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Polls violence soars
in NWP Election-related violence in the North Western Province has recorded a sharp increase with 277 incidents, including the forcible removal of 4713 polling cards, reported upto 6 a.m yesterday, Police Elections Secretariat said. The UNP had made 149 complaints, PA 97, JVP 20, SLMC 3 and the balance by independent groups. There were 2 attempted murders by shooting, 15 incidents of shooting, 83 assaults, 89 threats and acts of intimidation, 50 incidents of mischief, 4 cases of arson, 13 election offences, 4 cases of trespass, 5 complaints of insults and 2 thefts. There were also 13 robberies and 2 cases of house breaking reported to the police since nominations for the poll closed on December 8, 1998, the secretariat said. Police said that 383 polling cards had been forcibly removed from Udappuwa post office on Monday with 4330 polling cards being removed from Bangadeniya post office the following day. Fifteen vehicles including pajeros which had been operating in Wayamba for the polls campaign minus their registration number plates, were taken into custody by police. Police are in the process of ascertaining the ownership of these vehicles and legal action will follow. Illegal arms and ammunition were found inside some of them at the time they were taken into custody, police said. Around 600 additional policemen had been deployed from outside areas to Wayamba along with 10 sniffer dogs to detect explosives and maintain law and order. IGP Lucky Kodituwakku had told Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake yesterday that he would be deploying 40 mobile police patrols and additional policemen on motor cycles for the polls scheduled to be held on January 25. The chief Returning elections Officer for Kurunegala District Parakrama Bandula Ekanayake said that he hope that the elections would be violence- free. Instances of throwing stones and complaints of threats are normal during any poll, he said. Mr. Ekanayake said that the department is training 530 assistant returning officers. The Chief returning Elections officer for Puttalam district J. R. W. Dissanayake said that two police constables were to be deployed at each polling booth while more will be on duty outside, where necessary. Mr. Dissanayake said that they were training 360 senior polling officers and 720 junior polling officers for the forthcoming election. Kingsley Rodrigo, Executive Director of PAFFREL who attended yesterday’s meeting by Commissioner of Elections and the contesting political party representatives said he attributed the increase in violence to those people belonging to PA and UNP entering the Wayamba from outside. It is really funny there are about 1000 vehicles from outside roaming the streets of Wayamba in their campaign. Even government vehicles have been deployed, he charged. One could imagine the situation when each vehicle of a minister or an MP is escorted by supporters and bodyguards in 10 to 12 their vehicles, he added. According to the information the people in Wayamba are not so much interested in the polls as much as those entering the area from outside, he said. Politburo member of JVP Nandana Karunatilleke told IGP yesterday that it was futile complaining to the police as no action had been taken regarding complaints made earlier. JVP chief candidate Bimal Ratnayake complained that two of their supporters Thanuj Chaminda and R. G. Premaratne were mercilessly beaten on Monday night. The duo was returning after a discussion on polls arrangements in the Mawathagama area when around 15 supporters of a PA candidate wielding a T-56 rifle had attacked them. One of them was struck with the blunt side of a sword until he could not walk and two empty bottles of beer were smashed on the head of the other, according to a police complaint. Both were admitted to Kurunegala Base Hospital. The JVP also requested IGP to advise police officers to grant them permits for loudspeakers to hold meetings as the JVP faced difficulties in obtaining permits. Mr. Ariya Bulegoda, leader of Sri Lanka Progressive Front complained to the Commissioner of Elections about PA’s appointment of government servants and Samurdhi animators as polling agents. Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said that all people had the freedom to work for any political party of their choice. Survived
