.

Writes angry letter to Lakshman Jayakody
Ashraff comes close to resigning as Haj Minister

A row over the approval of an “irresponsible Haj operator’’ has resulted in Port Development, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Minister M.H.M. Ashraff writing to his cabinet colleague, Cultural and Religious Affairs Minister Lakshman Jayakody, saying his unhappiness over the issue brought him close to resigning from the position of Haj Minister.

In a short letter he wrote on March 21, Ashraff has accused his colleague of not being “factually correct’’ when Jayakody had personally told Ashraff that he was acting on the request of Consul-General in Jeddah in restoring this Haj tour operator for this year.

“I would have resigned from my position of Haj Minister if not for the fact that Mr. Razik, Additional Secretary, has informed me that notwithstanding your directive to restore the name of Messrs. Naja and Farook, they could not succeed in organizing a group,’’ Ashraff had said in his letter.

Jayakody was out of Colombo and not available for comment yesterday.

The angry Ashraff had said in his letter that the Haj operator concerned had said that he knew “how to mess around with the politicians and get out of trouble’’. He said that Jayakody was proving that “even under our government people who commit serious offenses could get away by `messing around with politicians.’”

He objected Naja and Farook Travels being approved as a Haj travel operator on the ground that an inquiry committee set up by Jayakody finding the operator’s conduct “irresponsible and reprehensible.’’ He says in his letter that Jayakody’s own co-ordinating secretary was one of the members of this inquiry.

In a letter he wrote Jayakody on March 8 on this subject, Ashraff told Jayakody that the operator had insulted the Consul-General and challenged him in the presence of other officials saying he knows “how to mess around with the politicians and get out of trouble.’’

In this letter, he says that Naja and Farook went to the Appeal Court challenging the decision to suspend them and subsequently withdrew this action.

But “on the basis of an understanding that you (Jayakody) have come to with Naja and Farook Travels, I presume your next step is to register Naja and Farook Travels as an approved Haj operator for the year contrary to the decision of the committee of inquiry. If this were to be, I am bound to record my strong and unqualified protest at your proposed action and wish to inform you that in this event, I intend tendering my resignation as Minister in charge of Haj for 1999 on the following grounds.”

He has then itemized five grounds. They include the creating of a bad precedent making it difficult for the Department of Muslim Affairs to control or regulate irresponsible and dishonest Haj operators and destroying the safeguards built by the department against such persons.

Ashraff is also angry that Jayakody did not consult him as Haj Minister before giving directions on this matter and his endorsement of the decision would make him party “to a sin committed by this Haj operator.”

“I am of the view that my silence will be interpreted by the Muslim community as the betrayal of a religious cause for political expediency,” he has said.

British govt signs 47 export licences for arms sales to SL

by Mike Peacock
LONDON, (Reuters) - Britain on Thursday released its first annual report on arms exports in line with the government’s pledge not to sell guns to regimes that may use them for repression.

The report, signed by Foreign Secretary Robin Cook, Defence Secretary George Robertson and Trade Secretary Stephen Byers, set out the progress made on government pledges over arms sales in its first months in power.

The Labour government has pledged not to issue arms export licences for sale to regimes that might use them for internal repression, human rights abuses or to prolong existing conflicts.

It has also vowed to stop British companies exporting instruments of torture and landmines and backs a European Union code of conduct, adopted last year, to bring a more moral approach to the arms trade.

The report detailed exports licenses granted by the government between May 1997, when it took power, and the end of that year.

Charities and foreign policy experts were quick to praise the initiative although they said British arms sales to certain countries were still questionable.

They also complained the report’s format meant it was impossible to tell exactly how many arms had been sold to individual countries nor what they were used for once delivered.

The report did not provide comparisons with previous years.

“This is an important step forward,” said Stewart Wallis, international director of Oxfam. “It allows the public and parliament to see for the first time just what sort of equipment Britain is exporting and to which countries it is going.”

Pressure groups such as Saferworld say Britain still sells arms to countries with blemished human rights records.

Saferworld director Paul Eavis said the report showed about a third of all export licences detailed were for equipment such as small arms, light weapons and ammunition.

“While most of these suppliers were to European and other allies, many also went to sensitive destinations in Africa, the Middle East and Asia,” he said.

“The committees should, therefore, raise questions about exports of small arms to countries with poor human rights records, such as Bahrain, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Zimbabwe.”

