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2nd January 2000

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Recalling 1999

January

Hiranthi Fernando reviews events with impact
Millennium or not?

Even as January 1, 1999 dawned, there was a controversy as to whether the new millennium would begin in 2000 or 2001.

Space prophet Dr. Arthur C. Clarke explained that because the western calendar begins with Year 1 and not Year 0, the 21st Century and the third millennium do not begin until January 2001. Others argued that according to the Gregorian calendar, AD begins when BC ends, with zero. AD is on the positive scale while BC is on the negative scale. For example, when a child celebrates his first birthday, he has already completed one year. Whatever it may be, the controversy is now forgotten and millennium fever has caught on.

Wayamba shame

The Wayamba Provincial Council election on January 25 was characterised by violence and thuggery, both on polling day and during the campaign. The intimidation of voters, snatching of polling cards by armed gangs and the blatant stuffing of ballot boxes were unprecedented. Photographic proof of the horror story of Wayamba made front page news. It was condemned as the worst and the most disgraceful election ever held in Sri Lanka. To add to it all, there were two cases where women on the campaign trail were stripped and paraded on the street.

Landmark judgment

A landmark judgment was delivered by the Supreme Court on January 27, on the fundamental rights application filed by Waruna Karunatilleke and Sunanda Deshapriya of the Free Media Movement against the Government's failure to hold elections to five provincial councils. The court headed by Chief Justice G.P.S. de Silva held the Election Commissioner partly responsible for the failure to hold the elections and wholly responsible for not fixing a new date when the Government wrongly chose to postpone these elections on grounds of security. The court also gave a stinging criticism of presidential immunity which it held as being neither absolute nor perpetual.

Setting up JOB

On the military side, the Joint Operations Bureau (JOB) headed by retired Army Commander, Lt. General Rohan Daluwatte was set up on the 6th. There was later, some controversy regarding the functions of JOB. On the warfront, the ICRC transferred 3000 patients from Jaffna to the south with the approval of both the Government and the LTTE.

New look

An important development in the education sector was the islandwide implementation of the reforms in primary education on recommendations made by the Presidential Task Force on General Education.

Remembering S.W.R.D.

Also on the 8th, the birth centenary of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was commemorated with islandwide ceremonies.

Medical history

Sri Lanka's first cadaver kidney transplant was undertaken on January 10, at the Colombo National Hospital by Prof. A.H. Sheriff Deen, with nephrological backup by Prof. Rezvi Sheriff.

News 100 years ago
The Boer War

The big news is the South African war, commonly referred to as the Boer War fought between the British and the Boers, which began in 1899. The Ceylon Independent and the Ceylon Observer devote a lot of space to news of the war received from London.

Volunteers are being recruited from Ceylon to serve in the war. A contingent of 125 is being formed and by January 4th, applications from 80 Ceylonese volunteers had been received. As a British colony, Ceylon has to support Britain in the war.

The war is the result of the Boers (Dutch farmers in South Africa who had settled in the Cape of Good Hope from 1652 and later founded the republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State) rising up against British territorial expansion. The British aimed at a united South Africa and complained of the harsh treatment the Boers under Paul Kruger, the Boer leader who opposed the annexation of Transvaal by the British in 1877, gave to the immigrant and gold prospectors. Well equipped by Germany, the Boer forces launched an offensive in 1899.

A new college for girls

The Church Missionary Society announced the opening of "a new college for the higher education of girls of all nationalities" on February 10th, 1900.

The college was to be named 'Ladies College' and was to be at Union Place, Colombo.

A notice published on January 6th announced that boarders and day pupils would be received. Further information would be given on application to Miss Whitney, the Lady Superintendent at the Church Mission House, Galle Face after January 15.

The notice was in the name of the Lady Superintendent and Lady Principal, Miss Nixon B.A.

In support of James Peiris

Prominent citizens from Galle gave notice of a public meeting to be held at the Oriental Hotel, Galle on Tuesday, the 16th day of January at 4.30 p.m. "for the purpose of submitting the name of James Peiris Esq; Advocate to His Excellency the Governor for nomination as representative of the low country Sinhalese in the Legislative Council on the expiry of the term of the present member".

