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Political solution must involve all parties including LTTE - Ranil

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe last week told the fund managers conference in Colombo that long-lasting peace required a political solution involving all parties concerned including the LTTE.

"We are under no illusion that peace will come overnight. Operations will most likely continue until there is a meeting of minds. But de-escalation is possible and therefore the process must start immediately,’’ he said.

Wickremasinghe said that it was essential that the two main parties co-operate on this issue. A bi-partisan approach is needed.

He said that this involved the implementation of the Liam Fox initiative - and if necessary have opposition leaders in the government. Third party facilitation may not be ruled out.

He also urged the necessity of asymmetrical devolution including a very large space to determine economic development of the region and an interim administration.

Wickremasinghe began his speech by saying that when he last addressed the foreign institutional investor community, the all share price index (ASPI) stood close to 1300. The exchange rate was about Rs. 48 to a US dollar. Today with the exchange rate at Rs.72, the ASPI is 570.

"When I address you the next time after taking over the government of this country, I assure you that the ASPI will be very much higher. It will be a continuing upward trend.

"Therefore the coming months are a good time to buy. There is value in our markets. My advice is to select the companies whose profitability will improve when I create an economic environment conducive for business and profits.’’

He noted that the prospects for the economy at present are reflected in a stock market with a number of stocks trading at a discount to the book value. He said that one of the first steps of a UNP government would be to get the economy moving again to regain competitiveness in global markets.

Wickremasinghe also said that liberalisation of the stock market was a corner stone of his strategy for industrialisation. His aim was to provide equity capital via the stock market to the industrial sector specifically and to the private sector in general.

"As a result Sri Lanka became the first market in South Asia to open its doors to foreign participation. Unfortunately, we have failed to maintain and build on the liberalisation I initiated. Market liquidity and capitalisation levels have failed to grow deterring foreign participation. The outflow of foreign funds continues unabated. I will reverse this process and allow the stock market to regain its dynamism,’’ he said.

Peace lobby: a hindrance to army’s effort in North-East says Prof. Kalpage

by Saman Indrajith
Many scholars, philosophers, constitutional and legal experts aired their views on the alternative constitutional proposals put forward by the National Joint Committee (NJC)at a seminar held yesterday at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

The seminar was organized by the NJC that comprises 46 organizations concerned about the inter-ethnic harmony and territorial integrity.

Secretary of the NJC, Dr. Piyasena Dissanayaka said that a substantial section of local population has rejected the Government’s devolution package as well as the counter proposals of the UNP. Many people have pointed out that although these proposals had been rejected as unsuitable, no one had come up with alternative proposals.

"The Sinhala Commission took up this challenge and produced an alternative set of constitutional proposals some months ago. NJC had publicized these alternative proposals, and many Tamil and Muslim political leaders as well as leading Sinhala organizations have commented on these," he said.

Chairman of the Sinhala Commission S. W. Walpita said that the package of constitutional proposals by the Government will harm the sovereignty of the country. He said, "Those proposals have been made to satisfy a minority population. If they are implemented it will be a great injustice for the majority of the country."

"Certain minorities that want to see the division of the country need the implementation of proposals by the Government. They want to divide this country into several mini-states," he said.

President of the Jathika Sangha Sabha, Maduluwawe Sobhitha thero said that the Tamil terrorists have formed an opinion among other nations in the world that the Sinhalese harass them. "Many politicians say that we have a racial or ethnic problem, but it is not so, but a terrorist problem. We waited till our political leaders solved this problem. We have waited enough, now it is time for a national movement to save our nation," he said.

Former Secretary to the President K. H. J. Wijedasa said that a constitution is the basic law of a country. "When president J. R. Jayewardene’s Government brought the constitution with executive presidential system, Dr. N. M. Perera said that it was a hotchpotch of US and French constitutions. He said that very soon we would see a dictator in the garb of the executive president. It has really happened," he said.

Mr. Wijedasa had defined the constitutional proposals by the NJC as an attempt to restore the parliamentary system. "The confrontational politics and divisive party politics will end if these proposals can be implemented," he added.

Prof. Nandasena Rathnapala of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura said that both major political parties do not worry about the Sinhalese but only about the minorities. "They know that the Sinhalese will vote for them. They are afraid only of loosing minority votes," he said.

Party politics have divided our nation, he said.

Gunadasa Amarasekera, a famous author addressing the seminar said that a constitution that leads to division of the territory and to conflict is just a piece of paper without any value.

Former Sri Lankan Ambassador to the UN and UNP Working Committee member, Prof. Stanley Kalpage, said, "The whole country should be the motherland of those who call themselves Sri Lankans. Any part of the country cannot be broken up. Any constitution which fails to achieve that is of no use."

"Prof. Peiris and peace beggers with slogans are on roads. Do they know that Prabhakaran will not give up his dream of a separate land in the name of peace?"

"There is a group who say let’s negotiate with terrorists. They are undermining the attempts and the dedication of the army who try to save the country".

"If peace is needed, let’s stop war today. However, tomorrow we have to give one part of our country to Praphakaran", he said.

Prof. Kalpage further said that the problem lies where the minotiries do not like to accept that they are the minority. "Statistics clearly shows who the majority and who the minority are. How can a minority say that we are equal to majority?" he asked.

