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violence in NWP The main contenders at the North Western Provincial Council elections, the Peoples Alliance (PA) and the United National Party (UNP) yesterday traded accusations of further fomenting violence against each other’s candidates as the campaign entered the last stage. PA issued a statement charging that "these incidents are committed to sabotage this election as the UNP is fully aware that the victory of the PA in this election is now a forgone conclusion." Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku, chief spokesman for the UNP in turn accused the PA of launching mafia type of politics in Wayamba. The PA statement listed a number of incidents allegedly involving UNP activists. The statement signed by D. M. Jayaratne, Secretary General of the PA and also by Dharmasiri Senanayake, Secretary General of the SLFP said that instructions have been given to the IGP and police officers in the field to arrest all those who are suspected of those criminal acts. "Depending on the outcome of the investigations into these acts of violence, disciplinary action will be taken against all those who are involved in the violence", the PA statement warned. Dr. Kodituwakku, speaking on behalf of the UNP said that government had transferred a DIG and seven OICs and sent a trusted DIG to prepare the ground for the violence. Meanwhile incidents of election related violence mounted to 611 up to noon yesterday. Police said that these incidents included two cases of murder, 9 attempted murders, 39 incidents of hurt, 158 assaults, 84 threats and intimidation, 60 mischief, 15 arson, 134 incidents of threats, 67 of damage to property and 27 others. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Lucky Kodituwakku yesterday directed DIG Wayamba Jagath Jayawardena to throw in an additional 19 road blocks at entry points to Wayamba. He also directed that additional armed policemen be deployed to the area for more mobile patrols. He has given strict instructions for police to arrest anyone carrying unauthorised weapons and produce them in courts and move for their remand. He has directed that all police personnel on duty should wear their uniforms if carrying weapons other than those police personnel attached to Ministerial Security Division (MSD). As various election violence eradication organisations and prominent individuals appeal to the contesting political parties and groups to cease their campaign of violence and ensure a free and fair election. Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and Christian members of the clergy in Wayamba issued a joint statement and appealed to the government to protect the democratic rights of the people and ensure a fair election. The Commissioner General of Election Dayananda Dissanayake directed that all election campaign meetings should end at midnight today (Jan. 22). The people are amazed at the falsehoods being uttered by President Chandrika Kumaratunga especially on election platforms in the North Western Province UNP media spokesman Karunasena Kodituwakku said on Saturday while addressing the Dambadeniya UNP Youth League. "She has got used to uttering so many falsehoods and so often that it has become like an illness or obsession with her that she must be believing her own untruths. The President had recently said that the Mahaweli programme was a project of the SLFP/ULF government and that it was that government that had prepared all the plans and had even negotiated the foreign funding to implement the entire Mahaweli programme but had been unable to proceed because they were defeated at the July 1977 elections". Kodituwakku said that this statement was blatantly untrue. The true position is that the Mahaweli programme was first thought of as far back as 1948 by our first Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake. His successor Dudley Senanayake then got further plans drawn-up in the 1965-1970 period. Thereafter, Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike continued the development of those plans between 1970-1977 and started a small portion of the Mahaweli programme at Polgolla in Kandy. However, it was the UNP government under J. R. Jayewardene that telescoped a 30-year programme into 6 years and it was the late Gamini Dissanayake who gave leadership to the successful implementation and completion of the Mahaweli programme in 6 years. It is the UNP government that can take credit for the huge development projects like Victoria, Randenigala, Kotmale, Maduru Oya and Lunugamvehera. Ronnie de Mel as the UNP's Finance Minister also helped to get the foreign aid to complete this programme in 6 years. In this background, for the President to say that the Mahaweli programme was done by the SLFP is a complete falsehood. The people know the true facts but it is our duty to refute the untruth, he added. "Another falsehood uttered by the President is her statement that when she assumed office as Prime Minister in August 1994 she found that the General Treasury of the country was empty and the country in a serious financial mess. According to her, because of this situation she was unable to develop the country quickly and implement her promised programmes. No one will deny that the UNP left behind a sound economy and sound financial system. The PA government has also agreed to follow the open economic policies of the UNP and not go back to their socialist policies of the 1970 period which resulted in shortages, queues and even starvation. People still remember the "Dust-Bin" era of the SLFP/ULF government of the 1970s when people were forced to eat out of dust bins". Kodituwakku said that the best person to vouch for the stable economy left behind by the UNP in August 1994 was the current Governor of the Central Bank, A. S. Jayawardena who is also a favourite of the President. On August 5, 1994, A. S. Jayawardena had spoken at a media conference presided over by the then Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe at Ackland House, Colombo. A. S. Jayawardena had publicly stated at that media conference that Sri Lanka's economy at that time was very sound and was in an excellent financial shape. At that media conference, A. S. Jayawardena was speaking as the Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank. He had also been Secretary to the Ministry of Industries where the Minister was Ranil Wickremasinghe. So while A. S. Jayawardena said that the economy under the UNP in August 1994 was in excellent shape, the President says just the opposite. But now, the same A. S. Jayawardena is the President's appointee as Governor of the Central Bank. She had also made him Secretary of the Ministry of Finance when the PA assumed office. Mr. Jayawardena knew that the Treasury was not empty in August 1994 when the UNP was in office. This also shows that what the President is now saying is not true. To find out who is speaking the truth all that one need do is to look up the newspaper reports of August 1994 when A. S. Jayawardena made this public statement about the soundness of the economy and the stability of the country under the UNP. The President, he said had recently criticised past Presidents Jayewardene and Premadasa saying that she did not think much of them as good administrators. "It is sad that a person with so little experience in public management can be so critical of two persons with over 40-50 years experience in public life. The people are astute judges and can compare the administrative abilities of Presidents Jayewardene and Premadasa with that of President Kumaratunga. On punctuality alone the current President