News

> Thilanga knocked out by Mohan and govt.

> Bribery Comm. nominee challenged

> Intra-party conflict rocking alliance

> Government exaggerating

> Monitoring unit tapping phones

> Tamils should be liberated from LTTE-Anandasangaree

> Price increase due to subsidy removal

> Political parties confused over referendum

> Cops crackdown on reckless drivers 

> Ex-employees threaten legal action

> Good Friday service

> PS chairman arrested 

> Increased compensation 

> Legitimacy for Tigers - JVP's biggest issue

> Drivers filling in for trackers at nature reserves

> Next time - Mines Bureau to give early warning

> Christian Affairs Minister to vote against bill

> Lanka needs more cash - ADB

> 'Degrees  for sale!'

Karuna camp in govt. controlled area

By Amantha Perera

Loyalists of renegade LTTE eastern commander Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan alias Karuna have been operating from a camp at Thivichchenei, in the Polonnarauwa District for the last seven months, an investigation by The Sunday Leader revealed.

The Sunday Leader last week visited the village that lies about 10 km north of the Habarana - Valachchenai highway from Sevanapitiya. The entrance to the village was manned by a Tamil youth carrying a powerful machine gun who confirmed that senior Karuna lieutenant, Mangalan Master led the Karuna cadres based at the village.  Mangalan Master later informed the journalists through a subordinate that he was not free to meet them.

Mangalan Master was earlier accused of masterminding the murder of LTTE Eastern Political Wing Leader Kausalyan on February 7.

Military sources said that they believed that around 60 cadres operated out of Thivichchenei including under-aged cadres. While The Sunday Leader was at the village entrance, a youth who appeared to be around 12 years walked past carrying a firearm and ammunition.

The guardsman at the entrance speaking in halting Sinhala said that villagers had welcomed them and were treating them well.  However villagers in the nearby village of Karapola complained that Karuna cadres were harassing them. They said that youth from the village were abducted by the Karuna group to work in fields and held incommunicado for days.

Two youth from the village were shot and killed on March 14 night. The military blamed the murders on the LTTE revealing that the assailants were led by a cadre named Madhi.  The murders were carried out as the LTTE suspected the youth to be supporters of Karuna, the Defence Spokesperson's office in Colombo said soon after the murders.

In terms of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the LTTE the government had to disband all paramilitary forces. The LTTE has accused the government of using Karuna group cadres to target LTTE members, a charge the government has vehemently denied.

Villagers on March 16 brought the two caskets containing the bodies of the two slain youth on to the main highway and protested the presence of Karuna cadres in the area. They blamed the murders on the Karuna faction and said that it was carried out by a group led by one Lakshman.

Brigadier H. M. H. A.  Herath, the commanding officer of the 231 Division that oversees the area told the protestors that they should resist from supporting the presence of armed men in their villages. He told them that when the cadres first arrived the villagers had welcomed them and that they were protesting their presence now.

The area around Thivichchenei is ringed by army camps and detachments but there was no presence of government military near or at the village. The last Army checkpoint was at Mutugala, on the access road to Thivichchenei, about 3 km from the village.

Since the Karuna defection, the government has steadfastly denied any presence of Karuna camps in government controlled areas and maintained that it was not helping the troops loyal to the renegade LTTEer to operate.

Last week, the LTTE command in the east blamed the escalation of attacks against them on military intelligence.

Thilanga knocked out by Mohan and govt. 

Former Sri Lanka Telecom Chairman Thilanga Sumathipala was forced to leave the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in New Delhi last week after it was brought to the notice of the ICC he was not the official nominee to represent Sri Lanka cricket.

Sumathipala was forced to leave the meeting at lunch on March 17 after President, Sri Lanka Cricket Mohan de Silva informed the ICC in writing Damian Fernando will represent Sri Lanka Cricket at the meeting. Fernando is an executive committee member of SLC and a former vice captain of St. Benedict's College cricket team.

The ICC meeting was scheduled to take up amongst other issues an ethics committee report with reference to Sumathipala which included the gaming industry.

