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Lead
"Nothing definite" she tells Asiaweek
Chandrika considering early presidential election

President Chandrika Kumaratunga has gone on record saying that she is considering an early presidential election, "but there is nothing definite."

Responding to a question on whether she would call an early presidential election in an interview with Asiaweek after the recent World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, the president is quoted as having replied: We are considering it - but there is nothing definite. I am very keen to bring in devolution (granting greater political power to the Tamil dominated parts of the country) and as the opposition is refusing to co-operate, we will have to use the people.

In the course of the same interview, the president had said that she was pleased with the Wayamba victory, "but not so pleased about the few incidents that took place." She had said that "we would have won that election anyway, though perhaps not in such large majorities."

The interview quoted the president saying: Some people took it upon themselves to do exactly what the last government did - they killed polling agents inside polling booths, attacked voters physically and chased some voters away. This (election) wasn't that bad, But it was bad enough. In fact I said don't count all the areas where there has reportedly been rigging. they haven't. And we still got these majorities. But whatever happened, it was wrong. I will ensure that it will not happen (again).

She had said in the interview that : If the Constitution prevents us from implementing the majority will of the people, then it is not valid any more as far as I am concerned. So we have to find a way of doing a constitutional revolution.

We have found a democratic way of circumventing this very immoral arrangement in the Constitution, which would mean we would have to have several elections to get the majority vote, and then do certain things to bring this (revolution) in.

There is a best moment for this type of thing. August 1995 was still our first year. By the first quarter of 1996 it would have gone through. We got fooled by the leader of the opposition, who gave the impression that he would support us. Still I think we can do it. We have the goodwill of the people.

Opposition parties in a bid to prevent Wayamba type incidents
Call for armed forces deployment on PC polls day

by Shamindra Ferdinando
The government is expected to explore the possibility of the deployment of armed forces in support of police, responsible for maintaining law and order in the Western, Uva, Sabaragamuwa, North Central and Central provinces on the day of the April 1 elections, political and security sources said. The UNP was among several other parties including some constituent members of the PA which have expressed their support for the deployment of armed forces in support of the police.

The police and the armed forces [in the event of their deployment] are expected to be given authority to open fire on unruly crowds, Sunday Island learns. Amidst security preparations, the government will order thousands of curfew passes to be distributed among police stations in the five provinces in the event of post-poll trouble.

A senior UNP MP yesterday said that the deployment of armed forces came up for discussion last Thursday [25] when the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe met the President to seek ways and means of having a free and fair election on April 1. A senior member of the UNP delegation taking part in Thursday's talks has pointed out that the armed forces were called in during local government polls in 1997.

A senior Elections Department official yesterday told The Island that armed forces had been deployed to back police during the UNP time. However, armed forces were not called in to support police when armed gangs went on rampage in the North Western Province during the January 25 poll.

Political sources said that there is nothing wrong in mounting some armed forces patrols and making arrangements for deployment if police fail to take control. The Elections Department has blamed the police department for the total breakdown of the law and order situation in the province on the day of the election. Well over 10,000 policemen deployed in the North Western province just watched when armed gangs west on rampage in some cases removing ballot boxes.

Asked whether the police was aware of the moves to deploy armed forces, a senior officer asked: "Why? Have they all lost their faith in us?"

He said that upto Friday there was no evidence to suggest that a decision has been taken to deploy armed forces on the election day.

The police believes that approximately 12,000 police are needed to bolster existing presence in the five provinces. Some officers privately admit that some presence of armed forces will help keep the unruly crowds off polling booths. "We don't want to lose ballot boxes again," one officer said, admitting that there was no alternative but to bring in troops at least in selected areas.

However, armed forces oppose any withdrawal of troops from operational areas for election related security. Both the armed forces and police have made massive commitments in the Wanni and the Jaffna peninsula. In August last year the defence top brass opposed withdrawal of police from operational areas particularly the Wanni for polls work. Proposed withdrawals did not take place when the polls were postponed on security grounds.

Elections chief calls for two urgent amendments

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake wants two urgent amendments to the law before the forthcoming provincial elections on April 1 to prevent some of the flagrant violations that had occurred recently, he said yesterday.

These relate to the display of election posters, banners, etc. and attacks on polling stations from where polling agents are chased out and ballot boxes stuffed.

"These are two matters which require immediate action. Other things relating to the maintenance of law and order during elections can be resolved through discussion", he said.

He stressed that it was important that there was strict enforcement of security of voters in and around polling stations. The minister in charge of the subject should give strict instructions to the IGP to direct his officers to ensure proper enforcement of rules and regulations.

Dissanayake explained that with regard to the display of posters, banners, etc., the law at present provides that police "may"" take suitable action. He wants this changed to the police "shall" take such action.

He said that local bodies should render all assistance in this regard. (FRS)

US-Lanka extradition treaty signed

Negotiations for a new extradition treaty between the United States and Sri Lanka were successfully concluded on February 24 at the US State Department in Washington. Dr. Warnasena Rasaputram signed on behalf of Sri Lanka while the Legal Adviser, US State Department David Andrews was the other signatory. Other members of the Sri Lanka delegation present at the signing were K. Kamalasabayson PC, Solicitor General and Dr. Rohan Perera, Legal Adviser, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The new treaty, which was first mooted by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamer in 1997, replaces the existing pre-independence treaty between the United States and Great Britain which was signed in London in December 1931, a Foreign Ministry news release stated.

