Meeting of SLFP Organisers

General election next year declares Basil

Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapakse on Thursday asked SLFP organisers to get ready for a general election next year.

The announcement was made by Rajapakse at the Presidential Secretariat at a meeting of SLFP organisers from the districts of Colombo, Gampaha and the Kalutara.

He said the government cannot disclose at this time whether elections for the remaining provincial councils will be held before the general election, but that a general election will be held next year.

"Therefore get ready and let us know if you have any suggestions to increase our vote bank. The party headquarters is already working on that," Rajapakse had also said.

Associated with Rajapakse at the meeting were General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, Treasurer Dulles Alahapperuma and People's Bank Chairman, Attorney Karunajeewa.

Informed sources said the meeting also saw tension between Rajapakse and Sirisena with several organisers calling in what the General Secretary saw as an orchestrated move for the Senior Presidential Advisor to take the leadership role in the Colombo or Gampaha Districts.

Informed sources said Rajapakse also announced at the meeting that the UNP defectors would be contesting with the UPFA at the next election.

He had said there were five UNP MPs from Colombo who would have to be accommodated on the UPFA list and sacrifices would have to be made by the SLFP organisers.

It is learned several organisers had asked whether the UNP defectors would be contesting as SLFP members and were told that they would contest as alliance partners on the UPFA ticket.Informed sources also said there was a proposal for Basil Rajapakse to take over the Gampaha District leadership and contest from the district but that he had said while he was handling the development efforts in the district no decision was yet taken on contesting from the area.

It is learned Western Provincial Council Member, R. Kodikara had proposed that Rajapakse contest from the Colombo District but that he rejected the offer stating there were already many leaders from Colombo.

Warning for those aiding child soldiers

Bush signs into law the CSA Act

US President George W. Bush on Friday signed into law a bill that would allow the United States to track down, prosecute and deport military commanders, including those in Sri Lanka, found guilty of using children in armed conflict.

Both the LTTE and the TMVP have been accused by the UN and other international agencies of recruiting children into their military ranks for use in combat.

The "Child Soldiers Accountability Act of 2008", passed with support from both American political parties, makes recruitment of children under 15 a federal offence and allows the US government to file charges against both US citizens and non-citizens who are in the United States.The law allows the US to deport individuals who have recruited child soldiers, or impose penalties of up to 20 years imprisonment for offenders.

An American court may also sentence to life imprisonment, a person found to have caused death by recruiting a child combatant.

 "The exploitation of children as soldiers persists in many armed conflicts because child recruiters are rarely held accountable," said Jo Becker, children's rights advocate for Human Rights Watch.

 "This law tells military commanders worldwide that they cannot recruit children into their forces and then seek safe haven in the United States."

 "International tribunals are beginning to prosecute individuals for recruiting child soldiers, but almost no national governments have done so," said Becker. "The United States is giving real leadership to efforts to end the use of child soldiers." 

Senator Richard Durbin authored the bipartisan bill, which he introduced together with Senators Tom Coburn, Russell Feingold, and Sam Brownback. Countries in which children are known to have been used in hostilities between 2004 and 2007 include: Afghanistan, Burma, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Nepal, Philippines, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, and Uganda.

Tells CWC to lobby Wickremesinghe

SB asks for UNP deputy leader post

UNP National Organiser S.B. Dissanayake has offered to contest for the Central Province chief minister post and sought the deputy leader post of the party.

The Sunday Leader learns Dissanayake has solicited the support of the CWC and asked the party to lobby for him for the two posts with the UNP leadership.

It is learned Dissanayake had met CWC Leader, Minister Arumugam Thondaman and Senior Vice President R. Yogarajan and said he was prepared to contest for the chief minister post of the Central Province with CWC support.

He had also said the CWC must tell the UNP leadership to appoint him as deputy leader with his assurance that he will not challenge Wickremesinghe for the leadership at any point.It is further learned that Dissanayake has sought a position in the party higher than Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa.

Informed sources said the CWC has communicated to Wickremesinghe Dissanayake's proposals and extended the party's support.

Meanwhile the UNP is working out a formula for the appointment of a deputy leader on the basis of party seniority.

The party is to also create a post of assistant leader though there is no decision yet whether there will be an election for the post or selection.

