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To prevent future
plundering of polling cards The Department of Elections has already initiated action to inform all polling stations in the North Western Province through the respective returning officers,the relevant numbers of polling cards which had been plundered from post offices, Deputy Commissioner of Elections,A. D. de Silva said yesterday. He explained that officers in charge of polling stations have already been instructed as to the procedure that should be adopted in case of a person attempting to cast his vote using a stolen polling card. Meanwhile combined action is being taken by the respective returning officers, postal department and police to investigate the plundering of polling cards from post offices. According to informed sources about 5,000 polling cards have been removed from Puttalam district.The exact amount removed from Bangadeniya post office in Chilaw has still not been assessed,reports said. Post offices in the North Western Province have been instructed to obtain police protection in the future to avoid any further removal of polling cards. The Deputy Commissioner of Elections expressed confidence in the procedures in place to prevent fresh incidents of robbing polling cards from post offices in the North Western Province. Getting the date right: Arthur Clarke clarifies ‘I am astonished that some people still cannot understand that the new Millennium begins on 1 January 2001, and not 2000! Once again, let me repeat that because there was no Year Zero in the Western calendar, it begins on 01. 01. 0001 — so every subsequent century also has to begin on a 1. In an E-mail just received from Dr. George Coyne, S. J., the Director of the Vatican Observatory, he says: "I will support 1 January 2001 as the beginning of the next century and millennium... those who are wrong have made up their mind and there’s little we can do to change it." And in another E-mal today from astronomer Royal Martin Rees, he makes the very good point that nobody may be celebrating when the year 2000 dawns, because of the chaos produced by the Y2K bug, when thousands of simple-minded computers won’t know whether it’s 2000 or 1900! Already, there are dire predictions that electricity, telephones, medical services, etc., may collapse or malfunction at midnight 31 Dec. 1999. In some countries, the police and fire services have been ordered to stand-by, and there’s even talk of martial law — all of which will put a considerable damper on any celebrations! I have also just received a nice letter from Mayor Daley’s office saying that Chicago is taking my advice and will have its celebrations on 1 January 2001. So it will be "the City that got the date right", and I suspect when they look back on what happened a year earlier, its citizens will be very glad they made this decision!’ PA depended on ex-brass
buttons during '94 polls, says Kodituwakku By Shamindra Ferdinando Speaking to The Island from Dambadeniya, Kodituwakku said that Mr. Udugampola and several other ex-police officers had joined the campaign in the NWP. Apart from the retired officers, several who had retired prematurely too had joined the campaign. The UNP has fielded retired DIG M. S. Nizam as a candidate for the Kurunegala district. Ex-police officers had been helping the party in various ways, Kodituwakku pointed out insisting that retired armed forces and police officers have a right to enter politics if they wish to. Messrs. Udugampola and Muni Gomes were among several others who had come forward to help the UNP campaign. Kodituwakku blamed the PA for attacking the decision to involve ex-policemen after doing the same in the run upto August 1994 parliamentary poll. Kodituwakku said that Udugampola was with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party [SLFP] during the 1991 move to impeach late President Ranasinghe Premadasa. 'When Udugampola co-operated with them he was considered a hero,' the UNP spokesman said. Udugampola made his first public appearance on August 14 last year at Hyde Park. Udugampola who kept a low profile since leaving the Sri Lanka Ports Authority [SLPA] a few years ago attended the Hyde Park rally to protest the postponement of provincial council polls. The rally was preceded by the UNP's first National Executive Committee meeting for last year. Kodituwakku said that he does not see anything wrong in retired police and service personnel contesting polls. Another UNP MP engaged in polls work in the Puttalam district yesterday told The Island that ex-officers were present in the province. Kodituwakku said that former Airforce commander Air Marshal Harry Goonetilaka and retired IG police Cyril Herath were among a large number of persons who helped the PA campaign. 'They did a lot of work,' Koditiwakku said adding that retired armed forces and police officers held key positions in the SLFP and worked in collaboration with their all island organiser Anuruddha Ratwatte. Kodituwakku said that more than half a dozen police officers [DIGs] were reinstated soon after the PA came into power. 'Can they claim that these people did not back the PA campaign,' Kodituwakku queried pointing out that several retired army officers were given promotions. 