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Diplomats
visit NWP to assess situation
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Diplomats visit NWP to assess situation Senior PA and UNP politicians involved in the ongoing NWP polls campaign yesterday explained the situation to two groups of diplomats who visited the region yesterday [19] for an on-the-spot survey where close upon 600 polls-related incidents have been reported, political sources said. Amidst their visits, violence continued in the province unabated yesterday. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna [JVP] said that several partymen were attacked by PA activists at Pannala. About ten people have suffered injuries, JVP spokesman said adding that two PA politicians led the attack on a pocket meeting around 4.30 p.m. "Some of the attackers have carried weapons," he said. Police confirmed the incident. A four member group comprising Canadian, Japanese, German and Dutch diplomats visited Kurunegala district while the second group comprising British, Australian, American, Japanese and Canadian diplomats visited Puttalam district, sources said. A senior Foreign Ministry official said that no prior approval was needed for this visit. Labour and Vocational Training Minister John Seneviratne said that he met the delegation that visited Puttalam. Minister Seneviratne speaking to ‘The Island’ over the phone from Puttalam last night said that he was able to explain the correct position to the diplomats. Seneviratne has admitted that there have been polls-related incidents. He has pointed out that when compared with politically motivated violence faced by opposition parties during UNP’s rule ongoing campaign was peaceful. Minister Seneviratne has been sent to Puttalam to help the candidates contesting next Monday’s poll. He has told the diplomats that contrary to reports, claims and speculation the UNP has mounted a number of attacks against the ruling party. "A semi-luxury bus belonging to one of our supporters was set on fire at Anamaduwa on Monday night," he said. The two groups of diplomats have visited several places. They had had a meeting with Bishop of Kurunegala Rt. Rev. Raymond Peiris at Kurunegala. Rt. Rev. Raymond Peiris last night told ‘The Island’ that he was among several people, both politicians and ordinary voters who met with the delegation. "The situation in the Kurunegala district was discussed," he said. He did not elaborate. The other delegation had talks with Bishop of Chilaw Rt. Rev. Franck Marcus Fernando, sources at Chilaw said last night. Rt. Rev Fernando was not available for comment last night but a spokesman for Catholic Church in Chilaw said that the Bishop has made his position clear with regard to the current situation in the district. Both teams of diplomats have not commented on violent incidents during their meetings with various persons, sources said. "We have some interesting stories to tell," one diplomat was quoted as saying during a meeting. The Japanese diplomat who accompanied the delegation which toured Chilaw had been able apparently to gather more information as he was able to converse in Sinhalese, sources at Chilaw said. Rt. Revs Peiris and Fernando were among religious leaders who appealed to all parties to act in a manner that would ensure a peaceful, free and fair poll. The delegates had met Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake at Kuliyapitiya. UNP officials have told the delegates the direct involvement of thugs working for the ruling party politicians in the ongoing violence. UNP MP P. Dayaratne yesterday evening said that UNP officials had explained the situation to the visitors. He said he was unable to meet them. Since the day of the nominations closed 600 polls-related incidents have taken place. The majority of complaints have been made against PA supporters. However over 200 complaints have been made against the UNP, sources in the province said. The opposition leader of the Chilaw Urban Council Hilary Prasanna last night told ‘The Island’ that he was among the PA people who met the visitors. Some of the delegates have questioned about the overpowering of presence of blue coloured flags in the province, sources said. Meanwhile PA sources said that the UNP has stepped up attacks on ruling party supporters. "More thugs have been called into Wayamba," a PA politician claimed. PA sources said that those involved in politically motivated killings during UNP administration have now entered the province. The UNP denied these accusations. UNP MP P. Dayaratne said that the party was trying its best to conduct a peaceful polls campaign in the province. Ravi faces threat of losing
