Another scam at the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) is alleged to have taken place with regard to the purchase of spares for the 110 MW Frame 9E gas turbine at the Kelanitissa power station.

Despite calling for quotations in April this year from registered  suppliers to supply spares for the above machine, the CEB is to pay Rs. 153 million more than a recommended tenderer and buy the spares from an Indian source.

Quotations were called from six reputed suppliers, of which two responded to the CEB.

The two bids came from Global Energy Technologies who offered a quote of US$ 2,325,520  as against GE Power Systems/BHEL (India) which quoted US$ 3,926,830.

No decisions were made by the CEB in this regard but both companies who made the offers were asked to extend the validity of their offers four times.  It is now six months since offers were called on a critical basis.

GE/BHEL Power Systems (India) has previously supplied parts for the Frame V gas turbines at Kelanitissa, but the CEB on numerous occasions, the last being as recently as March this year, have complained and warned the Indian firm about supplying damaged parts.        

Despite these shortcomings and the fact that R. S. Kodikara, the procurement engineer at the CEB in a note to the DGM (Thermal Complex) on July 7, observing that due consideration must be given to Global Energy System - there has suddenly been a change of decision.

S.D.G.R. Sandhanayake, the project director had suddenly recommended borrowing the necessary parts from AES and replacing them later by buying from GE/BHEL, India, which will incur an additional cost of Rs. 153 million for the CEB as against the offer made by Global Energy Technologies.

As a result, the CEB has violated government tender procedure and ignored the CEB’s call for quotations in April this year, by making an ad hoc decision to scavenge parts from one machine and then purchase new parts for this machine, at a cost that is nearly Rs. 2 million higher than a quoted offer.

Sandhanayake however denied having interfered with this tender. He said he had only made a proposal on the recommendations of the consultant inspector from GE who has,  Sandhanayake claims, stated he would prefer for the spare parts to be bought from GE/BHEL.

Sandhanayake added that the decision to scavenge spares from the AES gas turbine machine was made “because there is a problem of getting spares urgently.”

SLMM  concerned over child soldiers

By Amantha Perera

The LTTE is not doing enough concerning child soldiers, officials of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission based in Jaffna said last week.

The criticism came ironically just after the LTTE had released nine under-aged recruits to their parents and relatives in Jaffna last Wednesday (2). At the releasing ceremony attended by officials of the SLMM, the LTTE head in Jaffna, Ilambarandi said that it was done because the children were under-aged and were not physically strong enough. He also said that they had joined the organisation voluntarily

“They can do a lot more,” was the reaction of Pekka Vihervas, the SLMM deputy head for  Jaffna District. He added that the SLMM had received details of 100 children recruited by the LTTE and so far only nine had been released.

“We haven’t got any details of the others from the LTTE,” Vihervas told The Sunday Leader. However, Ilambarandi said that since the MoU, the LTTE had released 70 under-aged recruits who joined the organisation after the MoU. The SLMM official said that the 70 did not include the 100 names that were received by the SLMM.

The LTTE famous for its young combatants has been more attuned to the international pressure on using child soldiers since the MoU. During negotiations on the release of POWs, the LTTE refused to accept a 14-year-old suspect.

At the ceremony to hand over the children in Jaffna, the LTTE presented some of the children with books and other educational material. The LTTE also handed over three boys above 18 years to their guardians.

Vihervas however observed that despite such hand-overs some of the children return to the organisation. At least one of the nine handed over on Wednesday was not willing to go back to the parents.

Estimates of child soldiers in LTTE ranks wary with some putting the figure as high as 4000.

Meanwhile Vihervas observed that the child soldier problem could not be solved without alleviating the living conditions in the north. “We can understand why some of the children do this. Their living conditions are terrible,” he said.

Doctor in the net this week

The Criminal Investigations Department expects to  arrest a doctor in the medical profession for having master- minded the killing of Dr. Wasantha Seneviratne of Homagama this week.

A senior sleuth confided the cops are already on the trail of the killers and expect to net a colleague of Dr. Seneviratne’s early in the week.

Dr. Seneviratne was gunned down at his home at Homagama last month.

