Despite denials by the government that its members assaulted the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) monks, picture shows Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga menacingly advancing towards the monk, while fellow MP Mervyn Silva is being held at bay 

Two ministers, deputies named in monk attack

SLPA Chairman accused of manipulating business

JVP threatens to pull out of govt. if talks start on ISGA

Rauf to sue state media

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauf Hakeem has decided to sue the state media and its bosses to the tune of Rs. 4 billion for publishing and telecasting news reports defamatory of him.

Attorney at Law G. G. Arulpragasam on Friday wrote to the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. (ANCL), Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC), ANCL Chairman Janadasa Peiris and the Editor, Daily News, Geoff Wijesinghe seeking Rs. 1 billion each for defaming his character.

They have been informed that if the payment is not made within two weeks legal proceedings would be instituted against each one of them.

In the letters of demand sent to ANCL, Wijesinghe and Peiris, Attorney Arulpragasam has said that an article under the heading "Only thing left is suicide, says attractive mother of two, Rauf Hakeem cheated me in love" published on May 17, was defamatory of Hakeem.

"You have published the said article, after the publication of an 'expose' on May 16, 2004 in The Sunday Leader newspaper, which disclosed that the contents of the article published by you are false and is a result of a conspiracy committed by a certain group of persons involved in politics to publicly discredit and oust my client, Rauf Hakeem from the leadership of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC)," Arulpragasam has further said.

"The allegations made by you in the said article concerning my client and referred to therein are false and malicious," he has said.

In the letter of demand sent to the SLRC, Arulpragasam has further pointed out that the said "video footage was to be telecast after the publication of an 'expose' on May 16, 2004 in The Sunday Leader newspaper which disclosed that what was shown in the said video footage was false and designed to publicly discredit and oust my client, Rauf Hakeem from the leadership of the SLMC, by a certain group of politicians."

He has further pointed out that the contents of the said telecast are totally false and defamatory of his client. "My client has been publicly humiliated, ridiculed and defamed by the said telecast not only as a person but also as a political leader and an attorney-at-law. My client has also suffered grave pain of mind," the letter said.

President off

President Chandrika Kumaratunga left for London via Dubai yesterday to attend daughter Yasodara's convocation. She is expected to be overseas for one week.

Prior to the President's departure she recorded an address to the nation which was to be telecast last night.

Meanwhile the Emirates flight to Dubai via Male yesterday was delayed by nearly one hour due to its late arrival and the President.

EK552, scheduled for departure at 10.20 am, left at around 11.10 am moments after President's arrival at the airport.

Prior to her departure the President swore in Mangala Samaraweera as the Media Minister following the earlier resignation of Reginald Cooray who is contesting for the Western Provincial Council chief minister's post on the UPFA list.

CWC threatens to take action

By Shezna Shums 

The largest trade union in the country, the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) has threatened to resort to a series of union actions if the United People's  Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga goes ahead with the Upper Kotmale Hydropower project.

Plantation sources said the union actions that are likely to be taken by the plantation unions would 'definitely' damage the entire plantation industry.

The government last week announced that it would implement three mega development projects namely Norochcholai coal power plant, Upper Kotmale hydropower station and the Colombo-Katunayake expressway.

The Sunday Leader learns that the Power and Energy Minister, Susil Premajayanth is awaiting Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports that are due to be ready within two weeks to start the Kotmale project.

CWC Vice President, R.Yogarajan said the CWC always opposed the Upper Kotmale hydropower project before and would continue to oppose this project under any circumstances.

However he said "This is still on hold for two more weeks and we will have to wait and see what happens to this project before we decide on the course of action we have to take."

He pointed out that the main reasons that the CWC in opposing this project is because of the severe environmental damage that will be caused if this project took off the ground in the hill country. He said the problems that would be faced by the plantation community would be immense and that his union could no longer be a witness to the suffering of the workers.

Administrative Secretary, CWC, V.Puthrasigamany explained that this project is not viable because the quantum of water necessary to generate power is not found in these areas.

"The project will need at least 74 cubic meters of water per second but even at the peak times there is only 34.5 cubic meters of water per second. This is less than half the amount of water needed," he said.

He also said that during the dry season there would be less water for hydropower project. "This is another reason why the CWC is opposed to this project apart from the environmental problems that will arise and the hardships that the plantation community will face once this project is established," he said.

State funeral today

The state funeral of the late most Ven. Rambukwella Sri Vipassi Mahanayake Thero of Malwatte Chapter will be held at 3 pm at the Asgiriya Police grounds, Kandy today.

Ven. Vipassi Thero was born on June 26,1916 at Gangoda Walauwa, Digalla in Udu Dumbura, Gampaha East Korale. He was later ordained on May 12, 1930 at the age of 14 .

He received his higher ordination at the Seemamalakaya of the Malwatte Maha Viharaya on May 13, 1938. He graduated on January 19, 1950 to become a member of the Karaka Sanggha Sabha of the Malwatte Viharaya. He became the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter on November 15, 1989.

As a mark of respect to the late Thero, the government has instructed all liquor shops, meat stalls and cinema halls to be closed. According to police sources, special security arrangements have been made in Kandy for the safety of the public that would attend the funeral today.

Hotline for dengue

A free health campaign has been launched for those seeking medical advice regarding the deadly dengue fever.

The campaign is a 24 hour service with a message that says "If any of your family members is having fever, and in the event you are unable to contact your family doctor or specialist, you can always contact Medi-calls from any part of the country."

