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Problems in creating PC vacancies for CMs

by Franklin. R. Satyapalan
The PA ran into unexpected rough weather in creating vacancies in the provincial councils for serving ministers and deputy ministers to become chief ministers. The problems in the Central and North Central PCs have been sorted out but there is no finality yet regarding the creation of vacancies in the Sabaragamuwa and Uva PCs.

One of the governors said that many provincial councillors dislike stepping down even though they will be compensated with a parliamentary seat as the tenure of the sitting legislature is coming to an end. "Staying on in the PCs assure them of a 5-year term and service in their home areas against an year in parliament," he said.

President Chandrika Kumaratunga will on Tuesday meet the SLFP Central Committee and PA Executive Committee to finalise the chief ministries and ministries in the five provincial councils won by the PA and government's May Day arrangements.

The ruling party ran into trouble in creating a vacancy for Minister Nandamitra Ekanayake to take up the chief ministry of the Central Province. Numbers one and two on the winning list were not willing to quit the PC to make way for him. Subsequently, Mr. Bandula Yalegama who topped Matale district list was pressured to make way.

The two members of the Central and NCP Councils who are making way for chief ministers were sworn ahead of their colleagues at Anuradhapura and Kandy last week. They have already sent in their resignations and the PA General Secretary D.M. Jayaratne will now set the necessary wheels turning to nominate Messrs. Berty Premalalal Dissanayake (whose wife quit her PC seat) and Nandamitra Ekanayake who fills Yalegama's place in the Central PC.

There was earlier a mistaken belief that the "outsiders" can be brought in on the bonus seats. The law does not permit it. They can only replace resigning members. But others held a different view. The government played safe by not using bonus seats to bring in designated chief ministers into the the various PCs.

Bonus seat appointments have been finalised with the PA constituents sharing them. Those who will come in are V.K. Gurubaran (SLFP) and Bandara Badanage (CP) to the Uva PC, Lal Wijayanayake (LSSP) and H.A. Ranasinghe (SLFP) to the Central PC, B.R. Siyambalapitiya (LSSP) and Ranjit Bandara (SLFP) for the Sabaragamuwa PC and S.M. Chandrasena (SLFP) and Abdul Cader (SLMC) to the North Central PC.

Opinion is divided on whether the PA's main May Day rally should be in Colombo or Matara. The LSSP favours holding a trade union rally in Colombo while the SLFP thinks it would be best to have a big political rally in Matara.

Meanwhile Mr. Susil Premajayanth has been invited by Western Province Governor K. Vignarajah to form an administration. No date or time has yet been set.

Messrs. Samaraweera Weerawanni, Nandamitra Ekanayake, Berty Premalal Dissanayake and Athauda Seneviratne are expected to resign from parliament on Tuesday.

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Rights violators to be "sent home"

IGP Lucky Kodituwakku went on record on Friday saying that those policemen found guilty of violating human rights by the courts will "have to go home." Responding to questions, he said so not once but twice at a press conference hosted by Justice Minister G. L. Peiris.

Will this mean that senior policemen like DIG T. V. Sumanasekera and SSP Bandula "Show" Wickramasinghe who were found guilty of violating Mr. Anura Bandaranaike's human rights and were asked to personally pay compensation are on the way out of the force?

Wickramasinghe, who now heads the Crime Detective Bureau, has been highly commended for the "good show" of the police team working on the G. C. Wickramasinghe kidnap case.

There are a large number of policemen in service convicted of human rights violations by the courts.

Sri Lanka express deep concern over Yugoslavia

COLOMBO, April 16 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the situation in Kosovo and other parts of Yugoslavia, particularly the reports of ethnic cleansing and the exodus of civilians, the foreign ministry said on Friday.

"Sri Lanka views with deep concern the deteriorating situation...particularly the reports concerning the practice of ethnic cleansing and the contrived exodus of civilians based in the unacceptable concepts of ethnic exclusiveness and secession," the statement said.

Sri Lanka believes the struggle against terrorism would be most effective when carried out in pursuance of the collective will of the international community in full conformity with principles of the UN Charter and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states, it added.

NATO has been conducting air strikes against Yugoslavia since March 24 in a bid to force the Yugoslav government to agree to a peace deal for Kosovo.

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Minority government?

When parliament meets this week, LSSP MP Vasudeva Nanayakkara plans to take his seat with the opposition. His party has threatened disciplinary action against him should he persist with his intention. Those who know Nanayakkara well say that it is most unlikely that he would relent.

Lalith Front MP Ravi Karunanayake, who had had sharp differences with Mrs. Srimani Athulathmudali is also expected to not subject himself to the government whip but act independently without moving from his present seat in the government side of the House. "I will act independently," he confirmed.