will fail any test of capability. Cleanliness they say is next to godliness, so also punctuality is the essence of responsibility. The President's unpunctuality is now world renowned. She has not only kept VIPs in our own country waiting but also kept Heads of State in foreign countries waiting. No respectable public servant will like to wait 6-8 hours to see her as currently happens. The executive presidential system cannot work today because we have an unpunctual, disorganised President with an equally disorganised and non-professional Presidential Secretariat. A little bit of experience at the Land Reform Commission and one year's experience as a Chief Minister is insufficient to make a good President. People in glass houses must not throw stones". "Adolf Hitler's propaganda chief Dr. Goebbels had said in a statement that is now famous that "if a lie is constantly repeated some people may fall into the trap of believing the lie as a truth". Accordingly, the falsehoods uttered by her must be refuted. President Abraham Lincoln commented that "while you can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, you cannot fool ALL the people ALL the time". "The President must realise that our people are interested in positive things and not in negative blame being cast on others. People vote out governments; they do not vote in governments. The PA has accomplished nothing. So they will be voted out", he added. Lankan Govt. may back Perumal's bid for consensus Colombo, January 20 (P. K. Balachandran) - In a bid to break the deadlock on the ethnic issue, the Sri Lankan Government may back Tamil leader A. Varadaraja Perumal's non-partisan efforts to find a political consensus embracing the ruling People's Alliance (PA), the Opposition United National Party (UNP), and the Tamil groups other than the LTTE. The EPRLF leader and former Chief Minister of the Tamil North-East Province, who returned to the island on June 14 after an eight-year self-imposed exile in India, was keen on bringing about a consensus among the mainstream Sinhala parties before attempting to bring the Sinhalese and Tamils together, said a source close to him as well as the PA Government. The source, which did not want to be identified, said that Mr. Perumal knew that the most basic requirement for a settlement of the Tamil problem was a consensus between the PA and the UNP. Towards this end, Mr. Perumal would meet leaders of both the parties, after they were through with the provincial elections in Wayamba slated for Jan. 25. "Right now Mr. Perumal is acquainting himself with the intricacies of the ethnic problem and current Sri Lankan politics", the source added. Asked if Mr. Perumal had atleast the germ of a scheme to bring the disparate political groups together, the source said that he would like the civil administration in the Tamil North- East Province to be revived and the new constitutional proposals to be corrected to ensure real autonomy to the province". Mr. Perumal feels that the revival of the civil administration would give the Tamils an alternative to the LTTE. "He went through the present Government's new devolution package, but found it wanting in several respects. He had had a bitter experience in the past as the Chief Minister of the North-East, when the UNP Governments of Mr. J. R. Jayewardene and Mr. R. Premadasa had made a mockery of provincial autonomy. Mr. Perumal does not want this repeated", the source said. Asked if Mr. Perumal had the support of the Sri Lankan Government, the sources said that the Government might bless his efforts to bring about an understanding with the UNP and the Tamil parties. On the question of India's support for the Perumal project, the source said that India was in no way involved. While the Tamils across the board pooh-pooh Mr. Perumal's bid to come back, Tamil parties other than the LTTE will be enthused if his efforts lead to the revival of the political process in the North-East. The North-East Provincial Council, which EPRLF dominated, was dismissed after a frustrated Mr. Perumal declared independence for Tamil Eelam and fled to India. The officials he appointed were removed and quasi-military rule with a civilian facade was imposed. Despite differences, all the non-LTTE Tamil groups believe that the revival of democratic institutions would help the people distance themselves from the LTTE, if the mistakes of the past are not repeated. A source in the EPDP said that elections to the North-East could not be postponed for ever. The Government might hold elections there after the polls to the five provincial councils, due shortly. "May be in June or July, there could be elections in the North and East", an EPDP leader said. But EPRLF Secretary General Suresh Premachandran said that the Central Government would be most reluctant to relinquish control over the North-East, a province whose Governor is now a military man. Many do not believe that the PA Government would want to revive the political process in the North-East or revive practical questions of regional autonomy at this juncture when the Government believes that peace can be ushered in. As regards the Tamils, they generally do not believe that Mr. Perumal would make any difference to the political situation in Sri Lanka. Pro-LTTE elements suspect that he is a RAW plant. But responsible political observers rule out an Indian hand totally. Island Capers Not all Sri Lankans in Australia are cheering Arjuna's boys, nor are some who have surfaced from downunder to their motherland. Fire crackers went off after the last two defeats in two upper class homes in the posh area near Ascot Avenue, Colombo 5. These were demonstrations of those "refugees" in Australia having obtained Australian citizenship and returned here. We cannot fault them if they were demonstrating their loyalty to their adopted country. But why do these "refugees" come back here ? Ex-Navy Chief-of-Staff granted leave to proceed The Supreme Court last week granted former Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral D. K. Dassanayaka leave to proceed with a fundamental rights application challenging the President's decision to retire him with effect from March 23, 1998. The Court in granting leave to proceed accepted that there is a prima facie case to be answered by the respondents. When the case was first taken up on May 4, 1998, Senior State Counsel Shavindra Fernando, who is a Captain in the Volunteer Navy and functioning as the Judge Advocate submitted to Court that he does not wish to appear on behalf of the respondent in this case due to personal reasons. The next hearing was on May 18, 1998. At the next hearing on May 18, 1998 the respondents were represented by D. S. G. K. Sripavan. The petitioner said that he did not receive any reply to the Redress of Grievance (ROG) made by him to the President through the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral H. C. A. C. Tissera as far back as March 19, 1997 or to the reminders sent to same authorities on February 5, 1998 and on March 14, 1998. He has requested Court to direct his ROG to the President for consideration under Clause 3 (2) a of the Navy Pensions and Gratuities Code. On June 11, 1998 the Deputy Solicitor General stated that the ROG had been sent to the President and she made an order on March 23, 1998 to retire the petitioner on April, 1998 and to appoint the 3rd respondent as the Chief of Staff of the Navy from the same date. On July 24, 1998 the petitioner submitted a further affidavit alleging that the 2nd respondent Vice Adm. H. C. A. C. Tissera acted maliciously, (a) by not forwarding the ROG to the President in time