The validity of that treaty was recently challenged in extradition proceedings in Sri Lanka, and even though the validity was upheld by the Supreme Court, the need for a new treaty for the reciprocal surrender of an offender, between the two countries was felt necessary, it added.

President calls on people to forget differences

From Walter Nanayakkara and Cyril Basnayake reporting from Talawa
President Chandrika Kumaratunga called upon the people to forget differences, political, religious or otherwise and commit their undiluted energies to the task of development to face the challenges of the new millennium.

Speaking at an official function marking the laying of the foundation stone for the proposed Rs.141 million Bandaranaike National Institute of Social Development in Talawa, in the Anuradhapura district on Friday evening she said "Let us forget politics and other differences and work in unison for the development of the country. The undiluted commitment of the people is an essential prerequisite in our march towards the new millennium, where we have to face new challenges."

In a speech free from the usual political venom of election time utterences, the President underscored the need to help the thousands of people who, due to natural causes or man made calamities, fall into the category of disabled persons.

"The war is one man-made calamity, which drives the able bodied bretheren into the class of disabled persons. Whatever the cause it is the duty of the state and the people to look after them" she said.

The President regretted the scant attention paid to social service in the past decades. "Politicians were more concerned about their own well being than that of others. So the social service sector did not change from the old concept of doling out assistance to the needy" she said.

"This sector is now receiving due attention. The Bandaranaike National Social Development Institutue will play a major role in the future in helping the disabled and the socially handicapped sections of the nation in a more modern way" the President said.

She said the Institute will confer degrees to students of social studies. The task was earlier performed by the school of Social Studies which conducted its functions in a rented out private building in Colombo with little fanfare. The Institute created under the Higher Education Act will now function in Talawa in the Anuradhapura district.

The President said her government, during the four and a half years in office had been able to raise the position of the country in the index of poor countries in the third world. Today Sri Lanka is one of the three richer countries among the poor nations, she added.

Speaker K. B. Ratnayake said that as Speaker of Parliament he was conventionally compelled to be impartial. Under normal ciurcumstances he would not attend political meetings of the party to which he belonged.

"But I would not hesitate to override this convention when it comes to matters connected with the well being of my own district of Anuradhapura" he said.

He said that he considered the proposal to construct the Institute of Social Development dedicated to S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike in Talawa, a gift of fortune for the people of the North Central Province and the Anuradhapura district.

Minister of Social Services Berty Premalal Dissanayake said the proposed Social Development Institute will prove to be an invaluable asset to the people of the Province.

He thanked the President and the Cabinet of Ministers for approving a Cabinet paper submitted by him for the upgrading of the school Social Service studies based in Colombo into an Insitutte which conferred degrees on social studies.

Head of the Atamasthana Ven. Pallegama Sirinivasa Thera delivered an anusanana.

Secretary to the Ministry of Social Services and Chairman of the Bandaranaike National Institute of Social Studies Amara Hewa Madduma proposed the vote of thanks.

The President drove off to the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura to take part in a series of religious activities prior to launching her month long election campaign in five provinces but the Press was not allowed to cover these events. Officials said that the President wanted no political gains from her religious activities.

Phantom informer is PM aspirant, says Anura

Mr. Anura Bandaranaike, MP, yesterday charged that "a person aspiring to be the next PM" was the "phantom informer" responsible for triggering the search of his Rosmead Place home which led to a 3-judge bench of the Supreme Court upholding that his fundamental rights had been infringed and awarding him damages against the state and three senior police officers.

In a statement on the judgement (he was away in India when it was delivered), Bandaranaike alleged that "the entire episode was stage managed by the state to embarrass me." But the act had pathetically misfired.

"I was not aware then, but I am now, that although the highest in the country was not notified of this search, a person aspiring to the next PM was indeed the "phantom" informer," he said.

In his scathing 7-paragraph statement, Bandaranaike said that one of the "three stooges" responsible "may faint again as a result of not getting his ambassadorial reward," a second may be forced into distant pastures, this time without benefit of complimentary Air Lanka tickets and as for the third, "it will be no `show'."

He also noted that even at the height of the JRJ and Premadasa regimes of the UNP, he as leader of the opposition and a bitter opponent had never been so treated with his house searched or himself personally humiliated.

Following is the statement of Mr. Bandaranaike;

I was away in India when the Supreme Court delivered their unanimous verdict on the fundamental rights petition I filed against 3 police officers, the then IGP W.B. Rajaguru, DIG T.V. Sumanasekera and Deputy Director CID, Bandula Wickramasinghe.

I am overjoyed with the unanimous verdict, award and clear vindication of my conduct, made by the 3 judges of the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.

No amount of money would satisfy the indignation and humiliation I was subjected to that night when these police goons woke me after midnight, without even a search warrant. If they had an iota of grey matter, it should have been evident to them that I am not the type of person who will harbour anyone alleged to have committed a crime, leave alone give refuge under my roof. Obviously, the entire episode was stage managed by the state to embarrass me. Pathetically but justifiably so, this act misfired miserably.

