News

> Sri Lanka goes for sovereign rating

> CWC issues ultimatum to governmen

> Sangaree, JVP hold talks

> Trade unions fear BPC entry

> ICC acknowledges Interim Committee

Milinda Moragoda to do the honours

UNP seeks pardon for SB from CBK

The United National Party (UNP) last week decided to ask President Chandrika Kumaratunga to grant the party's imprisoned National Organising Secretary S. B. Dissanayake a pardon.

The UNP's decision follows an appeal made to the party by associates and family members of Dissanayake.

The former samurdhi minister was in November 2004 sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court for the offence of contempt of court.

The Sunday Leader learns Dissanayake who is currently at the Merchant's Ward of the Colombo General Hospital himself had requested several persons including Buddhist monks and diplomats to urge the President to grant him a pardon.

Informed sources said the final decision to seek a pardon from the President followed a visit Colombo District MP, Milinda Moragoda paid to Dissanayake in hospital.

Dissanayake had reportedly told Moragoda that since the Colombo District member enjoyed a healthy relationship with the President and the President held him in high regard, he should personally call on the President and seek a pardon.

Moragoda it is learnt had consulted UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who in turn had consulted the party hierarchy and agreed to permit Moragoda to meet the President and make the appeal as requested by Dissanayake in view of his failing health.

Moragoda who met Dissanayake in hospital on Friday conveyed the approval received from Wickremesinghe and indicated he would be seeking an appointment with President Kumaratunga this week.

Sri Lanka goes for sovereign rating

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema 

The government of Sri Lanka has decided to get a sovereign rating for the country.

Treasury Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera said that the government decided last week to get the country rated.

He told The Sunday Leader that a cabinet approved committee comprising members of the Central Bank, Finance Ministry and private sector organisations is to be formed to look into the process.

The committee after studying the matter would request a private rating firm to go about the sovereign rating process.

The process is expected to take two to three months to be completed. The rating is expected to cost Sri Lanka in the region of US$ 1 million.

Dr. Jayasundera noted that receiving a sovereign rating would especially benefit the private sector as it would build market confidence.

He explained that South Asian countries like India and Pakistan have been rated, adding that now Sri Lanka too plans to join the list.

"Although certain companies in the country have been rated, the country has not been rated," he said.

Sounding positive, Dr. Jayasundera said that the country is currently experiencing sufficient economic growth to receive a decent rating.

With the country's export sector doing well and the per capita income level reaching the 1,000 dollar mark, the economy is expected to be buoyant.

Although the country faces macro and micro economic challenges, new growth centers are looked at.

Dr. Jayasundera noted that amidst various issues, the country has managed to maintain a 5.5% growth level, adding that 24-25% GDP level could be increased to 30%, at which point the country's economy would be on a higher level.

He explained that it is time for the country's strengths to be known.

"The negative aspects are known and it is time the positives are also known," he said.

The negative issues faced by the country as pointed out by Dr. Jayasundera are the fuel issue, public sector restructuring, lack of proper infrastructure, tsunami, conflict resolution, etc.

CWC issues ultimatum to government

The Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) last week warned the government that any change of policy with regard to the implementation of the Upper Kotmale Hydro Power Project (UKHPP) would compel the party to quit the government.

The Congress issued its warning after it was revealed that a fresh tender has been called for the implementation of the Upper Kotmale Hydro Project.

The CWC last week informed the cabinet of ministers that if the government went ahead implementing the Kotmale project bypassing its original pledge to implement the CWC's alternative proposal, it would quit the government.

The government originally planned to implement the water project by harnessing the available hydro potential of the Upper Kotmale basin. This included tapping six waterfalls.

The CWC vehemently protested against this move and suggested an alternative proposal to harness hydropower only from Kotmale Oya.

Having promised to implement the CWC's proposal the government has now decided to go ahead with its original plan thereby tapping six waterfalls in the hill country.

CWC officials said the Power and Energy Ministry was flouting a cabinet decision to cancel the earlier tender.

