|
|
|
Advanced Level paper marking has
come to a standstill following
teachers deciding to boycott paper
marking. The teachers refrained from
applying, as the government had
failed to rectify the teachers'
salary anomalies. Photo shows
examination papers piled up at D.S.
Senanayake College with no teachers
to mark them |
|
APRC to submit 13th Amendment plus solution
The All Party Representative Committee will
continue with its deliberations despite the
withdrawal of the JHU and submit a report to
President Mahinda Rajapakse calling for a
13th Amendment plus solution within a
unitary state, The Sunday Leader learns.
Informed sources said the APRC has already
finalised 90 per cent of the substance and
the remaining 10 per cent will be taken up
for discussion tomorrow, August 25 when the
committee reconvenes.
It is learned the JHU representative to the
APRC, Udaya Gammanpila had been party to the
90 per cent substance agreed upon and his
consent is reflected in the minutes of the
proceedings.
Science and Technology Minister and APRC
Chairman Tissa Vitharana confirmed to The
Sunday Leader 90 per cent of the substance
was finalised and that the JHU had also
endorsed the decisions taken.
He said despite the JHU decision to withdraw
from the deliberations the committee will
continue with its sessions and submit a
report to the President based on the
agreements reached. The Minister declined to
give a time frame for the submission of the
final report or details of the 90 per cent
substance agreed upon.
However, The Sunday Leader learns the
proposals agreed upon are an advancement on
the 13th Amendment to the Constitution and
will be on the lines of the Indian model.
Informed sources said the President had
requested Minister Vitharana to include the
words 'unitary state' in defining the nature
of the State and that this request will be
accommodated in the final document.
It is learned, while the unitary state words
will be incorporated in the report, the rest
of the structure will be federal in nature
similar to the Indian model.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had
also called for a 13th Amendment plus plus
solution during his visit for the SAARC
summit.
" As long as the words unitary state is
included the President will not have a
problem and we will flesh it with a federal
content. What is important is not semantics
but the content of the structure and that
will reflect the Indian model, an APRC
source confirmed.
UNP PC member remanded
Deraniyagala Police yesterday remanded UNP Western Provincial Councillor
Jayantha Silva and 10 of his supporters, for possession of illegal weapons.
Silva and the others were arrested on Friday night at a checkpoint near
Deraniyagala town, where police discovered several iron bars and bicycle
chains in their possession.
The police had arrested the group, believing that they intended to violate
election rules, and presented them in court yesterday. The group was
remanded until Monday.
Berty accused of assault by JVP
UPFA Chief Ministerial Candidate for the NCP Berty Premalal Dissanayake
with a full police escort in tow had invaded the home of JVP Provincial
Council candidate Dhammika Jayawardena, assaulted his father, and damaged
his home, the JVP charged yesterday.
The JVP candidate had gone to the Galnewa police to file complaints over his
being prevented from voting by UPFA activists, and the assault of two JVP
supporters, when Dissanayake had raided his home in the presence of his
significant police contingent.
The JVP has lodged a complaint over the incident with the North Central
Province DIG, the JVP reported.
Grenade attack on
Ministers
A hand grenade was thrown at a convoy in
which two ministers were travelling, at
around 11.30 pm on Friday.
Ministers Amir Ali and Hussain Baila were
travelling in the convoy. One vehicle was
slightly damaged in the attack but there
were no injuries. The ministers were en
route to the National Livestock Development
Board (NLDB) Circuit Bungalow in Nelumgala
when the attack occurred.
The convoy fled the area and the ministers'
security contingent informed local police of
the attack, who arrived at the scene one and
a half hours later. Minister Baila has been
quoted as saying that the grenade missed the
vehicles and hit a tree by the roadside.
UPFA MP set upon by mob
Government parliamentarian Sarana Gunawardena has been hospitalized after
having been assaulted by an angry mob near the St. Joachim Tamil School
Polling Centre at Karapincha.
The MP and several of his supporters, travelling in a double cab (numbered
253-8917) and a private bus (numbered 62-8234) had attempted to enter the
polling station dressed as JVP supporters in red shirts and red caps.