to get early reply and also, (b) considering the petitioner as a threat to his position when there was speculation that the next Navy Commander could be the petitioner after the retirement of Vice Admiral Samarasekera, (c) how in this past COSs were given extensions in rank or adjustments in seniority if they were below 55 years, (d) how the extensions were given even to officers in other branches of the Navy. Thereafter the petitioner did not seek interim relief in terms of paragraphs 'C' and 'E' of his prayer. The Court granted approval to support the case on December 1, 1998 before any bench. The case was heard again on January 13, 1999. Case will be heard again on June 24, 1999. Mr. D.S. Wijesinghe PC appeared for the petitioner with J. C. Weliamuna and Anil Gunawardana instructed by Mrs. Subbodhaya Wiejtunge. K. Sripavan, DSG appeared for the respondents. Air Lanka inaugurates first joint cargo freight service Air Lanka will inaugurate its first joint cargo freighter service in collaboration with Emirates, the international airline of the UAE on Monday (25). An Air Lanka Press release said it has entered into a commercial agreement with its strategic partner Emirates, for the carriage of cargo on Emriates' Boeing 747 freighter service on the Amsterdam/Dubai/Hong Kong/Colombo/Dubai/Amsterdam route. Consequently, Air Lanka will sell cargo space on the Amsterdam/Hong Kong, Hong Kong/Colombo and Colombo/Amsterdam sectors of this service. This flight will operate out of Colombo every Monday, beginning January 25. The press release said that this is the first cargo freighter service that Air Lanka has entered into and serves to further expand the national carrier's cargo operations. Air Lanka's cargo capacity of some 400 tonnes per week is the largest offered by any carrier operating out of Colombo. The joint freighter service with Emirates will enhance this capacity and greatly benefit local exporters, particularly those in the garment and horticulture trade. This new cargo flight is one of the service enhancements identified in Air Lanka's new ten year business plan. The press release said the ten year plan provides for complete product and service development including new corporate identity, induction of new aircraft, new in flight product, new destinations and more code share flights, all designed to raise Air Lanka to the rank of a top flight Asian carrier. Sri Lanka should keep pace with science
technology Lanka needs to rapidly increase her space science and technology knowledge and apply this knowledge to the needs of her society, so that she too can keep up with the West in this regard, said Batty Weerakoon, Minister of Science and Technology, yesterday. Speaking as Chief Guest at the inaugural session of the first National Conference on "Space Technology Applications for National Development", held at Trans Asia Hotel, he said that the yawning gap between the Northern and the Southern hemisphere with regard to science technology development can also be bridged in this way. The Minister said that in order to keep abreast of the growing developments of space science and technology, a very large capital is required. He said that this poses an important question to Sri Lanka, whether the island depends on multi-national involvement or calls on the State to take the initiative in deliberating the development of space technology. Arthur C. Clarke, Patron, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, also speaking on this occasion said that this conference in the wake of the new millennium would grant an opportunity to policy makers and scientists to review past Sri Lankan space technological achievements such as advanced weather forecasting and land resource mapping. He also said that discussions on ways of responding to the new challenges of the next century which would take place during the sessions would greatly benefit Sri Lanka. The two day National conference on "Space Science and Technology Application for National Development" which commenced yesterday is aimed at drafting a National Policy and Action Plan on space science and technologies, which would help achieve better co-ordination of efforts and sharing of resources in Sri Lanka. The conference hosted by the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies together with the Ministry of Science and Technology, hoped also to encourage the promotion of sustainable development and peaceful relations within Sri Lanka as well as with other countries.N. Jasent-uliyane, Deputy to the Director Gen-eral, United Nations Office, Vienna, and Director, Office for Outer Space Affairs, United Nations (UN), delivering the keyn- ote address at the inaugural session said that Sri Lanka along with the rest of the world have only recently experienced extreme environmental and climate changes, over exploitation of national resources, the El Nino phenomenon, floods and drought. He said that at present the challenge of the millennium lies in probing answers in understanding and overcoming these natural hazards by applying space technology and space science. Mr. Jasentuliyane said that 40 years down the space age, the world has developed space technology through telecommunications only in the urban areas. He explained that 84% of mobile telecommunication usage, 91% of fax communication and 91% of internet connections have been constrained to the developed nations alone. He said that remote sensing which has been an invaluable development of space science and technology, has managed to grant countries the ability to utilize resources in a sustainable manner and to develop fields such as weather forecasting, forestry and urban planning. The satellite has made possible environment conscious dam construction and ecological efforts of tourism, he said further. Space technology has also, in many countries, helped to pinpoint epidemic stricken areas. But, he said, it is impossible to expect the development of all aspects in life, without a basic education in space technology. These benefits are at hand even for Sri Lanka, Mr. Jasentuliyane added, through the call for development of technology by national conferences such as this one. The sessions which proceeded soon after, dealt with space technology applications for the future of Sri Lanka such as satellite communication for future broadcasting and the motion estimation and compensation techniques for digital video compression. An address on space strategy for Australia was also delivered by Dr. Brian J. J. Embleton who was among the many delegates present at the inaugural session yesterday, along with H. A.Wimalagunawardhane, Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Rohan Weerasinghe, Chairman, Prof. S. Karunaratne, Director, and H. S. P. de Alwis, Deputy Director all of the Arthur C. Clarke Center. Vote early, Polls Chief advises NWP voters Polling at the elections to the North Western Provincial Council will take place next Monday between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. and Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has advised the voters to go early to the polling stations to vote. In a message to the electors, the Commissioner has told the voters: "The Poll Card delivered to you, will give details of the Polling Station, Name and Serial No. As they appear in the Electoral Register. But a poll card is not necessary for you to apply for a ballot paper. If you are a registered elector, please go to your polling station and apply for a ballot paper. "A notice printed in Sinhala and Tamil has been sent to each household along with these poll cards. This notice gives you the lists of candidates and the