Exports head for record falls — Exporters’ Association

by Amal Jayasinghe
COLOMBO (AFP) — Sri Lanka’s exports are falling sharply and headed for a record contraction this year amid deteriorating foreign reserves and an increasing debt service burden, a prominent trade forum said Tuesday.

Exports in the first seven months of the year fell 10.9 percent as the agricultural, industrial and mineral sectors posted alarming declines, the Central Bank admitted in its latest statistical report.

However, the Bank’s director of economic research R. A. Jayatissa said he expected overall exports to recover somewhat to end the year at minus three per cent — an optimistic assessment with which exporters do not agree.

Imports also fell sharply by 12.2 per cent in the first seven months with investment goods showing an even greater decline of 16.5 per cent indicating slower economic activity.

The bank forecasts imports to increase five per cent by the end of this year compared to a modest growth of 0.5 per cent last year.

The Central Bank also forecasts exports to grow 10 per cent in two years after this year’s decline. It expects Gross Domestic Product this year to grow 4.0 per cent compared to an expansion of 4.7 per cent in 1998 and 6.3 per cent in 1997. Sri Lanka’s main exporters’ forum disagrees with Central Bank predictions.

The Exporters Association of Sri Lanka said the overall decline in exports this year was expected to be around a record 10 per cent although tea prices showed a remarkable improvement in the past four weeks.

"This is perhaps the first time since 1978 we are seeing a negative exports growth", said the association’s President Lyn Fernando. "We have been asking the government to take corrective measures, but nothing has happened."

Fernando said the apparel sector which had always seen positive growth was also showing a fall for the first time ever as it lost out to competition from East Asian countries.

"Going by the trends so far we don’t think that the Central Bank figure of three percent negative growth in exports will hold," Fernando said. "We think that by the end of the year exports would have fallen by about 10 per cent."

The exporters say they appreciate the government’s constraints in going in for a one-stroke currency devaluation as it would raise local prices. But there are other areas of labour and productivity that could be addressed.

The Sri Lankan rupee has been slowly losing its value and last year depreciated nearly 10 per cent against the dollar. For exporters, the rate is still insufficient to be competitive.

The Central Bank says it has brought inflation under control and eased pressure on lending rates by cutting back the statutory reserve requirement for commercial banks.

However, industrialists say the 25 to 30 per cent temporary overdraft rates were still too high for them to be competitive.

On the brighter side, Sri Lanka’s trade balance has narrowed to 641 million dollars in the first seven months of the year compared to deficit of 771 million dollars in the corresponding period last year.

External reserves are still a source of worry. At the end of July, Sri Lanka’s total external assets stood at 2,610 million dollars, down 10.2 per cent from the 2,907 million dollars enjoyed at the end of 1998.

The external assets were sufficient to finance five months of imports as at the end of July compared to 5.9 months of imports in 1998.

Sri Lanka’s external debt servicing ratio was also up 11.6 per cent compared to 11 per cent last year.

PA, UNP clash in Berlin over July 15 attack on MPs

by Shamindra Ferdinando
The PA and the UNP would clash in Berlin this week when the 162-country International Parliamentary Union [IPU] probes Sri Lankan Presidential Security Division’s [PSD] alleged involvement in the July 15 attack on opposition MPs during anti-government protests in Colombo, political sources said on Friday.

The IPU’s high profile five member Human Rights Commission would meet for a week beginning today [10] at Berlin’s International Conference Centre where number of cases involving threats, harassment and intimidation of politicians around the world would be taken up for discussion, the sources said.

The Commission comprises five countries including Sri Lanka. During the week long sessions, both the President and the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany would be visiting the Centre.

The UNP had sent Working Committee member and Ratnapura district MP Nanda Mathew to present its case before the Commission while the government would be represented by Deputy Minister and Matale district MP Monty Gopallawa, the sources revealed.

The UNP would seek IPU’s condemnation of the attack claiming that it was a ruthless attempt by the PSD to crush protests against corrupt rule. The government in turn would point out that the incidents were provoked by the UNP and police were investigating these provocative actions of the opposition.

Political sources believe that Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s recent admission that the PSD attacked the protesters to prevent them from entering the high security zone of the Temple Trees would be damaging to the government case.

Kalutara district UNP MP and IPU’s Asia-Pacific Representative of the Commission Mahinda Samarasinghe before leaving for Berlin told The Sunday Island that everything would depend on the complaints and other evidence produced by the UNP and whether these are admissible. The IPU, Samarasinghe said, could go public with its findings or initiate a confidential dialogue with the PA government to ensure that July 15 type incidents do not take place again. The IPU position with regard to UNP’s case would be known by the 16th.

Samarasinghe said that he would not be taking part in the discussions when the Commission probes the UNP’s complaints. He was appointed in April last year to his IPU position after he secured 131 votes against PA’s Deputy Minister Anura Priyadhashana Yapa. Yapa polled only 11 votes.

Speaker K. B. Ratnayake would not be attending the Berlin conference. He would be represented by Deputy Speaker Anil Moonesinghe.

Samarasinghe said that on the instructions of the UNP Parliamentary Group, eight MPs including Mrs. Renuka Herath had written to the IPU detailing the unprovoked assault on them and hundreds of party supporters during anti-government protests. They had also provided photographs taken during the violent break-up of the protests and copies of their statements to Colombo police.