Although the government, with the support of the Tamil parties, has no problem about a majority in the legislature, observers point out that with Nanayakkara and Karunanayake (up to a point) shifting allegiance the government will become a minority as in terms of the party line-up, its majority is only one.

"Although it would technically be a minority government, the PA will command a comfortable parliamentary majority," political observers said.

Pakistani 'psychs' Lankan World Cup Squad

By Amal Jayasinghe
Colombo April 17 - Sri Lanka's out of form cricket team went off the field Friday and on to the couch for counselling ahead of defending the World Cup title next month in England.

The chief executive officer of the cricket board here, Dhammika Ranatunga, said setbacks at recent tournaments and last month's management crisis was seriously affecting team morale and they desperately needed fresh motivation.

"We have started a three-day session from today and it is conducted by a Pakistan psychologist, Omar Khan," Ranatunga said as players brushed aside a previously scheduled press conference and rushed off for counselling.

Ranatunga said the bitterly fought elections to the Board of Control for Cricket last month has created uncertainty among players and they needed professional help to focus on the game.

"We had arranged with Omar Khan prior to the cricket board elections," Ranatunga said. "Even before that we thought the players needed to be better motivated before they go for the World Cup in May."

Sri Lanka's team manager Dulip Mendis, however, played down the crisis at the cricket board which has now gone before a Colombo district court following allegations of malpractice at the elections held last month.

"I don't think the elections affected the players because we tried to keep them away from the management side and got them to concentrate on cricket," Mendis said adding that they were better prepared to defend the World Cup.

Ranatunga disagreed: "If I say that the crisis did not affect the morale of the team, then I am telling you a lie."

Mendis said the 15-member squad led by skipper Arjuna Ranatunga will have a "new strategy" to defend the World Champion title. "The new strategy will be revealed when we go to England," he said.

There had been widespread criticism that Sri Lankans were only good at chasing a target and had done little to change their tactics since winning the finals against Australia in March 1996 to clinch the World Championship title although they were considered underdogs at the time.

Mendis said Sri Lanka was confident of making it again and felt that the main challengers were Australia, Pakistan and South Africa.

Cricket Board CEO Ranatunga, who is an elder brother of skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, said he was hopeful Sri Lanka will make it to the semi-finals. "It is the team that is good on that day that will win," he said.

He said the Sri Lankan team has seen a marked improvement in their fielding following the induction of former Australian player Trevor Chappell to coach the team.

"What we found was that when we tried new players we did not too well and we were better off with the more experienced players," Ranatunga said. "That is why we have very senior and experienced players in the squad."

Most of the players in the squad are those who played in the 1996 World Cup but critics say that the ageing team was unable to meet the challenges of younger players fielded by rival nations. (AFP)

Hameed on talks with LTTE

Mr. A. C. S. Hameed, MP in a statement on "the meeting", with the LTTE, says 'One of the daily papers had given wide publicity to a story in the Elam-Nadu published in Paris about a meeting between me and the LTTE to be held in Paris and subsequently being cancelled. This news item is an absolute surprise to me since there was no such meeting arranged. Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham MP, sometime back urged me to re-establish my contact with the LTTE and explore the possibilities of starting a dialogue. In last December I had a meeting with Prince Aga Khan in Paris and I contacted Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham to get the telephone numbers of Mr. Manoharan who had succeeded Mr. Thilakar in Paris. When I was in Paris I called Mr. Manoharan but he was not available.

In February I was invited to meet Mr. John Hume who played a major role in the Northern Ireland negotiations and was awarded the Noble Prize. On my return from Belfast while in London I gathered that a delegation of religious dignitaries had visited Wanni and some of the LTTE sympathisers whom I met expressed interest in this visit and I told them that if I could be of any help in facilitating this development, I will be happy to do so. This news item about a meeting with the LTTE being arranged and cancelled has absolutely no base.

Telecom refuses to accept TRCSL recommendations

By Lishanthie Siriwardena
The implementation of the revised Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT) tariffs for this year is expected to be delayed as SLT has so far not accepted the new telephone rates approved by the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL), according to telecom sources.

The hike on call charges which was due to come into effect from May 1, 1999 has been put off at least until the end of that month as SLT has sought certain clarifications from TRCSL regarding the revised structure it has approved, the sources said.

SLT has sought a meeting with the Regulatory Commission over its determination on the domestic and international tariff revision proposals which was released by TRCSL on April 8, 1999.

There is doubt whether the targetted revenue could be achieved if the revised rates okayed by TRCSL are implemented, a SLT Telecomofficial said. However, according to TRCSL, the determination made by it stands as it was done only after verifying the data provided by SLT that the projected revenue for this year can be met by the new rates specified by the Commission.

