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Muslim Congress will not run on PA ticket at future PC polls
Ashraff condemns NWPC elections as a sham
Minister urges national unity

By Franklin R. Satyapalan
Ports Minister M.H.M. Ashraff condemned last week’s Wayamba Provincial Council election as a "sham" and said that it had caused serious problems between the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) which he leads and President Chandrika Kumaratunga’s SLFP.

M.H.M. Ashraff
M.H.M. Ashraff		 Ashraff who said that he was happy in the circumstances that none of his party candidates have been returned to the NWPC - the SLMC fielded four candidates - wryly commented "we had to face still opposition from the SLFP and not the UNP."

The SLMC originally announced that it would run for the NWPC elections on its own steam and not on the PA list. But following tremendous pressure exerted on him by the SLFP leadership, Ashraff agreed to run under the PA’s colours.

Looking back, he said in an interview: "From the very beginning we feared that there would be many conspiracies to defeat the SLMC. That has come to pass." The minister said that he is convinced that had they run on their own steam, they would have comfortably won at least one seat in each of the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts.

The minister was firm in his position that the SLMC will not run at any future provincial council elections under the PA banner. Five more PC elections must be held within the next three months.

Ashraff said that the president’s responses to what had happened was proof that she, as head of government, was not a party to the ugly events. But she is responsible and answerable to the people and the country.

"We of the SLMC believe that the important thing is to protect the credibility of the president more than that of the PA and the government internationally. Right now, it is unfortunate that her credibility has been brought into question. We are confident that she will take positive action against those responsible for the rigging and prove that she is not party to such shameful conduct," he said.

The minister who called for a new political culture as greed for political power had divided the people at every turn said that the National Unity Alliance he is sponsoring is the answer to the problem. Ashraff who opened the offices of the National Unity Trade Union near gate no. 4 of the Colombo port last week said that he was not thinking of a national government.

What he would like to see are changes in political institutions and state structures that would promote national unity. Experience of the last 50 years has shown that the existing Westminster model had divided the people. These divisions were becoming increasingly acute.

"It is not possible to bring about unity of the people in the present set-up. Therefore I strongly feel that we have to change political institutions and the structure of the state to bring about national unity," he said.

He said that the problem was that the winners of an election exclude the other side in the dispensation of state benefits so that the government is run only for some of the people and not all the people. In parliament too there is no constructive role that opposition MPs can play. They don’t share and enjoy executive powers.

"Whatever we do at grassroots level, this is the major problem. When leaders are divided, the people too will be divided. We should ensure that all elected MPs enjoy executive power as in the executive committee system under the Donoughmore Constitution when the MPs participated in nation building and not in tearing each other down," the minister said.

He said the need to give the younger generation right values while they are at school. Otherwise democracy will be in peril. "It is already in peril," he commented.

Ashraff expressed confidence that while "those who are in a hurry might not join us, but those who are willing to work on a long term plan without any personal expectations will certainly join." He hoped that by the end of this year, his National Unity Alliance would have a large membership.

They have been reaching out to the clergy and the reactions of the Buddhist priests he had met were positive, he said. Similarly, they will be reaching out to the clergy in other religions.

Supreme Court clips wings of all-powerful Sri Lanka presidency

by Amal Jayasinghe
COLOMBO - A landmark judgement that limits powers of the Sri Lankan president, the world’s most constitutionally powerful leader, will set a precedence for nations grappling with human rights issues, analysts said Thursday.

The Supreme Court, in a historic 21-page judgement Wednesday, censured President Chandrika Kumaratunga for using a nationwide state of emergency to cancel elections called in August last year.

For the first time, the judiciary defined limits on the all powerful executive presidency and made it clear that officials who carry out wrong executive orders will not have immunity enjoyed by the head of state.

Under the 1978 Constitution, the president is above the law and if US President Bill Clinton had to work under a Sri Lankan constitution, he could not be tried for perjury or sexual misconduct.

Legal experts said the three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice G. P. S. de Silva has also recognised the vote as a fundamental right of free expression guaranteed by the constitution.

For the first time since the introduction of Universal Adult Franchise in Sri Lanka in 1931, the right to vote is equated to freedom of expression by the latest Supreme Court ruling.

Constitutional lawyers said the ruling could be cited by activitists abroad to strengthen voting rights in their countries and used in cases challenging disruptions to electoral processes. "This judgement will have repercussions not only in Sri Lanka but in other countries as well," Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said. This may be cited in court cases abroad. This is historic." Wickremesinghe, who is also a lawyer, said the Supreme Court ruling has set limits on the executive presidency, which the ruling People’s Alliance vowed to scrap before coming to power in 1994.

