Chanuka Ratwatte together with his brother Lohan wanted in connection with the massacre of 10 Muslim youth on election day, have been absconding arrest since the Teldeniya Magistrate issued a warrant for their arrest.

The two army personnel, Ajantha Wickremesinghe in uniform and Corporal Jayaratne took possession of the vehicle from Precision Motors in Peliyagoda Friday morning issuing a cheque for Rs. 60,000.

The cheque bearing number 436182 drawn from the Kandy Branch of Hatton National Bank was signed by Anuruddha Ratwatte.

The BMW of Chanuka Ratwatte bearing number 19-464 was brought to Precision Motors for repairs before the general election and was also given a fresh coat of paint.

On Thursday, January 10, officer Wickremesinghe had arrived in an army defender vehicle and proceeded with a workman to purchase some spare parts from another workshop.

Questions are now being raised as to how army officers are deployed to run errands for fugitives from the law.

Education Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku has vowed to take stern action against school principals found guilty of accepting donations from parents. Describing donations as a form of bribe, the minister said he would not hesitate to either sack or take such school principals to task, if such an incident is brought to his notice.

Dr. Kodituwakku said parents are free to call at any time to inform him about this practice. He stressed there is absolutely no necessity for any school principal to accept donations. He is of the opinion a large number of parents as well as students are penalised by some school principals because they are unable to provide them what they need.

"Sometimes the amount is too much for a parent to pay. And when a parent is unable to pay this amount, his/her child is not given room in that particular school. All school principals should understand it is the basic human right of every child to receive education without any hindrance. School admission should be done free of charge and this is the duty of each principal," the minister said.

Dr. Kodituwakku says he is willing to entertain public complaints and adds any details given regarding a school principal would be treated with utmost secrecy. The minister also said if parents disclosed information regarding principals who accept donations, he would personally ensure that their children are not penalised by the school or the authority. "We will make sure children are psychologically not affected as a result of this problem," Dr. Kodituwakku added. 

While the United National Front (UNF) government led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Norwegian government are engaged in extensive discussions with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Japanese government on Friday relaxed its restriction on Japanese tourists visiting Sri Lanka.

The Japanese government officially communicated its willingness to relax the travel restrictions imposed on Japanese tourists travelling to Sri Lanka, to the Sri Lankan government on Friday, January 11, through Industrial Development Minister G. L. Peiris.

Industrial Development and Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris, commending the Japanese government's move, said on Friday that the gesture augurs well for the on-going talks that are being held through the good offices of the Norwegian government to achieve a lasting peace in Sri Lanka.

The minister told The Sunday Leader that the move by the Japanese government to relax its restriction after the UNF came to power will not only boost tourism but would also improve the economic climateof the country for foreign investment.

Immediately after the LTTE launched attacks on the Katunayake airport and airbase on July 24, 2001, many countries placed travel restrictions on visits to Sri Lanka on the basis that there was no proper security network giving protection to the tourists.

The United States government also imposed strict travel restriction but withdrew them subsequently.

Meanwhile, the British High Commission told The Sunday Leader that the British government had not imposed any restriction on travel to Sri Lanka nor was it contemplating such a move. "We have not imposed any restrictions on travel to Sri Lanka, nor are we thinking of doing so," said Alison Kemp, Second Secretary, British High Commission, Colombo.

The travel restrictions coupled with huge surcharges imposed on cargo, aircraft and ships destined to Sri Lankan ports by insurance underwriters led to severe burdens imposed on nearly all the sectors of the economy.

Though insurance underwriters and western shipping agents and airlines were prepared to negotiate and in certain cases waive these surcharges, the uncertain military situation was seen as a tacit acceptance that both shipping and airlines could be attacked. The LTTE declared a unilateral ceasefire on December 24 last year that was reciprocated by the government a few days later, leading to renewed confidence among shipping, travel agents and governments that restrictions could be waived off.

By Risidra Mendis

Details of a prominent minister of the former Peoples' Alliance (PA) regime removing 17 vehicles from his ministry by force, just prior to the December 5 parliamentary elections and returning only the keys sans vehicles, have now surfaced.

The Sunday Leader is in possession of a document that contains facts regarding former Lands and Samurdhi Minister Salinda Dissanayake's illegal acts.