SLT has sought a meeting to clarify certain matters in the determination, a TRCSL official said.

The Commission rejected a request by SLT to increase domestic call charges to Rs. 2.25 per unit of customers who exceed 200 units a month. Instead the Commission approved that the new call rate to be applicable only to those who exceed 500 units a month.

According to the TRCSL, users who exceed 500 units are around 30% of the customer base of SLT and they contribute the bulk of the revenue. Their decision aims to shield the majority of customers who consume less than 500, according to TRCSL.

The Commission has not approved most of the SLT proposals to increase rentals, including those for religious institutions, because the Company was not fully responsive to requests for more information in this regard, according to TRCSL.

The Commission only allowed an increase of business and official rentals to Rs. 300 per month. These users will enjoy a higher level of service protection, being entitled to a rebate of Rs. 25 per day starting on the date of reporting the fault, for faults that are not repaired within 3 days, the TRCSL stated.

The TRCSL has also determined that residential customers without self-supply of phones who will continue to pay Rs. 180 per month in rental and will be entitled to a rebate of Rs. 12 per day starting on the day of reporting the faults, for faults not repaired within 7 days.

The Commission also ordered SLT to reduce the current peak rates levied on Saturday afternoons.

The Commission approved, without change, SLT's proposals to reduce international calling charges by approximately 8% as a part of the Comapany's tariff rebalancing process.

As troops brace for battle in Wanni
Army continues to beef up elite units

The army continues to strengthen the elite Special Forces and Commando Regiments as troops prepare for major battles in the Wanni, highly placed military officials said on Friday.

The Special Forces Training Facility in the North Central province is expected to take in some 600 youth for grueling 10 1/2 month course beginning late this month.

"The entire in-take is not expected to 'survive' the rigid training," an officer said adding that approximately 200 will be able to complete the course.

Contrary to claims, reports and speculation, youth continue to join the security forces including Special Forces and Commando Regiments regularly, the officer said pointing out that they have been compelled to reject the majority who seek to join the ranks of the elite forces.

The military said that ten officers were among 308 Special Forces men who passed out from the Maduru Oya training facility on April 10. They were among 865 persons who applied to join the 24 course conducted at Maduru Oya. However many had dropped out from the training, considered one of the most difficult to complete.

The army had established three Special Forces Regiments that have participated in the on-going Wanni operations.

For operational purposes, they had been placed under the General Officer Commanding [GOC] 53 Division comprised commandos and air mobile battalions.Officers said that the presence of special forces and commandos increase morale among ordinary troops and also give the ground commanders the ability to strike swiftly.

However, in the past two years they suffered some heavy losses in fierce confrontations in the Wanni. They suffered their worst defeat when LTTE mounted a well prepared counter - assault west of the Vavuniya-Jaffna road over a year ago.

Over 150 officers and men were killed and a large number wounded in action-[SF]

Significant growth in Israeli arms sales to Sri Lanka

By Shamindra Ferdinando
Despite Sri Lanka's unilateral decision to close down the Israeli Interest Section in 1989 successive Sri Lankan governments continue to depend on Israeli arms industry for weapons, defence officials said. Israeli arms sales will continue to rise significantly, defence sources said.

Slain President Ranasinghe Premadasa ordered the closure of the Interest Section established during late President J.R.Jayewardene administration after a former member of the Israeli Intelligence Services alleged that his country trained members of the LTTE.

Mr. Bradman Weerakoon, the International Affairs Advisor during Premadasa's administration said that Israelis had been here twice. "Israelis were here in late 50s," Weerakoon said adding that they left only to return during Jayewardene administration but left again. He did not go into details.

However Sri Lankan armed forces continue to do business with Israelis. "We have offered more defence contracts to Israelis after the cloSignificantsure of the Interest Section" a senior officer said adding that there is a need to re -establish diplomatic links with the Jewish State.

Kfir ground attack aircraft, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles [UAVs] and different categories of naval craft were among the armaments acquired after the break in diplomatic relations. Kfirs remain the most advanced aircraft SL acquired so far while the UAVs called the Spy in the Sky give armed forces aerial pictures of LTTE positions.

Sri Lanka had also acquired Uzi Sub Machine Guns while receiving help in establishing rehabilitation facilities for wounded armed forces personnel.

Prior to that elite police commandos and other specialised units were given counter-terrorist training by Israeli experts both here and in Israel.

SL armed forces delegations travelling to Tel Aviv have to first fly to Bangkok to obtain visas and other travel documents from the Israeli embassy there. A four member SL Navy delegation will leave for Tel Aviv next week, an authoritative security official said on Friday. The delegation led by a commodore include two commanders involved in engineering and electrical work.

