Education of 250,000 children affected by conflict

The current escalation of the conflict has affected 250,000 primary school children of their access to education, a recent UNICEF report said.

"Access to education for more than 250,000 primary school age children has been seriously disrupted and the current increase in displacements further aggravates this situation," according to the Mid Year Review of the UNICEF Humanitarian Action.

The report said the education sector was making efforts to prepare for and respond to the 'increasingly disruptive' impact of the conflict on children's schooling.

"Contingency stocks are being prepared with supply items of 65,500 student kits, 400 recreation kits and 2,500 teacher kits for distribution in the affected districts.

With UNICEF support in 2008, 35 temporary learning shelters have been constructed enabling 5,250 displaced students to return to school," the report said.

According to the report, 8,000 children continue to live in institutions in the North and East of the country.

The resumption of fighting in the north has also increased the risk of under-age recruitment by armed groups.

"Despite a strengthened mechanism in place to monitor and report on grave child rights violations through implementation of Security Council Resolution 1612, the recruitment of children by armed groups continues. The UNICEF database as of June 2008 registered 6,273 children having being recruited by LTTE since 2002; of these 1,415 cases remain outstanding, including 133 children who were under 18 years as of June 2008. Other child rights' violations related to conflict such as gender based violence, neglect, and child abuse," the report said.

1,974 Tigers killed this year says LTTE

One thousand nine hundred and seventy four Tigers have been killed this year, a pro-Tiger website quoting the LTTE said.

This is the highest number of Tigers killed that has been recorded since 1997 (2,112 killed) and 2000 (1,983 killed). The number of Tigers killed this year includes 1,398 male and 576 female cadres.

During the same period, the government has officially claimed a little over 1,300 security forces personnel were killed in action.

At least 1,000 LTTE cadres have been killed since 2006. According to the statistics, 4,180 Tigers in all have been killed since 2006.

The website also stated that 22,114 including 17,305 male and 4,809 female Tigers had been killed between November 27, 1982 to October 30, 2008.

In addition, a total of 372 Black Tigers (268 males and 164 females), 281 civilian auxiliary force members (276 males and five females) and 50 Tiger police personnel (47 males and three females) have been killed since 1982.

According to Government statistics, over 9000 Tigers have been killed in 2008.

Police spokesman silenced

An enjoining order was issued by the Colombo District Court on Friday on Police Media Spokesperson SSP Ranjith Gunasekera preventing him from making defamatory statements against the MTV channel.

District Judge Sisira Ratnayake had made the order following a civil suit filed by the television station claiming Rs. 100 million as damages from SSP Gunasekera.

MTV Channel Private Limited in its plaint had complained that SSP Gunasekara had been issuing malicious and defamatory statements against the respective media organisation and sending letters to the Chief Justice, Media Minister, IGP, Media Centre for National Security, Press Complaint Commission, other media institutions and all the police stations to be displayed in their notice boards in official letterheads of the Police Department.

Counsel Romesh de Silva PC, appearing for the plaintiff had told court that issuing such statements using police letterheads was not a duty assigned to the Police Media Spokesperson and that it was illegal and unlawful. MTV Channel had told court that SSP Gunasekara had issued several letters criticising media personnel and media reports telecast over the channel's news segments and alleged that it was done deliberately to create a bad impression among the general public and to destroy its reputation.

The channel had further requested for an order preventing SSP Gunasekara from making any defamatory statements and a declaration that the defendant has no right to make any defamatory statement against MTV channel Private Limited.

Romesh de Silva PC with Attorneys Sugath Caldera and Eraj de Silva appeared for the plaintiff.

Justice Raja Fernando no more

Supreme Court judge Raja Fernando passed away yesterday after a brief illness.

Justice Fernando who served in the Attorney General's Department before being appointed to the judiciary was highly respected in the legal profession and was considered an absolute gentleman.

Orugodawatte Refinery to be expanded

By Risidra Mendis

Preparations to expand the present oil refinery in Orugodawatte are to commence soon.

Papers on the proposal of the extension of the oil refinery in Orugodawatte are to be submitted to Cabinet for approval soon.

The oil refinery that is expected to benefit the country in the long run is a joint venture between the Sri Lankan and Israeli government.