The IGP informed Supreme Court that a reliable informant told him that I was concealing Susantha Punchinilame at my residence. The 3 judges persistently questioned the State Counsel as to who this informant was. The State Counsel persistently refused to reveal his identity. Therefore, the Supreme Court very justifiably stated in their judgement that there was no informant at all. By this it is perfectly clear that these 3 police officers had acted at the behest of a powerful figure of this government. I was not aware then, but I am now, that although the highest in the country was not notified of this search, a person aspiring to be the next PM was indeed the `phantom' informer.

History dictates that blind patronage is a curse and blight on the Sri Lankan political system, and has been for the past 50 years or more of our fledgling democracy. Patronage exercised in the way it has been in this country always tends to corrupt and influence officers of the state to act as mere "Yes" men and women having no spine or courage to stand up for what is right and say "nay" to the politician. It is pertinent to mention that even at the height of the UNP regimes of JRJ and R. Premadasa, I as the then leader of opposition and a bitter opponent, my house was never searched nor was I humiliated personally. The decision of the Supreme Court is a lesson to all politicians that harassment of political opponents is not tolerated in a decent and civilized society.

As for the 3 stooges let me say this, one may faint again as a result of not getting his ambassadorial reward, the second may be forced to distant pastures soon - this time without complementary tickets from Air Lanka and as for the third, it will be "no show".

I would like to extend my appreciation and thanks to my Senior Counsel Mr. Faiz Mustapha, President's Counsel, Mr. Ananda Kasturiarachi and their excellent team of dedicated lawyers, who worked hard for so long, for a victory well deserved!

Call to give wide powers to the Polls Chief
SLFP under pressure to accept UNP's suggestion

by Shamindra Ferdinando
The SLFP has come under pressure from constituent parties of the PA and other participants at last Thursday's conference to discuss ways and means of holding violence-free polls on April 1, to accept the UNP's suggestion to bring in new legislature aimed at giving more powers to the Elections Commissioner.

Constituent parties of the ruling party, the LSSP, the CP, the SLMP [Y.P. faction], the UPF, the DVP have backed the UNP's call for more powers to the Elections Commissioner as part of ongoing efforts to fight poll malpractices.

The Opposition and the UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe last Thursday requested President Chandrika Kumaratunga to ask her cabinet to consider legalisation to widen powers of the Elections Commissioner.

"We stand prepared to give the two third majority ...It need not be an amendment to the constitution, it can be legislation," Wickremesinghe told the press soon after his meeting with the President at the "Temple Trees"

The UNP's offer will come up for discussion next Wednesday [3] when the President chairs the weekly cabinet meeting. Asked to comment on calls for more powers to the polls chief, a Minister said that the SLFP should have discussed Mr. Wickremesinghe's offer before putting it [proposal] before the cabinet. However, the PA's Election Manifesto released before August 1994 parliamentary elections, states that "the government's powers to change laws governing any aspect of the conduct of elelctions, by having recourse to Emergency Regulations promulgated under the Public Security Ordinance, will be removed. The enactment and modifications of laws pertaining to elelctions will be a function entrusted exclusively to Parliament. The authority of the Elections Commissioner to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections, and in particular to issue directions to police officers, in connection with the conduct of the poll, will be strengthened.

A senior UNP spokesman said that Tamil parties and constituent members of the PA will not oppose additional powers for the Elections Commissioner's Office. He said that a lot will depend on the government's response to Wickremesinghe's suggestion for additional powers for the Elections Commissioner. "We are asking them to implement their own manifesto" he added.

Ministers, Ratnasiri Wickremenayake, Dharmasiri Senanayake and Lakshman Kadirgamar of SLFP, S. Thondaman and R. Yogarajan of [CWC], M. H. M. Ashraff of SLMC, Batty Weerakoon of LSSP, Raja Collure of CP and Ranjith Navaratne of SLMP [Y.P faction] who participated at Thursday's meeting had not opposed Wickremesinghe's call for more powers for the Elections Commissioner.

"The SLFP is under pressure to accept the proposal," a political source said adding that failure to do so will send a wrong signal to the people and to the international community. The international community has expressed concern over the reported stuffing of ballot boxes and widespread polls-related violence during the campaign, on the Wayamba Provincial Council polling day and after. Over 2500 polls-related complaints had been received by the Police Elections Secretariat.

Political sources said that an influential section within the SLFP disagree with calls both within the PA and outside for more powers to the Elections Commissioner. "Do you think the IG Police wants to take orders from the Elections Commissioner with regard to security operations and related matters," a minister asked when The Sunday Island asked him for comments on the UNP's proposal for wide powers for the Commissioner.

They believe that whatever proposed electoral reforms must be a part of the ongoing constitutional process [devolution package]. The stand taken up by some SLFP'ers was similar to the position adopted when the UNP called for the implementation of the April 1997 agreement worked out by the former Minister of State in the British Foreign and the Commonwealth Office, Liam Fox. The agreement calls for a bipartisan approach towards key issues affecting Sri Lanka. However, a top minister firmly believes that the ongoing constitutional process [devolution package] cannot be excluded from the scope of the Liam Fox initiative. The UNP insists that the devolution package could not be considered a part of the British initiative.

