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Pockets of tension but situation generally calm
Curfew if needed once poll closes

by Franklin. R. Satyapalan
Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake yesterday said that a curfew would be declared if necessary once polling closes in the North Western Province which votes tomorrow to elect a new provincial council after a campaign marked by violence leading to the death of two persons.

"Curfew passes have been printed. Whether a curfew is necessary or not is a matter for the police," he said.

Asked what he would do if there was rigging at any of the polling stations, the Commissioner said that he would act under section 46(a) of the Provincial Councils Act and special provisions under Act No. 35 enabling him to call for a re-poll if any disturbance or rigging was proved.

In addition to the normal police strength in the province, 5,000 men have been posted for election duty. Military personnel will stand by at junctions and strategic points and also at all points of entry into the province. Police sources said that the military will provide additional security after the poll closes at 4 p.m.

Kurunegala's Government Agent P. B. Ekanayake, who is the chief Returning Officer for the Kurunegala district, said there was some tension at Mawathagama, Panduwasnuwara and Kuliyapitiya towns yesterday. Elsewhere, all was quiet in the district after campaigning ended at midnight Friday.

"In some of the interior villages, there is nothing to show that an election is on," he said.

In Puttalam, the GA, J. R. W. Dissanayake, the chief Returning Officer said that all was quiet in the district and he hoped that the election would be conducted freely, fairly and peacefully.

The Elections Department said that the number of officials on election duty in Kurunegala has been increased to 10,200. They will man 800 polling booths in the district and 82 counting centres including five centres for counting postal votes.

The counting will begin at 7 p.m. at 118 counting centres once ballot boxes are brought in. The Commissioner said that the results would be released through Rupavahini and the SLBC "in respect of each polling division (old electorate) and of the counting centres for postal votes within the administrative districts of Kurunegala and Puttalam."

The number of members eligible to represent each party/group in the Provincial Council from each administrative district will be announced next. Finally the preference vote tally of the candidates will be released.

The Personal Assistant to the IGP, SSP Gamini Karunatillake, said that orders have gone out from the police chief to the DIG NWP to crack down hard on any person attempting to create mischief, carrying unlicensed weapons or riding un-numbered vehicles.

Police sources said that about thousand troops are being used to secure the province. They have strengthened their mobile patrols and ten sniffer dogs were also being used to detect any possible attempt at smuggling explosives into the area.

The Elections Department said that there were 1,359,295 registered voters in the province and 446 candidates from seven registered political parties and four independent groups were seeking their votes. The parties in the fray and the PA, UNP, JVP, MULF, New Left Front, Liberal Party and the SLPF.

The UNPs candidate for the chief ministry, Mr. Gamini Jayawickrame Perera, won that office at the first PC election in 1988 when the UNP took 29 seats against 19 by the United Front and two by Independents. The UNP finished on top in 1993 too with 25 seats, but the PA 18 seats) and the DUNLF (9 seats) teamed up to form the administration with Mr. G. M. Premachandra as chief minister.

Both chief ministerial candidates, Mr. S. B. Nawinna from the PA and Mr. Perera quit parliament to run at this election. Mr. Asoka Wadgamangawa of the UNP also quit parliament to run at the NWP.

Ranil's mother counters Chandrika

Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe's mother, Mrs. Nalini Wickremesinghe, has written to President Chandrika Kumaratunga contradicting certain statements made by her at the North Western Provincial election meetings publicised by the state media on January 18 and 19.

Mrs. Wickremesinghe has said that allegations made against her by the President are 'totally incorrect'.

"I have neither applied for nor acquired ownership of any State land at any time. I inherited agricultural land from my late father, Mr. D. R. Wijewardene, which I have distributed in entirety amongst my children according to the law. I do not own a single acre of State land and have no wish to do so. The impression conveyed by your statements is thus factually incorrect and misleading.

"If there is violation of the law it is more appropriate to take legal action than indulge in baseless attacks under cover of immunity.

"I am only a minor shareholder in Lake House Plantations Ltd. which merely manages - but does not own - estates on behalf of State institutions. There are several such other management companies operating in the country", she has said.

The Daily News of January 18 quoted the President telling a PA election meeting at Wariyapola that: "Ranil Wickremesinghe grabbed 15,000 acres in Kurunegala District to form the Kurunegala Plantation Company. Later, my family lands in Siyane Korale were taken over by the company".

Journalists hear shooting

Saturday's issue of The Hindu reported 'mild skirmishes' marring the NWP polls campaign and also said that journalists were witness to a firing incident.

According to this report by V.S. Sambandan, the paper's Colombo correspondent, a group of journalists touring the area and heading towards Chilaw heard a series of loud bursts which they thought was caused by the high speed of their own vehicle.

