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Forty-eight Police Inspectors file
rights violation pleas
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Forty-eight Police
Inspectors file rights violation pleas Forth-eight Inspectors of Police, who have completed four years of service as inspectors, have complained to the Supreme Court by way of a Fundamental Rights Violation plea that the recent amendment to the promotion scheme, to get promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector, is arbitrary and unreasonable. They have cited as the respondents, I.G.P. B. L. V. de S. Kodituwakku, D.I.G. Chandrasiri Fernando, Secretary Defence Chandrananda de Silva, the Public Services Commission, Director Establishments of the Ministry of Public Administration and the Attorney General. The petition alleged that, by the operation of the altered scheme of promotion, there are a number of STF personnel, in the rank of Inspector of Police, who had never been deployed in the operational areas, but had been doing administrative work in Colombo, who are likely to derive the benefit of obtaining promotions to the rank of Chief Inspectors. The persons named in the petition, though of better performance, are at a loss because they have only four years of service. Further, there are Inspectors attached to the V.V.I.P. Security Service carrying out similar security activities along with the STF personnel, but those Inspectors of Police are not permitted to make application for the promotion to the rank of Chief Inspector, without completing 08 years of service. The petition alleged that the alteration of the scheme of promotion to the rank of Chief Inspector of Police by the I.G.P. is arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable, unjustifiable and intended to be applied unequally, among the Inspectors of Police, including the persons listed in the schedule to the petition. When the said group joined the service they were made to understand that they could apply for a promotion after 4 years of service as an Inspector. The petition requested the Supreme Court to stay the operation of the new regulation, and to declare the violation of the Fundamental Rights of the 48 Inspectors listed in the petition. Attorney-at-law, U. Abdul Najeem, had filed the petition on behalf of the said 48 Inspectors. This application is to be supported in Court shortly. Mid-week Politics With hardly two weeks to go to polls in the North Western region and incidents of violence escalating day by day pilfering of postal votes by unidentified men on motorcycles from post offices began at Anamaduwa on Monday. Anamaduwa is one area where violence is at its peak. The postal votes had been nabbed from the Mundalama post office by two unidentified men on a motorcycle, the Regional Postal Superintendent of Chilaw has complained to the police. The two suspects are yet to be apprehended. The conduct of the PA parliamentarian from Anamaduwa has come in for criticism not only by the UNP and the JVP but also by the PA supporters themselves. Woman activist from the MIRJE representing the Committee against violence during elections Ms. Nimalka Fernando who recently toured the North West on a fact finding mission observed that especially in the Puttalam District where Anamaduwa is located it appeared to be a ‘ one party show ‘ with only PA banners and decorations being allowed for display with political force being used over the campaign of the opponent parties. Ms. Fernando in her report had observed that in Anamaduwa a threatening campaign was in force led by this PA parliamentarian in question. She had cited another incident at Kurunegala where the children of a UNP candidate had been stripped naked and forced to eat mud. Ms. Fernando does not represent any political party and had been a woman activist for justice and democracy for the past two and a half decades . Surveys conducted by independent bodies in the NWP since the election campaign was launched indicate that with the escalation of violence the voter turn out may be very low as the people fear statements made by local politicians in the area. While a minister leading the PA campaign is on record saying that the PA will win by good or bad means an Anamaduwa PA MP who is accused for perpetrating violence by leading mobs against UNPers was reported to have told a meeting in Anamaduwa a few days ago that those who try to play with him may lose their limbs after the PA victory on January 25. While the Puttalam District is shrouded in violence the Kurunegala District where violence was at a lower level recorded a significant escalation over the past weekend. On Saturday a vehicle carrying UNP Parliamentarian Gamini Lokuge was shot. Some occupants in the jeep were wounded. On Sunday UNP candidate Johnston Fernando’s campaign office at Mawathagama was smashed by armed men late in the evening and a vehicle parked near by was badly damaged. Following these developments in Kurunegala fear psychosis now prevails in the district and political analysts say that with the days nearing to the poll may result in a lower turn out of voters on election