Meanwhile, a section within the UNP has been upset over the sudden change of events which helped the President to overcome a seemingly hopeless situation. Following the bloody Wayamba poll, the UNP took a decision to end all co-operation with the ruling party and stepped up an islandwide campaign calling for the restoration of democracy. Three Satyagraha campaigns were conducted at Chilaw, Hyde Park and Wennappuwa calling on the people to rise against the dictatorship of President Kumaratunga. "This is a total change in our strategy," one UNP Working Committee source said adding that the UNP let Chandrika off the hook by taking part in the conference and also agreeing to participate in the Monitoring Committee chaired by the President herself to oversee violence free-polls to five of the eight Provincial Councils on April 1.

The Parliamentary group and the decision making Working Committee had not been consulted of the change of the party position with regard non-co-operation with the ruling party sources said. Some party sources said that their campaign for the restoration of democracy will be affected in view of the UNP's role in the Monitoring Committee headed by the President.

Double trouble

Telephone subscribers are expected to receive twin blows from proposals to increase both call charges as well as monthly telephone rentals.

According to well informed sources Sri Lanka Telecom has proposed that call charges be increased from the present Rs.1.65 to Rs.2.00 (about 20%) while the rental be upped from Rs.180 to Rs.250 a month.

The agreement with NTT of Japan under which it bought 35% of SLT allows it to raise revenue by a minimum of 25% this year.

Anchor, Red Cow, Nespray up in price

Prices of three brands of milkfoods have been increased with immediate effect, market sources said.

Accordingly, the price of a 400g pack of Anchor has zoomed from Rs.89 to 93, Red Cow from Rs. 85 to 90 and Nespray from Rs.85 to 87.5O.

Last year the prices of these milkfood products were increased three times. (SF)

Lankan solicitor couple in alleged legal racket

From Sujeeva Nivunhella in London

A Sri Lankan born solicitor couple running two law practices North London are among fifty solicitors' firms under investigation in a suspected multi-million pound immigration legal racket according to British press reports.

Reports said that the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors, the profession's regulatory body, had withdrawn the certificate to practice from the Lankan husband and wife who run two firms.

They said that the couple who practice out of a shop front in a North London high street had an income of 500,000 pounds in 1998. Much of this money came from legal aid funds which allow solicitors to claim up to pounds 45.50 per hour for giving advice to asylum seekers and up to pounds 79.50 an hour for appeal cases.

The Lankan born solicitor was described in one report as a Tamil in his late 30s who had been in Britain for years and qualified as a solicitor in July 1995. He has set up his company the following year. His new wife who qualified the same year joined him in the practice as a partner.

One report said that they had been a small player in the immigration field but increased legal aid income for immigration work "from a few thousand pounds in 1997 to a remarkable pounds 500,000 in the first nine months of 1998 putting them in the top 15 or practices in this legal aid work. They were averaging pounds 1,100 a client on legal aid claims."

Secret talks afoot says anti-terror movement

The National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) has alleged in a statement that certain high officials/leaders of the government have unofficially commenced negotiations with the LTTE and expressed its belief that "at this very moment...an utterly despicable transaction is taking place."

It alleges that a few hand-picked armed forces officers are unofficially participating in this "so-called negotiations" for which neither the government nor the forces have a right or mandate from the people.

NMAT quotes a Divaina report, based on a report in The Hindu which says that High Commissioner Mangala Moonesinghe had said that although he knows nothing about this officially, there appears to be an exchange of messages between the government and the LTTE as part of the peace process. NMAT adds that this is not its only source.

The statement says that the Feb. 25 meeting between the President and the Opposition Leader is part of the strategy engineered to get the two parties together to reactivate the Liam Fox initiative.

It notes that on Feb. 24, TULF MP Neelan Tiruchelvam had urged that the talks between the President and the Opposition Leader would also include "a common approach to the revival of political negotiations, to a negotiating framework and to substantive issues relating to power sharing."

"When all the Tamil MPs of whatever hue joined the cacophony, the dreaded jigsaw fell into place," the statement said.

It said that all earlier attempts at peace talks with the Tigers resulted in total destruction, death, chaos and irreparable undermining of the country's security and its defence efforts. So-called peace talks and pacts only strengthened the Tigers militarily and prolonged the national agony. The present efforts of certain high government officials and a handful of services officers are bound to bring the same disastrous results.

"We reiterate that the government of Sri Lanka has no right to dupe itself and the people by entering into negotiations with the LTTE again. Officers of the armed forces have no right to dupe themselves and those personnel under their command because it is the soldier who has to pay with his life for the folly of the higher ranks," the statement said.

It urged that what this country needs today is not "bogus sinister truces with the LTTE, but lasting peace without the LTTE, their counterparts, and their underworld Mafia."

Stick to tenders for North Pier project

Bidders for the development of the Unity Terminal in the North Pier Development of the Colombo Port have welcomed the government decision to call for open tenders for the project "as correct and in the national interest" and appeals that a lobby for a direct award be resisted.

Stage 1 of this project was completed with OECF funding with the Japanese Penta Ocean/Wakachiku JV handling the job. On the recommendation of Ports Development Minister M. H. M. Ashraff, the cabinet in the interest of transparency and better terms for the country decided to call for open tenders for stage 2.

