• Sad finale to operation on conjoined twins
• Petition to President stirs probe on negligence
• Parents take up fight against school abuse
• What a cost for nothing 
• Chula Bandara on why he returned to the UNP 
• Rasool forms new alliance with UNP 
• Lightning strike hit holiday trains 
• MPs' trip to Norway cancelled 
• Ex Norwegian PM coming here 
• Central Bank dismisses UNP volcano 
• New Premier says terrorism should be crushed militarily 
• Some Samurdhi officers would stay out of politics 
• Tamil bobbies in British police soon
• Recognition for Sihala Urumaya 
• Vasu claims they tried to buy him 
• Monks target 2 ministers 
• Artistes fight film blackout 
• No No NO
• There are more Ajantha's out there
• Right of way but no right to live
• Action after death and protest
• Fighting jumbos and poverty
• Living in peace amidst fear
• 'Don't cry for me Sri Lanka'
• Central Bank issues note of warning
• Lankan at helm of US software giant
• Interviews
• Jeers, cheers in House gone crazy - PARLIAMENT
• Laying blame and absurdities galore - Focus on Rights
• U.N. seeks to protect children in war
• Sanity forestalls much violence - Countdown

Sad finale to operation on conjoined twins

By Faraza Farook

For the first time in the world, conjoined twins were born with one head and two bodies, an extra ordinary feature when compared with other such twins. 

In this rather bizarre event, a Sri Lankan mother last week gave birth to conjoined twins, both boys, with one head and two bodies, at the De Soysa Maternity Hospital (DMH).

The twins who were delivered after a carefully planned surgery that lasted one and a half hours, barely lived to see the world around them. The operation led by Dr. Devika Sooriyawansa with a specialist team of surgeons and anaesthetists, confirmed that this kind of birth, with one head and two bodies was the first in the history of conjoined twins. 

Despite all the effort, the doctors were unable to save the conjoined twins due to the narrow trachea which stopped them from performing any surgery. "The babies suffered from a breathing problem because the trachea was very narrow and they lived for only about one and a half hours," Dr. Sooriyawansa who had been the consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician to the babies' mother, said.

She said she suspected twins when she first examined her. "Only when I saw the X-ray report taken when the foetus was 29 weeks old, did I discover that the mother was conceiving conjoined twins," she said.

"The tests showed one head and two bodies while the level of fusion (where the two babies joined) appeared to be at the base of the skull," Dr. Sooriyawansa said.

In an attempt to find out more about this conception, Dr. Sooriyawansa conducted extensive ultra sound scan tests which gave her more insight about the unusual twins. 

The ultra sound scan showed a clear and normal outline of the head. It featured two eyes, one nose and two lips. Both spines joined one brain and no abnormalities were seen in the brain. Two bodies branched out from the neck downwards. There were four arms and four legs.

"Their movement was very clearly seen and the fingers and toes were very normal and clearly seen," Dr. Sooriyawansa said adding, "We saw two functioning hearts, and two livers, but only one of each could be seen in the scan due to the position of the baby. Of the two hearts one was faintly seen and the heart which was clearly seen had a hole", she said. 

Having studied the scan carefully, Dr. Sooriyawansa predicted the survival of only one baby. "There is only one head which means that it can belong to only one of the two, so I felt that the other will die," she said. 

In addition to her detailed study on the scan and X-rays, Dr. Sooriyawansa browsed through various other sources of information to gather more details about the unique conjoined twins. "I fed this information to the internet and traced surgeons who had experience in dealing with this kind of twins. I e-mailed them and got their views too," she said. 

Preparing for the big day when the conjoined twins were to be delivered, Dr. Sooriyawansa approached senior consultant neuro surgeon Dr. Colvin Samarasinghe, requesting him to undertake the brain surgery.

She also sought the assistance of a senior anaesthetist from the Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital, to be prepared to face any breathing complications that may arise.

The doctors, specialists in their respective fields, were all present with their team. The operation was carefully planned and attended to as an emergency case. 

"I delivered a live baby, though sadly it had breathing problems due to the very narrow trachea. As a result, incubation was not possible, making it difficult to perform any kind of surgery," Dr. Sooriyawansa said disappointedly.

After the many days spent in preparation, the helplessness of the doctors to save the conjoined twins turned out to be sad finale.