The signatories to the notice were J. D. S. Abeyratne, Francis Tillekeratne, Francis Perera, D. O. D. S. Gunasekera, D. G. Gunawardena and Fred Abeyratne.-

          Media man

February

Udena R. Attygalle recalls some memorable moments
Post-mortems and Murali's spin

February this year had 28 days and for most of them the front pages of the newspapers were dedicated to post-mortems of the Wayamba elections. Sports headlines meanwhile, were dominated by the Sri Lankan cricket tour of Australia: praise for our spinning ace Murali and lambasting for Darrell Hair and Co., continuing our turbulent relationship with Australian cricket.

It's Bill and Monica time!

In-between there were the many strikes and threats of strikes that froze the postal, medical, airline sectors of the country for varying periods. Monica Lewinsky, U.S President Bill Clinton's paramour became a household word in Sri Lanka and "Monica" a much used cliche among the young!

Police blues

IGP Lucky Kodituwakku launching an inquiry into why his officers were not able to prevent election violence said, "The police always get the blame but we do not always get the necessary assistance to maintain law and order." The Foreign Ministry meanwhile, sent a note to foreign missions in Colombo warning that any premature comments on the Wayamba elections could amount to an interference in Sri Lanka's internal affairs.

Aussies get hopping mad

Yet the controversy that really set the passions of the nation ablaze was the Sri Lankan cricket tour of Australia. Skipper Arjuna Ranatunga's defiant response to Aussie umpire Ross Emerson no balling Murali, was instantly applauded. Yet within a week people were wondering whether it was the correct course of action. Darrell Hair's comments on Murali's bowling action as "diabolical" and that he would have no hesitation in no- balling him again, in his book "Decision Maker, an Umpire's Story" made sure that the hate mail kept rolling in. A sickening blow to the right arm of Sanath Jayasuriya by a Brendon Julian delivery knocked the master blaster out of action for the rest of the series. Ranjth Fernando, the manager though, speaking on behalf of the team at the end of the rollercoaster tour said, "There are no hard feelings over the series."

Digging for treasure!

Although our cricketers brought back no trophies from Down Under, local thieves were busy digging for treasure, their latest target being the "Somawathiya Chaithiya" in Polonnaruwa.

Embilipitiya shame

In Embilipitiya, the seven accused in the student disappearances case including the ex-principal were at last sentenced to ten years rigorous imprisonment. All seven pleaded "not guilty".

Butterfly on wheels

A butterfly of a different kind was spotted around the bustling streets of Colombo. A solar and wind powered car named the "butterfly", the brainchild of Norwegian solar architect Harald Rostvik did its test runs in Colombo. Maybe in a couple of years it will be the time of the "butterflies" ending the reign of the noisy and rickety yet ever lovable three wheelers.

A leap for life

In London, Sri Lankan maid Sunethra Jayasekera (33) landed on a busy central London street after jumping off the 9th floor of an apartment building, trying to escape her employers. She won 77,988 pounds in damages after it was proven that she had been forced to work as a "domestic slave". She had been working 37 days without a break for her Kuwaiti employers, was given only four hours of sleep a day, only left-overs to eat and verbally and physically assaulted.

Towards the end of the President Chandrika Kumaratunga gave the political observers the first signs of an early presidential poll when she replied, "We are considering it but there is nothing definite"in response to an Asiaweek journalist's question.

Magical mid fielder

And by the way if you are a football fan, France's magical mid fielder and my favourite player Zinedine Zidane was named the FIFA player of the year 1998.

March

Laila Nasry on some significant events
Election time

If you do not believe in threats, then do not vote for those who make them-The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence.

Yes, March was election time once again, D-Day having been fixed for April 6. This time round the campaigning was for Provincial Council elections and in the aftermath of Wayamba, the political scenario in the country was tense.

As usual, the parties were at loggerheads. The UNP staged a 'satyagraha', sitting in the sun with their mouths gagged in protest against the atrocities of Wayamba. But what was apparent was the common man's revulsion to the anti 'Dooshanaya, beeshanaya' speeches of the PA and the 'false promise of the government' speeches of the UNP.