Following the publication of the pre-qualification notice by the chairman of the cabinet appointed tender board, 20 interested bidders obtained their documents. They say that there now appears to be a lobby for direct negotiations with Penta Ocean by-passing the open tender decision.

Bidders interested in this project urge that the tender procedure would be to the country's best advantage as demonstrated in the Trincomalee and Galle feeder berth projects where costs were substantially reduced as a result.

"In keeping with the government's stated objective of transparency, it is important that no change be made now. The president and the minister took the right decision in calling for open tenders for which they deserve the highest praise. They must not permit lobbies for a direct award to influence any changing of this decision," they said.

Japanese help for hospital and orphanage

The Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital's Spinal Injuries Rehabilitation system and the Girls' Orphanage in Wellawatte will benefit by nearly 2.8 million rupees as a result of two contracts signed on February 18 by the Ambassador of Japan Yogi Sugiyama, Richard Frost, Project Director of the Motivation Charitable Trust, Sri Lanka and Mrs. Ira Gurusingha, Acting Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Dhara Society, at the Japanese Embassy.

The Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital will be upgraded as a result of this 2.04 million rupees, while the Girls' Orphanage will be refurbished at a cost of .78 million rupees.

The government of Japan introduced "Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects (GGP) in 1989 to supplement its official development assistance programmes, whereby it provides assistance mainly to NGOs, primary schools, hospitals and other non-profit organisations. It has so far implemented 70 such projects.

The Ragama Rehabilitation Hospital is the only rehabilitation facility in Sri Lanka for spinal cord injury, but has, in recent times been having difficulty in meeting the demand for its services due to insufficient and obsolete equipment. At present the Motivation Charitable Trust, an English NGO is conducting training at the hospital to improve the quality of medical staff and to improve the living standards of wheelchair users.

The Sri Lanka Dhara Society provides shelter, food and clothing for the residents of the orphanage at Wellawatta. However the maintenance of this orphanage requires assistance from outside and the Japanese government has responded to this need by providing assistance for refurbishment of the water system and toilets of the orphanage.

Government committed to eliminate child labour

by Himangi Jayasundere
Labour Minister W. D. J. Seneviratne said that the government has a commitment to eliminate child labour at the ceremony held to inaugurate a two day tripartite work shop on the International labour convention of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). which deals with the minimum age for admission to employment .

The workshop which began on Thursday is organised by the ILO and is attended by representatives of the government, the employers and employees.

The Minister said that strong legislation and its strict enforcement, a multi-disciplinary approach and collective efforts of all government, non-government agencies, community and religious organisations and the public are needed to achieve the goal of enforcing a minimum age of employment. The necessity of a minimum age of employment is of prime importance specially in the context of child labour, which is the result of socio economic conditions prevailing in the country, he said.

The Minimum Age Convention of ILO requires the ratifying states to pursue a national policy designed to ensure the effective abolition of child labour and to raise progressively the minimum age for admission to employment or work, to a level consistent with the fullest physical and mental development of young persons, he explained. The minimum age should not be less than the age of completion of compulsory education and at any rate not less than 15 years. The convention has prescribed different age thresholds for different kinds of work. Such as 18 years for any type of employment which will not jeopardise the health, safety or morals of young persons."

The Minister said "ILO convention 138 provides for a minimum age of 15 years. Should Sri Lanka recognize that as the minimum age or adhere to 14 years ? these are some of the aspects we have to consider at these national level seminars".

The 15-18 years age category was recognised as non-child labour in Sri Lanka. However since the age of majority is 18 there is a need to consider them within the International Programme for Eliminating Child Labour (IPEC) programme and to improve their working conditions. Since the holding of the national workshop on child labour in Colombo, Sri Lanka became officially, the twenty first fully participating country in the IPEC programme.

Mr. Seneviratne said that in Sri Lanka the problem of minimum age is however evident in domestic service where the children of poor families are released for domestic employment by the parents who cannot afford to bring them up.

In accordance with the Sri Lankan law no child under the age of 14 years can be employed in industry or commerce and no child under 12 years can be employed in domestic service.

Although the existing legislation seems quite adequate to protect children from being employed and exploited for labour, a considerable number of children below the age of 14 years appear to be employed. According to the labour force survey of 1995, in the age group of 10-14 years, 20,600 are employed, of whom 13,700 are males and 6,900 are females. The significant proportion of those employed outside the family is in the domestic sector.

Director ILO Colombo, Shizue Tomoda speaking on the occasion said that ILO has been leading the International efforts to eliminate child labour since its inception in 1919. The preamble of the ILO constitution speaks of the need to protect children, young persons and women. There have so far been a total of 11 ILO conventions determined to address the problem of child labour, the last being convention no. 138 in 1973 which is the focus of this work shop she said.

Mr. S. B. Bandusena, Secretary Ministry of Labour, Mr. G. K. B. Dassanayake deputy director general of EFC, Mr. D. W. Subasinghe, General Secretary Ceylon Federation of Trade Unions also spoke on this occasion.

The team of resource persons is headed by Mr. Bradman Weerakoon, former advisor to the President and member of the National Monitoring Committee on Child Rights.