"As we slowed down to verify, yet another burst of gunfire was heard from the adjoining paddy fields forcing us to run for cover. It was obviously not directed at us, but it appears to have been an attempt to discourage people from travelling along the isolated road," the Press Trust of India's Colombo Correspondent, K.J.M. Verma was quoted saying.

The party of journalists comprised AFP's Colombo bureau chief Amal Jayasinghe, photographer Sena Vidanagama, Hindu photographer Sriyantha Walpola, Verma of PTI and Chulawansa Srilal of the Yukthiya newspaper.

LH Plantations sets record straight

LH Plantations (Pvt) Ltd., the managing agents of the Government-Owned Kurunegala Plantations Ltd., yesterday refuted several statements made by President Kumaratunga and carried by government controlled newspapers regarding Bandaranaike family lands.

The following is the text of the statement issued by the company:

"Recently, government controlled newspapers reported that President Chandrika Kumaratunga stated at an election rally for the PA candidate in Wayamba the following:

"My family lands were given to the government in 1972. Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike herself wrote the deed. We gave these lands to the people. But the UNP led by JR robbed those lands. Ranil Wickremesinghe formed a company called Kurunegala Plantations Company (SIC) taking over our land under the UNP government. I will go before the Supreme Court and get back these lands and distribute them among the people. They sold the country's assests for a song. A factory worth Rs. 200 million was sold for Rs. 100 million. (the Daily News, "Lanka Gets Unprecedented Foreign Aid-President" page 2, January 14th, 1999).

"The substance of these allegations by President Kumaratunga and others has been repeated many times in the state media and at public gathering in various forms since March 1998 up to today. We are, once again, compelled to refer our readers to a company reply given on March 20. 1998 in The Sunday Time to these recurrent allegations. In this, we had pointed out numerous factual inaccuracies and wrongful inferences.

"We again wish to point out on behalf of L. H. Plantations (Pvt) Ltd., the managing agent of the government-owned Kurunegala Plantations, the following pertinent points:

1) The family lands belonging to President Kumaratunga at Attanagalle as well as those of many other Sri Lankan citizens were vested with the Land Reform Commission during the Bandaranaike government soon after the Land Reform Act No. 1 of 1972 was passed by Parliament. They were subsequently donated by the Commission to the JEDB and other co-operative societies in 1992, in line with the then government's World Bank approved privatization process, some of these (comprising mainly coconut land) were vested in Kurunegala Plantations Ltd. , and Chilaw Plantations Ltd. Both companies are 100% state owned.

L. H. Plantations (Pvt) Ltd. subsequently won the management rights to Kurunegala Plantations Ltd. in a competitive process with the concurence of the government and the World Bank. More recently, under the current government A. S. Jayawardene, Governor of the Central Bank, investigated the selection process for all managing agents and in the absence of any adverse comments, it is reasonably assumed that there were no irregularities to report. Thus, it may also be correctly assumed that L. H. Plantations (Pvt) Ltd. happened to find President Kumaratunga's family lands amounting to about 724 acres within its management assortment of about 16,190 acres. Neither Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Leader of the UNP, nor any member of his family nor any member of the Board of L. H. Plantations (Pvt) Ltd. had any part to play in this eventual outcome,

2). It is incorrect therefore to state that Mr. Wickremesinghe formed Kurunegala Plantations Ltd. or imply that he directly or indirectly owned any lands connected with this entity. All government controlled plantations companies (for tea, rubber and coconut sectors) were formed by state authorities and not by any individual or individual directive. Furthermore, Kurunegala Plantations Ltd., has enjoyed a Directorate made up solely of state appointed persons (its current Directors are Dixon Nilaweera, Faiz Mohideen, and T. P. G. N. Leelaratne). Mr. Wickremesinghe, his family or any directors of the said company owns no shares and has no operational dealings with L. H. Plantations (Pvt) Ltd. the managing agent, which was entrusted only with managing (not owning) state lands for the collective national good.

3) It may also be noted that L. H. Plantations (Pvt) Ltd., neither owns nor manages any factory property (let alone one worth Rs. 200m)

Boot's on the other foot, he says
Ronnie denies seeking favours from Chandrika

Opposition MP Ronnie de Mel yesterday expressed surprise at a statement made by President Chandrika Kumaratunga at a meeting in Chilaw on Thursday alleging impropriety over the Narahenpita cannery deal.

De Mel said in a statement that he had never approached the President at any time to obtain any land from the Narahenpita food canning factory. "I have never asked for any favour from her'', the former finance minister said.

The President was reported on Saturday's Island saying that Ronnie de Mel was angry with her because he could not get a land in Narahenpita for a fruit processing factory which was privatised and sold to his relatives.

"He approached me to obtain these lands but I stood firm and refused his request'', she had said according to the news report.