It is learned when the Sri Lanka Cricket Exco met last month to discuss its participation at the ICC meeting, the ethics committee report on Sumathipala which was to be on the agenda for the ICC meeting was not brought to the notice of the members.

Meanwhile, President   Kumaratunga had ordered the immediate halting of newly re-elected President, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Thilanga Sumathipala from representing the country at the ICC meeting in New Delhi last week following strong objections raised by Tourism Minister Anura Bandaranaike and Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arjuna Ranatunga.

The Sunday Leader learns that Ranatunga has strongly protested against Sumathipala attending the sessions as there is at least one legal suit filed against him while also being under investigation for two other matters of a criminal nature. It has been brought to her attention that it would be a disgrace to have Sumathipala representing Sri Lanka, given the present backdrop and it would also not prove beneficial to the game of cricket that has put the country on the international map. Ranatunga was strongly supported by Bandaranaike.

Sumathipala was strongly backed by Deputy Minister Sripathi Sooriyarachchi. PERC Chairman Nihal Amarasekera is Sumathipala's chief advisor.

Meanwhile, Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga told The Sunday Leader that only one person attended the ICC session with ministerial approval.

Damien Fernando, a senior executive committee member of the SLC was the chosen representative. Fernando has served on the previous boards as well and counts many years in the administration of the country's prime sport.

Minister Kumaratunga said that Fernando had the necessary credentials to represent the country and insisted that he was the only person who has been authorised to represent the country.

He admitted to the fact that he had 'heard' about Sumathipala attending the ICC meeting and being ordered out, but said he had no official information on the same matter.

Sumathipala secured the presidency of Sri Lanka Cricket uncontested on March 11.

It is also learned that following the re-election, serious concerns about the future of the SLC have been raised by several past presidents with President Kumaratunga expected to appoint an interim committee shortly for the administration of the game.

Bribery Comm. nominee challenged

By Frederica Jansz

Prabath De Silva, former district judge and magistrate for Nuwara Eliya has written to the Chairman of the Constitutional Council, W. J. M. Lokubandara on March 16, vehemently protesting against the appointment of Justice (rtd) P. Edussuriya as a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption.

The name of Justice (retired) P.Edussuriya has been recommended by the Constitutional Council for appointment as a member of the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption.

De Silva, is raising strong objection to the recommendation and has appealed to the constitutional council to reconsider their nomination in view of certain mitigating circumstances whereby De Silva maintains Edussuriya seriously compromised judicial propriety.

In his letter De Silva draws attention to the conduct of Justice Edussuriya in the case of Emmanuel Anthony Fernando.   On January 30, 2003, Emmanuel Anthony Fernando filed Fundamental Rights Application No. 55/2003 in the Supreme Court.

Among the respondents cited was Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva in his capacity as chairman, Judicial Services Commission and the secretary Judicial Services Commission.

But in spite of the fact that the Chief Justice as Chairman JSC and the JSC were cited as respondents, the CJ and Justice Edussuriya, a member of the JSC himself, sat on the bench to hear the said FR case.

De Silva points out their conduct violated a cardinal principle of justice namely 'one cannot hear his own case' (nemo judex in sua causa). When Anthony Fernando was making submissions in support of a motion he filed to the effect that judges who had been cited as respondents should not sit on the said bench, he was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to jail for one year.

"My humble submission to the Constitutional Council is that the conduct of  Hon. Justice(retired) P.Eddussuriya Esqr in the said cases of Mr.Emmanuel is a clear case of gross misconduct and mis-behaviour violating one of the cardinal principles of justice as he ,whilst being a member of the JSC ,had sat on a bench to hear a case where the Chairman, Secretary of  JSC and JSC were parties," de Silva has said in his letter.

He adds that even though Parliament did not take steps for impeachment, the Constitutional Council may take serious note of this and withdraw its recommendation of the name of  Justice (retired) P. Edussuriya for appointment as a  member of the Commission to investigate Bribery & Corruption.

In addition to this objection De Silva also draws attention to the conduct of Justice Edussuriya to circumstances surrounding his resignation as district judge and magistrate for Nuwara Eliya.