The government figures showed it signed 19 standard individual export licences for arms sales to Bahrain in its first eight months in power, 47 to Sri Lanka, 111 to Turkey and 30 to Zimbabwe.

Human rights groups such as Amnesty International have been most critical of British arms sales to Indonesia, which they say is still committing human rights abuses in East Timor.

The report showed the government signed 40 export licenses to Indonesia by the end of 1997.

Five promoted as Majors General

by Shamindra Ferdinando
Three brigadiers commanding troops engaged in government’s ongoing operations in the Wanni region were among five officers promoted to the rank of Majors General last week. Brigadiers Susil Chandrapala, D. S. K. Wijesuriya and Gamini Gunasekara were promoted Majors General, army headquarters said.

The promotions were the first to senior officer rank since Lieutenant General Srilal Weera-suriya succeeded General Rohan Dalu-watte as the Com-mander of the Sri Lanka Army late last year.

Chandrapala and Wijesuriya function as the General Offi-cers Commanding [GOCs] 55 and 53 divisions, respectively deployed for offensives in the Wanni theatre of operations.

The two divisions, supported by armour, artillery and other elements were responsible for bringing in almost 1000 square kms in the Wanni territory under government’s domination since December last year.

The divisions secured Madhu area last week.

The 53 division comprises special forces, commandos and air-mobile troops. The divisions are not used to hold onto territory.

Major General Gamini Gunasekara is the GOG of the 56 division also dep-loyed in the Wanni. The 56 division too plays an active role in the Wanni theatre of operations.

Brigadiers Nihal Marambe and Nanda Mallawarachchi, stationed in the Jaffna peninsula too have been promoted. Marambe and Malla-warachchi function as GOCs of the 51 and 52 divisions deployed in the peninsula.

Promotions to officers involved in Wanni operations come as the government prepares to bring in more LTTE held territory and people in the region under its control. Troops now threaten key LTTE strongholds situated west and east of their positions. The second phase of operation ‘Battle Cry’ brought 325 square kms that included ten Grama Niladhari divisions in Mannar and one in Vavuniya districts under government control.

The 53 and 55 divisions secured the area after some minor confrontations which left 19 terrorists dead and several wounded. Two vehicles belonging to the LTTE were also detroyed. Over 20,000 people have come under government control and some who fled the area are coming back, a senior army officer said.

However, the military firmly believes that the LTTE will launch a major attack in the Jaffna district or the Wanni as part of its efforts, at least to delay the ongoing armed forces operations aimed at weakening their power in the Wanni. A major LTTE attack, if carried out successfully could hold up the ongoing Wanni operations for months, an officer said. He believes that the enemy wanted to do an operation similar to the assault on Kilinochchi last year when over 1500 soldiers were killed.

Meanwhile forces in the Jaffna peninsula have stepped up operations in the district. Troops engaged in a limited operation, ‘Tiger Hunt’ last Thursday gunned down five terrorists during a confrontation at Thadduvankoddy.

First ever woman Vice Chancellor

By Harini Dias Bandaranayake
Law Professor Savithri Goonesekera made history on March 26 when she took over as the first ever woman Vice Chancellor at the Colombo University.

The previous Vice Chancellor Prof. W. D. Lakshman had earlier informed the University Grants Commission (UGC) that he was to retire by the end of March, 1999 and the University Council had submitted to the UGC the names of three possible candidates to take over as the next Vice Chancellor. The three candidates were Law Prof. Savithri Goonesekera, Prof. Sharya de Soysa (Dean of Law, Colombo) and Prof. (Mrs.) K. Abeynayake (Dean of Science, Colombo).

Vice Chairman, UGC, Prof. S. Pathmanathan told “The Sunday Island” that the names which had been proposed by the University Council had in turn been forwarded to President Kumaratunga. He said that the appointment of Prof. Goonesekera had been made by the President on Monday, March 22.

No university in Sri Lanka has ever had a woman Vice Chancellor previously.

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Distilleries Corporation launches ‘Special Arrack’

By Suresh P. Perera
The Distilleries Company of Sri Lanka (DCSL) has launched a new product using local rectified spirit in a move to beat the heavy customs duty on imported alcohol which has sent prices of most brands of its liquor spiralling, industry sources said.