Success of night life in Colombo

By Risidra Mendis

Barely a month after illuminating  the city of Colombo by the Colombo Municipal Council(CMC),  Deputy Mayor Azath Sally says so far the concept has received full support from the public as well as  the private sector.

He said leading business organisations have volunteered to increase their  activity to light up  Colombo in order to comply with the CMC initiatives.

The deputy mayor said one of the leading clothes shops has come forward not only to illuminate its own building but the adjoining buildings as well. "This is absolutely  encouraging," he said.

He also said two leading paint companies have offered to donate paints to paint the town hall free of charge.

"The 23 companies that initially offered to help  us  in this regard are continuing to render assistance. They have further  vowed to light up some other places where there is no light at present," he said.

Sally, said the  film  theatres that shut windows after the second show in the past have now opted to go on for the third show as well. He said the theatre owners have expressed satisfaction with regard to the present security arrangement and have opted to open theatres till late in the night.

Live bands also would be  providing the public  entertainment  at night in the near future, he said.  According to him private companies would sponsor these live bands. "You see, the council does not have to spend a cent. The private companies have already pledged to assist financially and otherwise," he said.

He said that lighting up the city would also bring down the crime rate drastically, especially in Colombo. "Most of the crimes are carried out at  night and with the whole city lit up, the perpetrators would have second thoughts before indulging in their  nefarious activities," he pointed out.

"Once there is a decline in  crime and the city is lit up, foreigners and tourists would be attracted to do more shopping. This would also put the city's economy in  better shape," he said. He also said that the council is prepared to accept constructive criticism but not  criticism  for the sake of criticism.  "I understand some are trying to discourage us from doing this. But we are going ahead. We realise we are on the right path so we are proceeding," he added.

Meanwhile another CMC Member, C. P. Y. Ram also said the concept of lighting up the city  is  gathering momentum. He said this is a programme that was initiated by the Colombo mayor and the residents in Colombo seem  to have accepted this concept and are now beginning to cooperate.

"At the initial stage it was difficult for  the people to accept it. But now they are realising its potential. I understand the cost factor involved but if people could ignore this factor and continue to engage in night life they could in turn increase their productivity, thereby contributing to the economy," he pointed out.

Discrepancy in granting leave to doctors

Two medical doctors attached to the Medical Research Institute (MRI) who attended a programme titled 'Training in Iodine Surveillance' have been granted two different types of leave, Health Ministry sources disclosed.

While one doctor was granted duty leave the other was asked to apply for personal leave entitled to him.

The Investigation Unit of the Health Ministry has now been directed by the director general of health to probe in to this discrimination.

The programme was organised by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), an American funded body. The seminar was held in India.

Health Ministry officials pointed out that according to government regulations, as both doctors have been invited to participate in the same programme, both should have been granted duty leave. "This is unfair," they said.

Meanwhile The Sunday Leader also learns that the MRI director had directed that both medical experts be sent on duty leave, prior to their departure.

Killers still at large - Dr. Srideva

Dr. C. Srideva, a family physician, laments that the inquiry into his son's murder  that took place on July 6, 2001 is still pending and that the police have yet not managed to bring the culprits  to book.

A final year medical student of Sri Jayewardenapura University, Niroshan Srideva was brutally murdered in front of his father. Now the worried father says despite repeated requests to Interior Affairs Minister John Amaratunga  and Minister of Power and Energy Minister  Karu Jayasuriya regarding this, nothing has so far happened.

"Even the CID says that they still have no clues and no progress has been made," he said.

"The emergency police arrived 10 minuets after the murder took place. When I requested them to rush my son to the hospital they refused saying that it is not their job," he said.

He says like doctors who try their best to save the lives of patients, the police too should bring offenders  them to justice.

Plans to resume India - SL ferry service

By Shezna Shums

India and Sri Lanka are exploring the possibility of resuming the ferry service which exsisted between the two countries prior to the north-east war.

According to Shipping Corporation Chairman, A. J. M. Muzammil, the Ports  Development Ministry with the help of the Indian Shipping Ministry and the Sri Lanka Shipping Corporation has already conducted the preliminary surveys to commence a professional ferry service from Colombo to Tuticorin.