The document refers to the former minister as having removed state vehicles from his ministry and institutions coming under his ministry, for the use of the recently concluded general election and his audacity to return only the keys of ten of the seventeen vehicles. It is said that he had returned the keys of the vehicles through one of his supporters.

The Sunday Leader also learns that the Volvo returned to the Minister of Lands Dr. Rajitha Senaratne after it was used by Dissanayake is minus a few parts. The lands ministry has lodged a complaint with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Lucky Kodituwakku for necessary action.

According to the ministry of lands these vehicles have been maintained by the state with fuel being provided for Dissanayake's political activities during the elections.

The following vehicles were removed by Dissanayake from his ministry and institutions affiliated to his ministry; of these, only the keys were returned of 10 vehicles. 300-3883 (Volvo), 64-1592 (Pajero jeep), 62-4096 (Defender jeep), 61-6123 (Jeep), 252-4981 (Double cab), 252-4976 (Double cab), 253-2566 (Double cab), 18-9802 (Peugeot car), 252-4484 (Double cab), 252-4434 (Double cab), 51-2422 (Double cab), 32-6751 (Jeep), 32-4808 (Jeep), 53-8789 (Double cab), 253-3555 (Double Cab), 35-2631 (Jeep) and 65-0748 (Jeep).

The All Ceylon Tamil Congress will this week write to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe requesting a parliamentary debate on the murder of former party leader Kumar Ponnambalam.

Ponnambalam was murdered on January 5, 2000 and the family of the late Tamil Congress leader has accused the former Peoples Alliance government of masterminding the murder.

New evidence reveals that Mahen Ratwatte, son of former Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte ordered the killing and that President Chandrika Kumaratunga was informed of the details in September 2000 by Crime Detective Bureau Chief, SSP Bandula Wickramasinghe but chose not to act on it.

Jaffna District MP, Gajan Ponnambalam, son of the former Tamil Congress leader confirmed to The Sunday Leader that his party would be requesting for the debate in parliament.

"There are bigger people than Mahen Ratwatte involved and we want to get to the bottom of it," he said.

Former South African President Nelson Mandela in a message has said he appreciates the recent efforts of the Sri Lanka government under the leadership of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to find a peaceful settlement to the long-standing conflict in Sri Lanka.

He has said the ceasefires, declared by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the government respectively, augur well for the road ahead.

The former freedom fighter's message was read out by Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando when he addressed the audience at the Muharrath, a play depicting the life and times of Nelson Mandela of South Africa titled Mandela-Mandala.

The foreign minister went on to say that Mandela in his message had congratulated both parties wishing them wisdom, endurance and above all the gift of tolerance, as they proceed with the peace plan.

Mandela's message, read by the foreign minister, said, "It is a great honour to contribute these few words on the occasion of the preparation for the premier of this drama named after ourselves and dealing with aspects of our life.

"What makes the occasion of special meaning to us is not in the first place its reference to ourselves. The major significance is its reference to the South African experience of seeking change through dialogue, negotiations and peaceful settlement.

"Most of the world expected our country to experience one of the bloodiest racial conflagrations. As a people we confounded the prophets of doom by finding a negotiated settlement amongst erstwhile foes and adversaries. Today, we live in a united nonracial and nonsexist democracy where people live and act out their differences within the framework of our constitution."

The Employer's Trust Fund (ETF), which was brought under the control of President Chandrika Kumaratunga after Mahinda Rajapakse took over the portfolio of labour under the last government, is now functioning as a one man show.

Though the ETF, grabbed by the president due to her personal rivalry with the former minister is now under the ministry of finance, the main office of the ETF is situated at the labour ministry complex at Narahenpita.

The ETF was brought under the purview of the president after the former minister was accused of misusing the ETF funds for his personal benefit. Originally, the ETF was attached to the labour ministry .

Employees said that today certain persons were administering the fund as a one man show. According to sources a single person was currently heading four vital divisions of the fund -- the computer, administration, finance and legal.

Employees said there should have been four separate heads for the four different departments. They are also of the opinion that the current minister of finance is not keen about the ETF coming under the finance ministry.

Upali Piyasoma, state minister for transport said in a statement it was a classic example shown to the entire nation, especially to the members of the former regime, by Athukorale's family members.

He has said further that at a time when the former members of parliament were still holding on to state vehicles despite several calls being made by the government hierarchy to hand them over, what was done by the family of the late Athukorale was praiseworthy.

