Unwilling to take a back seat while militants reign: TULF MP

By Chris Kamalendran

Sinnatamby Sivamaharajah, is a former MPCS chairman who was thrust into the political arena by the people of Jaffna. At 62, the bachelor Jaffna district parliamentarian of the TULF considers it a 'holy duty' to lead a life of political commitment to the people he proudly represents.

Excerpts from an interview:

Q: As a Tamil politician representing the war-ravaged Jaffna district, what risks did you have to undertake in order enter mainstream politics?

A: We have survived for a long time, despite severe hardships. My association with the TULF is over twenty years long. Like everything else, politics also require more effort here. But we are not willing to take a back seat and allow militancy to reign in villages.

Q: How do you propose to serve your people given a backdrop of militancy, lack of resources and a society at a virtual standstill? How effective can your role be, hampered by all these constraints?

A: I accept that our role is not as vibrant as it should be. But we are an unarmed group, dedicated to democracy. The greatest achievers have emerged against a backdrop of oppression. 

Q: Do you place trust in the ruling PA's ability to effectively solve the North- East problem and provide relief to these longsuffering masses?

A: Not only the PA, but all successive governments have failed to identify the true problem of the Tamil people. By remaining in the democratic mainstream and playing though small, a vital democratic function, the TULF is trying to achieve small goals on behalf of the Tamil population.

Q: The TULF is also committed to achieving political goals, which would finally seek to fulfill the aspirations of the Tamil people-the very goal the LTTE also allegedly espouse. In this sense, did the LTTE play a supportive role in your campaign?

A: The TULF does not depend on other forces to achieve its targets, be it the LTTE or any other. We independently play our role in society and have divorced ourselves from militant politics. 

Q: What are the threats you specially face, being a political party rejecting militancy and pinning hope on a political solution. 

A: Undoubtedly we are more constrained due to our principled politics. But at the moment, we don't fear any potent threats from any rival groups. 

Q: While you are locked in intellectual debates on political solutions to the ethnic question, EPDP leader Douglas Devananda has earned a Cabinet portfolio thereby effectively enhancing his ability to bargain on behalf of the Tamil community? 

A: The TULF cannot be compared with any other group. We are different. We take a more peaceful and intellectual line of thinking. All this militancy has only increased the suffering of Tamils. . We don't clamour for power and portfolios. 

Despite a Cabinet portfolio, the EPDP leader has not commenced any development work in Jaffna. Nor has he achieved anything for the Tamils.

Q: Being constrained in every possible manner, in your estimation what do you think the Jaffna population values most?

A: Freedom of movement. It is like being bound and gagged. These are people who eternally wait in queues- may be for a little kerosene oil, exit and entry permits to Jaffna or to get bare essentials. 

Q: There seems to be a lot of interest recently in solving the ethnic issue through mediation or facilitation. Do you believe that any talks between the government and the LTTE could be fruitful?

A: If you have no hope, everything is lost then. If we lacked total faith, we would not have entered Parliament. But the success without facilitation seems farfetched. Before talks, there should be utmost good faith. Only serious third party intervention could solve this question which has divided the people and kept two communities at war for nearly two decades.

Teenage girl's dreams blasted

By Shelani de Silva

Nineteen-year-old Niranjala Nayani Illangakone may have been among the few students who were impatient to see the Advanced Level examination results after they were announced on Saturday, November 25.

It was with this intention that she boarded the bus at 6.00 a.m. from Padaviya on the following Tuesday to go to Anuradhapura.

Like Niranjala about 50 passengers who boarded the bus, "Sudu Putha" from Padaviya, would never have dreamt that the LTTE would target it.

Although tension was high on Tuesday morning following a pre-dawn LTTE attack on an Army checkpoint, close to the Padavi Wewa, things returned to normal and the Padaviya town was once again busy with the day-to-day activities.

The gruesome attack on civilians on Tuesday left seven dead and 27 seriously injured.

A student of Nivantha Chaithya Maha Vidyalaya, Anuradhapura, Niranjala's dream was to enter the university.