De Mel, while rejecting the President's accusation, alleged that the President had met him twice when he was Finance Minister to obtain a liquor license for her Araliya Restaurant at Attanagalla.

"I granted her request. I have never sought any personal favour from her at any time'', he said, alleging what the President had said was "completely false and unfounded''.

Annual Kelaniya Duruthu Maha Perahera begins on Jan. 28

The Annual Kelaniya Duruthu Maha Perahera will be held on 28th, 29th and 30th January 1999. The Historic Kelaniya Duruthu Maha Perahera had its origins in the year 1927, due largely to the efforts of that great Philanthropist Don Walter Wijewardene.

This pageant has evolved over the years to a permanent position as the country's most elaborate and grandest low country pageant in its category. On a national scale, the Kelaniya Perahera is only comparable with Kandy Esela Maha Perahera.

The Dayake Sabha has made elaborate arrangements to ensure the success of this Historic Religious Pageant much revered by all Sri Lankans. Meticulous attention has been paid to all details with the objective of perpetuating the traditional rites, ritual and customs long associated with this magnificent pageant including the participation of traditional dancers, caprisoned elephants and colourful parades, which have always made this event a night of all nights.

The Annual Pageant beings with the Udamaluwa Perahera on January 28th it will conclude with the Maha Perahera on January 30th.

The Perahera will commence with the handing over the relics casket to Chief Basnayake Nilame, Shalitha Wijesundera by the Viharadhipathi, Ven. Dr. Kollupitiye Sangharakkita Nayake Thero. The relic casket will be carried 3 rounds around the temple by Basnayake Nilame's Shalitha Wijesundera and Dhammika Attygalle on first day and second day of the Perahera.

The Perahera will commence daily at 9.00 pm. This year a special effort is being made to focus on Tourists eager to acquaint themselves with the majesty and splendour of Sri Lanka's cultural facets such as this Historic Perahera.

Upali Travels Ltd. will handle all arrangements to ensure proper facilities for tourists viewing the Perahera including special enclosures with maximum security and convenience.

Sri Lanka to probe Commonwealth Games bribes acusations

COLOMBO (AFP) - Sri Lanka will investigate allegations that local Olympic Committee members sought bribes to support Adelaide's bid for the 1998 Commonwealth Games, officials here said Wednesday.

Sri Lankan sports officials said they were shocked by charges that National Olympic Committee (NOC) officials had asked for paid university places for their children as an "incentive" to support Adelaide's 1998 bid.

"We are of course very seriously concerned about these allegations and we have already begun making some informal inquiries about what happened nine years ago," a sports official who declined to be named said.

He said discussions had already taken place on how to conduct an inquiry into the allegations.

Organisers of Adelaide's bid for the 1998 Commonwealth Games said delegates from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and an African nation, had sought paid university places for their children as an "incentive" to secure their votes.

Adelaide's former Lord Mayor, Steve Condous said an African delegate had asked for - and received - spare parts for his Mitsubishi car, which were shipped to Africa.

Condous accused officials of the winning city of Kuala Lumpur of "manipulating"voting delegates and giving gold watches and gold pens to delegates and their wives.

Kuala Lumpur was chosen to host last year's Commonwealth Games in 1994.

The present Sri Lankan NOC president Hemasiri Fernando took office only three years ago and the previous office bearers were not immediately available for comment.

NWP polls results live on Internet

"Lakvision" the pioneer world wide news service operating on the Internet http:// www.laknews.lk has geared up to cast the North Western Provincial Council elections live on the Web January 25, from 08:00pm onwards. This will be the first time in the history of Sri Lankan politics, election results will be casted live on the Internet, Lakvision said in a news release NWP polls results live on Internet

Island Capers
The wheel turns

Lake House was buzzing last week about a lorry load of old tyres that had been sent off to the Wayamba.

No, no, nobody was alleging that human remains were being cremated. The tyres were merely for the recreation of the pyres of a bygone era. The question is: were they paid for? Lake House had also rendered yeoman service printing election material and several tons of paper had been used. Hopefully, there will be payment at commercial rates, staffers said.

Director unaware of any such proposal
Wildlife Society alleges elephant "cull'' in the pipeline

by Gamini. G. Punchihewa
The Wildlife and Nature Protection Society of Sri Lanka (WNPS) has in its January news letter said that there has been a "recent suggestion by the authorities'' to cull protected herds of elephants.

The Director of Wild Life Conservation, Mr. Bertie Jayasekera said that he was unaware of any such proposal.

In an article titled "Our Proud Heritage ... Doomed ... To be ... Culled?'' Ranmali W. Waduge says that "this recommendation had been suggested by the authorities as a solution to the elephant-man conflicts created in localities where ill planned clearance of jungle has led to isolation of herds of elephants''.