The delegation is scheduled to observe sea trials on two Super Dvora class Fast Attack Craft [FACs] built for the SL Navy. Four Super Dvora MK 11 Class were ordered from Israeli Aircraft Industries in early 1995. The first was delivered in November 1995 and the rest within the next year. The Super Dvoras equipped with 20 mm Rafael Typhoon guns and 12.7 Machine Guns are faster than the Dvora class FACs acquired first in early 1984 when other countries declined to assist SL armed forces. Four more were acquired two years later.

Defence sources said that despite political leaders ignoring the need to establish diplomatic relations with Israel, defence contracts with the Israelis are expected to grow. A high level navy delegation headed by a Rear Admiral visited Israel early this year to inspect a Multi Purpose Vessel [MPV]. If the navy goes ahead with the acquisition of the MPV it will be the first large vessel acquired from Israel. Twenty three such vessels are among 147 craft deployed against the LTTE now.

As part of the ongoing expansion of the navy, Sri Lanka will acquire two MPVs, two Israeli built Super Dvoras, 15 Inshore Patrol Craft, three heavy FACs and two Medium Patrol Boats [MPBs].

Defence analysts said that improvement of naval operations is the key to success against the LTTE. Israeli experts visit Colombo along with armaments ordered by the government and they have access to military facilities.

The Indian government which expressed concern over Israeli presence here in the middle of 80s established full diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv three years after Sri Lanka closed down the Israeli Interest Section. Diplomatic sources said that today high level Indian and Israeli armed forces delegation visits take place and Israel had offered to sell armaments including FACs.

Defence sources said that if Egypt, Jordan and India can establish diplomatic relations with Israelis and Palestinians and Israelis can sit at the same table there is nothing to prevent Sri Lanka from inviting the Israelis here. India's High Commissioner in Colombo Shri Shivhankar Menon had been one of India's first ambassadors to Tel Aviv after diplomatic relations were established in April 1992.

Island Capers
Pardon, your slip is showing

Yesterday's Daily News, preaching media ethics to the Divaina through the mouth of acting Media Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, had the following paragraph: "Meanwhile, Divaina yesterday published a press release issued by UNP General Secretary Gamini Athukorale which forced the Government to remove the deputy minister who gave protection for the soldier connected with the (G. C. Wickramasinghe - SI)) case."

Has a deputy minister actually been removed? We don't think so.

Also the acting minister has failed in his press release published in the Daily News to tell us whether a deputy minister had perchance used the services of a suspect in the case. He is clear that no part of the ransom money had been used for electioneering. Fine. But what about the rest of the story?

Nilabdeen gets special protection

by Shamindra Ferdinando
Veteran detective chief inspector M.M.Nilabdeen who survived a suicide bomb attack at Mount Lavinia on March 16 had been discharged from hospital. "He was home for Haj on March 29," a family source told The Sunday Island on Friday.

The wounded police officer responsible for a series of successful anti-terrorist operations had been provided with security. "We are not taking chances," a senior police officer said adding that Nilabdeen had been responsible for countering several key LTTE operations in the city.

IGP Lucky Kodituwakku and DIG H.M.G.B.Kotakadeniya were among many who visited Nilabdeen recovering from injuries suffered when a woman suicide bomber threw herself at his car near the Mount Lavinia police station. Nilabdeen is expected to return to service.

The abortive attempt and the subsequent investigations resulted in several arrests of perNilabdeen

sons involved in terrorist activity. Police was also able to recover some explosives as they bared identities of LTTE covert operatives living in areas north of Colombo. The arrested included one of the most senior LTTE intelligence operatives captured in the recent past.

Senior police officers admit privately that Nilabdeen had played a crucial role since his attachment to the Crime Detective Bureau [CDB] and is responsible for terrorist related investigations until the present administration gave into "anti-harassment" demands and crippled the organisation by interdicting Nilabdeen and another investigator and transferring the head of the unit.

However later Nilabdeen was recalled and placed incharge of anti-terrorist unit of the Mount Lavinia Division. The suicide bomber made an attempt on Nilabdeen's life when he was head of the Mount Lavinia anti-terrorist unit.

Peace rally calls all parties to give highest priority to peace

At a peace rally organised by the National Alliance for Peace, a resolution was passed calling upon all political forces in the country to give highest priority to the achievement of a lasting peace in Sri Lanka. To ensure this, the resolution states, there must be a political solution that ensures equal rights and opportunities for all sections of the community.

The resolution urges all political parties to place the common national interest and the cry of all the people against war and violence above narrow party politics and to enter into a dialogue to achieve an acceptable political solution that will end the war.