March 28 saw an election of a different kind. This time, it was for the Cricket Board and no less keenly contested between incumbent President Thilanga Sumathipala and challenger Clifford Ratwatte. This had its ugly side too, as armed men stormed the Cricket Board premises on the morning of the polls. Amidst threats and fisticuffs, vice president Abu Fuard was kicked and Ratwatte walked out promising to take legal action which he subsequently did.

Call it God sent, right timing or whatever, but with all this violence in our tiny island, re-imposition of the death penalty was, as most felt (other than those on death row) a step in the right direction. There had been no noose for the bad guys since June 23, 1976, but the people at large remained sceptical wondering whether this was another one of the government's false promises, having not forgotten the Gonawela Sunil days.

Madhu regained

March didn't pass without its brighter moments, the recapturing of the Madhu area and the church by government troops, being especially significant. The priest of the Madhu church was a happy man on the 23rd, for the people of Madhu had undergone tremendous hardships in the wake of the war.

Match fever

There were victories and defeats on the sports field, what with March being the month for 'big match fever'. It was that time of the year where flag-waving, slogan-chanting schoolboys paraded the streets and invaded girls schools. A time for 'stag nights' and catching up on old times.

Gangsters come to town

In a gangster drama that had many similarities to a Hollywood action film, business tycoon G.C. Wickremasinghe, on his way to his morning round of golf was kidnapped and a Rs 20 million ransom demanded.

The ransom money was paid (as requested, dropped off by his wife) but later due to slip-ups by the kidnappers and the vigilance of the police, the perpetrators were nabbed, the money retrieved and Mr. Wickremasinghe returned safely.

However the "drama" had the business community in a spin and security companies had big business in its wake, with business tycoons bolstering their personal security.

April

The highlights by Wathsala Mendis
Death of democracy

April is usually associated with peace, prosperity, and abundance. What with the whole country gearing towards the Sinhala-Hindu New Year, the atmosphere was one of warm togetherness. That's what we like about April.

But the bad news was that nice, cosy feeling did an about-turn this year. From day one, April was plagued with fear, anxiety, violence, disaster one after the other.

Democracy, as had happened in the past, died a violent death in the Provincial Council elections on Tuesday, April 6. An election is for people to exercise their democratic right to vote, to make or break a government or so we learnt in school. We felt very important and couldn't wait till we were 18.

But that was then. We didn't know the first thing about elections, I mean, at least not the way they are conducted in our country. We were disillusioned sooner than we expected and after the Wayamba fiasco I just couldn't be bothered who was voted in or out of office.

To me it seemed that Citizen Perera's ideas and opinions could not make much of a difference, if not they didn't matter any more. Tension and apprehension gripped the Western, Central, North Central, Uva, and Sabaragamuwa Provinces as hundreds of election-related violations were reported including four deaths.

"Everything's fair in love and war," the saying goes. I would rephrase it, "Everything's fair in Sri Lanka's elections."

Neighbourhood blasts

With just two days to go before the New Year, the bombshell exploded- India test-fired a longer-range version of its Agni ballistic missile. I didn't realize the full impact of the news at first, though I didn't like the sound of the word "Agni" at all. Somehow I always associated such sophisticated weaponry with countries like the States, Britain, France, Japan and China. What did I know?

It hurts when reality bites, the more so when it hits "close to home". We had a taste of the bitter truth when Pakistan reacted angrily warning it might respond.

Respond it did, in style, when three days later in a tit-for-tat show, it launched its Ghauri II and Shaheen missiles. You cannot help but imagine the worst when caught between the crossfire of two warring factions and the fact that nuclear weapons were involved didn't help either!

Floody hell

"It never rains but it pours." This time it literally did when several parts of the country were hit by one of the worst flash- floods ever, making a mockery of the existing flood control mechanisms.

The deluge claimed eight lives as torrential rains accompanied by gale force winds and lightning left hundreds of thousands homeless. It left me high and dry as I was marooned at home for a day during which time I realized just how much I missed my work and my buddies.

Don't put it on!

Come April 26, peace was shattered by a phone call from a colleague, "Don't switch on the computers. A virus has entered the system." I was taken aback. I had a story to do and there was no way I was going to use that typewriter. Technology spoils you and it spoils you through and through!

The fears subsided as it was learnt that the virus could only penetrate computers which were linked to a Wide Area Network (WAN) like the Internet. One by one we switched on the computers and nothing happened!