parliamentary seat The Peoples Alliance (PA) has informed the Secretary General of Parliament that Mr. Ravi Karunanayake, Member of Parliament, is deemed to have vacated his seat in Parliament. Minister D. M. Jayaratne Secretary General of PA — has informed the Secretary General of Parliament, Betram S. B. Tittawela by a letter dated January 17th 1999 that Mr. Karunanayake MP has been expelled from the "Lalith Faction" of the Democratic United National Front as from January 17, 1999. Mr. Karunanayake was appointed as a National List member of this group, a constituent member of PA. Mr. Jayaratne has said that in terms of article XI, 5c of the Constitution of the PA Mr. Karunanayake’s membership has now ceased. Accordingly, under article 98, 13 (a) of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Mr. Karunanayake is deemed to have vacated his seat in Parliament. Meanwhile, former Minister and Leader of United Lalith Front (ULF) and MP Mrs. Srimani Athulathmudali yesterday announced that she has to exercise her powers and expel Mr. Karunanayake with immediate effect from all offices he held. "This was after I gave him many chances to correct himself I had no other course of action other than to expel him," said Mrs. Athulathmudali. Mrs. Athulathuudali said that she had been invited by the PA to address their rally at Nikewaretiya yesterday, which offer she had accepted. Meanwhile, Mr. Karunanayake speaking to ‘The Island’ over the phone from Singapore yesterday morning said he was battling for justice and to uphold policies and not to play petty politics. He said the decision to contest the Provincial Council election with the UNP was taken and approved at a Working Committee meeting chaired by Mrs. Athulathmudali and the majority of the working committee stands by that dicision of the party leader. "I will not back track but will continue to heed justice and uphold the policies", he asserted. Asked to comment about his expulsion from the party and the subsequent developments Mr. Karunanayake replied, ‘I am not surprised at anything that she does because she has no valid reasons and I will go ahead with the decision taken by the party to go with the UNP". He is expected to challenge his expulsion from the party and Parliament this week in Court after he returns to Colombo this morning. Former Dy. Minister’s funeral today The funeral of Mr. J. L. Sirisena, former Deputy Minister of Social Services under the J. R. Jayewardene government will take place today at Dummalasuriya. Mr. Sirisena entered local politics in 1951 and was the chairman of the Dummalasuriya Village Council for 21 years. He entered Parliament from the UNP in 1965 and was appointed as the Deputy Social Services Minister in 1977 by late President J. R. Jayewardene. Mr. Sirisena was 83 years at the time of his death. Cortege leaves residence Sariputra Mawatha, Dummalasuriya today at 3.30 p.m. for cremation at Dummalasuriya. 55kgs high explosives found in Jaffna Army on Sunday (18) killed at least five terrorists at Thankilappu and Keraithivu in the Jaffna peninsula. Defence Ministry in a statement issued yesterday stated that five bodies were recovered along with 3 T-56 weapons, 11 hand grenades, five anti-personnel mines, seven claymore mines, one 40m grenade launcher, two cyanide capsules, communication set, 55 kgs of high explosives, less quantity of small arms ammunition. Disabled
athletes bring gold Chaminda Priyadarshana, a disabled soldier who lost his right leg in the North East ‘Sathbala’ military operations won three gold medals and a bronze medal at ‘Pacific’ sports festival for disabled held in Bangkok, recently. Disabled sportsmen and women of over 37 countries participated in this festival. The Sri Lankan team of six members have won ten medals. The winners are: Chaminda Priyadarshana won gold medals in 100m, 50m — free style swimming events and 100m back stroke and a bronze medal for 200m free style, Don Sarath won a silver medal for 800m track event. Namali Wijekoon won a silver medal for 100m running event, Anoma Priyadarshani won silver medal for throwing discus, Kalum Wijekumara Abeysinghe won a bronze medal for high jump and P. Wijethunge won two bronze medals in 100m and 50m free style swimming events. IPs
petition before SC today A Fundamental Rights violation plea filed by 48 Inspectors, challenging the amendment to the promotion scheme, to be promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector, will be supported before the Supreme Court today. The petition will be supported by E. D. Wickramanayaka, with U. Abdul Najeem. The respondents cited in the petition are the I.G.P. B.L. V. de S. Kodituwakku, D. I. G. Chandrasiri Fernando, Secretary Defence, Chandrananda de Silva, the Public Services Commission, The Director Establishments, and the Attorney General. The petition has alleged that the amended scheme is likely to help officers who had been doing administrative work in Colombo, to get promoted, and will leave out persons who had served in the Operational areas, and were also engaged in the Security service of the V.V.I.Ps. SLT regulations deprive expansion to
