were not overly impressed with the offer, however, with Republicans noting it would only hold if there were no witnesses. The only previous presidential impeachment trial was of President Andrew Johnson, who escaped conviction by one vote in 1868.
No clue yet on hotel manager's killing
Police have drawn a blank in the investigations conducted so far into the killing of the manager of the tourist hotel at Bentota where killers escaped with Rs. 300,000.
OIC, Bentota Police, Kapila Premadasa told, 'The Island' that they have however found in the hotel a mask which the men had left behind. They suspected that the killers could have been army deserters donned in army uniform.
Earlier however police ruled out the involvement of any army deserter.
Police have already questioned 40 to 50 persons including the hotel staff.
Police also have now traced the owner of the white Dolphin van sans number plates which was found abandoned at Hipankanda on Elpitiya, Aluthgama the day after the robbery.
The driver of the van had told the police that some men hired the van for a trip to Kataragama for a couple of days before the incident.
On the way to Kataragama they had threatened the driver pulled him out of the vehicle at Hambantota and hijacked it.
CID assisted by Bentota, Ambalangoda and Elpitiya police are conducting further investigations.
18 terrorists killed in action claims army
On Thursday during daytime northwest of Oddusudan troops operating forward of defence sniped and killed four terrorists .
Northwest of Oddusudan troops conducted a small group operation in the area and confronted a group of terrorists killing eight terrorists. Subsequently troops searched the area and recovered two T56 weapons, one grenade launcher with 20 rounds, two hand grenades, 175 small arms ammunition and a few military items in Wanni, according to a press release issued by the Operational Headquarters.
At Paranthan troops on Thursday conducted a limited operation and confronted a group of terrorists. Troops confirm four terrorists were killed during the confrontation.
At another confrontation at Paranthan troops operating forward of defences sniped and killed two terrorists.
Kandy Mayor asked to pull down all indecent film cutouts
From Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY - The Kandy Mayor has been told by the Chairman of the Public Performance Censor Board to pull down any obscene cutouts of films exhibited in Kandy town.The Chairman of the Public Performance Censor Board Prof. Somaratne Balasuriya has said in a letter addressed to Mayor Harindranath Dunuwille to get the assistance of the police to remove the cutouts of films from the notice boards which are thought to be obscene if such cutouts were not approved by the board.
Prof. Balasuriya has written to the Mayor in response to a letter by the Mayor stating that some pictures of cutouts exhibited for advertising films shown in the cinemas are not suitable for those who are not adults. Even the advertising pictures of the films should be subject to approval by the Public Performance Censor Board, Mr. Dunuwille had said in his letter to the Chairman of the Board.
The Chairman of the Board Prof. Balasuriya in his letter to Mr. Dunuwille has stated that even the pictures displayed on the advertising boards were physically examined by the officers of the National Film Corporation prior to their being put up on notice boards.
However, there have been instances of producers of films exhibiting cutouts of films in the outstations which were not subjected to approval by the censor board. But the heads of Municipal Councils and other local government institutions are given the authority to remove such cutouts particularly when they are found to be obscene and indecent, Prof. Balasuriya has said in the letter.
Prof. Balasuriya has stated that permission should not be given to exhibit any advertising cutouts which are obscene on the lands owned by the Municipal Council and that any such advertising cutouts with pictures of indecent scenes should be removed even with the assistance of the police when necessary.
Rights application filed in SC against SLAS
By Chitra Weerarathne
Thirty fellowship holders of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, have filed a Fundamental Rights violation application in the Supreme Court, challenging the recent selection of officers for appointment to the Grade I Class I Category, of the SLAS.The petition said that in October 1998, selections had been made mostly from the officers, who belonged to the Open Competitive Examination stream, and the petitioners, who belonged to the Limited Competitive Examination stream had been left out, although both these categories had secured their appointments in the SLAS on the same date in 1980.
The petition said further that the petitioners were more eligible for promotions, although they had not been selected.
The petitioners also have complained that when they were summoned for an interview in June last year, they were not informed of the basis, for awarding marks, at the interview. The petition alleged unequal treatment in violation of Article 12 (1) of the constitution.