The first step towards this goal, the resolution states, is for the People's Alliance and the United National Party to develop a common approach to discussions with representatives of all sections of the Tamil and Muslim people.

The National Alliance for Peace also calls upon the leadership of all political parties to abandon the path of confrontational politics and co-operate for the common good of the country, specially on issues of national importance, following the example set by Nelson Mandela, who instead of seeking revenge sought the co-operation of the white minority rulers.

The Peace Rally was addressed by Ven. Athureliya Indraratane Nayake Thero, Rt. Rev. Bishop Kenneth Fernando, Rev. Iyappaswamy Sambasiva, Moulavi Suffian, Very Rev. Fr. Joe Wickramasinghe, Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, Prof. Tissa Vitarana, M. Kailasapillai, Ms. Sunila Abeysekera, Sunanda Deshapriya and others.

JVP warns Chief Minister (WP)

The JVP has decided to vote against the Western Province Council's 'policy statement' unless the party's proposals are included in the statement, according to the party's Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa. He said that the PA Chief Minister Susil Premjayanth has been so informed.

The JVP has proposed that not a single school in the Western Province should be closed, and that the police should not intervene in labour disputes.

It has also proposed that those who lost their jobs in the private sector and in the state sector should be re-employed and that a board should be set up to take up such decisions and to lay down the policy regarding industrial disputes.

It has also proposed improving conditions in all health institutions by supplying the necessary staff and medicines.

South Asian tea heavyweights get togther

By Amal Jayasinghe
Colombo, April 12 (AFP) - A powerful South Asian tea council is to be set up next month with the participation of the world's largest exporter, producer and consumer of the commodity, officials here said Monday.

Top industry officials as well as government policy-makers are due to hold the first South Asian Tea Council meeting in the Indian capital New Delhi in May, a Sri Lankan tea promotion official said.

The idea to organise the grouping emerged during bilateral tea talks between India and Sri Lanka, said Hasitha de Alwis, director at the Sri Lanka Tea Promotion Bureau.

The Tea Council will be under the official umbrella of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to promote joint marketing and research, de Alwis said.

SAARC groups Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. All SAARC members will be included in the council.

India is the world's largest producer and consumer of tea while Sri Lanka is the world's largest exporter. Pakistan is the world's third largest importer of tea after Britain and Russia.

"We are not going to be a cartel like the OPEC," de Alwis told AFP. We are organising this council because there are lot of possibilities for collaboration in marketing as well as setting quality standards."

The exact agenda for the South Asian Tea Council will be decided when they meet in New Delhi from May 5 to the 7, he said.

"There may be a lot of objections if we are to be a cartel. That is not the idea but we could easily agree on quality standards that no competing country or a consumer can complain about."

He said there were possibilities for the South Asian nations to concentrate their resources on target markets to promote tea and possibly make an impact in countries which are now predominantly coffee drinking.

Sri Lanka and India together account for about 60 percent of the world's black tea export market.

Prices have been falling steadily at the weekly Colombo Tea auction, the world's largest tea sale, since Russia stopped its heavy buying due to the rouble crisis in August.

The auction average in Colombo has fallen way below the average cost of production, driving many producers to the wall.

Kenya, which is competing with the two South Asian nations in the black tea market, boycotted a similar tea council which included producers outside the South Asian region.

The first-ever global tea producers' meeting here in April 1995 heard calls for unity to boost prices despite Kenya staying away from the talks. That council eventually failed to take off.

The abortive meeting was attended by India, China, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malawi and Sri Lanka while Iran, which is a major importer of tea, was attending the meeting as an observer.

Air force officer acts promptly on complaint
Ratmalana Galle road pavement barricades removed

Airmen who had barricaded a section of the pavement on the Galle road bordering the heavily-guarded Ratmalana airport, prohibiting pedest-rains from using it, have been ordered by a senior Air Force official to stop hampering civilian movements on a public thoroughfare. This obstruction by the SLAF had made life more difficult for harried road users, residents complained.

With movements along public roads in the vicinity of the Ratmalana air base, Kotalawala Defence Academy and the military transit camp restricted due to security reasons, the closure of a section of the pavement along Galle Road had added to the woes of road-users, they said.

Thousands of people, mostly weary factory employees use this stretch of pavement daily and its sudden closure about two weeks back had caused a great deal of bitterness, residents said.

Two armed airmen on either side of the barricaded pavement signalled pedestrians to cross the road and people were forced to walk along the centre island of the busy Galle Road at the risk of their lives, they pointed out.

Moreover, it was suicidal to be crossing the Galle Road in that manner during peak hours, they said.

The LTTE threat is understandable, but aren't people any longer entitled to walk at least on the pavement of the Galle road during broad daylight, residents queried.