De Silva resigned from his duties on March 1, 2003.  His resignation letter detailed an incident in January 2003 where Justice Edussuriya together with Chandra Jayathileke, Secretary JSC, on an official inspection tour of the magistrates court in Nuwara Eliya had stayed overnight at the home of  Palitha Withanage, an accused in two pending cases before the Nuwara Eliya Magistrates Court.

Withanage was being charged on two counts under Section 403 of the Penal Code for cheating amounting to Rs.940,000 and under Section 403 of the Penal Code for cheating amounting to Rs.400,000.

He is also a suspect in another pending case - M.C.Nuwara Eliya Case No.B529/00  charged under Section 403 of the Penal Code for cheating amounting to Rs.200000. 

Intra-party conflict rocking alliance

A senior government minister says the ongoing intra party conflict within the Freedom Alliance is 'harmful' to the alliance and further blames those responsible for the formation of the alliance. 

Justice Minister John Seneviratne who is critical of the present ongoing conflict between the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) said the present conflict reflects badly on the Freedom Alliance government and added  "it should be stopped" forthwith.

Referring to the JVP's verbal assaults on the SLFP and its leadership, the senior minister said "Though some ministers are senior they are immature."

He said "The entire country watches the way these two coalition partners SLFP and JVP are at loggerheads and added that soon both parties must sit together to iron out differences."

Having said this the Minister also blamed those responsible for the formation of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) for not finding out precisely what the JVP wanted.

He said the majority of the SLFP is unhappy with the conduct of the JVP after having pledged to work together as one team.

He said if the JVP was genuinely interested in safeguarding the country and its interests, then the party would not have opted to cast aspersions on the SLFP or its leadership. "This is too much. I have personally told the JVP members not to resort to this type of verbal assaults, but they continue," he said.

He also said those responsible for the formation of the alliance should have found out the interests of the JVP before entering into any agreement. "After aligning as one party how can we disagree on most of the national issues," he asked.

"For instance the JVP last week said it is opposed to a proposal put forward by President Kumaratunga to devolve powers. Though the JVP expressed opposition to the concept of devolution of powers, the policy of the SLFP and the People's Alliance (PA) was to fully support the power sharing exercise. The JVP should know this as well," he said.

He said the only way to find a solution to the ethnic crisis is through power sharing and added that this is the policy the PA and the SLFP have pursued. He also said that even if the JVP opposes it fully, the SLFP would go ahead with the devolution of power.

Government exaggerating

The LTTE says that the airstrip under its control is something similar to the judiciary and the police powers the group that wields power in the areas controlled by the LTTE.

An LTTE top official told The Sunday Leader that the government and Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar were exaggerating the fact that the LTTE was in possession of aircraft and airstrips.

He said if the government cannot do anything about the judiciary and the police powers the LTTE has in its controlled areas, what can they do for the aircraft it possesses.

"It seems everything we do is unlawful to the government and especially the Foreign Minister. The foreign minister went on and on with the child soldier issue and gained much mileage. And now he has started to take the airstrip issue," the official said.

Monitoring unit tapping phones

The monitoring unit of the Media Ministry has begun to tap telephones of those the unit feels are anti UPFA, The Sunday Leader learns.

According to top Media Ministry officials, a tape containing voices of two individuals has already been handed over to Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera, the Ministry Secretary and the Director Information S.D.Piyadasa.

The tape handed over to the Minister and others for inquiry is reported to be containing the voices of Media Consultant ,the Media Ministry, Dr.Nandana Karunanayake and another official.

The Sunday Leader learns that the ministry officials are unable to take any disciplinary action in this regard.

Tamils should be liberated from LTTE-Anandasangaree

Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) President, V. Anandasangaree has called upon the international community to liberate the Tamils from the clutches of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Anandasangaree in a lengthy letter addressed to President Chandrika Kumaratunga has said that if peace was to be achieved by surrendering the fundamental human and democratic guides of the Tamils to the LTTE, that peace is no good.

"Although Solheim started his mission as a facilitator he gradually assumed the role of mediator which I welcomed. When a member made a speech insulting Eric Solheim in parliament one day, I from the opposition defended him and offered an apology on behalf of the country."