untapped areas says Engineers Union The Sri Lanka Telecom Engineers Union, which is currently engaged in a go-slow campaign indicated that certain regulations are depriving the SLT of giving a large number of connections to rural areas that have not been penetrated by telecom operators yet. Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) could expand its network to places outside the areas they are currently operating in, if they are allowed to use wireless facilities using the 300 Mghtz band, the SLT Engineers Union claimed. This is one of the demands of the union. The union says that there is not even a semblance of SLT receiving such a privilege as the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) is fiercely guarding the license requirements. The union claimed that 30,000 SLT connections were to be given using wireless facilities but were disallowed by the TRCSL last year. The Director General of the TRCSL Prof. Rohan Samarajeeva said that if SLT were to be allowed to use the frequency demanded by the unions it would require changes in quite a number of legal documents. The ‘Suntel’ and ‘Lanka Bell’ telecom operators were given a duopoly status in using wireless facilities under their license agreement, he said. Therefore anything outside the 800 Mghtz range is forbidden under the license agreement, Prof. Samarajeeva explained. According to informed sources the ministry and government officials are considering the possibility of SLT using wireless facilities within the 800 Mghtz range. The TRCSL is also confident that the private operators (Suntel and Lanka Bell) that have made attempts to gradually move out to rural areas, together with the present capabilities of SLT, the network will be expanded to rural areas that have not benefited from the increased number of connections during the past few years. Liberal Party welcomes proposal to establish independent institutions The Liberal Party has welcomed the proposals of the committee chaired by Colombo Mayor Karu Jayasuriya regarding the establishment of independent institutions in areas of public life. In a statement issued by secretary general Harim Peiris, the Liberal Party has reminded the UNP the way it handled such institutions. In this respect it is regrettable that the United National Party while in power proved even more adept at corrupting such institutions. The Liberal Party hopes however that the UNP is sincere in its conversion and that it will acknowledge its past excesses. Equally we hope that the present government will realize that partisanship will in the end prove counter-productive. The Liberal Party welcomes the proposals of the committee chaired by the Mayor of Colombo regarding the establishment of independent institutions in areas in public life where partisanship has proved destructive in the past. Such proposals in fact were put forward repeatedly in the past by the Liberal Party. In fact it was the founder of the party, Dr. Chanaka Amaratunga, who first made such suggestions. He also provided a theoretical basis for such institutions, at a time when both major parties were of the view that a party in power had licence to turn state institutions into partisan bodies that had no wider accountability. We urge then that, on the basis of the current suggestions, the government attempt to reach consensus on the creation of amongst other such bodies, an Independent Elections Commission and Independent Police Commission and also an Independent Commission against Corruption, on the lines of the body that proved so successful in Hong Kong. Police probe Monday's attack on transformers Colombo police yesterday said that investigations were continuing into Monday's LTTE attacks on two electricity board transformers in the Pettah police area. "Several suspects have been taken in", a senior officer said. Terrorists in the early hours of Monday blasted two small transformers located on Fourth Cross Street and New Moor Street. Police admit that the attackers had managed to flee before Monday's cordon and search operation netting several persons. Politicians must join hands to defeat terrorism Angunukolapelessa: Deputy Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Mahinda Wijesekara said that everyone including politicians must join hands to defeat terrorism and bring peace to the country. He said so at a meeting held at Kattakaduwa Jana Udana Gammana in Ranna where he laid a foundation stone for a community hall. Speaking further the Deputy Minister said that the leaders of all political parties must get together to end the war. We have to shed politics and think of the country. Firstly we must save the country from the clutches of terrorists. Hambantota District MP Mahinda Amaraweera also spoke. Those who contributed to Lankan learning and culture honoured