That didn't prevent me from cursing the maniac who came up with the brilliant idea of designing the Chernobyl virus to mark the nuclear disaster 13 years ago!

May

Ayesha R. Rafiq writes of her memories
Fall of champs

May 1999 can be remembered foremost as the month of the first half of the Cricket World Cup, when eleven men bore the burden of a country's hopes and when those hopes were dashed.

On May 14, the entire country's attention was on Lords in England, and important events faded into the background as we cheered 'our boys' on, only to have Sri Lanka suffer the first of a series of crushing defeats against England in the curtain raiser of the Cricket World Cup.

Another virus!

On May 26 the computer world reeled as yet another version of the dreaded Chernobyl virus exploded. Those who had chosen to ignore the first disaster the month before and switched on their computers that morning were to later spend a long time recovering what they could from the database, while virus protection software sales boomed yet again.

More floods

In early May came the dreaded floods. West Asian returnees waited helplessly as the water destroyed belongings paid for with hard-earned money. We mourned with those who had lost their loved ones in the floods and were grimly reminded of the daily problems the less fortunate struggle through.

Slow stuff

The bank go-slow in May affected many as anxiously awaited bank drafts took over two weeks to be realised, and all of us who needed to draw money from our bank accounts had to stand in interminable queues for days to do so.

Tragedy and outcry

Then there was the tragic death of a family when two school teachers and their two and a half year old daughter were crushed to death by a train at an unprotected rail crossing. The event sparked a public outcry, especially as soon afterwards two or three near misses were reported in the newspapers. After all, how many of us have so many times crossed an unprotected rail track not even knowing it was there, only to find a train whizzing past less than a minute afterwards.

For them the noose

While the LTTE gets away with many assassinations of political leaders, it was not to be so for a number of those involved in the 1991 assassination of Rajiv Gandhi. The Indian courts sentenced four persons to hang while many others received prison sentences

Storming the court

People were shocked by the May 19 storming of the Ratnapura

Magistrate's Court. It raised questions as to the safety and future independence of the judiciary, especially in the face of many similar threats throughout the last two years.

Stitching record

Sri Lanka got herself into the Guinness Book of Records when a tailor spent Rs. 35,000 making the biggest ever pair of denim trousers, longer than a four storey building. The trousers went on display in May.

Were you duped?

The story of the 'Kandana swindler' who played out hundreds of people offering goods at unbelievably low prices left many people who had paid good money for what they thought to be once in a lifetime bargains gasping when they realised that they had been duped.

Victory for the pen

In the media too, it was a month of happenings. Journalists staged a strong protest at a government attempt to suppress Cabinet leaks with the Official Secrets Act, an attempt which was quickly abandoned in the face of huge opposition, and was marked as a victory for the pen.

Night of the scribes

And perhaps the biggest event of all in the newspaper world was the night of the scribes. The Editors Guild awards held for the first time in Sri Lanka saw journalists being honoured by their peers for their invaluable services in keeping people in touch not only with the day's happenings, but with humanity.

All in all, in retrospect the month of May brought changes to the lives of every part of our society, some good, some bad, and all of them inevitable in that unseen hand called destiny.

June

Ruhanie Perera looks back
B'day cheers

There was reason enough for good cheer in June, as the 29th was the birthday of President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. June also saw 40 years of involvement in political activity for Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

There was political activity with the Southern Provincial Council elections, activity in court with the Mahanama Tillekeratne acquittal. Much 'ado' at Weligama Bay too when the carcass of a blue whale was washed ashore and fishermen who offered "tours" to see the whale collectively earned nearly Rs. 50,000 for a day.

Bitter blow

Then there was disappointment. For a country that lives and breathes cricket, it was a bitter blow when the national team didn't make it past the first round at the World Cup. From that point, those who had some involvement in the national team were everyone's worst enemies. Officials took the blame for Sri Lanka's humiliating defeats. Minister of Sport, S.B. Dissanayake appointed an Interim Committee to carry out the functions of the Board of Control for Cricket. That decision changed the course of cricket in Sri Lanka. The good news was that the revered Dav Whatmore, who'd played a large part in the 1996 World Cup triumph was to be reinstated as the National Coach.