One of the in-house doctors is expected to be present 24 hours to give medical advice over the phone regarding the disease. The public could contact Medi-calls on their hotline - 0112575475.

SL journalists receive awards

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has picked three Sri Lankan journalists as winners in the Tolerance Prize held in South Asia under three categories.

The categories are print English, print language and broadcast.

The three Sri Lankans are Sharmini Boyle from Young Asia Television for Women Waging Peace, Sharni Jayawardene also from Young Asia Television for Defiant Art and Uvindu Kurululasooriya of the Ravayya newspaper for Sigiriya, Norway and the Sinhala Buddhist.

Finalists were selected from exactly a 100 entries submitted for the prize in South Asia and the judges were senior journalists from around the world who decided on the winners at a jury meeting held in Lahore, Pakistan.

The prize giving ceremony will be held in Colombo on August 20.

The IFJ Journalism for Tolerance Prize will be awarded to journalists in five regions of the world. This prize is also supported by the European Union (EU) and has been launched at a time when cultural, religious and ethnic differences are increasingly contributing to instability and unrest in many regions of the world, a release from the IFJ stated.

Ads galore

The Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA) has pointed out that both the United National Front (UNF) and the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) dominated advertising in the media during the April 2004 general elections.

The report says advertisements by the minor parties were either non-existent or were at a bare minimum.

There were 175 full page, 379 half page, 13 quarter page, 419 - 1,000 sq cm, 150 - 500 to 750 sq cm, 443 - 300 to 450 sq cm and 1,252 120 - 250 sq cm advertisements in favour of UNF and its candidates.

The corresponding figures for the UPFA were 122, 82, one, 45, 99, 183 and 577 respectively in each category.

The report states that only a few candidates from both UPFA and UNF dominated the advertisements while the parties published only a minimum number of advertisements in the Sinhala language newspapers of the state media.

Some of the UPFA and UNF advertisements raised ethical questions regarding political propaganda and at the latter stage of elections, political advertisements appeared continuously for five to 10 minute periods during primetime programming and news inter-alia. There were no guidelines or limits to political advertisements either in print or electronic media.

Zoo begins animal exchange programme

By Risidra Mendis

The National Zoological Gardens (NZG) is to receive a zebra, a wild horse and a cheetah as part of an exchange programme.

The male cheetah is to be brought down from Germany while the male wild horse and zebra are to arrive from the Czech Republic respectively. Negotiations to bring down a pair of camels is also part of this programme.

Director, NZG, Brigadier H.A.N.T Perera told The Sunday Leader that a pair of leopards is to be given in exchange for the zebra and wild horse while a female rusty spotted cat is to be given in exchange for the cheetah.

According to Brigadier Perera, wild horses are an endangered species and very rare to find. "There are an estimated 400 wild horses in the world today with most of them being bred in the zoos" he said.

He said only a few breeding centers for cheetahs can be found in the world. "We take great care when deciding on the animals we should bring down from other zoos," he said.

The NZG presently has a female zebra, a female cheetah and two female wild horses.

"In the past, zoos around the world used to donate animals when they had excess animals. However, this system does not work anymore," said Brigadier Perera. According to the Brigadier, animals were also given as a part of a loan where a male or a female was lent out to a zoo that did not have a pair to breed.

"Once the offsprings were born, the parent animal was supposed to be brought back by the zoo. However, most often the parent animal was never returned to the original zoo. The present system is to try and get animals through exchange programmes. However, this system doesn't work as we buy the animals," said the Brigadier.

Preventive programme on child labour

By Jamila Najmuddin

With a view to combating the increasing number of domestic child labourers in the country, the International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC) in Sri Lanka together with the plantation management sector linking with trade unions will introduce a preventive programme this year.

The programme will provide education and vocational skills and economic empowerment measures to children and families in the plantations.

With more than 200 million domestic child labourers working in the world today, reports released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) indicate that more than 19,000 children are involved in domestic labour in Sri Lanka.

According to ILO, Sri Lanka's child domestic labourers come from low-income families and are often without financial resources and motivation to continue in school. Children from families in the plantation sector in areas of the north east, with extremely low economic opportunites have also been identified in sending their children into domestic labour in the urban areas of Colombo.

In order to commemorate the third 'World Day Against Child Labour', which fell on June 12, a code of conduct was launched for the employers of youth domestic workers, above the age group of 14.

A one-day training programme on combating child labour was provided for government officials and the various poverty alleviation programme implementers from the Western Province. Concerts of drama and songs on child domestic labour was also conducted by the National Workers Congress at their 'Daru Setha' centers.

IPEC, through its partners, has been addressing the overall issues of child labour in the country since 1997 providing catch up education and vocational skills training for children.

Economic empowerment for parents and children at risk, awareness raising and building the capacity of stakeholders to effectively combat child labour, were also addressed.

GMOA, HSTUA threaten islandwide strike

By Shehan Moses 

The Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA) warned they would resort to an islandwide strike if the government accedes to the demands of the Assistant Medical Officers (AMO).

Spokesman, GMOA, Dr. Channa Perera told The Sunday Leader they would not tolerate if the government provides salary increments to members of the AMO and the Health Sector Trade Union Alliance (HSTUA).

"The previous government promised us a solution to our problems by appointing a salary revision committee. However, the present government has appointed the Tissa Devendra committee to look into our issues. Anyway, if this committee does not find solutions to our problems and if they grant a salary hike to the AMOs and others, we would certainly carry out trade union action," he said.

