In response to our story titled "Tears for my baby" by Ranee Mohamed last week, Kamalawathie who was helpless and had handed over little Nipuni to the police because she was unable to feed the child; not only got back little Nipuni from the orphanage in keeping with an order made by the Magistrate’s Court, Wattala, but also received the comfort and care of a philanthropist at Dickman’s Road, Colombo 4. Maheswary Velautham of the Forum for Human Dignity will not only give the duo shelter and food, but also schooling for the child and care for Kamalawathie and Nipuni for life. Other well wishers too have provided assistance to Kamalawathie through The Sunday Leader. See story in Review section.

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Kingsley in hot water 

The CID will tomorrow seek a magisterial court order to record the statements of Bribery Commissioner Kingsley Wickremasuriya and two police officers attached to the Permanent Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption upon a complaint made by Samurdhi Minister S. B. Dissanayake.

Minister Dissanayake has complained that, Commissioner Kingsley Wickremasuriya violated the secrecy provision of the Permanent Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and/or Corruption Act by forcing Inspector Nandasena to disclose details of an investigation on him to President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

The Attorney General last week sanctioned the CID to proceed with the investigation following which the CID recorded Minister Dissanayake’s statement.

The CID will tomorrow seek court approval to record the statements of the Director (Investigations) of the Commission, SSP Peter Gunatillake and IP Nandasena in furtherance of the investigation.

Both police officers had earlier stated under oath that Commissioner Kingsley Wickremasuriya had requested them to accompany him to meet the President with a view to discussing Dissanayake’s case.

Following the recording of the two police officers’ statements, the CID is expected to record Wickremasuriya’s statement subject to court approval with a view to prosecution.

Meanwhile, Speaker Joseph Michael Perera last week appointed a seven member select committee headed by Defence Minister Tilak Marapone to probe the charges against Wickremasuriya following a petition submitted by 76 MPs. It is learnt that another resolution to probe the conduct of the Commission’s Chairman, Ananda Coomaraswamy is also in the offing.

This follows a statement issued by Coomaraswamy expressing confidence in Wickremasuriya without having the statements made by the two police officers attached to the Commission investigated.

MoU one year old

The first anniversary of the MoU between the government and the LTTE was marked yesterday. Prime Minister Ranil Wickre-mesinghe was expected to lead the nation in lighting a lamp in each home to commemorate all those who had laid down their lives for the nation. The lighting ceremony took place at the auspicious time of 6.50 p.m.

Ceremonies were held in schools and places of worship to mark the anniversary.

Defence Minister Tilak Marapone last week said in parliament that despite the criticism of opposition parties, national security has never been compromised during the MoU and that the armed forces were always on alert to meet any eventuality.

However, opposition parties marked the day by having protest campaigns. The JVP held a massive rally two days before the anniversary. The JVP said that the protest was shifted to February 20 since February 22 was a holiday.

Court stops Religion Inc.

By Marianne David

The Supreme Court last week rejected a proposal to incorporate a new religious ministry.

Colombo District MP Mano Ganesan told The Sunday Leader that he presented the bill at the request of Christian Affairs and Interior Minister, John Amaratunga.

However, Amaratunga told The Sunday Leader that he did not remember making such a request.

The Interior Minister also felt the matter ended with the Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court said that the proposed bill to set up the New Wine Harvest Ministry needed a two thirds majority and approval at a referendum.

"I have no personal or political interest in presenting this bill," Ganesan said.

The bill sought parliamentary approval to "establish and maintain New Wine Harvest Ministries and to organise deliverance meetings, cottage meetings, youth discipleship meetings, individual meetings, Bible studies; to conduct tract ministry, based on the Articles of Faith in order to spread, promote and make known the message and teachings of Jesus Christ; to undertake and carry on in the spirit of the Articles of Faith based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and in accordance with the Christian faith." 

11,000 registered unemployed graduates 

Within a period of one month almost 2,000 unemployed graduates have registered with the government for job placement this year according to the Tharuna Aruna Institute.