the Lion Air crash and now in LTTE custody The parents of Miss. Dharshanie Gunasekera, chief stewardess of the missing Lion Air flight, has made a fervent appeal to the leader and all members of the LTTE to release their daughter who "is said to have survived the crash and is in the safe care of the LTTE". Hundreds of leaflets carrying a compassionate appeal for the release of Dharshanie have been sent to Mannar to be distributed via the civilian population both in cleared and uncleared areas. Says Mrs. Ranjanie Gunasekera, mother of Dharshanie, in her appeal to the LTTE; "I am an Anglican, Parishioner of Christ Church, Galkissa. My daughter, who was the chief stewardess of the ill-fated Lion Air aircraft AN 24 on 29.09.1998 is said to have survived the crash and is in the safe care of the LTTE. My daughter will be reaching her 21st birthday on 13th January, 1999. We are earnestly pleading with you to release our daughter before this date. We will be ever grateful to you if you could compassionately consider our humble request. "My husband, Ranjit Gunasekera, who is an Assistant Superintendent of Police, during his tenure of service in 1997 in Galgamuwa and in 1983 in Maho, saved many lives of Tamil people including children, which is further evidence by the appeals made by the Tamil community in these areas, photocopies of which are attached. During these periods, my husband and I even housed families of Tamil people in our quarters to keep them in safety against the wild mobs, irrespective of the fact that these acts were a great risk to me and my family. It’s in such a great humanitarian way that we treated the people of Tamil community, during the dark era of communal disharmony. "As you are aware, with our daughter missing from 29.9.1998, our family is exhausted by the tragedy and the mental trauma has affected us to such a great extent that we are unable to cope with the stress and strain. We live in complete disillusioned frame of mind, with tears in our eyes throughout the day and night. We have a strong belief that our daughter has survived the crash and is in safe care in your custody. We plead with you to relieve us from this great pain of mind and grief which will continue until we find our daughter. We plead with you to please let us know her whereabouts, ensure her safety and let us know when you intend releasing her so that we could have a family re-union and get away from this trauma and tragic phase of our lives. We believe that it is you and only you who can help us and we pray to God that you will, in the name of humanity and kindness release our daughter. God bless you." The appeal also carries a photograph of Dharshanie. Meanwhile, a magisterial order sought by Mannar police to visit the suspected scene of the crash, accompanied by the ICRC or any such humanitarian organisation, will be taken up for consideration by Mannar magistrate Illan Cheliyan on January 18, 1999. The plane went missing while on a run from Palaly to Ratmalana with 48 passengers and a six-member crew. It’s believed to have crashed into Iranativu island, off the coast of Mannar. A body wearing a life jacket suspected to be that of a passenger and some pieces of wreckage, were handed over to police, but no headway has been made so far as Iranativu island, where the aircraft is believed to have gone down, is under LTTE domination. A top level police probe into the crash is in progress under the direction of Mannar SP Lalith Lekamge. Reports of sightings by fisherman of a ‘ball of fire in the sky’ at the time the plane disappeared, have so far not been confirmed as people in ‘uncleared areas’ are reluctant to come forward to report happenings to the police or security forces. (Suresh) SC allows former SLT
Chairman’s rights plea The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed with the Fundamental Rights violation plea, filed by the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Mr. Hemasiri Fernando, challenging his removal from the post of Director/Chairman of the Sri Lanka Telecom Limited, with effect from 24.12.98. The respondents cited in the petition are Mangala Samaraweera (Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Media), K. C. Logeswaran (Secretary to the Ministry), Dixon Nilaweera (Secretary to the Treasury), The Sri Lanka Telecom Limited, Lalith De Mel (Chairman Designate Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd.), Hideaki Kamitsuma (Chief Executive Officer SLT), the Attorney General, Suntel (Pvt) Ltd and Lanka Bell (Pvt) Ltd. The said respondents were given time till one month from yesterday to file their objections. The petitioner was given two weeks time from that day, to file any counter affidavits. The petition was supported before the Supreme Court by Mr. Faiz Mustapha, President’s Counsel, appearing with Mr. Ananda Kasthuriarachchi, Mr. Sanjeewa Jayewardene and Ms. Chandrika Silva instructed by Interstate Legal Consultants. Mr. Mustapha submitted that the petitioner Hemasiri Fernando resisted the granting of undue benefits by the Minister, to two private telecom operators inclusive of ‘Suntel (Pvt) Ltd.’, petitioner Fernando felt duty bound to protect the interests of Sri Lanka Telecom Limited. The petitioner was suspected by the Minister of informing the media about the issue of a credit card to Minister Samaraweera, by the Sri Lanka Telecom Ltd. The credit card was to be used overseas, by the Minister. But it was not the petitioner who had divulged the information. The credit card issue was questioned even