Meanwhile, Co-convener, HSTUA, Saman Ratnapriya told The Sunday Leader that his organisation would hold an islandwide strike on June 16, since talks with the Health Minstry officials, held last week failed.

However, according to Ratnapriya, employees of Lady Ridgeway, De Soyza, Cancer, and Castle Street Hospitals would not participate in this strike.

Meanwhile, President, Association of Protecting Patients' Rights (APPR), D. Muller told The Sunday Leader that they are against the doctors resorting to union action at the expense of the lives of innocent patients.

"This is very unfair for patients since the patients would be at the receiving end of disputes that arise between the health sector and the government. The patients will have to suffer immensely, while the health sector workers demand salary anomalies be rectified," he said.

"When a nurse with many years of experience receives the same salary or lesser salary compared to a graduate doctor and vise versa, this would create unrest among them," he said. According to Muller, when health workers strike they violate the rights of the patients. "This is why a responsible government must take adequate steps to meet the demands of each segment of the health sector," he said.

"Most of health sector employees begin their career by swearing that they would protect the rights of patients but they are violating this by going on strike," Muller said.

Muller suggests that the government should provide a permanent solution in order to prevent health sector workers going on strike. "The government should appoint a permanent committee that would review the salary anomalies of all health sector employees and prepare a circular that would benefit all grades of employees in the health sector, irrespective of the position they hold," he said.

He emphasised that the APPR is presently working together with the law enforcement authority to prevent the health sector staff from striking.

"This is a democratic country and every one has the right to hold trade union action," he said. However, he stressed that the government should find alternative measures such as declaring an emergency situation to prevent such trade union action being carried out by health sector staff.

Lankan child molestor arrested in US

A 39-year-old man who fled Sri Lanka to escape charges of molesting his four-year-old daughter was arrested last Thursday(10), US authorities said.

Federal agents arrested international fugitive, Devanike Aswinkumar Sinnatambi at his apartment in Brea in Northern Orange County and held him without bail at a Los Angeles detention center, said Spokeswoman for the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Virginia Kice.

Beginning in 2000, Sinnatambi was on trial in Sri Lanka on charges that he sexually assaulted his then four-year-old daughter but fled to the United States on a tourist visa in December 2001, authorities said.

Kice said a court in that country in 2002 convicted and sentenced him to spend 36 years in prison in absentia.

"This was an egregious case. The victim was violated in a very violent way," Kice said.

Authorities said Sinnatambi fled Sri Lanka with his second wife and another child, and the second wife was not arrested.

Kice said ICE lawyers will ask an immigration judge to deport Sinnatambi back to Sri Lanka, where she said he will face a 36-year sentence without parole. However, a court hearing was not yet scheduled.

Authorities said Sinnatambi was a tea merchant in Sri Lanka and lived in Baltimore, Md., before settling in Orange County. He owns Fullerton-based Terrigena Inc., which produces herbal supplements.                     (AP)

Bill to curb computer crime soon

By Jamila Najmuddin

The Ministry of Justice is to present a bill in parliament aimed at reducing computer crime in Sri Lanka.

According to ministry officials the bill has been introduced in order to safeguard the state and society from crimes that occur through the misuse of computers.

Ministry officials said that the bill has been forwarded to Justice Minister, John Seneviratne and will be presented to parliament soon.

With regard to offences, the bill states, "the offences recognised in the bill are formulated on the basis that a result desired through the use of a computer is achieved by the performance of a function on a computer. Such a function can either be performed with authority or without authority and can also be legitimate."

The bill states that functions performed 'without authority' are recognised as offences and where the computer is used 'with authority' as a mere tool of crime, the offence will not be dealt with under the 'cyber crime regime', but in terms of the criminal law applicable to the predicate offence. However if a computer is used without right of access or without authority for the commission of the offence under another law, the offender attracts additional penalties.

It further states that offences under the proposed law will be triable by the Colombo High Court or by the High Court of the Western Province.

This law applies to any person who commits offences in Sri Lanka, where the computer or the computer programme which was affected, was at the material time in Sri Lanka, where the facility, which was used to commit the offence, was based in Sri Lanka, and where loss or damage occurred in Sri Lanka.

The bill states that it is vital that investigations conducted produce accurate results since computer crime is a highly technical offence and its investigations require great expertise and skills. Accordingly, a panel of experts in the field will be required to assist the police in the investigations.

The experts will be appointed by the minister in charge of police, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Science and Technology from among persons who possess adequate knowledge and expertise in the field of Information Technology (IT).

The police will have the usual powers to search, arrest and seize, and the experts too will be vested with powers deemed necessary to assist the police. These include the power to enter premises with a police officer, access any computer, request any person to produce any document to disclose traffic data and verbally examine any person.

While certain investigations will require a warrant, the bill states that in the case of investigations where the necessary information will be lost by the time a warrant is issued, it will not be required. The bill acknowledges that in computer crime investigations, time is of absolute essence, since the perpetrators can destroy incriminating offences within seconds.

The bill states that where damage is caused as a result of the crime, the court will have to impose upon the offender an additional fine as compensation payable to the victim.

MPs outstaying welcome in quarters

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Prompt action is to be taken to remove some 30 ex-parliamentarians who are occupying the Madiwela MPs flats meant for the exclusive use of sitting members.

Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister, Amarasiri Dodangoda said that it has become a huge problem to accommodate the members who were elected in April, as there were some "squatter types" who are in  unauthorised occupation of the houses.