day. Meanwhile, the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who officially kicked off his party campaign at Wennappuwa on Sunday suggested to President Chandrika Kumaratunga to set up a committee to ensure a free and fair poll with representatives from all parties. He noted that if the President agreed he was prepared to appoint his senior Parliamentarians A. C. S. Hameed and K. N. Choksy to that committee. He recalled that the UNP under President D. B. Wijetunga and he as the Prime Minister held a free and fair election in 1994 which enabled the PA to come to power according to the wish of the people and urged President Kumaratunga advise her partymen to shun violence in the name of democracy to give the people a chance to vote according to their conscience. President Kumaratunga who appeared on many platforms in the NWP over the past few days recalled the past misdeeds of the UNP and the fear psychosis era under President Premadasa pledged that elections would be held in a free and fair manner. The UNP claims that though the President was assuring free and fair elections her people were acting on the contrary in the NWP threatening political opponents and their own supporters. Since the election campaign began the state controlled electronic media has allocated more time over the news casts for the speeches of the President as it was done during the days of the late UNP President Ranasinghe Premadasa. When Premadasa dominated the scene during news casts the SLFP accused him of carrying out a ‘ one man show’ and called upon the people to boycott news over the state controlled media saying that Premadasa was repeating the same thing over and over again. Woman tells of
boyfriend’s killing at inquest "I was trying to get into the parked vehicle when somebody tried to pull me out by my legs. Then suddenly two men emerged and at the point of a revolver they ordered me to remove my jewellery. They then snatched the money belonging to my boyfriend and my jewellery. One of them dragged my boyfriend out and stabbed him in the stomach. When he fell, he was stabbed on the back," said the woman who was with millionaire businessman Mohamed Sabri Mohideen, in her evidence at the Magisterial inquiry into his death at Mt. Lavinia last Saturday. The magisterial inquiry was held last Sunday evening by Mt. Lavinia Acting Magistrate, C. S. A. Dharmatileka. Police sergeant, Abaysinghe led the evidence at this inquiry. The witness is employed as a secretary in a private firm and residing at Nedimala, Dehiwela. In her evidence, she further said: "I am employed at present as a secretary to the chairman of a private company, situated at Galle Face, Colombo. I had been associating with Sabri Mohideen for the past 7 years and was intending to get married to him. He was a millionaire businessman. He also served as a director in a private company. Last Saturday evening at about 7.00 p.m., Sabri came to my house and accompanied me in his vehicle to visit a friend in Ratmalana. But we were unable to meet the friend. Thereafter we proceeded to the Life Saving Club situated close to Mt. Lavinia sea beach. We walked into the club after parking the vehicle at the car park situated along Siripala Road. At the club my boyfriend took drinks. Then we had dinner. After dinner we walked along the beach for about half an hour. After paying the bill we returned to the vehicle to proceed home. My boyfriend first got into to the vehicle and opened the door for me to get in. When I was getting into the vehicle somebody pulled me by my legs. Then suddenly two other persons appeared, pointed me a revolver and threatened me not to shout. Then they stuffed some sticky white cloth into my mouth. I saw another three persons holding a knife against the neck of my boyfriend. Then the person holding the pistol threatened me to remove my jewellery. I gave my neckless, 4 bangles and the earstuds to them. They threatened me to remove my blouse. At that moment my boyfriend told me not to remove the blouse. Then they dragged out my boyfriend from the vehicle and removed his purse, gold chain and the brancelot. They also forced him to walk forward while three others tried to force me down on the back seat of the vehicle. When my boyfriend saw this, he fought with the three accompanying him and tried to come towards me. Then one of the men stabbed him in the stomach and he fell. He was stabbed again on the back. My boyfriend cried in pain. At that time the people in the club, hearing his cries came running towards us. The attackers on seeing them ran away. The persons in the life-saving club took my boyfriend in his vehicle to Kalubowila hospital. Then I went to Mt. Lavinia police and made a complaint. I later came to know that my boyfriend had died. My boyfriend has no blood relatives in Sri Lanka. All his relations are abroad. We were intending to get married and go abroad," she told the magisterial inquiry. The inquest into the death was held at Colombo South Hospital. Post mortem examination was conducted by Judicial Medical Officer, Dr. Colombage. The reason for the death was profuse bleeding from injuries caused to