Soon after that the Geneva headquarters IPU wrote to Sri Lanka’s Speaker requesting him to provide details of the incident.

Samarasinghe said that IPU’s next President would be selected at the end of the Berlin sessions. Asked to comment on the candidates, he said that India’s Speaker appeared to be the leading candidate.

Rift with SLMC could be resolved — D. M. Jayaratne

by Chittaranjan de Silva
People’s Alliance (PA) General Secretary D. M. Jayaratne yesterday expressed confidence that the rift with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) could be resolved through negotiations during the central committee meeting which is scheduled to be held shortly.

Relations between the ruling PA and the SLMC, a key coalition have been soured following a verbal exchange between the SLMC leader, Port Development Minister M. H. M. Ashraff and Education Minister Richard Pathirana.

Minister Jayaratne told the ‘Sunday Island’ that the matter has been blown out proportion. "This is a only small problem we are faced with. We have discussed and solved more complicated issues in the past and I am confident we will be able to solve this one too", he said.

Minister Ashraff appearing on television recently was anxious to know whether the views expressed by Minister Pathirana were shared by other members of the Alliance as well.

Jayaratne pointed out that Ministers sometimes express their own views and these cannot be classified as that of the PA. ‘I don’t think that these views expressed sometimes by SLFP ministers could be categorised even as those of the party they represent’, he said. Asked whether PA Ministers were not co-operating with the SLMC, Minister Jayaratne said "but the President is co-operating with them. Isn’t this sufficient?"

President meets with MPs to discuss violence

By Shan Wijetunga
Expressing concern over the escalating scourge of underworld violence in Colombo, President Chandrika Kumaratunga last Friday told a group of PA MPs that she will consider a proposal by them to appoint a top level security committee to tackle this growing menace, political sources said.

Five PA Parliamentarians, Dixon J. Perera, Kesaralal Gunasekera, C. B. Ratnayake, Nandasena Herath and Sugathadasa Senarath had a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with the President at Temple Trees last Friday night to discuss three principal issues relating to the squabbles that had erupted between the PA and the SLMC and certain other coalition partners, increased underworld activity in the city and the importance of providing enhanced security to vulnerable border villages. They also stressed the necessity for a fresh image-building exercise for the PA in the wake of the forthcoming polls.

Initially, 14 PA MPs were scheduled to take part in the discussion with the President, but only five of them turned up, these sources said.

The Parliamentarians had said that certain politicians and police officers were patronising underworld figures and the situation had turned so explosive that in areas like Maligawatte people even feared to walk on the road. These armed goons were fighting gun battles on the streets and had become a menace to the peace-loving populace, they had pointed out.

President Kumaratunga had said that she had also received complaints about such underworld activities in the city and had discussions with the law enforcement authorities to curb this threat. Action is being taken, she had assured them.

Referring to the continuing rift between the SLMC and the PA and with some of the other coalition parties, the Parliamentarians had said that it’s important to resolve such disputes and preserve the unity of the PA. If their demands are reasonable, they should be granted for the greater good of all those concerned, they had told the President.

To protect vulnerable border villages, they had suggested the formation of security co-ordination committees headed by an MP of that particular area. At present there is no proper co-ordination among the security sectors involved and it’s the absence of a close rapport that delayed the army reaching the village of Gonagala which came under LTTE attack. Army detachments and units which were dismantled in the Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts must be re-established to ensure the safety of people living in these border hamlets, they said.

They had also requested the President to appoint such security committees in the upcountry plantation areas where the LTTE had infiltrated and is now active.

The parliamentarians had complained that certain bureaucrats were tarnishing the image of the government and a fresh boost for the PA is required in the face of the forthcoming elections.

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Top cop under fire?

A group of senior police officers had urged IGP to take disciplinary action against senior DIG H. M. G. B. Kotakadeniya for making some damaging remarks over TNL’s weekly Janahanda programme on October 4, headquarters sources said yesterday.

The programme was a live debate on the continuing wave of underworld activity and the rise in crime rate.

"Many had objected to Kotakadeniya’s utterances," an officer said last night adding that at least two senior officers including a DIG had already made written complaints with regard to the interview.

Kotakadeniya, a former DIG Colombo had been openly critical of some of his colleagues over the handling of violence linked to the underworld.

A few years ago, he lost the post of DIG Colombo after the CWC leadership urged the government to remove him over alleged harassment of Tamils during anti-terrorist operations.

The following is the text of headquarters statement issued through the Information Department yesterday:

The TNL on Friday announced the calling for explanation of H. M. G. B. Kotakadeniya, Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police by the Inspector General of Police. However, it did not portray to the Public the correct version and could have given a misinterpretation.

It is correct that the explanation of the Senior DIG H. M. G. B. Kotakadeniya and Senior Superintendent of Police Bandula Wickremasinghe had been called as they had appeared before the Electronic Media in contravention of Police Headquarters Circular Reference Number C7/1801/97 dated 07.06.1999 paragraph (6) which reads thus:

"It should also be noted that no officer should make any interview with the Electronic Media without the specific permission of the Inspector General of Police."

This also contravene the instructions laid down in the Establishment Code which applies to all government officers. It has therefore to be clearly stated that his explanation has been called not for appearing before the TNL, but, appearing before the Electronic Media without obtaining the prior approval of the Inspector General of Police as required by all officers.