However, the ruling party has continued with the presidency, which was enacted in line with a constitution that draw elements from the French, British and US systems of government.

Government Minister declined to comment on the ruling.

The court censured both the President and Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake for putting off the August 28 election using the cover of a state of emergency, and ordered fresh polls within three months.

The judges said Kumaratunga’s order in August cancelling the elections was "arbitrary and unreasonable."

They made it clear that officials could not carry out wrong presidential orders with impunity and said presidential immunity did not transform an "unlawful act into a lawful one."

The ruling also defined limits of presidential immunity. "Immunity endures only while any person holds office as president... It would be anomalous in the extreme if immunity for private acts were to continue."

The judges also held that casting a vote was no less an exercise of the freedom of speech and expression than the most eloquent speech from a political platform.

"To hold otherwise is to undermine the very foundations of the constitution," the judgement said, adding that the delay of the five council elections violated the people’s fundamental rights of free expression. The state was also ordered to pay 30,000 rupees (440 dollars) legal costs to two members of a media organisation who petitioned the court over the indefinite suspension of elections. (AFP)

New PC poll dates soon says Department

A Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Elections said that the "Department would shortly gazette the dates on which elections are to be held". Asked whether the elections would be held on a staggered basis or on the same day, he said that this too had not been determined as yet. "We will publish the dates shortly," he said. However, asked to give a narrower definition of the term "shortly", that is whether it would be in a week or in a fortnight etc, he replied that the press would be notified once a date was set. In any event the Elections Commissioner would have to hold the election within three months as stipulated by a decision given by the Supreme Court last week on the postponement of elections under provisions of the emergency law. The Commissioner in terms of the judgement too came under criticism for the postponement of the election. Meanwhile in the aftermath of the North Western Provincial Council elections, the UNP is calling for polls in other provinces on the same day, and has threatened to boycott elections if they are held on a staggered basis. Religious leaders, civic organisations and even the election monitors themselves have called for the cancellation of the election. However, the Elections Commissioner having consulted the political parties that contested the Northwestern Provincial Council election announced the results. 47,290 votes were cancelled by the Commissioner.

The Deputy Commissioner, asked if there had been genuine votes among those that had been rejected, said that the votes that had been annulled were those that had been identified by the officers at the polling stations to be non-genuine ones. "No genuine votes were rejected," he said.

Unpaid £330 bill

There are blue-eyed boys and the hoi poloi at Lake House, it seems, judging from a little matter of an unpaid bill of pounds 329 and pence 70 sterling an ANCL journalist had left behind at a hotel called the Thain Inn, at Fountain Bridge, Edinburgh who, bless them, trusts that their guests have enjoyed their visit.

That has led to some exchange of correspondence between the Sri Lanka High Commission in London and the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Media. In November last year, the ministry wrote to Lake House forwarding a letter from the minister (political) at the London High Commission saying that "the hotel bill has still not been settled."

The Lake House boss was directed to settle the bill and take necessary action to recover the sum from the journalist concerned. Subsequently, there had been a telephone conversation between ANCL Chairman Aloy Ratnayake and Ministry Secretary K. C. Logeswaran and another letter asking ANCL to "please be kind enough to settle the bill" and recover the amount from the journalist.

Little Boy Blue had been well treated. He will pay the princely sum of Rs. 500 a month until the Rs. 37,213.23 at Dec. 1 rate of conversion is recovered! But lawyer Aloy, Lake House sources tell us, has included a caveat that if the man goes before the five years it will take to pay the bill in full, the balance must be recovered from money lying to his credit in his final account.

Interest free loan on very easy terms, what? Labourers, no doubt, are worthy of their hire.

Former JEDB chief’s estate attacked

Former JEDB Chairman Pemsit Seneviratne has complained to the Dummalasuriya police and to the SSP Kuliyapitiya that his Thenandaluwa Estate at Weerakodiyana in Dummalasuriya has been attacked at about 1 a.m. while the curfew was in force in a post-election incident. Considerable damage to property done by the gang who entered the property in a double cab.

Mr. Seneviratne said that he assisted the UNP at the NWPC elections. After the results, about 20 persons in the double cab had entered his property, damaged a security hut and security lights along the drive way, beaten his watcher, gone up to the bungalow/office and intimidated the elderly caretaker and his wife who had been chased off the premises.

While the jeering mob was at work, a 2-wheel tractor had driven in, loaded about 450 coconuts and driven off.

Before the election, tyres had been burned outside his gate. His staff had not been able to get the number, if any, on the double cab. He was not aware whether the gang carried firearms.

Police are inquiring.

The Dummalasuriya OIC said that they had only a complaint of coconut theft.