internal organs by stabbing, according to the medical report. Crew of sinking ship rescued Nine crew members aboard the ship "Humbria 4", which was reported to be sinking on Monday outside the Colombo harbour as a result of a leak, were rescued by the Navy, a naval spokesman said. The crew members had consisted two Sri Lankans and seven Indians. This ship which had been auctioned in September last year and had been purchased by a Dubai company, had been placed under arrest the previous month. A Ports Authority spokesman said, that the arrest had taken place due to a dispute involving the crew of the vessel and another party. Later the matter had been resolved but the ship was minus a captain. The ship which was sinking about 3 to 4 miles outside the harbour had been taking in water for some long time, he said. A tug boat had been despatched by the Ports Authority to pump the water out of the ship. The nine crew members have been handed over to the Harbour Police, the spokesman said. Bodies of drowned IP and
sergeant recovered The bodies of Police Inspector Chandrasiri Weragoda and reserve sergeant Sharman were fished out of the Kondawattuwan reservoir in Ampara early yesterday. The body of the third victim, Samantha Suraweera, a clerk attached to the Hardy Institute was recovered on the evening of Sunday, the day of the tragedy, police said. The trio was drowned during a boat ride in the reservoir. Three others who were with them managed to swim ashore when the boat capsized. Police boats were deployed to search for the bodies of the victims. The bodies were removed to the Ampara hospital for inquests. Meanwhile a father and his daughter were seriously injured when a mortar exploded close to their house at Kanyankerni in Valachchenai on Monday evening. The two victims identified as Kandiah Dharmaratnam (49) and Dharmaratnam Yasodha (18) were transferred to Batticaloa hospital from Valachchenai as their condition was critical, hospital sources said. Over 900 killings in places
outside terrorist areas The majority of killings reported last year had occurred in provinces not affected by serious terrorist activities, police revealed this week. A staggering 910 killings had been reported from districts other than Jaffna,Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara, police said. Continuing violence connected with underworld activities and family disputes had resulted in a large number of killings. 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. Altogether police headquarters has recorded a total of 1157 killings last year. According to sources, headquarters in 1997 recorded 824 killings in districts other than Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara. 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. Three police officers at
every polling station The Elections Department in consultation with the police has decided to provide three police officers to maintain security at each of the polling stations for the January 25 North Western Provincial Council elections. This decision has been taken by the Elections Department on a request made by the Returning Officers, Kurunegala, Parakrama Bandara. There will be 1160 polling stations in Kurunegala and Puttalam districts, Election Department sources said. Meanwhile a protest march against political violence will be held from January 15 to 19 in the North Western Province and in Kandy, convenor and Liberal Party contestant in NWP J. D. N. Hettiarachchi said. The Chairman of the Western Province Private Bus Transport Authority Wijesiri Soysa said yesterday that the bus strike on routes 171, 144, 152 and at Matugama have been called off. The private busmen resorted to strike action to obtain certain demands. The bus strike carried out without consulting or informing the transport authority failed ultimately because the strikers were unable to gather much support, he said. "The strikers were of the view that they could launch countrywide strike but when this did not materialise they eventually called it off. The buses on these routes are now operating normally and there is no reason to penalise them or cancel route permits as they have called off the strike", Mr. Soysa said. SLT campaigns to give
wireless telephone connections Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) is campaigning for permission to use wireless telephone facilities to give connections at a faster pace. "There would have been no delays in giving new connections if the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRCSL) allowed us to use the wireless facilities given to Suntel and Lanka Bell operators," a SLT official said commenting on the delays in giving new telephone connections to people who have been called for charges. Using wireless facilities we can give connections quickly and later on switch to wireline which takes time to install. SLT’s has been seeking this facility for years, the official added. This is also one of the main demands of the Telecom Engineers Union at present engaged in a go-slow campaign in protest against certain TRCSL decisions. The Telecom Engineers Union is demanding permission from the TRCSL