in Parliament. Counsel further said that the Director Telecommunication had in fact permitted undue benefits to two private telecom operators, the Lanka Bell (Pvt) Ltd and the Suntel (Pvt) Ltd. The said benefits were in respect of charges for international calls and the maintenance of the systems. Counsel Mustapha also referred to paragraph 87 of the petition which said that the Minister at a press conference had conceded that he had received a substantial fund from Suntel Pvt Limited, for the development of a Cultural Centre at his electorate instance of the Minister, who in his capacity as a single member of the Cabinet of Ministers, exercises no jurisdiction whatsoever in the appointment or removal of a nominee director of the Sri Lanka Telecom Limited. Thus the said removal is invalid and ultra vires, in addition to being discriminatory. The petition had requested the Court to grant leave to proceed, in respect of the arbitrary removal and further to declare the violation of the petitioner’s Fundamental Right to equality, as enshrined in Article 12 (1) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The petition had also invoked the jurisdiction of the Court to declare the said removal of the petitioner null and void. The Supreme Court yesterday granted leave to proceed, in respect of the alleged infringement of Article 12 (1) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. Arguments were fixed for April 29. The Bench comprised Justice R. N. M. Dheeraratne, Justice A. S. Wijetunga and Justice Dr. Asoka de Z. Gunewardene. PA MP’s vehicle
crashes into clock tower A red coloured vehicle belonging to Puttalam District PA MP, D. M. Dassanayake met with an accident yesterday around 1.20 a.m. It crashed into the clock tower in Anamaduwa town, police said. Four persons who were in the vehicle, a double cab were critically injured. The victims were admitted to the Anamaduwa hospital and transferred to the Chilaw hospital. Later, two of them were transferred to the Colombo National Hospital. The MP was not in the vehicle at that time, according to police. The injured were identified as Rukman (25), Ravindran (25), Nihal (37) and Tissa Pradeep (25). They had suffered injuries to their heads and arms, according to a hospital spokesman. The vehicle had come from Pallama after a PA meeting and a musical show. Anamaduwa police OIC, IP O. K. Gunadasa, SI G. Kirinda and a police team arrived at the scene. The vehicle was badly damaged, police said. No arrests yet in lorry
hijacking incident Police investigators have failed to make any arrests so far in connection with Monday’s hijacking of a lorry travelling from Colombo to Weligama carrying a load of sugar worth Rs. 5 lakhs, after killing the cleaner of the vehicle. The driver of the lorry and its cleaner had been tied, and stabbed by the hijackers after the lorry was intercepted at a point between Kosgama and Ambalangoda. The hijackers travelling in a white van had thereafter headed towards Colombo taking the lorry with them, police said. The body of the cleaner had been thrown into the sea and was later found by police. It was washed ashore near the Induruwa Gurukanda school on Tuesday evening. The driver had been stabbed 11 times and is now in a critical condition at the Karapitiya hospital. Private telephone operators
cry foul of go-slow by SLT engineers ‘Suntel’ and ‘Lanka Bell’ telephone operators who have been singled out for trade union action by the SLT Engineers Union voiced grave concern over the ongoing go-slow campaign. It is the essential services that will be disrupted if the Telecom Engineers Union continue their go-slow, said Vijay Watson, the Managing Director of ‘Lanka Bell’. It is our customers who try to contact police stations and hospitals who will be affected if the Telecom unions persist in their trade union action, Mr. Watson said. The ongoing trade union action, if continued, will disrupt the connecting links between Suntel, Lanka Bell phones and SLT and vice versa, according to Telecom sources. The SLT Engineers Union said that their indefinite go-slow meant that attending to repair work in the exchanges of the private operators will be delayed but their trade union action will not affect the SLT network. So callers from SLT to SLT will not be affected. But calls from Suntel or Lanka Bell phones to SLT phones will be affected. The Managing Director of ‘Suntel’, John Campbell said that they have not been affected so far by the go-slow which started last Friday and added they were counting on the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRCSL) to deal with the situation. Both the private operators refused to comment on the Union demands for wireless facilities to be given to SLT, as ‘ it was a matter that rested with the TRCSL’, they said. The Managing Director of Lanka Bell, when asked about the rulings of the Regulatory Commission that has come under fire by the SLT unions described the TRCSL as doing a ‘tough