Meanwhile, the parents of the conjoined twins, especially the mother, had been counselled to make her accept this reality, Dr. Sooriyawansa said. She said the mother was recovering well and did not suffer any operative or post operative complications. 

She also said that early diagnosis had helped save the mother, failing which the delivery could have turned fatal. "The womb would have ruptured and the mother would have died if not for the early diagnosis," Dr. Sooriyawansa said. 

She pointed out that often in complicated cases, the parents fail to cooperate with the medical team and disagree to have a post-mortem. She emphasised their cooperation would help doctors study many such cases and help save hundreds of other lives where similar complication can arise.

Petition to President stirs probe on negligence

By Leon Berenger

On a complaint made by parents of a 14-year-old schoolboy who died at the Nuwara Eliya Government hospital a week after he was admitted with burn injuries, the Presidential Secretariat has ordered a probe to ascertain whether the death was due to medical negligence. 

The parents of Harindu Sameera Ishara, a grade nine student at Wattegoda Sinhala Vidyalaya, have written to President Chandrika Kuma–ratunga, alleging that their son's death was due to medical negligence.

The President's Office has asked the Health Ministry to take necessary action, while the regional director for education in the area has also been asked to hold a separate probe.

The parents had also made separate complaints to the Education and Health Ministries.

Ishara was admitted to the hospital after he and a fellow student were injured when a fuel can blasted at a village perahera recently.

The boy was first rushed to the Lindula Government hospital and later transferred to Nuwara Eliya after his condition worsened. 

The parents charged that at the Nuwara Eliya hospital they had to face a nightmare as they kept vigil over their son. They alleged the staff, including attendants, nurses and paramedics, were totally indifferent to the plight of the victim and made matters worse with constant curses, insults and other forms of verbal abuse.

The parents alleged that when they suggested that the child was in need of saline as prescribed by the ward doctor, the nurses had rudely replied that the hospital stocks had run dry and it would have to be purchased from outside.

"It was the same with everything, and in the nights the nurses would never respond, whatever the emergency may be and most of them could not be awakened from their sleep," the parents wrote to the President.

Nuwara Eliya is without a permanent District Medical Officer (DMO) and the acting officer could not be reached for comment in this regard.

Parents take up fight against school abuse

By Tania Fernando

With many cases of abuse in schools making headlines recently, Rohan Weerasuriya a concerned parent has formed an association to help parents who are faced with their children being abused in school.

'Association of Parents Against the Cruelty to Children' (APACC) came into being after Mr. Weerasuriya had a personal experience where his son was harassed in school and after reading of the many incidents highlighted in the papers.

"We are not on a witch hunt against schools, principals or teachers, we only want to safeguard the rights of the children", said Mr. Weerasuriya. He added that children even though they are small should not be pushed around, as they have rights too.

Mr. Weerasuriya said that APACC does not claim that all teachers abuse the students, it may be about 5% only, but we still must try and protect the child. He said that at all times they endorse that discipline is necessary.

"After all, that is one of the reasons we send children to school" he said.

"Most adults, including parents think the only way children can be corrected is by hitting them, but that's wrong. A child who is hit happens to think that its OK to hit another and that's how it all starts", he said.

He claimed that punishing children for having done something wrong is acceptable, but without making it a physical punishment, the teacher should look at alternative methods. Detention, social work, maybe even sweeping the class-room etc. are alternatives, he said.

In the event teachers decide to detain children, it should be with prior notice, since most children travel home by van. Parents are then able to make other arrangements.

Mr. Weerasuriya added that APACC is open to any parent. It is not necessary that they should have faced a crisis of this nature. If they are keen on joining they are most welcome to do so, he said.

Anyone interested could contact Mr. Weerasuriya on Tel. nos. 633220 or 074-203735, during office hours. 

What a cost for nothing

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

The additional security including five-star hotel accommodation for government MPs, in the run-up to the abortive vote on the new constitution cost the state about Rs. 5 million, government sources said.

This included full board five-star comfort, enhanced security and chopper rides along with the building of a special helicopter landing pad in parliament premises for four days. 

Some 30 rooms were booked for MPs and ten for ministers but some of the MPs had come with their families, thus causing additional expenses.