It is necessary for the Head of the Department to know about any release as at times Officers appear before the media unprepared and give wrong versions which would not only impair the image of the police force but, the images and reputations of other officers as well. Two senior officers have in fact complained to the I.G. Police regarding this interview, and many officers have shown their displeasure on some utterances made at the interview.

Kotakadeniya says police will do what they are requested to do

by Kalinga Weerakkody
Police have deployed special intelligence units in up country region to curb the threat of LTTE activities in the hill country, senior DIG H. M. G. B. Kotakadeniya in charge of Crimes, Criminal Intelligence and Organised Crime, said yesterday.

He said that in the recent past, as a result of LTTE activity, several bomb blasts took place causing death and destruction. In some alert police and security personnel had been able to thwart the planting of explosive devices to destroy public property.

Several Tigers who had arrived in the up-country plantations from the North-East had been rounded up by the police, DIG Kotakadeniya said.

Some of these activists had been caught with large amount of explosives in their possession. Recently, 43 kgs of high explosives was found in Madolsima, Badulla which led to the arrest of several suspected LTTE cadres, he said.

When asked whether the police would be able to carry out their duties as they wish without any political influences or ruthless transfers which were experienced by the former police personnel Pujitha Jayasundara he said that ‘police will do what they are requested to do.

Meanwhile last Thursday Hatton police arrested two suspected LTTE members who were loitering near the Hatton central bus stand. OIC (Crimes) of Hatton police, Inspector S. D. Wijesekara said that the two suspects are residents of Jaffna and Trincomalee.

Police are now questioning them.

Stop sale of duty free liquor and tobacco IOGT tells President

International Organisation of Good Templars (IOGT) said that the sale of duty free liquor and tobacco and the advertising of liquor and tobacco at all points of entry to Sri Lanka and as well as other countries should be stopped.

The following is the text of a communique issued by IOGT’s Regional Chairman Olcott Gunasekera after last week’s regional assembly held in Colombo.

The following three resolutions were passed at the Seventh Regional Assembly of IOGT Regional Council for South and South-East Asia that was concluded on October 02, 1999.

In view of the alarming increase of alcohol consumption in the region, due to the activities of the industry, which is affecting the health, productivity and family well-being of the peoples of the region the IOGT Regional Council for South and South East Asia, with member organizations in Bangladesh, India, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, that met at its Seventh Regional Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 02, 1999 resolves that the World Health Organization through its South East Asia Regional Office implements an Action Plan on Alcohol for this region, similar to the European Action Plan on Alcohol and that the recommendations in respect of alcohol of the Regional Consultation on a policy framework and plan of action for tobacco and alcohol control held in Bangkok in October 1998 be placed on the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the Regional Committee of Health Ministers.

In view of the alarming increase of alcohol consumption in the Region, due to the activities of the industry, which is affecting the health, productivity and family well-being of the peoples of the Region the IOGT Regional Council for South and South East Asia with member organizations in Bangladesh, India, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, that met at its Seventh Regional Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 02, 1999. Resolves liquor in all forms, namely, spirits, wines and malt products, and all raw material and machinery for production of alcoholic beverages, be excluded from any trade concessions under WTO, SAPTA and SAFTA and that this resolution be sent immediately to Chandrika Kumaratunga, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the current Head of SAARC, all Heads of Governments of the SAARC Region and the SAARC secretariat for suitable action.

In view of the alarming increase of smuggling of alcohol products and the increase in alcohol consumption in the region the IOGT Regional Council for South and South East Asia, with member organizations in Bangladesh, India, Japan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam, that met at its Seventh Regional Assembly in Colombo, Sri Lanka on October 02, 1999 resolves that sale of duty free liquor and tobacco and the advertising of liquor and tobacco at all points of entry to a country be abolished, as has been done in the countries of the European Union, and the allowable amount of liquor and tobacco to be imported per person even after the payment of customs and other levies be controlled.

India sends Vice Chief of Army Staff for army’s 50 anniversary

India yesterday sent Vice Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Chandra Shakar to attend Sri Lanka Army’s 50th anniversary celebrations in Colombo today [10].

Lieutenant General Shakar, the second in command is the senior most Indian armed forces officer to visit Colombo since March 1990 when India ended her disastrous peace keeping operations in the North-East Sri Lanka.

India last week informed the army headquarters that the Chief of Army Staff General V. P. Malik would not be able to attend the celebrations in view of certain operational commitments, a senior aide to Sri Lankan army commander Lieutenant General Srilal Weerasooriya said yesterday. Along with Lieutenant General Shakar the Chiefs of Army Staff of Pakistan and Bangladesh would attend today’s parade at the Galle Face Green and the anniversary dinner later in the day.

A Bangladeshi High Commission spokesman yesterday said that Lieutenant General Mohammed Mustafizur Rahman, BB arrived here accompanied by his wife. The visiting Pakistani and Bangladeshi Chiefs of Army Staff are the senior most officers to visit Colombo since the eruption of the North East war.

Military officials said that troops had launched a massive operation to prevent possible LTTE attacks on key camps, installations and VIPs Saturday and Sunday. Authorities took additional security measures in Colombo and suburbs as President Chandrika Kumaratunga flew to Seeduwa yesterday morning to declare open a hospital built in memory of her slain actor turned politician husband Vijaya Kumaratunga.