job’ regulating the telecom sector and indicated that the telecom operators are bound to follow the rules. The Telecom Engineers Union are demanding an independent Regulatory Commission, and to revoke the recent decision by the TRCSL to charge an extension fee of 9.50 under the interconnection decision and to remove the discount given to the private operators for international calls, and the demand for permission to use the 1.8 gigahertz band to give connections to SLT customers especially in rural areas and to increase training opportunities given to SLT employees by the Ministry. Report: True to form — Chandrika does again — Foreign Ministry replies Reference the report of our New Delhi correspon dent S. Venkat Narayan on January 1, titled True to form — Chandrika does it again, the Foreign Ministry had issued the following statement. Her Excellency the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was recently in New Delhi on a two day State visit to India. Within a few hours of her arrival she attended a formal dinner given by the High Commissioner. The next day the President had a hectic programme with seven different official functions and meetings, including the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding which established the Indo-Sri Lanka Foundation and its Rs. 40 million Trust Fund for the promotion of a wide range of activities by the scholars, writers, artists, researchers and scientists of both countries and the historic Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. On the second day she had 3 meetings with Indian dignitaries and an address to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and a press conference. Despite the gruelling programme the President spent many hours, working till 2.30 a.m. on one day, directing the complex final preparations that led to the signing of the Free Trade Agreement between India and Sri Lanka. The issues that required decisions demanded so much time that some previously arranged appointments had to be postponed and others delayed, such as the meeting with the Indian Prime Minister and the official luncheon, in full agreement with the Indian authorities. This meant some short delays in the entire day’s programme. It must be clearly mentioned that the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement would not have been possible during this State visit if not for Her Excellency and the Minister of Foreign Affairs readily agreeing to work long hours, to take the decisions required to solve the issues that remained unresolved by the officials, at her arrival in New Delhi. It is well known that during a working visit to another country by a Head of State or Government scheduled appointments and engagements have to give way, as required, and be rescheduled, where necessary, in order to accommodate the demands and pressures of the principal business of the visit. Everywhere the President went during this visit she was received and greeted with the warmth, affection and courtesy that is always extended to her by the Government and people of India. Her commitment to the promotion of free trade and regional economic cooperation and her demonstrated willingness to work hard to advance equitable trading relations between India and Sri Lanka were highly appreciated in India. During these two days Her Excellency did not have a single personal appointment or engagement. In fact, the President’s visit to India, in addition to being a State visit with the customary ceremonial features, was a gruelling working visit which culminated in the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement that will considerably benefit the economy and people of Sri Lanka. It could fairly be said that few Heads of State or Government of Sri Lanka have accomplished so much for the country during a foreign visit of a mere two days duration. Thus, the article which appeared on the front page of "The island" on the first day of the new year, under the by-line S. Venkat Narayan which only referred to and emphasised her lateness for some appointments while saying nothing whatsoever about the significance and success of her landmark visit, was a gross distortion of the true picture. That article makes great efforts to demean the results of President Kumaratunga’s visit and in no way acknowledges that it has dramatically enhanced the quality of the relationship between Sri Lanka and India. Editor’s Note: The Foreign Ministry appears to be having a queer notion of what independent journalism is about. The reports concerned was by S. Venkat Narayan, a well known syndicated columnist to many international journals. He simply reported an extraordinary happening in diplomacy where Indian leaders including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and several Indian Ministers and VIPs were kept waiting for long hours till the arrival of President Kumaratunga. The unpunctuality of the Sri Lankan President was reported in Indian national