The statistics at Tharuna Aruna indicate there are 11,000 graduates registered with them, said  acting Chief Executive Officer, U. R. Arandala.

Tharuna Aruna   is an  Unemployed Graduates Fund.  This government fund  was first set up in 1997 and was under the Finance Ministry. However, now this institute has been brought under the Labour Ministry.

Graduates without jobs are  registered with details of the  university degree certificates with the institute. The fund undertakes training and temporary placement of the registered graduates.

Arandala said  that since the beginning of this programme  they have placed 5000 graduates in companies for training. However, of this number only 1000 have been permanently employed by the companies.

According to Tharuna Aruna the highest number of unemployed graduate consist of arts students.

There are more than 6,000 arts graduates who are jobless.

However, according to the Peradeniya Students Union there are more than 35,000 unemployed graduates.

Another field where there is a large number of unemployed graduates is the commerce field where there are 1,396 registered unemployed graduates.

Bachelor of Business Administration has more than 300 unemployed graduates and Bachelor of Commerce has more than 900 unemployed graduates followed by BSc Agriculture with 1,400, BSc General 1,400 and BSc Administration with 140 unemployed graduates.

At the moment Tharuna Aruna is planning to teach these registered unemployed graduates English and IT before they are sent for training

At the inception, the institute used to send graduates only to the private sector. However now they are broadening the range by sending graduates to the private as well as the public sector and also non governmental organisations.

 Tharuna Aruna could only send 150 graduates to the private sector for employment. This was the maximum number.

Now the organisation is planning to send 1,200 graduates per month for training.

Already for this month more than 400 students have been sent for training to various organisations. -Arandala hopes that by the end of this year about 10,000 students will be sent for training from Tharuna Aruna Institute.

Peradeniya Students Union Secretary, Nuwan Jayaweera says they are aware that the main problem is that there are not many job opportunities in the country and even if they are put into a public organisation, the graduates don't mind as long as the salary and work conditions are good.

Arandala too admits there is a lack of job opportunities in the country. "The main problem is that a lot of companies are not offering jobs to these people." 

 Media gets water treatment 

The press covering the JVP rally was treated with water cannon charges by police last Thursday. The police without any provocation turned the water cannons laced with tear gas on the journalists at Dharmapala Mawatha.

Just before that the cannons had being aimed at the JVP protestors while the march had been halted from proceeding. The media had arrived at the Dharmapala Mawatha junction before the marchers and were allowed to get inside the barbed wire barrier.    

However, the police did not allow the journalists to get behind their barricade,  meaning the journalists were stuck between the marchers numbering 45,000 and a police riot squad armed with riot gear, batons, guns, tear gas and water cannons.

At least one journalist was admitted to hospital and a camera worth Rs. 400,000 was damaged. Cameramen who got doused, told The Sunday Leader that aiming the water cannons at their cameras was equal to snatching them away. Both actions leave the cameras useless.

When The Sunday Leader spoke to SSP Rienzie Perera, he said the police were not given orders to fire water cannons and tear gas at the media. Police said that steps were taken to prevent marchers from entering the High Security Zone.

Police to crack down on employers
employing under age children 

Decline in under age employment 

The Sri Lanka Police has started to crack down and impose penalties on anyone employing under age children as domestics or as any other employee.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), T. E. Anandarajah has also directed all Officers in Charge (OIC) of police stations to take stern action according to the law against those who employ under aged children at residences and other work places.

On Tuesday, February 18, the police on a tip off carried out a massive raid at Sea Street and took into custody a number of children and their masters.

According to the police chief, employing minors is an offence under the law and anybody caught would be dealt with severely.

IGP Anandarajah told The Sunday Leader that the police has been receiving numerous complaints from people regarding minors being employed. "But in some areas, people are not cooperative," the IGP said.

"However, now I see a decline because of the stringent action that we take against offenders," he said.

He said the Women and Children Bureau of the Police Department has been directed to be extra vigilant for such cases.