"However, I'm now compelled to believe that Solheim is deviating from his mediatory role and acting in a partisan manner, favouring the LTTE without any regard or consideration for the suffering Tamils. His role now appears to be detrimental to the Tamil cause more related to the democratic and fundamental rights" says Anandasangaree.

According to Anandasangaree, all the elected Tamil members of Parliament from the north and east and various Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have failed in their duty to highlight the suffering of the Tamil people in the North and East provinces.

"Many Tamil voices have been silenced by the LTTE's guns. If we are going to achieve peace only by surrendering all our fundamental, human and democratic rights to the LTTE, we do not want that peace. What the Tamils want is peace with dignity and all their rights preserved. We want to live like the other Sri Lankans in the south of the country" explained Anandasangaree.

Price increase due to subsidy removal

By Shezna Shums 

The government has attributed the price increase in bread to the removal of the subsidy on flour.

Consumers complained that the prices of essential items, mostly the price of bread was rising without any control by the government.

Earlier Trade and Commerce Minister Jeyeraj Fernandopulle vowed to bring down the prices of some of the essential items that also included bread. But consumers told The Sunday Leader that the minister failed to keep up his promises.Fernandopulle earlier invited businessmen to import flour thereby breaking the monopoly hitherto held by Prima. Fernandopulle also said that by introducing more wheat flour importers into the market, he could bring down the price of bread at least .

Meanwhile Chairman, Association for Consumer Action, Dr Ajantha Perera in a statement said that according to the Consumer Protection Act of 2003, the consumers have many rights which ensure that the goods and services they receive are to their satisfaction. " Unfortunately many consumers feel disheartened and complain about being cheated in the consumer market," he has said.

Political parties confused over referendum

Political parties are confused over President Kumaratunga's causes for the proposed referendum scheduled for April this year.

President Kumaratunga last week gave three causes for the proposed referendum, namely the devolution of powers, abolition of the executive presidency and the electoral changes. However political parties say as these three issues differ from each other, they are unable to understand the President's intentions to hold a referendum.

United National Party (UNP) Kalutara District MP Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said it was unlawful to place before the masses more than two questions at a referendum and added therefore that the President should reconsider her reasons for the proposed referendum.

While admitting the UNP is prepared to face any election or referendum he further said the President's idea for a referendum in the country has caused 'utter confusion' in the minds of the people.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP, Joseph Pararajasingham also said his party was confused to a great extent and added the party will meet soon to take a decision. He said he himself does not understand the intentions of the President and added the party would soon take a decision on this.

Members of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) too said the three issues already placed before the country for the proposed referendum are not inter -related and therefore the people cannot be expected to answer either 'yes' or 'no'.

Meanwhile Deputy Elections Commissioner S.Siriwardene said that according to the election laws in relation to a referendum, the President could place before the people only one question for them to answer either 'yes' or 'no'.

Cops crackdown on reckless drivers

By Shezna Shums  

The City Traffic police is coming down hard on reckless drivers and making more detections of drunken drivers thereby trying to reduce the rate of accidents in the country.

According to the City Traffic, during the year 2003 the department had made 314, 806 detections, while in 2004 there had been 373,327 detections. The figures show an increase of more than 50,000 detections in 2004.

With regard to detections of drunken drivers, in 2003 there were only 605 cases of drunken driving reported. However in the following year there were 2004 cases made by the department. This shows an increase of about 1500.

The City Traffic Police is also strictly implementing fines for the drivers who park along the main roads at prohibited hours.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader SSP, City Traffic, Y.G.R.M Laffir explained that vehicles are not allowed to be parked along the sea side of the Galle Road between 6.30 am and 1.00 pm and from 1.00 pm till 7pm on the land side of the road. "This has been in operation since the 1940s." noted the SSP.

He also noted that according to a survey done by the police, the average time it takes for a vehicle to travel from Attidiya to Fort is 41 minutes, when vehicles are parked along the road. He said this duration could be drastically cut down to 30 minutes if there are no vehicles parked.