The two helicopters that took the presidential party were kept less than 200 meters away from the hospital situated at Seeduwa on the Colombo - Negombo road. Security authorities used British built double decker buses to cover the entire front side of the hospital in view of the threat posed by the LTTE.

These double deckers imported during the previous administration were placed to prevent outsiders from seeing the movements within the hospital during the President’s stay there. This is the first time double decker buses were used as part of the "defences" against a possible terrorist activity.-[SF]

Sri Lanka seeks waiver of legal fees over Ranatunga episode

Sri Lanka Friday expressed confidence that the International Cricket Council (ICC) will drop a demand for legal fees over former skipper Arjuna Ranatunga’s spat with an umpire in Australia.

The head of the Sri Lanka Board of Control for Cricket, Rienzie Wijetilleke said he expected the ICC to drop the matter and accept the explanation offered by him.

"We have had lengthy discussions on this matter and we have also sent an explanation," Wijetilleke said. "We are confident that the ICC will waive off the amount".

He declined to say how much the ICC had asked Sri Lanka to pay but said it was on a matter of principle that Sri Lanka wanted the matter to be dropped. The fee is reported to run into tens of thousands of dollars.

The issue is to be taken up during a meeting next week of the ICC in Sharjah, Wijetilleke said.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board has been asked to justify its challenge to the ICC Code of Conduct that allowed Ranatunga to escape misconduct charges and dissent after he threatened to lead his team off the field in Adelaide.

The successful legal challenge was the first time any cricket nation had refused to accept the decision of an ICC umpire and broke a "gentleman’s agreement" among cricketing nations.

The ICC is still re-writing the code after its shortcomings were exposed by the case.

The new code will legally bind players contracted to a Test country to adhere to the rules.

Ranatunga, who was sacked as captain after the country’s dismal performance at the World Cup in May, argued angrily with umpire Ross Emerson and held up play for 14 minutes.

The drama went on with discussions with administrators in Colombo by mobile phone after off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan was called for throwing in a one-day against England in Adelaide in January. (AFP)

Gang operating from BIA held for rape of returning housemaid

by Shamindra Ferdinando
Police recently bared the possible involvement of gangs operating outside the Bandaranaike International Airport [BIA] in a series of rape cases after the arrest of six persons during a recent raid in the Dambulla police area, law enforcement officers said on Friday.

Their modus operandi was simple.

They operate with BIA’s Taxi Service and accept to transport returning housemaids to far away towns and villages, sometimes in operational areas. A section of the Taxi Service which get hires to transport returning housemaids in turn give these hires to gangs operating in the Katunayake and Negombo for a lesser fee, police said.

The "transfer" of women takes places just outside the BIA.

Police said that on the way home, the women are told of the dangers of travelling in the night particularly in the North-East region, North Central and Wayamba Provinces. "Then they suggest that they [the women] should stay at a guest house for the night," a police officer said adding that after that these men force their way into rooms and molest the women.

Police believe that many victims do not complain. "They don’t want their families to know about their ordeal and keep quiet," the officer said pointing out that the recent arrest of some of these persons would probably shed light on many more such cases.

Dambulla police raided a private guest house after an informant told police of the presence of six men and four women there. The informant appeared to have identified the group as LTTE operatives. They had come there in three vehicles.

Dambulla police had rushed an armed party to surround the guest house. The police party which moved in, in search of terrorist suspects came across a woman being molested by two men and efforts by four other members of the gang to harass three other women. The women had said that the four of them paid the BIA Taxi Service almost Rs. 40,000 for taking them to their homes on the same day. But soon after leaving the BIA, the drivers of those vehicles had handed them over to the persons found at Dambulla.

Inspector Gamini Meegahakumbura of the Dambulla police station on Friday confirmed the raid on the guest house. Quoting the District Medical Officer [DMO], he said that of the four housemaids, one had been raped by two members of the gang. "Others escaped because we moved in time," he said adding that all four women, residents of Valachchenai, Polonnaruwa and Nilaveli had been sent to their homes.

The two rapists had been produced before Dambulla Magistrate Senpathi Lalith Senanayake and remanded till next Wednesday.

The IP said that all three vehicles had been detained for further investigations and inquiries are continuing under the directions of ASP W. G. Premadasa.

Police said that there had been many cases involving these gangs operating out of the BIA. Sometime ago, there were reports of some of the gangs forcing returning housemaids to pose in the nude for photographs.

Controversy surrounds the activities of some of the gangs involved in taxi hires as there was evidence to suggest that they were involved in killings, illegal use of firearms and number of other cases including the sale of duty free goods.

Terrorist commits suicide

An LTTE terrorist on Friday [8] morning committed suicide by taking cyanide when troops patrolling Chavakachcheri market area tried to capture him, an army spokesman said yesterday. Troops on patrol had asked him to produce his identity card, he had tried to get away. However, troops had managed to capture him only to see the suspect biting the cyanide capsule hidden within his mouth, the spokesman said.

The terrorist who committed suicide at Chavakachcheri was among seven terrorists killed during Friday in operations conducted north of Nedunkerni and Valanikulam.