serial numbers assigned to each such candidate, under the name of each party/independent group. "When you proceed to vote, it is useful to keep in your possession, the National Identity Card or in its absence any other identity card, to be produced as proof of your identity, any time it is called for. "In marking preferences to candidates, not exceeding three, to three different candidates, you have to identify the Candidates of your choice, with reference to numbers that represent them, because the ballot paper has only these numbers. The above notice available with you at home, will help you to acquaint yourself with these details and remember the relevant numbers. If you wish to refresh your mind, there is a poll notice displayed at the polling station, with the same details. "No ballot paper would be considered as valid, unless there is a vote marked on it. You are therefore advised to mark firstly a vote opposite the symbol of the party of your choice. Thereafter if you wish, proceed to mark preferences. A preference can be given by marking a Cross "X" on the printed number of the candidate that you prefer. You can mark three such preferences. "After voting you are kindly requested to leave the place without delay and refrain from staying around the polling station. This will help the elections staff and the police officers on duty." LTTE equips boats with new
weapons from Eastern Europe Armed forces believe that the LTTE has managed to acquire new weapons to arm big armour plated boats built by them in secret locations in the Wanni. Acquisition of new guns came to light when troops assisted by navy divers last week recovered a 40 feet long armour plated Sea Tiger craft off south of Boulder Point, Trincomalee after it was badly damaged in a fierce confrontation south of Pulmoddai in the early hours of January 12. "We recovered a 23 mm weapon manufactured in an East European country," a senior armed forces officer told ‘The Island’ yesterday. The weapon the first of its kind recovered from the Sea Tigers has been handed over to Navy’s Eastern Command for further investigations. The weapon can engage targets arroximately 1500 metres away from the firing position, defence sources said. They said that the boat, perhaps one of the biggest built by the LTTE here was found beached on a reef off Boulder Point after Navy Fast Attack Craft [FACs] attacked it. It has been powered by four OBMs. Although there were no bodies or communication equipment in the boat, it has been mounted with a 23 mm weapon. It was a weapon used by former Warsaw Pact forces, defence sources said. An officer declined to comment on the possible place [country] from where the weapon came. Armed forces believe that the LTTE must have acquired at least two dozen 23mm weapons. It can be also used against ground targets and navy boats during amphibious landings, the sources said. The navy said that the abandoned craft was among at least six enemy boats which were involved in six hour major confrontation off Pulmoddai. During the battle a boat similar to the one abandoned was caught fire and sank. This particular boat, despite hit by FAC‘s main armaments including grenades had managed to flee. The navy said that the enemy group was moving towards Thalpearu, Kuchc-huveli to collect supplies for cadres fighting the army in the Wanni. The attempt was the second so far made this month, navy said. Of the six enemy craft, two were destroyed and the other four were badly hit. "Since then there have been no further attempts to collect supplies," navy officer said. Defence sources said that LTTE was secretly moving supplies collected in the south to location in close to the east coast to be later transferred to the Wanni. Defence sources said that some of the parts of the recovered 40 feet long boat had been armour plated. This particular boat had been used to escort other craft deployed for transport purposes. The navy said that three FACs were damaged in confrontations with the Sea Tigers off the east coast. According to records maintained at the navy headquarters, approximately 106 enemy craft had been destroyed in the last two years. Another 120 had been damaged. Navy said that there was no doubt that the majority of these boats had been built here. The navy said that four boats, Pabatha, Valampuri, P 195 and P 498 were lost in confrontations last year and another 38 vessels damaged. SLAF ‘helitours’
will operate civil flights to North The Ministry of Defence had granted clearance for ‘Helitours’, a subsidiary of the Sri Lanka Air Force, to operate civil flights between Ratmalana and Palaly, Ministry sources said. Members of the general public wanting to travel to the North by air have to submit their application to the ministry through their respective police stations. Mr. M. S. Wickremarachchi, Additional Secretary to the Ministry said that initially the Sri Lanka Air Force would operate 55 seater AN32 Antonov aircraft between the North and South. It would be the same procedure as in the case of private operators Lion Air or Monaro Air where applications cleared by the Ministry would have tickets issued by ‘Helitours’. "Initially we would be operating one flight up and one down a day which would be increased to even three a day. If the need arises it would be increased depending on the number of passengers," the official said. The flight would be mainly for passengers and not for cargo. A spokesman for Air Force ‘Helitours’ said that the one way ticket charges would be Rs. 1603/12 including GST and those travelling both ways would have to pay double the amount. Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody is scheduled to open the new Helitours ticketing office between the Bata Company and the Sri Lanka Air Force barrier today at 9.00 a.m. A passenger would be allowed to carry personal baggage of 10 kgs and for each additional kilogram they would have to pay Rs. 50. The Ministry did not grant clearance for the civil operation after the Lion Air flight carrying 54 passengers and crew on October 29th 1998 was believed to have been shot down by the LTTE. Additional Secretary to the Ministry Mr. M. S. Wickremarachchi said that for reasons of security the civil operators have not been given clearance to resume flights to North. Domestic textile industry
tottering The domestic textile industry which has been badly affected is yet to receive the assistance promised by the government said the Chairman of the Textile Manufa-cturers Association Mr. A. Y. S Gnanam yesterday. He said that this industry which employs around 30,000 was threatened with closure when the government removed duty on textiles in 1997. He said that an agreement was yet to be signed for the assistance package proposed by the government. He told "The Island" that the factories were functioning only at 10-20% of their capacity .Some of the problems faced by them were lack of raw materials and the reluctance of banks to give them credit due to the removal of duty. " Employees are leaving because they feel there is no future in this industry" Mr. Gnanam said. Some factories have stopped working and the workers are awaiting a government decision. About half the number of factories still pay salaries to their employees even though they have no work" he said There are still about 18,000 employees working and 60 to 70 factories functioning on a reduced scale. The 35% duty on textiles which was removed in 1997 coupled with the imposition of 12.5% GST in April last year was a blow to the domestic textile sector which had been exempt from turnover tax. The fiscal relief measures expected by the sector were not realised in the 1998 budget. In February 1998, 124 domestic textile manufacturers met the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury, where a assistance package for the sector was put forward. However recommendations made by the government for appropriate fiscal relief measures, in view of the representations made by the sector are yet to be implemented, Mr. Gnanam said. Hundreds struck by