Colombo East-West: The ‘Guna Samaru Padanama’ of Talangama South, Battaramulla a foundation set up to honour individuals who have made special and significant contributions to Sri Lankan learning and culture presented titles and trophies to over 50 persons among whom were authors, poets, journalists, media specialists, artistes and creative artists of repute at the John de Silva theatre, recently in the presence of a large audience of enthusiasts. Jagathseela Kulatilleke, Aminis-trative Secretary of the Sri Lanka Buddhist Congress in his keynote address said that the Buddha had emphasised the necessity to acknowledge, assess, commend and reward people of skill and ability in all fields of human activity that would lead to human progress. Both the state and private institutions have awarded titles, gifts and certificates to individuals who have contributed to cultural, intellectual and social development of the country for several years. The present event was of special importance as some persons who have not been rewarded earlier had the opportunity to win awards on the occasion. The awards function organised and managed by the ‘Guna Samaru Padanama’ was an encouragement to the younger generation to emulate efforts of the older generation, which won awards and he was glad to see a large number of Dhamma school students in the audience. There were also students attached to the Buddhist Congress. Ven. Palanwatte Dharmatilleke thera of the Kotte Samgri Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha, who spoke on behalf of the clergy said that the Buddha always recognised the good and progressive work of individuals. He had conferred special honours on 41 arahats who had contributed towards religious and social progress. The ‘Guna Samaru Padanama’ has rendered a great service to society by awarding degrees and trophies to individuals for special achievements in education, arts literature and social service . Among the awards recipients were Ven. Marapane Vijita, Chief Sangha Nayaka of Kalutara District, Ven. Pelenwatta Ratnasiri of Sumanarama Pirivena, Pelenwatte. Ven. Kumbalgama Sangharakkita of Dambadeni Ihala Katugampala and Ven. Talawatugoda Wilmaladhamma, Viharadhipati of Talawatugoda Gunananda Vihara. Laymen, Dr. Risiman Amarasinghe, Messrs Daya Narendra Rajapakse, Tudor Premachandra B. A. N. Ratnayake Dr. Sri Lal Caldera, Olcott Gunasekera, Dinesh Samarasekera, Sumanaweera Rabel, Premasiri Kariya-wasam, Matugama Seneviruwan, Daya Weerawarna Mendis, Sena Welivitiya, Jayantha Sumanasekera, Rosmend Senaratne, Livy Wijemanne, Mrs A. K. Kusuma Cooray Mrs. Vivian De Silva Boralessa and several others received awards. Oscar Gunawardena, an English medium poet, writer and critic received a doctorate for writership from the Dharmapala-Olcott International Research Foundation of Sri Lanka. I don’t want to take lessons from
Ranil on how to hold free and fair elections Violence is the only language which the United National Party knows and it wins elections by violence, said President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, at Pannala in the Katugampola electorate Monday (18) evening. President Chandrika was addressing an election rally at the Pannala public play grounds, in the Katugampola electorate in support of the People’s Alliance Candidates contesting the NWPC elections from the Katugampola seat in the Kurunegala District. She said that Katugampola voters backed the People’s Alliance in the elections held since 1994 and she was confident they would bring the People’s Alliance into power in the North Western Provincial Council at the forthcoming elections. The President said that the early visitors to the country, called this land "Serendib". But the UNP government which in 1977 came to power pledging to create "Dharmista" Society turned the country into hell. Some 3000 youths disappeared in the NWPC alone according to the report of the Presidential Commission appointed to proble disappearances in the NWPC. They do not include the identified and unidentified bodies, she added. "My government changed the situation within 24 hours of coming into power and created an environment for the people to live peacefully and without fear of being abducted and killed by night", she said. She said that Ranil Wickremasinghe was accusing her from public platforms of taking bribes in the Puttalam Cement factory deal. I can show how the UNP Ministers robbed public money in connivance with tenderers. Pakistani Thavakkal bought the Puttalam Cement during UNP rule. It was a bankrupt company and the company has been declared bankrupt in its own country, she added. She said that her government took steps to change the ownership of the Puttalam Cement and that its controlling shares had already been sold to the Holder Bank of Switzerland which is now running the factory satisfactorily. She said that it was a practice