Laffir noted that if there are 200 buses on the road with 40 passengers and if there is a delay of about 10 minutes on the road, it would cost the economy billions of rupees a day. "So strictly implementing this scheme will save the country a lot of money," pointed out the SSP.

"At the moment drunken driving fines are only Rs.150 or Rs.200. This is a small amount for the people who are fined. It is just like buying a packet of cigarettes for them," said Laffir.

Laffir also said many drunken drivers are young Sri Lankans who are either studying or working abroad and are in the country for a short time.

Ex-employees threaten legal action

By Easwaran Rutnam  

At least 18 ex-employees of CINTEC have threatened legal action against the Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana and Secretary to the Treasury, Dr. P. B. Jayasundara for contempt of court in failing to pay compensation.

This follows the closure of CINTEC in November last year and the transfer of assets and liabilities to the Information Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA), which comes under the purview of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse.

The petitioners state that following a case filed at the Supreme Court by 18 employees of CINTEC upon its closure last year, ICTA agreed on a compensation package for the 60- ex-CINTEC employees and the case was subsequently dropped.

However they say despite the agreement entered into at the Supreme Court, ICTA had paid compensation to the employees minus the 18 petitioners.

The 18 petitioners have protested to this move saying they have been sidelined for initially filing action upon the closure of CINTEC. The petitioner's lawyers have informed the respondents to comply with the earlier decision of the Supreme Court by March 31 or face legal proceedings.

Good Friday service

A Good Friday service, will be held on March 25 from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon at St. Peter's Church (adjoining the Grand Oriental Hotel) Fort. The Preacher will be Dr. Vijaya Corea.

The Vicar, Revd. S.I Balakumar, extending an open invitation for attendance at the service, expressed the belief that it would serve as an opportunity for anyone to obtain the much needed answers to the complex and compelling questions of life.

PS chairman arrested

The deputy chairman of the Kotmale Pradeshiya Sabha has been arrested on allegations of raping an under -aged girl.

The arrest follows a tip off regarding the alleged rape that was reported to the Colombo emergency service.

The Poondaloya Police said that Kotmale Pradeshiya Sabha deputy chairman, K. Anandaraj was apprehended on March 7 in Kotmale after he was alleged to have raped a 15 year old girl.

A police team from the Poondaloya Police led by OIC, Chandana Basnayake made the arrest.  Anandaraj was produced in court on March 16 and remanded till March 30.

Increased compensation

By Risidra Mendis

Cabinet recently approved an increased compensation package for deaths caused by wild elephants . As part of the cabinet approval the immediate release of money for the victims was also approved.

Prior to the cabinet approval the compensation paid for the leader of a family was Rs 50,000. Other members of a family were paid Rs 15,000 to Rs 17,000 as compensation.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader on behalf of Wildlife Director General, Dayananda Kariyawasam, Law Enforcement and Operations Deputy Director H. T. S. Fernando said at present compensation for wild elephant deaths for the head of a family was increased to Rs 100,000. "Members of a family if killed by wild elephants will be paid Rs 75,000 as compensation".

According to Fernando prior to the cabinet approval victims had to wait for over six months before they were paid their compensation through insurance.

However, now victims will be paid compensation through the Wildlife Department.

Legitimacy for Tigers - JVP's biggest issue

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema 

Amidst vociferous protests by the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) against the establishment of a joint mechanism between the government and the LTTE for equitable distribution of tsunami aid, the government's Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) continues to proceed with the mechanism under the directive of President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

The President, according to the SCOPP, is aware of every step taken to arrive at a joint mechanism with the LTTE.

One of the main coalition partners of the UPFA, the JVP has made its sentiments public, threatening even to pull out of the shaky alliance if the LTTE is made a stakeholder of the aid distribution programme, thereby giving a terrorist organisation legitimacy as a separate political entity.

Addressing the JVP's Colombo Bala Mandala reorganisation meeting on Wednesday at Town Hall, JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe said the party was against forming any mechanism with the LTTE, questioning what legitimacy a terrorist organisation had to reach an agreement with a state government to handle national funds.

Amarasinghe pointed out that the LTTE could not be considered a legitimate stakeholder for the north and east as they have never received a mandate from the people in an election to assume that position.