lightning every year Over a 100 injuries occur annually in Sri Lanka as a result of lightning, said Mr. K. R. Abhayasinghe of the Department of Meteorology. He said that according to the most recent statistics available, 49 deaths had occurred in 1997 as a result of being struck by lightning. He said that lightning which basically is an electrical discharge within clouds or between clouds and the earth, gives out an immense amount of energy which usually could not be withstood by humans. Mr. Abhayasinghe said that in Sri Lanka lightning most frequently occurs in the South Western quarter during inter-monsoonal periods of March-April and October-November, although it can develop throughout the island during any season. Lightning develops due to the upward motion of the air, Mr. Abhayasinghe explained, adding that there can be three ways in which this can occur. Convergent winds meeting at a central point, he said, is one of the most important causes for the development of lightning. He said that the process of convection which takes place during inter-monsoonal seasons when the sun is directly overhead Sri Lanka, is yet another cause for the occurrence of lightning. When the sun is directly overhead, the ground level air heats up faster and as a result becomes lesser in density. The light air proceeds to move in an upward motion which results in the development of lightning, Mr. Abhayasinghe explained. Cyclonic disturbances, too, he said is a factor which enhances upward motion which in turn enhances the development of clouds which creates lightning. Mr. Abhayasinghe said that the great amount of energy released through clouds contains a voltage of about 5,000,000 within a time limit of about 20 mili seconds. He said that lightning which attracts the closest point can be extremely harmful to humans, animals and plants. There is a widely spread misconception that one shouldn’t touch a person struck by lightning, Mr. Abhayasinghe said. When a person is struck by lightning he should be immediately given first aid in the form of artificial respiration. Soon after, the person struck by lightning should be massaged in order to restore his blood circulation which may still be in shock. Mr. Abhayasinghe said that simply earthing household electrical equipment is not sufficient enough to eliminate destruction caused by lightning. He said that power arresters and power diverters, available in the market, are effective in detracting lightning. Woman campaigner ‘harassed, partly stripped’ Members of women’s organisations expressed shock and anger at the harassment of a woman campaigner for UNP candidates in the North Western Province. She together with several other members of the party was harassed and partly stripped in public by supporters of an opposing party while they were canvassing from house to house in the police division of Katupotha on Wednesday. Ms. Indrani Iriyagolla, Former President - Sinhala Kantha Abihivurdhi Sanvidhanaya said that they are protesting vehemently but did not intend to make it a party issue. "We have verified the story from the police and several witnesses. All women’s organisations irrespective of their political affiliations are protesting vehemently over the incident, " she said. Ms. Iriyagolla said that they have verified the incident and will later bring down this woman who is reported to be in a state of shock to Colombo. The woman campaigner was with other members of her party canvassing from house to house when the incident took place. According to reports the culprits waving T56 guns had said ‘stop the nonsense and go home’. When the woman and the rest of the group had resisted they have pulled the clothes apart including those of the woman. She had then run around crying and according to the witnesses and sought refuge in a nearby house. "We will issue a statement on the incident and I think this is partly due to the fault of women who had been putting up with this kind of treatment," Ms. Iriyagolla said. "These are the incidents that deter women from entering politics, "said Swarna Obeysekara, Chairperson, SL Institute of Interior Designers. These incidents will be one of the concerns of the group of independent women observers who will be in Wayamba on Sunday to carry out their duties as election observers", she added. Accusations made by the
UNP, JVP and PA over elections related violence in
Wayamba Province PA... Minister Samaraweera was speaking at a press conference at Anamaduwa last evening where Ministers Alavi Mowlana and S. B. Dissanayake were also associated. Minister Samaraweera added that Ex-DIG Premadasa Udugampola who was heading the UNP campaign in Wayamba along with Generals Lucky Algama and Cecil Waidyaratne were involved in violence in Wayamba. Ratnapura Mayor Mahinda Ratnathilaka, MP Susantha Punchinilame, Asoka Wadigamangawa, Arjuna Wadigamangawa and MP Mervyn Silva were involved in election related violence in Wayamba, he said. These five had been involved in several incidents of threats, intimidation and violence in Wayamba with a view to create a fear psychosis among the people. The Minister said that where four out of 37 of Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe’s personal security personnel had been apprehended with weapons near a rally that President Chandrika Kumaratunga was to address at Mawathagama. UNP... It added that the victims were stripped off their clothes and a woman amongst them identified as Chandrawathi too had been forced to face the same ordeal inspite of pleadings by the UNPers to leave the woman alone. According to the communique the thugs who had arrived in vehicle had robbed a gold chain and a purse belonging to the UNPers and sped away. A complaint had been lodged by Mr. Galappaththy at the Katupotha Police station naming those who assaulted them. Mr. Galappaththy had complained to the police that the group had been reportedly led by a PA Pradeshiya Sabha member identified as Nalin and a known criminal by the name Hangamune Lal alias Kassippu Lal. The UNP allege that no action has been taken so far by the police to apprehend the culprits. It is also alleged that the gang were armed with T-56 guns and had come in an unnumbered vehicle. JVP... They claimed that even the police officers from Pannala were unable to bring the situation under control and a policeman too had been injured during the attack. The JVP said in a press release that among the wounded persons are some JVP speakers who were on stage at the meeting. They are politburo member Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Pannala PS member Gunadasa Kannangara and Matale JVP District Secretary Rohitha Tillekeratne. The JVP said that the terror unleashed by the PA in Wayamba appeared more serious than the terror that was experienced during the 17-year UNP rule. They noted that since the NWP election campaign began, over 25 JVP meetings had been attacked. The JVP has urged the government to bring a halt to the terror which it said was unleashed by PA supporters in Wayamba. Govt. mafia groups carry
