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No more presidential pardons for convicts The government has decided to halt the releasing of convicts from prisons under presidential pardons, a senior Justice and Constitutional Affairs Ministry official told The Island. He said that the government has no intention of releasing convicts from prisons under presidential pardons although the decision not to implement death sentences will remain. Death sentences had not been carried since the middle of 1970s. A senior Prisons Department official said that releasing convicts under presidential pardons and commuting the death sentence to life imprisonment were two different things. "There was no connection at all," he said pointing out that presidential pardons to those facing death sentences will not result in the release of the convict. Earlier, the government temporarily halted amnesties to prisoners to mark Vesak and Christmas until a presidential committee appointed to look into amnesties submit its report to the President. The committee headed by Attorney General Sarath Silva comprises Supreme Court Judge Shirani Bandaranaike and the Commissioner General of Prisons. According to Justice Ministry sources, at least 72 persons had been released from prisons under presidential pardons during the UNP administrations. The released persons included Manohari Daniels convicted for her role in the November 9, 1987 Maradana bomb blast which killed at least 50 civilians. The other person is Gonewela Sunil, a notorious political activist. Justice Ministry sources said that among the persons given reprieval [presidential] included several Tamil terrorists convicted for attacks on armed forces and others connected to various politicians. The majority of those set free from prisons under presidential pardon during late Ranasinghe Premadasa’s administration it is believed had been involved in terrorism. President Kumaratunga in June last year appointed a high powered committee under the Attorney General to examine amnesties granted to prisoners. This was after evidence that even rapists, killers and those involved in serious crimes were getting out of prisons as a result of reprievals to mark Vesak, Christmas and Independence. Deviating from the usual practice, prisoners were not given a reprieval for Vesak and Christmas last year. Justice Ministry sources said that release of prisoners next February to mark Independence will depend on the outcome of the presidential committee report. However, the government has taken a firm decision not to give presidential pardons for anyone. According to records maintained by the ministry, except for two, the rest had been released during presidents J. R. Jayewardene and Ranasinghe Premadasa. [SF] Smuggled pill costs little over Rs. 2000 Sri Lanka’s Drugs Import Authority is prepared to explore the possibility of approving the import of the male potency drug, Viagra, secretary to the authority, Dr. Ajith Mendis told The Island yesterday. "We are ready to consider the possibility of importing Viagra if any local agents seek approval from the authority," he said. No one has so far sought approval to import this expensive drug, he said. A spokesperson for Aspron, the local agents for Viagra maker, Pfizer said that they were preparing to seek the approval of the Drugs Authority with a view to importing Viagra. "We’ll be able to submit our application within a month or two," the spokesperson said adding that Viagra has a good market in Sri Lanka. Aspron spokesperson further said that according to available information a pill will cost around Rs. 2000 or more. Dr. Mendis said that they were prepared to consider positively Viagra’s bid to enter the local market. Asked whether Viagra had been smuggled into Sri Lanka, Dr. Mendis said that food and drugs inspectors were able to detect one Viagratablet during a raid in Colombo outlet. This particular detection had been made about two months back. The Director General of Health Services of the Ministry is the chairman of the Drugs Authority responsible for approving the import of all drugs into Sri Lanka. Dr. Mendis said that foods and drugs inspectors have conducted raids on several places following information that Viagra was smuggled into the country. However only one tablet had been found so far. Aspron spokesperson said that Viagra had been smuggled and sold secretly. State Pharmaceuticals Corporation sources said that they too were ready to consider the import of Viagra if the private sector register Viagra with the Drugs Authority. "We are not permitted to become local agents of any single foreign firm," sources said adding that the SPC was in a position to import Viagra or any other vital drug if others register with the Drugs Authority. Both SPC and private pharmaceutical sources said that there was a good demand for Viagra in Sri Lanka. "We get a couple of calls asking whether Viagra was available here," a spokesperson for a leading Sri Lankan pharmaceutical firm told The Island yesterday. There was no doubt that there is a good market for Viagra here, she said. Pharmaceutical sources said that although a few male impotency drugs were available here there was no evidence to suggest that they were effective as Viagra. Sources said that Viagra had been smuggled in small quantities. "There was no doubt Viagra has a tremendous market here," sources said adding that at the moment smugglers had failed to meet the