      |
|
|
|
U.S. concerned over poll violence COLOMBO, (Reuters) - The United States on Friday voiced concern over reports of violence and electoral malpractices in this week's regional polls in Sri Lanka and hoped authorities would look into the allegations. 'We are naturally concerned about news reports of violence surrounding the election and about the allegations of voting day irregularities,' a spokesman of the U.S. embassy in Colombo told Reuters by phone 'The U.S. believes that fair and free elections are essential for democracy.' Election monitors and opposition parties have complained of widespread vote-rigging and intimidation in Monday's polls in Northwestern Province, which President Chandrika Kumaratunga's ruling People's Alliance won by taking 30 of 52 seats at stake. The ruling coalition says there were sporadic incidents of violence but has rejected claims of widespread rigging. The spokesman said embassy officials were awaiting final reports of observers like the Centre for Monitoring of Election Violence and People's Action for Free and Fair Elections. 'We trust the responsible authorities will review these allegations and the observers' report and will take the necessary steps to ensure public confidence in the electoral process,' he said .Election monitors and the opposition have urged the elections commissioner to annul the vote, saying that a backdrop of violence did not provide the right climate for polling. The Supreme Court earlier this week ordered the elections commissioner to set dates and hold polls within three months for five other provincial councils, which were postponed last year on security concerns. Foreign Ministry denies report The Foreign Ministry yesterday denied news report in an English language newspaper on January 27 that Ambassadors of two Western countries had conveyed their concern to President Chandrika Kumaratunga over the violence and vote rigging during the North Western Provincial Council (NWPC) election. A press release states: 'The attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been drawn to a newspaper report on January 27 which states that diplomatic circles had conveyed their concern to President Kumaratunga over the violence and vote rigging during the North Western Provincial Council election. The report states that British and French diplomats had categorically expressed their concern. The Ministry wishes to make it clear that President Kumaratunga had received no such expressions of concern from diplomatic circles. On inquiry from the British and French Missions the Ministry has ascertained that neither of those Missions had expressed any such concern. Both Missions were surprised at the reference to them in the news report. Bar Association condemns violence at poll The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) while condemning all acts of violence during the recently concluded North Western Provincial Council Election (NWPC), has appealed to all political leaders and the relevant authorities to ensure that elections are conducted free of intimidation. The BASL executive committee in a resolution passed on Friday said: 'We view with grave concern the violence reported at the recently concluded North-Western Provincial Council Elections by whomsoever perpetrated. We condemns all acts of violence irrespective of those responsible for them. The executive committee of the Bar Association calls upon political leaders and the relevant authorities to ensure that elections are conducted properly without violence and intimidation and appeals that meaningful steps be taken to ensure that the voter could exercise his/her vote freely in a peaceful and proper atmosphere. The Bar Council unanimously endorses these views of the executive committee. Rajitha Senaratne files objections to
writ application Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, National List Member of Parliament of the UNP, has filed objection in the Court of Appeal, requesting the court to dismiss the writ application, filed by PA Member of Parliament for Badulla district, Mr. Dilan Perera. Mr. Perera has requested the Court of Appeal of disqualify Dr. Senaratne, from sitting and voting in Parliament, on the alleged grounds that Dr. Senaratne had entered into contract agreements with the State to supply dental curative material while being a sitting MP. The objections filed by Dr. Senaratne said that ex-facie, the petition does not disclose any disqualification under Article 91 (1) (e) of the Constitution. Article 91 (1) (e) of the Constitution does not create any disqualification by reason of the fact that the Parliament has not passed a law as required by such Article prescribing the contacts and/or the interests, which would attract the disqualification. The objections said that the petitioner is not entitled to have or maintain this application under any provision of the Constitution or any other law to seek to disqualify Dr. Senaratne. The case will be argued before the Court of Appeal on March 3. Mr. K. N. Choksy PC, with Mr. Ben Eliatamby PC, Mr. Ronald Perera, and Mrs. Kissan Wijetunga, instructed by Samararatne Asso-ciates, appeared for the first two respondents, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Mr. Gamini Athukorale (secretary general of the UNP), when the case was called before the Court of Appeal on January 28. Mr. Wijedasa Rajapakse appeared for the petitioner, Mr. Dilan Perera. The Bench on January 28 comprised, Justice H. S. Yapa and Justice Upali de Z. Gunewardene. Starr believes he can indict Clinton in office - report NEW YORK, Jan. 31 (Reuters) - Independent counsel Kenneth Starr has concluded he has the constitutional authority to seek a grand jury indictment of President Bill Clinton before he leaves the White House in January 2001, the New York Times reported Sunday. According to several of Starr's associates who spoke with the Times on the condition of anonymity, Starr and his prosecutors have actively considered whether to ask a federal grand jury in Washington to indict Clinton before his term expires. But the associates emphasised that Starr had not decided whether, or when, to ask the grand jury to charge Clinton with perjury and obstruction of justice in the Monica Lewinsky matter, the newspaper said. 