Former AG disagrees with S.C. on franchise and expression

by Franklyn R. Satyapalan
Former Attorney-General Shibly Aziz, PC, last week disagreed with the Supreme Court judgment that the right of franchise is part of the freedom of expression.

Speaking at a symposium on the "Electoral process in Sri Lanka" under the auspices of the Law and Society Trust, he argued that the freedom of expression relates to the need for a free market of ideas.

"In a democratic society, the exercise to the right to franchise is a right to political participation of every citizen. This is conceptually very different from the freedom of expression", he said.

Mr. R.K.W. Gunasekera, PC, who argued the case for the Free Media Movement that led to the landmark Supreme Court judgment pointed out that the significance of the judgment was that it held that Emergency Regulations cannot be invoked by the President to postpone the date of an election.

Aziz said that while he disagreed with the Supreme Court on the point of franchise being a part of free expression, he would commend the court for clarifying the scope of presidential immunity in Sri Lanka.

"That immunity attaches to the doer and not the act. Every President should be aware that there will be no immunity when he or she ceases to hold that office," he said.

In the course of his speech, Aziz also said that there is an urgent need to depoliticize all institutions.

Gunasekera said in his speech that even the proclamation of a State of Emergency can be subject to judicial review. But the recent Supreme Court judgment has not gone so far as to invalidate the proclamation of the Emergency. The court probably was of the view that it was not necessary to decide that issue.

Gunasekera said that the judgment was a landmark decision in recognising the right to vote as an aspect of the freedom of expression.

"Public opinion must be vigilant if human rights and democratic values are to be secured in Sri Lanka", he said.

Land dispute leads to killings

by Kalinga K.A.Weerakody
A long-standing land dispute between two families, related to each other, claimed the lives of a father and son last Monday (22) night at Thelawala in Ratmalana.

The dead were identified as J.A.Wilson Singho (75) and his son J.A.Sarath Keerthisena (34).

According to the police, an armed gang who forcibly entered the victim's house had shot them dead with a T56 rifle.

An argument had developed between the two families over a land that afternoon.

This had been followed by an attack on a shop which belonged to one Lakshman who was married to Wilson's daughter. The armed attackers had looted the shop had left after threatening them with death if they reported the incident to the police. However, Lakshman had lodged an entry with Mt. Lavinia police.

A police party had then accompanied Lakshman to Suwarapola at Piliyandala in search of the suspects involved, but had failed to trace them. Police had also visited Thelawala to examine the damage caused to the shop and conduct investigations.

Later the suspects had returned armed with a rifle and searched for Lakshman, who had by then left the house with his family.

Only his fathter-in-law and son were there and the men had brutally shot them dead.

Police investigations are continuing.

So far no suspects have been arrested in connection with this double murder.

Dr. Jayalath to visit Madhu again

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena MP (UNP) has been given permission by the Ministry of Defence to visit the Madhu area again.

He is expected to inspect the reconstruction of the Madhu Church camp's water reservoir and hold an eye surgical camp for the benefit of nearly 3000 selected patients.

Dr. Jayawardena will be accompanied by E. V. Karunaratne, Chief Optician, Mr. Ajith Dhammika Karunaratne and Mr. Hewage Asela Nadie Raj Dabare.

Dr. Jayawardena says he will meet any LTTE leader who wishes to meet him during his stay there.

Courts cease to function in Jaffna

All courts in the Jaffna peninsula have ceased to function from last Thursday, residents reported.

The chief of the Tamil Administrative Services of the LTTE, S. Thooyavaan had sent a letter to all Magistrates and staff that they should cease to function with immediate effect and no one should attend to any matters connected with the Chemmani mass graves. This would be the last and final warning, the letter said.

On Thursday all judicial officers in the peninsula met and contacted the Judicial Services Commission in Colombo, to whom the situation was explained. A copy of the threatening letter was sent by facsimile to the Commission.

On Friday Police officers who attended courts read a notice on the notice board of the courts that the courts would cease to function until further notice.

Some time ago the LTTE made similar threats to the judiciary and the courts had ceased to function for nearly five months till they reopened in January this year. (FRS)

Chandrika, Ranil should unite to save the country and people says Podi Hamuduruwo

Ven.Galaboda Gnanissara Thero, the Podi Hamuduruwo of the Gangaramaya said that President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe should get together to save the country and people.

In a statement issued yesterday, the Ven. thero reminded that it was he who said that modern weapons will not be enough to protect Sri Lanka's politicians when then President, Ranasinghe Premadasa died in an bomb explosion. The country spends heavily for its leader's protection but those who live in fear will never be able to do the right thing.

There is no sign of an end to the bloody North-East conflict. People are not aware of the reasons leading to the conflict. Those who know do not speak.

The two leaders must get together. They must not listen to advice given by minority parties. Mr.Wickremesinghe is not a person after power.The government must not dance to the tune of these minority political parties.

When then President D.B. Wijetunga and Gamini Dissanayake were struggling to establish a government after the August 1994 parliamentary poll, Ranil did not agree. If not for Ranil,the UNP would have fallen to Gamini Dissanayake's plans.

Then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike had extended her rule by two more years. However, she was unable to secure the required number of seats to become the Opposition Leader at the next elelction. A Tamil party was able to secure the Opposition Leader's position.