A litre of rectified spirit from Sevanagala cost Rs. 30 while its foreign equivalent is purchased at Rs. 99. The benefit of this has been passed down to the consumer by way of the new introduction, Special Arrack, priced at Rs. 195 per 750ml bottle, DCSL sources said.

The company’s operations manager, Maxie Peiris refused to comment saying ‘The Island’ had been responsible for ‘misinformation’ regarding the earlier price hike by DCSL. Asked why the company didn’t contradict it, if that was so, Peiris replied he had nothing more to say on the matter.

In early December last year, DCSL jacked up prices of most of its products by as much as 15% due to a ‘revision of customs duty on rectified spirits’. Other liquor manufacturers in the country refrained from pushing up prices of their products saying ‘the situation didn’t warrant an increase of that magnitude’.

The DCSL price hike came on the heels of the 10% revision on liquor prices by the November budget.

The local rectified spirit is lab tested and treated before use to ensure best quality. A 350% duty is slapped on imported consignments, which come mainly from South Africa, Australia and Malaysia, DCSL sources said.

Meanwhile, the price of Mendis ‘Gold Label’, ‘Extra Special’ and ‘Old Arrack’ has been increased by five rupees to meet enhanced production costs.

‘It’s a minimal revision which was inevitable’, said Hiran Gunaratne, Managing Director, W. M. Mendis and Co., Ltd.

Sales of Mendis products have zoomed since DCSL increased prices of its liquor. The market for Mendis ‘Gold Label’ has gone up by over 50% while ‘Extra Special’ is a little lesser than that, he said.

‘We held on for four months, but eventually decided to go ahead with this marginal increase due to mounting production costs’, Gunaratne said.

Even with the five-rupee increase in the three brands of Mendis liquor, they are far more cheaper than the DCSL products.

The new price of a 750 ml. bottle of Mendis ‘Gold Label’ is Rs. 215, ‘Extra Special’ Rs. 190 and ‘Old Arrrack’ Rs. 340 whereas DCSL 750 ml. bottle of ‘Extra Special sells at Rs. 215, ‘Pol’ Rs. 240, ‘VSOA’ Rs. 340, “Double Distilled’ Rs. 340, ‘Blue Label’ Rs. 235 and ‘Tappers’ Rs. 250.

In the case of DCSL ‘Old Arrack’, it’s priced at Rs. 325, fifteen rupees less than the Mendis equivalent.

Tipplers complain of a quality drop in DCSL ‘Old Arrack’ but it was not obtain an official response to this as the Operations Manager declined to speak to the ‘Sunday Island”.

SL govt seeks closer ties with Thailand

by Shamindra Ferdinando
The Sri Lankan government is seeking to improve relations with Thailand, once accused of helping the LTTE to acquire armaments and then ship them out of her territory. Sri Lanka some time back expressed concern over the possibility of the LTTE using Thai territory for illegal activities detrimental to her security. The Thai military rejected claims of its involvement in any role supportive of the LTTE. But the then Director of Military Intel-ligence [DMI] said that terrorists were using Thai territory for arms smuggling operations.

Sri Lankan sour-ces said that the scheduled visit of Thailand’s Deputy Foreign Minister, M. R. Fukhumbhand Paribatra will further help ongoing efforts to improve relations. Diplomatic sources on Friday said that Paribatra will arrive on April 4 for a five day visit. He will be accompanied by at least ten delegates.

Asked whether delegates include officers from the Thai armed forces, sources replied in the negative.

Foreign Ministry sources said that Her Royal Highness Prin-cess Chulabhorn is also expected to visit Colombo later this year.

The Supreme Commander of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, General Mon-gkon Ampornpisit was in Colombo this month to receive the Buddha Relics from Sambuddha Vihara.

It was the first time a Supreme Commander of Thai armed forces visited Colombo. He had a meeting with the Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar on Mar-ch 20. General Mon-gkon was accompanied to the meeting by the Chief of the Joint Staff, General Chokeehai Hong-stong and the Deputy Director of Joint Intelligence, Major General Naraset Isa-rangkura. The Thai Ambassador in Colombo, Thakur Phanit and the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Suvidhya Simaskul too had been present at the meeting. On the Sri Lankan side were Minister Kadirgamar, Defence Secretary Chandrananda de Silva and the Director General [UN and Multilateral Affairs] Bernard Goonetil-leke.