The ploy failed when residents had recognized and exposed the MP leading to
Gunawardena and his supporters being assaulted and chased away by locals who
set upon them hurling stones and other items, witnesses reported.
Mahipala and son attack JVP candidate
Former Sabaragamuwa Chief Minister Mahipala Herath, his son and his
bodyguards attacked the vehicle of JVP candidate Sisira Kumara
Sarachchandra, the JVP charged yesterday.
Sarachchandra's double cab, number 57-2218 was damaged in the incident
according to the party.
The former Chief Minister and his bodyguards had first attempted to enter
the Pinnawala Central College Polling Booth, but had been prevented from
doing so by the police, leading them to assault the JVP candidate and damage
his vehicle.
The JVP has lodged a complaint with the Rambukanna Police, the party further
said in a statement.
JVP MP Arrested
JVP Parliamentarian Premasiri Manage was yesterday arrested and detained by
the police in Rambukkana town, without any justification being given by the
police, JVP sources said.
In the heat of voting during yesterday's election, Manage had been
chastising the police for acting partially towards UPFA Chief Ministerial
Candidate Mahipala Herath, when police officers arrested him on the spot.
JVP MP attacked by UPFA mob
A mob led by Chaminda Sirisena, brother of Minister Maithripala Sirisena,
brutally assaulted and critically injured JVP MP S.K. Subasinghe, the JVP
charged yesterday.
Subasinghe had arrived the Galthambarawa polling centre yesterday at 5.15 pm
to inquire into a dispute involving the forced detention of a JVP monitor by
a gang of UPFA supporters, when they pounced upon the parliamentarian and
assaulted him.
The MP has been admitted to Polonnaruwa Hospital with serious injuries, the
JVP further said.
LTTE sets up civilian brigade
Top level Tigers have said the government
forces were walking into a trap in the Wanni
and called for ordinary people to join hands
with their armed cadres to thwart government
forces advancing into the territory.
The latest call to arms for the civilians
came from political head Balasingham Nadesan.
"The civilians joined the cadres in their
struggle during Unceasing Waves-1.The
People's Force faced the Jayasikuru
Operation and the Sinhala forces in
Thenmaratchi, Oddisuddan, Kilinochchi and
Mankulam and created history. It was the
People's Force that defeated the military
during Operation Unceasing Waves 3. This was
a historical defeat for the military. The
People's Force does have a history," he said
in Kilinochchi on August 21 according to
pro-Tiger website Puthinam.
Nadesan's comments came just three days
after Tigers recommenced conducting training
sessions for civilians in the Wanni and in
the back drop of concerns that tens of
thousands of civilians would be trapped in
the Wanni and could be used as human
shields.
"When the civilians fled the
Jaffna
peninsula, everyone thought that the LTTE
was weakened. But we showed to the world
that the people were with us when we
regained Mulaithivu," Nadesan said.
The Tiger political head also predicted that
government troops would be met with stiff
resistance in the Wanni
"The military has stepped into our trap, as
stated by one of the Sinhala politicians.
Weapons, the enemy's artillery and the
airplanes are not new to our people. The
people have learnt to handle weapons. Now
they have to come together to make Wanni the
graveyard for the Sinhala forces and
liberate our people," he had also said.
High voter turnout and NIC issues as polls close
Elections to the North Central and Sabaragamuwa provincial councils
concluded with a relatively small amount of election day violence, and with
an extremely high voter turnout of over 70%.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) recorded 42 complaints
out of which it categorised 27 as serious. However they said several voters
were disenfranchised due to the requirement that all voters bring their
national identity card to the polling station.
The CMEV quoted CWC National Organizer R. Yogarajan as stating that up to
9,500 registered estate voters in the Sabaragamuwa province were
disenfranchised as a result of the requirement. The CMEV themselves received
reports of over 570 persons being deprived of their franchise due to the NIC
requirement.