They have sought a Court direction on the first respondent - Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration and the other respondents, to stay the appointment of officers, who were selected at the interviews and also to direct the respondents to make the appointments according to seniority and eligibility of the candidates.
They have also asked compensation in a sum of Rs. 5,000,000.
The petition was supported by R. K. W. Goonesekera appearing with Mrs. Shiranthi Jayatillake, instructed by Ms. Lilanthi de Silva.
Leave to proceed was granted and arguments were fixed for 26.5.98.
The first petitioner is L. S. Mallawarachchi.
The Bench comprised Justices R. N. M. Dheeraratne, Dr. Asoka de Z. Gunewardene and D. P. S. Gunesekera.
The Committee appointed by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission to improve subscriber billing and the resolution of billing related disputes concluded the second phase of the Public Hearing on Thursday, January 7. The order will be made in February 1999 after considering the written and oral submissions of the witnesses and the representatives of the operators, according to a press release of the Telecommunication Regulatory commission of Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka Telecom Limited informed the committee that it is possible to advance its schedule for implementing itemized billing by several months. Testing of the new system is already underway and it is expected that by April customers in several Colombo metro area exchanges will be offered the option of receiving itemized bills for local and national calls on request and for a fee. Even for those customers who choose not to subscribe for this option, the itemized records will be available for use in case of billing disputes.
Head/Regulatory Affairs of Sri Lanka Telecom, Mahinda Herath reiterated the company's commitment to provide itemized billing as quickly as possible throughout the country and expressed his appreciation of the Public Hearing which highlighted the need to improve quality of billing.
Both Lanka Bell and Suntel accepted that these bills should be in all three languages in keeping with their language policy of the Government of Sri Lanka. The Chairman of the Committee, Professor Rohan Samarajiva, emphasized the importance of assuring the confidentiality of customer information particularly with the introduction of itemized billing and requested early action to set in place formal codes of practice on confidentiality and to ensure that all employees followed the rules.
The second phase of the public hearing included evidence from 15 witnesses. Issues pertaining to taxes on telephone bills, billing integrity and dispute resolution were addressed at the hearing. The members of the committee were Professor Rohan Samarajiva, Palitha Silva Gunawardene and K. Selvarajah. The Public Hearing was organized by the Director-Legal of the Commission, Mrs. P. R. Amarasiri.
'A sound health is a key factor in a natio's development'
KANDY: Every government gives priority to the control of diseases as health is a key factor in the country's development. No development is possible without a healthy nation said Mr. Helmut Van Edig, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany at the inaugural sessions of the Fourth International Medical Congress organised by the Peradeniya Medical School Alumni Association (PMSAA) and the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Peradeniya recently.
Mr. Van Edig was the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the opening sessions held at the Plant Genetic Research Cen-tre (PGRC), Gannoruwa Peradeniya.
The Ambassador also, said that research by medical scientists into diseases, their advanced treatment and the control of such diseases has assisted in the presence of a healthy nation that would ultimately lead to its development.
Every government has treated as its responsibility to take preventive measures against its people subjected to diseases whi-ch would hinder the development process of the country.
Pollution of air, water and in general the pollution of the environment have become major global issues which have become subject of much interest taken by the administrations of all countries.
Highlighting the importance of a seminar attended by scientists, Ambassador Edig said that the subjects discussed at the congress sessions covered a wide range of important and relevant issues with regard to health and environment which is subject to constant change.
Sri Lanka has an excellent health record since its Independence. Health care is relatively cheap technically adequate and equitable and the combination of public and private health care systems cater to the needs of all layers of the population.
In his message to the congress Mr. Edig said that the victims of the conflict which unfortunately still continues to lacerate the country, should not be forgotten. In all these issues medical scholars have a lead role to play to bring about the necessary adjustments in research, training and policies.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Peradeniya Prof. Leslie Gunawardena recalled the developments at the University of Peradeniya and in particular stressed on the development of the Faculty of Medicine of his university during the past 37 years to emerge as an institution of excellence.