to use 1.8 gigaherts to provide connections to rural areas. TRCSL officials say that it would be a violation of the licence agreement of the two private operators who have been given a wireless duopoly. SLT says they have the resources to give wireless facilities with greater efficiency in Colombo as well as rural areas. There are congested places in Colombo where private operators don’t have the ability to give connections, but the SLT will be able to give wireless connections to these areas, the official claimed. We want to use the wireless facility to give connections specially to the very remote areas quickly. Wireline connections take time to be installed according to the SLT officials and therefore causes a delay in installation. Wireline services are much efficient and that is why there is such a long queue for SLT phones. We will switch over to wireline system some time after we give the wireless connections, it said. SLT targets another 150,000 connections this year. Sighting of the moon for Ramazan festival "A conference of Ulemas, Katheebs, Trustees of all Jumma Mosques of Colombo and Suburbs, Members of All Ceylon Jamiyyathul-Ulema and representatives of the Ministry and the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs will be held under the auspices of the Colombo Grand Mosque (Inc) next on Monday Jan. 18 at 6.30 p.m. at the Colombo Grand Mosque premises to determine the date for the celebration of Eid-Ul-Fitr, Ramazan Festival Day. This decision will have to be taken on the evidence of sighting the New Moon of Shawwal’, Colombo Grand Mosque said in a news release. ‘We appeal to the Muslim Public to be on the lookout for the New Moon of Shawwal on the evening of this day the (18) and if sighted to inform the Colombo Grand Mosque (Inc) telephoning Nos. 434651, 432110, 435859, 435849 immediately on sighting the New Moon of Shawwal with reliable evidence as this would enable the learned Ulemas, to make a decision," it said. Persons alleged to be supporters of the Peoples Alliance had gone to the houses of JVP candidates contesting from Nikaweratiya recently. and threatened their parents that if their children took upto active politics, they would end up on tyre pyres" said Bimal Ratnayake, a JVP candidate contesting the North Western Provincial Council elections. He further said that these threats had been made after holding their propaganda rally at Elagammillawa, Nikaweratiya in the face of threats by supporters of the PA. 'Sangamitta BMV Galle must keep up its good work' GALLE: Mr. Piyasena Gamage Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Power said that Galle Sangamitta Balika Maha Vidyalaya being one of the best girls schools in the Island has so far excelled in various fields in the educational sector. It should maintain that standard and it could be made possible only by the dedication of the principal, staff and students. The Dy. Minister said so while addressing the schools "Kalaulela Saha Swarna Sammana Pradana" ceremony held at Galle Town Hall recently. He also said that the "Olinda Keliya" drama staged by the primary section of the school was witnessed by him with much enthusiasm. The children gave an excellent performance and it is no surprise that it was chosen as the best in the island. Messrs Lionel Premasiri, Galle Mayor Director of Education Galle S. Obeysekara and Mr. Vinitha Wijeratne, Principal of Sangamitta BMV also spoke. I believe in victory for the party - Nimal Bandara KURUNEGALA: When United National Party Chief Ministerial candidate, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera is elected to Parliament at the next general elections I would automatically become the Chief Minister of the North Western Province said R. M. R. Nimal Bandara former and present candidate for the North Western Provincial Council addressing a propaganda rally of the UNP at Pansiyagama Balagalla for the Provincial Council elections to be held shortly. Mr. Bandara also said "I decided not to contest as the chief ministerial candidate at this elections in order to honour the United National Party and its leadership. That is why Gamini Jayawickrema Perera is contesting the Chief Ministerial post. I believe in victory for the party than the post of chief minister. Jayawickrama Perera and I have no differences of opinion. But the PA is trying to show that there are differences between the two of us. I therefore appeal to you all not to believe such false propaganda of the PA. Even Jayawickrama Perera had made a lot of sacrifices to contest this elections. We have a very strong list of candidates contesting this elections. There are former chief ministers, and former members of parliament in this list. We have no fear in facing the people as we have carried out enough development programmes. "North Western provincial elections would be the first step to bring this government down to its knees" said Nimal Bandara. Ex-cops who did dirty work