The CWC earlier said that if all six waterfalls are tapped to implement the hydro project, it would affect the scenic beauty of the hill country and would also lead to loosening of the soil. This they said might result in earthslips and landslides.

They also said the cabinet decided to squash the earlier tender and call for a fresh tender to implement its own alternative proposal. However, it is learnt that the government's fresh tender is to go ahead with the original plan to tap all six waterfalls.

The Ministry called for a tender on January 26, 2005 to go ahead with the original plan to tap all six waterfalls. The Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) appointed for this tender submitted its report to the Cabinet Appointed Tender Board (CATB) on March 3.

The report said the TEC evaluated all bids received and recommended award of the tender to the lowest evaluated, technically and commercially responsive offer of Ms. Meada Corporation Japan at a contract price of Sri Lanka Rs. 4,268,679,022 subject to successful conclusion of negotiations to arrive at a lower contract price.

The CATB that met on March 3 has indicated that the tenders have been invited from only three qualified bidders and the lowest evaluated bid price is 29.7 percent higher than the engineer's estimate price.

The Board has further said that according to the TEC report, all offers have exceeded 29.7 percent to 73.5 percent of the engineers estimate and since the tender had been called from among the pre qualified bidders, it is not necessary to call the tender afresh.

A letter written by M.P.D.U.K. Mapa Pathirana from the Finance and Planning Ministry has also informed Chief Representative, JBIC, Shinya Ejima that the CATB at its meeting held on March 3 has decided to negotiate with the lowest bidder to explore all possible avenues to reduce the total contract price.

Sangaree, JVP hold talks

TULF President V. Anandasangari on Thursday met the JVP leadership at its headquarters for a discussion on federalism.

The talks centered on the Indian model of federalism.

Contacted by The Sunday Leader Anandasangari confirmed the meeting and added it was the fourth round of talks he has had with the JVP.

Anandasangari said he was holding discussions wth the JVP with a view to convincing them to accept the Indian model of federalism and added he was optimistic that the Marxists would some day be willing to accept this model.

He also said this model will be an acceptable solution to the protracted ethnic strife in the island.

Trade unions fear BPC entry

The non withdrawal of the cabinet paper regarding the entrance of a third player into the petroleum market has created suspicion among the trade unions who fear the one third share could still be vested with the Bharath Petroleum Corporation (BPC)

The Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya (JSS) voiced suspicion claiming the government intends to go ahead with the earlier proposal of divesting the one third share of the petroleum industry held by the Treasury with BPC.

"The cabinet paper should be withdrawn, if not the government could still go ahead with the proposal to get BPC as the third player," they said.

Trade unions have been up in arms against the government's decision to bring in a third player to the petroleum industry.

The joint trade unions of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) have protested the divestiture of the one third share to the BPC and requested the government to divest it with the CPC.

The Petroleum Common Services Union (PCSU) maintains that the one third share should be divested with the CPC or a new public company, which would be a subsidiary of the CPC.

The final report of the sub committee appointed to look into the crisis in the petroleum industry and make relevant recommendations was handed to the cabinet of ministers on February 18 this year and the main recommendation out of the 13 recommendations of the committee is to divest the one third share held by the Treasury with the CPC.

The unions are up in arms against the entrance of a private sector third player and while alternative proposals have been forwarded by the PCSU, the government has still not granted its approval to them nor forwarded any counter proposals so far.

However, according to Power and Energy Minister, Susil Premajayanth they have drawn up a new set of proposals where the one third share of the petroleum industry currently under the Treasury, would be divested with the newly formed public sector company.

According to the proposal, 10% of the company will be owned by the workers, 5% by dealers while 33% will be put in the share market.

Premajayanth is yet to discuss the new proposal with the trade unions before handing it over to the cabinet for approval.

ICC acknowledges Interim Committee

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has acknowledged that the Interim Committee appointed by Sports Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga is the body lawfully conducting the affairs of Sri Lanka Cricket.