According to him both the Sri Lankan and the Indian Shipping Ministries  are at present holding a series of discussions regarding this new  venture. The  distance  of the journey  is 140 nautical miles from  the Colombo port to the Tuticoran port, he observed.

"Earlier there was no regular ferry service between the two countries.  Only at times  there were a few boats travelling to Colombo and the occasional cruise ship from Singapore, Hong Kong or  from other parts of the world," he said.

He said Ports Minister Rauf Hakeem  initiated this project. Muzammil however said final cabinet approval has not yet been sought  as  still the ground work has not been finalised.

Regarding the fares,  Muzammil feels that the ferry fares will have to be at least 20% to 25% less than airfares.

"There is at present heavy passenger traffic between the two countries. Therefore trading as well as tourism will benefit with such a service," he added.

Immigration Controller  Mervin Wijesekera  says that there are already immigration officers at Colombo  Port to carry out formalities for the crew members of ships. "If the ferry service is to start then this  force will have to be strengthened. This also depends on the number of ships and passengers coming from India.," he added.

Wijesekera assumes the ferry service may attract a  large number of passengers from Tuticorin as there is no airport. He also says people may  engage in enhanced business than before.

"As Indians don't need a visa to come to Sri Lanka they will have no need to get prior visas. Therefore when they arrive at the port, a landing endorsement will be given for one month to them by the immigration officials," he said.

President, National Chamber of Commerce, Chandra  Embuldeniya welcoming the idea said that there is also need for a ferry service on the coastal belt within the island such as Colombo to Galle.

According to Embuldeniya there should be ferry services to all parts of Sri Lanka so that passengers could travel to all parts of the country for leisure as well as on business. "Speedboats  should also be available for passengers travelling to places of greater distances," he said.

"Usually a trip to Trincomalee will take six to seven hours but if there was a ferry service then this trip will take a very short time. This ferry service  especially to the south Indian ports is a very important step for business and for Sri Lankans  going on pilgrimage. If a ferry service with entertainment and sight-seeing is organised it could be made profitable for the country. This is how Maldives attracts a large number of tourists," he added

Mounting opposition to private medical college

By Hemamala Wickramage

Setting up of a new private medical college affiliated to the Tanzanian International Medical and Technological University in the Piliyandala area has sparked a controversy amongst current medical students and professionals in the field.

The Sunday Leader learns that the institution named Vignan Education Institute offers medical degrees at a cost of Rs. 300,000 to students with Advanced Level qualifications.

However the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMS) rejects this degree on the basis the whole medical course is not completed in one country.

The working committees of medical faculty students of several universities have expressed their staunch opposition to the setting up of Vignan Education Institute. They express their serious concern with regards to the quality of education provided by this private medical institute.

"We believe this is part of the government's conspiracy to privatise educational institutions in the country, thereby blocking the chances of thousands of students who belong to the majority of lower economic level families from entering the medical field" a statement issued by the working committee states.

While the first batch of students are already engaged in studies at the institute, a statement states that Tertiary Education Minister Kabir Hashim has not given his approval for the setting up of the institution. However, The Sunday Leader's attempt to contact the minister for his views with regards to the matter proved futile.

Meanwhile, Director,  Private Health Sector, Health Ministry, Dr. Harsha de Silva speaking to The Sunday Leader said the ministry on principle encourages private sector participation in  health sector manpower training. "We do this in keeping with the open economic policies of the government. However, certain standards need to be adhered to in the setting up of such private training institutions," he said.

According to Dr. Silva, for a training institute to operate in this manner certain  standards should be maintained by the institution. For example, the availability of tutorial staff and other inputs which includes proper teaching methods, lecture halls, and also other facilities which include facilities for practical tests for students.

According to Dr. Silva as there were doubts  concerning the level of material and the standards of the system the Health Ministry has so far  refused approval for this project. However, The Sunday Leader learns that Vignan Education institute has  obtained Board of Investment (BOI) approval for the institute's functioning.

Meanwhile speaking to The Sunday Leader, Registrar, Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC), Professor P. S. S. Panditharatne said Vignan Education Institute has so far not acquired SLMC recognition.

