Adele Balasingham also referred to as "the white Tamil" snapped unawares as she reads a copy of The Sunday Leader while her husband, LTTE’s Chief Negotiator and Theoretician, Dr. Anton Balasingham was giving the newspaper an interview

• Campaign to promote peace process

UNF Govt. is sleeping, says Bala

By  Frederica Jansz  In The Wanni 

LTTE's Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham last week, lashed out at all non-governmental organisations working in the Wanni. Addressing, judges, lawyers, LTTE cadres and invitees at last Tuesday's ceremonial opening of a new LTTE court complex at Kilinochchi, Balasingham ridiculed the NGOs in the Wanni saying "they drive around in luxury vehicles and talk a lot of nonsense, but don't deliver."

"They only dole out mugs, plates and mats to our people," he said, adding that the LTTE "could throw them out anytime if they wished to do so." "What have they done for our people in this area?" he kept asking as he spoke to the gathering.

During his entire speech, Balasingham kept on reiterating that he had discussed in detail with Tiger Chief Velupillai Prabhakaran the previous day, the various issues on which he would speak, asserting once more that he and Prabhakaran spoke with one tongue.

Referring to last Monday's incident which saw another LTTE vessel destroyed and 11 Sea Tiger cadres killed, Balasingham said, "If we want to do things we can. But we are being very patient. I am saying this after speaking with Prabhakaran yesterday."

Balasingham meanwhile also criticised the UNF government, asserting it is not doing enough to boost the peace process with counter campaigns similar to the SLFP/JVP anti-peace demonstration witnessed in Colombo last Monday. "They are all sleeping over there. I don't know why," Balasingham said, referring to the government and its apparent lethargy in publicly promoting a campaign for peace.

Balasingham pointed out that political negotiations would be a step by step process since, "the government is weak and amma (President Chandrika Kumaratunga) has executive powers."

Apart from accusing Kumaratunga of deliberately destabilising the peace process, he also said Navy Commander Daya Sandagiri "is in fear of Chandrika and very much under her influence." This is the reason he said, there have been so many instances of confrontations between the navy and the LTTE during the peace talks, adding "an unseen hand is behind the navy's acts of aggression."

Asked to specify whom he meant, Balasingham asserted it is President Kumaratunga who by allowing her own political party, the SLFP, to conduct a massive anti-peace demonstration in Colombo last week has made it patently clear that her intentions are to disrupt the peace process.

He asserted that if this government collapses all hope for a peaceful resolution for both the Tamil and Sinhalese people would end. "There will be chaos and destruction in the entire country as Sinhala chauvinist forces will force another war," he said.  Despite last Monday's incident when an LTTE vessel was destroyed by the navy, Balasingham however said the Tigers would not pull out of negotiations with the government.

Meanwhile, when contacted and asked to comment on Balasingham's statement that government peace negotiators are weak against President Chandrika Kumaratunga's executive authority, Defence Secretary Austin Fernando said, "this is a highly politicised question, I don't wish to be quoted."

Impeachment move against CBK

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti  

Plans are afoot to impeach President Chandrika Kumaratunga in the event she prepares for an early dissolution of parliament. Despite claims by the People's Alliance (PA) senior leaders on plans to dissolve parliament shortly to hold elections with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna's (JVP) assistance, President Kumaratunga has reportedly instructed her inner coterie to mastermind how to alter the balance of power within the legislature.

Minister S. B. Dissa- nayake, one time confidant of President Kumaratunga told The Sunday Leader that an impeachment would be shortly prepared to prevent a dissolution of the House, based on her failure to appoint a secretary general of parliament despite the urgency of the requirement and calling (if done) for elections in violation of a written pledge to Speaker Joseph Michael Perera that parliament would not be dissolved before the term expires.

"She tells the world the House would be dissolved, but is secretly attempting to do what we did. That could be done only if other political parties in parliament have faith in you and want to support," Dissanayake said.

The one time SLFP General Secretary, Dissa- nayake, who was a key player in changing the balance of power in parliament in 2001, took UNP membership last Wednesday (12) from Prime Minister Ranil Wickreme- singhe at a rally in Kandy.

He said that the UNF believed in being prepared, and as such, had initiated the preparatory work of the impeachment. Dissanayake claimed that over 80 signatures have already been collected and it was a matter of simply reaching the numbers.