Docs do it again and again

Some of us may remember June as the month of the "GMOA strikes". To some this memory may be more painful than to others, especially those who suffered as a result. In early June the Government Medical Officers' Association (GMOA), launched a token strike. The situation worsened when they went ahead with their threat of indefinite trade union action. Like adding fuel to blazing fires, the Government Dental Surgeons Association (GDSA) joined in the strike, despite the Essential Services Order issued by the President. The result - appointments and operations were cancelled, patients hung around in clinics for days without treatment and children's wards overflowed. Sometimes one wonders if the price of a principle could be too high.

A great loss

Journalism suffered a loss in June when veteran journalist Mervyn de Silva passed away.

Tragic ride

Tragedy struck in the placid waters of the Kandalama tank for 13 employees of the Culture Club hotel. What started off as a carefree excursion (in this case to see Bird Island in the middle of the Kandalama tank) turned into a nightmare, which left six people dead and the survivors with a painful memory.

Grave truths

Tragedy takes diverse forms, but the saddest was when it was written on the faces of relatives who grieved by the Chemmani graves. Lance Corporal Somaratne Rajapakse, first accused in the Krishanthy Kumaraswamy rape and murder case pointed out the site at Chemmani where the bodies of those believed "disappeared" lay. The first phase of the exhumation saw the skeletons of Mahendra Babu (30) of Nallur and Rasiaha Sathis Kumar (29) of Meesala unearthed. The exhumed skeletons were sent to the University of Ruhuna for further investigations.-

July

Nilika de Silva looks back on a turbulent month
When we were attacked

Democracy was put on hold on July 15 when photo-journalists covering an opposition demonstration calling for the abolition of the executive presidency were assaulted and had their cameras smashed.

The attack which was allegedly carried out by the Presidential Security Division (PSD) saw many journalists being admitted to hospital with severe injuries. Baton-charged, fired at with rubber bullets and teargas canisters, the photo-journalists with their cameras were sitting ducks.

Killing of symbol of hope

July began with the endangered village of Welioya and neighbouring areas coming under artillery fire by the LTTE. The violence reached a climax on the 29th when TULF MP, known worldwide as a man of peace, Neelan Tiruchelvam was assassinated by a suicide bomber.

Tiruchelvam's assassination came as a shock to political analysts and people alike who saw him as a symbol of a better future for the very people, the LTTE claimed to be waging a war on behalf of.

Royal simplicity

The royal wedding was one of those moments of joy when Prince Edward, youngest son of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II married Sophie Rhys Jones. It was a wedding notable for its simplicity, in stark contrast to that of his eldest brother Charles to Diana Spencer, eighteen years ago.

Tragedy of Rupa

And as a moment of pain, I'd rank the day the victim of cruel ragging Rupa Ratnaseeli - who had been confined to a wheelchair since that day twenty years ago when she jumped from a building at Peradeniya University, to escape torture at the hands of perverted raggers- committed suicide. Her body was found in the well at the bottom of her garden.

Among the troubling issues that were raised over her death were why ragging which had taken the lives of many was still allowed to persist, and also why post-trauma counselling was not provided to rag victims. Rupa had survived a deadly fall, but society did not have time for miracles. Therefore,it was not willing to rejoice in her survival and give her the best chance to make her remaining days on this earth worthwhile.

Farewell captain

The deposing of 'Captain Cool' was also an emotional occurrence. The cricket loving masses of this country had come to identify Arjuna Ranatunga, the 'dimpled hero' with the World Cup Victory in 1996, a moment that pulsated in every Lankan's veins. So though the need for young blood was felt in the wake of the 1999 World Cup debacle, removing him from the captaincy, many felt 'was not cricket'.

New name, new look

July also saw the national carrier, AirLanka shedding its name and logo. Christened Sri Lankan Airlines, a flying peacock in green, red and orange, the colours in the national flag, replaced the red monara.

Take a bow-wow

In lighter vein, our dogs did us proud, when for the first time ever, Sri Lankan narcotic canine crime busters were selected to take wing to the Maldives, to help fight the drug menace there.