" They are defeated members and should make way for the newly elected outstation parliamentarians without a Colombo residence. The entire concept behind providing housing facilities to members is destroyed by the illegal staying," Dodangoda said.

He said that three reminders have already been issued with little or no response from most members.

According to senior parliamentary officials, most illegal occupants are UNP members who offer lame excuses about their children's education getting disrupted if they have to move out of their flats, as they have no houses in Colombo suburbs.

"That cannot be the excuse. They knew the terms when they came in," claims Minister Dodangoda who is adamant that legal action should be taken against them if they persist in overstaying.

The Madiwela MPs quarters were constructed by late President Ranasinghe Premadasa to facilitate legislators from rural areas without residential quarters in Colombo.

Sagala demands impartial inquiry into alleged assault charge

Former Power and Energy Deputy Minister, Sagala Ratnayaka has requested the United National Party (UNP) to hold a disciplinary inquiry to ascertain whether he was in the wrong with regard to an alleged assault of a senior journalist by one of his aides in Colombo last Wednesday.

Ratnayaka told The Sunday Leader that the incident has been given a sinister twist while nobody has bothered to check his side of the story. He said that there had been only a verbal exchange and no assault.

Ratnayaka's aide allegedly assaulted the provincial editor of The Sunday Lankadeepa newspaper near a tele shop in Slave Island on Wednesday after making the Matara MP jump the queue.

While the journalist maintains that he was abused and assaulted, Ratnayaka added that an impartial inquiry by the party should be held in order to establish the truth.

Meanwhile, he has instructed his lawyers to file defamation suits against all media institutions that publicised the incident.

Trade unions to stage general strike

By Shehan Moses

Leading trade unions have joined hands to launch a general strike that is expected to paralyse the entire country, labour union sources said.

The islandwide strike spearheaded by the New Left Front (NLF), a leading Leftist party, is scheduled to take place shortly.

The strike action is to protest against the government's lackadaisical attitude in addressing the day to day problems faced by the public, sources said.

NLF Leader, Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne told The Sunday Leader that the unions intend to organise the general strike since the government has failed to provide solutions for three important issues faced by the people. They are, according to Karunaratne, direct and indirect privatisation of state assets, high cost of living and the current labour laws regarding the compensation scheme for retired employees.

According to Karunaratne, so far 13 leading trade unions have already agreed to join the strike, which includes United Federation of Labourers, Corporate Commercial Mercantile Union and Lanka Railway Workers Union.

"We are presently carrying out a picketing campaign to be held on Tuesday opposite the Fort railway station to gain the support of the public and other trade unions for the general strike," he said.

He is optimistic of gaining support from Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) backed trade unions for this strike as well.

Meanwhile, Democratic Left Front (DLF) Secretary, Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the only solution for the high cost of living is a salary hike.

"The government should take measures to increase salaries of both the state and private sectors," he said. He stressed that trade union action is essential at this juncture as the rupee value has also dropped dangerously.

Media watchdog condemns eastern journalist's slaying

The Sri Lanka Chapter of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) strongly condemns the assassination of veteran journalist Iyadurai Nadesan, senior Eastern Province Correspondent for the Virakesari newspaper.

Nadesan was a journalist with a long record of service in the profession and his brutal killing must be considered an outrageous attack on the journalism profession as a whole, a statement issued by SAFMA (Sri Lanka Chapter) says.

SAFMA-Sri Lanka calls on the authorities to rigorously investigate his murder and bring to justice those responsible. SAFMA-Sri Lanka urges  journalists and media organisations to act collectively to ensure the security of media professionals working in conflict areas.

Sili Sili-makers protest proposed polythene ban

By Shezna Shums

Manufacturers of polythene bags and the infamous sili sili bage are furious over Environment Minister A.H.M.Fowzie's plans to ban the manufacturing of such bags in Sri Lanka within the next two years.

Although these manufacturers were told that there will be a grace period of two years to find alternative sources of income following the introduction of the ban, many who spoke to The Sunday Leader said these were the cheapest bags available and scores of people used these bags everyday.

According to the manufacturers, nearly one million people depend on this industry. Director of Nissico Traders & Industries, Sabir Abas explained that it will be difficult to find alternatives to manufacturing polythene bags adding the machines available could be used only to manufacture polythene and it would be difficult to discontinue their use.

"Polythene bags are the cheapest to buy in the country and it is unlikely that people will want to spend more on any other type of shopping bags. They can hardly manage with the high cost of living, so they are unlikely to want to spend more money on shopping bags," he said.

Meanwhile D.K.W.Plastic Industries, Managing Director, D.K.Weeratunge told The Sunday Leader that the quantity of polythene used to manufacture sili sili bags is much less than the quantity manufactured to produce other materials with polythene. "Therefore talking of a ban just to eradicate the sili sili menace does not sound sensible," he said.

"There are the polythene materials used to wrap food items such as milk powder, certain dry rations and even lunch sheets - all these are not degradable.  Ninety percent of supermarkets use polythene bags and the best thing the government can do is to first teach the public to dispose of their garbage properly," he said.

If the government is willing to recycle, and the people made aware of this system, then the problem of bags and other non-degradables polluting the environment will not take place, he said.

"Dumping of garbage by the roadside should be stopped and the public educated on recycling," says Weeratunge.

He also said manufacturers are also making biodegradable type of polythene bags and lunch sheets and added that the polythene industry is too large and too many people depend on this industry for the minister to impose this ban.

Some manufacturers also mentioned that there are other pollutants such as cars emanating toxic fumes and certain fertilisers that are even more dangerous than these bags.

