Appointed Chief of Staff
The President has approved the appointment
of Rear Admiral D.W. Sandagiri as the Chief of Staff with effect from April
01. Rear Admiral D.K. Dassanayake will retire from the Sri Lanka Navy on
this day on completion of his term of office.
Postal workers on work-to-rule again
Postal trade union will this week keep away from
overtime duty, in protest against the government's decision to quash one
of their key demands.
The Union of Posts and Telecom Officers (UPTO) which launched a nine-day
go-slow will resort to similar action which can cause a major delay in
the movement of mail.
UPTO General Secretary- N.P. Hettiarachchi told The Sunday Times that
the government refused one of their key demands - overtime payment for
staff grade officers - at a cabinet meeting last week.
"We will go on a continuous work-to-rule campaign from tomorrow
until the government rectifies this demand, Mr. Hettiarachchi said.
He said that all other government department chiefs would speak up for
their employees welfare, and that the PMG had on the contrary spoken against
them, "She stood her ground for non- payment of OT for the staff graders,
" he said. Postmaster General Ms. H.M.S. Kotakadeniya told "The
Sunday Times" that she would not entertain OT payments for postal
staff graders, as she herself is not entitled to such facilities.
Sacked SDA graduates protest and are arrested
More than 90 graduates protesting against the sudden
termination of their services by the Southern Development Authority were
arrested last week.
The 97 graduate trainees performed a Satyagraha after they were told
that they will be dismissed.
The opposition UNP has called on the government to release them, claiming
that this move was yet another violation of the citizens' democratic right
to demonstrate against injustices perpetrated on them.
The UNP alleges that the government has deprived the graduates of teaching
jobs given to them under a World Bank agreement. They claim that at present
there are around 40,000 unemployed graduates.
UNP spokesman Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku said that they had urged the
government to allow the graduates to protest peacefully and guarantee the
democratic right to demonstrate.
Can LTTE represent Tamils?
TULF President Murugesu Sivasithamparam's recent statement that
the LTTE could be considered as the sole representative of the Tamil people,
has produced a mixed reaction amongst Tamils themselves, ranging from tactical
silence to outright approval.
Mr. Sivasithamparam, looking like a Vajpayee, bear-bodied and with holy
ash on his forehead is apparently trying to ward off criticism by saying
his statement was a personal view and that he meant it only in terms of
negotiations. But he also insists that the LTTE is a freedom-fighting group,
borne out by the fact that several Sri Lankan and Indian leaders had talks
with it.
While Hindu religious and cultural leaders are guarded in their response
to Mr. Sivasithamparam's claim, the outspoken ACTC leader Kumar Ponnambalam
gave a resounding 'yes' to the projection of the LTTE as the sole representative
of the Tamil people.
The Sunday Times interviewed several personalities to see how the Tamil
people - with their rich age-old culture as reflected in books of wisdom
such as the famous Thirukural - could come to terms with the group that
many see as the deadliest terrorists in the world. Excerpts from their
comments:
By Roshan Peiris
TULF
Q: Is it correct that you told the Foreign Correspondents Association
that the LTTE could be seen as the sole representative of the Tamil people
?
A: Yes, I did say the LTTE could be the sole representative of
the Tamil people. But what was not mentioned was that I said it was for
purposes of negotiations.
Q: Are you saying that the Tamil people with their culture, religion
and traditions want to be represented by a group of terrorists considered
the deadliest in the world?
A: Terrorists? who is a terrorist? Not the LTTE who are freedom
fighters. Why can't they represent the Tamil people at negotiations. After
all Wijaya Kumaratunga, Premadasa, J.R. Jayewardene though not in one-to-one
talks, Chandrika the President herself spoke to them not in groups but
individually. Then there is Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi who spoke to
them with the idea of negotiating.
Q: The Government has now proscribed the LTTE so one cannot negotiate
with it.
A. The Government can remove the proscription. People want to
quibble about such matters when our Tamil people have suffered so much.
I also want to make it clear as I told the Association of foreign correspondents
that the LTTE being the sole representative of the Tamil people for negotiating
purposes is my personal view and not that of the TULF though I am the President
of the party.
Views of others
When The Sunday Times interviewed several Tamils we were surprised as
to how unwilling or fearful many of them are to commit themselves on this
issue. One person after saying that the Tamils living in Colombo are either
U.N.P. or P.A. telephoned us thrice asking that his identity be not revealed.
A TULF spokesman said what Mr. Sivasithamparam meant was that should
the LTTE come to the negotiating table, the TULF would not do anything
to hinder it. But he did not clarify how the LTTE, which is a banned Party
can be invited to official talks.
Yogendra Duraiswamy, President of the Hindu Council of Sri Lanka told
The Sunday Times that if democracy was really government of the people
and by the people,for the people, then those who represent the people should
be chosen by the people. This was done by elections where the principle
of one man one vote prevails.
Hindu Council
Though a particular individual or party may get an overwhelming majority
of votes, yet no individual or party can get one hundred percent of votes
at a free and fair election. It is therefore not possible for an individual
or party to be the "sole representative," of the people, which
tantamounts to being considered as the one and only representative of the
people. Such an individual or party no doubt represents the people in a
big way.
"At the present juncture, in view of the unsettled conditions in
the country it is difficult to choose the representative of the Tamils
at a free and fair election. In addition to this difficulty, a large section
of the Tamils have been displaced and are now living as refugees in the
country and abroad. These Tamils will be unable to exercise their franchise.
"However, the prevailing adverse circumstances should not act as
an impediment to the resolution of the ethnic conflict. The government
should continue to work towards an honourable settlement. All strands of
Tamil opinion should be consulted in this regard instead of confining it
to a "sole representative." Attempts should be made to bring
the LTTE into the negotiating process for they form a substantial section
of Tamil opinion."