Kennedy tragedy

The death of John F. Kennedy Jr., son of the assassinated U.S President was also a sad reminder of how swiftly tragedy can strike. JFK Jr, his wife Carolyn Bessette and her sister Lauryn were killed when the plane he was piloting crashed into the sea off Massachusetts.

The month ended with large crowds gathering at Kanatte for MP Tiruchelvam's funeral. The ceremony on the 31st was sadly reminiscent of Indian Premier Rajiv Gandhi's funeral. Neelan's young sons circling the pyre bare -chested, to carry out the traditional Hindu rites, clothed in expressions of shock and grief, brought back memories of young Rahul Gandhi conducting the last rites for his father eight years ago.

Their fathers were both slain by LTTE suicide bombers; the only difference a span of space and time, making the brutality of terrorism starkly universal.

August

The month that was by Faraza Farook
When the sun went out

The hype was enormous. On August 11, the world held its breath witnessing nature taking the spotlight with the last of its spectacular light shows for the millennium. At 5.52 p.m. on this sunny August day, the dark shadow of the moon began to slowly swallow the golden sun.It was a full solar eclipse.

It was a rare moment, because apart from Sri Lanka, Iran,Pakistan and the UK could watch this eclipse,with thousands of people gathered on top of buildings and even on the road, peering through X-ray films and negatives. Millions more watched it on television.

The show lasted two minutes and 23 seconds but here in Sri Lanka the brightness of the sun seemed to hardly fade despite a larger part of the fireball being conquered.

Five years on

On the political front, the ruling party also held a grand function with a huge procession from the Sugathadasa Stadium, officially described as a 'national festival' to mark the fifth anniversary of the People's Alliance's accession to power

The President, in a landmark hundred-minute speech to a crowd of over 100,000 and a radio and television audience adding to millions more, outlined an ambitious Government vision for the new millennium.

Voila, what a mix up!

For many students however, August brought much heartache and anguish when they sat their Advanced Level examination and found the French paper based on a syllabus different to what they had followed.

Getting batty over e-mail

The month, was not complete without friction between the Government and the Opposition. The Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe's e-mail being tapped raised many ethical questions. Minister Batty Weerakoon was accused of illegally tapping Mr. Wickremasinghe's computer, though IT experts said this was the first time such an incident had occurred. Headlines flashed in newspapers as both parties began holding press conferences with accusations and denials flying fast and furious.

September

Shelani de Silva captures some highlights
Gory massacre

Sri Lanka hit international headlines not so much on a happy note but through another gory and sordid incident in the long-running ethnic conflict.

The pre-dawn massacre of 54 innocent villagers by LTTE cadres in Ampara was particularly bloody. This mass murder saw children, pregnant women, elderly men and women being brutally stabbed in another border village tragedy.

September also saw many soldiers killed in military operations against the LTTE. Despite the war, the Sri Lanka Army had a very important event on its calendar. Its Golden Jubilee. celebrations were held on a grand scale with the Army's first Commander Major General Anton Muthukumaru flying down for the event.

Farewell Hameed

In September we also bid farewell to former Foreign Minister and the country's longest serving legislator A. C. S. Hameed. Mr Hameed, whose parliamentary career spanned 39 years died on September 3. The man who was fondly referred to as 'All Countries Seen', had been working on a solution to the ethnic problem by bringing together the two main political parties.

Hot stuff!

Parliamentary wrangling continued when two Cabinet Ministers Richard Pathirana and M.H.M Ashraff exchanged heated words outside the chambers. This feud continued till President Chandrika Kumaratunga stepped in to settle the matter.

That appointment!

President Kumaratunga appointed Sarath Silva as the new Chief Justice amidst unprecedented controversy and opposition.

Down with defamation laws

The media too were in the spotlight when an International Colloquium on Freedom of the Press was held in Colombo. The high-level international and local media specialists called for the removal of criminal defamation laws in the country. Two powerful international media organisations, the Commonwealth Press Union and Article X1X called on the Government to introduce new media laws.

Under fire

The Government was also under fire for suppressing the media over the death of Satana Editor Rohana Kumara who was assassinated by unidentified gunmen.