Meanwhile, troops during a limited clearing operation in the general area Peraru jungles on Friday had found parts of communication sets, one black and white television and several other items.

Special police groups to track down underworld gangs

by Shamindra Ferdinando
Police, reeling under a wave of killings involving underworld gangs operating in Colombo, last week decided to set up six special groups to hunt these gangs, senior police officials said on Friday.

These underworld groups are involved in the highly profitable narcotics trade, prostitution, smuggling goods through Bandaranaike International Airport and the Colombo harbour, raids on ships anchored off the Colombo coast and contract killings.

Over the years these groups had attracted some members of Tamil groups which "work" with the government security forces.

Police said that special teams tasked with "attacking" underworld groups would operate in Nugegoda, Mount Lavinia, Gampaha, Kelaniya, Negombo divisions and the Colombo range affected by the majority of cases linked to various underworld groups.

IGP Lucky Kodituwakku last Thursday told a headquarters meeting that every effort should be made to combat organized crime. After discussions involving senior DIG H. M. G. B. Kotakadeniya and DIG Ranges, T. E. Anandarajah, S. G. Randeni and R. K. L. Karunasena, the IGP has decided to set up strike forces with orders to "destroy" the underworld.

Early this year Kotakadeniya admitted that some police officers were involved with underworld figures. Both PA and UNP politicians had been accused of employing the underworld figures as bodyguards.

During last week’s conference, the IGP, a highly placed official promised to provide officers, men, vehicles and weapons necessary to conduct operations.

DIGs, T. N. de Silva, N. K. Illangakoon and Jayantha Wickremeratne would be in-charge of the strike forces, he said.

Late last month two gunmen attacked a car killing six armed youth near Delkanda junction. Ongoing inquiries have revealed that both the dead and the attackers had belonged to powerful groups which maintained links with some politicians. Investigators had so far arrested 15 persons, almost all of them connected with those who died near Delkanda junction. Interestingly, a bullet proof vest [body armour] the type usually used by politicians and the armed forces top brass had been found by the investigators. Police believe that the vest belonged to one of the persons who died in the attack.

Apart from the six killings, at least four other members of prominent underworld groups were shot dead in the past few weeks. All of them were killed while travelling in three wheelers, police said.

However, it was not clear whether the newly established police strike forces would be able to eliminate these groups. Headquarters a few months ago, directed the Crime Detective Bureau CDB and the Criminal Investigation Department to conduct an all out campaign against the underworld. There were reports of the establishment of a 40 member team to fight the organized crime. Police privately admit that nothing was done.

Before that President Chandrika Kumaratunga summoned the police top brass to Temple Trees and ordered an all out crackdown on crime. Even after the presidential directive dozens had been killed in violence linked to underworld groups.

High-tech glass case to house miraculous statue

A modern high-tech security glass case to house the over 600 year old miraculous statue of Our Lady of Madhu donated by UNP MP Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena will be displayed at the Nicholas Marcus Hall, next Sunday (17).

Fr. Oswald B. Firth, Director of Centre for Society and Religion said that the Sacred National Shrine of Madhu needs no lengthy introduction. It is a place of worship that continues to command the respect and devotion not only of the entire Catholic community, but of those of other faiths as well. The over 600 year old miraculous statue of Our Lady of Madhu, enshrined in the Sylvan Sanctuary of the Wanni, is venerated as a national treasure that needs to be reverently preserved for posterity. Even at a time when our country is experiencing the deadly ravages of war, the sacred shrine of Our Lady of Madhu continues to be a symbol of peace and a point of convergence for all people, irrespective of their race, social status or cultural origins.

With the sincere intention of preserving this precious and historic legacy for future genrations, a devoted Catholic parliamentarian, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene, has taken the initiative to present a modern high-tech security glass case to house this sacred statue. Before this glass case is taken in pilgrimage to the Madhu Shrine, it will be displayed at the Nicholas Marcus Hall, situated in the premises of St. Mary’s Church, Grand Street, Negombo, soon after the Eucharistic celebration in the morning of the 17th of October 1999 (Sunday).

Prior to the pilgrimage leaving for Madhu, where the glass case is to be deposited, Rev. Father Pinto will conduct a prayer service at the Don Bosco Training Center in Negombo. The pilgrimage is scheduled to leave Negombo around 1.30 p.m. and reach Chilaw by 3.00 p.m. to solicit the blessings of the Bishop of Chilaw on the pilgrims. From there, the pilgrims will proceed to the Anuradhapura Cathedral for a Prayer Service around 6.30 p.m.

The pilgrimage will be reaching the Madhu Shrine around 11.30 a.m. on the 18th of October 1999 (Monday), where Bishop Rayappu Joseph, Bishop of Mannar, will receive the protective glass case, which is to house the statue of Our Lady of Madhu. The Christian faithful are graciously invited to participate in this pilgrimage.

Man - the only threat to jumbos

By Amal Jayasinghe
COLOMBO — Sri Lanka’s long-running Tamil separatist conflict is not just a story of human suffering.

Wild beasts, especially elephants, have fled southward to escape the bloody fighting in the island’s northeast, but they may be heading for further trouble, according to environmentalists.

When four wild elephants were electrocuted in June in a tear-jerking tragedy, the Tamil war was blamed.