They said former Environment Minister, Rukman Senanayake did not go ahead with such a plan because of the protests by the manufacturers and the people involved in the industry.

"Fowzie is only doing this to show the public. Minister Fowzie plans to make use of local manufacturers as they have the resources to produce paper bags," a manufacturer said.

The minister maintained that by making use of local manufacturers the ministry will be providing additional job opportunities for these people"

Government unlikely to OK bus fare hike

By Shehan Moses

The government is unlikely to give the greenlight to a demand made by the Private Bus Owners Association (PBOA) to increase bus fares, according to highly placed government sources.

Transport Ministry officials said considering the poor service the private bus owners have been providing, it was not 'worth' recommending a fare hike.

"However, the Ministry is studying the possibilities of a fare hike. We are presently studying whether a fare hike is justifiable at present," the officials said.

They said that since the service provided by the private bus operators had further deteriorated over the past few years, while there had not been any increase in fuel prices, it is very unlikely that the government would permit an increase of fares.

A senior official of the National Transport Commission (NTC), told The Sunday Leader that the commission is presently studying the possibilities of a fare hike. "We would only give our recommendations regarding fare hikes and the final decision is up to the government," he stressed.

"A fare hike is possible only if there is a considerable increase of private bus operational costs this year as against the previous year," he said. "However, at present we have not witnessed an increase in operational costs such as fuel prices this year," he said.

However he stressed that even if there was an increase in such costs this year compared to last year, it was unlikely that the NTC would recommend a fare hike to private bus operators.

President, PBOA, Gemunu Wijerathne expressed his dissatisfaction concerning the government's stand. He told The Sunday Leader the government is playing to the gallery as the local polls are round the corner.

"The government is trying to gain public support for the provincial council elections by not allowing us to raise bus fares," he said. He warned that if the government tries to prevent a fare hike under any circumstances they would take trade union action.

According to Wijerathne, the PBOA has the right to increase bus fares annually. "We can increase fares under the national policy that was proposed by the then People's Alliance (PA) government and implemented by the United National Front (UNF) government in 2002," he said.

He further states that the present economic condition, with the depreciating rupee value leading to a higher cost of living was the main reason for the PBOA to demand a fare hike.

Meanwhile, speaking to The Sunday Leader, Deputy Minister of Transport Lasantha Alagiyawanna said the government has not made a final decision regarding this matter, adding that the government would try to provide an alternative solution based on the 12 factors of the National Transport Policy.

Now, dysentery on the increase

By Jamila Najmuddin

The sudden increase in the number of people suffering from 'dysentery' has caused great concern among health circles in the country.

According to Medical Officer, Epidemiology Unit, Health Ministry, Dr. Jagath Amarasekara, the number of cases has now increased to 2387 with an increase of 156 cases reported since the month of April, to date.

According to Amarasekara, a total of 441 cases were reported in April and 597 cases from April to date.

He added that "the immense increase in the number of cases between these two months might have been due to the Poson poya on June 2."

"A lot of devotees visited Mihintale during the Poson period and it was after this period that the country experienced an increase in the number of dysentery cases. People who make outstation trips do not tend to carry their own water and therefore drink from pipes and wells. This is unhygienic and when making trips, especially during the rainy seasons, people should always remember to carry their own water bottles," Amarasekara said.

According to Amarasekara, even during the Poson period last year, there was an increase of 798 cases. He said that during the month of April, last year, 325 cases were reported and since then till the first two weeks of June, the number of cases had increased to 1123.

"During Poson, a lot of people also eat from roadside 'dansalas'. Unless the quality of the food is assured, people should avoid eating from dansalas and small roadside restaurants," Amarasekara said.

According to Amarasekara, the first signs of dysentery are fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and passing of blood and mucus in the stools.

"Dysentery usually occurs during the rainy seasons like we are experiencing now, when dirty, muddy waters flow into uncovered wells. The only preventive measures that could be taken is to protect the wells from being flooded with dirty water and by drinking boiled water," Amarasekara said.

He added that from April till to date, Matale has reported 91 dysentery cases which is the highest reported from any district so far.

Kandy has reported 59 cases, Kurunegala 56, Badulla 51, Kegalle 50 and Kalutara 43.

CPA reports state media bias in election coverage

By  Jamila Najmuddin

A survey conducted by the Center For Policy Alternatives (CPA) has revealed that of the number of election related news items telecast on state-owned Rupavahini during the last election period, 215 were favourable to the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

The report titled, Monitoring Of Media Coverage: General Elections 2004, went on to report that 53 election related news items telecast on Rupavahini were favourable to the UNF and 48 were favourable to other parties.

As a percentage, 68.03% of the total news was in favour of the UPFA, 16.79% in favour of the UNF and 15.18% in favour of other parties.

The report states that of the time allocated to the news items telecast, 307.86 minutes were allocated to the UPFA. This amounts to 72% of the total news time. Only 28% of the total time was allocated to the UNF and all other parties.

When reporting election violence, the report states that 69.49% of the total was on violence committed against the UPFA and 30.51% was on violence committed against the UNF.

Focusing on the Independent Television Network (ITN), the report said that 37.70% of the total news items were favourable to the UPFA, 27.46% to the UNF and 34.48% were favourable to other parties.

In reporting election violence, 70% of the total airtime allocated on ITN was for violence committed against the UPFA and 30% of the airtime was allocated to reporting violence committed against the UNF and other parties.