'The PA,' he insisted cannot deny the fact police and armed forces officers were involved in their campaign. Cyril Herath was appointed the chairman of the National Savings Bank [NSB], Harry Goonetilaka was made a director of Airlanka. Kodituwakku said that even before that retired armed forces officers were involved in politics. The UNP fielded retired DIG Tikiri Banda Werapitiya for Pata Dumbara electorate in 1977. He won the seat and was made the deputy defence minister. Mr. Werapitiya was appointed minister [outside the cabinet] and placed incharge of implementing legislation connected with the proscribing of the LTTE and other separatist organisations. The SLFP fielded retired army commander Richard Udugama for the Matale electorate in 1970 and he won the seat. Kodituwakku said that Udugampola or any other police officer involved in the current campaign had not been charged in any court of law. There may be allegations against Udugampola, but nothing has been proved. Udugampola was incharge of police operations in the South, North Central and Central provinces during the height of the JVP inspired campaign of death and destruction. Can they blame an officer for fighting an organisation which takes up arms against the democratically elected government, Kodituwakku asked pointing out that the UNP did not raise the involvement of retired officers in the PA campaign. In fact at that time retired servicemen close to PA were involved in monitoring of 1994 polls. East Asian crisis causes loss of $75 -100m in foreign investments By Harini Dias Bandaranayake The loss has resulted, Mr. Wijesinghe further elaborated, from the pulling out of three large projects from Korea and Malaysia. He said that recovery of these losses would be rapid, . The focus of BOI investment would as a result of the crisis, be shifted from the Asian Region and concentrated in more developed countries which have financial surpluses to invest. The investment promotion strategy for this year, would therefore include concentration on countries such as Australia, Norway and Sweden, Mr. Wijesinghe said. Apart from these countries, the BOI outward mission would also focus on investment from countries like the oil rich Saudi Arabia. From June, this year, follow up missions have also been scheduled in Italy, India and Korea, he said. The Chairman also said that based on the provisional estimates by the BOI, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows for 1998 were US$ 155 million (Rs. 10,400 million) which is a 20% growth over the previous year. He defined FDI as net foreign equity inflow into new financial assets plus loans and advances by foreign shareholders (pending share allocation). Accordingly, he said, FDI excludes foreign capital inflows into privatised assets or the share market (existing financial assets) and foreign loans. ' An important measurement of economic activity and business confidence is the growth in imports of capital goods (plant, machinery, equipment and building materials). Based on actual figures obtained up to October 1998, capital goods imports by companies operating under the BOI Law can be estimated at around Rs. 20 billion, a 6% decline over 1997. The decline can be explained in part due to the relatively large (55%) increase in imports of capital goods recorded in 1997', Mr. Wijesinghe said, referring to imports of capital goods. A total of 143 new projects had started construction last year up to the end of October, 1998, Mr. Wijesinghe said. He said that a total of 68 projects which were implemented by October 31, 1998 were found to be either foreign owned or a joint venture with foreign equity participation. He added that 18 of the projects last year, were implemented by Korean investors. Mr. Wijesinghe then went on to give a round up of the projects implemented from 1995 to 1998. He said that according to statistics compiled by the Information Technology Department, a total of 1,024 enterprises operating under Section 17 of the BOI Law were in commercial operation as at October 31,1998, compared to 663 enterprises in operation as at October 31, 1994. He said that it was significant to note that despite the increase in the number of enterprises serviced by the BOI, the total staff strength presently remains about the same as that of 1994. Noteworthy too, the Chairman pointed out, were the 425 new projects which started construction and commercial operations between January 1 and October 31. He said that this worked out to an average of around 115 projects reaching commercial operations each year, over the last four years, under the present government. Mr. Wijesinghe highlighted the appreciable growth in exports recorded in the 'textile and apparels' and 'food and beverages' sectors. Significant declines were recorded in exports of ceramics, gems and jewellery in 1998, he said. He also said that the 92% growth in exports recorded in the 'food and beverages' sector was achieved primarily due to robust growth recorded in packaged tea exports and export of marine and tobacco products. Mr. Wijesinghe explained that the total exports by BOI approved companies had grown an estimated 19.7% in Sri Lankan rupee terms during the period of January to October, 1998. He said that in US dollar terms, though, the rate of growth would be in the region of 7.5%, a higher growth rate in comparison to that recorded by the Sri Lankan economy as a whole. By Franklin R. Satyapalan The NSSP leader and Mr. Fernando had addressed a rally at Walaswewa in Kobeigane and on their way to Warakapola they had halted at a place close to Padeniya for tea when they were