As at the close of polls, CMEV had received reports of over 570 persons
being so deprived in the areas of Dedigama, Deraniyagala, Eheliyagoda,
Kegalle, Kolonna, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Ruwanwella and Yatiyantota in the
Sabaragamuwa Province and Anuradhapura West, Horowapathana, Kekirawa,
Medawachchiya, Polonnaruwa in the NCP.
The CMEV said, according to a notice issued by the Election Commissioner on
July 16, 2008, eight forms of identification were listed as accepted
documentation for voting. A clear procedure was set out in the above notice
which provides alternatives for those who lack any of the eight forms of
identification. The CMEV has also said while it supported the use of
national ID cards as mandatory for the purpose of voter identification, it
has always maintained that this should not be implemented to the
detriment of any voters.
"We therefore call upon the Election Commissioner to conduct an independent
investigation in to what has transpired at these elections and to take all
necessary steps to ensure that officials are aware of these requirements in
the event that they have to be resorted to in the future. It is imperative
that officials found responsible for what is clearly a violation of a
fundamental right are held to account. We also strongly urge the authorities
to expedite the issue of outstanding ID cards," the CMEV added.
Military claims taking Thunkkai town
Government troops took control of the
strategic Thunukkai town, south west of
Kilinochchi, on August 22 morning after days
of fierce battles, the Defence Ministry
said.
Troops from the 57th Division approached the
town from three directions south, west and
north and intensified their advances on
August 21.
"Thunukkai town is situated on the halfway
of the Vellankulam and Mankulam Road and has
been a strategic nerve centre for LTTE for
last 25 years. Uyilankulam is located around
5 km. north of Thunukkai and it is also an
LTTE stronghold in Mulaithivu District as
fierce gun battles reported in this area
during the past few days," the Ministry
said.
It added that by gaining control of
Thunukkai, troops were also now closing in
on Mallavi, the other important town lying
east. The Tigers have said that Mallavi is
the fourth largest town in the Wanni.
"With this newest victory, security forces
have reached a significant phase of the
Wanni liberating offensive as these areas
were liberated for the first time in nearly
three decades after long fighting between
security forces and terrorists. The gain of
Thunukkai adds advantage towards the
security forces positioned in clear striking
distance of Mallavi another vital
terrorist's garrison along the
Vellankulam-Mankulam Main Road," it was
said.
Meanwhile a final year Sinhala undergraduate
was shot and killed within the Eastern
University Premises at Vandaramulla, Eravur,
north of Batticaloa on August 21 night.
Initial reports in
Colombo said that Tigers were suspected of having carrying out the
attack. "According to the defence sources in
the area, the victim has been shot outside
the students' hostel using a micro pistol,"
the Defence Ministry said.
The victim was identified as. Pahan
Samarasinghe, a 27 year old undergraduate
of the Commerce Faculty and a resident of
Pothuhara, Kurunegala. Three masked men
wearing black had been involved in the
attack.
Unconfirmed reports from Eravur said that
there was suspicion that the killing was
linked with a ragging incident of a Tamil
female fresher. The ragging had been taken
seriously by the parents of the girl and
several days before the murder, leaflets had
appeared near the university warning
undergraduates not to indulge in ragging.
No sweep tickets from Thursday
By Nirmala Kannangara
National Lotteries Board (NLB) and
Development Lotteries Board (DLB) sweep
tickets will not be sold by the dealers'
islandwide from Thursday, August 28, until
the Finance Ministry increases their sale
commission, the All Island Lottery Dealers'
Society (AILDS) said. Finance Ministry's
failure to mediateontheproblems in the
lotteries industry is to bring the country's
lottery sale to a complete standstillcosting
the state more than Rs.35 million daily to
the NLB and DLB in sales according to the
AILDS sources.
Lottery trade, one of the main money
spinning industries in the country has now
shown a sharp decline for the past three
years under President Mahinda Rajapakse's
administration and according to AILDS
sources, Finance ministry's failure to
remove Chairman DLB, Upali Liyanage despite
many requests by the employees was the main
reason for the presentcrisis situation.
