• National head count on June 28
• Kadir on mission to revive SAARC
• New Speaker sets stage for live telecasts
• 4 ministers, 15 deputies face charges
• PM is back

National head count on June 28

Census Department calling in 100,000 A/L students as enumerators

By Mihiri Wikramanayake

After 20 years, the Department of Census and Statistics is preparing for a head count of the citizens of Sri Lanka.

According to Director General A G W Nanayakkara, the final count will be taken on the night of June 28, next year.

Preparations for the national census have already begun, with demographic maps and district boundary divisions being worked out and official forms and questionnaires being printed.

With a departmental staff of 1500 islandwide, all district secretaries, divisional secretaries and grama niladari officers and a further 100,000 A/L qualified enumerators to be recruited from district levels, the full census will cost about Rs. 437 mn.

The last official national census was conducted in 1981 and though law requires such a census once in a decade, the 1991 census was not conducted due to the war situation. The country's first recorded census was conducted in 1871 and the current 20 year gap is said to be the longest period of non-tabulation.

The three- year preparatory process of the census consists of three stages. The initial operation involves the mapping out of the various districts and dividing them into "census blocks." Each of these blocks will include about 80 housing units in the urban areas and 60 housing units in the rural areas. Therefore with an average of about 4.5 persons in each household, this is very manageable for any one person to gather information in his or her area of work. The maps will ensure clear boundaries and demarcations to prevent omissions and duplications of coverage.

The second phase will involve the same enumerators who will visit the houses on the final census night (June 28, next year) between 6 p.m. and midnight to carry out a physical count of the householders. They will then tally that finding against the original count.

To capture those moving around for various reasons, the enumerators have devised a method of coding and conducting. Outdoor enumerators will be posted in public places like bus stands and railway stations for this purpose while special institutions like hospitals and airports will also be covered by the enumerators.

Army personnel trained to carry out this survey will handle the operational areas and the army barracks. However, like the polio campaign carried out by the Rotary club, the department hopes that the LTTE will afford the same conditions for this important population census.

All Sri Lankans temporarily displaced will be covered by this method of tabulation. They will eventually fall into any census block that will be drawn up for that area.

Sri Lankans living and or working abroad will not be counted in the final census. However, with the initial information obtained in the preliminary stage, the department will be able to account for Sri Lankans overseas although, they will not be counted in the "final snapshot of the official census." "Those not physically present in Sri Lanka on that night will not be included in our count because that alone will be an impossible task," said Mr. Nanayakkara.

Asked about any foreseeable problems in the north and the east, Mr. Nanayakkara, said the department had completed almost 95% of the initial mapping operation in the East. However, except for the Wanni district, that includes Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Mannar, where they will "watch the situation," he said the department cannot see any problems in conducting this census.

"After all this is beneficial to each and everyone of us," said Mr. Nanayakkara.

Also with the government funding this entire operation, they will not be encouraging any outside interference in this census poll.

With the conducting of this census, the government will be able to gather valuable information pertaining to various social, demographic and economic characteristics of the people. Unemployment issues, education and health facilities, housing needs and better urban facilities could be studied with the population census as it is the only data source that provides information on every individual in the country.

Mr. Nanayakkara expects Sri Lanka's population to be about 19.4 million people at this census. "With the full cooperation of the people we should be able to get an accurate figure," he said.

Kadir on mission to revive SAARC

By Our Diplomatic Editor

Foreign Minister Laks–hman Kadirgamar is expected to visit New Delhi and Islamabad shortly to convince the two South Asian neighbours of the need to revive SAARC, the South Asian grouping of Seven States, at a political level.

The move came shortly after this week's three-day meeting of senior officials in Colombo which went off without an incident.

Foreign Minister Kadirg–amar told The Sunday Times yesterday there was now a need to move on to the next level of meetings in the SAARC hierarchy — the Standing Committee which is at the level of Foreign Secretaries.