This came following intelligence reports that the LTTE was trying to assassinate lone backbenchers. 

Meanwhile, a group of UNP parliamentarians have sent a letter to the Speaker complaining of a breach of privilege and discrimination in the provision of five-star treatment for government MPs. 

They have complained that while government MPs got special security they had to organise their own security at the MPs' hostel at Madiwela.

A spokesman for this group of eight UNP MPs said they would also go to the Supreme Court with a petition against the denial of equal rights.

Chula Bandara on why he returned to the UNP

By M. Ismeth

UNP alternate group member Chula Bandara who has now returned to the mainstream party said he disagreed with the manner in which the government tried to rush through the new constitution despite the objections by Buddhist monks and others.

Mr. Bandara said another reason why he returned to the mainstream UNP was that the alternate group was now leaderless. 

Mr. Bandara said four members of the alternate group had chosen Wijeyapala Mendis as leader but Minister Sarath Amunugama had taken over the leadership.

He said there were allegations that money was being offered to MPs while the Maha Sangha was describing the pro-constitution MPs as traitors and he did not wish to be put in any of those categories.

Rasool forms new alliance with UNP

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

A defeated presidential candidate from a Muslim party is likely to join forces with the UNP at the upcoming general election and contest under the UNP banner.

UNP sources said Sri Lanka Muslim Kachchi leader Mohamed Abdul Rasool, a critic of the PA and its ally the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, would be given nomination by the UNP to contest either from Colombo or from the SLMC stronghold of Digamadulla.

The sources confirmed that talks had already been conducted between the two parties. 

Mr. Rasool who was the former vice president of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress quit the party over differences of opinion with the leadership.

Mr. Rasool told the Sunday Times that he has had talks with the UNP and would take a final decision shortly.

Meanwhile, UNP dissident Chula Bandara who joined the Alternate Group has swung back towards the UNP and is likely to be appointed as chief organiser for Kuliyapitiya.

UNP sources also said the party had not responded favourably to moves by another Alternate Group member Wijeyapala Mendis. It is believed that Mr. Mendis would join the Puravesi Peramuna after parliament is dissolved.

Lightning strike hit holiday trains

A clash between two factions of Railway employees led to a lightning six-hour strike yesterday, leaving thousands of long-weekend holiday makers and other commuters, stranded.

The strike which began at noon went on till about 6 p.m. with all trains from Fort and Maradana stations being cancelled.

Commuters said many of them had already booked tickets and were forced to pay double or treble to reach their destinations on intercity buses.

Railway sources said the strike was linked to a division among Railway unions regarding an ongoing campaign for an immediate allowance of Rs. 3,000 a month.

MPs' trip to Norway cancelled

A familiarisation tour of Norway for both government and opposition MPs has been shot down on the orders of the President, The Sunday Times learns. 

A ten-member delegation which was scheduled to leave for Oslo yesterday has been stopped on Presidential orders, an official of the Norwegian Embassy told one of the MPs who went to obtain his visa last Wednesday.

Political sources said the cancellation was apparently linked to backstage dealings regarding the abortive vote on the new constitution bill.

Ex Norwegian PM coming here

Former Norwegian Prime Minsiter Kjell Magne Bondevik is coming to Sri Lanka to deliver the key note address at a BMICH meeting on Thursday to mark the first death anniversary of veteran foreign minister A.C.S. Hameed.

Mr. Bondevik will speak on international understanding and peace in a fast changing world. 

Among others invited to speak are UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, Ministers G.L. Peiris and M.H.M. Ashraff.

The event is being organised by the A.C.S. Hameed Peace Foundation which has been established by friends and family members of Mr. Hameed. 

Central Bank dismisses UNP volcano

The Central Bank yestereday rejected claims by the UNP that the country was sitting on an economic volcano with low foreign exchange reserves and rising defence spending. 

"The UNP's position is not correct. When taking foreign exchange reserves one must count both the official reserves and the unofficial reserves — which includes foreign exchange held by the banking system — and together the country's reserves are sufficient to meet upto five months of imports," the bank's economic research director, R.A. Jayatissa said 

He was responding to a statement by UNP media spokesman Karunasena Kodituwakku who said that according to Central Bank data, its official gross foreign exchange reserves of US $ 1,386 million as at the end of last month were sufficient for only 10 weeks of imports. 