Tigers exploit Wayamba fiddle

The Voice of Tigers radio stations, commenting on the Wayamba Provincial Council election, has asked the pointed question: If the Sinhalese people in the Sinhala nation cannot get fair treatment from the Sri Lanka government, it is clear that Tamils would never be treated fairly.

Accusing the government of using armed might to grab power in the NWP, it said that the people of the north should stand up to the continuing efforts to do likewise in their areas.

This broadcast said that the LTTE would take up this issue internationally.

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New medical school snagged?

The new international medical school planned for Colombo in collaboration with the University of Aberdeen is unlikely to take off according to well-informed sources.

Although the Board of Investment had originally given the green light to this project, with the degrees being conferred by Aberdeen, there have been subsequent developments. Medical students here and other interests have mounted strong opposition.

The result, these sources indicated, is a change of heart and there will be no permission to implement the project.

The North Colombo Medical College (NCMC), also sponsored by the private sector, was absorbed by the Kelaniya University following similar protests.

Island Capers
The polite brush off

A television crew from a state-owned station was politely fobbed off by Ports and Shipping Minister M.H.M. Ashraff when they called at his home to get a post-election statement. The ITN czars, perhaps, were blissfully ignorant that none of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress candidates had collected enough preferences to enter the NWPC on the PA list.

SLMC leader Ashraff may well be ruing the day he allowed himself to be persuaded to run on the PA list instead of going it alone under his own party colours. (FRS)

Involuntary removal of persons
75 cases filed in High Court against persons responsible

The Attorney General’s Department has filed 75 cases in High Court against persons responsible for causing involuntary removal of persons during 1988-1990. Most of those charged are policemen including Douglas Peiris who had fled the country. Several army men and civilians too have been charged, a Presidential Secretariat news release stated.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had appointed several Presidential Commissions to inquire into the cases of involuntary removal of persons across the country during the height of terror.

A special unit in the AG’s Department had been established to consider the Institution of Criminal Proceedings against persons in respect of whom findings have been made by these commissions of inquiry and to prosecute the relevant accused. The department has also instituted action in Magistrate’s Courts in relation to 45 cases, it said.

Second Rupavahini channel soon

Rupavahini is almost ready to launch a second channel telecasting in all three languages and the technical work and testing is now going on. Highly placed station sources confirmed that an announcement is imminent - perhaps in the next two weeks or so.

"We must finish everything that must be done before we make announcements," he said.

Underworld gangster stabbed to death

by Kalinga K. A. Weerakkody
A man described by police as an underworld gangster was stabbed to death by an unknown group on Thursday at Meetotamulla road in Wellampitiya.

The victim is believed to be an associate of several underworld figures involved in several killings in Pettah and Wellampitiya areas. He is also suggested to have operated as a heroin distribution in Maligawatta area, according to police.

When the gang stormed the boutique where the victim was staying, he had started to run. They had pursued him and stabbed him to death, police said.

The victim had been identified as Inguruwatte Liyanage Nawaratna or ‘Podi Saman’. He died after admission to the accident ward in Colombo National Hospital.

No suspects have been arrested so far in this connection. Wellampitiya police are investigating.

Diyawanna reservation in danger: illegal land filling goes on

by Harini Dias Bandaranayake
It has been nearly six months since the residents of Sri Jayewardenepura-Kotte, living in close proximity to 1,000 perches of government acquired land, of the Diyawanna reservation, complained of unlawful land filling going on in the vicinity, but either they have fallen on deaf ears or the system is slow in taking the necessary action.

The extent of land in question involves one acre, two roods and 26.66 perches, according to an estimate carried out by a resident organization also affected by the filling. This extent of land, was purportedly approved by the Mayor of the Sri Jayewardenepura-Kotte Urban Council for filling, blocking and sale.

The resident organization which together with other concerned residents has taken the initiative to force investigation into the matter, told "The Island", that the 29 allotments which were acquired by the government, is in total extent 14,798 hectares according to the plan prepared by the Surveyor-General situated in Pitakotte village within UC limits of Sri Jayewardenepura-Kotte, Divisional Secretary’s division, Colombo District. The spokesman also said that the state land under reference was marshy land.

It was revealed to "The Island" when speaking to a female resident of the area, that the acquisition which had been completed under the last regime, was primarily done with the purpose of flood prevention and water drainage; a project funded by the Japanese government. She said that in July of 1998, she had noticed filling taking place in the acquired land. She had informed the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC) of the matter and had also reported it to the Mirihana Police. But, she said, responses and explanations were delayed.

In August, the resident had made an entry to the Police, which the Police confirmed when contacted. She said that the SLLRDC had then confirmed that ten perches had been released by the Mayor and she, satisfied that the land was not being illegally tampered with, rested her complaints.