President decides to withdraw retirement Gazette

President Mahinda Rajapakse on Friday decided to withdraw the Gazette notification, which was introduced in August giving him the authority to extend the retirement age of any public servant he considered necessary.

The President extended the retirement age of Attorney General C.R. de Silva in terms of the said Gazette No.1563/7.

The legal validity of the Gazette was subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court by the Centre for Policy Alternatives with the Chief Justice informing court that an order on the validity of the Gazette would be given on Monday, October 6 unless it is withdrawn by the government.

The court also indicated that all indictments signed by the Attorney General from August 26, the day the Attorney General was due to retire would be rendered a nullity if the Gazette is invalid.It is learned the Attorney General on Tuesday met  President Rajapakse and informed his decision to resign without coming into conflict with the Judiciary and with a view to maintaining the dignity of his Office.

The President, it is learned decided Friday to repeal the Gazette and introduce a new Gazette which was earlier in force giving the Chief Executive the authority to retain a public servant in office after he retires from service. The Attorney General however had indicated he does not wish to continue in office under controversial circumstances and submitted his papers to retire from October 8.

It is learned the intention of repealing Gazette No. 1563/7 and introducing the new Gazette is to save at least 125 indictments, which were filed after August 26 including the case against journalist J.S. Tissainayagam. Informed sources said if the indictments are declared invalid those in custody on the basis of the indictments will have to be released.

Meanwhile, legal sources said the President will have to make an acting appointment for the Attorney General's post by October 9.

These sources said outgoing Attorney General de Silva will leave a void in the department that would be hard to fill.

SL likely to be hit by global economic crisis warns CCC

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Business chambers have voiced concern over the US economic crisis, as the impact on the real side of the Sri Lankan economy would be much more significant than that on the financial side.

Deputy Chairman, Ceylon Chamber of Commerce (CCC), Dr. Anura Ekanayake says that the US and EU are the two main traditional export destinations of Sri Lanka and any recession or growth slowdown will have a definite and significant impact on demand for Sri Lankan products.

"The industrial exports have already felt this as orders have declined. Although the commodity exports are doing well at the moment, a global slow down and higher domestic inflation could affect this sector as well. On the services side, tourism will be affected. But since these markets have been declining due to the security situation for some time, the impact would be limited," Dr. Ekanayake said.As for the sectors that would be affected by the present US economic crisis, Dr. Ekanayake explained that the apparel and rubber products account for about 86% of Sri Lanka's exports to the USA and these are the two main sectors that would be affected. "Other high value added exports to US will also be affected. On the services side, tourism will be affected although the impact would be less," he added.

He also said that on the financial side, the impact would be minimal, as Sri Lanka is not heavily integrated with Western markets. The foreign investors who have invested in the domestic stock market may pull out if they are squeezed for liquidity in foreign markets. "But since the total foreign investment in CSE as a percentage is low, this effect if at all is likely to be small," he said.

"However, the credit crisis will affect Sri Lanka's borrowing in the international market, in terms of having to pay a higher risk premium. In the present global context, Sri Lanka could also be seen as a good frontier market and this may work in favour. The probability of the former effect dominating is higher," Dr. Ekanayake further added.

Commenting on the strengthening of the dollar, Dr. Ekanayake said that in international markets, the dollar was depreciating fast (due to fundamental factors) previously and this resulted in investors taking positions in Euros and other currencies. As investors began reversing their positions (the speculators have taken the dollar too low), the dollar started to appreciate but was stopped short due to the financial market crisis.

"The temporary appreciation that we see in the market now is because of this fundamental correction process resuming as investor confidence increases at the prospect of a bail out," he said.

The appreciation pressure on the dollar against the rupee however comes from a different angle as the domestic banks run out of dollar reserves and tries to buy dollars in the market to make use of an arbitrague opportunity.

However, as a remedial measure, Dr. Ekanayake explained that the Central Bank could intervene in the forex market to stabilise it and prevent fluctuations that are not consistent with underlying fundamentals and expectations.

"This however means that the Central Bank would lose reserves," he said

Govt. says UN agencies refused to stay in Wanni

The government initially had requested two UN agencies, the World Food Programme (WFP) and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to continue to remain in the Wanni, a suggestion that was rejected by the UN office in Colombo.