out murders in NWP says Ranil "The Mafia groups of the government are carrying out murders in the North Western Province and put the blame on innocent police officers thereby violating the human rights of those police officers. The UNP will be providing legal assistance to those police officers who go before the law against human rights violation", stated Ranil Wickremasinghe leader of the United National Party addressing election propaganda rallies held at Hiriyala, Pannala and Nikaweratiya to support party candidates contesting the North Western Provincial Council elections. Speaking further Ranil Wickremasinghe said "If Chandrika thinks that she could win this election through thuggery then she is dreaming. I am definitely sure that the people of the North Western Province would give a fitting reply on Jan. 25 to Chandrika’s political thuggery. Government’s modus operandi today is to put the blame on innocent police officers after carrying out political thuggery by their own people. I should specially mention this point here. Today the mafia groups of this government damage houses and shoot people down. After that the innocent police officers around those areas are made scapegoats. Now see what happened at Kuliyapitiya. A few days back shots were fired in front of the house of our Kuliyapitiya candidate, Gamini Dissanayake. Complaints were made to the police. But the police were not allowed to carry out investigations. On the next day shots were fired again in front of his house. In that shooting a youth named Sivakumar died. Two others were injured. Gamini Dissanayake had in this respect given his statement to the police. In fact he had identified some of the marauders. One was an organiser of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Once police takes down such statements it should carry out investigations and take those thugs responsible to custody. But so far nothing of that sort had happened. But what the President says is that she would be sending officers from Criminal Investigations Department to Kuliyapitiya. Supporters of the government meanwhile give different versions to what happened at Kuliyapitiya. The Sri Lanka Freedom Party organiser concerned is yet free and happy. When I went to Kuliyapitiya today I heard that this particular organiser used to go to the police station and give messages over the police radio to SP and ASP of the area informing them that crimes were being committed in different places and therefore that police should immediately carry out investigations on such incidents. So now you will understand the ways and actions of Chandrika government. The main suspect in the Kuliyapitiya incident has not yet been arrested. But he goes on to give orders to high officials in the Police Department. I therefore ask Chandrika what powers does this organiser hold to give orders to such high officials of the Police Department. Today Chandrika declares to the whole country that she had ordered the Criminal Investigations Department to carry out immediate investigations into the incident. But the suspect in this incident is giving orders to the Police Department. I therefore challenge Chandrika to inform the general public the programme of action taken regarding this incident instead of making false propaganda. There was a police checkpoint close to the house of Gamini Dissanayake where the shooting had taken place. There had been four innocent police officers on duty at the police checkpoint. These four police officers have been interdicted on the grounds that they had not taken action to check firearms and take the suspects into custody. These marauders go about in the company of the ministers. Police is prohibited from checking such vehicles. So how can the police check the firearms in vehicles when those persons go in the company of ministers. So it is the four innocent police officers who face interdiction. The interdictions of these police officers are a violation of their human rights. Therefore they can go before the law. Under such circumstances the United National Party would provide them with legal assistance. It is the bounden duty of the government to maintain law and order. But today law and order in this area has crumbled. In the case of houses damaged payment of compensation would be considered under a government by the United National Party. I therefore appeal to the people of North Western Province to cast their vote to the United National Party and appoint Gamini Jayawickrama Perera as the Chief Minister of the North Western Province. Gamini Athukorale, Secretary General of the UNP, Ronnie de Mel, R. M. Ratnayake, A. C. S. Hameed and Chief Ministerial contestant Gamini Jayawickrama Perera also spoke on the occasion. I belong to a family which
never made money nor plundered others’ property
— President If you want to know what the United National Party is like all you have to do is to go through the party’s list of candidates for the NWPC elections, said President Chandrika Kumaratunga at Nikaweratiya Tuesday evening. She was addressing an election rally held at the Mahasen Madya Maha Vidyalaya grounds, Nikaweratiya town, in support of the People’s Alliance candidates contesting the NWPC elections from Nikaweratiya electorate in the Kurunegala District. "All of them are people who have thrived on corruption, responsible for the arbitrary arrest and disappearances of killings, plunder of land and suppression of the rights of the people," she added. She said that all the vices of the 17 year UNP rule began with J. R. Jayewardene and continued by everyone who succeeded him and their lower rungers. "I have interesting tales to tell you about the doings at the infamous Batalanda. But for want of time I would not dwell on them now. I will tell more about them on another occasion," she said. She said that Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe had the audacity to come before the people and ask them to hand over the country to him to halt the country’s march along what he calls a ruinous path. I cannot help laughing at these ridiculous utterances. Why did the UNP not do it during its 17 year rule? Ranil was a front liner in the whole period of UNP rule," she said. She said her father Late S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and her husband Vijaya Kumaratunga were both victims of UNP terror. "The country was a graveyard with stinking bodies. People were not given their right to vote. There was no freedom of speech and assembly which were rights ensured by UNP’s own constitution. And now they are asking for power again," she added. She said that the government must take a decision on what to do about the politicians who were responsible for the killings and abuses of the past. "We are at the moment doing justice to the police officers who were responsible for the killings and human right violations. But the politicians who goaded them to such brutalities must not be allowed to go scot free," she said. "I belong to a family which never made money. We have never done illegal business. Nor have we plundered other people's property. My mother is the only leader in the whole world who introduced legislation to take over excess land belonging to the big land owning class and in that process gave away thousands of acres of family land to the people. "See what happened after the UNP came into power in 1977? Lands given to the landless poor and young people to engage in agriculture were plundered by UNP politicians. "J. R. and Premadasa were no exceptions. J. R. exchanged one of the most fertile coconut lands in the Puttalam District for an unproductive land belonging to his wife which was taken over under the Land Reform Law of 1972. Premadasa spent Rs. 500 million on his so-called birthday events on Gam Udawa celebrations and in the process put in his pocket a chunk of money," she said. She said that her government is doing twice as much development work as the UNP did at half the cost. The UNP’s ministers had a big cut for themselves from every tender. This type of corruption has come to an end now and the government is saving as a result. Amended promotion