In a letter of acknowledgement sent to the Interim Committee Secretary, Tryphon Mirando, ICC Chief Executive Officer, Malcolm Speed noted that the Interim Committee was appointed by the Minister in accordance with Sri Lankan law.

Speed's acknowledgement was in response to a letter sent to the ICC detailing the action taken by the Sports Minister thus far following the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket on April 1.

While focusing on the sequence of events that took place following the suspension of Sri Lanka Cricket and the outcome of each event, Speed however noted that he was not aware of the result from the court hearing held on April 12.

Speed requested the Interim Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket to keep the ICC informed on further proceedings regarding Sri Lanka Cricket and issues that cricket's world governing body should take into account.

Japanese Ambassador condemns killing

Japanese Ambassador in Colombo, Akio Suda condemned the killing of senior journalist Dharmaratnam Sivaram on Friday.

In a statement the Ambassador said he was shocked and extremely disturbed by the news of the abduction and killing of the senior journalist. "I express my heartfelt condolences and sympathy to his bereaved family and friends. Whatever be the background of the perpetrators, such a heinous act should not be tolerated," he said.

"Freedom of speech is the very basic component of a democratic society and should be upheld and respected by one and all. This murder of Sivaram is a blatant attack on democracy and the freedom of speech and must not be ignored by those who advocate peace and democracy. I vehemently condemn this dastardly act of the murder of Sivaram and wish to state that such despicable acts will not hinder the efforts of promoting the peace process in Sri Lanka," he said.

ABC Radio sued over song

M.R. Associates Pvt. Ltd. has sought an injunction order from the Commercial High Court of the Western Province preventing ABC Radio Networks from broadcasting the song titled Kathal Yanai (Elephant in Love) through its channel Sooriyan FM.

M.R. Associates Pvt. Ltd. is also claiming Rs. 25 million in damages from ABC Radio Networks.

M.R. Associates states that they are the copyright holders of the Indian films titled Anniyan, Kana Kandein and Daas including the songs that are included in the movies.

The plaintiff further states that the defendants had violated copyright laws by playing the song Kathal Yanai over their radio channel without obtaining prior approval from M.R. Associates.

The plaintiff states that M.R. Associates is entitled to pray for damages from the defendant in terms of Section 22 and Section 170 of the Intellectual Property Act No.36 of 2003 in respect of the damages caused to the plaintiff by the defendant through the unlawful and illegal broadcasting of the song.

The plaintiff states that even though the damages caused by the defendant through such broadcast is irreparable, the plaintiff reasonably estimates a sum of Rs. 25 million for the purpose of its claim as the damages.

Attorney at Law, G.G. Arulpragasam is appearing on behalf of the plaintiff.

Search for best journalist

A programme has been launched to select the best journalist who produces news stories, articles, features and produces radio and TV programmes which help develop and nurture peace, brotherhood and unity among the various nationalities of Sri Lanka, a release from the Bakeer Markar Center for National Unity said.

According to the release, the best contribution made in Sinhala, Tamil and English under the above theme in the electronic and print media began from 01.01. 2005 to 31.12.2004 and would be chosen by a panel of judges based on the recommendations of an assessment committee.

The selected three best Sinhala, Tamil and English journalists would receive a cash award of Rs. 25,000 each and the rest would be presented with certificates.

CB says inflation up

The Central Bank announced Friday that the annual average inflation rate rose to 7.6% in 2004 compared to 6.3% in 2003.

The Central Bank, which released its annual report for 2004, also announced the Sri Lanka Consumer Price Index also registered 7.9% in 2004.

The report said inflation, which was low throughout 2003, began to rise in 2004 with the drought and high fuel prices leading to high cost-push inflation which increased money supply and fiscal expansion led to demand - pull inflation.

The Central Bank also said monetary management became more challenging in 2004 with rise in inflation and increased domestic credit demand.

Disappearances at an all time high - Amnesty International

The level of disappearances in Sri Lanka has hit an all time high according to Amnesty International (AI).