"According to estimates, Sri Lanka needs about US $ 7,000 million for the year's imports which roughly means about US $ 135 million a week. Therefore our official reserves are sufficient for 10 weeks," Mr. Kodituwakku said, adding that while everybody was talking about the proposed failed constitution bill the country was facing an economic disaster. 

But Mr. Jayatissa refuted the charge saying though foreign reserves had fallen due to war expenditure and higher fuel prices "we are not in an uncomfortable situation." 

"I agree that reserves have fallen due to higher spending on the military and a bigger fuel bill due to a rise in world fuel prices but our reserve position is comfortable. One of the reasons for depreciating the Sri Lanka rupee (by around four percent) in June was to ensure a more competitive exchange rate and ensure export proceeds return to the country," he said. 

Mr. Kodituwakku had said while government revenues were declining, expenditure on defence was rising particularly after parliament on Wednesday approved a supplementary estimate of 33 billion rupees for war spending. 

Private sector economists also say government revenues are likely to fall this year with the Sri Lanka Telecom's international share issue being put off for next year. The government was planning to raise upto US $ 400 million by selling a stake in the state telecommunications giant at a global offering but the listing has been put on hold as foreign investors are reluctant to put a lot of money in Sri Lanka stocks now due to war and political uncertainty, they said. 

New Premier says terrorism should be crushed militarily

Newly-appointed Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has spoken out against terrorism saying it must be defeated militarily but the grievances of the minorities need to be addressed too.

"Democracy and terrorism cannot sleep on the same bed," said the veteran politician hailing from Horana who describes himself as a son of rural Sri Lanka.

Soon after he was appointed Prime Minister on Thursday, Mr. Wickremanayake (67) visited his hometown Horana and sought the blessings of the chief incumbent of the Horana Raja Maha Vihara, a temple he had attended as a young boy.

The prime minister was welcomed with loud cheers from his supporters and bursts of firecrackers when his motorcade arrived at the temple .

In the few public speeches made since being sworn in, Mr. Wickremanayake emphasised that his priority was to protect the rights of the majority community while ensuring that the minorities were given their due rights.

Addressing the officials on his first day at the Prime Minister's office at Flower Road on Friday, the premier said he was proud of his roots in rural Sri Lanka which has helped him to have a clear view of his political ideology.

"Politicians are the servants of the people. We have to serve them well when we are in office because it is in their hands to send us away whenever they want," he said.

Mr. Wickremanayake first entered Parliament in 1960 under the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna ticket. In 1962, he joined the SLFP. During the 1970-77 SLFP regime, he was the Deputy Minister of Justice and later became Minister of Justice and Plantation Industries.

Members of the Buddhist clergy who spoke at ceremonies for the new Prime Minister welcomed his appointment saying his patience and commitment paved the way for him to hold the second highest political office in the country.

Mr. Wickremanayake is said to have had some reservations about constitutional reforms that were tabled in Parliament.

Mr. Wickremanayake was due to meet with the Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters in Kandy yesterday.

Some Samurdhi officers would stay out of politics

By Nilika de Silva

A section of Samurdhi officers have taken a decision that they will not work for certain ruling party politicians at the upcoming general election.

The 25,000-member strong All Island Samurdhi Development and Agricultural Research Assistants Association said it would advise their officers not to support politicians who have opposed their trade union action. 

Active measures will be taken to ensure that such MPs and Ministers, including Samurdhi Minister S. B. Dissanayake, receive the minimum possible support from their electorates, Jagath Kumara, secretary of the organisation said. 

However, he said the government had so far not issued any instructions regarding the role the Samurdhi officers should play during the election campaign. 

At the National Convention on August 19, it is expected that about 10,000 Samurdhi workers from all over the island will come together. 

This is the third National Convention to be held. A picket will be held at 9.30 a.m. at Lipton's Circus on that day, calling for the reinstating of the General Secretary who was suspended from service at the end of last year.

Tamil bobbies in British police soon

In the face of a rising crime wave related to Britian's minority communities, the police there have begun to recruit members from Caribbean and Asian communities, including Sri Lankan Tamils, a British High Commission spokesperson said yesterday.