The hotly disputed Kashmir issue and continuing border clashes in the valley that separates India and Pakistan have been the thorn in the flesh of SAARC, especially in recent years.

Mr. Kadirgamar said yesterday: "I can't just sit at home. Sri Lanka is the chairman of SAARC and we have to do our duty by all the member states."

He declined to say whether he was optimistic - or not, of success on his mission.

"I'm not afraid of failure," Mr. Kadirgamar said yesterday shortly after his ministry had released a five-page media statement saying that the meeting of senior officials, who were basically directors in charge of SAARC in their respective Foreign Offices, had been a success.

In the SAARC charter, there's no such level as senior official, but a SAARC secretariat source said that those who were valiantly trying to get the movement out of the mud had devised this meeting simply as a way forward.

Kashmir was taboo from the meeting of officials this week, but Pakistan's delegate made the point that though his country was participating at the Colombo meeting it wished to make it clear that such a meeting was not a substitute for meetings at a higher (political) level as mandated by the SAARC charter.

India's representatives had not responded to those comments but instead maintained their support for furthering SAARC at the technical level.

The Foreign Ministry statement said:

"Firm targets have been set in Colombo in respect of negotiations on the South Asian Preferential Trading Arrangements (SAPTA) and a further round of negotiations on tariff reductions is likely to take place in Katmandu early next year. Work will also be advanced in respect of the drafting process for a Treaty to establish a South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).

Senior officials also reviewed progress on other economic initiatives. Work on such areas as a SAARC Arbitration Council; a SAARC Investment Agreement ; and a treaty for the Avoidance of Double Taxation will continue following the meeting in Colombo and schedules have been worked out.

"The Pakistan delegation confirmed that Islamabad was ready to host the next SAARC Trade Fair in Karachi in March 2001.

"In the social area, Sri Lanka has proposed that work on the SAARC Social Charter be moved forward at a meeting to take place in Colombo in February next year. Heads of State at the Tenth SAARC Summit had called for the drafting of the Social Charter to draw up targets on a wide range of issues including empowerment of women; human resources development; health and nutrition; protection of children; and poverty alleviation.

"The Pakistan delegation indicated that it was ready to host a Ministerial Meeting on Poverty Alleviation, following concurrence of Member States.

"Two particularly vulnerable sectors of society have received special attention. To draft conventions, respectively on Trafficking of Women and Children for Prostitution and on Protection of Children had been finalised at the Colombo Summit and were expected to be signed in Katmandu. However, with the postponement of the summit last November, South Asian social advocates, women's groups and others have urged governments to have the Conventions signed without delay given the nature of the problems affecting children and women.

"A proposal of the SAARC Secretary-General to sign both conventions in Katmandu as early as possible was discussed and it was clarified that this would be considered with the authority of the respective governments. The Secretary-General has been requested to send the texts of the Conventions in their final form to member states to enable them to complete national formalities.

"South Asian cooperation at the technical level is carried forward largely through an Integrated Program of action which includes seven Technical Committees.

"The Government of Nepal hosted a Meeting of Technical Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development earlier this year and the Senior Officials in Colombo have scheduled meetings of the other six committees which will be finalised when agenda, logistics and other arrangements are completed.

"In January next year, Bhutan is expected to host the Technical Committee on Environment; Pakistan, the Technical Committee on Communications and Transport; and India, the Technical Committee on Science and Technology.

"In February 2001, Sri Lanka will host the Technical Committee on Human Resources Development and the Technical Committee on Social Development which is chaired by the Maldives will also meet in February. Bangladesh will make arrangements for the Technical Committee on Energy.

"Although bilateral and contentious issues are excluded from the deliberations, as provided for in the SAARC Charter, Senior Officials also looked at legal and security issues which caused concern in the region.