"Country's lottery industry hasfaced many
hindrances during the past three years
mainly due to malpractices and dropin sales
which were due to the Finance Ministry's
failure to increase commissions given to
lottery dealers and to remove corrupted
officers from office," Chairman AILDS,
H.M.N.B. Herath told The Sunday Leader.
According to Herath, government's failure to
increase the commission given for lottery
dealers have compelled the AILDS to call for
a complete halt on lottery sales in the
country from Thursday August 28 till the
Finance Ministry address their grievances.
"At present we get 1.5% commission from each
ticket sold which is not sufficient to face
the cost of living (CoL). From that we have
to spend more than 1.35% on sweep ticket
sellers.
Since we are helping the Finance Ministry to
generate money we requested President
Rajapakse to increase our commission to 2%,
which is fair enough considering the high
CoL," added Herath. Herath further said that
their earlier attempt to put a halt to
lottery sales on February 5 and 6 had to be
called off due to Deputy Finance Minister
Ranjith Siyambalapitiya's assurance to
address their grievances.
"The government on many occasions cheated us
but this time we would initiate trade union
action starting on August 28 - the day the
National Lotteries Board (NLB) and the
Development Lotteries Board (DLB) have
planned to issue the new Rs.20 priced sweep
tickets," Herath said.
A/L paper evaluation a total flop
unsuccessful - ACTSU
By Nirmala Kannangara
The A/L paper evaluation that started on
August 20 is totally unsuccessful, All
Ceylon Teacher Services Union (ACTSU) said.
Despite the government teachers' refusal to
join the 2008 A/L paper evaluation process,
the Education Ministry earlier told The
Sunday Leader that the evaluation process
could not be hampered by trade union action.
Although the ACTSU claimed that the process
was a total failure the Examinations
Department told The Sunday Leader that their
attempt was successful.
"Government's failure to rectify the teacher
services salary anomalies for the past 10
years led to the present situation. Unless
the Education Ministry addresses our demands
at the earliest in order to get the A/L
papers evaluated by well qualified teachers
our future generation would have to suffer,"
General Secretary ACTSU, Mahinda Jayasinghe
told The Sunday Leader.
According to Jayasinghe the Examinations
Department has promoted assistant evaluators
to Additional Chief Evaluators and had also
permitted trained teachers to do paper
marking.
"Although assistant evaluators have to
remain in the same post for quite a long
time to get the Additional Chief Evaluator
(ACE) post we learn that many teachers with
less than two years have been promoted as
ACEs which would be disastrous," claimed
Jayasinghe.
However Commissioner General Examinations
Anura Edirisinghe disclaiming the ACTSU
charges told The Sunday Leader that if the
trade unions could claim that trainee
teachers have been deployed at paper
evaluations he was ready to quit his job.
"Only qualified teachers have been deployed
for the evaluation and as claimed by the
trade unionists none of the Assistant
Evaluators (AE) who do not have enough
experience have been promoted as ACEs. Let
the trade unions prove that I have deployed
trainee teachers for the job and promoted
AEs as ACEs then I would immediately quit my
job," Edirisinghe claimed.
Leptospirosis raising its head in Kurunegala
and Gampaha Districts
By Shezna Shums
Increasing cases of Leptospirosis are now
being reported from the Kurunegala and
Gampaha Districts.
The number of Leptospirosis cases had shown
a decline islandwide during the last couple
of months.
The Epidemiological Unit of the Ministry of
Health states that during last week and this
week they have received more notifications
of Leptospirosis from the hospitals in
Kurunegala and Gampaha districts.
When hospitals in the relevant districts
receive Leprospirosis cases they immediately
inform the Epidemiological Unit.
The Medical Officers of Health in the
District also inform the Epidemiological
Unit of any rising disease that may come
under their purview in the districts they
are working in.
Leprospirosis can be spread through
contaminated water and is rampant after the
rains. However this diseases can be present
in the soil as well. Leprospirosis has a
strong resistance and can survive for a long
period of time in water and in the soil,
thereby posing a threat to whoever comes
into contact with these contaminated
elements.
Although there are no rains reported from
these areas, the epidemiologists says that
the contaminated soil which carries the
virus is the cause of increased numbers of
Leprospirosis cases.