scheme for IPs Senior State Counsel Shavindra Fernando yesterday gave an undertaking to the Supreme Court that the IGP will not proceed to take any further action on the amended promotion scheme for Inspectors of Police, until the next date of hearing of the Fundamental Rights violation plea, filed by 48 Inspectors of Police. Mr. Fernando told court that the state needs two weeks more to consider the petition filed by the said 48 Inspectors of Police. Time was granted till 8.2.99. Next hearing was also fixed for 8.2.99. The petitioners had said that the amended promotion scheme dated 7.12.98, is arbitrary and is likely to benefit officers, who had served in administrative work in Colombo, rather than the ones who served in the operational areas, and in VIP Security Divisions. E. D. Wickramanayake with U. Abdul Najeem appeared for the petitioners. The Bench comprised Justices R. N. M. Dheeraratne, S. W. B. Wadugodapitiya and Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake. Samurdhi Movement meant to eliminate
poverty KULIYAPITIYA: It is alleged that Samurdhi is Janasaviya, but that is totally wrong. Samurdhi is a development project launched with a target of poverty elimination, Deputy Minister of Samurdhi Reginald Cooray said at a meeting that followed the opening of Welpalla Zonal Samurdhi Bank at Kandanegedara. The minister admitted that Samurdhi and Janasaviya had the same target, but Janasaviya was operated only in selected areas. After two years Janasaviya was over, but poverty remained. Samurdhi is an ongoing programme based on doing away with subsidies. However, it was started with subsidies and the ultimate end of the movement is to replace entrepreneurship culture by subsidy culture. There are a large number of commercial banks in the country, but the poor are deprived of banking facilities in them. Money in commercial banks is something like water joining the sea. One cannot quench the thirst by drinking sea water. Even the poor can deposit in the commercial bank but could have to furnish a hundred and one conditions to get a loan. As a result an ordinary villager finds it difficult even to fill the loan application. The Samurdhi Bank belong to the poor man. The shareholders of this bank are the Kalu Bandas and Arnolis Aiyas who were deprived of banking facility. The decisions are taken by the fellow villagers and there is no bureaucracy in it. He also said that savings are the fundamental base of development. Under the Samurdhi Movement the poor are encouraged to save despite not having extra income to save. The Samurdhi recipients of Rs. 1000 are given Rs. 200 and those who receive Rs. 500 are given Rs. 100 monthly for savings. Although the government grants that among for compulsory savings, the government also pays interest for it. Samurdhi banks comprise the largest banking network in the country and there are about 1000 such banks. They provide credit facilities for the poor under the lowest possible rate of interest. There is an opinion that the poor should not obtain loans. That is a myth. The loans are not for wastage but for a good purpose. The poor have no capital but they can obtain a loan from the Samurdhi Bank and start their own enterprise. It should not be a large scale enterprise but a small one. With the income arrived from that the loan can be repaid, and a bigger loan can be obtained to expand the project. So long as the poor reliefs are given, poverty exists. We can't do away with the subsidies at once. So under Samurdhi we are trying to revive the poor from the subsidy psychosis and develop their self-reliance. With our experience during the last 31/2 years, we are highly optimistic over the success of the Samurdhi movement. The Deputy Minister of Posts, Telecommunication and Media Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said that the Samurdhi Movement had awakened the hidden strength of the poor. They had no idea of their own strength and instead tried to depend on subsidies. Under Samurdhi they proved that they could perform miracles in case their strength was awakend. With a mere Rs. 10,000 they completed ten projects worth Rs. 50,000 or Rs. 100,000. It was the first challenge the Samurdhi Movement faced. The Samurdhi Movement had proved that if the hidden strength of the poor is awakened the development of the country and the eradication of poverty are simple. Samurdhi Commissioner Mithrasena, Welpalla Zonal Samurdhi Manager Susantha Edirisinghe and Asst. Manager Welpalla Zonal Samurdhi Bank Dharmasiri Karunanayaka also spoke. KALUTARA: "Since the People's Alliance took over the administration of the Kalutara Urban Council it has done an immense service to better the lives of the taxpayers. It is the local government institutes which develop a closer contact with the masses and understand their grievances and also find solutions to their problems", said Alavi Mowlana, Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils as chief guest at the 75th anniversary celebrations of Kalutara SC held at the Town Hall, Kalutara. Cholmondeley Gunawardhana who was one of the Chairmen of the UC Kalutara and Minister of Public Works in the SLFP government presided. Sumith Lal Mendis, UC Vice Chairman welcomed the distinguished gathering. Speaking further Mr. Mowlana stressed that when the late Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike was the Minister of Local Government, he gave due recognition to these institutes to develop the respective administrative divisions and the chairman had wide powers to carry out the development project independently. "In the past there were village councils, town councils and urban councils but today these institutes have been converted to Pradeshiya Sabha and Provincial Councils but the Urban Councils still exist. Today all these institutes have wider powers to render a better service to the tax-payers". He also said that a large gathering of people assembled at the Town Hall which indicate that the people have accepted the progressive policies of the present Chairman of Kalutara Urban Council. The UC under the leadership of the Chairman has organised a massive programme to alleviate the grievance of the people and give a better look to the town. Both the President and Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the Prime Minister have been accepted as world leaders and it is a great honour to the country. Mrs. Sumithra Priyanganie Abeyweera, Deputy Minister of Internal and External Trade and Commerce said that the name of Cholmondeley Gunawardhana is a household word among the people and as the Chairman of UC Kalutara and a minister and MP he had rendered a yeoman service to the residents of Kalutara. It was due to his efforts that a new secretariat was constructed including the central post office and also the widening of the Galle Road. She also said that under the UNP administration of the U.C. no service was rendered to the public and as a result vast responsibilities have been vested to the present Chairman and the councillors. "When the development projects initiated by the chairman are completed, the Kalutara Urban Council area would not be second to Colombo or Galle urban areas. It will thus be the most attractive town in the coastal region. It was sad to see that most of the UNP councillors had boycotted the ceremony, but it is the duty of every elected member to join hands