increasing demand. Sources said that Viagra was available in the SAARC region. Asked whether India has approved the import of Viagra, a Colombo based Indian diplomat yesterday said that he was not aware whether Viagra sales has been approved by the Indian health authorities. Viagra which takes approximately an hour to work contains sildenafil and targets an enzyme that regulates blood flow to the penis. However, people have been repeatedly warned especially heart patients not to take Viagra if not prescribed by doctors. Afghan national nabbed with cocaine Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport yesterday arrested an Afgan national with 4.5 kgs of cocain worth Rs. 18 million. Customs officials say that it was the biggest detection of cocain made by them. Cocain is not smuggled regularly because it is always overshadowed by heroin in Sri Lanka, the sources said. The value of cocain in the European market is about 60,000 US dollars per kilo. The suspect arrived from Trivendram, India. "He was carrying a Japanese passport and was trying to pretend that he was a Japanese scholar," Customs Deputy Director C. Piyasena said. He said that the drugs were detected in secret pockets which were located on the top and the bottom of the suspect’s bag. Apart from the drugs, Customs also detected Rs. 1.2 million worth of foreign currency notes consisting Swedish khronas, US dollars and Indian rupees. Over 10,000 disappearances reported The Presidential Commission on Disappearances submitted an Interim Report to the President on December 31 giving its observation and recommendations based on the investigations conducted by the Commission since it commenced work in June, 1998. This Commission received into 10,135 complaints for inquiry. These were complaints submitted to the earlier Zonal Presidential Commissions on Disappearances and yet remained uninquired. A bulk of these complaints are from the Central Province, viz. 3,397 from the Kandy District, 1,042 from the Matale District and 239 from the Nuwara Eliya District. About 1,700 of these complaints are from the North Western Province. Of the total number of complaints received 2,576 were listed for inquiry during the last six months, according to an official news release. This Commission has 460 complaints received from the Jaffna District. Most of the complainants in these complaints could not be contacted inspite of the attempts made through the ICRC with the assistance of the GA Jaffna, as they are now not the addresses they had given is their complaints. Steps are being taken to trace them before the Commission precedes to Jaffna to inquire into these complaints. This Commission had sittings in Trincomalee and Batticaloa where all the remaining complaints from those districts were listed for inquiry. It is reported that 18,136 have applied for death certificates in respect of disappearances availing themselves of the facilities provided by the Registration of Deaths (Temporary Provisions) Act. This Act was amended recently enabling death certificates to be obtained based on the findings of Disappearances Commissions and making it possible for displaced complainants to register deaths at the office of the Divisional Secretary of the area in which they reside now. The Relief and Rehabilitation Authority (REPPIA) had so far expended a sum of about Rs. 256 million to pay compensation to 7,553 applicants. The remaining applicants are to be paid compensation during the ensuing years. This Interim Report contains a list of about 100 cases that have been filed in the High Courts and the Magistrates Courts against those responsible for disappearances, a list of persons who have received compensation and a list of persons whose disappearances have been confirmed. There are 7560 complaints remaining to be listed for inquiry. The term of this Commission has been extended till the end of April 1999, the release added. President condemns attempt on Nawaz Sharif’s life President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday condemned Sunday’s attempt on Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif’s life. In a message to Mr. Sharif, President Kumaratunga said: "I am deeply distressed to receive reports of a powerful explosion which occurred on a route that you were due to travel on, with resulting, fatalities. I am greatly relieved to learn that there was no immediate threat to your personal security. I extend my condolences to the families of the deceased. I am confident that under your wise leadership, the Government and people of your country will re-affirm their commitment to overcome such cowardly and sinister acts by the forces of terror, against the constitutionally elected Government and democratic institutions of Pakistan. I take this opportunity to extend my warm and sincere good wishes for your health, well-being and success in the New Year. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration. Footboard travel — driver,