"WFP and UNHCR were initially requested to continue in the Wanni, but they quite reasonably felt that it would place too much of a burden on their staff. As a result, the government has now come to understandings with these agencies that will ensure supplies of food, medicine and other necessities in the weeks ahead," the Government Peace Secretariat said last week in a web posting.

The government on September 5 informed all UN and other INGOs working in the Wanni to relocate to government controlled areas since their security could not be guaranteed. When the agencies finally relocated on September 16 and 26, they also said that the security situation in the Wanni had deteriorated that they could no longer work there. The government however allowed the ICRC to remain in the Wanni.

Since the relocation last week the government and UN were able to send the first convoy of food into the Wanni on October 2. Thirty WFP trucks and 21 trucks organised by the government agents transported 650 metric tonnes of food. Nine trucks from a total of 30 organised by the government agents were detained in Vavuniya when banned items including C-4 explosives were recovered from them.

UN international staff members and Nagalingam Vedanayagam, the government agent for Kilinochchi accompanied the convoy from Vavuniya. The UN officials would monitor the distribution and remain in the Wanni till the distribution of supplies concludes.

Meanwhile, Commissioner General of Essential Services S. B. Divaratane said that the government planned to organise at least one weekly convoy with UN participation - "that is the plan, to move one supply convoy per week."

The convoy took a northeastern route through Puliyankulam and Oddusudan, circumventing Kilinochchi to reach the over 221,000 IDPs now remaining north east of Kilinochchi.

GMOA to resort to trade union action

By Nirmala Kannangara

Unless the Health Ministry takes action against those who harass doctors and  arrange for the safety of  doctors, the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) will be compelled to take strong trade union action, GMOA sources told The Sunday Leader.

With the recent killing of a female doctor in Hambantota the GMOA has decided to take action against the relevant authorities in order to safeguard its members whose lives are in danger.

"If you consider the very recent incidents where the government doctors were either killed or assaulted,  the Health Ministry should take deterrent action to prevent such incidents happening in the future. If the authorities concerned are not ready to safeguard their own employees there is no other way but to take stern action," Committee Member GMOA, Dr. Chandika Hathurusinghe told The Sunday Leader. 

According to Dr. Hathurusinghe although the recent two assaults on doctors in Kandy and Ragama by the security personnel have been intimated to the Health Ministry nothing has been done so far to apprehend the culprits.

"In Kandy, air force personnel  who were drunk had assaulted a doctor in front of the Katugastota Police Station; and in Ragama, some army recruits have assaulted yet another doctor travelling in the train. These incidents were brought to the notice of Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva on several occasions but to no avail," added Dr. Hathurusinghe.

Dr. Hathurusinghe further stated that although the GMOA does not want to initiate trade union action they would have no other option but  to resort trade union action  to get the government to ensure their safety.

Army declares no fire zone in Wanni

The Army yesterday declared a 10 km no-fire zone east of the A9 to facilitate civilian movement out of areas of fighting safely, military spokesperson Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said.

“We will not engage any targets on the zone that runs from Visvamadhu (in the north) to Oddusudan (in the south). People can make use of the road to come down to government controlled areas,” he told The Sunday Leader yesterday.

Most of civilians who have fled the fighting now remain on the Paranthan-Mulaithivu highway that runs through Visvamadu. The latest humanitarian reports filed by the UN said that of the 220,000 IDP’s in the Wanni, over 140,000 now remained in the Mulaithivu District. There is a minor road that connects the Visvamadhu/ Puthukudirruppu area with Oddusdan that lies on the southern Mankulam-Mulaithivu highway.

Defence Secretary Gottabaya Rajapakse too had earlier suggested that civilians take a route out that would take them to Oddusudan and then south to avoid fighting that has now centred on Kilinochchi. The first aid convoy into the Vanni since the relocation of UN and other agencies that travelled from Vavuniya under UN flag on October 2, also took the eastern route through Oddusudan circumventing Kilinochchi to reach the tens of thousands of IDP’s. The military had directed the convoy to travel east even before Mankulam as planned earlier due to fighting. However, yesterday there was no confirmation from the UN and the ICRC, the only international agency still with a permanent presence in the Wanni, that they had been officially informed of the no fire zone.

Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Nainamadama commemorated

Mahatma Gandhi's visit to Suwarajapura in Nainamadama in 1927 and 1941 was commemorated in Nainamadama recently. Prof. Raspal Malhothra, an Indian High Commission official, former Archbishop Frank Marcus, Catholic priests, Buddhist monks, Muslim religious leaders, Mahatma Gandhi Foundation members, politicians, opposition members and foreign delegates participated in this event at the  premises of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows on October 2 at 4 p.m.

A special event at the celebration was the presence of an old lady who first welcomed the late Gandhi when he paid a visit to this place. The old lady and Prof. Malhothra unveiled the memorial of Gandhi. Brother Charles conducted a choral service.

NCPA office in Vavuniya  yet  to start work

By Shezna Shums

The newly opened National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) office in Vavuniya is yet to begin its functions.

The new office was opened in Vavuniya late last month. Plans are also afoot to have counselors at transit camps to provide counselling services to the displaced families and children.

This branch was establishedin expectation of the needs of the displaced persons making their way to Vavuniya.

But Chairman, NCPA, Jagath Wellawatte told The Sunday Leader that the office is yet to receive any displaced persons who needed its services.

Wellawatte said that a special child protection-monitoring unit was set up to meet the needs of the displaced persons who were making their way to Vavuniya.

The Kilinochchi Hospital is to be shifted to another location following attacks near its vicinity last week, hospital officials said.

Director of the Kilinochchi Hospital Dr. Thangamuthu Sathyamurthi told The Sunday Leader that he would write to the Ministry of Health with regard to the shifting of the hospital.

Hospital activities however continued despite attacks around its premises and nearby areas last week, Dr. Sathyamurthi added.

The hospital employees have been asked to be in safe areas when there are air and artillery attacks.

"They have been asked to be near the walls in order to protect themselves from fragments from the blasts."

Attacks targeting LTTE administrative buildings in Kilinochchi increased during last week. The LTTE Peace Secretariat and the main office of the Tiger Police also came under attack last week by the air force on two consecutive days — October 2 and 3.

Easterners in the Western Province told to re-register

Persons who have come to the Western Province from the east during the last five years have been instructed by the police to re-register themselves with the respective police stations today (5).

Police Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekara told The Sunday Leader that persons of all communities are expected to register adding that it was not targeting a specific community.

Civil rights organisations raised concerns over the re-registering of persons, stating that it was conducted on ethnic lines. "So far these programmes are being conducted on ethnic lines. Whatever the police spokesman says it is only the members of the Tamil community who are singled out and queued up for registration. We call upon the government to stop this ethnic profiling," Convener of the Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC) and Colombo District MP Mano Ganesan said.  "Tamils cannot as a community face this public slur anymore."

"No. This is not only for Tamils alone. All the people who have come to the Western Province should re-register themselves with their respective police stations." The police said that the registering process is carried out for census purposes.

Attempts to get the A/Level answer scripts evaluated by force would hinder the education process, the Ceylon Teachers’ Union (CTU) said.

Following the Education Ministry’s directive to call for the explanation of teachers who do not join the paper evaluation process, government teachers who have not applied for paper marking had to adhere to the Ministry directive. According to CTU sources, the teachers were not in the best mental condition although they evaluated the A/Level papers.

"This is the sad side of the episode as those whose services were obtained by force have not done their work properly. We were told that they were not in a proper state of mind and in such a backdrop the results would certainly hinder the future of the A/Level students," President, CTU, Joseph Stalin told The Sunday Leader.

According to Stalin, the Examinations Department has failed to hold seminars for the teachers who did paper marking.

Stalin further said that the Education Ministry’s failure to rectify the salary anomalies in the teacher/principle service would bring the school activities to a complete standstill within the next few months.

However refuting the trade union charges, Commissioner of Examinations Anura Edirisinghe told The Sunday Leader that the paper evaluation would end by today, October 5, and said that only qualified teachers were deployed for the paper marking and guaranteed the accuracy of the process.

CWC condemns Fonseka’s statement on minorities

The CWC has condemned Army Commander Sarath Fonseka’s claim that Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhalese and that minorities should not make undue demands.

Senior Vice President of the CWC, R. Yogarajan on Friday said it was medieval thinking to believe one community is bigger than the other.

"Today we are in a modern world where there is citizenship and every citizen is equal. For the Army Commander to say 75% of the people are Sinhalese and others can stay here but they can’t demand rights is totally unacceptable and condemnable," Yogarajan said.