When the 'Sunday Island' brought these complaints to the notice of SLAF base commander (Ratmalana), Com-modore Channa Gunaratne, he said he was unaware of this development. He maintained that a section of the Galle Road pavement had not been barricaded by airmen. People are advised by the air force personnel on duty to use the pedestrian crossing, he said.

When told that the 'Sunday Island' visited the scene and found the complaints by residents to be factual, Commodore Gunaratne said that perhaps it was done as a security measure at that time. After it was brought to his attention that this taboo on pedestrians by the SLAF was imposed about a fortnight ago and was continuing, the base commander assured that the matter will be gone into and necessary remedial action initiated.

True to his word, Commodore Gunar-atne directed that the barricades be removed immediately and civilians allowed to use this stretch of pavement without let or hindrance, as was done earlier.

A headquarters-based senior official said airmen on duty at this point had been ordered to search any suspicious characters, but ensure that the movement of road-users is not hindered. - (Suresh)

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'Jana Hamuwa' at Colombo Mayor's house

The Colombo Municipal Council yesterday held an "Avurudu Jana-Hamuwa", at the official residence of the Mayor.

This has been an annual feature since Mr. Karu Jayasuriya took over the mayoralty, and this year's event was the second of its kind. The 'hamuwa' organised by the Advisory Committee on Community Development and Socio-Cultural Integration was a virtual "open house" where those who wanted to meet their representatives at local government level were able to do so.

The invitation was not only to meet the councillors, but also to break bread with them. The members of the public who accepted the invitation and were present at the venue were treated to a traditional spread of kiribath, kevum, kokis, athirasa etc. This year too, Mr. Karu Jayasuriya was present at the function, but not as the first citizen but as a guest of honour. Mr. Omar Kamil who succeeded Mr. Jayasuriya just a week ago was seen playing the role of the host.

Municipal Councillor Eran Wickramaratne who is the chairman of the organising committee said that the underlying theme of the gathering was "social integration", which he hoped would be followed elsewhere. "We are also aware that events such as these will bring the politicians closer to the people. But this is not the principal reason," he said.

He said that over 3,000 persons across the political spectrum had attended the event last year. The event which started at 9 am continued until 12:30 pm. By 9:45 am as much as 500 persons had made their way to the Mayor's house.

There was seeming intermingling with members of the public wandering within the hall of the palatial residence where a table was laid with all the goodies. However, no member had gathered sufficient courage to seat himself on an upholstered chair in the company of invitees who had done so. Neither were they seen discoursing with those other than their own group.

The former and the incumbent Mayors welcomed those present. The public who queued up eagerly awaited an opportunity to offer a sheaf of betel and wish their representatives a "happy new year". A kindly former Mayor and incumbent one greeted them warmly. However, a punctilious official was seen directing the members of the public away from the main entrance, perhaps to make certain that the movement of traffic to and from the hall was not hindered. Another was seen handing out sheafs to betel leaves to those in the queue.

The eagerness and the joy registered on the faces of those in the queue was evidence enough that they were only too pleased to be greeted by the Mayor. It was clear that a large number of those who were present were also employees of the Colombo Municipal Council.

Asked if Councillors of all parties attended the event, Mr. Wickramaratne said that last year that had been the case, but was uncertain whether it was so this year. (S.W.)

Heavy festive demand pushes up price of eggs

By Himangi Jayasundere
A shortage of eggs in the market has pushed up prices, sources in the trade said.

The reason for the prevailing dearth is attributed to the heavy demand during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, they pointed out. The government has no intention of resorting to imports to meet market requirements at present, a senior Trade Ministry official said.

"There are no restrictions on the private sector to bring down eggs as this commodity does not need an import license. It is open for anybody to import", he said.

"Prices of eggs have been fluctuating for sometime but it will not be a permanent feature", the official added.

"If the government imports eggs at this juncture it will badly affect small-scale poultry farmers, the majority of whom run their business on bank loans", he said.

'One can do without eggs. It's not as essential as wheat or flour', he noted.

A spokesman for Christombu farm shops said an 'extra large' egg was being sold at Rs. 4/20 while that of a standard size fetched Rs. 3/50.

But elsewhere in the market prices had shot up to Rs. 5 each as the shortage continued, according to reports.

The two major players in the egg market are the Colombo Egg Centre and the Madawela Egg Centre. They are the main suppliers to the Pettah market.

A spokesman for Colombo egg centre said the shortage created by the festive season is expected to ease this week. 'With the New Year prices shot up and we focussed more on supplying the bakeries because it's only twice a year that they enjoy a demand of this nature for their products', he explained.