confronted by three armed youths riding a mobike carrying a flag of PA symbol the chair, according to a police complaint. The youths had got off and torn the New Left Front posters that were pasted on the jeep. When Dr. Karunaratne questioned as to why they were tearing posters on his jeep, the youths had brandished some arms and blunt weapons to assault Dr. Karunaratne, NLF Chief candidate, Patrick Fernando, driver Nishantha and others and had also tried to run them over, police said. Dr. Karunaratne suffered hand injuries, Patrick Fernando, injuries to one of his eyes and body and the driver, Nishantha with some teeth missing were admitted to the Kurunegala Base Hospital. The incident had occurred around 10.30 p.m. and Warakapola Police are investigating the incident of assault. Meanwhile, Police Elections Secretariat had received 306 complaints of violence including the forcible removal of polling cards. PA MP threatening threewheel owners, alleges Azwer A PA MP representing Puttalam district was ordered owners of approximately 90 three-wheelers based at Madurankuliya junction not to operate on the day before the January 25 poll and the day after, according to UNP MP A. H. M. Azwer. Mr. Azwer has informed IG Police that three-wheel owners had been threatened with death, if they did not comply. He has requested the police chief to provide security to threatened three-wheel owners. Lankan students in Madras minus baggage By Norman Palihawadana In desperation, they had to purchase clothes at Madras, parents of these students said. When contacted by 'The Island' a senior Air Lanka official said that the door of one of the cargo holds of this particular flight had got locked from inside and it was not possible to take out the luggage as a result. When the aircraft returned to Katunayake the door was unlocked and the bags and baggage sent to Madras aboard the next available flight, the spokesman said. Ravi Karunanayake has been suspended from the membership of the United Lalith Front, the Vice Chairmanship of the party and from any other posts he holds within the party, ULF Secretary, M. S. M. Izzeth announced yesterday. Rs. 20 million for welfare of migrant workers The Bureau of Foreign Employment (BFE) will shortly disperse Rs. 20 million from the welfare fund set up for migrant workers to missions in ten countries to set up and run the necessary apparatus. The mission will have officers especially trained to ensure the welfare of migrant workers. Rs. 1 million each has been allocated to the Sri Lankan mission in Oman and Maldives, while Rs. 1.5 million each has been allocated to the missions in Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), Qatar, Jordan and Singapore. The United Arab Emirates and Lebanon have been allocated Rs. 2.5 million each, while Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) has been allocated Rs. 3 million and Kuwait Rs. 4 million, official sources said. The Bureau has already provided Rs. 19 million during the period from September to December. The different missions will utilise the funds to maintain the newly appointed welfare officers and set up safe havens for employees in need of such, pay return airfare when necessary, pay legal fees, if required and a host of other tasks. Meanwhile, the numbers registering with the Bureau of Foreign Employment prior to setting off to foreign climes for employment have increased with the setting up of a special unit to inquire into such registration. The unit was set up on November 1, last year. The new measure introduced on the recommendation of the Special Task Force on Migrant Women Workers has resulted in a 28 per cent increase over the previous month in the numbers who register. The number registering with the BFE increased from 13,085 in October to 16,735 in November. November is also incidentally the month that recorded the highest number leaving the country for employment in the Mid East. A BFE statement maintained that a considerable drop in numbers seeking employment abroad without prior registration had been reported by foreign missions. The bureau added that 35,000 migrant workers a year are denied the welfare measures introduced by the government as they fail to register with the BFE. The new measure, it hopes will also be able to curb the numbers seeking employment abroad without the relevant papers. - (S.W.) GMOA
gives ultimatum- By Danielle Boekel President of the GMOA, Dr. Ananda Samarasekera told the press yesterday that they have put forward 15 demands and are anticipating a decision to be taken soon with regard to them. GMOA officials said that they have been putting forward their demands for over a year and only the least important problems have been looked into so far. One of the main issues that have to be dealt with is the decentralisation of health services in the provinces, the officials said. The GMOA calls for administrative authority of all medical officers in all grades and who belong to an all island service should continue to be vested with the Cabinet of Ministers or the Central Public Service Commission which has been the practice in the past. The officials said that in the recent past there have been attempts by some provincial administrators to claim authority over appointments and discipline of medical officers. They alleged that there had, in fact been several instances where provincial council administrators had resorted to corrupt practices by appointing those favoured by them for senior medical administrator posts. The GMOA say that they are vehemently opposed to such practices and are demanding that the Cabinet be re-established as the authority of appointments, transfers and disciplinary matters of medical officers. GMOA officials also said that they were 'uncomfortable' with the fact that a person, whose designation is supposed to be an advisor to the President on social infrastructure is apparently issuing orders to senior officials of the ministry on the pretext that she had been directed by the President to do so. 