Cracking blow

In the sports arena, it was the day of the sports photographers at the Sri Lanka -Australia test match in Kandy. It was not the pictures of a batsman hitting the winning run or a bowler capturing an important wicket that were the cynosure of all eyes. Instead it was the picture of Australian speedster Jason Gillespie's mid-field collision with Captain Steve Waugh, which ended with Gillespie fracturing his leg and Waugh breaking his nose, that held attention. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, scored its first ever Test win against Australia at Asgiriya.

Always for Lanka

Sri Lanka's sprint queen Susanthika Jayasinghe was in the news once again when she denied rumours that she would be representing USA at international meets. Susanthika who was on holiday here for a month said that she would never run for any country but her motherland.

October

Tharuka Dissanaike picks some of the headline stories
Innocent victims

Nine-year-old Sadeepa Lakshan was promised colourful bird feathers by his teenage kidnapper. Even before his gem trader father had managed to cough up the Rs. 25 lakh ransom, the little boy's body was dumped in a disused toilet pit.

The 17-year-old kidnapper, a relative of the boy and member of Aluthgama's underworld, simply wanted the money so he could impress his beloved's family and ask for her hand in marriage. But instead, the kidnapper's ill -hatched plot fell through and he languishes in jail- the wrath of an entire country directed at him.

In the same month, in a landmark judgment, a Norwegian paedophile was sentenced to 14-years rigorous imprisonment by Negombo High Court Judge A. L. Abeyrathne. He was arrested in the 'company' of a 14-year-old boy by the Negombo Police

A bill that never was

On the subject of children, October saw hundreds of schoolchildren from some of Colombo's most prestigious schools taking to the streets armed with placards, protesting vehemently against the proposed Equal Opportunities Bill, which would make it compulsory for schools to admit all races and religions on a percentage basis. The bill, drafted on the lines of a similar law in the United States, was to ensure equal treatment for all sections of society- regardless of race, religion, sex or disability.

But it had the majority- the Sinhalese Buddhists protesting their position in society would be threatened by offering equality all round. The bill was not even presented in Parliament on the due date.

Buzzing stings

Still on the subject of students and schools- hornets from a disturbed nest zoomed into classrooms of the Kalupahana Maha Vidyalaya in Haldummulla causing panic amidst the youngsters. One hundred and twenty five students had to be hospitalised.

Cold shot in the heat

Dry Zone villagers suffered through a long tough drought this year. But as if to add insult to injury, the onset of inter-monsoon rains brought with it icy sleet to distant villages thirsting for water.Forty-year-oldPadmawathie of Galgamuwa was severely injured in the head when rock-hard ice fell on her roof breaking the clay tiles.

Many a medal

The SAF games ended well for Sri Lanka and a jubilant team returned armed with many a medal. Damayanthi Dharsha bagged three golds while Sriyani Kulawansa, V.A. Ratna Kumara and Mahesh Perera each secured a glittering medal in the games held in the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal.

He was here

A guest at the celebrations for the Sri Lankan Army's 50th anniversary in Colombo, Gen. Pervez Musharaf was flying back to Pakistan when the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif sacked the war veteran from his top post. What followed was a lightning military coup, which bloodlessly installed Gen. Musharaf as Pakistan's new leader.

Tragic tumble

A passenger bus plying from Welimada to Colombo tumbled down a precipice at Pussellawa ending on its side in a gushing stream. The accident cost 13 lives. Many drowned in the stream as they struggled out and many more suffered terrible injury during the 350-foot fall.

Puppy love

On a much lighter vein- a drunken driver was arrested late one night in Veyangoda. So delighted was he that his prized Alsatian female had given birth to a huge litter that the man had driven to a friend's and downed drinks, toasting each of the 13 new-born pups.

November

Roshan Peiris recalls her memories
Tube miracle

History was made in Sri Lanka when on November 10, the country's first test-tube baby was born in a Colombo hospital. I was there shortly after the birth and was fortunate to see this little 6-lb bundle, Baby Sivarajah, with his mop of black hair protesting with all the might of his tiny lungs as the medical team and his proud parents delighted in his safe arrival..

This infant who brought so much hope to thousands of childless couples was born at the Sri Lanka Fertility Centre at the New Lanka Hospital. His parents had been married for seven years and his father, forty-year-old P. Sivarajah was overcome with emotion as his wife Santhini, 33, was taken into the theatre for the Caesarean. The birth was an event that will have significance for the country as we move into the new millennium.