The scarcity arose because retailers wanted six to seven times more than the normal quantity. Although the maximum price of eggs was Rs. 4 (white) and Rs. 4.10 (brown), they were being sold in the market for a higher price by traders who are making use of the opportunity, the spokesman said.

Resigning to take up WPC appointments

From Reggie Goonewardene
Deputy Mayor of the Moratuwa Municipal Council Virantha Fernando (PA) and opposition leader Thompson J. Mendis (UNP) are due to resign to take office as members of the Western Provincial Council.

Next in line to fill the vacancies are Samson Oliver Fernando from the People's Alliance and Shantha Kumara Fonseka from the United National Party (UNP).

Ananda Kusumsiri (PA), a sitting member of the MC is tipped to be appointed deputy mayor.

PA sources claim that a division of opinion has emerged with a call to nominate a member of the LSSP as deputy mayor, because Virantha Fernando was from that party.

Samson Oliver Fernando was at one time a UNP member. He resigned and joined the SLFP in 1977 and represented the Indibedda seat.

Highest number of New Year accident patients

Around 900 patients had received treatment at the Colombo National Hospital during April 13-15 festive season, recording the highest number of casualties to be admitted during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year in recent years, Dr. Hector Weerasinghe, Director, Accident and Orthopaedic Service, National Hospital, told the 'Sunday Island'.

Dr. Weerasinghe said that of the injured, 250 were admitted for indoor treatment. Of them, 110 were transferred for treatment from other hospitals in the country. "These patients had sustained a wide range of injuries, including head injuries, broken legs and fractures", the director said.

The hospital was able to cope with the situation despite the unprecendented flow of casualties, Dr. Weerasinghe said.

The number injured who sought treatment during the same period last year was around 650.

Among this year's victims were seven persons who had suffered burn injuries from fire-crackers. "Five of the patients had minor burns on their fingers, but the other two had sustained severe injuries", Dr. Weerasinghe explained.(HDB).

Dr. C. R. Panabokke appointed new Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University

President Chandrika Kumaratunge has appointed Dhesamanya Dr. C. R. Panabokke as the Chancellor of Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Panabokke is a very distinguished son of Sri Lanka having excelled as one of the best soil scientists in Sri Lanka or for that matter in the whole world. He graduated with Honours in Chemistry from the University of Ceylon in 1949 and proceeded to the University of Adelaide, Waite Agricultural Re-search Institute in Australia where he completed his PhD degree in Soil Science in 1956, having been placed "proxime accesserunt" for Cuiross Prize for Scientific Research. He is a highly recognized specialist in Soil Science (Soil Survey, Land UseSurvey and Planning), Agro-Climatology and Agro-Ecology, Irrigation Agronomy and Management.

Dr. Panabokke has won several awards which included:

Natural Science Council Sri Lanka award for outstanding research for the year 1981/1982

The Presidential award of "VIDYA JYOTHI" in 1986 - the highest national award for a Scientist in Sri Lanka

Presidential award - "DESHAMANYA" in 1998 made by President Kumaratunga

The positions he held in Sri Lanka include, Head Dry Zone Research Institute, Maha Ilupallama (1956-1960), Head of Soil Survey Unit, Department of Agriculture & Irrigation (1960-l970), Director, Mahaveli Development Board (1970-1975), Head, Land use Division of the Irrigation Department (1970-1974), Director, Research, Department of Agriculture (1974-1979), Director (now designated Director, General) of the Department of Agriculture (1979-1982)

His assignments internationally include, Senior Research Fellow, International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) in the Hague in Netherlands in 1982-83, Irrigation Agronomist at the International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) (1982-83) and Senior Associate, Sri Lanka Field operation IIMI, Colombo 1989 to date. He has also served as a member of the Board of Governors of the International Board for Soil Research & Management (IBSRAM) from 1983-1989. Dr. Panabokke has to his credit more than 30 research papers in reputed international Journals, 35 Scientific papers presented at national and international workshops/conferences and has authored three text books on Soils of Sri Lanka. One of the most valuable publication he authored is "Soil Landscapes and Agro-Ecology of Sri Lanka" published by NARESA in 1997, a monumental work with 11 chapters and 220 pages. He has served as the President SECTION B, of the Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science in 1968, President of the Soil Society of Ceylon, 1974 to 1981, and is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, Sri Lanka.

Dr. Panabokke is an erudite scholar, an exceptionally talented world-renowned scientist and a thorough gentleman Sri Lanka has produced and his contributions to soil science and to agriculture in general in Sri Lanka is enormous and praiseworthy. There is no other better way of honouring him than his present appointment as Chancellor, of a relatively new and innovative centre of excellence in higher education - Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, headed by a dedicated Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dayanada Somasundara, the highest honorary position at the apex of academtc Institutions in the country. Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka will certainly benefit and flourish from his experience and guidance and Dr. Panabokke will certainly be another gem in the crown of this excellent seat of higher education.