newspapers as well such as the ‘Pioneer’ which our correspondent quoted. The Foreign Ministry naturally goes ga-ga about the "success" of President Kumaratunga’s visit which foreign visit of our president has not been a ‘remarkable success’ to our Foreign Ministry? International Correspondents naturally do not go into raptures about the "success" of visits of foreign heads of state, particularly when such "successes" are not evident in this case the Indo-Lanka Trade Agreement, the "success" of which cannot be assessed as the lists of exports permitted – the ultimate test of "success" is not yet released. International correspondents and ‘The Island’ do not break out into hosannas, ‘orasang’ or ‘bakthi gee’ as journalists of the State press do. To say the article in question attempts to "demean" the president’s visit, defies logic and reason and could be considered only as an expression of bureaucratic toadiness. Kadirgamar’s
interview to BBC Transcript of interview given by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar to the BBC "Asia Today" programme on January 12, following allegations by the Sri Lankan government that it has evidence of Tamil Tiger separatists receiving arms supplies from Thailand. Q: Mr. Minister, what exactly are you alleging? FM: Well, we have had some evidence in the past that there has been use of some of the Thai ports by known LTTE ships and coastal towns on the Thai border used as naval bases. Q: Minister, are you suggesting that Thai military officers have been involved in supplying weapons to the Tamil Tigers? FM: No, I am not suggesting that at all. What I am talking about really is apprehensions. Many of these matters we are not able to prove beyond reasonable doubt as in a criminal court or something of that kind. But you know as far as Sri Lanka is concerned anything to do with the Tamil Tigers and their heinous activities is a matter of life and death for us. And so we do go and say to our friends, and Thailand is very much a friend of Sri Lanka with a very old historical relationship, if something like this is happening on your soil please be so kind as to look into it and stop it. Q: Minister, you would have seen the intelligence reports, briefings from our senior officers, do you personally believe that Thai territory has been used by the Tamil Tigers? FM: I do not give personal opinions. I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka and I don’t give personal opinions on matters of this kind. All I am saying is that we have reasonable apprehensions that activity by the LTTE is going on in certain parts of Thailand and it is a matter that we must bring to the notice of a friendly country. Q: The Thai authorities say that you have brought it to the notice in the past, they have investigated it and it is not true. FM: We have brought some matters to their notice in the past and whatever they have said is not true we accept. But this is an ongoing matter and we would like them to look into certain new aspects. Q: We have spoken to the Thai Foreign Ministry. They say there is no evidence to support allegations that weapons for the Tamil Tigers are passing through Thai territory. Do you accept that? FM: I do not at the moment. We will have to look into that. But anything that the Thai Foreign Ministry says we would take with the utmost care and respect. Q: But isn’t this issue going to sour relations between Colombo and Bangkok? FM: That is not possible at all because relations with the Thai Government are extremely cordial and have been for centuries. Q: And the weapons that are passing through Thai ports, where are they originating from? FM: I don’t know, I wish I knew. Do you know where from? Q: I don’t know but I am asking you because you will have access to the intelligence reports of your Army. FM: Even if I knew I will not tell you what the intelligence reports are, would I? Q: Why have you particularly latched on to the difficulty with Thai ports? FM: It is not "particularly" particular but I had a conversation recently with a Thai journalist when these matters were discussed and the conversation led in that direction. Q: The Thai Foreign Ministry has said, as I said, that they have no evidence for the allegations. So where do you go from here and what is your next step? FM: I don’t know what the next step is. I would hope very much that the Thai government would look into some of our concerns, I am sure they will. There is absolutely no doubt that they will because as I say they are government with which we have very close relationship indeed. GMOA warns govt of strike