"She has more enemies in the House than any other PA politician. Already, 35 more are willing to support us at a crucial juncture," said the Minister. "We brought down the PA administration when everyone said it was an impossible task. Similarly, if we have to bring her down, we will do that too," declared Dissanayake.

Lands Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that Kumaratunga was a beleaguered leader who has lost the support of all political parties, but the JVP. "The JVP attempted to become the second political force in the country by bullying Madam Bandaranaike, as they now do with Kumaratunga. They simply provide this country with light relief," observed Senaratne.

Authoritative UNP sources said that the previous impeachment document is to be used as a supportive document in any future attempt to oust the chief executive.

UNF banks on donor community

By Amantha Perera 

The future of the UNF government depends heavily on the outcome of the donor conference in Japan in June, according to sources at Temple Trees.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe told a public rally in Kandy last week that foreign donors have indicated that aid would be available for the next two to three years if the peace process is on track. The decision he said was between peace and development or war and destruction. Aid is needed not only for development work, but for debt management as well, according to Wickremesinghe.

The government is expecting a commitment of between US $ 500 and 600 million at the donor conference to be held in Japan in June.

The government is also planning to introduce wage increases shortly. Deputy Finance Minister Bandula Gunawardena told the Kandy rally that the wage increase would be in place before November.

Wickremesinghe revealed that the government would initiate the Yovun Senankaya programme in April that would offer training facilities to 40,000 youths. The government would also introduce legislation enabling tax relief till March 31 next year for investments generating new employment.

In the event of a war in the Gulf, the government has decided to absorb increases in oil prices for two months.

According to sources, the salary increases, price control measures and other programmes are expected to minimise public discontent over the rising cost of living. The government will also pay attention to the tourism industry and the maintenance of lower telecommunication charges in order to develop the IT industry.

Depending on the outcome of the donor meeting Wickremesinghe will push ahead with policies that he has identified as urgent. There is also the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle following the meeting. "The Prime Minister plans to get the money and then to put the right people in the right positions," sources said.

Wickremesinghe described the coming months as critical and added that they would show whether or not the country could move forward.

Rice investigation highlights discrepancies

A final decision has been made by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with regard to the malpractices arising from the supply of  2000 metric tones of rice to the Jaffna District.

Following an inquiry conducted by the Prime Minister's office' the Rehabilitation, Resettlement and Refugees Ministry of which Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena is Minister has been informed that the investigation  has found several unsatisfactory features in this process.

The Prime Minister has now directed Dr. Jayawardena and his Ministry to take immediate action in terms of the findings and recommendations made by this inquiry.  The Premier's office has found that the GA Jaffna has been put to immense difficulty in having to weigh and stock under-weight bags.  There has also been an attempt to defraud the government since the certificate of origin from the Indian authorities in Tuticorin where the cargo was packed states that each bag weighs 50 kgs.

The inquiry has further found that while the tender specification stated that the rice to be supplied should be preferably locally produced,  despite local harvests being available in abundance, 8000 tonnes of rice had been purchased from India. 

The Premier's office has also found that Lanka Trading Associates despite not having ever had a track record of supplying rice to the Rehabilitation Ministry was accepted as a tenderer without any checking done on the company to ascertain its credibility.  Also that the present arrangement of shipping from foreign sources has caused the government to pay extra for transport and handling.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena has been asked by the PM to immediately take action to ensure that the system of supplying rice to the internally displaced persons in the Jaffna District be changed. In future the Multi Purpose Cooperative Societies (MPCS) in Jaffna will be given the responsibility of supplying the preferred variety of par boiled Red Nadu rice through local purchases  from the rice producing districts, especially Vavuniya, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura.

The Prime Minister has agreed that, as is currently done in other districts, the price at which rice is purchased from millers would be in the future determined by a District Price Determining Committee. Vavuniya G.A, K. Ganesh has already reported that the estimated total production of rice in the Wanni for this year is expected to be 45,000 metric tons, of which 40% will be for consumption and 60% will be available to the market.

Talks commence despite setbacks

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Despite the tension created by the sinking of a LTTE ship by the Sri Lanka Navy in the Mullaitivu seas last week, the sixth round of peace talks get underway in Hakone, Japan on March 18-21 with the recent ceasefire violation being a thorny issue.