for UNP are now on Ranil’s stage — President Former senior police officers who did dirty work for the UNP government are now on Ranil’s stage, said President Chandrika Kumaratunga who was addressing an election rally in Hiriyala, Sunday (10) in support of the ruling People’s Alliance candidates for the North-Western Provincial Council elections. The rally was held in Korakahawatta, Kirindiwelmada, in the Hiriyala electorate in Kurunegala district. The President also declared open a garment factory which will provide jobs to 500 young women immediately and another 1100 when it expands its operation shortly. A foundation stone was also laid by President for an Agricultural Processing Complex with facilities to preserve local fruits and vegetables and also to process agricultural produce and value addition. She said: "Police officers who were doing dirty work for the UNP are now on the stage of Ranil. What a shamelessness is this? "These former senior police officers did everything to keep the UNP in power. They were responsible for political murders and election offences. The present leader of the party has thought it fit to bring them on his election platform", she said. She said that when the UNP was thrown out of power in 1994, it had squandered every cent and her government which succeeded inherited an empty Treasury. "Our first task was to fill the empty Treasury. Nothing could be done without money. This was one reason for slowing down development during the first year or two of our government. Our international image had sunk to zero point, during the UNP rule. People in the West spat on the face when one introduced oneself as a Sri Lankan. They thought we were an uncivilised and barbaric nation. Killings, disappearances, and wide spread human right violations during the UNP rule. She said that the war too was a key hindrance to speedy development. "The war too is a problem handed down to us by the UNP regime. It is our duty to the nation to bring the war to an-end. War can crush terrorism but war cannot bring a settlement to the political elements of the problem. While waging a war to crush terrorism we have put forward a devolution package to resolve the political aspects of the problem," she added. The President accused the UNP of mishanding the ethnic problem and of precipitating a war. "But my government would never resort to such treacherous deeds," she said. She said that the Tamils were now telling her government not to allow the LTTE to come into areas freed by the government forces, where 56 percent of the displaced Tamils have been re-settled. "We have been in power for four years but four years is a very short period in the life of a government. It is even more a shorter period in the history of a country. But we have done much more than we could reasonably expect a government to do in four years despite the many hurdles created by the UNP. "But we would not play games like UNP’s Pot and Lamp game to remain in power. The defilement of the country by the UNP was bad that it is difficult to cleanse it. But we have to cleanse it any how though it takes some time," she said. The President said that the development work in the North-Western Province was due to opposing parties being in the saddle in the NWPC and the Central Government. She said the Government is legally obliged to provide funds to Provincial Councils and that the NWPC had received its share. "But nobody knows how the NWPC’s UNP administration spent the money. There is an inquiry into this and if anybody was found guilty he would be punished whatever his position is," she said. She said that at least 3000 persons disappeared in the North-Western Province during the UNP crackdown. Two thousand of them investigated into and the politicians and police officers responsible for the disappearances identified. Some of them have been prosecuted, she added. She said that the people who voted the PA into power in 1994 were crying for justice against those responsible." The President asked the voters to back the Peoples Alliance candidates. So that Government could implement development programme in the entire country. Religious ceremony in memory of late Lt. Lamahewa A series of religious ceremonies will be held in memory of late Lt. Puspitha Lamahewa at the Batapola Central College, Batapola today (13). A Bauddha Mandiraya constructed at the cost of Rs. 5 lakhs by the brother of late naval officer, Major Manoj Lamahewa, C.O. of Artillery Unit, Palaly, will be opened by the Regional Education Director, N.J. Karunadasa on this day at 10 am. An ‘anusasana’ will be delivered by Sasthrapathi Ven. Batapola Nanda Thera, Secretary of Democratic Rights Preservation Movement. MPs, PC and Pradeshiya Sabha members and officers from the Army and Navy will be participating at this religious ceremony. Family members of the late naval officer including his mother and father Mr. & Mrs. Osmand Lamahewa, Major Manoj, Petty Officer Nishantha Lamahewa of Sri Lanka Navy, Boossa, sisters and relatives will also attend the ceremony. Late Lt. Puspitha Lamahewa was 24 years of age when he sacrificed his life in action at Chavakachcheri on 17th April, 1997. He was an old boy of Batapola Central College and Sri Devananda Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda. |
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