Speaking of devolving power, he observed that the alliance government was not given a mandate by the people for the devolution of power, adding that if the government makes any move to divide the country, the JVP would quit the coalition.

"We won't allow the country to be divided. If the government decides to make such a move, we won't hesitate to leave the alliance," he said.

Amarasinghe also said that although government MPs have made public statements to the effect that the government would not crumble if the JVP decides to walk out with its 39 MPs, he challenged the government to seriously consider whether they really could survive without the JVP's 39 seats.

Colombo District Leader and JVP Propaganda Secretary, Wimal Weerawansa charged that the party would not allow the LTTE to gain recognition within the international community as a legitimate stakeholder in the country.

He said that it was the main reason for the government to block UN Secretary General Kofi Annan from visiting Mullaitivu in the aftermath of the tsunami.

"Kofi Annan wanted to go to Mullaitivu, but the UPFA government didn't allow it. If we did that it would have given the LTTE legitimacy and recognition among the international community," he said.

Weerawansa also said, "we, the JVP would not allow the LTTE to form a de facto state in the north and east and create an area known as 'LTTE area."

However, the LTTE's legitimacy to be a stakeholder in the joint mechanism is an issue no one seems to wish to comment on.

He also boasted that it was the JVP that posed a barrier to the LTTE from achieving its interim self governing authority.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Director General, SCOPP, Jayantha Dhanapala said the secretariat was awaiting the LTTE's response to the government proposals, which was sent to them through the Norwegian facilitators.

According to Dhanapala, the JVP's argument of the LTTE's legitimacy is a policy issue, which needs to be addressed at a political level.

Deputy Director General, SCOPP, Dr. John Gunerathne said following the discussions held between the government Peace Secretariat and the LTTE, several points had been agreed on.

The government had then handed over several proposals to resolve the issues that remained.

"They were handed over to the Norwegians and the ambassador will take it to the LTTE and bring back their response to it," Dr. Gunerathne said.

So far the government is yet to receive a response from the LTTE.

According to the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, they are yet to receive the LTTE response and are still working on the mechanism.

However, they were non-committal on the LTTE's legitimacy issue, as pointed out by the JVP.

LTTE Political Wing Head, S. P. Tamilselvan who is on a European tour was reported to have said the LTTE had already endorsed the draft for a joint mechanism, adding that the delay in providing aid to the north and east in the aftermath of the tsunami has created doubts in the minds of Tamil people as to the government's sincerity.

UPFA MP and President's Counsel Wijedasa Rajapakse also decided to remain non-committal on the issue of the LTTE's legitimacy to be a partner with the government in aid distribution.

When contacted by The Sunday Leader, Rajapakse said that he did not know of any such thing, adding that we would have to speak to someone else to get the answers.

Drivers filling in for trackers at nature reserves

By Risidra Mendis 

The prevailing shortage of trackers at the national parks especially during long holidays has resulted in jeep drivers playing the role of tracker and giving out incorrect information on species at the parks to unsuspecting local and foreign visitors. To combat the problem, the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWLC) is poised to launch a training programme for trackers and jeep drivers operating within park premises 

Complaints are pouring in from visitors to key national parks who claim that while trackers contradict themselves when giving out information, jeep drivers too are now resorting to making a quick buck by displaying their 'knowledge', which is often undependable.

A few weeks ago, nature lovers entering the Yala National Park were in for a surprise when a jeep driver pointed at a small green bird perched on a tree and referred to it as a "Green Beta."

A few days later, when the issue was referred to a prominent environmentalist lawyer and bird watcher, the bird species was identified as the Green Bee Eater.

This is not an isolated incident. Most visitors complain that the same bird species is identified by different names by different trackers. "There is no uniformity in their identification of species or their explanations. It would appear as if drivers too now play the role of trackers sometimes. Parks don't have trackers to accompany all the vehicles that enter," said one visitor.

At present, there are around 220 trackers in all the national parks, with 40 to 50 trackers in Yala, 20 to 40 trackers in Uda Walawe and the balance attached to the other parks around the island.