"They have not invited the SLMC to ascertain for itself the level of its recognition and are operating without it," said Prof. Panditharatne. However, according to the medical ordinance there is no legal implication  which prohibits  such an institution from functioning without the SLMC's approval, he explained.

According to Prof. Panditharatne the first two years of the course offered by the institute accounts for 40% of the total course value for the medical degree. Students  have to complete the next three years of the five year degree in Tanzania.

"Though the SLMC does not recognise the first half completed in Sri Lanka, it accepts the Tanzanian degree. But for a graduate to practice as a medical doctor in Sri Lanka both parts of the course needs to have SLMC recognition. Thus, in this case those graduates will not be able to practise here at this stage" Prof. Panditharatne pointed out.

Expressing their concern, other Health Ministry officials too stated that the graduates of the said institute face a legal barrier in practicing as medical doctors in Sri Lanka.

The saga of the seven abducted soldiers

By Amantha Perera

While the release of the seven POWs in exchange for the 13 LTTE cadres monopolised the headlines, fresh behind the scene negotiations were underway to get a further seven released.

The abduction of the seven soldiers evolved into a complex issue  involving not only the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) but the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as well. At least some of the monitors  expressed concern last week that the incident might harm the peace process.

The seven were captured by the LTTE at Vilgamvihara in Trincomalee on September 25. They had gone to the area to gather sand for  construction work.

The LTTE argued that the soldiers were in a LTTE controlled area, armed and in violation of the MoU.  As soon as news of the abduction reached Colombo, the military command suspected that the LTTE was on a tit for tat mission.

Two weeks back, two armed LTTE cadres had been apprehended in Kantale and were produced in court during the week the soldiers were apprehended and remanded till October 10.

'Official'  demand

The demand for the two was first made unofficially, but the day before the POW release was to take place, the LTTE communicated to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission that the release demand was official.

The SLMM thereafter told the LTTE that its mandate did not allow it to interfere with the judicial process of the country.

By that time however  attention was totally on the POW exchange. When the SLMM communicated its stance on September  27, the LTTE was too involved in the POW exchange.

However, the following day the LTTE political wing got in touch with the SLMM. The message was clear; they needed the two cadres if the seven soldiers were to be released, according to SLMM spokesperson Teitur Torkelsson. But the LTTE political wing deputy, Pulidevan who was in touch with the SLMM indicated that the rebels understood the SLMM's position and would get back to the monitors by Monday, September 30.

Pulidevan, who ironically had played a prominent role in the POW exchange, went to the extent of telling Defence Secretary Austin Fernando that the LTTE did not have more security forces personnel in its custody and told the SLMM that nothing could be done on Sunday and that negotiations would have to recommence on Monday.

There was no communication between the two parties till Monday. When the LTTE once again spoke to the SLMM on Monday September 30, the position it seemed had not changed, despite the impressions the SLMM officials had of an imminent breakthrough.

LTTE logic

The LTTE came up with its own logic. It argued that the offences of the nine people in custody were similar. The government authorities had taken its cadres into custody in government controlled areas and taken action according to its law. The  LTTE had taken the soldiers  into  its custody in areas under its control,  - at least one of the soldiers was armed - and proceeded to take action in accordance with its  laws.

While the LTTE was thus outlining its thinking, 90 relatives and friends of the soldiers had a meeting with the SLMM officials at its Trincomalee office on how and when the captives would be released.

It was Monday afternoon that the decision was taken to tackle the problem from Trincomalee. SLMM Head of Mission Trond Furuhovde himself flew to Trincomalee the day after. He went to the location where the soldiers were apprehended and met with the army and the LTTE.

On the eve  of  Furuhovde's mission, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe intervened to sort out the matter. The capacity of the intervention has remained unclear. The SLMM had not received any sort of communication from the prime minister or his office.

"The only thing we have got is the army's complaint," said SLMM Deputy Head Tomas Haukland.  However he admitted that the continuing custody of seven soldiers by the LTTE was a serious offence.

Wickremesinghe had in fact had a meeting with the Peace Secretariat on Monday where he had made known his desire that the seven soldiers be released very clear.