Sri Lankan sources said that the Thai Supreme Commander, General Ampornpisit’s visit was purely a religious one. However it had helped to improve ties between the two countries.

Kadirgamar has told the Thai delegation during March 20 meeting that Theravada Buddhism had helped to enhance the relations between the two countries. Sri Lankan officials said that LTTE’s capability to acquire heavy wea-pons and other sophisticated arms including missiles remain a serious threat.

The Sri Lankan Navy early this month claimed it foiled an attempt by an LTTE owned vessel to unload wea-pons in eastern waters. But the vessel managed to escape to Indian waters where it was found abandoned by the Indian Navy.

The Sri Lankan authorities here were not aware from where the LTTE vessel came. Both Thailand and Sri Lanka were among countries participating in US Army’s Extended Relations Programme [ERP] which provides for closer ties between the US armed forces and countries of the Asia-Pacific Region. Some ERP programmes had brought senior Sri Lankan and Thai armed forces officers together, sources said.

Cops in civil clothes

A senior police officer yesterday defended the decision to permit personnel of the Presidential Security Division [PSD] and the Minis-terial Security Divi-sion [MSD] to perform their duties in civilian clothes during the PC election period.

The officer who did not want to be named said that PSD and MSD officers will not be asked to wear uniform.

The high-powered Election Monitoring Committee last Thursday decided that all police officers should perform their duties during election period in uniform except the PSD and the MSD.

The officer said that both PSD and MSD officers have authority to wear lounge suit, shirt and tie, sarong or any other suitable clothes for that particular function.

Another officer said that PSD and MSD officers had not been asked during earlier elections to wear uniform.

The UNP General Secretary Gamini Atukorale had accused the PSD of engaging in malpractices during the January 25 Wayamba poll. Informed sour-ces said that Atu-korale and President Chandrika Kumara-tunga exchanged words over the former’s accusations against her security personnel during one of the meetings of the Elections Monitoring Committee.

Police said that PSD and MSD personnel will not be involved in any election related work except for providing security to politicians during their campaigning and visits to various places in the provinces which will go to polls on April 6. [SF]

Hospital minor employees strike ends

by: Chittaranjan De Silva
Minor employees of hospitals throughout the country staged a token one day strike last Friday without giving prior notice to the health authorities, official sources said. They reported to work yesterday and work at hospitals returned to normal. The strike action was called while pending discussions with the Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine C. Abeygunawardena scheduled for Monday (29). One of the major demands made by the minor employees is to increase the accumulated overtime allowance from Rs. 525 to Rs. 1000 a Health Ministry official said.

As a result of the absence of the minor employees, their duties had to be allocated to others who were not used to that kind of work, hospital sources said.

Among the duties of the minor employees are the cooking of meals , attending to patients and transporting patients to wards etc.

At the Lady Ridgeway since food could not ordered from outside for the children, the mothers of children helped in cooking, sources said. Elsewhere in other major hospitals, meals were mainly ordered from outside while relatives of patients helped in caring for the patients helping them to get to wards etc., according to these sources.

Director Colombo National Hospital, Dr. Hector Weerasinghe said that around 50% of the minor staff did not take part in the strike and as a result they were deployed to do the duties of the absentees. He said that the hospital authorities were not informed of the strike which took place suddenly and therefore caused inconvenience as the authorities were unprepared.

Colombo National Hospital sources said there was fear prevailing among those who reported to work, as is generally the case, in a situation like this. Emergency work was not allowed to be disrupted at the hospital.

The leader of the all island SLFP trade union of hospital minor employees stationed at the Kandy General Hospital, S. H. Ranatunga said that around 116 minor employees, mostly belonging to his trade union reported to work. Around 1000 minor employees work in the hospital when all shifts are considered, he said. Though there were absentees and various threats made on those who reported for duty, work in the hospital was not allowed to be disrupted, he said. The minister was thankful for the support we offered during this crisis, he added. It is not fair for them to resort to this kind of action as the Health Minister has granted many demands made by the unions on earlier occasions, Ranatunge said.

The union leaders of the minor employees who carried out the strike was not available for comment.

CMU picket over National Workers’ Charter

The Ceylon Mercantile Union will picket outside the Labour Secretariat, Narahenpita on Tuesday, as the commencement of its campaign for the implementation of the National Workers’ Charter.