"Most of the jeeps entering parks are privately owned with their own drivers. These drivers have no knowledge of wildlife and have a genuine problem in pronouncing names of various species in English," several environmentalists said.

According to these environmentalists, one tracker is put in charge of four to five vehicles during long holidays. "The drivers take it upon themselves to identify the wide variety of fauna within the park as there are no trackers travelling in most vehicles."

Speaking to The Sunday Leader Director-General, Department of Wild Life and Conservation (DWLC), Dayananda Kariyawasam said according to park rules, jeep drivers are not allowed to enter the parks without a tracker. "But due to a shortage of trackers the department was compelled to allow for a single tracker to escort several vehicles at a time," he said.

Kariyawasam went on to say that the need to increase the number of trackers was a priority for the DWLC. "We face a shortage of trackers during long holidays. Our plan is to recruit trackers on a temporary basis so that they would be available during the long holidays. We hope to have a system where there will be one tracker per vehicle in the future," says Kariyawasam.

At present the DWLC is in the process of training jeep drivers on a code of ethics to be followed when entering a national park. "The Department is in the process of setting up visitors' centres in the national parks for the benefit of the visitors and jeep drivers. Each visitors' centre will have a chart of the animals that can be seen in each national park and information on other national parks in the country. The last sighting of an animal will also be on record. Visitors who wish to obtain more information on animals and birds within the parks will have the opportunity of pressing an electronic button and getting additional details," says Kariyawasam.

According to Kariyawasam, the visitor centers at Minneriya, Horton Plains and Uda Walawe will be complete in three to four months time.

Other national parks expected to get visitor centers in the future include Bundala and Wasgamuwa. However the Yala National Park is yet to get a visitor centre. "The Yala Park does not come under the project areas. However we are in the process of developing a management plan to eventually set up a visitor centre in Yala," Kariyawasam said.

The DWLC plans to hire English instructors to train the trackers to pronounce species of fauna.  "We will be giving the trackers new jackets, field kits, binoculars and water bottles. Trackers will also have name tags for identification purposes," says Kariya- wasam.

Next time - Mines Bureau to give early warning

By Easwaran Rutnam 

The Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) says it is in a position to give an advanced warning to coastal residents in case of a tsunami.

The GSMB assurance follows fears expressed by British Seismologist, John McCloskey that there was intense stress on two major active faults in the Sumatra region which could generate an earthquake to the magnitude of over 7.5 on the Richter scale and see a repeat of December 26.

Assistant Director, GSMB, Bernard Prame told The Sunday Leader that the report by the British university researcher could not be either accepted or denied.

"We don't have the capacity to carry out research on the location to give concrete proof that there is a possibility of an earthquake at the location mentioned by McCloskey," Prame said.

The Assistant Director however assured that in the event of an earthquake, the GSMB is in a position to give an advanced tsunami warning at least two hours prior to the killer waves reaching the shore.

He added that local researchers are monitoring activity at the location mentioned by the British seismologist.

"We still don't have an early warning system, so what we can do is monitor the activity and in case of an earthquake we can inform the public to be cautious of a potential tsunami," Prame explained.

The GSMB further noted that while there is a lot of focus on the southern and eastern coastal belt as being vulnerable to another tsunami, the threat to the western coast should not be ignored.

Prame noted that there is an active fault line 400- 500 kilometers away from the western belt.

"There has never been a major earthquake on this line, the biggest being 5.5 on the Richter scale. But it does not mean we should ignore the safety of residents in the west coast. History can change, so it is better to be safe than sorry."

Christian Affairs Minister to vote against bill

Christian Affairs Minister Milroy Fernando says he will use his conscience vote to defeat the Anti- Conversion Bill when it is submitted to parliament next month.

The bill is to be submitted to parliament by Buddha sasana Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake and aims to curb unethical conversions.

"This bill is unlawful and I will most certainly oppose it. I have spoken to the Catholic bishops in Sri Lanka and gave my commitment to ensure the bill will not be passed," Minister Fernando told The Sunday Leader.

The cabinet has decided to permit government MPs to vote according to their conscience when the bill is presented in parliament.