Godwin Withane, Chairman, SLLRDC, told "The Island" that the Mayor, rightfully using his authority, had approved an extent of 10 perches under "land sub-division", which makes provision for the selling of that portion of land. But, he stressed, not only was this approval subject only to the specified 10 perches, but also that in order to fill acquired land, one should receive approval from SLLRDC, which he further explained, the persons involved in the unlawful landfilling had not received.

The female resident "The Island" spoke to said that inspite of repeated warnings, the filling continued to exceed 100 perches. She added that the filling mostly occurred during weekends. The resident said that she had then made a second entry at the Police station. The Managing Director of the Sri Lanka Road Development Authority (SLRDA), too, had complained, she said.

When a second series of complaints had been made, the resident claimed, the SLLRDC had informed her that they were "moving on the matter". Mr. Withane had also confided to the resident of the Mayor’s approval and had further explained that the matter had to be dealt within the law and in accordance with systematic procedure. Despite numerous efforts by "The Island", the Mayor was unavailable for comment.

"During the Thai Pongal weekend, the filling continued at a rapid rate" the resident explained, saying that she as well as other residents of the area had witnessed approximately 300 truck loads of earth utilized for the filling transported to the site in a single day. This turn of events, she said, led her to write a letter to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, with the intention of drawing his attention. In spite of this course of action, the filling continued, the resident said.

Many residents claim that the hazardous consequences of the land filling include the blocking of a crucial canal, which carries a large amount of drainage water from the Colombo area. They said that as a result of the filling and the short spells of rain the area experienced during the past month, the rising levels of drain water have spilt over and flooded the surrounding houses. They said that it is mostly the poorer folk of the area who have been affected by this.

Even though, three drains are connected from Pagoda Road to Kotte, two of them are congested at present and therefore the volume of water of all three drains depend on flowing through a single drain, the female resident said. She said that even the peaceful surroundings of the reservation which has served as a bird sanctuary, is being disturbed due to the filling.

In addition to bearing all these serious hazards, the residents of the area claim they have to bear in mind that when filling is completed, the retention area would be isolated from the rest of the reservation. The residents argue that the objective of flood retention would be then lost. "When I wanted to build a house on my own land, which is excluded from the acquired land, the authorities claimed that they couldn’t approve it until certain requirements were met with" one resident said. She added that some have not even been compensated for the acquisition.

"Is the practice of setting one set of policies for some and yet another for others, the order of the day?", she argued. She said that this was a "protest on principle".

After relentless complaints, the residents of the area found consolation when the OIC of the Mirihana Police held an inquiry at the station on January 20, a spokesman for the resident organization said. The person alleged to be responsible for the filling, a security personnel of the Mayor as well as an owner of a liquor bar in the vicinity had been questioned.

The alleged perpetrators had only then produced the said document of approval by the Mayor as proof of authorization for the continuance of filling, the spokesman said.

The person alleged to be illegally filling the land, who was also an owner prior to the acquisition, had been addressed a letter on January 14 by the Chairman, SLLRDC, warning him to stop the filling with immediate, the spokesman told "The Island".

He said that his organization had also forwarded a letter to the Chairman of the Urban Development Authority at Battaramulla, requesting immediate action to be taken in this regard.

The female resident, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that inspite of the incessant pleas and requests made to the authorities in connection with the acquired land, no official had even attempted to inspect the area. Mr. Withane of the SLLRDC said that an official had been sent for inspection of the cutting of a canal on January 27 , which was recently begun through the SLLRDC in the Diyawanna reservation. He said that the alleged perpetrator had ordered the work to be stopped on Wednesday (27), by threat of rifle fire.

The spokesman for the resident organization said that nearly 250 perches of the land had been filled, houses were being constructed and even the intention of selling the land had been propagated by the alleged perpetrator.

Mr. Withane told "The Island" that though it is too soon to clarify, action was being slowly but surely taken in order for justice to prevail. Until then, the fate of the residents of the area is yet to be determined....

PAFFREL response to govt. accusations

Senior politicians of the ruling party have directed various accusations against the non-governmental organisations, which have monitored the Wayamba elections. They are accused of issuing the reports which are politically biased, of working in collusion with the main opposition party, the UNP, to discredit the PA and having been financed by the UNP and foreign sources which have influenced the reporting. While some of these specifically refer to the Committee for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) many of the accusations have also included PAFFREL (People’s Action for Free and Fair elections) and MFFE (the Movement for Free and Fair Elections).

