Moves to take back UNP dissidents

By Chamintha Thilakarathne

Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne told The Sunday Times that they were looking towards strengthening the party and that both groups had agreed to talk things over.

"Misunderstandings between the party leader and these five MPs have caused this rumpus. I have spoken to three of them and Ronnie de Mel joined me in the discussions. We are considering taking them back and resolving any disputes to strengthen the party," Dr. Senaratne said.

Mr. Mendis and Mr. Bandara claim that they were offered ministerial portfolios but refused them hoping to re-join the UNP. 

A decision has also been taken recently at a joint meeting of the parliamentary group and working committee of the UNP to give the five dissidents a chance if they wish to come back.

Other UNPers told The Sunday Times that if these five were taken back after having caused the biggest damage to the party by joining the PA and having got Mr. Wickremesinghe defeated at the Presidential elections, it would not be fair to lakhs of UNP supporters. The five rebels Sarath Amunugama, Susil Moonesinghe, Wijeyapala Mendis, Nanda Mathew and Chula Bandara have filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging their expulsion from the UNP. The case was taken up on Wednesday and a verdict is expected before February 6. 

JVP warns of coup

The party in a lengthy letter has also said efforts are being made to intimidate silence or tame the independent press and electronic media.

Workers to bus off?

A bulk of the workers are presently employed in the Werahera, Keppitipola,and Ekala workshops sources said.

It may be recalled that before the Presidential elections, President Chandrika Kumaratunga told the Cabinet of Ministers to encourage local industries as far as possible which would generate employment and to avoid imports of items that could be manufactured locally.

In brief

Not Mark

Justice A.R.B. Amarasinghe was sworn in as acting Chief Justice instead. He presided over the hearing on the expulsion of dissident MPs.

Brave judges

Now, a junior judge has been made Chief Justice. The judges in Pakistan, a country which has a very upright judicial tradition (Pakistani judges once made a landmark judgment which held that the government's appointment of judges to the Supreme Court was invalid and went against the independence of the judiciary) and this bold move showed that Pakistani Supreme Court judges have the resolve to remain unbowed. 

Which way?

There is a new Sri Lanka consulate established in Norway, but this reportedly has nothing to do with the "peace moves.''

Mail bouquet

Lanka gets wiser on visa

By Tania Fernando

According to Immigration Controller N. Bambarawanage, this change had to be brought in sooner or later. For years Sri Lankans had been paying various amounts to obtain visas to travel to different countries, whereas we had been charging foreigners a measly amount.

The increase in visa fees was being enforced and all our missions abroad had been informed accordingly, he said. Henceforth, any tourist visiting Sri Lanka will have to pay the equivalent of what his or her country would charge from a Sri Lankan visiting their country. The rule applies even to Sri Lankans who hold foreign passports. 

With the increase in fines for offences such as using forged travel documents and impersonation, the offences have reduced drastically. In 1994 there were 594 offences and in 1999 they had reduced to 94. The fine which varied from a minimum of Rs. 5000 and a minimum jail term of six months, has now been increased to a minimum fine of Rs. 50,000 and a minimum jail term of two years.

Freedom Day show under tight wraps

By Ayesha R. Rafiq

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe while being invited for the event, is however unlikely to attend the celebrations, in view of the UNP organising separate celebrations at a yet undecided venue as a mark of protest.

While a large number of security personnel are to be deployed, numbers and arrangements are being kept secret, fearing possible attacks by the LTTE, Police Superintendent N. Dharmadasa said.

Prime Minister Sirima Banadaranaike, Speaker K.B. Ratnayake, Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva and foreign diplomats are among the VIPs expected to attend.

Meanwhile, traffic will be interrupted today from 7 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. at Polduwa on the Parliament Road, from the Welikada - Ayurveda junction towards the Parliament junction.

The same traffic interruptions will be in force at the same times on Wednesday February 2 with a full rehearsal including Army and police parades.

On February 4 traffic will be interrupted from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. from Kottawa to the Parliament junction and will be directed through Talawatugoda, SP Dharmadasa said.

Traffic from Kaduwela, Ratnapura and Biyagama will be directed through Wellampitiya.

Students from Vishakha Vidyalaya, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, Devi Balika and President's College will be participating at the celebrations.

SEVEN IN ONE

Text and Pix by M.A.Pushpakumara

This year the administrators hope to collect the 350 rupees paid by occupants, from each additional occupant huddled in the room. These students (known as 'gajaya' in campus parlance) are not provided with the basic requirements such as a bed or a desk. Therefore the students are against the charging of fees from these occupants.

Although there is hostel accommodation for only about 1772 students, about 2,700 new students have gained admission to the University of Kelaniya for the year 2000. Student groups say the competition to gain a room is greater than the competition to gain admission to the university.

However, some of the rooms thus acquired do not have even the basic requirements i.e. mattresses, chairs, tables. It is a common sight to see the students themselves trying to furnish these requirements. 

Final year students get priority. Up to date two such students occupy one a room. From this year the administrators hope to accommodate four students in these rooms as well. This could pose a problem because the students would have to prepare their dissertations in a room with only two tables and two chairs, the students say.

Students are also not happy over the11 private hostels that have been rented out, by the university authorities to solve the hostel crisis. Two of these hostels have been closed down, due to pollution and threat by thugs. These premises have been obtained on a two year lease. 

There is accommodation in these only for 360 students. The administrators spend about two lakhs of rupees each month on these hostels. Students feel this money could be better spent. The students who are also obliged to pay the water and electricity bills of these hostels complain this is a big expenditure for them as they are surviving on Mahapola scholarships or other such awards. 

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