One young male elephant had first touched a high-voltage line in the eastern district of Batticaloa before his three companions got electrocuted themselves while attempting to save him.

The authorities said the lines were dangerously low because Tamil Tiger rebels had sabotaged a power pylon, causing the wires to sag. Workman fear attacks from the guerrillas and neglect regular checks on the high-tension wires.

The four were among some 100 wild pachyderms who violently lost their lives in the first eight months of this year says Jayantha Jayewardene, Trustee of the Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust.

"Last year alone 131 elephants were killed and in the previous year the figure was 115," Jayewardene said. "The trend is clearly an increase in the number of attacks on elephants. Two were killed last week".

That elephants are suffering so much is surprising in a country where the animal is revered as a sacred beast which carries Buddhist relics at religious festivals.(AFP)

Jayewardene said the rapid decline in the elephant population, down now to around 3,000, was not just caused by the separatist war led by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Jumbos who escape mortar bombs, artillery guns and anti-personnel mines in the island’s northeast all too often fall prey to poachers as well as angry farmers who lose their crops to marauding wild animals.

Sri Lanka’s forests have been shrinking due to irrigation and land development projects and the expansion of farms. Forest cover was 27 per cent of the total land area in 1983 but is now down to 20 percent.

Jayewardene says the number of people killed by elephants has also gone up in recent years although no reliable statistics are kept.

A herd of wild elephants stormed into a crowded town in central Sri Lankan last month and went on the rampage, killing one man and wounding several people.

The half a dozen elephants which barged into the town of Matale attacking vehicles and residents, were looking for food, officials said.

Both government troops and Tamil Tigers have been known to clash with elephants to protect dwindling watering holes in northeast Sri Lanka during the dry season.

Incidents of poaching for ivory and elephants hair are also on the rise, according to wildlife enthusiasts who want stronger government action to protect the pachyderms.

In 1996, authorities in the northern district of Anuradhapura found an elephant fallen into a water well. But by the time helped arrived it was too late, regional deputy wildlife director T. Prasada said.

He said local residents had already started removing hair from the animal’s tail to be worn in jewellery because it is believed to bring good luck and strength.

Sri Lanka’s elephants, for their part, need all the good-luck charms they can get. (AFP)

Mrs. Sri Lanka contest back after five years

by Himangi Jayasundere
The Mrs.Sri Lanka for Mrs.Woman of the World contest is to be held in Sri Lanka after a lapse of five years.The event organised by the International Association of Lions Club District 306C will take place on Sunday November 28 at the BMICH from 6.30 - 9.30 pm.

The advisor and franchise holder for the pageant is the first ever Mrs.World, Mrs Rosy Senanayake.

"The proceeds of the project will go towards uplifting the living standards of those affected by the war in Welioya" said Lion Asoka Gunasekera. The funds will be used to implement a housing project and other infrastructure facilities. One of the main projects is the restoration of a water tank that will solve the shortage of water that is currently being experienced in the area, he added.

"It is time we sent a Sri Lankan representative to an International pageant, "Mrs. Rosy Senanayake said.She pointed out that apart from the Mrs.World contest for which Sri Lanka has not forwarded a contestant for the past five years due to the prevailing situation in the country, the country has also not been able to send representatives for the Miss World and Miss Asia Pacific pageants during the last few years.She further explained the pathetic conditions faced by the people of Welioya which she had witnessed during several visits.

The chairperson of the project Lion Buddheni Gunasekera said that they were expecting about 70 paticipants. The closing date for application entries is October 15.She said that the criteria were that participants should be citizens of Sri Lanka, legally married, since the contest is confined strictly to legally married wives who are not more than 40 years old.

The main pageant will be proceeded by 3 mini pageants to select Mrs.Talent which will be held at the Colombo Hilton, Mrs.Photogenic at Ocean View Wadduwa and Mrs.Personality at Bentota Beach Hotel.The winners of these events will each receive gifts to the value of Rs. 10,000/= and a cash award of Rs. 10,000.

The winner of "Mrs. Sri Lanka for Mrs. Woman of the World ‘99" will receive a cash award of Rs. 25,000/=, a travel allowance of US $ 500 and gifts to the value of Rs. 55,000/=. She will also get an air ticket to Las Vegas U.S.A to participate in the World pageant and her husband will also be presented with a return air ticket to accompany her.

The first runner-up will receive gifts to the value of Rs. 40,000/= and a cash award of Rs. 10.000/=.

The 2nd runner-up will receive gifts to the value of Rs. 30,000/= and a cash award of Rs. 5,000/=.

The princiapal sponsor for the pageant will be Oriflame. Co-sponsors are Ceylon Agro Industries Limited, Deshanee Dress Point, Official Hotel-Colombo Hilton, Official Print Media-Upali Group of Companies and Exclusive Electronic Media will be T.N.L. TV and T.N.L. Radio.

Gays, lesbians to rendezvous in Colombo

by Amal Jayasinghe
COLOMBO (AFP) — Asia’s gay men have a common bond — they are criminals in the eyes of the law. But now they are uniting to battle the archaic colonial regulations and force the government to shed Victorian views on homosexuality.

Laws introduced under Queen Victoria more than 135 years ago are still enforced in the former British colony although Britain has shed its hard-line stand against gay men and women and decriminalised homosexuality.