The AI has submitted more than 400 cases of disappearances to President Chandrika Kumaratunga and has asked her to bring those responsible to justice, a report prepared by the Tamil Center for Human Rights (TCHR) stated.

"Since the security forces regained control over the Jaffna Peninsula between late 1995 and early 1996, the total number of disappearances reported to the organisation has reached 648 which is the highest number reported since 1990," the report said.

AI has also documented several cases of rape by members of the security forces adding that many women are reluctant to give testimony about their treatment by the security forces.

PBOA, Transport Ministry accuse each other over accident

By Risidra Mendis 

While family members mourn the 37 passengers killed in the ill fated bus that collided with an intercity train last Wednesday, the Private Bus Owners Association (PBOA) and the Transport Ministry are hurling accusations at each other for the unfortunate accident.

The private bus plying from Galkiriyagama to Colombo collided with the Kandy Colombo intercity at the railway crossing at Yangal Modera in Alawwa.

The Transport Ministry plans to introduce a new system where the driving licences of drivers at fault will be seized and not released until the drivers have undergone a complete training programme.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader an official from the Transport Ministry said according to the new plan new licences would be valid for three years. Until the three years are over, no heavy vehicle licences would be issued, the official said.

The bus had seating capacity for 59. "According to the route permit issued the private bus could accommodate an additional 20% passengers. This would be another 12 passengers," the official said. However, at the time of the accident, there were 90 passengers in the bus.

According to eyewitnesses, despite the signalling that a train was close by, the bus driver on the instructions of the conductor tried to cross the rail track in order to overtake another bus by zig-zaggin through the closed rail gate.

"Private bus drivers are known to race with each other to get more passengers, thereby risking the lives of those travelling in the bus," said the transport official.

Meanwhile, PBOA President, Gemunu Wijeratne, while denying accusations levelled at the PBOA, said such accidents could be prevented if the Transport Ministry introduced a timetable system. "I have been making numerous requests to the government for the introduction of a timetable system. If each bus driver were given a specific time to leave, they wouldn't need to race with each other to get passengers. At present out of the 3,200 routes, only 32 routes have a timetable system," Wijeratne said.

Wijeratne added that route permits were issued on political influence and there was no control or proper plan in place to monitor buses plying these routes.

When asked to comment on the issuing of route permits, the Transport Ministry official confirmed there was political influence with regard to the issuing of route permits. The route permit for the ill fated bus was issued in February 2004.

Wijeratne went on to say, as long as buses are owned by individual owners, the problems would continue. "A franchise system where a company can issue one permit per route is the best system," he explained.

Wijeratne says while the President is in favour of such a system, it is the transport minister who is opposing this system.

Transport Minister Felix Perera was not available for a comment.

TAFFREN press briefing: Trouble over mikes

By Easwaran Rutnam 

The press briefing organised by the Task Force For Rebuilding the Nation (TAFFREN) to detail progress in tsunami reconstruction activities of the state was once again used by officials to slam the media, similar to the first briefing held just over two weeks ago.

Following a description of the activities of TAFFREN by Chairman, Mano Tittawela and district officers at a podium below the stage, the hosts went atop the stage to respond to questions from the media.

Just as the question and answer session was about to begin, Tittawela asked the media if they wanted time to move their mikes from the lower podium to the stage.

Just as the media were about to move their mikes on to the stage, an officer of the public relations company of TAFFREN prevented the media from shifting the mikes on to the stage saying there was a cable connection box at the back for the mikes.

However, Tittawela went ahead with the session even before the mikes were placed on the stage and the electronic media interrupted him and began placing the mikes on the stage.

An angry Tittawela said "Every time there is a press conference the electronic media always messes it up by moving the mikes here and there. You people should bring your own portable boxes to connect the mikes."

Tittawela had forgotten he himself asked the media if they wanted to shift the mikes on to the stage. Also with a PR company handling the press conference it was their responsibility to inform the media beforehand where to connect the mikes.