"This would, in effect, legalise the killing of wild elephants ... an act presently decreed illegal and punishable by a fine of Rs.250,000 and a two year jail term'', she said.

Waduge says that the WNPS is one among several organisations that have made innumerable appeals, submissions, suggestions, and plans that could have minimised the elephant-man conflict that have occurred over the last two decades.

"Having ignored all these meaningful suggestions, the Ministry in charge of Wildlife is now resorting to the act of labeling some of these animals as being `doomed' ... a situation they themselves permitted to occur without taking appropriate and timely steps to arrest this situation. Even the suggestions to establish and maintain jungle corridors were unheeded'', she said.

"The government stands committed to the responsibility of protecting the elephant and its habitat ... and not culling them.

"Under no circumstances will this country and the majority of its people endorse the suggestion to cull our valuable heritage. It is incumbent on the ministry to embark on a bona fide programme to solve the man-elephant conflicts and not merely depend on the path of least resistance ... culling. They should also not persist in continuing to advocate the "Elephant Drives'' which have proved themselves to be failures since they were initiated 30 years ago (Deduru Oya).

Complaints galore as poll closes

The complaints tally at the close of the Wayamba election campaign totals 655 incidents including two murders, 8 attempted murders and 28 cases of alleged shooting, police said.

The UNP topped the complaints list with 308 against 211 from the PA and 34 from the JVP.

The New Left Front also made 3 complaints, Muslim United Liberation Front 3 and Independents 2.

In addition to the more serious complaints there were also cases of hurt, assault, robbery, arson, threats and intimidations, insults, mischief, trespass and house breaking. One complaint of abduction has also been recorded.

Additionally, polls cards have been illegally removed from Uduppu Sub Post Office (383), Kuliyapitiya Sub Post Office (549) and Bangadeniya Sub Post Office (4,113) which was broken into.

There were also complaints of forcible removal of polling cards that have been delivered to homes in Boraluwewa, Bingiriya, Kobeigane and Gokarella.

An army of election monitors from various NGOs and Citizens Groups and members of the clergy have fanned out in the province to check whether there is any interference with the ballot.

"We are checking whether anyone is threatening voters or persuading them not to vote. Other offences we are watching for includes impersonation, obstruction of voters and interference in the work of election staff,'' one of the monitors said.

They will also check whether adequate security has been provided to voters as a preventive against violence and also check on treating, breaches of the election law and armed presence of those who are not members of the forces on peace keeping duties. (FRS)

Colombo roads suffocated with traffic

by Chittaranjan de Silva
Traffic congestion in the city of Colombo and its suburbs has turned out to be a growing problem with apparently no solution in sight. Traffic snarls are the order of the day. When an accident occurs, or when drivers break road rules, as is often the case, the situation worsens. The roads of Colombo have suddenly become too narrow for the booming traffic. An accident can cause traffic blocks kilometres long at times in a matter of a few minutes. "When an accident occurs, and even if the police are not immediately present at the scene, both parties can come to an agreement and mark the place and clear the vehicles to make way for traffic, ASP (City Traffic) B. M. C. A. Mendis said.

It's quite clear that one party alone cannot be blamed for the traffic jams in the city. The Transport Ministry, Road Development Authority and Police have all shown their willingness to search for solutions but it is evident that without the cooperation of the public nothing concrete can be achieved.

Police go to great lengths to stop vehicles from parking alongside highways and to prevent drivers breaking road rules as these steps are deemed necessary to avoid traffic congestion. Traffic policeman on the roads today have increased but still the police are finding it difficult to control the ever increasing numbers of vehicles multiplying.

When "Sunday Island" contacted Transport and Highways Minister A. H. M. Fowzie for his comments on the traffic snarls in the city, he said the open economic policies which cannot prevent or restrict vehicle imports to the country. As a result the roads are flooded with too many vehicles resulting in massive traffic jams in Colombo and its suburbs.

Asked whether there was any alternative to resolve this problem he replied that some proposals have been forwarded to the Cabinet in this regard. Several road development projects are underway in the city to cater for the average 80,000 odd vehicles which are imported to country each year, many of which travel in the city or its suburbs, the Minister added.

He was critical of the former government for not embarking on more road development projects during their tenure in office. "If they did, it would have cost only one tenth of the value that it is costing us today," he said, referring to the marine drive, flyovers and several other road development projects that his ministry has embarked upon.

According to the minister, a flyover will be constructed near the Lipton Circus, and two others that are being built at Ragama and at Dematagoda,with several roads under construction, will contribute to easing traffic congestion in the city. The minister said that in some instances the roads cannot be widened as people and businessmen are unwilling to give up their property." People had taken legal action to stop the widening of some roads which are necessary today and this has halted the process in some places," he said. Recently a bridge was built at Delkanda junction to enable traffic flow in a parallel direction to avoid traffic blocks. In the same way the Galle road and Duplication roads will have parallel roads and efforts are being made in whatever possible way to help ease the traffic burden, he explained.