The Workers Charter was promulgated as far back as September 1995 by President Chandrika Kumaranatunga

For the past four years this draft has not been presented before Parliament as it has not received the approval of the Cabinet sub-committee, CMU said in a news release.

In view of this the General Council of the CMU has decided to draw attention to the lacuna by picketing outside the Labour Secretariat , from 11 am to 1 pm, to publicise the CMU’s demand for the implementation of the Workers’ Charter.

Sudassana calls on voters to spoil their votes

by Sumadhu Weerawarne
Sudassana an organisation seeking to change the current electoral system is calling on voters to spoil their votes as an expression of the rejection of the system.

President of the organisation Mitra Wettimuni said that it was the present party system that had led to the bitter divisions among the various political parties and the root cause of the current problems in the country.

“Our proposed system does not promote party politics, rather it promotes co-operation among the various parties,” he said. “The current system is one conducive to conflict, and just as long as the people keep voting it will continue. The political parties will listen only if they clearly reject the system,” he said.

He explained that the mandate of the people was being sought to forge ahead with their scheme for constitutional reform. He added that the gradual stalling of the businessmen’s peace initiative was due to their failure to obtain a mandate of the people. Asked what percentage would be a sufficient mandate, “50 would be ideal,” he said. On pointing out that in the unlikely event of such a high rate of spoilt votes, what percentage would be sufficient, he said that this would “depend on how (he) perceives it at the time.”

He said that so far he had not approached any of the parties officially with his own package as “it was a waste of time, without the support of the people”. “But I have argued with individual members on both sides who have agreed in private that there is a need for new system,” he said.

Asked if he had launched a campaign to make his own proposals known to the voters, he said that he held several meetings in Kandy, Colombo and its outskirts and some rural areas. On pointing out that his campaign may not have reached a majority of the voters, he responded that he was “depending on those who attended the meeting to tell others, in the same way that news of a bomb blast would spread”.

Rejecting rumours that he had political ambitions, he said that he would never compete for office. “I will never come forward as a candidate. But I will come forward to hold an office only if I am invited to do so,” he said. On pointing out that a win at an election was an invitation by the people to serve the country, he said that his “competition days ended in the cricket field’. “I must add that the different political parties have invited me to contest under their party tickets, but I have so far rejected all such offers.”

Asked if his proposals provide a solution to the ethnic conflict, he said that “it was his intention to forge a Sri Lankan identity.”

His set proposals include the abolishing of the provincial council system, the appointment of a cabinet consisting non- legislative representatives, the holding of legislative office on an honorary basis, with no remuneration, an elected president, the fostering and safeguarding of Buddhism by the state and the safeguarding of existing places of worship of other religious faiths.

Young couple leaps to their death

By Kalinga K. A. Weerakkody
Another tragedy occurred at World’s End when a young couple jumped to their deaths in a suicide pact last Thursday.

In a similar incident in January this year, two young lovers committed suicide while last year a youth jumped to his death, police said.

Some local visitors to Horton Plains had seen a travelling bag and pair of slippers abandoned in the vicinity of the precipice and alerted wild life officials.

Agarapathana police who were informed had sent a special team from the Samanalawewa outpost to investigate.

An identity card and some telephone numbers were found among some personal belongings. Police suspecting that two lovers had committed suicide, had used binoculars to locate the mangled remains. This had been possible as the fog was not heavy on that day, police said.

The bodies of the two victims, identified as E. Athula (21) of Rotumba Road, Pasgoda, Urubokke and Sanjeewanee Sri Kanthi of Malabe, Athurugiriya were retrieved the following morning from a tea estate far below Horton Plains, police said.

Rs. 2m credit card fraud

By Kalinga K.A.Weerakkody
The CID is probing a Rs. 2 million credit card fraud involving a businessman and a former manager of a state bank.

CID investigations had revealed that the names of certain deceased customers had been used in the fraud carried out with the alleged connivance of the manager who is now retired from service.

The businessman had fled the country while the former bank official who was taken in for interrogation by the CID was produced before courts and remanded till April 1, 1999, CID sources said.

A senior bank officer had stumbled on the racket after the manager retired and the CID was called in to investigate.

More arrests are imminent, the sources said.