As the Chairman of PAFFREL, I consider it my duty to the public to issue a brief statement, which provides the salient facts concerning the organisation. PAFFREL was formed in 1988 by a group of concerned citizens and several non-governmental organisations for the purpose of motivating citizens to exercise their vote and protect their democratic rights in the face of the widespread violence and efforts to subvert the Presidential Elections of 1988. Since then PAFFREL has been monitoring all the Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial and Local Government elections that have been held in Sri Lanka in collaboration with other organisations. Since 1994, PAFFREL has worked jointly with MFFE and shared the responsibility for monitoring elections. CMEV and PAFFREL have exchanged information they gather on election violence and have co-operated in monitoring the elections.

In 1988 when PAFFREL began working, it was accepted by all the Parliamentary parties as a civic organisation engaged in a legitimate and worthwhile task. The opposition parties welcomed the initiative; the ruling party at the time, although lukewarm in the reception it accorded PAFFREL, respected its constitutional right of association and did not obstruct its work. At all elections, the Elections Commissioner and the Police Department have enabled PAFFREL to perform its functions effectively during elections. The PA was fully co-operative during the 1994 Presidential and General Elections.

PAFFREL has not had access to any large source of funding for financing the monitoring of elections. It has had to depend entirely on the voluntary services of the individuals who founded the institution and the non-governmental organisations that participated in its activities. The latter included the Citizens’ Committee for National Harmony, Marga Institute, Sarvodaya, the YMMA, Centre for Society and Religion and a host of other voluntary grassroots organisations. These organisations have pooled the resources available to them. They have provided the vehicles and the voluntary services for the monitoring of elections and met the cost of some items of expenditure. PAFFREL has also received financial contributions from its own members to meet shortfalls. PAFFREL has therefore functioned as an association of civic organisations and concerned citizens forming a network that extends from the urban centres to the village level. On the issue of financing, PAFFREL believes that it must mobilise local resources and be as self-reliant as possible. In principle, it dos not however exclude funds from foreign sources which are committed to democratic values and are ready to assist in activities that are directed at strengthening democratic institutions in Sri Lanka. PAFFREL is quite confident that such funding where it has been available as in the case of PAFFREL’s partner organisations have not compromised the integrity of these organisations or of PAFFREL.

In carrying out its monitoring activities PAFFREL deploys people who have been selected for their unequivocal commitment to impartial observation and reporting. All monitors are given an orientation and are fully instructed on what should be observed and monitored and how the exercise should be carried out. They all make a pledge to carry out their duties without any partisan bias whatsoever. PAFFREL and MFFE have carried out intensive self-appraisals during and after elections to ensure that its reports are both impartial and reliable. As far as is possible reports that are received from various sources such as political parties are verified on the ground.

On all occasions when PAFFREL has undertaken the monitoring of elections it has sought meetings with the leaders of all the contesting parties. Except for a few occasions, PAFFREL has been able to meet them. As a matter of policy PAFFREL keeps the press informed of its activities. It does this through the issue of situation reports during election campaigns and the reports following the election. It holds press conferences and is ready to answer all questions addressed to them by any section of the media regardless of their party affiliations.

From past experience PAFFREL has been satisfied that the monitors it deployed have demonstrated the necessary degree of impartiality and reliability. It should be noted that the role of PAFFREL is that of an impartial witness. It brings its testimony before the public. It does not have the capacity or the resources to come to conclusive judgements on every incident it reports in the manner of a court which hears evidence based on police investigations. Civic organisations can only act in good faith and provide to the public and the authorities concerned the information it received which it considers reliable.

We are deeply saddened by the response that has been made by several senior politicians to our efforts to strengthen the democratic process in Sri Lanka. We have believed that the government is committed to an agenda which seeks to eliminate political violence and create an environment in which people can freely and fairly choose their elected representatives. We have also believed that in this agenda the government and political parties gave an important place to civil society.

"The baseless accusations that have been made deflect attention from the central task before the political parties and their leaders - that of examining how these ugly incidents could have occurred and taking the necessary remedial action. The experience of the Wayamba elections has been a sobering lesson and provides an opportunity to both parties for a genuine self appraisal which will enable them to come together to reform the system," he said.

We told you so, says MEP

The flagrant violation of election laws, the disruption of polls at polling centres, loss of life, physical assaults, intimidation, vote rigging, which characterized the NWP provincial elections undermining the electoral process should be unequivocally condemned by all law abiding citizens of Sri Lanka, MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena said in a statement condemning the NWP polls as "undemocratic".

"In this regard the MEP wishes to recall the fervent appeal made by the party before nominations and immediately before the NWP polls expressing grave concern about the possible inroads on the democratic electoral process. At this juncture it would be pertinent to note that the MEP called upon all political parties to demand from and force the PA Govt. to hold elections on the same day in respect of the five Provincial Councils where nominations had been called long prior to the nominations for the NWP Provincial Council.