conductor and passenger to pay fine One hundred traffic policemen were deployed in the city of Colombo yesterday to check motorists who transgress traffic laws. Out of this, 45 were drawn from the city traffic and the rest from police stations. They will be stationed in various parts of the city at different times, to keep an eye for errant motorists, police officials said. SSP Alfred Wijewardena said, this is part of a scheme launched yesterday in Colombo primarily to educate drivers about traffic laws and thereby prevent accidents. Under this programme, police will impose spot fines on those who violate traffic laws. The ban on footboard travelling was enforced yesterday and SSP Wijewardena said the objective of enforcing this ban is to save valuable lives, prevent unnecessary road accidents, avoid traffic congestion and to prevent bus drivers from stopping their vehicles in middle of the roads. He said that last year ten footboard travellers were killed in nasty accidents in Colombo alone. Mr. Wijewardena said there were no reports of any offenders yesterday adding that the response was good. All private passenger buses as well as those belonging to the peoplised transport services islandwide will be liable to fines if they carry passengers on the footboard, he warned. Not only the driver and the conductor, but also passengers travelling on the footboard would be fined Rs. 250 each. Richard de Soysa case put off to Feb. 11 The Richard de Soysa abduction and murder case which was fixed for yesterday (4) was postponed to February 11 after the prosecution informed court that the second witness who was summoned on this day would not be leading evidence as indicated during the last proceedings. The second witness who is the wife of the first witness K. V. Karunadasa was also living in the house of Dr. Manori Saravanamuttu when her son Richard de Soysa was abducted by a group of men. The prosecution further moved court to amend the list of witnesses including the second witness. Further summons have been issued on witnesses No. 25, 52 and 53. Three former police officers are the main suspects in this case. Proceedings took place before Colombo Additional Magistrate Anoma Dilrukshi Wijewardene. (HJ) AG files indictment against squadron
leaders Attorney General yesterday filed an indictment in Colombo High Court against Squadron leaders Rukman Herath and Sujeewa Kannangara for trespass and intimidation of Sunday Times Defence Columnist Iqbal Aththas. The first charge against them is committing trespass into the house of Iqbal Aththas at Maharagama at night, the second charge is intimidation to cause severe injuries by pointing weapons at him. The indictment added that the two accused members of the armed forces together with persons unknown to the prosecution committed the offences at Maharagama on February 12, 1998. Committee recommends reorientation of
transport services The Committee appointed to formulate a national transport policy has recommended a reorientation of the sector with the state designated to provide standard bus services of basic quality at acceptable cost, while the private sector provides its preferred inter-city service, and plays the role of complementary providers of bus and transport service. The overarching policy as stated in the recommendations presented to the Minister of Transport and Highways A. H. M. Fowzie is that "the improved quality of bus services should take precedence over financial viability". However, it is noted that the state sector passenger share should increase from 50 per cent to 60 per cent to provide basic services. The committee also recommends a 20 per cent subsidy in cost of operations that amounts to Rs 12 - 13 billion. This according to figures is equal to the recent average annual support to the bus industry. The Committee holds out that such a subsidy is reasonable compared with 75 per cent in most North American cities and upto 50 per cent in most European cities. The recommendation is that Rs 2.6 billion be allocated as overall subsidy on top of which Rs 0.5 billion be set aside for replacing the back-log of average buses annually for the next three years (1999, 2000 and 2001). The state is also expected to assist in the overall fleet replacement and augmentation procurement amounting to Rs. 2.35 billion in 1999/2001 and Rs 1.75 in 2002 - 2010. The private sector’s task according to the recommendations would be to provide higher quality intercity services at unregulated fares, contracted peak period services both within the city and urban areas on specific routes and on unremunerative rural routes. It has also recommended annual fare-increases based on affordability criteria replacing what it terms the "ad hoc haphazard fare increases based on historic pre-nationalisation fares". The government is expected to compensate the Regional transport Companies and MFOs for any shortfall. The introduction of a Minimum Fleet Operators (MFO) scheme is envisaged in the recommendations. Under this scheme which would come into effect proper in 2003, the private bus owners would be encouraged to form groups with a minimum 50-bus fleets, before their legally required in 2003. After 2003 permits for single bus owners would be given for routes connecting remote villages to main roads or market towns. Apart from this there is provision for the awarding of Transport Provision Contracts to either MFOs or single bus owners in special cases for stipulated service at giver quality and fare. The recommendation is that existing permits should only be renewed until 2003 and new permits be allowed only to MFOs until such time and review conditions when MFO requirement takes legal effect. Recommended institutional changes envisage the grouping of the bus workshops under a single company and their operation independent of the Regional Transport Companies, and the transformation of all institutions under the Sri Lanka Central Transport Board