It was the last

It was on November 4 Ceylon Workers' Congress President Saumyamoorthy Thondaman was laid to rest. Thondaman died on October 30 and his funeral was held with full state honours in Colombo. He had been one of my favourites when it came to interviews and I was sad that he died before seeing the millennium in. He is gone and the country is poorer for his loss. In his fifty years as a labour leader, Thondaman had worked single-mindedly for his people, the estate Tamils of Indian origin, never wavering from his principles, regardless of who might be in his way.

Down memory lane

H.L de Silva is one of Sri Lanka's most eminent lawyers and it was most illuminating to interview him for my series Down Memory Lane. Ever humble, he recalled that he was no brilliant student.

December

Dilrukshi Handunnetti captures some highlights
Political rollercoaster

December, was to say the least, a setback for democracy, with its seasonal cheer and spirituality replaced by political excitement with the announcement of the presidential polls. But the pre-poll LTTE suicide attempt on President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga shocked the nation. In Ja Ela, a similar attack at a UNP rally saw Major General Lucky Algama and several others instantly killed.

Gone was the cheer. The last month of the 20th Century was turmoil and tension filled.

While neighbouring lands enjoyed smooth power transitions like in the Maldives, Sri Lankans got onto a political rollercoaster and Christmas, Ramazan and millennium celebrations were pushed aside in a battle for power.

Predictably, the levels of violence increased through the month, and reports of possible rigging, intimidation of rivals and property destruction flooded in, setting the stage for a bloody election- And its conclusion, irrespective of winners drew a sigh of relief from the commoner- finally free to enjoy Christmas.

Though political analysts believed there would be a second count, President Kumaratunga managed to win with 51% of the vote.

During the campaign, the Avadhi Lanka organization called upon all candidates to take a pledge to conduct polls according to the fabled 'Dasa Raja Dharmaya", guidelines by the Lichchavi Princes on good governance.

The government moved to restrict foreign election observers from coming here and fears of possible attempts to curtail functions of the private media gained momentum. Amidst reports of engaging 23,000 Samurdhi animators in an alleged rigging operation, the story about 100,000 extra ballot papers for Gampaha being requested raised eyebrows as the Government Printer expressed surprise over the request as the allegedly spoilt ballot papers were not returned to him.

One of the significant political developments in December was former North Eastern Chief Minister Varatharajah Perumal's re-entry into politics. The man who unilaterally declared Eelam, extended support to President Kumaratunga while the Tamil lobby appeared divided with many others including Up- Country people's Front leader P Chandrasekaran opting to support the UNP.

A golden opportunity was lost by the constituency at large when despite all attempts, the two chief political rivals could not meet each other for a live debate. As violence escalated over 60 artistes campaigning for the UNP candidate were allegedly beaten up by some PA politicians in Minuwangoda.

Despite increasing violence and a crippling war, the GMOA went on strike and only called it off the day before the polls.

Wings clipped

Besides the political vagaries, the Sri Lankan Airlines' catering section added fuel to the fire with a work-to-rule campaign debilitating the airline's functions. In neighbouring India, the situation was worse with an Indian Airlines flight with 155 passengers being hijacked in a hostage drama.

They were honoured

In Madison Garden, in New York, boxing legend Muhammed Ali was named the Athlete of the Century, and several greats like Pele, the Brazilian soccer star among others, were honoured in a star blitz as this Century's Greats.

Hope lives on

With the dawn of a new millennium there's hope as the Government is expected to revise its political package shortly, and go for big polls before April. According to surveys the populace hopes for a joint UNP/PA solution to the ethnic problem and a people's constitution acceptable to all and able to usher in peace.

With the PA's reaching out to the UNP to grapple with the 16 - year conflict and the UNP leadership's receptiveness to the proposal, perhaps this country will experience a better tomorrow. Many pin hopes on a national government to overcome the crisis.

Strangely, a poll conducted to pick the Sri Lankan of the Century gives an inkling of our people's thoughts- a poor reflection of the country's political leadership during the past 52 years. It is no wonder then that the Sri Lankan of the Century is none other than Citizen Perera, alias Punchi Singho, alias the small man, alias the common man - in short the 'Duk Windina Janathawa.'

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