He also said that the police initiated the new road safety regulations to prevent passengers travelling on footboards of buses. This is very encouraging and we have also set up a Road Safety Secretariat with public safety in mind. Elaborating on the road construction, the General Manager of the Road Development Authority P. B. L. Cooray said that the Baseline Road from Kelanitissa Power Station to Attidiya and the Marine Drive from Colpetty to Wellawatte will be completed in one years time.

He said that flyovers are mainly built to stop traffic congestion near the rail gates as in the case of Ragama and Dematagoda.

The Ragama flyover will be open to traffic in about 4-5 months time.

But most importantly, he suggested , that if the Manning market in Pettah can be shifted to another location, it would significantly reduce the traffic into the city. He suggested that traffic could also be reduced if telecommunications are made use of without resorting to travel.

In the developed world with technologies such as ISDN (International Software Development Network) being used, people are able to save on productive time by telecommuting instead of wasting time on travel, he said.

ASP Mendis explained in detail the causes of the traffic snarls and the remedial action that could be taken generally to avoid them.

It is important that drivers keep to their respective lanes and observe road rules when driving. Awareness campaigns have been organised by the police to keep the public informed. The drivers today are increasingly in the habit of breaking road rules and it is spreading like a disease to others. Three-wheeler drivers are a law unto themselves he said.

Pedestrians crossing the road from various points is another headache to police as, two passengers crossing the road without using a pedestrian crossing could hold up 30 vehicles, ASP Mendis who has also undergone training in Britain, said.

He also said that when roads are under construction, as it is happening today, it adds to the woes of the traffic police and is a main cause for the congestion. However, he said that construction of roads will help to ease the situation in the long run.

Elaborating further, he said that when vehicles are parked on the side of main roads, and on pavements causing inconveniences to pedestrians, it also affects the traffic flow. It is very important to observe the right of way in roundabouts which is not happening today. In Some places traffic lights are violated, in others they do not function properly, he said.

In England drivers have to observe speed limits and this helps in a huge way to keep the smooth flow of traffic and very few break the speed limits unlike here, where one tries to beat the other in breaking road rules, ASP Mendis said.

It was evident that public awareness programs are needed especially in the electronic media to educate the general public that apart from the transport authorities and police, they have also to play a greater role in finding a solution to this menacing problem. The public however, will not complain if a little discipline is required of them if they could avoid long traffic blocks, where precious time and money are wasted on roads, he noted.

Human values education creates great interest

A Thai scientist who has worked with NASA space program was the guest speaker at a recent seminar on human values organised in Colombo by the Satya Sai Education on Human Values (SSEHV).

Dr. ArtOng Jumsai, SSEHV's director in Bangkok, has a special link with Sri Lanka. His grandfather was a Nayaka Thera in a temple here, he said.

The BMICH meeting attracted several senior officials including Mr. Andrew Silva, Secretary to the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Dr. V. Jeganathan, Director General of Health Services, Prof. C. Sivagnanasunderam of the Jaffna Medical Faculty, Mr. R. Yoganathan, Additi-onal Secretary to the Education Ministry and Prof. Lakshman Jayatillake, Chairman of the University Grants Commission.

Dr. Jumsai in his speech stressed that there was no value in loading children with information that will be of no use to them in the future. Computers will be the store house of such knowledge and children must be taught how to use that knowledge for the betterment of the world.

He said that what was necessary was emphasis on human values in education that would help children to acquire the values that would make the world a better place. Right values must be taught young because as a child grows older it becomes difficult to change values.

He said that SSEHV had trained 15,000 teachers in Thailand and has established a presence in many other countries like South Africa, Zambia, Nepal and Australia.

The Buddha has expounded on impermanence and it is necessary to turn our minds inwards to understand the truth. As the Buddha said it, the ripples on the surface of a lake blurs its mirror image. It is so also when a mind is turbulent . Calmness of mind can be learnt through meditation.

"When meditation calms the mind, intuition, understanding and knowledge follow naturally. The subconscious mind will result from a calm and conscious mind which practices meditation''

In the course of this seminar, the support of the state for imparting right human values into the education system was pledged. Delivering a message from the Education Minister, the Secretary said that the conference will help uplift the teaching of human values in schools and wished it all success.

The Additional Secretary who delivered a message from the Deputy Minister stressed the importance of value oriented education. Prof. Warnapala said in his message that value oriented education is very important and SSEHV will fill the gap with love underpinning all other values.

Prof. Jayatillake said that education in human values originated in the East and would be of great worth to those desiring it.