High Commission spokesperson Allson Kemp told The Sunday Times the move was largely aimed at curbing crimes committed by members of minority communities in Britain.

She said not only Tamils but those from other Asian countries and from the Caribbean were being recruited to the police force.

She was responding to a report in the London-based Tamil Guardian which said London's Metropolitan Police were viewing the cricket festival being held by the Tamil community as an opportunity to recruit members into their ranks.

Peter Hodges, Personnel Manager of the Bromley Borough Council Police Division, was due to supervise the recruitment at the cricket festival where they were due to run a stall.

At last year's cricket festival, two Tamil groups were involved in a shooting incident and a suspected LTTE supporter was later convicted.

"We see this cricket festival as an ideal opportunity to speak to the Tamil community. We want to tell the people about the different opportunities that are available in the police force," Mr. Hodges was quoted as saying.

He told the newspaper the police hoped to build a service more representative of London's ethnic diversity and were actively seeking to increase the number of people from ethnic minorities.

Recognition for Sihala Urumaya

Sihala Urumaya on Thursday joined mainstream politics with the party getting recognition from the Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Dissanayake .

The party which was formed four months ago with the backing of senior legislators and prelates was formed by joining together of various forces who have been engaged in politics in various forms will contest the forthcoming elections.

Sihala Urumaya is believed to gain acceptance from supporters of both the PA and the UNP . 

However the party is yet to decide on a symbol.

A party spokesperson told The Sunday Times that they were given four choices and the party had chosen one symbol.

'We chose the bow and arrow. The other symbols were the mammoty, the coconut and the till. We have sent our choice for approval" he said.

Vasu claims they tried to buy him

Rebel Parliamentarian Vasudeva Nanayakkara ,one of the strong critics of the proposed constitution, alleges he was offered a 'bribe' to vote in favour of the new constitution bill.

While many MPs were alleged to have been offered bribes running into millions of rupees in the run up to the abortive vote in parliament, Mr. Nanayakkara alleged he was also offered a seat in parliament at the next elections as a nominated MP.

"I replied by saying that knowing what the new constitution means to this country and democracy, I cannot be bought over," Mr. Nanayakkara said.

However, he refused to divulge the names of those who allegedly tried to 'bribe' him.

"I cannot name names now. But eventually they will come out into the open," he said. 

 See Interview on Vasu calls new Constitution a Trojan horse

Monks target 2 ministers

By Shelani de Silva

The Jathika Sangha Sabha has accused two ministers of acting like traitors and vowed to carry out a campaign against them at the upcoming general elections.

Jathika Sangha Sabha Secretary Ven. Maduluvawe Sobitha Thera told The Sunday Times ministers S. B. Dissanayake and Sarath Amunugama had on many occasions insulted Buddhist monks who were opposed to the draft constitution.

He charged they had said some monks were uneducated and not knowledgeable on national issues. 

The Nayaka Thera said the Sangha Sabha and the National Joint Committee would meet soon to decide on the course of action to be taken against the two ministers and other parliamentarians who had attacked the Sangha. 

He said the ministers had accused some monks of being racist and also criticised the fast by one monk. 

Artistes fight film blackout

The international award-winning film, Purahanda Kaluwara, is still in the dark, says its director Prasanna Vithanage. 

While, Rajya Sevaya Pinisai starring Sanath Gunathilake which was next on the waiting list was released on Friday, the release of Mr. Vithanage's controversial film has been deferred on a directive from Minister Sarath Amunugama under whose purview the National Film Corporation comes. The minister justified his decision on the basis that the film would have adverse effects on the presnet war-footing situation. An open request signed by big names in the film industry is calling on all film producers and directors not to release their films until Purahanda Kaluwara is released. 

The request reiterating that the artistes would fight any and every attempt to stifle their right of expression was released on August 8. 

Among the signitories are Vasantha Obeysekera, Dharmasiri Bandarana-yake, Nanda Malini, Jayantha Chandrasiri, Parakrama Niriella, Ashoka Hanadagama, Sudath Devapriya, Ravindra Randeniya (Artistes Guild) and Ravindra Guruge (Teledrama Guild). 

Thanking his colleagues for the solidarity they have shown, Mr. Vithanage said, "I feel I am not alone". 

"It is all in the hands of Minister Amunugama," he said. 

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