SEC goes to Supreme Court on Kotagala case

by V. Varathasuntharam
The Securities Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka has petitioned to the Supreme Court that its statutory obligations of ensuring orderly and fair trading and protection of the investors interests have been seriously hampered consequent to a judgement of a Magistrate’s Court and the order of the Court of Appeal.

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking an order to set aside the judgements of Colombo Fort Magistrate and to stay the operation of the order of the Court of Appeal in the case against Kotagala Plantations Ltd.

The petition of the Securities and Exchange Commissions of Sri Lanka was filed by attorney-at-law G. G. Arulpragasam.

The petition is settled by President’s Counsel H. L. de Silva with Chanaka de Silva instructed by G. G. Arulpragasam.

The petition stated that the subject matter constitute, substantial questions of law and are matters of public and general importance and fit for review by Supreme Court.

The petitioner further states that the continuing listing requirements contained in the said rules have been framed to ensure orderly and fair trading in securities, the protection of the investors interests and to avoid the establishment of a false market in securities by ensuring the dissemination of information relating to companies listed on a licensed Stock Exchange, which is the foundation upon which any public securities market operates.

The information disseminated through the operation of the said rules is necessary for an investor to make informed decisions relating to his investments in listed securities and to ensure that privileged persons do not gain an unfair advantage through access to such information.

The petitioner states that listed Public Companies are required to comply with the continuing Listing Requirements on a continuing basis and that as a result of the Judgement of the Court of Appeal the petitioner is unable to ensure compliance with the aforesaid continuing Listing Requirements.

The petitioner states that therefore, he is seriously hampered in giving effect to its statutory obligations of ensuring orderly and fair trading in securities and the protection of the investors interests by ensuring transparency regarding the activities of listed Public Companies through enforcing compliance with the continuing listing requirements.

The petitioner further states that as a result, the public interest is gravely affected as a consequence of investors and potential investors in the securities market being hampered in making informed decisions on their investments in the securities market and an element of uncertainty has been introduced to the operations of the Colombo Stock Market which in turn impacts on the investing public. The petitioner therefore states that unless the operation of the said judgement of Court of Appeal is stayed, grave and irreparable prejudice, loss and damage will be caused to the public interest, the petition concluded.

Dinesh calls for a newer set of politicians

The leader of the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, Dinesh Gunawardena, in an appeal sent out to voters, says that the “need of the hour is a newer set of politicians who are sincere in purpose, honest in their thinking and dynamic in action, qualities which I and my party members hold as sacrosanct values which we will never barter for anything.”

He calls on all patriotic citizens, no matter of what race or religion to join the MEP in building a nation that will be politically stable, economically strong and socially just and fair, with a vibrant democracy as its cornerstone.

His letter to voters points out that “our country has been brought to a very critical state of disarray today and is plunging speedily down the precipice. Predictably, to a situation of unprecedented political, economic and social turmoil and chaos.

“Even democracy is unrepentantly desecrated at a time when we count 51 years of Independence” states his appeal. “This is a freedom I have treasured both as a son of the soil and the son of Philip Gunawardena who, as you know, played a very important, brave and leading role in the national independence struggle.”

The political culture that has been bred and nurtured during the past three decades by the two main political parties, the UNP and the SLFP/PA that ruled this country alternatively for 51 years is at the bottom of it all, he says. They must take full responsibility for our present plight.

Even a single glance at the inner workings of the entire political, legislative, executive and administrative structures and the appalling state of the bureaucracy that has been pulverised and replaced by the politics of patronage, the malfunctioning of state institutions and departments, coupled with the breakdown of law and order would have at once signalled the shameful Wayamba episode.

The people, states Dinesh Gunawardena, have become helpless victims of global disorder and the destructive and corrupt politics of their own leaders.

Editors Guild elects office bearers

Mr. Sinha Ratnatunga, Editor of the Sunday Times, was unanimously re-elected President of the Editors Guild for the current year at a meeting held at the Trans Asia Hotel on March 22.

The Secretary, Mr. Bandula Padmakumara of the Lakbima, and the Treasurer Mr. Siri Ranasinghe of the Lankadeepa , were also re-elected unanimously.

In addition to these three office bearers, the following will serve on the Executive Committee: Messrs. Manik de Silva (Sunday Island), Victor Ivan (Ravaya), Mohanlal Piyadasa (Janata), Upali Tennekoon (Divaina) and Sivanesa Chelvam (Thinakural).

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