The estimated cost for the project is Rs 1.5 billion. The Israeli government will bear 75% of the cost while the Sri Lankan government will have to bear the balance 25%.

However environmentalists are worried about the damage caused to the environment if the project goes through.   

Speaking to The Sunday Leader Minister of Petroleum and Petroleum Resources A.H.M.Fowzie refuting the allegations made by environmentalists said criticising the government whenever they undertook a new project was a common practice among a section of the public.

"If we commence this project soon we can bring down the cost even further. However there is always a party who is against the good work done by the government. These people don't understand the benefits that can be incurred by the country in the future," Fowzie said.

He added that residents in the area close to the oil refinery would be compensated well for their land and that it is better for the residents to move to a location further away from the refinery. 

"The basic studies are presently underway and the feasibility studies are expected to be completed soon. This process will take around six months. At present the necessary infrastructure has been provided and the required personnel for the project confirmed," Fowzie said.

Deposition of 'Nidhan Wasthu'

'Nidhan Wasthu' deposition ceremony of the newly constructed 'Chaithaya' at Narahenpita Dabare Mawatha, Sri Gauthama Viharaya was held recently.

In the picture the Rev. Executive Nayaka of Sripada Koppakandae Ven. Sirisumanatissa Thero and Rev. Wahumuhuwe Wijewansa Thero is in the process of depositing the 'Nidhan Wasthu' and sacred relics under the patronage of Viharadhipathi Rev. Omalpe Sumanaratana Thero. Dayaka Saba of Gauthama Viharaya organised the event.

Seven Negombo policemen complain of victimisation

Seven police officers formerly attached to the Negombo Police Station have written to President Mahinda Rakapakse alleging that they were transferred out of the station on trumped up charges.

The seven in their letter say that their transfers relate to an arrest of Anton Sugatah Nishantha Fernando on November 12 last year. Fernando had complained to the  Bribery and Corruption Commission that the he was arrested and assaulted by the officers and threatened over a case he had filed against another officer at the Commission. The seven deny that they threatened Fernando. The seven say in the letter that Fernando and his family have a habit of complaining to various rights bodies when he has  charges against him  and due to this officers attached to the Negombo police station have refused or shown a reluctance to pursue investigations against Fernando or his family.

The letter says that Fernando and his family have disturbed the peace in the area but the residents have been reluctant to press charges against him. On September 20, this year Fernando was assassinated by an unidentified assassin and the Criminal Investigation Department is continuing investigations.The seven police officers have said that their transfers were purely based on the charges levelled against them by the late Fernando and his family at the Bribery Commission and that there was no proper inquiry undertaken before they were transferred out.

Man swims from Pooneryn to Jaffna

An unidentified man swam across the Kilali lagoon and reached Jaffna just four days before troops gained control of the strategic town, a UN situation update said last week.

"On November 11, a man swam from Pooneryn to Jaffna across the Jaffna Lagoon. He was arrested by the Security Forces while he was swimming and was sent to court," the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) said in its latest situation report. "The court ordered him to go to the welfare centre."

IASC is an umbrella organization of the UN and other international agencies working in Sri Lanka. Troops reached Pooneryn after an absence of 15 years on November 15, morning.

The shallow Kilali lagoon that separates Pooneryn and Jaffna was traditionally navigated by small boats and a cause-way. The Tigers used to run a clandestine boat service till 1995 when they lost Jaffna.

The day before the man made his daring swim 15 more had reached Jaffna from the Vanni using boats, IASC said.

"On November 10, 15 people including eight females and two children reached Thanankilappu, Jaffna by boat from the Wanni. They have been placed in the Kayeetha School (an abandoned school in Jaffna Town) which is being used as a temporary accommodation centre along with the 47 people who arrived previously. This brings the total number of IDPs reaching Jaffna by boat from the Wanni to 62 people."

The Army saidthat on November 21,  39 civilians had reached Omanthai using the A9 road.

Joseph Vaz College annual get-together

The 7th Annual get together of the Junior Old Boys Association of Joseph Vaz College and felicitation ceremony for past teachers of the school will be held on December 13, from 6pm onwards at Nimali reception hall Wennappuwa.

This year's annul get together was organized by the Junior Old Boy's Association. The organising committee says new membership can be obtained on the same day and has invited all old boy's to attend the get together.