Although people don't consider the post of the Opposition Leader vital here, the situation is different abroad where that particular position is accepted as an important one.

People engaged in smuggling and other rackets between India and Sri Lanka were able to secure a sound economic position. Then they wanted political power. Then Opposition Leader and the leader of the TULF,A.Amirthalingam was used by these people.He was used to carry a massive anti-Sri Lanka propaganda campaign abroad.

After using Amirthalingam and other politicians, terrorists killed them ruthlessly. A large number of other people were also massacred.

Some claim that terrorism started here during late President J.R. Jayewardene's administration. Were they aware of the true facts?

Terrorism was a direct result of then Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike's defeat enabling Mr. Amirthalingham to become the Leader of the Opposition.

That helped terrorists to raise their heads.

The Podi Hamuduruwo has also blamed Mrs. Bandaranaike for the nationalisation resulting in the majority community losing power.

The innocent youth were destroyed under her regime. Destruction of men and women started in 1971.

Then in 1984 terrorist activities affected the country.The JVP was responsible for only five percent of the incidents reported at that time. Those who opposed the then government were responsible for rest.

The Sinhalese suffered. Monks were killed. Fortunately Catholic priests and leaders of other religions were not killed. Not a single one of them were killed.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga has been forced to suffer as a result of the mistakes of her mother .. Mrs.Kumaratunga has not made any serious mistakes so far. However, she will suffer shortly by trying to implement weak proposals of some PA leaders.

We were aware of the attempts made by the late Gamini Dissanayake to establish an alliance. The then President D.B.Wijetunga was caught in this manipulation. The then Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe left the "Temple Trees" like a true democrat.

President Kumaratunga had praised the way Mr. Wickremesinghe left office. Although others could not remember Mrs. Kumaratunga's praise, we can.

Mr. D.B.Wijetunga became the Prime Minister due to struggles between late Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali. Then, due to similar reasons, he became the President. But Wijetunga moved against party general secretary B. Sirisena Cooray and removed him both from his ministry and the party post. He then invited Gamini Dissanayake to run at the presidential poll on the UNP ticket leaving out Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe. Mr.Wickremesinghe was prevented from contesting the presidential poll.

Who killed Gamini Dissanayake Ossie Abeygoonasekara and a large number of others in the bomb blast carried out at Thotalanga? If the LTTE did not who did it? Why don't they appoint a Commission of inquiry?

Blood Bank banks on ITI

The National Blood Bank has been a regular customer of the Electro Technology Unit of the Industrial Technology Institute ( the former Ceylon Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research) for several years now, and, through the success of the latest job carried out, is likely to remain so for the next several years.

Refrigerated centrifuges are necessary tools in the processing and storing of blood. Over the years the National Blood Bank has brought in all makes of these centrifuges for repair to the Institute. The ITI staff also visit various provincial hospitals where the centrifuges are located and carry out repairs and calibrate the machines at site.

This is important in the part the bank plays in saving lives.

In 1998 two refrigerated centrifuges which had not been working were brought to the ITI as there was no possibility of getting the repair done or of obtaining spares, since there was no local agent for the company from which they were purchased.

The repair was carried out successfully by a team of ITI comprising Mahesh Edirisinghe, S.N.W.M.Surasena, Hemantha Tennekoon, Rukman Amunugama and Buwaneka Bandara of the Electro Technology Unit.

The machines are now functioning and are in good working order.

Wesley College celebrates 125 years of Excellence in Education

Wesley College, Colombo, one of the oldest Methodist schools in the city, celebrates 125 years of "excellence in education" on March 7, at the BMICH. It is the culmination of a week's programme which included cricket matches, hockey matches and other forms of entertainment which began on February 21.

The final day's celebrations begin on March 7 with a Thanksgiving Service at the College Chapel followed by the Grand Finale at the BMICH at which awards of an all island competition will be presented to the winners.

Wesley College, founded by Rev. D. H. Pereira, was established in 1874 by the Wesleyan Missionary Society in London on March 2, in the Pettah. The original location of the school was near the old Methodist Church in Dam Street, Pettah, where the Pettah merchants of mixed races and religions sent their children to be educated.

When Wesley was 21 years in existence, it was moved to its present site in Borella by the Rev. Henry Highfield, the 7th principal of the school in 1895. Rev. Highfield's cry was "Let's get new buildings and get out of the dust" . To this end, he made a legendary trip round the island on a bicycle tour, collecting funds from old boys and well wishers to finance the construction of the school. He is the best known principal of this school, holding that post for thirty years.The present principal, N. A. B. Fernando is its nineteenth principal.

Students and friends of Rev. Highfield have remarked that "he infused a new spirit, a new dimension and a new energy to whatever was deemed old and stale and trivial."

Wesley's history is well documented with information of the Rev. Highfield's tenacity and vision. He started a fund raising campaign in which he sought every possible source of financial assistance from Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians, making the college a truly multicultural, multireligious and multilingual one.

Wesley can boast of a host of distinguished past pupils, among whom are Sir Oliver Goonetilleke, the first Governor General of Ceylon, Sir Baron Jayatilleke, and Mr. P. De S. Kularatne.

The College has a tutorial staff of 108, together with 9 office and 20 caretaker staff. Today it boasts of 2,224 pupils.