A Sri Lankan gay rights activist is leading a campaign to bring together gays and lesbians in Asia and launch a collective drive for the repeal of their penal codes.

"The repeal of section 365 of the Sri Lankan penal code is our main objective while there are identical problems faced by those in India, Malaysia and several other countries in the region," said gay activist Sherman de Rose.

De Rose, 28, a former Roman Catholic Brother-turned-gay reformer, said they were setting up in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo the Asia Secretariat of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA).

"We will coordinate the work from here. Descriminalising homosexuality is going to be the main focus at the moment," de Rose, a member of the ILGA’s 12-member executive board told AFP. "The problems we face are similar in this part of the world."

He expects about 150 Asian gay men and women to take part in a meeting here before a world session of the ILGA in the Vatican City in August.

Sri Lanka’s penal code outlaws sex between men, but technically lesbianism is not an offence because the Victorian law does not assume it is possible for women to have sex with each other.

Four years ago, the government here attempted to repeal the law but in the face of public criticism rolled back the plan.

De Rose as well as a lesbian support group within his Companions on a Journey gay rights movement fear that the 1995 attempt to decriminalise gay behaviour may have unwittingly led to slapping lesbians with the same law.

In an amendment to the law the government proposed to use the gender neutral word "people" instead of "men" making both gay men and women guilty of an offence for having same-sex relations.

"We are completely baffled at what has happened in the process of trying to win respectability for our cause," said de Rose.

He is working closely with an Indian gay movement. "Hamsafar Group" and the Pink Triangle in Malaysia, De Rose also has support from gay groups in Nepal, China, Pakistan and Bangladesh to legalise homosexual behaviour.

Opponents of decriminalisation have argued that scrapping the law would lead to erosion of Asian values and open the flood gates to western gay culture and even encourage homosexual behaviour.

Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister G. L. Peiris who initially showed a liberal approach to the homosexual issue later backtracked saying that the government had more pressing work than to repeal laws that were not being enforced.

Police in Sri Lanka maintain that no one has been prosecuted under the anti-sodomy laws, here, unlike in Malaysia where the former deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, is facing a sodomy charge.

De Rose agrees that in Sri Lanka, and in many other former British colonies not many gays have been prosecuted but, he says, the law leaves them open to police harassment.

Kevun, kokis as banks celebrates 50th anniversary

From Sujeeva Nivunhella in London
There was kevun, kokis and a birthday cake when the Bank of Ceylon’s London Branch, located in a 5-storey building in the heart of London, celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The branch opened its doors here in 1949 in modest premises with Mr. J. H . Mortlock, an Englishman who had served as the general manager of the Bank of Ceylon in Colombo, as its first manager.

Since then several officers who rose to the position of chief executive of the BoC which has long dominated the commercial banking scene in Sri Lanka has served at the London branch. Others who served there have reached senior management positions in the bank.

On October 1 clergy from the major religions in Sri Lanka conducted a religious ceremony with Ven. Horana Pannasekera, Ven. Medagama Vajiragnana, Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi and Ven. Bogoda Seelavimala chanting pirith. In a brief anusasana, Ven. Dr. Vajiragnana spoke warmly of the services rendered by the branch, especially to the expatriate Lankan community and blessed the bank and the staff.

On Oct. 4 the bank hosted a cocktail party at its premises to mark the anniversary. Speaking — on this occasion, the bank’s general manager, Mrs. Savitri Jayasinghe, described the branch as one of the most important institutions of the Sri Lanka government in London. Although they were a relatively small bank, they could be pleased with the achievements of the branch.

She noted that the bank now owned the premises it occupied. The branch had served as a training ground for BoC staff some of whom later embarked on careers in reputed foreign banks after receiving their initial training there.

Mr. Guy de Silva, the country manager who heads the branch here, his deputy Mr. Weerasekera and other staff worked hard to make the celebration a success.

Killed for being too kind

In a kind gesture, an elderly woman who offered king coconut water to two youths who called on her Kirulapone house claiming they were collecting funds for a home for the aged, was brutally killed by the duo who ransacked the house and escaped with cash and valuables last week, police said.

After giving them money as a contribution, the victim had asked her female servant to bring some king coconut water for them to drink as ‘they must be tired after going around collecting cash for a worthy cause’. At that juncture, in a surprise move, one of the men had caught the domestic aide by her hair, dragged and tied her onto a chair. The other man had got hold of the terrified old woman and tied her to another chair, police said.

According to a statement given to investigators by the servant, her mistress had pleaded with the two strangers to take anything they wanted from the house without harming her or the domestic aide.

When the police, alerted by neighbours, arrived at the scene, the old woman was found dead. Cash and valuables had been robbed by the two men who had fled.

Police said no arrests have so far been made. Investigators are searching for the duo, trousered men in their early thirties. They could be drug addicts.

Police-Public Relations Director, SSP Rienzie Perera said that the people should exercise caution at all times and ensure that strangers are not greeted with open doors.

He said that there are organised clans committing such crimes backed by support groups who go in search of non-existent addresses and pass on information on targets.

Residents should not open their doors when strangers are sighted within their premises, he warned.

Referring to the Kirulapone killing, SSP Perera said that the two men had killed the woman who not only gave them money as a ‘contribution’, but also sympathised with them and offered them drink to quench their thirst. (Suresh)

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