followed even by the British rulers that public property is not sold below the value determined by the Chief Valuer. But the UNP government broke this rule and gave to private individuals, public assets, valued at Rs. 1200 million for example at prices as law as Rs. 100 million. Even that little money was paid out of bank loans which were not paid back by the buyers. "This was the pathetic situation in the country prevailing during the UNP rule. The economy was breaking down. Mattegama Textile Mills in the Katugampola electorate had been closed down and the employees thrown on to the road. So also was the Kahatagaha mines in Dodangaslanda. "My government had to rectify all these errors committed by the UNP and put the economy on the right track. We have been able to keep the prices down while spending a colossal amount of money on the war, through good management of the economy. The people who ruined the country’s economy trampled on human values, are coming before the people and asking their vote to come into power. Is there anything more ridiculous than this?" she asked. She said: "I don’t want to take lessons from Ranil on how to hold free and fair elections. We are the people who suffered most as a result of the UNP violence against political opponents. We are the people who fought to safeguard the rights of the people which were being suppressed by the UNP in the most cruel form. She said that two former senior police officers who were taken into custody in connection with the floating bodies in the Diyawanna Oya and Bolgoda Lake and now on bail were moving about with UNP’s Chief Ministerial candidate Gamini Jayawickrama Perera. She appealed to the voters to return the People’s Alliance candidates to power in the NWP and help develop the NWP with the combined strength of the government and NWPC. Dharmasiri Senanayake, Minister of Tourism and Aviation said that Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe had made certain provocative statements. He had said he would not accept the outcome of the NWP elections. He has accused the President of obstructing peaceful elections. Instructors have gone to Police on how to deal with election related violence and on how to prevent untoward incidents. This was not the way the UNP acted when they were in power, he said. He said that the PA was winning the elections definitely. Anura Priyadarshana Yapa Deputy Minister of Posts and Telecommunications said that in order to prevent a clash on the day Ranil Wickremasinghe addressed a meeting in Pannala he had to keep all his men at his home. There had been a small incident. Political leaders must be able to face such situations. But Ranil had spoken for about five minutes and left the meeting, he said. "What can I do about people not attending UNP meetings. What can I do about the UNP’s failure to set up their branch organisations and the failure of the organisers to keep in touch with the people", he asked. He made an appeal to take steps to take over the ill-gotten land from former UNP Ministers and their kith and kin and distribute them among the landless. "Creative Careers ’99" project
to be held from March 25 to 27 The Professional and Business Women Sri Lanka Organization has organized a project named "Creative Careers ’99" to be held from March 25 to 27 at the Public Library, Colombo to create an awareness about employment opportunities. The main feature of this event is a "Career Fair", at which vocational institutes, private training organizations and business establishments would set up stalls where information about job opportunities would be disseminated, said Mrs. Janaki Gunawardena the President of The Business & Professional Women organization. Speaking at a press conference, Mrs. Gunawardena said it is expected that this event would create an awareness among Middle East returnees, housewives, O/ L and A/ L students, about business and training opportunities available in Sri Lanka. This would enable more women to get into the main stream of business with the hope of entrepreneurship, development and empowerment of women, she added. Explaining the establishment and the objectives of the organization, Mrs. Gunawardena said that this institution, which is a non-profit, non government organization is working towards improving the status of the women nationally and internationally. The Business and Professional Women Organization in Sri Lanka is affiliated to the International Federation of Business and Professional Women with branches in over 125 countries. It deals with the problems faced by women especially in developing countries in areas such as Management, Marketing, Exporting, Training and also encourages women to play an active role in the economic, civil and political life of their country, she noted. The organization has invited 60 training institutions in different fields to set up stalls at