"Sri Lanka has offered to host a meeting of Legal Advisers to take up issues relating to the SAARC conventions, respectively on Terrorism and Drug Trafficking. It is expected to take place some time in March next year. Senior Officials also recommended the convening of a conference on Cooperation in Police Matters for the continued sharing of expertise with regard to different areas of police investigations, and investigation of organised crime and drug related crimes.

"The Secretary-General briefed the Meeting on the increased interest of civil societies in respect of issues being considered in SAARC.

"Despite its diversity in terms of languages, cultural and religious traditions South Asia is heir to a profound common civilisation continuum. Heads of State or Government at the Colombo Summit acknowledge that SAARC could draw more deeply from this shared cultural heritage to enhance creative energies in all fields.

"The Senior Officials noted the proposal of the delegation of Sri Lanka to hold a Meeting of the Secretaries of the Ministries of Cultural Affairs to take place in March 2001 in Colombo. The Meeting agreed that Sri Lanka would circulate a comprehensive concept paper on the issues to be considered.

"Among issues that would be taken up would be Sri Lanka's own initiative for a South Asian Cultural Centre which would link up National Institutes of Cultural Relations to promote the distinctive Arts of South Asia.

The Colombo Summit has welcomed Sri Lanka's offer to host a Ministerial Level Meeting on Cultural Affairs and the present proposal discuss at the Colombo Senior Officials Meeting would help to serve as a preparatory committee for the planned Ministerial Meeting. The meeting in Colombo will also discuss the proposed South Asian Cultural Festival which SAARC will hold in collaboration with UNESCO.

New Speaker sets stage for live telecasts

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Live telecasts of parliamentary debates are likely from next year, officials said.

They said the new Speaker, Anura Bandaranaike, had agreed with this proposal in principle but it would need to be further discussed with party leaders and officials to work out estimates and procedures.

The proposal had been made some years ago but it was delayed due to various problems including a decline in the standards of behaviour.

Former Speaker K. B. Ratnayake has especially expressed reservations saying he was not sure whether the younger generation would get the right example when they saw what their leaders were doing or not doing.

The officials said the live telecasts were likely to begin with important debates initially and then cover all proceedings.

Supporters of the live telecasts see it as one way to improve the quality of debate, conduct of members within chambers and to ensure better attendance by MPs with absenteeism being a cause for concern for some time.

They say parliament's sitting days are also often used by MPs to visit ministries for various purposes and attend to social obligations with both sides being equally affected by absenteeism.

Meanwhile, the Speaker has also taken steps to revive the parliamentary consultative committees, many of which were largely dormant.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet this week approved the appointment of former parliamentary secretary General Nihal Seneviratne as an Adviser to the Speaker.

Parliament sources said that this was the first time such an appointment was made.

4 ministers, 15 deputies face charges

By Chandani Kirinde

Fifty three People's Alliance members, including at least four senior ministers and 15 deputy ministers, have been asked for explanations regarding charges of malpractices and violent incidents during the general elections, The Sunday Times learns.

PA's Polls Watch and disciplinary committee chief Sripathi Suriyarachchi, who confirmed the move though he refused to name any names, said the alleged offenders had been given fourteen days to show cause on charges, including the illegal entry into polling booths and intimidation of political opponents.

Mr. Suriyarachchi who is heading a three-member disciplinary committee of the People's Alliance warned that those who failed to respond to the charges within 14 days would be deemed guilty.

Where there was a response, the disciplinary committee would hold a full inquiry and recommend action if there was substantial evidence of wrongdoing. It would then be left to the party leadership including the politburo to decide on what action should be taken.

Mr.Suriyarachchi said most of the allegations against the 53 members had been made by representatives appointed by PA's Polls Watch which monitored the conduct of party members during the election time.

The Sunday Times learns that the appointing of a deputy defence minister has also been delayed due to the pending inquiry.

Meanwhile the UNP gave notice of a motion in parliament for the appointment of a select committee to probe alleged malpractices and violence during the general election.

PM is back

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake returned to the country on Friday after a five-day vacation in the Maldives.

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