into independent bodies. It is also recommended that a holding company be set up to professionally and independently manage the government’s interests in RTCs. The company is expected to generate its own funds. The regional authorities are expected to be strengthened to enable them to determine bus fleeting time and time tables of each route and the enforce quality standards etc. Airlanka to resume flights to S.A Sri Lanka’s national carrier, Air Lanka has drawn up plans to expand its current services, will resume flights to South Africa from the mid-summer season next year, a spokesperson said yesterday. AirLanka launched an air service to South Africa in May 1996 but discontinued the flights nine months later. However, contrary to speculation that the flights had stopped due to heavy losses incurred because of the non-profitability of the air route, the spokesperson told ‘The Island’ that Air Lanka at that time was "not in a position to achieve the plans that were projected for the airline for several reasons including the depreciation of the South African Rand". She added that Air Lanka would also resume flights to Australia from the tourist season of winter 1999 and increase their flights to London from six to seven times weekly. The airline has also tied up with Eurosly, an Italian carrier since last month which currently operates a flight from Colombo to Milan. The purchase of six new Airbus A330 aircrafts is also on the cards she said. The first of these is expected to arrive in October this year, thus enabling the airline to operate more flights. Raging floods have wreaked havoc in the North-East, displacing thousands of families in the rain lashed region. Five tanks have been damaged by the heavy rain in Vauniya. The water level is rising in most areas due to incessant rains experienced in the past few days. In the Trincomalee District 1400 families were affected by the floods. In the coastal areas of Nelsonpura, Mahamayapura, Nalandapura and Sirimapura, a number of houses are under water, reports indicated. The road leading to Vettikulam is under water for the past few days and the highest rain fall after five years was experienced last December. In the Wanni area a number of roads were under water for the past few days and large number of tanks has been damaged due to the heavy downpour. In Polonnaruwa district where the rain has continued for the past seven days, had resulted in floods in certain areas. This includes the areas of Hingurakgoda, Lankapura and Medirigiriya. Thousands of acres of paddy land has also been affected by the floods. All the water tanks in these areas are on the verge of overflowing. Specially the Parakrama Samudraya and Minneriya tank are facing the threat of overflowing. Due to the overflowing of the Mahaweli river number of road ways has been blocked and there are difficulties in the transportation. The exact number of families or the houses affected by the floods were not made available. The affected families are being supplied with cooked food and dry rations and were given accommodation in the schools in those areas, sources said. The rain is expected to continue for another two to three days, the Met Dept. reported. The cause of this heavy spell of rain is the activation of eastern monsoon rains, a Met. spokesman said. (SJ) 10th death commemoration of Indrapala Abeyweera The 10th death commemoration of Indrapala Abeyweera, a SLFP politician who was assassinated on January 10, 1989 will be held at the Kalutara Municipal Council on January 10 this year Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce Priyanganie Abeyweera told the press yesterday (4). The Deputy Minister said that her father was assassinated by the UNP during a period of political unrest. He was an educationist and taught in several schools, the last being Musaeus College, Colombo where he was principal. He also wrote several books on education, one of them being "Adyapana Navodaya" she said. After he took up politics during the 1965-70 era, he was interdicted. He made a come back to politics in 1977 through the Kalutara electorate. His vision was to take Kalutara to a new era. Although he left us prematurely we have continued his work, she said. Steps have been taken to build an international sports ground, a shopping complex and a bus stop in the Kalutara electorate. This is a pressing need as Kalutara is the only big town on the highway between Colombo and Galle she said. The estimated cost for this project is Rs. 20 million. While the foundation stones for these projects had been laid last year, they hoped to complete construction by January in the year 2000, Mrs. Abeyweera said. Apart from this, schools in the electorate have also been assisted while two schools, Kamuthunthuwa Maha Vidyalaya and Kanagoda Vidyalaya have been made national schools. A road named after Indrapala Abeyweera was also been constructed last year she said.(HJ) Police seize 574kgs ganja at ayurveda