Prof. Sivagna-nasunderam, co-ordinator of the SSEHV program implemented in the Northern and Eastern part of Sri Lanka said that the teachers were educated by SSEHV purely on a voluntary basis by way of seminars so that they could impart the knowledge to the child.

The parents will be educated later. Children have first been introduced to SSEHV at an average age of six.. According to him there was a huge response from the people of the North to this type of education and many whose children were not included asked him why it is not accessible to them. This education is indeed a blessing to the war torn North, he concluded.

Gang disrupts opening

A group of thugs belongign to the PA who had disrupted the opening ceremony of a two storey building of the Rathtota provincial secretariat have let out the air from the wheels of the vehicle belonging to the Government Agent (GA) in front of agroupf of policemen.

A commemorative plaque which had been due to be unveiled by the Minister of Public Administration and Home Affairs Ratnasiri Wickramanayake had been robbed from the office of the secretariat.The plaque had been due to be unveile on the 3rd.Due to the state of affairs that led upto the event the organisers had found it impossible to organise the grounds where the chief guest would be participating

On the night of the 2nd a group (PA) who had arrived on the grounds had ordered the people who had been decorating the grouds to leave.

At this time they had also removed the plaque which had been due to be unveiled.

Later during police investigations the plaque had surfaced in a room of the secretariat.However it had once again disappeared while the Minister had been addressing the gathering.

On the night before the event posters slandering the Matale GA and the secretary of the Rathtota pradeshiya council had been displayed opposite the Rathtota provincil secretariat.The tyres of the offical vehicle belonging to the magistrate had also been punctured.These actions have disheartened rational thinkers.

The name of Rathtota SLFP organizer Bandula Yalagama not being included in the palque and a banner of a political nature had created chaos.

On the intervention of the Minister of Forestry and Environment Nandamithra Ekanayake an attempt to boycott the ceremony by a group including Bandula Yalagama had been prevented.

One of the main factors causing distaste among the goup had been the fact that the name of Mr.Yalagama was not included in the list on the plaque.

Apart from this the campaign carried against the Matale GA and the Rathtotta Provincial secretary had cost distaste among rational thinkers, politicians and governemnt officials.

Despite the obstacles however, 5oo families in the area who don't own land have been granted land deeds and other resources.

Ravi will challenge expulsion

Ravi Karunanayake will be challenging his expulsion from the Lalith Front as a consequence of which he risks losing his parliamentary seat, he said yesterday.

"I can challenge my dismissal before the Supreme Court within 30 days and have time till Feb. 20 to file my papers. I will be exercising these rights. The court's decision must be given within three months of this date", he said.

Asked if he would be attending Parliament in the meantime, he said "yes, I have every right to do so."

Meanwhile the District Court of Colombo has granted T. M. S. Nanayakkara, Secretary of the Lalith Front who was replaced, an interim injunction reinstating him as secretary. Objections to his reinstatement was not upheld by the court.

Varsity teachers decry Wayamba violence

The Sri Lanka University Teachers' United Front condemned the incidence of violence and intimidation occurring in the North Western Province and said it was the duty of the government in office to safeguard the democratic rights of the people.

A statement issued by Prof. W.M. Karunadasa, president of the Front and its secretary said that political violence has already been demonstrated on an unprecedented scale in the Wayamba.

"We, the intellectuals of this country, recall the pledges given by the present government to eliminate violence and corruption while creating a `transparent society'", it said.

The statement said that they always condemned the violence espoused by any government in power. Asking who was responsible for the situation in the NWP, the statement said that it is up to the people of the province to decide who is responsible for such undemocratic acts.

It appealed to the PA government "which is solely responsible for safeguarding the democratic rights of the people" to take all measures necessary "not only in words but also in actual deeds", to hold a fair and free election by creating a suitable environment for people to vote without fear, intimidation or any other harassment.

The university teachers asked the NWP voters, irrespective of political views to exercise their right to vote without fear by polling early.

"This is the only way to preserve your democratic rights", the statement said.

Graphic description of stripping incident

The Sinhala Kanthabhivurdi Sanvidanaya (SKS) has described the stripping by an armed gang of a woman canvassing for the opposition as a "gross incidence of violence against women and an insult to all women in this country''.

SKS named the victim of this outrage as the president of an opposition party branch at Bamunukotuwa and said that the incident had occurred at about 2 pm on January 19.

The statement alleged that a PA Pradheshiya Sabha member and about 10 of his goons had waylaid the woman and fired into the air with a T56, ordered Chandrawathie and her group at gunpoint to stop canvassing.

"When Chandrawathie appealed to carry on her work peacefully, the Pradeshiya Sabha member had ordered her at gunpoint to remove her clothes. At her refusal to do so, she had been stripped naked by the member and ordered to walk on the road'', the statement alleged.