Apart from rat urine that can contaminate
the water and soil, other animals such as
rodents, pests, cattle, buffalo as well as
domesticated animals such as cats and dogs
too can contaminate the soil and water with
this virus.
During the school holidays many children
spend their time outdoors which increases
the possibility of them coming into contact
with the contaminated water and soil.
Most of the reported cases of Leptospirosis
are from males who are working outdoors and
children who also tend to spend a lot of
time outdoors.
When it rains and there are floods many
children get into this water and start to
swim. This too increases the possibility of
the children coming into contact with
Leptospirosis.
The epidemiologists say that if an infected
person seeks treatment for Leprospirosis
early, this can be effectively treated and
cured.
However the problem is that most people
think it is a virus fever and simply take
painkillers. When the symptoms gets worse
they seek medical assistance; but by then
Leptospirosis would have reached a severe
stage and could result in complications and
prove to be fatal.
Ministers intimidate opposition supporters - CMEV
Non-Cabinet Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage led a group of persons who
assaulted two opposition supporters and terrorised several others in the
vicinity of a polling station in Kegalle, the Centre for Monitoring Election
Violence reported yesterday.
The minister and his entourage are alleged to have assaulted the brother of
UNP member Upul Bandara, and another party supporter before taking up
station near the Zahira College Polling Station and "threatening and
intimidating UNP voters," the CMEV's monitors charged.
CMEV monitors further reported that the minister's group were "travelling in
six vehicles, none of which have license plates."
The CMEV also charged that Minister Jagath Pushpakumara and his supporters
"snatched the polling cards of JVP supporters," and threatened voters
arriving at a polling station in Balangoda, Sabaragamuwa.
Suicide kits and accessories recovered from Pettah church premises
Police and security forces personnel on
Friday recovered accessories of suicide
jackets and a bomb in Colombo and Kandy
respectively.
The Defence Ministry said that the
accessories used to make suicide jackets
were recovered on information received from
a civilian.
The accessories were recovered from the
premises of a Catholic Church in Olcott
Mawatha in Pettah, on Friday (22) morning,
the Ministry said.
"According to reliable sources, the
discovery was made around 8.50 a.m. and
detonators, switches and few other items had
been concealed inside the St. Phillip Neri's
Church in Pettah, in Colombo. Nineteen
detonators, 23 switches (MR type -11, PT
type -11, PR type - 1), five remote antennas
and a hand baggage were among the items
discovered," the Defence Ministry added
quoting the Media Centre for National
Security (MCNS).
Meanwhile the Kandy police recovered a bomb
weighing around 1Kg from the Balagolla area,
a suburb in Kandy.
The Defence Ministry said the recovery was
made while the police were conducting a
search operation on information received on
Friday morning.
"The bomb contained gelignite sticks and C-4
high explosive, had been hidden in a sand
mound near the privately owned residence in
the Balagolla area," the Ministry said.
An army bomb disposal team later defused
the bomb.
Dept. of Motor Traffic moves in to a
paperless system
The Department of Motor Traffic is
implementing a new documentary transfer
management system.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of
Motor Traffic, B. Wijeratne said that as a
result of this system, documents normally
stored in the Department's record room will
be scanned electronically, and the original
documents will be returned.
"There are 300,000 motor vehicles being
registered at this time, and 6000 transfers
done repeatedly. We have built several new
record rooms to accommodate the increasing
amount of paperwork, but there is no space.
I therefore wrote to the Attorney General
about the problem," said Wijeratne, adding
that after the enactment of the Electronic
Transfer Act, the courts would recognise
these scanned documents in place of the
original documents, so that there is now
more space.
In response to complaints about the issuing
of temporary driving licences to several
people who had qualified for licences,
Wijeratne said that it was "a normal
practice," adding "The capacity of the
printing department, and outsourced company,
is normally 25,000. However there are 40,000
applications currently for new driving
licenses, amendments to name and extension
of time. As a result we are in arrears.
Wijeratne said.
|
|
|
|