centre Police seized 574 kilogrammes of cannabis (ganja) worth Rs. 1.2 million following a raid on an ayurveda centre at Mallahawe,Kaleliya in Pasyala on Saturday. The raid was carried out on a tip-off received by Nittambuwa HQI Indika Hapugoda. Police said the principal suspect in this connection was a manufacturer of ayurvedic medicinal products.He was produced before Attanagalla Magistrate Mahinda Samayawardana on Monday and is being held under detention pending further investigations. The results of the GCE (Advanced Level) are expected to be released before the end of this month, official sources said yesterday. Around 200,000 students from schools islandwide as well as private candidates sat the examination in August last year. Elaborate arrangements for SWRD birth centenary The government and non-governmental organisations have made arrangements to commemorate the 100th Birth anniversary of the late Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike which falls on Friday Jan. 8. Distribution of school books and materials among 50 children of the war heroes who have laid their lives will take place at 10.00 a.m. Thursday Jan. 7 at the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government under the patronage of the Members of Parliament and ministries including the convenor of the Bandaranaike Birth Centenary commemorations Alavi Moulana, Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government and with the participation of the army personnel and children. As in the past years, floral tributes will be paid at the Bandaranaike statue at Galle Face at 10.00 a.m. on Friday. The floral tributes will be organised by the commemoration committee headed by Ministers Alavi Moulana and Mahinda Rajapakse. Members of Parliament as well as the Foreign Diplomats will grace this occasion, a government news release stated. The Pirith ceremony will be held at the Railway Department on Saturday Jan. 9 with an alms giving to the Maha Sanga on the following day. A special lecture on the late Prime Minister will be delivered at the Bandaranaike International Conference at 4.00 p.m. on Saturday. This lecture will be delivered by Prof. Meghanath Jagadeschandra Desai, the Director of the Centre for Study of Global Governance at the London School of Economics. Cultural Pageant Arrangements have also been made to conduct a cultural pageant later at 6.00 p.m. on Saturday. The late Prime Minister, paid a special interest in dramatic arts and poetry and gave a special place for such arts. As such in honour of this, a Cultural Pageant "Pooja Bethi" will be presented. This pageant will be held under the patronage of the Lakshman Jayakody, the Minister of Cultural and Religious Affairs and with the participation of the other Ministers and the Members of Parliament. In addition, 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 Saturday onwards at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. A web page depicting the political life of late leader will be launched on Friday. This page has been designed by Prof. V. K. Samaranayake, Director Institute of Computer Technology. A commemorative stamp in honour of the leader will be issued by the Postal Department. Ministers and the Members of Parliament will participate in commemorative events, pinkamas, shramadanas, blood donations organised by the Bandaranaike Commemoration Committees in the various parts of the island, the release added. Ranil is playing a game of hide and seek President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Sunday (3) told the voters of Bingiriya to re-affirm their confidence in her Government by returning the People’s Alliance candidates from the electorate to the North-Western Provincial Council at the elections scheduled for January 25. Addressing the second election rally in the Kurunegala District the President said that such re-affirmation of confidence could strengthen the government’s efforts to push through the devolution proposals designed to restore the country’s simmering ethnic crisis ones and for all. "The day we implement the devolution proposals the Tamil people of the North will hand out Prabhakaran and that is a certainty. The UNP does not want to support the Government. We have to look for alternative ways to get the devolution proposals passed by parliament as we are committed to end the war and restore peace in the country. "Your re-affirmation of confidence will give us additional evidence to prove to the Supreme Court that the people are behind the government in its efforts to resolve the crisis", the President said. The President criticised inconsistent utterances of the Leader of the Opposition who leads the UNP’s election campaign in the North-Western Province. "The only consistency, I have found in him is that he would oppose every measure my Government introduced in the interests of the people. Even he does not have the back-bone to say directly that he opposed our policies. He was playing a game of hide and seek," the President accused. She said that the North-Western Provincial Council which was under UNP did nothing to develop the Province. "I challenge them to show any development project they had undertaken to develop the Province", she added. She said that it was not only the JVP of Wijeweera that unleashed terrorism in the country. The UNP government of J. R. Jayewardene was largely responsible for the gun culture in the country. It was responsible for corruption at the highest levels of administration and misrule that brought the country to the brink of anarchy during the 1989-90 period. President said that the UNP rulers undid everything the United Front Government did. "They chased away the occupants of land given to youths for cultivation by the United Front Government. They plundered the land. The people of Bingiriya too were victims of the United National Party’s terror campaign. It is a shame that they are asking for their votes to come into power once