with the ruling party whenever there are progressive policies implemented by the ruling party. Party politics should be confined only to the period of elections. She also paid a glowing tribute to the former Chairperson of the UNP group of the UC Mrs. Handuwala for her participation at the UC's anniversary celebrations. Speaking on the UC's present development programme, she said that under the leadership of the present chairman a series of development project would be implemented to better the living standards of the taxpayers. The development will include a new-stadium, the renovation of the public bus-stand, a building for a marketing complex, the development of Kalido Resthouse and many more projects. Nalin Mahes Perera the Chairman said that it was a great strength to the UC as the Chinese government has consented to aid to develop the town. The UC was started in 1923, and today it is celebrating its 75th anniversary. "Already a series of development projects have been commenced and the people could enjoy their benefits before the end of 1999". E. P. Hettiarachchi, Commissioner of Local Government of W.P.P.C. also spoke. Karunasena Fernando (a councillor of the Urban Council) proposed the vote of thanks. "Southern Province neglected for 17 yrs. to be developed" AKURESSA: "Thirty percent of the nation's gross income have to be spent today on the N-E war. Twenty five pc on public servants salaries, 20 pc on pensions and 25 pc on development purposes. However, President Chandrika Kumaratunga with her farsighted vision has yet found sufficient money to urgently provide the needed infrastructure facilities for the masses" said the Presidential Secretary, Kusum Balapatabendi when he presided at a function held at the conclusion of the 'Gemi Setha' Trade and Educational Exhibition held at the public playground at Makandura in Mulatiyana, Hakmana. He said that the necessary steps have now been taken to develop the Southern Province which had been badly neglected for 17 long years and it is indeed a praiseworthy deed that a fund known as the 'Gemi Setha' has been set up to boost the rural development activities in the south. Mr. Balapatabendi said that the rural development concept was first mooted by the late S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike for promoting the economic, social and cultural aspects of the peasantry and with it he anticipated a total development of the village according to the aspirations of the people who lived in it. Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation, Dew Gunasekara said the 'Gemi Setha' development fund has been set up by the Rural Dev. Ministry of the Southern Province with a view to help the villagers to stand on their own feet by self-help efforts and the villagers who had obtained credit facilities from this fund had settled their loans almost on a 100 p.c. basis which is an example to everybody concerned. Chief Minister of the South, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that a comprehensive programme has been launched by the S.P.C. to develop the underdeveloped villages in the south by providing them the necessary infrastructure facilities. S.P.C. Minister of Information and Rural Dev. Danny Hittetiyage said that with the establishment of the 'Gemi Setha' development fund some 2,000 inactive rural dev. societies in the south were brought to the status of highly active societies. Secretary to the Ministry of Information and Rural Dev. S.P.C. Sirisoma Rubasinghe also spoke. PA member walks out during budget voting time GALLE: One of the members of the ruling P.A. abstained from voting by staging a walkout during voting time when the Galle M.C. 1999 budget was presented. All members of the Opposition (UNP, JVP and MEP) also abstained from voting. However, the budget was passed by a majority of 9 votes. Mayor Lionel Premasiri presided. M. K. David, (JVP) opening the debate on behalf of the opposition said that although colossal funds had been allocated to construct huge buildings, adequate priority had not been given to some burning problems such as water and drainage. Some of previous budget proposals have still not been properly implemented and similar fate will befall the present proposals as well. Ex-Mayor Vijaya Dahanayake (UNP) said that he drew the attention of members that there were discrepancies in the draft and the subsequent budget proposals circulated. He said that those responsible in framing them should have been careful about presenting a correct picture of the state of affairs rather than attempting to mislead the people by distorting or changing facts according to the whims and fancies of some individuals or individuals. When he was the Mayor nothing of the sort happened. His administration was forthright in fulfilling its obligations to the citizens of the town. I wish to question the Mayor what the correct position is with regard to the finance of the council. Let him stick to the original estimate or there will be cause for suspicion. Wijaya Dahanayake further said that in the previous budget speech, the mayor promised to increase the value of the council's fix deposits to Rs. 10 million from Rs. 5 million whereas by now the council has become indebted to the tune of over Rs. 10 million. Leader of the Opposition Hemakumara Nanayakkara (UNP) said that he was not against the city beautification activities of the mayor. But along with such projects priority should be given to resolve the burning problems of the heart of Galle town citizens such as the water and housing problems. Chandana Nanayakkara (MEP) said that if you hope to get the co-operation of the opposition, the mayor should work impartially without any malice. During the recent past you have been so undemocratic in the performance of your duties as the mayor that by now you have been accused of violation of human rights in two separate cases pending in courts. The mayor said that, introducing the budget with an income of Rs. 123,374,440 and an expenditure of Rs. 109,792,370, the income over expenditure would be utilized to improve the town. He said that he was happy to present the budget after 20 months of ruling with the expectations of the people being fulfilled step by step. The path taken by the PA would further fulfill the hopes of the people in the future. The Municipal workshop will be shifted from the council premises to a more convenient venue at a cost of rupees eleven lakhs. A generator would be purchased at a cost of rupees ten lakhs as there have been frequent complaints of power failures. The chimney of the crematorium at Dadalla would be raised and a wall constructed round the area. That would cost rupees twenty lakhs. Two toilets would be constructed in the town for the convenience of the public. The B.T.S. School grounds at Dadalla would be improved to provide more opportunities for sports activities. The mayor went on to say that he had realized that people in areas such as Kaluwella and Gintota had to patronize "illicit joints" to refresh, themselves after a hard day's wast. He would set apart rupees 71/2 lakhs to open two wine stores and restaurants in these areas. Ten lakhs of rupees had been set apart to grant relief to the common man. The new library opposite the Sarasavi Theatre would be given a grant of rupees one hundred lakhs to set it up on a sound footing. The allocation of Rs. 1,400,000 for the development programmes of the roads of the Galle MC was an item subject to praise by members of both sides. Messrs Gemunu Premalal (PA), Kelum Seneviratne (PA), Tauzal Niyaz (UNP) and Lalith U. Gamage (PA) also spoke. |
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