Green light for coal power plant

Amidst growing protests by the Catholic Church, the government last week said it has decided to go ahead with the proposed Norochcholai coal power plant. Treasury Secretary, Dr. P.B. Jayasundera said the government has already accepted Chinese assistance to continue with the project and that the location has been confirmed as Norochcholai.

Saran to visit Sri Lanka

Indian Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran and Anita Saran will be in Sri Lanka on a four day official visit. Saran will be leading an Indian delegation and consultations are scheduled to be held with the government of Sri Lanka on May 2.

The talks are expected to review the entire gamut of the multifaceted bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka. Saran will call on Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadir- gamar and other Sri Lankan dignitaries during his visit.

Saran and his delegation will visit Trincomalee, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Anuradhapura.

Landslide warning again

By Shezna Shums 

The National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) has advised people living in the south west of the island to be alert about sudden seismic movements, adding that there is a possibility of landslides occurring.

"We have warned the relevant officials as well as the people especially in the Koslanda area of landslide risks at present ," said Scientist, NBRO, R.M.S Bandara.

Speaking more about the probability of landslides, Bandara explained that past records show that these areas are vulnerable to landslides during the month of May with the onset of the south west monsoon.

Some of the vulnerable areas include the hilly land in the districts of Kegalle, Ratnapura, Galle, Matara, and some in Haputale.

Last Thursday, the NBRO detected a place in the Meeriga Division of the Koslanda area which also showed signs of being prone to landslides.

"There were several cracks and water springs. According to our findings these are trigger signals of a big landslide and the people in these areas have been warned, so that even if there is a landslide only the property will be damaged," he said.

Bandara said the area has also received rainfall of about 115 mm which he said could be  'dangerous.' "This could increase the water levels, create more pressure and eventually result in a landslide," he added.

"Although there is no way to actually predict a landslide, symptoms appearing at present that include cracks and water springs are clear indicators of a series of impending landslides in these areas," he warned.

Rally in Chilaw against Anti-Conversion Bill

The Roman Catholic diocese of Chilaw is making elaborate plans to hold a massive public rally in order to alert Christians on the dangers inherent in the Anti-Conversion Bill which the government intends to introduce shortly.

The Bishop of Chilaw will attend the rally. Christians of different denominations will also take part and will make it clear to the government that Christians are against this bill as it infringes upon their right to the freedom of religion, guaranteed by the constitution.

The rally will be held at 'Sudasuna' on May 7.

The bill, if passed, will lead to much confusion in the country and spawn distrust among the different communities in Sri Lanka, clergy from different denominations said.

Recently the Catholic Bishops Conference in Sri Lanka issued a public statement adding that anyone has the freedom to accept by his/her own free will, another religion

"This is a freedom that is sacred as guaranteed by the United Nations' Charter of Fundamental Human Rights as well as our own constitution. This freedom guarantees the individual the right to practice and propagate one's religion," they said.

No more amendments to joint mechanism - LTTE

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) will not accept any more amendments to the proposed joint mechanism, according to a senior official.

LTTE Media Spokesman Daya Master said though the LTTE agreed to the latest amended version of the joint mechanism for the sake of implementing the relief operation soon, other political parties have attempted to block this attempt and added the LTTE is not prepared to accept any more suggestions.

He also said the LTTE was not going to make any more appeals to the government regarding the joint mechanism, adding the Tigers were not going to wait until the government implemented the joint mechanism.

"The ball is in the government's court and now we have no role in it. We have done our best to be accommodative but it seems that the government is dragging its feet. It is not our problem," Daya Master said.

According to him, the LTTE accepted the Norwegian proposal for the joint mechanism though they had certain reservations. He said this was done in consideration of the needs of the Tamil people in the north east.

Daya Master said he did not understand why the government could not deal with the Sinhala parties in the south to implement the joint mechanism. He said the LTTE does not understand why political parties linked the joint mechanism with separation.