'We have informed the authorities that we will take a firm stand on her interference in the administration of the health service' the officials said. The token strike will be carried out on the 18th if their demands are not met by then. All routine checks and medical rounds will be cancelled, GMOA sources said and only serious emergency operations will be carried out. Six-hundred greeting cards sent by former MP and human rights activist, Prins Gunasekera are being held up by Customs because the cards depict caricatures of a political nature, Customs officials said. A friend of Mr. Gunasekera, Mr. Punyananda to whom the cards had been addressed to, said that Mr.Gunasekera had despatched these cards from London to be distributed among Members of Parliament, politicians, and other VIPs. Customs officials told 'The Island' yesterday that the cards had to be released by the Director General of Customs and a decision would be taken shortly. Prins Gunasekera served as secretary of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna that swept Bandaranaike into power in 1956 and was later an MP for Habaraduwa in later years. He escaped to London in 1989 after he received death threats following the brutal killing of his nephew, Attorney Kanchana Abhayapala that year. - (DB) Dilan’s plea
against Rajitha and Gamini By Chitra
Weerarathne Mr. Dilan Perera, in his petition has requested the Court of Appeal, to issue a Writ of Quo Warranto, calling upon Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, to show what right he has to sit and vote in Parliament, and further to issue a Writ of Prohibition, restraining and prohibiting Dr. Senaratne from sitting and voting in Parliament, on the ground that he is disqualified under Articles 89 and 91 of the Constitution. The reason given is that Dr. Senaratne has contracts with state institutions, such as the State Pharmaceutical Corporation and Osu Sala, for the supply of dental equipment and drugs. Mr. K. N. Choksy PC, with Mr. Ben Eliyatamby PC, Mr. Ronald Perera, Mr. Lakshman Perera and Mr. V. K. Choksy, instructed by Sumanaratne Associates, appeared for the first two respondents Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Mr. Gamini Athukorale. Mr. M. Marsoof, Additional Solicitor General, PC, appeared for the Attorney General. Mr. Marsoof submitted that he will not be filing objections on behalf of the Attorney General, but will be making oral submissions at the hearing. The case will be called on 28.1.99. The bench comprised Justice H. S. Yapa and Justice Upali de Z. Gunewardene. Kottegoda fisherfolk ask for fisheries harbour BELIATTA: Fisherfolk in Kottegoda are facing severe obstacles due to the lack of a fisheries harbour. A leading mechanised boat owner told 'The Island' that there are about 100 mechanised boats in Kottegoda. But, due to the lack of a harbour there is a difficulty in anchoring them in the Kottegoda area. He further said that almost all the mecahnised boats and trawlers have been taken to Kudawella, Tangalla, Dondra, Mirissa, Kirinda and Beruwela fishing areas where they find safe anchoring facilities. If a fisheries harbour is constructed in Kottegoda a large number of residents will be highly benefited as they manufacture maldive fish and dried fish when they get a good fishing harvest. It is understood that the affected boat owners and others who are engaged in the maldive fish industry are prepairing a memorandum to the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Mahinda Rajapakse seeking his intervention in obtaining relief. 910 killings outside Tiger affected areas last year By Shamindra Ferdinando Among the other victims were those who were killed after being raped and a significant number of children. Police in the north and east had recorded 247 killings last year. The total number of killings reported to police headquarters stood at 1157 last year. According to sources headquarters in 1997 recorded 824 killings in districts other than terrorist affected areas. Police said that the LTTE and other armed groups operating in the Vavuniya, Jaffna, Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee districts were responsible for the majority of killings reported last year. Law enforcement sources said that there has been a steady increase in the number of killings reported in the past several years. 'We are not talking about killings linked to JVP inspired insurgency, counter-insurgency operations and the LTTE,' sources said pointing out that there has been an alarming rise in killings, rape, armed robbery, assaults and various types of sexual offences. Commenting on weapons used by killers, police said that killings linked to the underworld had involved the use of firearms including fully automatic weapons and grenades. Apart from the underworld many other accused too had used firearms. 'That does not mean all accused had used firearms,' law enforcement sources said adding that knives, swords and similar 'weapons' had been used in many killings. Hindu Council Thai