'He is persuaded by precedent and logic that a sitting president can be indicted,' the Times said, quoting an unidentified associate who speaks frequently with Starr. 'But he has given no hint about whether he would do it, either now, or sometime down the road.' The Times said that before Starr took such unprecedented action, he would no doubt be guided by such factors as the impact that an indictment of a President would have on the nation and the government. Although most constitutional scholars say a sitting President can be indicted, the majority who have written or spoken on the subject believe a trial would have to wait until the President left office. Starr's spokesman, Charles Bakaly, declined to discuss the matter. 'We will not discuss the plans of this office or the plans of the grand jury in any way, shape or form,' he told the Times. 'Muralitharan should not return to Australia' SYDNEY, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga said on Sunday controversial spinner Muttiah Muralitharan should not return to Australia as a result of the controversy surrounding his current appearances in the country. 'If I was Murali I would never come back to Australia,' Ranatunga was reported as saying in an interview on Australian television. 'The media has been really bad and the crowds have been really bad, jeering him whenever he bowls. 'This problem only seems to happen in Australia. He has bowled in front of umpires all over the world for nine years and nobody else has had a problem.' Muralitharan was called by Australian umpire Ross Emerson for throwing during a limited-overs match against England at the Adelaide Oval on January 23. Ranatunga's comments on Sunday followed similar statements earlier in the tour when he said adverse publicity over Muralitharan's bowling action and heckling by crowds could lead to the offspinner not returning. Emerson's decision to call Muralitharan led to Ranatunga leading his players off the Adelaide Oval in protest. Play was halted for about 12 minutes and a visibly angry Ranatunga and Emerson could be seen pointing fingers at each other. Ranatunga also pointed his finger at match referee Peter van der Merwe. Ranatunga was subsequently found guilty of misconduct last Thursday but escaped a ban when the International Cricket Council (ICC) handed him a suspended six game suspension. The decision drew criticism from some of Australia's most distinguished umpires. But Ranatunga did not shed any more light on the drama on Sunday. Tamil detenus linger in remand for long
periods Tamil prisoners continue to be detained in remand prisons for over 4 years without being produced before courts, the Nava Sama Samaja Party (NSSP) has complained to the President Chandrika Kumaratunga. Mr. V. Thirunavukkarasu, a politbureau member of the NSSP, in a letter to the President dated January 25, 1999, has drawn her attention to the plight of the Tamil detenus in remand prisons. The Tamil detainees in remand prisons are being held for varying periods extending over 4 years without being tried under law, it said. The letter referred to the plight of Tamil women detainees, some of them with their babies were being held in the remand prisons under 'appalling conditions'. Mr. Thirunavavukkarasu says his representations to Minister G.L. Peiris has not brought any results. Meanwhile, an official of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs said that the committee appointed to look into the demands of the prisoners has taken action to expedite their cases. The ministry official claimed that most of the Tamil prisoners were not detained for more than one year without being tried under the law as they can be produced before courts even under the Prevention of Terrorism Act. Mr.Thirunavukkarasu in his letter to the President states that the Tamil detainees in remand prisons have staged hunger strikes on numerous occasions to press their demand that they be either tried or released without delay, but to date the authorities have paid scant regard to this 'simple demand of theirs'. The Human Rights Commission and the Attorney General's Department assured them that they would take necessary action to fulfil the demands of 26 detenus of the Kalutara prison who protested atop the roof of the prison from December14-22, 1998. Referring to the recent protest by prisoners atop the roof of the Kalutrara Prisons, the official said that they are considering the demands of the prisoners who want their cases expedited. Mr. Thirunavukkarasu further stated in his letter that recently Minister Hema Ratnayaka visited the remand prisons and saw for herself the appalling conditions under which especially the Tamil women prisoners, some of them with their babies were being held. The Tamil women detainees bitterly complained to the Minister that they are not only being harassed by the Sinhala women prisoners but are also being sexually abused by them. 