Following the navy sinking the ship, President Kumaratunga has urged Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to include the "serious breach of the MoU" in the government's agenda for discussion and to ensure that the international community's attention is drawn to repeated violations by the LTTE. Kumaratunga has instructed the Premier that an agreement should be signed with the LTTE which would incorporate a commitment by them that such incidents would be prevented at all costs.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Tilak Marapone told The Sunday Leader that he stood by the action taken by the navy as the LTTE had seriously violated the MoU. "The navy has the complete authority to take necessary action to prevent such incidents and to act in pursuance of territorial integrity" Marapone said.

With the incident causing ripples, the two negotiating teams are preparing to tackle core issues at the forthcoming round of talks. The model of devolution is expected to dominate the discussion.

The Sri Lankan team is headed by Constitutional Affairs Minister Prof G.L. Peiris and includes Science and Technology Minister Milinda Moragoda, Ports Minister Rauf Hakeem, Major General Shantha Kottegoda and Director, Peace Secretariat, Bernard Goonetilleke.

The LTTE team comprises Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham, Adele Balasingham, Political Wing Leader S.P. Thamilchelvan, Batticoloa Military Commander Karuna Amman, Economic Affairs Advisor Jay Maheswaran and T. Rudrakumar.

Family trouble galore

Family trouble seems to plague the UNF government these days. First it was a minister who threatened a mistress with death when she began spilling the beans, and then there was yet another from the same district up to unsporty business that involved a nightingale.

This time, a young UNPer from Puttalam District is about to lose his wife over similar indiscretions.

Minister Kodituwakku seeks President's intervention

Education Minister Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku has sought presidential intervention into a crisis where trained and professionally suitable teachers are rejected for recruitment by the Uva Provincal Council (UPC).

The UPC, according to information has refused to appoint the diploma holders of National College of Education (NCOE) who were earmarked to that province on the basis of existing teaching vacancies in the province.

These diploma holders obtained their diplomas as trained teachers in 2002 after completing their three-year training at the NCOE. This is the minimum qualification required to be appointed as teachers in terms of the Teachers' Minute currently in force.

In a letter to President Kumaratunga the Minister says, "I understand that the provincial ministry whilst refusing has expressed intentions of recruiting untrained persons and university graduates from the province as teachers to fill the vacancies of the Diploma Holders of NCOE thus depriving the latter of their legitimate expectations.

"The stand taken by the provincial ministry is that persons from the province itself must be appointed to the vacancies originating within the province. Whilst this line of reasoning is politically very sound, I wish to state that the proposed action on the part of the provincial council, if given effect, is likely to have a damaging impact on the disadvantaged students of the Uva Province."

He has said that the appointment of teachers who are untrained  by the UPC should not be permitted as it would invariably lower the quality of teaching. He has added that the quality of education is already low in the Uva Province as is evident from the results of both GCE (OL) and (AL) examinations.

Minister Kodituwakku has added, " in several provinces, most of the positions of the zonal and divisional directors and school heads continue to be held by those not qualified.

"The proposed action of the Uva Province of recruiting untrained teachers would also result in having those unqualified in the classrooms, thus inundating the whole system with the unqualified and untrained. Deployment of teachers too, continues to be irrational."

He has further stated that recruitment of untrained persons as teachers would also lead to a contravention of the agreement that has been signed with the IDA/World Bank in 1996.

He has said that if the UPC Ministry of Education proceeds with the proposed action, the World Bank may refuse to allocate money under any of the World Bank funded projects to the UPC and this  would be detrimental to the cause of education of the poor children in the province.

"Finally, in view of the detrimental impact that the proposed action of the UPC would have and considering particularly the action that has been initiated already by the central ministry to fill the vacancies originating within the province from persons of the Uva Province on a planned basis in the coming years and without compromising on the quality of education, I consider it my duty to present this matter for your Excellency's kind and urgent intervention," he has stated.

The Minister has also requested the President to advise the Uva Provincial authorities to refrain from taking the proposed action of recruitment and follow the national policy on teacher recruitment.

Not us says Sathva Mithra

Sathva Mithra President, Sagarica Rajakarunanayake has in a letter stated she is totally unaware of any proposal to establish a private zoo at Mirigama.

Referring to a news article that appeared in the  The Sunday Leader of March 9, she says she knew nothing of the conceptualisation of this zoo.