The report states that of the total number of news items telecast on Swarnavahini, 24.01% were favourable to the UPFA, 50.27% were favourable to the UNF and 25.32% were favourable to other parties.

In reporting violence, 66.66% of the total news items were on violence committed against the UPFA and 33.33% on violence against UNF.

In their analysis of the number of news items telecast on Sirasa, the CPA monitors found it to be balanced with 39.58% of the total favourable to the UPFA, 40.78% to the UNF and 19.64% to other parties.

In reporting election violence, 50% of the total items were on violence committed against the UPFA while the remaining 50% were on violence against the UNF and other parties.

Government's highway plan under fire

By Shehan Moses

The government's decision to construct express highways has come in for criticism by two leading leftist political parties.

Last week, Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama told the media that the government would construct the highways that were initiated in 1994.

Democratic Left Front (DLF) Secretary, Vasudeva Nanayakkara told The Sunday Leader that express highways, though important to a country's development were not essential for Sri Lanka at this juncture when many other vital issues remain unresolved.

"How can the entire country benefit from a couple of highways? We should develop our existing road network instead of building expensive expressways," he stressed.

Nanayakkara believes that by building such highways Sri Lanka will only end up paying debts to donor countries. "What is the point? We must learn how to stop borrowing and make money ourselves to build such highways," he said.

"With the rising dollar value and high foreign debt, when we borrow more money from countries to build unnecessary highways it will adversely affect the citizens of Sri Lanka," he added.

He states further that it is the rich countries that will benefit from such expensive highways since most of the construction work is done by loss making construction companies in countries such as Japan.

He said governments in countries where these companies operate provide massive long term loans to developing countries such as Sri Lanka, in order to enable these poor performing companies to make profits.

New Left Front (NLF) Leader, Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne told The Sunday Leader that the government should try to develop the existing roads rather than build express highways costing millions of rupees.

He said that the Freedom Alliance government in its election campaign promised that it would look into the needs of the people, adding that instead, the government is now meeting the needs of multinational companies.

Meanwhile, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) Parliamentarian Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thero says his party does not oppose the construction of highways, provided it does not directly or indirectly affect the people of this country and the environment.

•  Abuse of state property

Samurdhi Ministry Secretary after Pajero

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

Much attention has been drawn recently to the continued practice of abusing state property. But the problem persists with abusive practices continuing unabated.

In one such shocking incident, the former Chief Secretary, Western Province and present Secretary, Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Ministry, Thilakarathne Hapangama had exchanged a Mitsubishi Pajero bearing No. 65-878 belonging to the Gampaha District Secretariat with a Nissan double cab bearing No. 56-3916 belonging to the Chief Secretary's Office.

The vehicle exchange has caused much controversy and was finally halted by the Local Government and Home Affairs Ministry, as the exchange was to leave the Ministry at a loss.

A letter by the Western Province governor on May 23, 2001 has given the green light for the said vehicle exchange, which has also stated that it should be done according to the rules stipulated by a Treasury circular. The Local Government and Home Affairs Ministry on April 6, 2001 has then written stating that for the Pajero to be released from the Gampaha District Secretariat, a vehicle of similar value should be handed over in return.

The double cab was then handed over to the secretariat.

The Pajero, which was manufactured in 1995, was valued at Rs. 4,689,768, while the double cab manufactured in 1994 was valued at a mere Rs. 1.5 million.

Not only has this transaction violated ministerial as well as Treasury directives, but had made the relevant authority bear a loss of Rs. 3,200,000 as well.

The auditor's report reveals that although Hapangama's official vehicle as the chief secretary was a Ford Laser bearing No. 301-6585, he has also used the Pajero as a second vehicle since he has stated that he intended to purchase the Pajero once he retires on August 10, 2005.

Stating that he has used the Pajero for five years while serving as the Gampaha District Secretary, Hapangama has reportedly stated that he would like to buy the vehicle back under Clause 22/99 of the local government circular, which enables government servants to buy a vehicle used by them.

The report further states that during the period of April 11, 2001 to August 20, 2001, Hapangama's official vehicle has recorded a mileage of 14,283 km, while the Pajero, recorded only 7,055 km. Under Clause 6/99 of the local government circular, a government official is allowed to use only one official vehicle and if one has an official vehicle he cannot have another standby vehicle unless the official vehicle is under repairs.

While the chief secretary was using two vehicles, it is learned that the Western Provincial Council had a shortage of vehicles.

The governor's office had to hire a vehicle between September 13, 2001 to February 15, 2002 at a cost of Rs. 132,600. Even the governor's secretary hired a vehicle for Rs. 50,897 from June 1, 2002 to August 19, 2002.

However, the cost involved in maintaining the Pajero was also borne by the Western Provincial Council.

Feeling that the vehicle needed a new colour, Hapangama had it painted at a cost of Rs. 122,688, which was met by the government. Since the vehicle was also used for personal work, the vehicle was insured for an amount close to Rs. 52,000.

It is also alleged that the vehicle's valuation and crediting it to the department's account has not been done under the legally stipulated clauses. Under proper circumstances, before assigning a vehicle to an official it should be valued and recorded in the department's accounts. In the same vein, when exchanged between two departments, the value should be recorded to an account of the receiving department. In this instance, it is alleged none of these procedures have been followed.

A letter written by the Gampaha District Secretary on August 20, 2001 states that the double cab given to his office is not at all fit to be exchanged in place of the Pajero.