the Fair. It is organizing a seminar for school children and business establishments will explain the job openings. The organization has set up a career guidance unit recently at the Public Library to provide information about the availability of job opportunities and training. There will be a seminar once a month to inform the parents and the students regarding the prospects in different fields, Mrs. Gunawardena explained. The Public Library will have continuous programmes to provide information to the needy. The institute has chosen the Public Library because it has easy access to the students, she observed. Kandy roads, lanes remain dark by night KANDY: Roads, lanes and junctions in the suburbs of the city of Kandy within the municipal limits are often remain dark by night as street lamps are not lit up. Switching on the street lamps is the responsibility of the private contractors who have undertaken the job, Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) authorities say. Complaints from the public with this regard are fruitless, Kandy residents state. Professional and business women to police and
public officers– A group of professional and business women has called upon the Elections Department, police officials and other public servants to perform their duties connected with the North Western Provincial Council elections without fear or favour. The Business and Professional Women Sri Lanka Organization at a seminar recently adopted a resolution, which also urged these public servants to resist all efforts that may be made to influence, intimidate, pressurize or threaten them in the performance of their lawful duties emanating from whatever source. The women also urged the officials to protect and preserve the right of the voters to elect an administration of their choice by ensuring and protecting the right of the voters, including the women of Wayamba, to exercise their vote freely. ‘Sri Lanka has a poor record of women legislatures, equally depressing has been the women in local government’ said Janaki Gunawardena, President Business and Professional Women Sri Lanka, in the course of her speech at the seminar on ‘Free and Fair elections’ organised by their organisation. She said that one of the factors which deters women from facing the elections is violence. This can be both physical and mental. Recent elections in Sri Lanka have been characterised by a high degree of violence, women shy away from mental violence. Character assassination of the rival candidate has been part and parcel of the Sri Lankan election scene and very few women can withstand such pressure. Mrs. Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka boasts of the first woman Prime Minister in the world, Mrs. Sirima Bandaranike, an event which took place in 1960. Her daughter, has set another record by making Sri Lanka the only country which elected two women Prime Ministers. These events may suggest that ‘Women in Politics’ in Sri Lanka are safe and well. However, they are only symbolic of the potential of Sri Lankan women — the situation on the ground is somewhat depressing. She said Sri Lanka has also a very poor track record of women legislators. The growth has been extremely slow. From 1.1% in 1947 to 5.3% in 1994. Equally depressing has been the women in local government. At the .Provincial Council elections held in seven Provinces only 22 out of 2351 contesting candidates were women. ‘At present the PA government has only two women Ministers out of a Cabinet of 29. If we are to have more women in politics we must ensure that we have free and fair elections, whether it is PA, UNP, SLFP or any other party’, she said. Mrs. Gunewardene said that there is now an upcoming awareness that the low participation of women in politics results in an unequal distribution of the benefits of economic and social development processes and that consequently there is an urgent need to promote women’s participation in political decision making. Mid-Week
Politics When the elections to the North Western Provincial Council concludes next Monday, both the government and the opposition will be busy campaigning again for the other five provinces where elections were postponed last August under emergency regulations. President Chandrika Kumaratunga fully engaged in the NWP campaign feels that she and her People’s Alliance will score a resounding victory in the NWP next Monday. A confident President told the PA meeting at Kuliyapitiya last weekend that her party had already won the election in Wayamba and the UNP was running away fearing defeat.On the same day UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told a gathering at Marawila that his party would never run away from elections and the people’s silent protest vote for the UNP despite the state thuggery unleashed in the province, would return the party to power in a resounding