"I was surprised to read in your news item on the above subject  that our organisation Sathva Mithra had been included as one of the animal rights organisations that had endorsed the concept of this private zoo.

"Our views about this project or concept was not asked by any journalist of The Sunday Leader before this news item was published.

"Our views on the establishment of private zoos have been published on many occasions in the media. It is our position that we are clearly opposed to the setting up of private zoos in this country," states

Rajakarunanayake . 

Bodhgaya's sacred Mahabodhi in danger

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

The sacred Bodhi at the world's most venerated and significant Buddhist site of pilgrimage, Bodhgaya is dying with officials concerned turning a blind eye.

Located on the banks of the Neranjana River in sacred Bodhgaya in Southern Bihar, the Bodhi tree is infested with mill bugs that are sucking its sap. The sacred pipal tree has never been cared for in a scientific manner. And it has begun to show.

Ex-officio Chairperson, Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC), Brijesh Mehrotra was recently reported as having said that the infection occurs annually, but that it was particularly bad this year.

An expert in zoology explaining the damage told The Sunday Leader that young mill bugs fed on tender twigs while older bugs hid in the bark, secreting substances which support fungal growth.

The sacred Bodhi tree associated with the Gautama Buddha's enlightenment which serves as an inspiration to millions of Buddhists the world over, continues to suffer as the management refuses to go beyond the technical committee suggestions. UNESCO's technical support is necessary since the site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site last year.

Devotees blame bad administration and the managers blame the 'unhealthy rituals of devotees' for the destruction of the sacred tree.

President, Mahabodhi Society of Sri Lanka Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero, said that if the need arises, the society would not hesitate to request the BTMC to request UNESCO for support to help preserve the ancient Bodhi.

Regional Director Patna Agricultural Research Institute A.K. Singh, headed a committee which inspected the Mahabodhi in October 2002, and identified the problem as the result of the daily offerings made - yogurt, oil, sweets, ghee and milk. The problem is compounded by the lighting of oil lamps and candles at the base of the tree.

Tying of cloth on the Mahabodhi is another practice that is being criticised, as it prevents the bark from breathing. The committee recommended removing the offerings of cloth regularly to allow the bark to breathe, and also to paint the trunk and main branch with a combination of lime, copper and sulphate.

Pesticide use has been strongly recommended, though most Buddhists seem uncomfortable with the idea of killing. "It is better to prevent bugs from breeding than to kill them," say devotees.

It has also been suggested that cuttings from the 2,500-year-old Sri Maha Bodhi in ancient Anuradhpura be taken to Bodhgaya.

UNESCO declared the entire Mahabodhi temple complex a World Heritage Site on June 27, 2002 and the sacred Mahabodhi is an integral part of it. According to UNESCO, the state parties and the management committee manage sites and monuments.

" In the event of alteration UNESCO has to be kept informed. We could also offer technical assistance if requested," says Programme Officer UNESCO Prithi Perera. He says no such request has been made so far.

Ven. Banagala Upatissa Thero says that if this were the case, the Mahabodhi Society would be happy to make the request to conserve this most sacred of trees.

Norway to help Southern Sri Lanka

The government of Norway has commenced work on developing an ecotourism policy for Sri Lanka.

A Tourism Ministry source told The Sunday Leader that given the spurt of growth the tourism sector is experiencing as a result of the on-going peace process, it is necessary to exploit the ecotourism potential that Sri Lanka's hitherto under-utilised wilderness and archaeological resources offer.

The Norwegian aid agency NORAD has already mobilised an international team of consultants led by a Canadian expert, Pamela Wright, assisted by Paul Stevens of the U.K. The team is expected to formulate a comprehensive national ecotourism policy to fast-track ecotourism development islandwide, focusing especially on southern-region sites such as the Sinharaja, Kanneliya and Kottawa rainforests.

The feasibility study now in preparation includes the creation of a number of forest "eco-lodges" which will assist some 40,000 eco-tourists who visit the island annually to participate in a genuine wilderness experience.

Meanwhile, USAID too has commenced work on a similar exercise, having engaged a renowned international eco-tourism development expert, Megan Epler Wood, a US national, to provide a strategic direction for eco-tourism development in Sri Lanka. The US programme is being developed by The Competitiveness Initiative, a USAID-funded project located in the World Trade Centre.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, "The strategy will focus on facilitating sustainable eco-tourism in special interest sites such as Ritigala, which offer a combination of attractions such as ayurvedic plants, archaeology, culture, bio-diversity and traditional lifestyles."