Pongal message Hindu Council of Sri Lanka in a Thaipongal message stated: ‘Thai piranthaal vali pirakkum is an ancient Tamil saying, which means when the month of Thai (January) dawns, times will be propitious — a saying according to the book, Remembering Hindu Traditions, "has the power to thrill humankind with its hidden possibilities and who hopefully believe that these possibilities will translate themselves into reality. Man lives in the hope of achieving more and Pongal not only connotes this, but also conveys to humanity the message of peace, unity and brotherhood for a better tomorrow. At this festival of thanksgiving to Sun and Nature and the draught animals that helped in a bountiful harvest, let us hope and pray that Peace will dawn on our strife torn land, it should be the aim of every citizen to work for Peace with Justice at a time when the people of all communities are yearning for Peace. Let us in a spirit of accommodation and of live and let live bring about the dawn of Peace to our country, blessed by the beauty and fertility of Nature; the message issued by Yogendra Duraiswamy, President, Hindu Council, added. There are no Mr. Cleans in the UNP - President Walter Nanayakkara reporting
from Galgamuwa The President was addressing a largely attended election rally at the U. B. Wanninayaka Madya Maha Vidyalaya, in support of the People's Alliance candidates contesting the North-Western Provincial Council elections scheduled for January 25. President said: 'In 1994 we had a sweet dream; the dream of resolving the country's problems that were aggravating during the UNP rule. We all wanted to do things speedily. But it was only after I assumed duties that I discovered the country's finances were in doldrums. 'Plans for speedy recovery had to be temporarily shelved until money was found. Internally we had to stop squandering public money on useless tamashas to build the image of those in power and to end illegal practices with regard to spending. Externally we had to approach friendly countries for assistance. 'We had to prove to them by deed that ours was a government which respected human rights and which shun abuses in finance. The international community stopped assistance to Sri Lanka because the UNP government failed to positively react to repeated demands to improve the country's human rights situation. The UNP government did not receive any assistance from the international community during the last two years of their rule. This too was one of the main reasons for the financial problems Sri Lanka was undergoing and the retardation of development. We have now corrected the errors the UNP did. We have put an end to violence, disappearances and midnight abduction of young people by armed men', she said. She said that Wijeweera's JVP in collusion with the UNP carried out a campaign of terror. Later on the UNP followed JVP tactics. The UNP too carried out a terror campaign and put the blame on the JVP. They together spared no political opponent, she added. 'Premadasa spend Rs. 500 million for the Gam Udawa programme, which was his birthday event, annually. UNP ministers connived with contractors to jack up tender bids. They got the government to pay twice the value of a project and put in their purses the excess money. This was how the UNP ruled the country for 17 years. 'The hands of every member of the UNP cabinet are not clean. There are no Mr. Cleans in the UNP, not even J. R. Jayewardene. The present leadership cannot say they are clean. It is highly irregular for public men such as ministers to thrive on public property. But the leadership of the UNP from top to bottom committed this offence. Instead of serving the people they served themselves, the President added. She said that many young men, out of patriotism took to soldiering. Yet others choose soldiering as their profession. Young people belonging to these two groups are fighting a war against terrorism at the cost of their lives. If there was no war they could fix themselves in more comfortable jobs, where they would be free from risks. I hope the war would end soon and there will be peace again', she said. The President told voters of Galgamuwa to vote for the People's Alliance candidates and ensure victory in the NWPC elections. 'Strengthen our hand by giving the NWPC to the People's Alliance which is the ruling party today. Then only could we confidently proceed with our plans to implement the devolution package which will finally resolve the ethnic crisis and bring permanent peace. 'I am told that Ranil is visiting to your electorate these days. Jayawickrama Perera too is reported to be coming here. It is a shame to come to the people and ask for their votes when they miserably failed to do any good to the people during their 17- year rule, she said. She said that her government had two more years to rule the country and that she would not postpone elections fraudulently like the UNP government did in 1982. LTTE political leader ambushed and killed From Mohamed Ghouse in