If passed, a person found guilty of 'unethical' conversion is liable to a prison sentence of not more than five years or a fine not exceeding Rs. 100,000 in the case of adults.

Minister Fernando says the bill violates the rights of Christians in Sri Lanka and should not be implemented.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) has long been lobbying for the bill and is expected to vote in its favour.

Lanka needs more cash - ADB

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says tsunami hit Sri Lanka needs more funds than what has been actually committed by foreign countries for reconstruction purposes.

ADB President, Haruhiko Kuroda speaking at a meeting in Manila last week said that there is a funding gap of US $ 568.9 million between the needs assessment and commitments.

ADB Sri Lanka Economist, Johanna Boestel told The Sunday Leader that although Sri Lanka needs a lot to reconstruct the devastated areas, foreign countries will commit once they work out the areas of funding with the government.

She added that there is a difference between the pledges made, the requirements of the country and the commitments made.

"The Finance Ministry in Sri Lanka is working hard to turn the pledges into hard cash. The countries that have pledged huge sums are bound to release the money only once agreements are signed for what the money will be used for," Boestel said.

'Degrees  for sale!'

By Dharisha Bastians 

ThouSANDS of university students converged on the city of Colombo last week in a bid to lay siege on the University Grants Commission(UGC) and demand that the government does not follow through on moves to privatise tertiary education. The protest was led by the JVP-affiliated Inter University Students Federation and included students from all over the country. But the protestors, despite their fire and brimstone rhetoric, dispersed quietly after handing over a petition to UGC Chairman, Professor B.R.N.N. Mendis.

But with authorities anticipating scenes akin to those witnessed during a protest by the students of the Sri Jayewardenapura University just the previous week, security was beefed up along the route of the student march. The protest went ahead on Thursday, despite a government undertaking late Wednesday that they would not allow the establishment of private universities.

Even as the students began their march from the Colombo Fort Railway station in the sweltering heat of the afternoon, the gates to the UGC on Ward Place, Colombo-7 were sealed and staff members gathered at the upstair windows to watch barbed wire fences and barricades being set up by police personnel outside the gates of the building. Riot squads and the Special Task Force personnel remained on standby near the UGC. "These are educated students, it is difficult to restrain them when they want to do something," remarked a member of the UGC's janitorial staff who was stranded outside after police sealed the gates to the building more than an hour before the protestors arrived.

"Either go into the UGC or stay outside, we can't be responsible for you," police officers told journalists covering the protest and visitors to the UGC, adding to the tension. Arriving on the scene as the protestors gathered outside the UGC was DIG Colombo Range, SSP Sirisena Herath himself.

"Sale, sale, degree sale," screamed the students, led by a throng of bhikkus. Sporting printed badges with slogans on them and taking up their favourite battle cries about imperialist conspiracies by the World Bank and IMF working hand in glove with the government, the students demanded that the government cease its moves to allow private universities to award degrees.

The education sector has been beset by crises on all sides since the beginning of the year and the latest demonstration also laid the blame on Education Ministry Secretary Dr. Tara De Mel for the problems within the sector.

"The student movement has always been the champion of free education in this country. Our members have lost their lives to protect free education. There is nothing De Mel can do to stop this movement - closing universities won't stop us," the organisers of the protest screamed from atop a nearby boundary wall, motivating the crowd. The students alleged that the government was trying to privatise the education system by calling it 'restructuring' instead. "We are not fools," said one leader using the public address system.

Addressing the police officials, the student leaders warned them not to think that they could use orders given by government ministers to quell their rebellion, adding however that their real battle was not with the law enforcement authorities.

Meanwhile, DIG Herath discussed the matter with the students, allowing 10 of them representing different universities to go inside to hand over the letter.

Thursday's protest, despite the 5000 strong crowd, lacked the passion and energy that the issue of privatisation would normally evoke for the hot-headed campus students. All this notwithstanding, it proved that all is not well within the sector which requires reform, but also a consensual approach in doing it.

Attempts made to contact Chairman UGC, Professor Mendis for his comment about his meeting with the student demonstrators failed.