again", the President added. "They did not stop at that. They doled out billions of rupees from the Bank of Ceylon and the Peoples Bank to their cronies like Yasasiri Kasturiarachchi and Hebtulla Bhoy. Luckily the people voted them out of power in 1994. The two state banks had reached a state of insolvency by the time the UNP government was thrown out of power. Our government was able to prevent the country from plunging into economic disaster," she said. Minister of Justice, Constitutional Affairs, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration Prof. G. L. Peiris said that the government has not reduced Budgetary allocations for development despite a war being fought at an enormous cost. ULF working committee ratifies suspension of Secy. At an Emergency, Working Committee meeting of the United Lalith Front last Sunday (3) the Working Committee ratified the suspension of the Party Secretary T. M. S. Nanayakkara who they felt was not working in the best interest of the party. M. S. M. Izzeth was then appointed as the Acting Secretary of the party, according to a press release issued by ULF. The Committee Members also decided to cancel the membership of any person nominated to contest the Provincial Council elections under the symbol of another party, as they are no longer eligible to be members of the ULF according to the constitution of the party. The Members of the United Lalith Front are hereby advised that the Working Committee has ratified the suspension of T. M. S. Nanayakkara as Secretary of the Party and M. S. M. Izzeth has been appointed as Acting Secretary. Any communications pertaining to the party should be addressed to M. S. M. Izzeth at the party office at No. 06. Flower Terrace, Colombo 7. Navy headquarters has made several changes in top command and control posts, defence sources said. Rear Admiral Terrence Sundaram has been appointed the Commander (East) naval area. He has replaced Commander Mohan Wijewickrema selected to attend National Defence College of India. Commodore (North) Wasantha K. J. Karannagoda has been named director, projects, planning and personnel training. Commodore Sarath Rathnakeerthi has been named the new northern commander. Commodore C. N. Thuduwewatte has been named the Director Naval Operations (DN). Rear Admiral H. R. Amaraweera who had been holding the post of DNO will leave for UK for defence studies. According to informed sources several other changes are on the cards for this month. (SF). "People of Wayamba will never forget the unprecedented development work done by the United National Party during its tenure in the provincial council. Leader of the People's Alliance and its members are once again making a vain attempt to divert people's attention by making false accusations on the UNP using the hackneyed slogans of 'Dushanaya' and 'Bishanaya'. But the people of NWP are intelligent enough once again not to get carried away by this empty slogans, which brought Chandrika to power in 1994." People are now repenting for the decision they took and they are fed up of this inefficient government,' said Gamini Jayawickrama Perera addressing a meeting of the United National Party Youth Organisation recently at Bingiriya. Recounting the numerous development work that were launched during his period as the chief minister, Jayawickrama Perera said "inspite of the JVP terror campaign supported by anti-government element during 89, 90 and 91 I was able to raise sufficient funds independent of the central government to implement several development projects in the area. At least four industrial estates were opened during that time. Makadura industrial estate were one of our projects. It is shameful for the PA government to get their Minister of Industries to plant another plaque with the promise of making it an industrial park. After that ceremony, nothing has been done. In the meantime I understand that the government is now trying to declare NWP as a BOI zone under a special gazette notification. Having failed to do anything tangible to Wayamba for the last five years, the government is once again trying to deceive the people by giving false declarations. It is surprising that it is only after five years that the government has realised the need to develop industries in the NWP. They should be ashamed of their behaviour, he said. This government is breathing its last. It is a government, which has drifted aimlessly for nearly five years. There had been no program of action whatsoever. Now they want to subvert the will of the people by resorting to intimidation and thuggery. While this being the agenda of the PA, the United National Party has emerged as a political party with a vision for the new millennium and has reorganized it under the able leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe. It is he who would be able to lead this country to face the challenges of the new era, Jayawickrama Perera said. I have come before the people of the Wayamba as an ex-chief minister of the area who has proved that the concept of provincial council is workable. I seek your mandate to carry forward the work we started,' he added. (UNP Press Release) UNP candidate’s two sons assaulted