However he added until the government makes the next move regarding the implementation of the joint mechanism, the LTTE will not do anything.

University students to take UGC, Ministry to court

Twenty six students who were unwilling to study medicine at the Jaffna University but have been sent there against their wishes are preparing to take the Tertiary Education Ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC) to court.

The student group comprising 14 Muslim girls, eight Muslim boys and four Sinhalese boys say that they have been pushed from pillar to post without any definite answer being given to them regarding their disagreement to study medicine at the Jaffna University.

They say that though they were eligible to enter other universities, they were sent to the Jaffna University by the government.

The students who are now down in Colombo and refusing to return to Jaffna, have written more than 200 letters to politicians and education officials, but to no avail. "The officials kept on pushing us from pillar to post. They never tried to sort out the matter," they lamented to The Sunday Leader.

Meanwhile, Dr Mareena Riffai representing the students body explained that the UGC only last week stated that if these students were sent to another university, the officials would have to find an alternative grant to provide for their education, adding that since most of the universities have already commenced their terms they cannot take in these students.

"The Sri Jayawardenapura University will be starting its medical course on Tuesday, and if the students are not taken in by then, they will have to wait till next year to start their tertiary education as other universities have already started their medical courses," she said.

"This will create a backlog in the medical students enrollment because if these students are enrolled next year, some students will be deprived of their places," she pointed out.

Dr.Riffai further said that these students who are in Colombo are facing danger.

She said they are frustrated and moving from place to place seeking redress. "Who is going to be held responsible if anything adverse happened to them at a time when the country's security situation is also not good," she said.

Call for reinstatement of principal

The old boys and parents of the students of Kingswood College Kandy have appealed to the government to reinstate Kingswood Principal Ranjith Chandrasekara.

"We are of the opinion that the treatment meted out was unfair and unjust in this so called 'just society.'  We strongly and earnestly appeal to those in authority to re-instate Chandrasekera with honour as principal of Kingswood as he certainly does not deserve such humiliation," they have said in a statement.

Condemning the charges levelled against him by the government, the old boys and parents of the students of Kingswood have said during the past year he had to face 11 inquiries by government officials. "At the last inquiry he was interdicted and humiliated to the maximum, when judgment was passed on him even before the inquiry was completed," they have said.

The statement goes on to say that during the past four years, Chandrasekera continued to maintain the high standards and traditions instilled in students by the founder and some of their great principals. "His efforts have been much appreciated by the teachers, students, parents and old boys. During Chandrasekera's period of service of just four years, we saw great strides being made in the development of the school. The Language Laboratory, Information Technology Unit, the library and the swimming pool, as well as the expansion of the college play ground have been some of his notable achievements," the statement says.

No joint mechanism talks at development forum

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

The proposed joint mechanism between the government and the LTTE to proceed with post tsunami reconstruction in the north and east will not be part of the agenda at the forthcoming Sri Lanka Development Forum.

Treasury Secretary, Dr. P. B. Jayasundera addressing the media last week observed that the joint mechanism would not be part of the discussions at the Development Forum.

He explained that post tsunami reconstruction work in the north and east is currently being done following the same procedure adopted by the government in post conflict rehabilitation and reconstruction work.

"Reconstruction work would go ahead as usual through the North and East Provincial Council and the Ministry for Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction," he said.

Dr. Jayasundera pointed out that post tsunami pledges and commitments have no relevance with the joint mechanism, adding that rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the north and east had been an ongoing project for the last three years, following the signing of the ceasefire agreement.

He observed that the forum in its first session will discuss pledges made by donors following the tsunami.

So far, the country has received pledges from US$ 1.7 billion to US$ 2 billion from donors and international NGOs.

According to Dr. Jayasundera, out of the pledges, US$ 750 million has been translated in to commitments, out of which nearly US$ 500 million is expected to graduate to the expenditure level.

He noted that post tsunami reconstruction of the country has been fully funded without any conditions.