It further alleged that the goons with the PA member as their head robbed the woman of her jewelry and valuables and disappeared with her clothes. The villagers had come to the victim's rescue and provided her with clothes and shelter.

SKS called upon the government to uphold law and order, act impartially and protect voters specially women. It called upon the women to build up a protest vote at the NWP election and at future elections against any political party that resorts to violence and intimidation.

Customer hopes soar as telecom providers promise to install 200,000 phones this year

by Lishanthie Siriwardena
Around 200,000 land phones are on line this year from Sri Lanka Telecom and the two private service providers, Suntel and Lanka Bell in a move which has sent customer expectations soaring.

The SLT 'waiting list' alone is 300,000 and as obvious the present demand for SLT telephones is more than the supply. If the waiting lists are anything to go by, the annual demand for telephones, according to mid 1998 Central Bank statistics, stand at an ever increasing 683,987.

Telecom operators are falling over one other in the scramble to 'grab' customers and also trading accusations in the process. One of the operators blame the other of 'stealing' their customers in the 'waiting list' by giving connections 'for almost nothing'. The number of fixed telephone connections given in 1998 was 180,000 which adds to the total number of telephone lines in service closer to 500,000 by the end of 1998.

'The frenzied rush for phones will continue until there are enough phones for everybody - until the ideal of one phone per person is within reach', experts say.

At present the SLT ratio of telephones is 51 persons per phone. When Wireless Local Loop (WLL) operators (Suntel and Lanka Bell) are taken into account the telephone density during the first half of the year stood at 45 persons per phone. The expansion of the telecommunication network during the past four years has changed the situation drastically as the figures indicate. According to Central Bank statistics in 1993 the persons per telephone ratio was 100 persons to 0.93 phones when the number of telephone lines was 157,774 and the total number of connections given was 22,270. So a telephone was a distant dream for the people at that time, the authorities who had seen through the transformation would brag.

Meanwhile the members of the UNP government which was in power earlier, claim to have set the stage for a telecom take off before they took off.

Has the successful ring of an ever expanding network lulled the customers to a state of complacency - far from it. For the customers, it seems more likely that the telecom sector has taken off leaving them on the ground. Among a host of improvements there is a myriad of public complaints. Many subscribers say that there should be an independent/external audit to monitor the income of the operators. One subscriber said that in Sri Lanka the revenue per line exceeds that of USA and therefore questioned the need for the recent tariff hikes by some of the operators and added that the costs per line is coming down globally and it is not reflected in the local tariffs.

Telecom subscribers may seem an over suspicious lot but it is the sky-high bills and the rates that make them whine and turn to complaining and complaining, more often than not, in vain.

The main demand of the customers is for their operators to provide evidence that they are only charged for the calls they make. The service should not be expanded at their expense, some customers complain. There is increased suspicion among some customers that they receive inflated bills. At the recently concluded public hearing convened by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL - an independent body performing regulatory functions), SLT officials assured the committee that accuracy of bills is a main concern and will be given priority.

SLT officials, indicated that itemised billing facilities will be available to a section of their customers by the end of the year. So, it will be end of 1999 before a section of the consumers in the Colombo exchange will receive itemised bills. This was one of the main demands of the SLT customers who eye their telephone bills suspiciously. 'There is no way of checking the accuracy of bills', they say. Some call for meters the others for detailed bills. 'We have already launched several trials aimed at give detailed billing facilities to our customers' a SLT official said. This is one of the improvements to the customer friendly organisation image the SLT is trying to portray. So the SLT customers will have to wait a bit more before to keep track of how the minutes ticked while they were hanging on the phone.

TRCSL seems to have developed the image as the messiah of the long suffering consumers. Their role as the regulator has grown immensely during the past few years as TRCSL embarked upon several daring programmes to tackle consumer related problems. The committee appointed questioned consumers and operators to develop solutions to problems that has been the bane of the subscribers. The increased customer recognition of the TRCSL as a regulator was evident by the volumes of complaints received by them prior to the public hearing on billing and billing related disputes of fixed access phone operators, held last year. The stream of complaints have not ceased as the regulatory commission was given the authority to receive public complaints. 'There has been remarkable progress but the stream of complaints are a concern', observed a TRCSL official.

SLT customers were at one time concerned when bills were delayed and payments not updated in their bills. Billing delays and updating of payment were a main complaint of the customers last year. 'Now billing is up-to-date and SLT has a decentralised billing system' SLT claims and 'the customers get their bills within 2 or 3 weeks in the following month', said one SLT official. Only bank payments in some distant areas take time and if the bill is paid to the bank just before the payment cut off date it will not be reflected in the customer's bills, the SLT official explained.

We are trying to work out a direct debit system with banks. The SLT has established 33 billing centres together with the teleshops with it to make the payments of bills much easier, SLT officials claim.