The audit report too states that the normal procedures have been violated in this case. Realising the Gampaha District Secretariat was going to be down on the deal along with the Ministry, it decided to immediately halt the exchange and had requested the Pajero to be returned to the District Secretariat.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Western Province Chief Secretary, W. N. R. D. Wanninayake said that the Pajero in question is presently at his office.

Explaining the situation, Wanninayake said that since the law allows a government official to retain the vehicle being used by the official at the time of retiring; Hapangama too is entitled to the same privilege.

However, to retain the vehicle, the vehicle if diesel has to be seven years from the date of manufacture and five years in case it is petrol.

Wanninayake went on to say that at that time, the official would only have to pay the amount stated by the Treasury following its valuation.

He noted that Hapangama had also requested the Pajero to be transferred to the Samurdhi Ministry, which has still not taken place.

However, according to Wanninayake, as long as the vehicle belongs to the government, the maintenance costs will be borne by the state, even to change the colour.

When asked about the Ministry's order as stated in the audit report to return the Pajero back to the Gampaha District Secretariat, Wanninayake said that he was not aware of any such order.

Hapangama was not available for comment.

Lack of funds hamper demining

By Shehan Moses

The shortage of funds is affecting the continuation of the demining programme currently underway in the north-east with the possibility of missing the target to create a mine-free north-east by 2006, according to mining personnel here.

Following the ceasefire agreement of 2002 mine clearing organisations such as the Halo Trust, Danish De-Mining team and the Sri Lanka Army have conducted regular demining work.

A United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) official told The Sunday Leader that Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara were the biggest minefields. After the ceasefire agreement, a comprehensive programme for mine clearance and mine risk education was launched by the government.

This strategy is to focus on humanitarian mine action in support of resettlement and reconstruction, while the mine clearing programme is coordinated by the National Steering Committee for Mine Action (NSCMA). This committee has representatives from stake holding ministries, government agents, and Tamil rehabilitation organisations, donors, mine operators and the action offices in Jaffna.

According to the UNDP, there are 300 identified minefields in Jaffna alone and the mine clearance organisations are working towards the government set goal for December 31, 2006. The UNDP says due to the accelerated clearing process, many a plot of land has been cleared for resettlement, reconciliation and recultivation purposes.

A UNDP official said that the infrastructure facilities in the north and east such as hospitals, roads and schools have developed since the clearing of areas. According to the UNDP, there were some 15-20 causalities every month despite the ceasefire agreement, which dropped to a rate of four to seven following the clearance action.

Programme Manager, Halo Trust, V. Kumnova told The Sunday Leader that they are in the process of achieving the goal as they have already cleared 25,000 mines. However, he stressed that international donors are a bit pessimistic of funding this programme. "We are finding it a bit difficult as the funding has slowed down. We are not receiving sufficient funds. But, we should achieve the goal by 2006," he said.

According to Kumnova it is the lack of confidence among international donors that prevents them from directing funds here. "Since the peace process too is at a standstill, donors don't wish to invest in mine clearing anymore," he said. According to Kumnova, Halo Trust uses both manual labour and machinery for its operations. "At present, we have 270 people working for us. By the end of the year, we would increase our workforce to 440 in order to achieve the goal," he said.

Secretary, NSCMA, Dr. A. Gunasingham told The Sunday Leader that the mine clearing programme in Sri Lanka is successful due to the active assistance of people. "We have done comparatively well here. In countries like Uganda and Afghanistan, such activity takes about 10-15 years to complete," he noted.

He too is pessimistic about not being able to reach the year 2006 target. "Although we might not complete 100%, we should at least complete 80%," he said. According to Gunasingham, mine clearing organisations do receive sufficient funds from foreign donors and Japan being the main donor is to donate US$2.5 million to these organisations in two weeks.

A poet's wish for peace

By Shezna Shums

V. I. S. Jayapalan is a celebrated Sri Lankan poet who has made Norway his home. Many are his dreams about his motherland peacefully resolving the ethnic conflict so that it may be restored to its former glory.

When The Sunday Leader met up with him, all his thoughts were of the conflict and what it has done to the country of his birth.

Having studied at the Jaffna University and obtained a degree in economics, Jayapalan is currently doing research studies on the Sri Lankan peace process and its present situation.

Some of his work, both prose and verse have been translated from Tamil to Sinhala.

"Most of my poetry has been published in India and in other countries where one finds a sizeable Tamil population," points out Jayapalan.

The silver haired poet speaks with a rush of feeling and the most passionate of his desires is to have the peace process moving as he believes, that the recent process provided the best opportunity for both the government as well as the LTTE to achieve peace.

Jayapalan accepts that the Oslo Declaration was the closest the parties to the conflict got near in achieving some measure of understanding. "Federalism is a must. And the declaration provided a great foundation for both parties to cultivate peace," notes the poet.

"It is essential that the Tamils and the Sinhalese learn to accept each other as a significant minority community and the majority community respectively," he stressed.

"The present government has problems because they do not wish to accept whatever the previous government did. There, they have got stuck."

Jayapalan is also saddened by the break up in the LTTE for in this poet's sensitive heart, the defection has only resulted in more blood and mayhem.

He adds, "both sides, the government and the LTTE should stop this proxy war and concentrate on pursing peace."

He is a firm believer of the old maxim that there is unity in diversity. Explaining further, Jayapalan notes that India has some 21 official languages and despite the huge population and the issues that are connected to such diversity, the country still enjoys unity. "Sri Lanka should emulate the Indian example," he asserts.

In a candid expression of views, he says that the faulty thinking of political leaders has adversely affected the country's Sinhala population than the Tamil.