Topics to be discussed at the Sri Lanka Development Forum are post tsunami reconstruction and the 2005 budget framework.

Dr. Jayasundera said that the Millennium Development Goals country report would also be presented during the forum.

The forum will meet on May 16 and 17 in Kandy.

Barnes Ave. residents complain of encroachment

Residents down Barnes Avenue, Mount Lavinia are protesting against the illegal encroachment of crown land down this avenue.

Residents have made several complaints to the police and have even written to the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights regarding this problem and are yet to see a solution.

This encroachment has been a problem for residents of the area for more a decade now, but nothing has been done about this issue.

According to residents, the master plan for Barnes Avenue had been drawn up in 1968 on specific instructions by urban council officials which clearly demarcates the precise boundaries of all blocks of land down Barnes Avenue.

Owners of block numbers 11, 13 and 15 are alleged to have slightly encroached onto the road after the master plan was drawn up.

The present owner of block 11 is accused of encroaching onto the road at least 15 to 16 feet, causing much inconvenience to the vehicles travelling on the road.

However the owners of premises number 13 have illegally encroached from the crown roadway by about 18 to 19 ft., it is alleged. Residents claim the property with assessment No. 15 has illegally encroached by 15 to 16 feet and has also built a parapet wall making Barnes Avenue very narrow and impossible for two cars to travel on the road.

Pera academics condemn SB's sentence

Thirty academics attached to the Peradeniya University have expressed anger at the sentence of two years rigorous imprisonment imposed on UNP MP S.B.Dissanayake.

The academics, in a document signed collectively, have said the imprisonment of Dissanayake has offended their intrinsic sense of humanity, natural justice and intellectual authenticity and constitutes a tragic violation of democratic values and human rights in Sri Lanka.

"Sadly recent disturbing trends in several other spheres of governance and law enforcement lead us to view this particular outrage with even greater disquiet, as being part of a depressing downward spiral, characterised by the callous disregard of individual freedom, the intimidation of democratic institutions and the progressive descent into tyranny," they have stated.

While sympathising with the jailed Dissanayake who they say in their view is the victim of a grievous injustice at the hands of the very institution whose sacred prerogative it is to dispense justice, they also say that their concern is more about principles than about personalities.

"Many of the signatories to this protest do not know Dissanayake personally and have never met him. Moreover how people might esteem him as an individual whether he is admired or disliked is of no interest to us. Neither are his political views or public reputation of any concern to us here. It is sufficient that a fellow citizen languishes in jail, having received a vicious and unrealistic sentence that might have been (and might yet be) the unhappy fate of any free citizen of this country including any one of us," they said.

They have said that the judgment of the divisional bench, which passed this sentence, runs contrary to modern, enlightened and liberal judicial attitudes that underlie very great restraint and tolerance in the interpretation and application of offences involving 'contempt of court' in many countries in this day and age.

"They include the celebrated Granada case in England where leading politicians and newspaper editors who denounced Lord Denning as 'an ass' over a controversial judgment received no punishment whatsoever, and other cases where the presumed insult to the judiciary was far more telling than that which committed Disssanayake to do hard labour in jail for two years," the statement said.

"The enlightened principles underlying such tolerance were well stated in the Manesar Declaration of December 2004 in Haryana India to which Sri Lanka has subscribed, according to which 'judges should exercise extreme caution in the grant of restrain orders in contempt cases where this could have a chilling effect on the right to freedom of expression'.

"By contrast, the ferocious penal retribution to which the divisional bench has resorted in the Sri Lankan case is in our view a gross travesty of justice which brings an already beleaguered judiciary into even greater disrepute.

"Accordingly, we firmly endorse the eight points with which a distinguished law professor has lucidly summarised the shortcomings of the judgments of the Supreme Court in the Dissanayake case from a legal perspective: They are (a) Misconceived in terms of the application of legal principle suitable for a modern democratic society, (b) indicative of a profound distortion of policy perspectives and priorities, (c) inconsistent with trends reflected in contemporary legislation, (d) indirect conflict with major currents of judicial authority throughout the democratic world, (e) out of line with the modern literature on the subject, (f)directly contrary to intuitive perceptions of justice and equity,(g) incompatible with core values which underpin the administration of criminal justice and (h) deeply flawed in respect of disproportionality of the sentence imposed even on the (erroneous) assumption that liability has been established," the statement added.