"In our last appeal on the eve of the NWP polls we alerted the country to the sad spectacle of the hapless situation in which Commissioner of Elections and his officials, the police and other law enforcing officers of the state had been placed in. Our fears have been completely proved in the conduct of the NWP polls.

"It is tragic to note that the political sovereign, namely the voter has been deprived of his right to exercise his free vote by armed groups under patronage of ruling VIP’s.

"These observations have been confirmed by all monitoring agencies monitoring NWP election and further affirmed by the action of Elections Commissioner when he cancelled the vote in certain voting centres.

"Therefore the MEP categorically states that the foregoing matters seriously reflect on the validity of the NWP polls," Gunawardena said.

British visa office here wins award

The Consular and Visa Section of the British High Commission in Colombo has become the first overseas winner of a Charter Mark award for excellent public service. Mr. Nick Pyle, the Head of the Section and Mrs. Christina Samuel, a Sri Lankan colleague, were presented with their award at an awards ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth ii Conference Centre in London on 26 January, a British High Commission news release said.

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Symons said:

"I am delighted that the hard work of our staff in Colombo has been rewarded. Their success is well deserved.

"I attach the highest importance to the work of our Consular and Visa sections in all our embassies around the world. This success by our High Commission in Colombo highlights our desire to ensure the service we provide is of the highest quality. I hope it is the first of many Charter Mark awards for our posts overseas."

British High Commissioner David Tatham added:

"All of us at the High Commission are delighted with this award and very proud of our Visa and Consular Sections. It is no easy task to deliver a top quality service to the public and at the same time to prevent illegal immigration into Britain. But I believe our staff achieve this objective and I congratulate them."

The High Commission explained in a news release that:

The Consular and Visa section looks after the interests of British nationals when they are in Sri Lanka, and issues visas to foreign nationals who wish to visit Britain.

Charter Mark Assessors considered that, among other things, the high level of user satisfaction, courtesy of staff, value for money and consistent improvement to services merited a Charter Mark.

Charter Mark is the British Government’s award for excellent public service. Judging criteria were even tougher this year and standards higher.

Charter Mark is all about public services listening and responding to their users. The White Paper on modernising government, which will be published in the spring, will set out the British Government’s plans for driving up standards and better ways of working in the public sector.

Fowzie’s message to mark opening of UAE embassy

Minister of Transport and Highways Minister A. H. M. Fowzie in a message to mark the opening up an United Arab Emirate Embassy in Sri Lanka says it’s great privilege to welcome His Excellency Abdulla Mohammed Al Takawi Charge D’Affairs for UAE Embassy in Colombo who is scheduled to assume office very soon as the first diplomatic representative in Sri Lanka for the UAE.

The establishment of the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Colombo is of great importance to this country, since close ties have existed between our two peoples for many years. These ties I am sure will be further strengthened under the inspired leadership of President Kumaratunga.

The establishment of an U.A.E. Embassy in Colombo was the sincere desire of the people of our country especially to those seeking employment opportunities in the region. I am grateful to the Government of the U.A.E. for taking this step which will undoubtedly further strengthen ties between our two countries," he added.

Ven. Dr. Vajiragnana Thera conducts day long discussion on Buddhism at Franciscan Study Centre

From Sujeeva Nivunhella is London
Venerable Dr. Medagama Vajiragnana Chief Sangha Nayake of Great Britain recently conducted a whole day programme introducing Buddhism to a gathering of Christian Faith, mostly clergy, at the Franciscan Study Centre in Canterbury, organised by Canterbury Diocesan Spirituality Group.

The programme included introduction to Buddhism, dhamma talks, dhamma discussion, meditation theory and practice and a period of general discussion.

Opening the proceedings Dr. Vajiragnana said, "The inherent strength of Buddhism is to bring peace to both to the individual and society. An individual with a peaceful mind can extend compassion and loving-kindness to others. But to attain that peace, the individual need not look for any outside authority other than himself."

He further said that the Buddha taught, encouraged and stimulated each person to cultivate oneself and work out for one’s own emancipation, for ‘Man’ has the power to liberate himself from all bondage through his own personal efforts and intelligence. The Buddha discovered and showed the path to liberation. He declared that he is the pathfinder and it is left for us to tread on the correct path for the attainment of liberation what we call Enlightenment.

On this principle of individual responsibility, the Buddha allowed complete freedom of thought and action a tolerance unheard of in the history of many other religions. This freedom is necessary because, according to the Buddha man’s emancipation depends on his own realisation of truth; not on anything else. It is to the credit of Buddhism that in this way it recognised man’s right to freedom of thought and expression some twenty-five centuries before the declaration of human rights in modern times.