The SLMM also met with officials at the secretariat before the Wickremesinghe meeting. It was at that meeting that the LTTE's uncompromising attitude was conveyed to the government.

Even as Furuhovde was in Trincomalee, the SLMM officials were not sure what to expect. Throughout the negotiations the SLMM had been optimistic that the soldiers' release could be secured despite the impasse that had been created.

Furuhovde's mission produced immediate though partial results when the LTTE released one of the soldiers, Deepal Samantha on Wednesday, October  as a humanitarian gesture. It was after the visit that the LTTE allowed the SLMM and ICRC access to the six remaining soldiers. 

The LTTE's position that the soldiers were apprehended in areas under the organisation's control would take some convincing, though.

There are no lines of control in Trincomalee as in the north. The area where the soldiers were taken is just one kilometer from their camp and according to the army is accessible to civilians as well.

Protest

Just the day after the soldiers were taken in by the LTTE, the army went to the location with the SLMM and established the location using GPS and gave it to the SLMM official. The army has been pushing its position that the soldiers were not in a LTTE controlled area.

When Friday dawned, 300 protestors had gathered the day before in Trincomalee including parliamentarians to agitate for the release of the six soldiers. The protest continued into Friday as well when Trincomalee was reduced to a ghost town except for the 300 protestors gathered at the bus stand. They had burnt tyres at several locations in the city bringing public transport to a standstill.

The LTTE meanwhile was preparing an official letter to the Attorney General's Department requesting that the two members be released on bail, according to the SLMM. The letter was to be sent direct to the AG's Department through a lawyer.

The SLMM was also of the opinion that the two could be released before October 10.

The abduction that was all but forgotten when the POW exchange went through had ballooned  into a major hostage fiasco just a few days later.

River of beer at high spirited match

By Hemamala Wickramage

A staggering 28, 000 cups of chilled beer were consumed by spectators at the Australia- Sri Lanka semi final match during the ICC championship.

"We believe this to be the recorded highest sales for beer at a match in Sri Lanka," said CEO Three Coins, Lasath Suriyapperuma.

Three Coins was the official beer at the ICC tournament.  A cup of beer was sold at Rs.50 each. According to Suriyapperuma, the demand for beer depended on the excitement each match generated. "We had our good days  and the less exciting days. There were some matches, which had very poor attendance. However, we are quite satisfied with the overall outcome," he said

He was however not willing to comment on the total sales during the tournament,  arguing that the details were confidential.

Three Coins' state-of-the-art back pack beer dispensing system was a huge success he explained, saying that it guaranteed that the beverage was below 12C at all times when serving.

The mobile dispensers also ensured that chilled beer was easily accessible to spectators in their seats, making it unnecessary for them to go in search of the prefered drink Down Under.

Two wet months ahead

By Shezna Shums

The dreaded El Nino effect which created severe droughts  in the past is now bringing buckets and buckets of rain to the island.

The threat of drought has receded says  Meteorology Department Deputy Director,  G. B Samarasinghe, explaining that after the recent rains that came down last week the likelihood of drought is much less.

Very few Sri Lankans would have missed the start of the rains. They came down, dampening the excitement of the recently concluded ICC Champions  trophy finals.

The final match between Sri Lanka and India had to be postponed by a day owing to heavy rains during the latter part of the match.

However on the following day too the finals  ended  abruptly, as India was unable to complete their innings because of rain.

Just before the rains came down the Water Supply and Drainage Board made an announcement to curtail water usage  due to low water levels at the reservoirs.

Despite the rains that came down during the week, Colombo and other parts  such as  Dehiwela, Moratuwa, Pannipitiya and Homagama will still have to suffer restricted water supplies  at least for some time.

Samarasinghe  says that all over the country, the rain conditions have improved with the inter monsoon coming in now.

This monsoon will bring showers with lightning and thunder during the afternoons and evenings for the next two months.

However, Deputy General Manager, Water Supply and Drainage Board- Greater Colombo, H.G.Thilakaratne says that the recent heavy showers in Colombo and other parts of the island only increased the water in the Kelani River. The two major reservoirs that supply water to Colombo, Kalatuwawa and Labugama still have very low levels of water and the recent showers have not increased their water levels.