V. Kailasapillai, President of the All Ceylon Hindu Congress skirted
the question and said, 'We do not get involved in politics. Ours is a religious
organisation and we don't want to comment on political matters."
When asked whether Mr. Sivasithamparam's statement reflected on the
Tamil community, Mr. Kailasapillai blandly repeated our policy is not to
get involved in politics."
A respected Tamil professor who did not want to be identified said,
"Not everybody agrees with what has been said. I am now retired and
not really in touch with the movements and antics of these people. I must
say that there are other countries where circumstances and situations make
such people to represent people whose grievances have to be redressed.
It is sad that it should be so but it's the situation that makes it so."
ACTC
ACTC leader Kumar Ponnambalam, said a categorical and resounding of
course the LTTE should.
"It must not be said that so much blood has been shed and so many
lives have been sacrificed for no reason. Whether the Tamil people should
be represented by the LTTE must be viewed from two stand points.
To answer the cry "should terrorists represent the Tamil People",
I think those living in this island must be slow to talk of terrorism because
those living in this island are a nation of bloody terrorists. Who were
the people who hit the Tamils on the crown of their heads from June 1956
till July 1983? Who created all the hullabaloo in 1988 and 1989? Who were
the trouble makers at Negombo in 1997 and at Eppawela in 1998 and in the
Central Camp in 1997?
If the Sinhalese create trouble, they are only insurgents, if the Tamils
create trouble they are terrorists and must be arrested and presented with
confessions! Whose logic is this or what type of logic is this?"
A gentle giant in court pleads: "I want
to go home"
By Shelani de Silva
A towering seven-footer who was arrested in Vavuniya
a few months ago for concealing information about the LTTE was released
on Friday as he was suffering from a rare hormonal disorder.
S. Irubakaran 25 who had grown tall in a rather abnormal manner, appealed
to the high court that he be given a lenient punishment as he was suffering
from a rare sickness. The youth, who was arrested in September last year,
was charged and given a sentence of six months RI.
However, he appealed to the judge claiming that as he was suffering
from this sickness he be given a very lenient sentence. He was kept in
the Kalutara remand prison for several months and released last week. But
as he had another case pending at the Mount Lavinia courts he had to appear
on Friday.
The towering seven footer arrested for his alleged involvement with
the LTTE walks out a free man for the Mt. Lavinia Magistrate Courts.
Pic by Sajeewa Chintake
He was released around 2.30 p.m on Friday. Irubakaran sat on a very
low bench inside the court. Although gigantic among the policemen he looked
lost and bored.
He seemed to have established a friendly rapport with prison guards
and the police. He had waited for several hours perhaps hungry.
The officers offered him lunch. Bent in half in a rather uncomfortable
position Irubakaran tucked in the lunch, enjoying every mouthful.
Oblivious to the stares and comments of those present his only wish
was to go home as quickly as possible.
Once he was released Irubakaran collected his few belongings, few clothes
and hurried with a relative to get inside a trishaw which was to take them
to Pettah and then take the Vavuniya bus.
Irubakaran told "The Sunday Times' that his only wish was to be
reunited with his family.
"I want to leave this place. I want to be with my parents and two
brothers. I have lived all my life in Vavuniya. I was doing business when
I was arrested by the security forces", he said.
Irubakaran had developed abnormal growth when he was around 15 years
old and later it was discovered that he was suffering from a hormonal deficiency.
"I consulted doctors who said that I have to go to Apollo hospital
for further treatment and was given a deadline to go to India. This disorder
is not hereditary, my brothers are fine it is only me," he said.
Asked whether his appetite was as large as himself, he simply smiled
and said that he may be big in size but he was just like any other person
with a normal appetite.
Ex. Surveyor Gen. sues Lanka Bell
By S.S. Selvanayagam
A former Surveyor General has challenged
a private telephone company in a law suit in the Western Province High
Court for the alleged reproduction of several parts of his original work
in the "A - Z Street Guide" in the form of advertisements without
his consent or permission.
The plaintiff, Thamotharam Somasekaram, Managing Director of Arjuna
Consulting Company Limited, in his petition against the Lanka Bell (Private)
Limited has stated that the survey department has by a gazette notification
set out the conditions upon which permission would be granted to reproduce
or to utilise reproduced copies of the maps of the survey department.
Jumbos from Thailand
By M. Ismeth
Hard on the heels of Minister of Plantaion Industries
Ratnasiri Wickremanayake's announcement of the government's plans to import
coconuts from Thailand comes a proposal to import elephants from there
as well.
At a conference held at Horton Plains yesterday, Mr. Wikremanayake said
that there are about 400 tame elephants in the country and to increase
the herd it would be feasible to import elephants from Thailand.
Deputy Director Wildlife Dr. Nandana Attapattu said that of the 400
elephants in the country about 80 percent are over 50 years old.The Minister
said he thought of importing elephants from Thailand after he received
several letters from various temples and perahera organisers stating that
they do not have elephants and requesting they be inmported from Thailand.
They had mentioned that with elephants fetching half the price in Thailand
after the depreciation of the Thai Baht, he added. The Minister who visited
Horton Plains instructed the Wildlife Director to ban visitors, both local
and foreign, from bringing boxes of matches, cigarettes, lighters and firewood
to Horton Plains.
"Not you business"
The Aranayake Police had taken Pradeep Kumara
Dharmaratne's nephew into custody in connection with a stoning incident
in the area.
When our Correspondent asked the O.I.C. I.P. Chandrasiri if Pradeep's
nephew had been taken into custody, he replied in harsh tones that he had
no business to question on this matter.
|