The Buddha was very friendly with all the other religious teachers of his day, and he even visited them from time to time. He did not reject them nor he became unfriendly towards them. He showed that Buddhist could meet and cooperate with followers of other religions on matters of spiritual, moral, social and economic importance. There are; however, two areas of doctrine about which they cannot compromise. The first is the idea of a creator God, and the second is the idea of an eternal soul, both of which have no place in the teaching of the Buddha, he concluded.

After the programme the organiser of the event The Rev. Dr. Michael Hinton thanked Dr. Vajiragnana and he said that he had very seldom seen an audience so still and intent. He also said that Dr. Vajiragnana had clearly expressed in what ways Christianity and Buddhism share ideas and in what ways the ideas are different and they learned lessons in both respects. He further said that the great religions should have nothing to fear from each other; and that they can gain much from each other.

The other participants also expressed their gratitude to Dr. Vagiragnana.

New British High Commissioner

Miss Linda Duffield has been appointed British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka in succession to Mr. David Tatham CMG, who will be retiring from the Diplomatic Service, British High Commission announced.

Linda Duffield was born on 18 April, 1953. She joined the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1987, and held the post of First Secretary (Commercial) in Moscow from 1989 to 1992.She worked in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Eastern Department from 1993-1995, and since 1995 has been British Deputy High Commissioner in Ottawa.

David Tatham will cease work at Easter. Linda Duffield is expected to take up her new appointment in mid-May, the High Commission said in a Press release.

Death of Hilton executive, a tragic loss

Singapore January 29, 1999 Hilton International Asia Pacific today announced the tragic loss of

Gamini Fernando, General Manager and Division Director for Sri Lanka, Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Pakistan

"We are deeply grieved at the sudden and tragic death of Mr. Fernando, 51, who left us yesterday after two decades of outstanding contributions to Hilton International," says President of Hilton International Asia Pacific, Mr. Koos Klein.

Fernando has an excellent track record in the management of Hilton International properties in South Asia. Friendly by nature, he was well-known by the international and local community in Sri Lanka and had established a strong relationship with both our corporate clients and the staff.

Mr. Fernando has been noted throughout his lifetime as a dedicated, optimistic and creative professional and has contributed greatly to the Hilton business expansion in that area.

Mr. Klein said that Mr. Fernando has earned a number of awards for the Hilton Colombo and the staff had continuously been highly praised for their excellent and professional service.

Mr. Fernando, a Sri Lankan national, held a Diploma from the Institute of Tourism & Hotel Management Bad Hafgastein, Germany. Prior to joining Hilton International in 1977, he was with the Inter-Continental chain of hotels in Sri Lanka and Germany.

He has worked with Hilton hotels in Egypt, Abu Dhabi, Cairo, Cyprus, Greece, and Ethiopia before returning to his homeland Sri Lanka.

The R. Premadasa Memorial Fund for Poverty Alleviation recently donated Rs.100,000 worth of huts, chairs, generators and lighting equipment to people living within the Hambantota urban council and pradheshiya sabha areas. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Mr. Sajith Premadasa are pictured here on this occasion.

Dehiwela Zoo enhances collection and frees excesses to the wild

By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya
Come April, there will be some exciting new arrivals at the Dehiwela Zoo which will add to its collection with a pair of orangutans, a species of monkey, half a dozen penguins and a hippopotamus, Zoo Director Senarath Gunasena said.

Gunasena also revealed that the Zoo has been helping the conservation effort by freeing some animals who could care for themselves in the wild at the Bundala National Park.

"Among the animals we released there were 4 crocodiles, 4 peacocks and a sea eagle’’, he said.

He said that it was not possible to monitor how these animals fare in the wild but they were confident that they can survive in the jungle.

Gunasena indicated that in the future, if they release rare or severely endangered species in the wild, they hoped to monitor the animals so released. But that is a long way down the road.

The 22-acre Dehiwela Zoo has a tradition of selling or exchanging excess animals from its collection to other Zoos. Sometimes such animals are released in the jungles here. That has not been attempted too often as only particular species can be safely so released.

The Zoo collection comprises exotic species of animals not found locally, animals that are found in our jungles and reptiles, crocodiles and birds, the director explained.

He said that "exotic’’ animals are not released to the wild even if the zoo has too many of them because they are not adaptable to local conditions. Some indigenous animals that have lived in captivity are also unsuitable for release due to problems of surviving in a natural habitat.

"When we have excess of this kind of animal, for example leopards and elephants, we sell them to foreign Zoos’’, the director said.

Gunasena also said that a problem the zoo contends with now is pilferage of animal food - specially meat.

"Although there have been only a few instances of such stealing, we deal with detected cases severely. Also, we mix the meat with cod liver oil before feeding it to the animals because it increases the nutritional value of the meat and also makes it less palatable to humans in case it is smuggled out and sold.’’