manner. President Kumaratunga lost no time to inform the Commissioner of Elections of her desire to hold elections in the other five provinces on Monday. She requested the Election Chief to decide on the dates to the elections to those five councils and she would in due course issue a gazette notification to the effect that the earlier gazette notification postponing those elections would be made null and void. The United National Party welcomed the move of the President to hold elections to the other five councils. The UNP is of the opinion that the elections should not be held on a scattered basis but on the same day. It also urges the government to shun violence pointing out that violence in the NWP has reached an unprecedented level with only a few days left for campaigning. While the UNP accuses the PA of perpetrating violence in the NWP, the government has charged the UNP of having brought in people from outside to indulge in violence. The PA has also criticised the presence of former police top brass on the UNP platform claiming that those were the persons who unleashed terror against the masses during the Premadasa administration. The UNP argues that though these persons in question, who were earlier in the police, had a right to politics as civilians after retirement. Violence in the NWP escalated last week with some candidates from both sides sustaining gunshot injuries and a supporter of the UNP being killed by gunfire. It was reported that a procession led by Minister Amarasiri Dodangoda was reportedly stoned by UNP supporters at Kurunegala. UNP candidate Anura Goppallawa sustained head injuries and was hospitalised when he was allegedly dragged out of his car and assaulted by PA supporters in the Kurunegala district. Another UNP candidate Gamini Dissanayake escaped being injured while campaigning but his wife was critically wounded and hospitalised with gunshot injuries when they had been fired upon allegedly by PA supporters. Dissanayake’s supporter Shivakumar succumbed to his injuries. In another incident at Katuneriya in Marawila in the Puttalam district contrary to reports in the state media, UNP parliamentarian Premaratne Gunesekera claims that he sustained head injuries when he was shot late at night last Thursday. The state controlled electronic and print media dismissed Gunesekera’s claim. Mr. Gunesekera told this columnist that when he got into the car that night to reach Colombo some unidentified men had lobbed a grenade at his car and opened fire. He said the grenade did not explode but he was hit on the head by gunfire. He had then asked the driver to take him to the Colombo National Hospital where surgery had been performed on him and discharged after being kept for observation for two hours. The state controlled Daily News on Monday quoting National Hospital sources denied that Mr. Gunesekera had been treated at the hospital. Mr. Gunesekera added that he was contemplating legal action against the state controlled media for publishing false news about the incident. The UNP claims that the entire North Western Province is full of blue and hardly any green is seen as PA supporters tore off their decorations within minutes after they are put up. A UNP spokesman said that even the white flags that were put up for the funeral of Shivakumar who was shot dead had been destroyed by PA supporters. He claimed that PA supporters are allowed to campaign with loudspeakers till midnight while UNPers are not allowed after 8.00 pm. The spokesman added that a gunman on a three-wheeler had arrived at the UNP venue of the Mawathagama meeting minutes before the arrival of the UNP leader and had fired in the air and got away in the presence of the police. Meanwhile the United Lalith Front leader Srimani Athulathmudali, who now supports the PA in the NWP campaign on Monday expelled her Parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake from the party. Last week she suspended him from the party and Karunanayake sought a clarification from her saying that he had only read about the suspension in the media and had not recieved such intimation. Mrs. Athulathmudali who issued a brief media release on Monday on Karunanayake’s expulsion did not give reasons as to why he was expelled. The ULF leader has informed the PA General Secretary D. M. Jayaratne about her decision. Mr. Jayaratne has informed the Secretary General of Parliament that under the PA constitution Mr. Karunanayake’s membership had ceased and accordingly under article 98-13 (a) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka Mr. Karunanayake is deemed to have vacated his seat in Parliament. Mr. Karunanayake who is expected to return this morning to Colombo from Singapore is to challenge his expulsion from the party and parliament in court this week, sources close to him disclosed. |
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