Batticaloa The deceased LTTEer was identified as 'Sudha Atmaraj' of Ambilanthurai and his real name was Veerakutty Selvakumar and he had been on his way from Vavunitivu, 9 kilometres north via Thandiadi to Kokkadichcholai when he was ambushed while riding a motor cycle with his bodyguard on the pillion by the Razick Group. The injured bodyguard had managed to take the deceased and flee the area while the Razick Group had removed the motor cycle and some political propaganda leaflets carried by the LTTEer. The Puttalam Magistrate and Additional District Judge K.S.B. Siriwardena on Wednesday isssued a warrant on PA MP D.M. Dassanayake, two Pradeshiya Sabha members and four others after they failed to appear in court in connection with two cases pending against them. The first involved the alleged hijacking of a double cab allocated to the chairman of the Karuwalagaswewa Pradeshiya Sabha Shantha Francis Silva. The other suspects in this case are Sunil Shantha, Gamini and Saman. The second case is in connection with the alleged torching of the UNP office at Karuwalagaswewa. The chairman of the Karuwalagaswewa Pradeshiya Sabha Neil Weerasinghe, his deputy Dharmaratne and one Bandara are the other suspects in this case. The complainant was former PS chairman Shantha Francis Silva. Puttalam Police conducted the case. ITI assists in seizing stock of contaminated urea fertilizer Government authorities have recently seized a large stock of fertilizer containing high Biuret levels, Ceylon Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research said. A statement issued by CISIR is as follows: The Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) which functions within the purview of the Ministry of Science and Technology has provided analytical services to the National Fertilizer Secretariat (NFS), which resulted in the seizure of a consignment of Urea fertilizer containing high Biuret levels. The maximum permissible level for Biuret as specified in the Sri Lanka Standard Specification; SLS 618 of 1983 for Urea (Fertilizer grade) is 1.0 percent by mass. However, samples of Urea submitted to the ITI, contained higher levels which resulted in the seizure. According to Director of the National Fertilizer Secretariat Mr. D. R. Wijayatilleke samples of Urea fertilizer were submitted for analysis for the purpose of instituting legal action against two firms whom they suspected imported adulterated urea fertilizer in December 1997. The analysis carried out and the reports submitted by ITI had made it possible for the NFS to seize the stocks thus contributing to the welfare of the farming community as well as preventing the immeasurable harm that could have been caused to the agricultural sector of the country. The Ceylon Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research (CISIR) now ITI has been involved in the analysis of fertilizer as far back as 1980, with the analysis of consignments of fertilizer for the Ceylon Fertilizer Corporation. Since the beginning of this decade, the CISIR was appointed as the approved analyst by the Director of the National fertilizer Secretariat (NFS) under the powers vested on him by the 'Regulation of Fertilizer, Act No. 68 of 1988'. With the services provided by the CISIR (ITI) the NFS has been in a position to control adulteration and contamination of fertilizer and also seize consignments which do not meet the necessary specifications. During the year 1998, the ITI analysed thirty-six consignments of mixed fertilizers and eight consignments of Urea fertilizer. Officers in the Services Group of the Agro & Food Technology Division under the expert guidance of Group Manager, Mrs. Subadra Jayasinghe, carried out the analytical work. Kadirgamar leads SAARC delegation to Brussels Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar is now in Brussels, in his capacity as Chairman of the SAARC Council of Ministers leading a SAARC delegation for consultations with the European Union (EU) on furthering SAARC-EU Cooperation. These consultations are being held pursuant to the first formal consultations that took place in New York in September, 1998 on the sidelines of the 53rd UNGA. While the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister led the SAARC delegation to this meeting which included the Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan and Pakistan and representatives from the other SAARC member countries, the EU Troika was led by the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Austria and included the British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and the representative for Germany. In order to concretise SAARC-EU Cooperation, it was proposed at this meeting that a number of projects be considered which could receive EU assistance, the Foreign Ministry said in a news release. A delegation of the European Union also visited Sri Lanka in November 1998 in preparation for the current round of consultations in Brussels, to identify areas for enhanced cooperation within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding which currently exists between SAARC and the EU. The SAARC delegation now in Brussels includes Mr. Nihal Rodrigo who recently assumed duties as the Secretary General of SAARC, C. D. Casie Chetty, Director General, Economic Affairs and Romesh Jayasinghe Director General, South Asia and SAARC of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka the release added. Batticaloa Corr. This was in the Eravur police area and the army personnel going home on leave were to pass that area in a convoy when the 25 kilogram landmine and 175 metres of detonating wire were discovered. |
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