According to the Ministry, the national policy being developed by the consultants will lay the foundation for reducing poverty in Sri Lanka's rural areas, especially in communities living close to under-utilised forests such as Sinharaja, by diverting lucrative tourism revenue to the nearby villages.

The source added that the national policy prepared by the consultants would shortly be approved by cabinet.

The initiative is expected to lead to significant new investment and employment in the south, in addition to the creation of livelihoods for a large number of eco-tourism service providers such as tour guides and interpreters.

CJ orders expenditing of cases

By Shezna Shums

While all 50 LTTE suspects who commenced a hunger strike at the Kalutara prison on March 1 are continuing their fast despite their health condition becoming worse, Chief Justice Sarath Silva last week ordered the relevant authorities to look into the matter.

He has ordered the relevant authorities to expedite the legal cases pending against the prisoners in order to give them 'some' redress.

The prisoners from the north are demanding that their cases be transferred to the northern courts to avoid delays in their cases being heard.

Kalutara prison officials said the inmates consume only water and that they have refused to take solids.

Last week a committee comprising the Peace Secretariat's Bernard Goonetilleke and Legal Advisor Harsha Fernando visited the inmates and said they will hand in a report by March 17. However The Sunday Leader learns no report has yet been submitted to the government.

The officials also said that medical examinations are being carried out on the prisoners to ensure that their health does not deteriorate further.

No names released

The LTTE has not released the names of its members killed in the ship destroyed on March 9. It has also not provided any proof to show that it was a genuine cargo ship as claimed. However, reliable sources say that four or five people on that ship were Jaffna University graduates in physical science who had undergone training in assembling aircraft and flying them.

Division within PA

Sharp divisions within the People's Alliance (PA) is apparently delaying some members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) tabling the proposed SLFP-JVP pact before the PA Central Committee (CC), senior PA members said.

Senior members opposed to the proposed SLFP-JVP tie up, say if they are allowed a secret vote right now, the proposal would be defeated. "At a later date, due to pressure being brought on them some may have to vote in favour of the proposal," they said.

More help for the childless

Vindana, a reproductive health center manned by Sri Lankan doctors which is the first institution in Sri Lanka responsible for the birth of a test tube baby, is to enter into an agreement with CARE-UK to help childless couples.

Vindana has now taken a further step towards infertility management by inviting Dr. Simon Fishel from Centres for Assisted Reproduction (CARE, United Kingdom) who was a team member at the birth of the world's very first test tube baby to Sri Lanka.

The signing of the agreement between CARE-UK and Vindana will take place in Colombo on March 20. Dr. Champa Nelson of Vindana says the agreement between his organisation and CARE-UK will help childless couples by bringing to Sri Lanka the latest technology available for the management of infertility.

CMC collects dues

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has announced that it has succeeded in collecting outstanding dues from ratepayers thus gaining financial stability.

A team of university graduates was deployed to carry out a survey indentifying assessable properties within the CMC limits.

The survey revealed that many were either residing in or had rented out premises and a large number of residential properties were used for commercial activities. This survey has helped the CMC not only to collect arrears but also to regularise many shortcomings in the collection system.

In addition the CMC has provided jobs for unemployed graduates. "The CMC is now taking stern action against tax defaulters according to  the provisions in the CMC Act, where movables within the subject property will be auctioned to recover unpaid taxes," a statement said.

The CMC secretary has praised the efforts of the Deputy Mayor for these results.

"No" to enforcement of death penalty

The Civil Rights Movement of Sri Lanka (CRM) has said that it is the responsibility of an enlightened government to give the lead in adopting more rational and humane approaches to the ills of society rather than resorting to capital punishment.

The CRM in a statement has said that the international trend is steadily against the death penalty. More than half the countries of the world have now abolished it.

"We must certainly be concerned with crime control and law enforcement, but the death penalty is not the answer. Nowhere in the world has it been shown to be effective in reducing crime. If we now hang a few convicts it might create a superficial impression in some minds that the government has taken 'bold' action against crime, while the real problems remain un-addressed," the statement added.