Gunasena stressed the need of Zoo visitors behaving properly and helping to preserve the pleasant atmosphere they have created. Littering the gardens and also harassing the animals by pelting them with various objects is frowned upon.

"There have been instances of animals even dying because of inconsiderate visitors’’, Gunasena said.

The Zoological Gardens will soon have a new aviary which is nearing completion intended specially for indigenous birds. The existing aviary is to be renovated to house foreign species.

"The penguins that will be coming soon will live in an open enclosure because we are getting a species that is more tropical’’, an official said.

There are two vets on the zoo staff to ensure the health of the collection. The official said that the life span of animals in the zoo is normally higher than in the wild due to regular feeding, veterinary care and the lack of predators.

The Zoo earned Rs.46 million last year from 1.2 million visitors.

Bishop of Chilaw at Grandpass church

Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando of Chilaw will be the chief celebrant at the 110th annual feast of the Espousal of St. Joseph at St. Joseph’s Church, Grandpass, by the Sodality of St. Joseph of the parish.

The organisers said that this feast had been celebrated since 1889 and the sodality has actively supported the development of the Grandpass Church with land, buildings etc.

The chief benefactors have been de Saram family, outstanding among them being late Chevalier J.E.M. de Saram, president of the sodality, whose son, Sunimal de Saram, is the present president.

Apart from supporting the church the sodality is also engaged in social activities, one of which is the monthly maintenance given to 9 poor school going children for their food, clothing and books, a news release from the sodality said.

National Joint Committee calls for president’s resignation

The National Joint Committee (NJC) in a statement on the lawlessness demonstrated in last week’s NWPC elections called upon President Chandrika Kumaratunga to resign from office as she has failed to protect and uphold the people’s rights under the constitution.

The NJC statement said that the free exercise of franchise was an essential part of the people’s sovereignty enshrined in the constitution. The people have lost confidence in the President’s ability or willingness to protect and uphold their constitutional rights and therefore they call upon her to resign.

The NJC said in a news release that from the day nominations were received for this election, numerous acts of lawlessness had been allowed to take place without any action by the law enforcement authorities.

This was demonstrated by the fact that vehicles without number plates were running freely in the province, women exercising their legitimate right to canvas votes were being stripped naked and forced to work on public roads and no action had been taken by the police on a large number of complaints of assault, intimidation and harassment.

On polling day, large numbers were deprived of their franchise by intimidation at polling booths and elsewhere, stuffing of ballot boxes, theft of ballot boxes and forcible expulsion of polling agents and staff from the booths.

The statement noted that preventing lawlessness and upholding the rule of law in the NWP was the primary responsibility of the President who was in immediate control of the law enforcing agents of the state. The people have lost confidence in her ability to protect and uphold their constitutional rights and she should therefore resign.

British Rotarians on month’s visit here

A 5-member team of British Rotarians are now in Sri Lanka on a month’s tour, visiting various Rotary Clubs here.

The visiting Rotarians from District 1030 Northumberland, England, are here under Rotary International’s Group Study Exchange. The team which is led by Mr. Peter Jewitt, a lawyer includes Carol Cairns (engineer), Simon Cavell (banker), Tim Robinson (priest) and Fiona White (graphic designer).

Wing Commander Noel Fernando, Chairman of Rotary’s Group Study Exchanges here said that the group will be visiting various Rotary Clubs including those in Colombo, Negombo, Anuradhapura, Matale, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Bandaranwela and Galle and will also participate at the Rotary District Conference to be held this weekend.

The visiting Rotarians were welcomed to Sri Lanka at the Katunayake International Airport by Wing Commander Fernando and Rotarian V. Nadarajah who led a team of Rotarians from here to Northumberland in October-November last year.

Feb. 15 deadline for best journalist entries

The Editors Guild of Sri Lanka has extended the deadline for entries for its Awards of Excellence (1998) scheme to February 15 in view of requests made by several contributors to newspapers, specially those overseas.

"There shall be no extension beyond that date’’, a news release from the Guild said.

The panel of judges who will select the winners comprise: Mr. Ranjit Wijewardene, President of the Newspaper Society of Sri Lanka; Mr. Hector Abhayawardana, Founder Editor of the Nation ; Mr. G.S. Perera, former Editor, Dinamina and former Member of the Press Council; Mr. S.T. Sivanayagam, former Editor of Dinapathi and Chintamani ; Mr.Edmund Ranasinghe, Editorial Director, Upali Newspapers Ltd. and Mr. Amal Jayasinghe (convenor), Chief of Bureau, Agence France-Presse, Colombo.

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