Customers are also bitter about paying the ubiquitous GST on the rates they regard as already jacked up. 'At least a certain number of units should be exempted from GST', one customer complained. The TRCSL's ruling that rebates for telecom faults not corrected within 7 days has also come under fire as some regard a week as too long a period and almost an incentive for delaying repairs. The rebate is also not sufficient, the customers complain.

The WLL operators are also making great strides and are an integral part of the contribution to GDP. Telecom sector's contribution in the first half of the year which also include the meteoric rise of the cellophane users (nearly 2 lakhs of users) and the payphone operators, recorded a 42.2% growth. The number of telephone lines of the two WLL operators totalling 40,000 by May 1998 has increased by nearly 2 fold during the first half of the year.

The SLT, with a customer base of nearly 400,000 has during the first six months increased its number of subscribers one and a half fold from 1997.

SLT unions, especially the engineers union that recently launched a work-to-rule campaign, claim that their goal of achieving higher targets are hampered by licence regulations that favour new comers in the field. It looks like the workers in this colossal organisation feel threatened by the smaller operators. The myriad unions of SLT are bitter about the private operators they accuse of 'stealing' their customers especially the corporate clients. The go-slow by a union of Sri Lanka Telecom is also a consequence of the intense competition that exists between the three operators that give fixed telephone connections. The unions are unhappy about the seemingly favourable license agreement handed out to the private operators which the union members allege is depriving them of expanding their network as they aspire.

Higher expectations have been fuelled by improved performances by the telecom operators. Will the customers who expect a modern day service from the telecom service providers be kept happy and satisfied at least this year, is the question for which an answer is not easy to find.

GCE (O/L) practicals commence on Jan. 25

By Azhara Raban
The Department of Examinations has issued instructions to regional directors and all principals to conduct the practical exam for the GCE (Ordinary Level) from January 25 to February 5, Examinations Commissioner A. M. R. B. Amarakoone told the "Sunday Island".

Under the new syllabus, the practical exams will be conducted in the schools itself and the Examinations Department will be monitoring. School principals will be given instructions on how to conduct the exams and the relevant subject teachers and officials from the examinations department and regional officers will handle the supervision, Mr. Amarakoone said.

The main objective under this new syllabus is to identify those students who would perform well in the practical exam even if he/she has not done well in theory, he said. This is an open exam and the results could be obtained from the respective school principals, he said.

Earlier, it was only those students who had scored above the cut off mark who were eligible to take the practical exam. Mr. Amarakoone said the practical exams for the GCE (Ordinary Exam) starting from December this year, would be conducted before the GCE (O/L).

Practical exams would be conducted for Art, Western Music, Oriental Music and Singing, Kandyan Dancing, Bharatha Natyam, Agriculture, Handicraft, Home Science and Physical Education, the Commissioner said.

Book on Psychiatric Aspects of Jataka Stories

A new book, "Psychiatric Aspects of Jataka Stories" by Dr. D. V. J. Harischandra will be launched at 5 p.m. on Wednesday (27) at the Mahaweli Centre, Colombo.

The Most Venerable Madihe Pannasiha Mahanayaka Thera will be the Chief Guest on this occasion which is sponsored by Vijitha Yapa Bookshop. Rev. Dr. Mervyn Fernando, Director, Subodhi, Institute of Integral Education, Piliyandala, Mrs. Neetha Ariyaratne, Assistant Director, Sarvodaya, Professor Nandasena Ratnapala, Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Sri Jayawardenapura, Professor Nalaka Mendis, Professor of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo and Dr. Sunanda Mahendra, Director, of the Institute of Aesthetic Studies, University of Kelaniya will address the gathering.

The author Dr. D. V. J. Harischandra is Consultant Psychiatrist at the Galle Teaching Hospital and Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry, at Ruhuna University's Medical Faculty. He obtained the Diploma in Psychological Medicine, London and the MRCPsych, (London) and was conferred the Fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, London in 1994.

Bonsai Bo Tree

For the first time in Sri Lanka, the venerated Bo Tree has been grown as a Bonsai. This beautiful Bonsai Bo Tree has taken twelve years to be grown and it is sure to gladden the hearts of Buddhists in Sri Lanka, for they will be able to have this Bonsai Bo Tree in the places of worship in their homes.

This beautiful Bonsai Bo Tree will be on display with over two hundred other hardwood Timber Bonsai Plants such as Ebony, Tamarind, Palu, Weera and Ficus Species such as Nuga and of course, the venerated Bo tree organised by Nanda Gallage.

Named "Pleasure '99 Bonsai Exhibition", will be held on January 29, 30 and 31 at Attidiya Road, Ratmalana from 8.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.

A Bonsai demonstration will also be conducted free of charge at 2.30 p.m. each day.

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