The principal, Mr. N. A. B. Fernando firmly believes that Wesley College will play an important role in the ensuing millemmium, and students who complete their educational training at Wesley would continue to assume positions of responsibility and leadership.

Chief Guest at the celebrations at the BMICH will be President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Sumithrayo launches 24-hour dial-a friend service

A newly-launched overnight phone-in helpline will extend the Sri Lanka Sumithrayo's befriending work and help its volunteers reach out a greater number of troubled people who need an empathetic ear, Sumithrayo announced.

The befriending by phone makes Sumithrayo the first organisation in the country to offer day and night help, in addition to being open every single day of the year.

The initial response to the phone-in service, begun this month, has been good, said a spokesman for Sumithrayo, with callers ranging from young people to adults from both in and outside Colombo. The helpline will give office-goers and others who may find it difficult, for various reasons, to visit a Sumithrayo centre during the day, a convenient way to pour their hearts out to a caring listener.

For the year 1997/98, almost 2,000 telephone callers availed themselves of Sumithrayo's support, during its usual working hours, compared to 3,046 people who visited the centres in person, according to the director's annual report.

Now, two volunteers handle calls made to the Colombo office between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m., during hours when problems can loom large and seem unbearable, as the spokesman put it. The hotline is 692909.

The new facility has been launched to mark 25 years of Sumithrayo's work in Sri Lanka, the anniversary itself coming up later in the year. Many branches of Befrienders International, of which the Sri Lanka Sumithrayo is a member organisation, already have the late-night service in operation worldwide and its success has spurred Sumithrayo to inaugurate the help-line here.

The spokesman for Sumithrayo said that there had been a long-felt desire to launch befri-ending-by-phone and it has finally become a reality mainly due to the dedication of the volunteers who are specially trained to listen with empathy in an atmosphere of anonymity and confidentiality.

Sumithrayo is the only non-governmental organisation in Sri Lanka to be engaged in providing mental health support services, primarily in suicide reduction and crisis intervention.

Besides Colombo where it has two centres in Dehiwala and Horton Place, Sumithrayo has branches in Bandarawela, Kandy, Kuliyapitiya, Kurunegala, Katunayake, Matale, Mawanella, Panadura and Panduwasnuwara.

An appeal for help

A thirteen-year-old girl, Iresha lakmali Fernando, studying at Holy Cross Convent, Gampaha, is suffering from a serious illness in both her kidneys. She is warded at Ward 48 of the Colombo National Hospital.

The transplant of kidneys and other related medication would cost about Rupees one million and the parents appeal for public donations to save the life of their only daughter.

Donations could be credited to Acct. No. 2 - 018253 - 4, People's Bank Branch No. 318, Bopitiya.

European Union Chamber Orchestra to perform here here

Classical music lovers in Sri Lanka are in for a rare treat. This comes in the form of a visit to Sri Lanka, by the world-renowned European Union Chamber Orchestra. It is being arranged by the European Commission Delegation to Sri Lanka as part of this year's Europe Day celebrations. The main local sponsor of this event is the ABN AMRO Bank. Other sponsors are the Galadari Hotel, the German Cultural Institute and the British Council. The Orchestra will stage two concerts in Sri Lanka, on Thursday, 6th and Friday, 7th May. The concerts in Sri Lanka, will coincide with Europe Day this year and the grand European Food Festival organised by the Galadari Hotel. The venue for the concerts will be the newly refurbished Elphinstone. Theatre in Maradana

The European Union Chamber Orchestra gave its first concerts in 1981 and has since gained worldwide reputation as a musical ambassador for the European Union. Regular tours take it worldwide and its performances have included those in the presence of Queen Noor of Jordan, the King and Queen of Belgium and its own patron, Queen Sophia of Spain.

With an annual schedule of more than 70 concerts, The European Union Chamber Orchestra's performances include many prestigious halls such as Amsterdam Concertgebouw Frankfurter Alte Pper, Brussels' Palais des Beaux Arts and Symphony Hall in Birmingham. The Orchestra also appeared at such international festivals as Flanders, Echternach, Prades, the Rheingau Musikfest and Brandenburgische Sommerkonzerte.

With assistance from the European Commission Delegations, the Orchestra's intercontinental tours regularly cover the Middle East and Far East and both South and Central America. Notably in the last four years, it has toured five times in Mexico. In 1996, it was the first European orchestra to give concerts in Belize and Cuba. Highlights of 1997 included a high profile tour of Brazil, 15 concerts in Canada in celebration of the landing of John Cabot and a third Middle East/Mediterranean tour. In 1998, the European Union Chamber Orchestra made its debut at the Hong Kong Festival, returned for the fourth time to the UAE, Thailand, Vietnam and the Middle East and made its first tour of India's major cities.

For its concert on the 6th of May in Sri Lanka, the European Union Chamber Orchestra will feature as the soloist, its Director, Lavard Larson, who will perform a Mozart Violin concerto. The soloist for the concert on the 7th of May, will be a young German pianist, Christian Seibert. There will also be a workshop for Sri Lankan musicians at the British Council Auditorium on 5th May. From Sri Lanka, the Orchestra will proceed to Dubai for their next performances in the current tour.

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