action if demands not met The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) warned yesterday that they would resort to strike action if the demands that they have made are not met by January 16. Assistant Secretary of the GMOA, Dr.D.Wijewickreme told 'The Island' that a token strike will be launched islandwide excluding the Northern and Eastern districts should the demands they have put forward are not met. These demands include among others the immediate payment of salaries to medical officers who completed their internship last month, transport, lodging, special leave facility and risk allowance for medical officers working in areas where there is no fully established civil administration, immediate suspension of the circular issued on the regulation of private practice and "interference" by Dr.(Mrs.)Tara De Mel in the administration of the Ministry of Health be stopped. Sources at the GMOA said that although a number of medical officers were appointed to serve in the North and East, some of them are still serving in main hospitals without being released to take up their posts in these areas, whereas those already serving there were being given irregular appointments to other stations by some officials in the Ministry. The list of demands, Dr.Wijewickreme reiterated, had to be settled by the said date or else the token strike will be launched on the 18th of this month. The GMOA had earlier held discussions with the Minister of Health, Nimal Siripala de Silva at which he was "agreeable" to most of the demands. The sources said however that no action had been taken by the Ministry in this regard "for reasons beyond their understanding" and they are left with little choice but to resort to trade union action. 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. HDB 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. Two Sea Tiger craft destroyed Navy yesterday destroyed two Sea Tiger craft and damaged two more in a fierce confrontation off Kuchchaveli. Senior navy officers said that patrol craft had engaged Sea Tiger craft which were on their way to Thalpearu, Kuchuchaveli to collect supplies. "At least a dozen terrorists were killed," they claimed. The navy did not suffer losses. The navy on January 8 destroyed six Sea Tiger craft off Kuchchaveli.Navy said that in both cases , Sea Tigers were trying to collect supplies from Thalpearu. "They must be desperate to make a second attempt to pick supplies soon after the first failure," navy said. UNP will not allow the PA to fool around with the franchise of the people — Ranil "UNP will not allow the PA to fool around with the franchise of the people’, said Opposition and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesingha at an election rally at Bingiriya on Monday. He requested the people to join him in the UNP campaign to protect their rights. Chandrika is trying to curtail the voting rights of the people. The people exercise their franchise by using their votes to elect their representatives to rule the country. It is the duty of the government to uphold the rights of the people and we have all pledged to carry out that promise. The PA, without protecting the rights of the people attack them instead, shoot and steal their polling cards. Chandrika’s ancestors also bothered our people. That’s what her ancestor Maha Mudaliar did. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike managed to curb this tendency and step into the democratic process. Although we have attacked his policies we will acknowledge his leadership devoted to make democracy more meaningful. He went to the people and attended to their needs, allowed the ordinary people to come to Parliament. His daughter is not following these principles. Chandrika can only claim for broken promises. Today the people live in great difficulty. During the UNP time there were additional sources of income for the people. She promised 13 lakhs of jobs. Even the remaining factories are being closed down. This is what she has to tell the people. As she can’t face them she is trying to keep them out by depriving the people of their voting rights, he charged. This is what we are campaigning against. My government will re-establish these rights by setting up an independent election commission. This commission will issue orders to the police and the people’s representatives on conducting elections. The members of the commission will be selected after approval from all parties. When we establish an independent police commission the privilege I have as the President to transfer police officers will be handed over to this commission. We will also establish an independent public service commission which will be given the sole authority to transfer public servants. The public service will be salvaged from political interference. We will introduce legislation with the approval of the Editor’s Guild to guarantee media freedom, he said. Mr. Wickremasingha and the UNP will take this country to the 21st century. The stranded youth of this country will be able to move forward according to their abilities and qualifications. We will give technology, improved education, new agriculture, new industries, improve tourism and increase employment. Give us your vote if you agree with us. I held the last independent election. It was so independent that I lost and was