According to the IGP, when a person is found guilty of employing an under aged child, he/she would be produced before the magistrate for necessary action. "But in Sri Lanka and other South Eastern countries we do find even parents sending their children for slavery due to poverty. But even in this instance, we have to take action because it is our duty," he said.

He said the Police Department has also received complaints about children being sexually abused.

"I have already asked the Women and Children Bureau to act instantly on any kind of information with regard to child sex. So now it is up to the general public to cooperate with the police by giving such information," he said.

Sri Lankan embassy in Vietnam 

A Sri Lankan embassy has been established in Hanoi, the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with effect from January 16.

Prior to this the Sri Lanka mission in Bangkok had been concurrently accredited to Hanoi. The establishment of a resident mission in Vietnam, more than 30 years after the formalisation of diplomatic relations in 1970, marks an important milestone in bilateral relations between the two countries.

Vietnam, the second largest ASEAN country in terms of population, has been making considerable headway in economic development. The Vietnamese economy is being rapidly integrated into the global economy following the introduction of free market reforms. The establishment of a resident Sri Lankan mission in Hanoi is expected to help further bilateral trade and economic relations between the two countries.

The total trade turnover between the two countries amounted to US$ 1.4 million for the year 2002. Vietnam has enjoyed a favourable trade balance over the past several years. Vietnam holds a potential market for Sri Lankan tea, cut diamonds and consumer goods. The Sri Lankan mission is also expected to focus on developing cooperation in the fields of tourism, agriculture, fisheries and foreign investment.

In recent years, technical cooperation has developed between the two countries. During the period 2001/2002, 23 Vietnamese trainees have participated in the Technical Cooperation Programme organised by the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry.

Sri Lanka's first resident Ambassador to Vietnam, M. M. Jaffeer recently assumed duties at the embassy in Hanoi, a release from the Foreign Ministry said. 

Encroachers and pollution
threaten Bolgoda lake's future 

Environmentalists and nature lovers have expressed concern over the Bolgoda lake, which they say is fast losing its beauty and importance due to large scale encroachment, dumping of saw dust, garbage and the diversion of industrial waste to the lake.

Authorities and ordinary citizens around the lake have erected fences at many places preventing access to the lake.

Several years ago there were many jetties around the lake such as Puwakgaha Thotupola, Bambigaha Thotupola and Ferry Thotupola that were used by hundreds of fishermen as locations to sell their bountiful catch. There were also ferry services in operation and people came in large numbers, especially during weekends to enjoy bathing and swimming.

Since of late, the beauty and splendour of the lake has been eroded due to large scale encroachment by elements surrounding the lake and by those who have claimed land from the lake reservations, with little regard to environmental implications.

It is learnt that due to the large scale encroachment, the river width has also been remarkably reduced and has gradually narrowed over the years.

It is also learnt that many varieties of fish that were common inhabitants of the lake such as Elaya, Gan Ayrawa, Soraya, Anguluwa and Thambalaya have become extinct due to extensive pollution.

Foreign Affairs Minister and MP for Moratuwa, Tyronne Fernando has now initiated methods to save the lake by constructing a road around the lake facing Moratuwa. A road, environmentalists say, could be a permanent protective barrier against any form of encroachment like the Kandy, Nuwara Eliya or Tissa Wewa lakes.

They also believe the roadway would prevent unauthorised fencing, which they say might help authorities to constantly monitor the dumping of hazardous material into the lake.

Meanwhile, Moratuwa Municipal Councillor, Deepal Rodrigo, Western Provincial Councilor, Thompson Mendis and Co-ordinating Secretary to the Foreign Minister, Namique Hussain have also in a statement stated that Minister Fernando would receive unstinted support of all those who are concerned about the lake.

Drug traffickers using new sea and air routes

Following tight surveillance by relevant authorities in Sri Lanka, narcotics traffickers it is learned have now changed their old air and sea routes to continue with their trade.

Sri Lanka Anti Narcotics Association (SLANA) sources say the traffickers have now chosen a new sea route between Rameshwaram and Mannar after abandoning the old route from Tuticorin, India, to Thoduwawa on the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka.