Only if there are two to three weeks  of rains in the areas of these two major reservoirs will the water restrictions be stopped after there are significant amounts of water in the reservoirs.

Banned items available all over Colombo

By Risidra Mendis

Tourism it seems has played a major role in the economy of Sri Lanka. But apart from luring tourists to a country known as one of the prominent bio-diversity hot spots in the world, many fail to see the repercussions in the long term.

It is natural for tourists to want to purchase something unique from their holiday destination. Which is why they shop at most of the handicraft outlets in the country. Banned items such as ivory, turtle shell and porcupine twill are available to fulfill the needs of tourists.

But despite these items being freely available in Colombo, the Wildlife Department's Flying Squad has failed to raid these outlets and bring the culprits to book. "According to Section 49 of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, the trade, transport and exposure of any wild animal dead or alive and the sale and purchase of any animal article is prohibited," an official from the Department of Wildlife and Conservation, E. Wilson told The Sunday Leader.

 However, whether through ignorance or greed many handicraft shops in the heart of Colombo continue to sell wild animal products . At Lakpahana, one of the most famous handicraft shops in the country, there was a table made out of wood and porcupine twills priced at around Rs. 15,000. A range of bracelets, rings, ear rings and chains made out of buffalo horn and white coloured rings made out of animal bones  were also on display.

But  on  inquiring from the sales lady as to what bone this was, she was very vague and said "I really don't know." At the Kandyan shop close to Thunmulla junction, a jewellery box made out of porcupine twill and some white combs with carvings on top, were on sale. Even though one salesman said this was an old product, and they don't get porcupine twill products because it is too expensive to sell and people don't make them anymore, the other salesman on inquiry said the combs were made out of elephant. However when The Sunday Leader  asked him if it was elephant teeth, he quickly changed his story and said the combs were made out of fish bone.

A visit to Craft Corner at Liberty Plaza however made us realise that this salesman knew the danger of selling products out of porcupine twill. He said he had no other way of getting rid of these products and therefore has them in the shop for sale. He further said there was a time when he exported large quantities of porcupine twill products but now due to restrictions by the Wildlife Department has stopped. "For some people their whole life depends on making porcupine twill products. Some tourists come looking for such products because they are unique," the salesman said.

Anusha Handicrafts in Kollupitiya had a big showcase of ornaments made out of porcupine twill. In another showcase there was a wide variety of pendants, bracelets, chains and earrings made out of turtle shell. According to the salesperson even though the number of tourists has lessened  one of the fast moving items was turtle shell jewellery priced from Rs. 195 onwards.

However Zam Gems in Bambalapitya had the most number of ivory products - two large  ivory carved tusks priced at Rs. 1.5 lakhs and some small ornaments of elephants and a chair made out of ivory. "If anybody is interested in purchasing the ivory tusks we have to first get permission from the Archaeological Department," the salesperson  said. However commenting on the turtle shell rings and pendants on sale the sales person said there is no problem.  A turtle shell ring priced at Rs. 55.00 was finally purchased by a customer for Rs. 10.00 as it had a crack on one side. Commenting on such products being sold in the market, an official from the Wildlife Department said, "Where buffalo horn jewellery is concerned, if it is a wild buffalo then the products cannot be sold." He later changed his mind and said all buffalo horn products cannot be sold. "Our flying squad has only six to eight people, and these people apart from raiding illegal sales products have other responsibilities in the department," the official said. However he said if they find illegal products the shop owner can immediately be produced in court. He also wanted The Sunday Leader reporter to inform the flying squad unit where exactly the shops were, so they could be raided.

Suspects of lesbian love drama arrested

After nearly one and a half years  in to investigations, on Monday,  September 30, Biyagama police took into custody the suspects of an acid attack on a man. The arrests revealed that the acid attack was a result of a lesbian love triangle.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader Crimes OIC, Biyagama Police, SI Suresh Gunasena who conducted the investigations said the three suspects included one female and two Muslim men.