"The death penalty is irreversible. Can we say that our investigative, law enforcement and legal system is such that there is no real possibility of innocent people being convicted and scapegoats being hanged? Miscarriages of justice, of which the poor and the disadvantaged are the most likely victims, can never be rectified," the statement added.

Fowzie's opinion of the alliance

Senior Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) member and former Transport Minister, A.H.M. Fowzie who did not participate in the SLFP-JVP protest that took place last Monday, says these parties, under the guise of raising their voices against the rising cost of living, protested against the peace process.

He said it was one of the principal reasons why he could not participate in the protest march. He told The Sunday Leader that the protest should have been against the cost of living and not against the ongoing peace process.

"I also thought joining the JVP in the protest would tarnish the image of the SLFP. This is another reason why I did not participate," he said.

He said he is opposed to the SLFP trying to enter into a pact with the JVP at present. "Not now. Perhaps later on," he explained.

UNP focuses on eastern vote base

A 15 member delegation from the United National Party (UNP) will be visiting the Eastern Province for three days  commencing today in order to revive its vote base, a spokesman for the group said.

Some of the members who will participate in this propaganda tour are Ministers S.B. Dissanayake, M.H. Mohamed, A.H.M. Azwer, Rajitha Senaratne, Tilak Marapone, Mahinda Wijesekara and several others. UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema and General Secretary Senarath Kapukotuwa will also join the delegation, the spokesman said.

One of the main objectives of the tour is to win back the confidence the people have had in the UNP in the past. The spokesman said support for the UNP was on the decline after it agreed to contest the last general election with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC).

The UNP, it is learnt is perturbed over the manner in which the SLMC is taking control of the east, especially the SLMC bringing Samanthurai, Pottuvil and Kalmunai under its control.

According to the UNP spokesman, after the SLMC came in to the picture the UNP which  had total control of these areas, is now facing a crisis. This may result in the UNP  losing nearly 60,000 votes, the spokesman pointed out.

The delegation will first hold a rally and a series of pocket meetings in Kalmunai today. A mobile kachcheri would also be held where ministers can meet with the residents and talk to them directly to find out about their needs.

The delegation and the mobile kachcheri will move to Pottuvil tomorrow and hold similar meetings.

On the third day of the visit the delegation will travel to Samanthurai and the tour would  end with a convention to be held at Samanthurai Al-Marjan Maha Vidyalaya.

The spokesman said the UNP vote base in the east is fast deteriorating with SLMC MPs not recommending any UNPers for government jobs.

"This has resulted in the UNP supporters turning to the SLMC. For instance Mashoor Sinnalebbe, who was  vice president,  Eastern Provincial Council and who later contested the election under the UNP, is now with the SLMC. So this is why we have decided to strengthen our vote base. This may hurt the feelings of the Muslims, but we can't help," the spokesman said.

One tough woman

By Hemamala Wickramage

P. Agnes, a 43 year old woman from Gampaha fits the bill of the suffering mother fighting to survive. Exception is that she is a three-wheeler driver by profession. The idea of a woman doing what in the past was taken totally to be a man's job is indeed surprising but Agnes has not let gender  - or anything else - stand in her way.

 Agnes drives the three-wheeler her husband,who works in a flower shop in Colombo,  bought for the purpose of commuting to and from work. "He bought it to come to work and go back home to Gampaha. While he worked, the three-wheeler used to be kept parked behind the shop," says Agnes. Struggling with a family of three children, she decided to make use of it to earn an extra income.

Agnes admits she had to face daily-obstacles in the male dominated world of three-wheeler driving.

"It wasn't very easy for me at first, since this trade is a 100% male dominated one," says Agnes, adding that she had to face a lot of problems from long standing drivers who have set up business in three-wheeler parks. It's been six years since she first started and Agnes says she has gradually mastered the trade. Earlier the opposition from the male drivers used to range from subtle discrimination of tone of voice to facial expressions, to unwillingness to believe a woman could do a man's job and at times open aggressiveness says Agnes.

 And there had been situations where she has had to go to the cops for help. "But with determination and quiet persistence I have managed to counter mounting opposition and establish  my  place in the three-wheeler park.

 "I don't take notice of the chandias around here anymore," says Agnes.