'On that occasion I addressed the Minister of Justice, Constitutional Affairs and National Integration to look into the whole question and take speedy remedial action but nothing has materialised', he complained. Request to register property plans and deeds KALUTARA: A request has been made by the public that their property plans be registered or else they may vanish following the death of their respective surveyors. Following the death of a surveyor, the client will not have any opportunity of obtaining a certified copy of the said plan from any institution. In the case of a plan prepared for a partition case by a surveyor, the same will remain even after the death of the surveyor as the original plan will be available at least in the case record. But the public has pointed out that in the case of a private plan drawn by a surveyor, a certified copy could be obtained only from the surveyor who prepared the document. Once the surveyor who prepared the private plan dies, the client will face a problem in obtaining a certified copy of it. In the case of deed being attested by a Notary Public, it is a requirement of the notary to prepare 3 copies of the said document of the said documents the first copy will remain with the notary, the second copy (duplicate) will remain at the Relevant Land Registry while the third copy after due registration will be handed over to the purchaser. When the original is lost or when a copy is wanted of a particular deed, copies could be obtained from the notary who attested the deed or from the particular land registry where the deed was registered. M. J. M. Muzniey (attorney-at-law) Kalutara, and ex-chairman UC Kalutara said that the lack of proper arrangements to preserve or register a private plan in any institution has caused a hardship to land owners. There are instances where the original plan is lost or copies wanted for so many matters, but the land owner is unable to obtain a copy of a plan. Therefore it is incumbent that some action be taken to safeguard the interest of the public. At least the authorities issuing licences to the surveyors shall call for registration of the plan prepared by them in some department and preserve copies for the convenience of the public. Rotary Foundation institutes fund for
children’s welfare The Rotary Foundation together with the Board of Trustees of Rotary International has instituted a fund for US$ 20,000 million for Children’s Opportunity Grants, and Sri Lanka hopes to draw from this fund for its projects to be carried out throughout this year in accordance with the emphasis given to the ‘upliftmnet of children", at the 8th Rotary district Conference which opened yesterday. Rotary District Governor, Rohan Hapugalle, speaking at a press conference said that the aim of the District Conference is mainly to review the progress of the Sri Lankan branch of the Rotary organization in the first half of the current Rotary year. He said that updating member information with regard to the Rotary International programmes and laying emphasis on growing district projects were among other important objectives of the conference. Mr. Hapugalle also stressed that questions of national importance would be raised at the Conference and discussed with the assistance of a panel drawn from both within and outside Rotary. He said that more than 1,300 Rotarians from 40 Rotary Clubs in the nine provinces of Sri Lanka are due to attend the Conference. Razik Zarook, District Conference Chairman, speaking to the press said that two days of technical sessions would be held at Hotel Oberoi starting today (30), where several panelists comprising those in business, industry and other professions would make presentations on various issues. These issues he explained, include the risks children face in a community, skills development and vocational training for children, new millennium professions and youth unemployment. The recently concluded Rotary Group Study Exchange experiences would be shared at the conference while awards would also be presented to the winners of the United Nations islandwide essay competition. Mario Grassi, Director, Rotary International, said that the Rotary Foundation acting as the "working hand" of Rotary International had been able to develop the fields of education, health and sanitation and in turn had been successful in uplifting communities all over the world. He said that through projects carried out by Rotary Clubs under humanitarian and educational causes, Rotary has, in the past, especially been able to promote the cause of education and health, which have been given priority in the Rotarian agenda as they are the most pressing needs of the hour. Sri Lanka has been polio-free for the past three years as a result of an immunization campaign of over US$100 million which was organized by the Rotary Club with the help of the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Red Cross, said Mr. Hapugalle speaking of the biggest contribution by the Rotary Club to the Sri Lankan community in the recent past. He added that the Rotary Club had even been able to immunize more than 70% of children in the Jaffna region. Other important issues which the Rotary Club of Sri Lanka have dealt with include the prevention of drug abuse and tuberculosis, he said. Amidst the crucial projects which the Rotary Club of Sri Lanka has taken on for this year are preventing and educating the public of water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera and hepatitis. Mr. Hapugalle said that the Rotary Club intends to prevent such diseases by providing drinking wells for rural communities, by facilitating large schools of Sri Lanka with water filters and constructing public toilets in the rural and urban areas. He said that the Club together with the Municipal Council of Colombo plans to launch low-cost housing projects in the new Rotary year. Promoting computer literacy by donation of computers to schools and the teaching of English to children in rural areas are projects that the Rotary Club is presently involved in, he stressed. Mr. Hapugalle said that a new project, the Rotary Community Corps, was begun by the Club to provide opportunities to villagers to contribute their resources and skills to uplift their communities. He said that plans were being made currently, to institute the first private Blood Bank in Sri Lanka through the aid of Rotary as well. Nine