Worker's issues to the fore at May Day rallies

By Shezna Shums and Risidra Mendis

As the whole world marks Workers' Day that falls today, trade unions representing the workforce of the country roundly condemned the UPFA government for not making any attempt to contain the soaring cost of living.

They blamed the government for not finding suitable jobs for graduates and further charged that the government has done little to provide them with any relief.

Meanwhile, tsunami victims complained that four months after the tsunami struck Sri Lanka, the government has failed 'miserably' to meet their immediate demands.

A Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) source said the failure of the government to provide people with sufficient resources has led to people choosing to steal and get involved in anti social activities.

Encouraging the masses to follow the principles of Buddhism, the JHU said the correct principles and values of Buddhism as preached by Lord Buddha should be followed by Sri Lankans.

According to the JHU, the people's sole aim is to earn money through improper ways. This has led to corruption, bribery, fraud and dishonesty among the people in the country. The corrupt elements have to be stopped if the country is to go forward, the JHU said.

UNP Organiser, Tilak Karunaratne charged that the government's performance so far has been 'absolutely' dismal. He said the government has failed to deliver the goods, especially to the tsunami victims. He charged that the government has not made any effort to control the cost of living and look into the plight of the tsunami affected people.

He said the UNP would focus on these two important issues in its May Day activities.

He explained that there are many difficulties faced by the tsunami affected people as there is an undue delay in allocating land due to red tape. He said even the NGOs are unable to give the victims what they require because of government bureaucracy.

"The private sector does not want to give money to the government, but prefer to carry out the rehabilitation and reconstruction work themselves. However the government says that they will not give land to private people. This causes a block in the work that could be done," he pointed put.

He said the other issue that the UNP would be focusing on would be the plight of farmers in the North Central and Eastern Provinces.

"Having a bumper harvest this time, the farmers have had excess paddy. But to their utter dismay the government says it does not have enough money to buy all of it. But we have heard that cronies and political supporters are able to help a selected set of farmers. This is unfair," said Karunaratne.

Also the Secretary General, National Workers Congress, A. Lodwick stated that in collaboration with the All Ceylon Federation of Free Trade Unions and its affiliated secretariats and unions, Workers' Day would be commemorated at Dehiwela.

The theme for today is 'Workers' Rights and Unity of the Working Class Movement.'

People from several sectors will gather for the event including people from the Free Trade Zones, he said.

Ceylon Workers' Congress Nuwara Eliya District MP, V.Puthrasigamany said his congress would focus on the workers being denied access to jobs.

He said the need for the estate community is to have access to all employment in the private and public sectors in the country.

He also said that they want the government to at least set up micro-economic development centers. "There are about 450 groups scattered around the estates, with such micro-development centers. The estate worker community will have a chance of learning a skill, finding employment or even be self employed," he added.

The General Secretary, Ceylon Mercantile Industrial and General Workers' Union, Bala Tampoe said the one issue that his party would highlight is about bringing about law and order within parliament.

The All Ceylon Sub Post Masters' Union's (ACSPMU) main issue to be addressed at the May Day Rally is to ensure all casual government employees with over six to seven years of work experience are made permanent.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, President, ACSPMU, Padmakeerthi Herath said during the UNP regime all employees who had completed six months in the government sector were made permanent.

According to Herath, the present government is yet to make employees permanent. "There are 195 employees in the ACSPMU, some of whom have completed uninterrupted government service for over six to seven years but are still on the casual employment cadre. 

Out of the 195 ACSPMU employees, 90% are women. We made a request to the minister of public administration and the minister said he would look into the matter but nothing has been done," Herath said.