 The obstacles she faces are not as intense as they  used to be she says but daily life is still one tough ride. When we visited her at the park  Agnes was not around  and when queried, her male 'colleagues' told us that she no longer worked there. And they clearly showed their unwillingness to let us hire a three-wheeler for our return trip simply because we were there to see Agnes.

Not just three-wheelers but Agnes is also qualified to drive light lorries and buses. "It took me only 15 days to get trained for my bus license," she says.

"There are good days and bad days and  no matter what I have to make Rs. 230 to cover my running costs," she says. Most of her customers are pretty impressed with Agnes's job and she says that at the end of a trip they would get off leaving her a tip. " If the three-wheeler charge is Rs. 50 they'd hand me a Rs. 100 note and they tell me to keep the change," says a smiling Agnes. When it comes to tips, her helplessness it seems is a bonus.

She believes that she has learnt the job well or even better than men. "Most of the women who hire my three-wheeler say how glad they are that it is a woman who's driving them," says Agnes. "We live in a man's world where women are treated as objects of lust and desire. So travelling with a woman makes them less uncomfortable as they have the assurance that they'd be taken to their destination safely," says Agnes.

Agnes has become pretty confident of her job and she has set her sights on becoming a bus driver. "If I can get enough money saved I'd like to get a bus to drive," she says.

Agnes says she would like to see a share of the trade going to other women who are willing to battle the odds and be tough enough to make it amongst the men. She has already trained a friend of hers to drive a three-wheeler and she says her friend is working in Wanathamulla area. "You have to be street-smart to do this. It takes a while to get used to the busy city life in Colombo," she says.

"Whenever I  face discrimination I stand up to it. And I've realised that's all it takes," says Agnes.

She may be different in being part of a handful of women who have broken the shackles to take life head on. But in one sense she has not - like all the others her life too is decided on money. That was why  she asked for money for giving us the interview.

The nuisance that is public protests

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The collective opinion of the general public on massive protest campaigns conducted by political parties disrupting everyday life, is that they are an absolute waste of time and energy, and serve only those who lead them.

Since of late, political parties have decided to take their message on to the streets through protest campaigns and rallies. These campaigns, which the organisers harp on as being organised to address a national cause, has created quite a different opinion in the minds of the general public.

The organisers of the rallies that reduce towns to 'siege centres' however do not take kindly to the media highlighting the havoc they cause.

According to Kalpani Amarasingha, a production co-ordinator, protest campaigns and rallies are merely held by politicians for personal and  political gains. She went on to say that these campaigns are motivated by selfish reasons. "As long as anything is motivated by selfish reasons, they would never bear any results," she said. Amarasingha observed that people seem to have noticed that these protest campaigns result in nothing much and they have learnt to get on with their lives. "Many thought the protest campaign held last Monday (10), would cause some problems, but no such thing happened and I noticed that people were going about doing their day to day work without any problem," she said.

Deputy Secretary General, Ceylon National Chamber of Industries, Ajantha de Silva shared the same view. According to her when one party is in power the others organise protest campaigns and vice versa. She went on to say that it is nothing but the hunger for power that drives politicians to organise these protest campaigns and rallies. "It is all for political gain and not really to address any particular national issue," she said. De Silva observed that although protest campaigns and rallies organised in other countries prove to be effective, in Sri Lanka it resembles just another May Day rally.

Malkanthi Gunathilaka, a housewife, however felt that political parties organising protest campaigns and rallies are good as long as they truly stand for what is right. According to her governments should learn to give an ear to these protest campaigns and rallies. It was Gunathilaka's opinion that these campaigns and rallies do serve a purpose to some extent. Explaining further she said that the majority of people would not like to come forward to voice their opinion alone, but they get a chance to come out with their views through these protest campaigns and rallies. "Most of the protest campaigns today emphasise on the cost of living, which is a good thing. We are all suffering as a result of the rising cost of living," she said.

As for inconveniences caused to the public during these protests and rallies, Gunathilaka felt that people have now learnt to adapt to the situation as they have become quite used to it.

According to Prasanna Fernando, a businessman, every political party is only bothered about their own interests and not those of the general public. "Politicians are worried only about themselves, not those who vote them in to office," he said. Fernando went on to say that politicians take to the streets claiming to be concerned about the common man and their problems with the latest being 'standing for a national cause.' According to Fernando, all these are motivated by nothing but personal and political gain. Explaining further, Fernando said that the issues that they raise during protest campaigns and rallies get forgotten the minute they assume power. "The opposition will then take charge of organising political protests and rallies till they are back in power and the carnival will go on. It is a never-ending cycle," he said. Fernando observed that whatever happens politicians will be fine as it is the common man who has to suffer.