SI Gunasena in his investigations was able to unearth most of the background details of this love triangle. The two women involved, Dilani and Niroshi (names changed) had been working together at a private firm in the Biyagama area. Before their friendship began Niroshi was carrying on with her boyfriend Indika (name changed) who worked as an executive at a leading group of companies in Colombo. Two years in to Niroshi's relationship with Indika which started in 1995, the two women met each other and soon found them to be becoming more than just workmates. In 1998, Dilani the daughter of a senior officer in the police force got married to a man living in the US and left the country with him to settle down there. Dilani's departure - letting romance slip - caused much heartache for Niroshi. However she made up her mind to move on and marry - by this time her boyfriend of three years - Indika.

Meanwhile Dilani who started 'missing' the love of her life got separated from her husband and came back from America just after three months of marriage.

Upon arrival she found her 'girl friend' happily married to Indika.

According to police information Dilani despite her lesbian tendencies purposely got friendly with a Muslim man named Rushad (not his real name) in order to get at Indika.

Dilani managed to convince Rushad that a very close 'girl friend' of her's was being abused by her husband and sought his help to rescue the friend. The police have found out that Rushad first tried to hire associates of a well known underworld figure to carry out the acid attack.

However, Rushad who could not ignore his lady love's request decided to take care of the matter himself.

Meanwhile, Nirosha was banned from speaking to her 'best friend' Dilani when Indika suspected his wife and this other woman were more than just friends. With that Nirosha found her secret relationship in jeopardy but this made things more alluring and she continued to talk with Dilani over the telephone. According to SI Gunasena during these private chats, unwittingly Nirosha herself had given information of her husband's whereabouts and daily travel routine to and from work to Dilani. Afterwards Indika's nightmare began with death threats and crank calls. He lived in fear of an unknown group of persons constantly following his trail and was puzzled as to how they received all the information.

With several failed attempts at carrying out the acid attacks  Rushad was weary of trying. However, Dilani managed to convince him to try once more and finally her vicious plan succeeded.

After six months of the incident, Sapugaskanda police who initially carried out the investigations went ahead and arrested Nirosha's brother (victim's wife's brother) as he was living with the couple and suspecting him to be the culprit who knew all private information the couple shared between them. Due to lack of evidence the case was dropped.

According to SI Gunasena after nearly one and a half years, acting on a petition received,  Kelaniya Division SSP Jagath Abeysirigunawardena requested the case be opened again and handed it over to the Biyagama police.

Through information received the police team then proceeded to arrest the shop keeper who sold the bottle of acid to Rushad and his friend. As a result of the evidence uncovered, the police team arrested Dilani at her home at Millenium City in Malabe. Rushad was arrested at Ratmalana and his frien,  another  Muslim man who aided him was arrested at Mount Lavinia.

- HW

Country grinds to a halt

  By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

It's a week since the ICC Champions Trophy tournament came to an end and with it came the end of the cricket mania witnessed in the country from September 12 -30. The finals between Sri Lanka and India,  on September 29, 30 saw the country coming to a virtual standstill as the cricket crazy fans either flocked to the R. Premadasa Stadium - venue of the finals - or hurried home to catch it on TV.

Roads were almost deserted, while many closed shop around 2 p.m. to catch the action while the few shops which were opened, had nearly no business at all.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, President, Public Bus Operator's Association (PBOA), Gemunu Wijeratne stated that only a few private buses operated on the 29th because of the finals adding that the operators themselves would have been keen to follow the game. When asked whether they didn't have plans to increase the number of buses to accommodate the crowds after the match, Wijeratne said that they were not requested to run extra buses. As for Monday, Wijeratne said that buses operated as usual and added that they did not witness an increase in the number of commuters on that day.

Station Superintendent, Fort Railway Station, Nimal Wijesinghe said that when compared with other days, the 29th and 30th showed a lesser number of commuters. He went on to say that the city was almost deserted as people were either at the stadium or at home. When asked whether the traffic flow to Colombo from other areas was higher than other days, he said that they noticed an increase in the number of commuters traveling to Colombo from other areas on Sunday 29. As for Monday, he said that it was the normal crowd. Wijesinghe said that the 5 o'clock trains on Monday were not fully packed like other days. "If usually a compartment accommodates 100, on Monday, there would have been only 80 commuters," he said. It was only the elders and women who traveled as the youth were glued to the game.