"Gamini Athukorale who was considered one of the most honest politicians in the country has been able to live up to his standards expected of him by the nation up to the time of his death. Even after his demise his family is following the footprints of the late leader," Piyasoma said.

Civil flights resume

The government is planning to resume civilian flights to Jaffna that were banned in September 1998, following the crash of an aircraft belonging to Lion Air.

Lion Air commenced civil aviation operations flying to eight destinations, including two flights to Jaffna, in December 1995.

But after one of the planes crashed off Mannar, the government banned all civil operations, said sources. However due to immense pressure from the people of north, the air force resumed limited civil operations, by chartering aircraft from Lion Air.

The aircraft was chartered by the air force under Helitours, which is the commercial wing of the air force, on November 17, 2000. Meanwhile, the United National Front (UNF) government is now planning to resume civil operations, enabling the people of Jaffna to travel with ease. 

The Norwegian deputy foreign minister, Vidar Helgesen has expressed optimism of finding a political solution to the northeast conflict, after meetings he had with the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a press release from the Norwegian embassy said.

The deputy foreign minister met with LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham in London on January 4 and briefed the government on the outcome of this meeting during his visit to Colombo from January 10 to 11. In Colombo he had discussions with President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando and also met with representatives of Muslim and Tamil political parties and civil society, the release said.

The discussions have shown that there is an increased level of confidence between the parties. "We are convinced that there are opportunities to move further step by step towards negotiations, Helgesen said. He however underlined that the process will be challenging and both parties will face difficulties, the release stated.

During the meetings in London and Colombo issues concerning the plight of the civilian population in the war-torn areas and a formalisation of the ceasefire were discussed. It pointed to a willingness and commitment from both Wickremesinghe's new government and the LTTE to find common ground on these matters.

According to the release Helgesen has said, "In my meeting with President Kumaratunga I was encouraged by her support to the new government's peace initiative. Her view that there is a need for cooperation between the two major political parties in Sri Lanka in order to solve the conflict is important."

Ceylon Carriers Express Cargo System (CCECS) will host a seminar under the theme Creative-Thinking Using Modern Software Technology To Solve Transportation Problems, at the CCECS head office at Narahenpita, on January 15.

The software was created by Rohan Nanayakkara, chairman, CCECS. The seminar will focus on using software technology that could be applied to solve cargo transportation.

The CCECS is to launch a system where clients do not have to hire an entire vehicle to transport their goods but would be required to pay only for the goods they want transported.

Besides, customers could also arrange for their goods to be transported using computers or even their mobile phones from any place they please.

Sri Lanka's 8.5 million farmers have sent warning signals to the newly elected United National Front (UNF) government that if their demand to increase the purchasing price of paddy is not met, they would resort to tough action.

The farmers held a series of protests including fast unto death campaigns under the previous government to highlight their plight, but to no avail.

Further, it was revealed to The Sunday Leader there were 37 known cases of farmers committing suicide last year after the former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake failed to meet their demand to increase the purchasing price of paddy. Sources said that if this present regime too does not take adequate steps to rectify this problem there will be more farmers forced to commit suicide.

Farmers said that at present, despite a rise in the cost of living, a kilo of paddy was purchased from them by the mill owners for Rs. 13, which they say is even less than the cost of production.

They point out that the biggest benefit from paddy cultivation accrued not to cultivators but the mill owners who purchase paddy at the rate of Rs. 13, while selling rice at rates above Rs. 35 per kilo. Farmers said the mill owners should buy paddy from them at least at the rate of Rs. 18 per kilo for rice cultivation to be a viable occupation.

"Or else the government should place a kilo of paddy at the rate of Rs. 13 at the dollar rate of August 18, 2000," they said. They said the government should also abolish the import tax on all agricultural implements and GST and other government taxes too should be waived off for farm products. They pointed out that the government should take immediate steps to bring down the prices of agricultural input like fertiliser.

Farmers explained that the government should introduce an auction system for rice as in the case of tea, which is auctioned so that the product would fetch better prizes. The total production of paddy is about 20 million kilos per year. An estimated 25 million kilos of rice is required for local consumption Therefore the government imports five million kilos of rice per year.