However, Prof. Gunawardana emphasized on the need to focus on some of the facilities yet to be provided to the university like the construction of an art gallery where the undergraduates would be provided with training in fine-arts, and the language centre.
Prof. Shanthi Mendis, Chairperson of the Congress Committee who welcomed the guests and the participants, said that the theme of the congress this year being, 'Technology of Health Care Beyond AD 2000' was appropriate as the 21st Century was just at the door step.
Prof. Mendis the eminent cadiologist and senior lecturer of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Peradeniya highlighted on some of the research activities conducted by her faculty.
She also recalled the long standing relationship between Sri Lanka and Germany whose Ambassador in Sri Lanka was the chief guest at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Congress organised by the Alumni Association of the Medical Faculty and the Faculty herself.
Prof. Jayantha Jayawardena, President, PMSAA, Prof. Nimal Senanayake, Dean Faculty of Medicine, and Dr. Ananda Jayas-inghe, Secretary PMSAA also spoke.
Dr. Lal Gunasekera delivered the congress lecture titled,'Pain and Past Research' a birds eye view.
Wildlife officers capture Polonnaruwa killer elephant
By Indira Perera
The killer elephant that went on rampage with two others and took three lives has been caught yesterday by the Wildlife Department Officers. According to information given by the Divisional Secretariat office in Polonnaruwa this elephant is one of a batch of three that had been terrorising Damanayaya, Dampura, Nuwaragala, Puwakgaha-Ulpatha, in Polonnaruwa since the torrential rains flooded some parts of the area when Ambanganga overflowed and submerged some of the main highways including Pallegama road.Sources told 'The Island' that desperate villagers met the Divisional Secretariat and asked for ammunition to get rid of the killer elephant. The difficulty in reaching the affected area were doubled due to torrential rains and the inability to find a way to reach the killers as the whole area was soggy.
Deputy Director Veterinary and Research, Wild life Conservation Department Dr. Nandana Atapattu said that the other two were difficult to capture mainly as they had already gone back to their homeland (another national park close by ). 'Once they go back to their home we are not supposed to capture them,' he said.
In answer to a question as to where the captured elephant is at present he said it has been released to the Udawalawe national park. Since it has been branded as a killer it is not advisable to send it to an elephant orphanage, he stated.
Lionair crash: no major breakthrough
By Danielle Boekel
Investigations into the Lionair crash are still continuing but no major headway has been made apart from the recovery of a body off the coast of Mannar believed to be that of a passenger, Civil Aviation Authority sources said.Director of Air Traffic Services, N. A. Senaratne told 'The Island' Thursday that a formal inquiry is being conducted and any further information about the crash should be sent to the Civil Aviation Authority. This covers any eyewitnesses to the crash, the whereabouts of any crew members or passengers either surviving or dead, whereabouts of the aircraft and information on any matter which is connected or incidental to the accident.
The aircraft crashed off the coast of Mannar last September, shortly after takeoff from the Palaly airbase. The flight had 55 passengers aboard including four Russian crew.
The University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR), Jaffna alleged after the accident that the LTTE were responsible for the downing of the aircraft. They said 'the available evidence points conclusively to Lionair 602 of September 29 having been shot by the LTTE near Iranativu'. The report further stated that this evidence was supported by independent testimony coming from the people of the area. They believed that the downing of the aircraft came after repeated warnings by the rebels not to charter aircraft to the security forces had been left 'supressed' by both the Government and the airlines. The UTHR went on to say that 'the public was not apprised of the seriousness of the situation and for more than a month, no measures were taken to enforce adherence to secure routes'.
The only other remains found to date of the ill-fated flight were the thirty-one bodies that washed ashore on the coast of Mannar. Mannar's Bishop, Raiyappu Joseph told 'The Island' earlier that he was witness to their burial and was certain, contrary to speculation, that there were no survivors in the crash.
With the suspension of Northern flights since the crash of the Lionair aircraft, people have not been able to travel to the peninsula.
Meanwhile, both domestic airlines, Lionair and Monara Air are yet to be given the greenlight by authorities to resume flights to the North. A Lionair spokesman said recently they are ready to commence flights to Jaffna since November.