by PA politico Two sons of UNP candidate Chandrasena Sirimanna contesting the forthcoming NW Provincial Council poll, were assaulted by a gang led by a Puttalam District PA politician at Anamaduwa town around 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, according to a police complaint. The sons are students of Anamaduwa Madya Maha Vidyalaya. They were on their way to their grandmother’s house at the time of the assault. One of them had been squeezed into a barrel and rolled on the ground. The duo had also been beaten up with the barrels of guns. The candidate made a complaint in this regard to Anamaduwa police and OIC O. K. D. Gunadasa and SI G. N. S. Kirinda are carrying out investigations. Seven British passports stolen from hotel safe The British High Commission in a press release issued yesterday said that seven British passports had been stolen from a hotel safe in Bentota. The following passports were the ones reported to have been stolen from the safe: 351469V, 001854230, 006465802, 031922128, 500089268, 701744170, and 701891575. "These passports are the property of Her Majesty’s Government and should be returned to the British High Commission. They are not valid for travel", the release added. When contacted by ‘The Island’, spokesman Nick Ashbury said that no fresh information had been received so far. He declined to divulge the name of the hotel in which the theft had occurred. Additional payment to Pradeshiya Secys. KANDY Staff: Pradeshiya Secretaries are to be paid a sum of Rs. 1000 in addition to their monthly salaries for attending to the services that come under provincial councils. This special payment will be made from this month. This was announced by the Public Administration and Plantations Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake at a conference of the Pradeshiya Secretaries of the Central Province held in Kandy recently at the Kandy District Secretariat. It had been brought to the notice of the Public Administration Ministry that the Pradeshiya Secretaries who come under the central government were heavily burdened with the administrative works delegated from the provincial councils in addition to the duties that came under the Public Administration Ministry. After having taken it into consideration the Public Administration Ministry decided to make the special payment. The Minister instructed the Pradeshiya Secretaries to recruit retired technical officers to their respective offices on a contract basis to overcome the shortage of technical officers. The Minister also told the Pradeshiya Secretaries that they would issue new vehicles for office use once a consignment was imported shortly. He told that an insurance scheme has been arranged in collaboration with the Insurance Corporation of Sri Lanka to pay compensation to victims of wild elephants attack. A sum of Rs. 50,000 will be paid to the next of kin of the bread winner who came across death by a wild elephant. "However, the Pradeshiya Secretary should release to the family of a victim a sum of Rs. 10,000 immediately to assist funeral arrangements", Minister Wickremanayake warned. Deputy Minister of Public Administration Monty Gopallawa told the meeting that the general complaint from the public was that the interaction between the Pradeshiya Secretaries and the Public was very poor. Often the villagers found it hard to meet the Pradeshiya Secretaries when they went to him hoping to resolve a problem. Secretary Public Administration Ministry S. Senaratne, Wild Life Conservator Bertie Jayasekare and Kandy District Secretary D. M. Nandisena also spoke. Scholar monk from USA in Sri Lanka The President of American Vietnam Buddhist Congress Most Ven. Thich Vien Ly has arrived in Sri Lanka this week. He is also Secretary General of Pan-American Buddhist Congress. At his headquarters in Southern California, over 500 people seek his spiritual guidance every week while more than 5000 devotees attend special religious ceremonies in honour of the Buddha annually. As Secretary General of Pan-American Buddhist Congress he is responsible in maintaining 107 Vietnam Buddhist temples in USA with branches in Canada, Europe, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand and many other countries. He has pioneered in the human-rights campaign to release Buddhist monks and laymen from Vietnamese prisons. He is also the author of several Buddhist books and is Editor-in-Chief of the international Buddhist Journal "Chan-Nguyen". In a 92 acre plot of land gifted by his American Buddhist followers, he has founded a "Buddhist Meditation Centre" in California which provides meditation facilities to hundreds of people. He has arrived in Sri Lanka to pay his respect to his preceptor and guru, Most Ven. Professor Dr. Parawahera Pannananda Aggamahapandita Nayaka Maha Thera, the Chancellor of Ruhunu University, and Chief Sanghanayaka of Colombo and the nine Korales, under the guidance of Nayaka Thera he will pursue research studies further. A meeting was held to welcome him at the Padhana-Ghara Maha Vihara, Colombo 9’ presided by Most Ven. Dr. Pannananda Nayaka Maha Thera, on December 30, 1998. GALLE: A three-wheeler which was parked for the night in its owners house compound in Udugama was taken away by thieves to Galle and dismantled. Most of the parts had been found fitted to other three-wheelers in need of repairs. Five suspects were taken into custody at Manampitiya Galle. They were identified as Thusitha Haturusinghe alias "Baby"(20) of Hayleys Ettiligoda Galle . The other three suspects are absconding. The arrested were produced before the Baddegama Magistrate Lenin Bandara Ratnayake, and remanded. |
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