Meanwhile. the president of the Association for the Protection of Natural Resources (APNR) Ratna Gamage told The Sunday Leader that farmers have been given little attention by successive governments and added that the new UNF government should give top priority to farmers.

"A farmer is the most important person in a country. He produces something that feeds the entire nation. Therefore governments should not forget farmers," Gamage said.

Gamage began a campaign to fast unto death on behalf of the farmers before the headquarters of the World Bank to protest against such moves. The then government pledged to look into the welfare of the farmers but never fulfilled it. Gamage is of the opinion that land lying fallow ought to be cultivated through state initiative and the state should provide necessary protection to each farmer.

He said that a number of farmers today are held in police custody and are imprisoned because they have not been able to repay the loans they borrowed from state banks. He said steps should be taken to see farmers are not be penalised at any time.

By Risidra Mendis

Certain drivers of a taxi service operating from the Katunayake International Airport (KIA) providing transport to international visitors, which is controlled by a powerful opposition MP, is reportedly charging bigger fares than the stipulated amount.

The Sunday Leader has received numerous complaints that the drivers harass visitors coming to the country.

According to an official working within the KIA premises these taxi drivers take advantage of the passengers due to the political influence of the company.

"I hired a taxi from the airport at 5 am for my wife, two children and myself to get home. Having received a chit from the office at the airport we proceeded to Borella. However on the way the driver of this particular taxi started harassing me about the fare," this official said.

The Sunday Leader learns that according to the procedure followed at the taxi company a chit is issued to the passenger. On arrival at the destination the passenger is supposed to pay the taxi driver.

However due to stern action not been taken on taxi drivers by the company, the passengers have to suffer the humiliation of being harassed for no valid reason, said the official who wished to remain anonymous.

He said he was wearing his official identity card when he got into the taxi. "If the taxi driver harassed me while knowing that I was working within the

Katunayake premises how would he treat customers and foreigners coming in to the country?" he said.

This official had told the taxi driver that once he reached his house he had contacted the authorities at Katunayake to see if the original fare was incorrect. The authorities confirmed that it was correct and the taxi driver was paid the amount on the bill.

However when this official called the duty manager at Katunayake to make a complaint he was told that they received many complaints of this nature. The official was further told that errant drivers are only issued a warning as nothing further can be done, due to the influence of the company.

The Duty Manager (Arrivals) was not available for comments.

The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) will recommence the broadcast of the BBC World Service, Sandeshaya and Thamil Osai programmes from January 15, 2002.

Sandeshaya will be broadcast from 9.15 PM (Local time) to 9.45 PM and Thamil Osai from 9.45 PM to 10.15 PM, over FM frequencies 98.3,99.6,107.6 and 102.

The decision to recommence broadcast follows discussions between the BBC Sandeshaya editor Priyath Liyanage, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Media Minister Imtiaz Bakeer Marker, a release from Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation stated.

A land bank is to be set up in Sri Lanka with a view to giving foreign investors a detailed description of all land available in the country.

Foreign investors who have come to Sri Lanka to launch business enterprises, according to lands ministry sources, have either not invested at all, or gone to elsewhere to invest their money, because Sri Lanka lacks a comprehensive data bank with accurate details of available land.

According to lands ministry sources, one of the main requirements of foreign investors is land. When the government is not in a position to give a detailed picture of the required land, the investor decides to either leave or invest his money elsewhere, said these sources. In the proposed land bank, all details of land in a specific location would be available.

When a foreign investors come to Sri Lanka, they simply have to visit the bank to access the information regarding the land they wish to purchase. This bank would give information about the extent of the land, the area in which it is situated and its name.

The data will include those of its title, whether or not such a land is reserved, or whether it is subject to encroachment and to identify whether it belongs to the state or private parties.

According to the ministry officials, this would give the foreign investor a picture for him to decide whether he should take or leave it.

"This will cut down all red tape. This would also paint a better image of the country when the foreign investors wish to invest their money here," the sources pointed out.

A national park, with a variety of animals roaming about un-caged and open for the public viewing, known as the Safari Nights, is to be set up in Sri Lanka soon.

A unique feature of Safari Nights is that it is a park with an invisible fence that allows visitors to observe even dangerous animals without conventional protection of a zoo.

The only other park of its kind is in Singapore. Plans are already underway to set up the park in the Kalutara district bordering the Singaraja forest. Safari Night will be open to the public only at night.