The increased surveillance by police and customs officials has curtailed narcotic traffic entering the island during the past five months.

Heroin smuggling has been drastically reduced at the airport, where a 24-hour surveillance has been mounted, according to officials.

Last year, Indian Customs detected 340 kilos of heroin bound for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka and India have adopted different strategies in meeting the new challenges of drug trafficking, said one official, adding that India and Sri Lanka however now work in close cooperation.

Irrigation tanks in north and east to be renovated

Plans are afoot to renovate irrigation tanks in the north and east.

In view of this an estimated 101 villages have been selected in the districts of Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalee and Batticaloa where implementation activities will begin in March.

According to government sources, the World Bank assisted North East Irrigation and Agriculture Project (NIAP) has signed agreements with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) - FORUT, Seva Lanka, Village Development Organisation and Sareeram - which will implement the projects for NIAP.

In Vavuniya District Seva Lanka has been given responsibility to undertake rehabilitation efforts in 34 villages, while the Village Development Organisation has been entrusted to carry out rehabilitation work in five villages. FORUT will undertake rehabilitation in five more villages, sources said.

In Mannar, Seva Lanka is to work in seven villages and Village Development Organisation has been given authority to work in two villages. In Trincomalee, Seva Lanka will be the sole implementing organisation in all 18 selected villages.

In 20 selected villages in the Batticaloa District, implementation responsibility for NIAP projects is vested with Sareeram Organisation and projects in other 10 selected villages will be carried out by Seva Lanka, sources said.

Sri Lanka endorsed as MICE venue

The BBC World Sales Conference has endorsed Sri Lanka as a safe destination and a preferred MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) venue.

In view of this recognition, a conference was held in Colombo last week. The MICE market is a fast growing, high-end niche market in Sri Lanka, a release from SriLankan Airlines stated.

American companies to expand investments in SL

American companies are looking towards expansion of their investments and trade in Sri Lanka.

A high level 21 member delegation of American companies sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM India) at the invitation of the American Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka (AMCHAM Sri Lanka) was in Colombo to assess the potential and possibilities of expanding their trade ties with Sri Lanka.

The delegation stayed in Colombo for three days and met several cabinet ministers, officials from the BOI, customs officials, and leaders of the Sri Lanka business organisations and the heads of American companies already operating in Sri Lanka.

"Sri Lanka has the most open economy in South Asia. The US companies hope that the Sri Lankan government would move faster with its ambitious economic reforms programme, which could make this country one of the most open economies in Asia. An open, competitive Sri Lanka will make way for an attractive investment destination for US companies," a statement from AMCHAM India stated.

National Water Policy being planned

The Irrigation and Water Management Ministry has planned to formulate a National Water Policy with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Water Resources Council ratified the draft proposals for the National Water Policy and the National Water Resources Act on December 30, 2002. The proposals were submitted to the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of Irrigation and Water Management on January 7, this year.

The National Water Resources Policy is formulated with the objective of ensuring the development, conservation and utilisation of water resources in an integrated, effective, efficient and equitable manner, consistent with the social, economic and environmental needs of the present and future generations.

Institutional and legal framework includes the Water Resources Council (WRC), National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) and Water Resources Tribunal (WRT). WRC will be an advisory, co-ordination body on water resources management. NWRA is a body responsible for coordination, regulation, planning and the monitoring of water resources. WRT will be an independent appeal tribunal on water related matters coming within the purview of the Judicial Services Commission, a Ministry policy statement said.

Minister Rauf Hakeem under fire

A decision to declare open an office in Majina called "Ceylon House" by Ports Minister Rauf Hakeem has come under attack by other Muslim parliamentarians.

Ceylon House was recently opened by the Minister, but it is learnt he has not either mentioned or invited other Muslim legislators to this ceremony that took place in Majina, during the month of Haj.

According to information received, at the time of opening this office Parliamentarians M. H. M. Azwer, A. H. M. Fowzie, Abdul Cader, M. Maharoof and Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana had been in Majina participating in religious activities, but Minister Hakeem had not had the courtesy to invite them.