relegated to the opposition. The main worry about January 25 is whether the people of this country will be allowed to vote according to their conscience. Use the vote to select whoever you like. If anyone stands in your way complain to the police and when I come to power I will pay compensation to all of them, he said. ‘If anyone who conducts his duty independently is assaulted at the forthcoming Wayamba elections we will give legal assistance to that person to obtain compensation. We will also take action against officials who violate justice. If they are going to attack us we will counter react. Chandrika stole the expectations of the people and now she is trying to steal their votes. If she is afraid of the people she should bow out, the UNP leader said. Mahinda Samarasingha, MP for Kalutara District said, This election is not only a concern of the Wayamba province. It is the concern of all democratic people. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera will secure victory. There is no doubt about that. The PA has no shame in canvassing for votes from the people who they failed to honour their promises. Will the people give them the votes. We gave the government the support to establish the Bribery and Corruption Commission. The PA transferred the officials of the commission when allegations against the government came to light, he alleged. They sold Air Lanka for a pittance. Now they are changing the logo. The steel corporation was sold in the same manner. Exercise your rights on the 25th. It is your duty to do so. The former Chief Minister of the Wayamba province, R. M. R. Nimal Bandara said that at a time when the PA is in power I had to carry out the services of the Wayamba Provincial council. Sufficient funds were not given by the government. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera is my guru. I sacrificed my post for the sake of the people. The PA is getting bankrupt day by day. P. Dayaratna, MP for Digamadulla, District said: for every shot fired and for every blow by the PA the number of votes for the UNP increases. We don’t need posters to obtain votes from the people. R. D. Sirisena, MP for Kegalle, District said: "The PA cannot guarantee democracy in Wayamba. So how can one think they are committed to devolving power.’ How can Chandrika control the ferocious Tigers when they can’t tame ‘thalagoya’ (iguana) . They can’t hold back the UNP by burning tyres and tearing down our posters. The PA fed the people with horse feed. There are myriad complaints about the Galle Port, QEQ, the Steel Corporation, Air Lanka, the Cricket Board. All these complaints have been directed to a defunct bribery commission. And they accuse us of bribery. Tyronne Fernando, MP for Colombo. District said: It is the UNP that developed this country for 17 years. I urge the people of Wayamba to protect their voting rights with their life. Lakshman Yapa Abeywardana, MP for Matara, District said: It is the UNP that stocked shops, we gave electricity and constructed houses for the poor and gave Janasaviya. The PA came to power in 1994 to protect human rights but today the people of Wayamba are threatened. There won’t be another youth uprising if you give power to the UNP. Karunaratna Kodituwakku, MP for Colombo District said: Violent politics emerged from the left. This was the global trend. When D. S. Senanayka and them languished in prisons the Chandrika’s ancestors were serving the British as Maha Mudaliars. The steel corporation was sold for Rs. 820 million. There never was such a corrupt government . If the UNP was in power the children of this country will not be left to starve. They will at least be given a mid day meal. Gamini Jayawickrama Perera, Chief Ministerial Candidate for the Wayamba Province said: I have accepted the challenge to upgrade this province. I salvaged this province from fear during the dark period of 1988. Why did I come back? To make this area prosperous once again. I will introduce computer technology and give children an opportunity to learn English. The heart of UNP concerns is the poor man. We will secure the well-being of the people after winning the provincial councils and parliamentary elections. Karu Jayasuriya, Mayor of Colombo said: UNP secured independence to this country. This country was the 2nd developed nation when SLFP took over in 1956. Again we took over an impoverished country in 1977. When the PA took over in 1994 our country was exceedingly developed. But by now once again our people have been subjected to much hardships. It is heart breaking to note this and the increase in violence. That is why we are demanding an independent election commission, a police commission and a public service commission. SAARC Assn. short story contest for women The SAARC Women’s Association (Sri Lanka Chapter) will hold a Writers Award for Sri Lankan women. The secretary of the association Mrs. N. Thambiayah said. She said the project being held with the patronage of the Cultural and Religious Affairs Ministry is for the purpose of recognising and rewarding the talent of women writers who have published a book or books in Sinhala, Tamil and English The closing date for receiving entries is January 25. The awards ceremony will be held on February 24, 1999 she said. SAARC WOMENS ASSOCIATION Name: ........................................... Address :........................................ Tel:............................................. Title of Story :................................. Medium‘ ...................................... National ID...................................... Name & Address of Publisher...................... Contact nearest Hatton National Bank; Manger for Details and Rules. Coupon and agreement to be posted (Registered) to the nearest HNB Branch, C/o. The Manager Rules for the Contest 1. Complete the details required in the above Entry Coupon. Attach any relevant details on a separate sheet. 2. If the Short Story has been published in a collection of Short Stories, the Applicant should indicate clearly, the specific Short Story to be submitted for the Contest. 3. If the Applicant has won an Award previously for the Short Story submitted, please indicate - title of the Award, by whom given, date and year. 4. An Applicant may submit one Short Story for the Contest. A book submitted will not be returned. 5. The Applicant should be a Sri Lankan National, resident in Sri Lanka at the time of Contest. 6. Separate Panels Sinhala/Tamil/English will judge the entries received. The decision of the Judges will be final. 7. The Book with the Short Story publication, this Entry Coupon and Agreement duly signed, should be posted (Registered) or delivered to the nearest Hatton National Bank Branch, C/o. The Manager 8. A Short Story article published only in-a newspaper or magazine, is not acceptable for the Contest. 9. An Entry Coupon, with the Rules for the Contest could be obtained from the Manager of your nearest Hatton National Bank Branch. 10. The date and venue of the Awards will be notified directly to the Winners. 3. 4.5.6. 7. 10. Closing date for reaching a completed Entry Coupon with the Agreement below is, Monday, 25th January 1999. Awards will be given as follows: a. Finalists in each Category will each receive a Cash Prize, a Trophy, a Book, Voucher, and a Certificate. b. 1st runners-up in each Category, will receive a Trophy, a Book-Voucher and a Certificate. c. The 3rd, 4th & 5th runners-up in each category, will receive a Certificate and a Book Voucher. NOTE: It is proposed to invite the Bangladesh, Pakistan, and other Chapters to be formed in 1999-2000, to hold similar Contests. The Finalists from each Chapter, to compete at a Joint Contest to be held subsequently. AGREEMENT I agree to abide by the Rules and the decision of the Judges. I enclose this Form with the Entry Coupon duly completed together with relevant details as required in the Rules. ................................................ Signature Date High level trade delegation from Pakistan A fifteen member trade delegation from Pakistan will visit Sri Lanka from January 28 to 31 to strengthen business ties and explore business opportunities. Drawn from the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and headed by its President Pervez Hanif, the delegation includes leading businessmen, importers/exporters, industrialists and investors. Their areas of interest are engineering goods, computer software, cotton yarn, textiles, garments, domestic and electric meters, auto parts, rice, sugar, pharmaceuticals, LPG Cylinder, insurance, tourism, textiles machinery, electrical fans and household appliances etc. During their stay in Colombo they will meet officials of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and leading businessmen. All inquiries in this regard can be made on the following telephone numbers of the Pakistan High Commission from 0900-1300 hours on all working days. Tele: Nos. 696301/696302 (Press release) OIC Quick reaction team
transferred The OIC of the Police Quick Reaction Team, IP Wedasinghe has been transferred to Vavuniya with immediate effect. Southern Range DIG Seneviratne Banda told "The Island" yesterday that he was not aware of the reason for the transfer. He said IP Wedasinghe was the fifth official to be transferred, since the Quick Reaction Team was formed six months ago to curb illicit activities in the Southern province. DIG Seneviratne said that so far no official has been appointed to replace IP Wedasinghe. Raids have been carried out in all four police divisions in the Southern province stretching from Bentota to Kataragama and the team has taken into custody various suspects involved in transporting illicit timber, selling illicit liquor and coral mining. So far there are approximately 1000 such cases and Rs. 3 million has already been earned for the state coffers as fines. |
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