Nishan, a student, felt that protest campaigns and rallies have their pros and cons. His main concern was the fact that most of the protest campaigns and rallies organised by politicians happen to be on weekdays. This, according to him, creates much inconvenience as normal life gets disrupted. "Schools have to close early and when they do, students have to find their way home before these rallies begin and in the evenings, office staff are stranded without transport back home," he said. He went on to say that as a student, the best thing for him to do is stay at home on days political parties "suddenly decide to voice their concern about the common man's plight."

A Sea Tiger speaks out

By Shezna Shums

The LTTE Sea Tiger who surrendered to the Pettah Police on March 6 had earlier surrendered himself to the Negombo Police two months ago but because of the ceasefire in operation he had not been remanded.

The LTTEer was the second in command in a Sea Tiger unit and had 40 cadres  under him.

According to him he had been working under "Wasantha Master" in this Sea Tiger unit.   

Two months ago he escaped from Muhaimalai in Jaffna and walked through the jungle arriving at Omanthai.

At Omanthai he managed to board a bus and go to Vavuniya. From Vavuniya he had come to Negombo where he stayed with a friend during which time he surrendered himself to the Negombo police.

 The LTTEer escaped from the Sea Tiger Unit  because while serving he was not allowed to visit his family or get married.

He first joined the LTTE Sea Tiger Unit in 1990 when his family was given the choice of  either paying Rs. 10,000 or sacrificing one family member to join the LTTE forces.

When he joined the LTTE  he was told that in five years time he will be able to get married. However as time went by the LTTE changed their stance by saying that he can visit his family and get married only after 20 years.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader he said "there were too many regulations and we had very little freedom."

Being the second in command he said that for the Sea Tiger unit of 40 members, the LTTE gave them Rs. 300,000 a month for expenses and a record of every single cent that was spent by the unit had to be given to the higher members.

Monthly each LTTEer was given one soap bar, one shampoo and a tube of toothpaste, which he said was not enough.

They were not given any clothes apart from the uniform, and no money for their personal expenditure. Adding to their woes they were not allowed any leave.

He states that he escaped because he wanted more freedom. "I want to have a normal life, be able to work and earn money for my family," he said.

After escaping from  the LTTE he said "I now cannot go back to my family because they might come and take me again."

He knew many others who also want to leave the LTTE but were not allowed to and they also lacked money to escape.

According to him almost all the LTTE cadres  are in favour of peace but he believes that their leader prefers otherwise.

This escaped LTTEer  has a mother, younger brother and an elder sister. Earlier another one of his brothers had been killed by the EPDP. His father according to him is missing but he is sure that his father is not dead.

The escaped LTTEer says that he doesn't want to go back and he likes it here in Colombo  because there is more freedom and there is enough food here.

While in the Sea Tiger Unit for all three meals the LTTEers were given rice, brinjal curry and puhul everyday.

Some of the operations that this escaped Sea Tiger had taken part in are;  in1995 near  Mandaitivu when the LTTE  attacked the Sri Lanka Navy at sea; then in 1996 they again attacked the navy at sea near Mullaitivu.

Recalling another incident he said that in 1997 when he - an ordinary cadre at the time -  was navigating a boat taking LTTE members from Mullaitivu to Trincomalee they had come under attack from the navy. However he was able to safely arrive in Trincomalee with the LTTEers.

It was after this incident that he was promoted to second in command of the unit.

When The Sunday Leader interviewed the LTTEer he didn't have the cyanide capsule with him and he said that he broke it on his way.

At the Pettah police station, where he surrendered himself once again, "he just walked in with ordinary clothes," said OIC A. Liyanapathirana.

As things stand this 24 year old LTTEer cannot be kept in remand or even arrested by the police because of the MoU.

He is allowed to leave the police station but does have to report to the police every few days.  He says that he hopes to find work and send money to his family.

He has requested for a letter from the police saying he has surrendered himself enabling him to find work.

However the police have not yet given this letter he said. This letter is similar to an ID card and allows him the liberty to travel anywhere in the country.