It is now rumoured that Hakeem has plans to convert this office set up with the aim to look into the welfare of the pilgrims in Mecca, as the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) office in the Middle East. The office was opened on February 15. The Sunday Leader also learns that the Minister had wanted the office to be open 365 days, when the Muslims, especially the Sri Lankan pilgrims gather there only during certain seasons. 

 Army, LTTE powwow in Jaffna

 By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema 

A meeting was convened at the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission’s (SLMM) Jaffna office between the army and the LTTE on Wednesday, February 19, to look into ways of avoiding confrontations in the future.

According to reliable sources, two majors and two colonels represented the army, while Jaffna Leader Illambarandi together with Nishandan Master and Kalweli completed the LTTE delegation. The meeting, which went on for about two and a half hours, was convened at the request of the army. The relationship between the two former warring parties had come under immense pressure following the Mannipay incident.

Head of the SLMM office in Jaffna, Ole Brondum confirmed the meeting held between the army and the LTTE. When asked about the outcome of the meeting, Brondum observed that he was not in a position to give any details as the meeting was not arranged by the SLMM but the army. He also said that he had no idea whether the army and the LTTE had any plans of convening such meetings in the future.

Army sources in Colombo when contacted by The Sunday Leader did not confirm the meeting. They maintained that they were not aware of such a meeting between the army and the LTTE in Jaffna.

However, following the meeting with the army, the LTTE high rankers met in Kilinochchi on Thursday, February 20. LTTE’s Political Wing Leader, S. P. Tamilchelvan, Suda Master and Illambarandi met to discuss the outcome of the previous day’s deliberations with the army.

Civilian sources in Jaffna observed that there should be more consultations between the army and the LTTE to avoid future confrontations.

Retailers hit by credit card crooks

By Hemamala Wickramage 

A large number of supermarkets in Colombo and suburbs have experienced credit card abuse in the recent past. Most of the supermarket managers and cashiers The Sunday Leader interviewed said while at work they have come across several such incidents.

 Manager, Park & Shop Supermarket in Kohuwela, Manoma Chandrapala said the store’s staff came across a false credit card in one of their customer’s possession recently. “While making the payment, when the card was swiped in, the machine declined the card twice. The ‘customer’ refused the goods and walked out of the shop while the staff telephoned the bank with the card details. Later, the bank informed us that it was a false card,” said Chandrapala.

A manager of another supermarket in Malabe observed that credit card frauds were rampant. “We came across two such false credit cards late last year. Both were for transactions above Rs. 4,000. We have informed the banks and given the details to them,” he said.

It is not just supermarkets. These crime syndicates target electrical appliance stores as well. Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Abans Showroom Executive, Milinda Samararatne said within the last five months, the showroom was able to detect two false credit cards. “One was a transaction for Rs. 1.5 million. This particular ‘customer’ came in and picked out several air conditioners and TVs. When he was trying to pay, we managed to detect that the card was a false one,” said Samararatne. The second incident had been for a transaction that involved fridges and washing machines worth Rs. 200,000. “What the fake customers do is if they manage to make the purchase, they quickly go out and sell the goods to another party and get rid of it leaving no trace behind,” he said.

Supermarket managers also said that when they come across crooks trying to pay with false cards, shop staff are not in a position to request the customer to remain inside the store for verification. “If customers refuse the goods and walk out, there’s nothing we can do,” said a supermarket manager.

As a deterrent, most supermarkets have put up warning signs to forewarn fraudsters of the staff’s training on detecting phoney credit cards.

The banks have issued a reward scheme for shop managers and cashiers in order to bring down the credit card crime rate. Both Samararatne and Chandrapala had received Rs. 3,500 each for their false card detections.

Meanwhile, CID sources told The Sunday Leader that they are aware of the high prevalence of the crime and that the CID is waiting for the IGP’s approval to set up a separate unit to handle credit card fraud. “A credit card fraud unit would have officers especially trained to handle the issue,” said the CID source.