Twelve children infected with Klepsilla bacteria at DMH

by Chittaranjan de Silva
Twelve children were diagnosed as being infected with 'Klepsilla bacteria' at the De Soyza maternity hospital within the last two months, medical sources said.

'Klepsilla bacteria' is dangerous because it could cause pneumonia, diseases of the digestive system and can even affect the brain according to these sources.

One of the main characteristics of this germ is its ability to form resistance to drugs and therefore complicates treatment, doctors said.

Doctors believe that the bacteria is transferred to the children by mothers via the vaginal tract. When a child is infected with a bacteria such as Klepsilla it is important that the child should be cared for in isolation as in diseases such as measles.

The sources revealed that the De Soyza maternity hospital is finding it difficult to provide special care in isolation due to the shortage of nurses. There are only 171 nurses in the hospital whereas 312 nurses are needed. The special care unit in the hospital cannot be fully made use of due to the lack of nurses, the sources added.

The nurses employed at the hospital are mainly those who are able to perform the duties of the midwife, the sources further said.

'The Island' learns that all the children infected by the Klepsilla bacteria have recovered and have been discharged.

New Year 'gift' cost Telecom more than Rs. 40 m

Sri Lanka Telecom's New Year 'gift' to its customers by way of free domestic calls on April 13 and 14 had generated talking to the tune of Rs. 40 million, a senior SLT official said.

However, the exact official figures of this calls spree by its customers on these two days, will only be known this week. "Millions of calls kept the lines buzzing and we are still processing the details as it involved concessionary IDD rates as well", the official said.

The new year free calls from SLT was a gesture specially meant for its low-users who keep their bills below Rs.500. SLT has customers numbering 100,000 who keep their bills below Rs. 500 using the low call rates of SLT. This offer was designed to support them, he said.

The number of units consumed free of charge during the SLT free domestic call offer on these two days 13 will be depicted separately on the April bill, according to this official.

In certain areas like Mt. Lavinia and Piliyandala, customers would have experienced difficulty in making calls due to the heavy load the avalanche of calls generated, but if they were patient they would have been able to get through, the SLT official said.

The free calls offer was valid only for calls within the SLT network.(LS)

National Film Corporation attempts to form 'new criteria' for film imports

by Chittaranjan De Silva
The National Film Corporation, in a bid to form the 'new criteria' as to what path it should follow in the future, has asked for the view of film importers, cinema owners and the general public before the 10th of May, 99, said Rajkumar Segarajasegaran, the President of the Chithrapata Anayanaya Karannange Sangamaya.

The Supreme Court recently held the National Film Corporation (NFC) guilty of violating the fundamental rights of the Film Importers Association (FIA) and asked the NFC to form the new criteria within six months from the day of the verdict.

There is hope for the movie-going public in the future since film importers and cinema owners will all be competing on a level playing field which promises equal opportunity to all and will result in better entertainment, he told a press conference at which members of the Cinema Owners Association were also present.

It is the NFC that decides which films are suitable to be imported and they also decide the cinema in which the film is shown. Film importers were forced to take legal action because the NFC was allowing Lakshmi Pictures to import used prints which were already run elsewhere in the world while the FIA was asked to import only brand new prints, Segarajasegaran said.

Providing brand new prints while being good for the industry, cost importers more and made it difficult to survive with competitors like Lakshmi Pictures since they were able to buy used prints at cheaper rates, he said.

The public was at the receiving end since they were not provided with good entertainment while having to pay handsomely to see movies, he pointed out.

"We would be happy if NFC could function in a fair and responsible manner", both the film importers and the cinema owners emphasised.

Mr. Nimal Kularatne, President of the Cinema Owners Association which represents around 150 cinemas out of 190 in the country said that it is dangerous to show used prints in theatres because when people are disgusted they even go to the extent of damaging the cinema hall where these films are screened.

Once these used prints are run in some cinemas they cannot be shown in the others and as a result outstation movie goers are disappointed, Kularatne added.

Army corporal shot dead: wife critically injured

An army corporal was shot dead and his wife critically wounded when an unidentified man opened fire on the sleeping duo at Bathigama, Polpithigama in the Kurunegala district around 2 am last Thursday, police said.

The victim was identified as Nishantha Senadeera (30).

The assailant had opened the window of the bedroom and fired at the couple killing the corporal on the spot, according to police.

The wife of the victim identified as Nalika Nandani (24) who was admitted to the Kurunagala base hospital is in a critical condition.

No suspects have been arrested so far by Polpithigama police which is conducting investigations. - (KKAW)

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