Tigers killed Polonnaruwa : Troops attacked a group of LTTE rs killing nine cadres at Kayankerni in the Valachcheni police area 7.30 a.m. on Saturday police said. Troops had recovered five T56 assault rifles, two T81 rifles and two walkie talkies sources added. Security forces received information that an LTTE group was planning to attack a group of soldiers moving to a detachment. Having received the accurate bearings of LTTE movement, troops raided the area and launched an instant attack killing many of the ambush party, sources added. The bodies of the victims were subsequently handed over to International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in turn so that they would be handed over to LTTE they added. B’caloa citizens in peace march BATTICALOA — A peace march organised jointly by Sareeram organisation and the Sri Lanka National Forum was held yesterday (31) morning in Batticaloa town. This peace march participated by Christians, Muslim and Tamil citizens of Batticaloa numbering over 500 commenced at the Catholic Hall and was bound to Devanayagama Hall in Batticaloa. The participants in this peace march demanded that the north-east war to be halted and a solution found to the ethnic problem through discussions. Also that funds spent on importing arms be diverted to importing raw material required for the use of the citizens in Sri Lanka. Massive demo by Sangha, devotees KANDY: A massive demonstration inclusive of Sangha and devotees paraded the streets of Kandy yesterday (31) to praise the Kandy police for taking into custody over 130 head of cattle while being illicitly transported from Mahaweli area to the Western Province on Saturday morning. The demonstrators moved that the cattle be not released to the persons who were responsible for the transport of animals for slaughter. The over 130 head of cattle including nearly 40 buffaloes were taken into custody at a dawn raid conducted by the Vice Branch of the Kandy police. Fourteen men are held in this connection. The animals were being transported in lorries. The animals were being transported from Dehiattakandiya area, police said. 'There are signs of tea estates perishing in the 21st Century' BADULLA: 'Tea estates are likely to perish in the 21st Century as there are signs of it happening after the companies took them over. The directors are showing profits to the companies by squeezing the needs of workers who are the real strength of the plantations. The plantations will either be deserts or thick jungles and will destroy the earning of foreign exchange said C. Ratnayake, President of the Estate Staff and General Workers Union which had its head office in Badulla. S. Nocheeswaran, Badulla District Leader of the Union presided. Mr. Ratnayake also said that the managers, directors and certain trade unions are daily causing problems to the estate workers. What the estates should spend on estates are curtailed and taken to the Colombo offices. Tea plants are like Zambians without nutrition. The linerooms are withering. The future generation is deprived of schools. The pluckers only own one or two sarees and the men have to borrow clothes for functions or to visit the town. The sweepers are cut off. The creche attendants have been dropped while the cattle keepers have been sacked. The trees are cut every where to feed the factories. The workers haven't received their ten percent profit as promised by the companies before the take over. The staffs have not been paid their incentive bonus. Estate hospitals don't have the essential drugs. The maternity wards are closed and the pharmacists work as doctors. 'Violation of democratic rights is nothing new to our country' AVISSAWELLA: The violation of democratic rights is nothing new in the history of elections in our country. It prevailed even at the first election held in 1948. But they were not so grave as today. Violence, intimidation and destruction to public property were committed by the supporters of candidates who seek election said Leelaratne Wijesingha a former Chairman of Seetavakapura UC in evidence at the citizens commission on elections held at the Avissawella town hall. The commission comprised Jimmy Marambe (Attorney-at-law) (Chairman), D. P. Wettasingha and Mrs. Padmini Perera (Attorney-at-Law). The settings of the commission was organised by the Seetavaka Community Development Council. Mr. Wijesinghe further said that the preferential voting system encouraged candidates of the same party to fight each other thus paving the way for violence, intimidation and violation of human rights which resulted in spending large sums of money on election campaign. Today no candidate is interested in social service. Their interest is to make money. The preferential voting system should be abolished. K. A. Piyabandu a retired Courts Registrar said that terror and abuse reached a climax after 1977. Their was done under a contract system. No one came forward for elections in order to serve the country. This motive was to make money. Both the principal parties behave in the same manner. They resort to thuggery to capture power. He said that an educational qualifications are a must for candidates. This has to be determined by the election law. Today only a rich person can come forward for elections. The provincial councils should be abolished as they are of no use to the country. The preferential voting system too has to be abolished. Mrs. W. Munasinghe in evidence stressed on the need for educational qualifications for candidates. K. A. Somaratna and several others also gave evidence. |
|
 |
|