Yala ranger’s death still a mystery 

Mystery still surrounds the death of Yala ranger K. C. Kumarasinghe, with law enforcement authorities taking little or no interest to take appropriate action against the main suspect.

Nature activists have questioned as to why the police is delaying taking necessary action against the suspect. The Sunday Leader learns that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) was to get involved in the case. However, according to nature activists, the CID is yet to conduct an investigation.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Environment and Natural Resources Minister, Rukman Senanayake said he spoke to Interior Minister John Amaratunga last week with regard to the CID taking over the case.

“I have sent a letter on February 19 to the IGP who is expected to get the CID cracking on the case soon,” Minister Senanayake said.

Replying to a comment the Hambantota Police had made that Kumarasinghe’s death was an inside job, the Minister vowed to take action against the culprits, irrespective of their influence, if true.

According to ASP Hambantota Police, the main suspect had apparently handed himself over to the police in the presence of a lawyer. After being produced in courts recently, he was remanded. The suspect however claims that he did not shoot Kumarasinghe.

Meanwhile, The Sunday Leader learns that the Wildlife and Conservation Department had got down 30 pistols for the rangers to use. However some top officials of the Wildlife Department had wanted the pistols for their personal use.

With disagreement between the Wildlife Department officials, neither party have got the pistols. The rangers have never been trained on using these pistols and the weapons still remain in the stores of a Colombo office.

The Sunday Leader was unable to contact Director, Wildlife Department, H. S. B. C. Herath for comment.

—      Risidra Mendis

Ministry yet to trace missing vehicles

By Risidra Mendis 

After more than a year since the UNF government came into power, the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry is yet to trace the whereabouts of some of its vehicles.

The Sunday Leader learns that while the Ministry can account for some vehicles, others have just disappeared without a trace. According to Additional Secretary, Administration, Environment Ministry, A. H. N. Jayasekera, the number plates of some of the Ministry vehicles have been changed.

“These vehicles are being used with new number plates. So even though the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) is trying to track the whereabouts of these vehicles, they cannot be easily traced,” Jayasekera said.

When Minister Rukman Senanayake took over the Ministry, some of the vehicles returned by the PA government were not in a usable condition and ended up in garages.

“Many of our vehicles are still in garages, as certain procedures such as insurance papers are needed for the repairs to proceed. It is difficult to give a description of the necessary repairs for each vehicle. Some vehicles require major repairs, others minor ones and some are not worth repairing at all,” Jayasekera said.

According to Jayasekera, some vehicles have pending court cases and these cannot be repaired until the cases are over. “During the time the UNF took office, an article was published in the press with the numbers of missing vehicles from all ministries. During this time, some government officials returned their vehicles. However, some vehicles used by the previous regime have not being returned to the Ministry to date,” Jayasekera said.

The Ministry presently has around 40 vehicles. However only 20 are in working order. “For us to repair the remaining vehicles we need finances,” Jayasekera said. But according to Jayasekera, a directive issued by the Prime Minister’s office has said that no money can be released for vehicle repairs as the government is short of finances.

“We have no choice but to manage with the vehicles we have. Presently there are two directors using one vehicle at the Ministry. This is the same in other ministries as well,” Jayasekera said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has plans to sell some of the unusable vehicles. “But to sell a government vehicle there is a long procedure involved. You have to call for tenders, get approval from parliament and call for the auctioning of these vehicles,” Jayasekera said. 

According to Jayasekera, the details regarding information on the total number of vehicles not in use has to be obtained from the Prime Minister’s office. “We have submitted all the relevant details to the Prime Minister’s office and without the approval from the Prime Minister’s office we cannot release this information,” Jayasekera said.

He further said that if he was to get the details of the present number of vehicles not in use, he would need at least a month’s notice. “As for the purchase of new vehicles, we cannot do that either as money is not released from the Treasury,” Jayasekera said.

According to Minister Rukman Senanayake, the Ministry plans to repair as many vehicles as possible and auction the rest. “We have to manage with the vehicles we have, as we are unable to purchase new ones due to financial problems,” the Minister said.