"The government and the LTTE should 'catch this last bus for peace.' This is the only and final time we can achieve peace," urges Jayapalan.

In his view, both parties should have the largeness of heart to forgive and forget in a bid to move forward. And the solution, according to him lies in the acceptance of federalism.

Hailing from Jaffna, Jayapalan claims the Sinhalese are prone to incest. His love for the Sinhalese, particularly someone who is very close to his heart made him dedicate a book to a Sinhalese friend.

"We should make an effort to come out of this abyss. We owe it to the next generation," says Jayapalan.

The strongest connection between the two communities, he says is the cultural similarities as well as a shared history. "Instead of war, it should have led to more cross cultural activities and nurturing," he muses.

"Throughout my life I have been living amidst conflict," he says pensively, suddenly his face mirroring the sadness of past hurt. And the poet compares himself to a tree with fallen leaves, yet still living a dream of spring. "In between all the wars, I still dream of peace, ethnic harmony and gender equality," he adds.

Currently, Jayapalan is working on short novels on the relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities. As always, the core theme continues to be conflict of gender, of caste, ethnicity and religions as the aged poet continues to dream of spring, even as leaves quickly fall.

Rata perata?

Following the pandemonium in parliament last week with the Buddhist monks having to face the ignominy of having their private parts squeezed, Sri Lankans have been furiously exchanging e-mails portraying the incident. We reproduce below two such e-mails sent to us by readers

Another lark

The beauty about Sri Lanka is that the people never learn.

They are firm believers that if you keep doing the wrong thing it will some day become right.

The poor man thinks he is poor because the government never gave them anything. What he never understands is that there is nothing called a free lunch. If he gets something free, someone else has to pay. So the man keeps voting politicians in to power, expecting something. And every time he does it he gets what he deserves, peanuts.

The Sri Lankan economy is a dead cow. How much you try to milk it, there is no milk. You can bring the best milk maids (economists) and they will fail.

So what is the best option here? Sell the dead cow to the butcher. And this is what every politician who comes to power is doing. He is going to be in power for a short time, so he must enrich him self as fast as he can. Lie to the people, get in to the mud pot (parliament) and make money on every damn deal. If you try to weigh some of the politicians, you need an industrial weighing scale.

One day our fellow Sri Lankan is going to wake up and find out that his b.... have been pawned to some foreign country. He will have to get central bank approval if he wants to scratch them.

Anyway, at the current rate of deterioration, Sri Lanka will become a stone age society in a couple of years. JVP will want to sell all the vehicles and bring in bullock carts. The monks will say that it is cruelty to the animals, so we get rid of the bullock cart and go by foot. You cannot go anywhere by foot as the LTTE and the army have mined the whole place. So we all end up staying at home jobless. So what does the jobless man do? Vote in more corrupt politicians.

•  Murder of J'pura University student

 Killers still at large - Fellow students

By Risidra Mendis in Wariyapola

Controversy surrounds the death of Sampath Bandara, a Sri Jayawardenapura University student, with fellow students charging that those accused of  killing Bandara are not the real culprits.

Bandara, a bright student and student activist, was also a member of the JVP affiliated University Students Council (USU) at the time of his death.

 In the wake of allegations being levelled at the USU by Arts Faculty Students Council (AFSC) members, they have begun a counter attack claiming that those accusing them have over 30 pending inquiries against them at the Mirihana Police station.

Denying allegations, USU Secretary, Saranga Edirisinghe told The Sunday Leader that the media was misled by certain parties within the university with regard to the student's killing.

Victims

Edirisinghe claims that four students suspected over the killing were actually the victims in this incident. "The four students were about to be attacked by a group of around 40 students including Bandara. Three students managed to escape by running out of the university. However, one was cornered by the group," explained Edirisinghe.

He denied allegations made by the AFSU that the security guards supported USU students by letting them get away. "If the security didn't let these three students get away, they too would have been killed with Bandara," Edirisinghe said.

He went on to say that the USU and the AFSU was the same union, except that the USU dealt with issues regarding politics and the AFSU dealt with issues on student welfare.

The students blamed the university administration led by acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chandima Wijebandara saying he should accept responsibility for Bandara's death as he failed to accept suggestions put forward by the USU to prevent an outbreak of violence and killings on campus grounds.

According to Edirisinghe, when the proposals were submitted to the Vice Chancellor, they were in turn accused of attempting to get rid of him through fault finding. "Prof. Wijebandara said that he was only one person and he could not take decisions on students creating problems. If he can't, who could solve students' problems?" Edirisinghe queried.

'Not a violent student'

Ven. Julampitiya Mangala Thero, Bandara's batch mate was full of regret that a youth so simple, peaceful and always out to help others had to suffer this fate. "He was a peace maker and not a violent student," explained Mangala Thero.

Sampath Koralage, a third year student alleged that many former ministers politically back USU students. "Even the Mirihana Police are supportive of the USU. Bandara had no enemies and helped students of all faculties. He was killed by USU students because they didn't like his efforts to create a peaceful backdrop at the portals of higher learning," he said.

Acting Vice Chancellor, Sri Jayawardenapura University, Prof Chandima Wijebandara said he did his best to prevent eruptions of this nature. "A few incidents compelled me to shut down the campus until July 10," Wijebandara said.

According to him, he had met with Education Ministry officials to find a solution to prevent such incidents from taking place within the university premises in the future. "I have called all students unions to attend this meeting to discuss and find a solution to the students' collective grievances," he added.