Being the eldest, she was determined to complete her studies and help her family. Niranjala who hails from the interior of Padaviya passed her Ordinary Level Examination and qualified to study for the Advanced Level Examination in the Commerce stream. But with her father being paralysed the family was not able to finance her studies. Thus she had to live with her uncle to complete her studies.

Last Tuesday was not the first time the family had suffered at the hands of the LTTE. A few months back Niranjala's uncle fell victim when Weli Oya came under mortar attack. 

On Tuesday Niranjala had set off early to school along with some other children to see her results. But fate was such that she was prevented from seeing it. Niranjala who passed in two out of three subjects she sat received two simple passes in Economics and Business Studies and failed in Accounts.

Eyewitnesses claimed the bus had given way to a lorry to overtake it and went over the land mine as a result. While seven passengers died and 27 were injured there were 10 others including the driver who miraculously escaped without a scratch. Thirty-two-year-old Deepika Dayaratne employed at the cooperative store in Tammana village was undergoing a training program in Anuradhapura.

Deepika, a mother of two young children who travels daily to Anuradhapura, generally takes a ride in the cooperative store lorry which leaves in the morning to collect stock. But on that fateful day, she had missed the lorry and waited for the bus. One of the most pathetic stories was that of a young mother who was six months pregnant and her mother who were killed instantly.

The pregnant woman's mother who lived in Nittambuwa had gone to Padaviya to accompany her daughter to the clinic for a scan. Thus they had decided to take the early morning bus in order to get home early.

In the case of L. A. Sumanasinghe who was accompanied by his son he was travelling to Wariyapola to see his daughter after receiving the news that she was expecting a baby.

With two bags of rice, and sweetmeats the father and son had boarded the bus, planning to stay over for a few days. 

While Sumanasinghe died instantly his son was among the lucky few who escaped unharmed. B. M. Chandrasiri who was bitten by a dog two days before the blast was going for his anti-rabies vaccination accompanied by his neighbour. 

Chandrasiri was among the dead while his neighbour is in hospital with both his legs amputated.

Residents in Padaviya are still coming to grips with the gruesome attack on the civilians, despite living so close to the theatre of war.

Millennium triplets get helping hand from HNB

By Faraza Farook

A cement block -making machine was gifted to Manupri Alwis, the father of the millennium triplets by the Hatton National Bank last Sunday, to begin a business of his own. The machine worth Rs. 37,500 was installed on a concrete foundation and connected to a separate power line allowing the young father to begin work immediately. The presentation took place at the residence of the triplets at Waskaduwa, Kalutara North where the HNB staff from Colombo and the Kalutara branch participated. The machine was presented to enable the father to work at home while assisting his teenage wife to look after the children, HNB Micro Finance Manager, Gamini Yapa said. Manupri Alwis is provided with the necessary raw materials and training in addition to assistance by the bank to market his products. The Kalutara branch of the bank will continuously evaluate his progress, Mr. Yapa said. The HNB's Project Finance Division Projectors Club and the Sports Club of the Kalutara branch offered to help Manupri Alwis by buying the machine under its self employment scheme. Eight retired women known as 'Silver Hands' engaged in social work urged the HNB to help the family. The HNB became involved in the programme having attended an eco-friendly sale on invitation by Silver Hands, to collect funds to help the millennium triplets. The charity group deposited the proceeds of the sale equally among the triplets. Silver Hands will continue to supplement the income of the family by looking into the needs of the children. However, the group said it would stop all aid if the father was found to be engaged in unhealthy practices such as smoking and drinking. 

Police pounce on armed gangs

Police this week began cracking down hard on organised gangs and took into custody one of the most notorious gang leaders operating in Colombo and the suburbs along with a number of sophisticated weapons.

The underworld leader Kaduwela Wasantha who was wanted in connection with six murders was arrested last Wednesday, Police said.

This was followed by the arrest of another rival gang leader Odeon Lucky who was wanted in connection with three murders, OIC of the Crime Detective Bureau IP D. S. Jayasinghe said.

He said Wasantha was arrested along with four others near the roundabout at Rajagiriya while they were travelling in a car. 

The men had been armed with 9 mm. automatic pistols and revolvers at the time of arrest.

IP Jayasinghe said the arrest was made on a tip- off received by the police. An identification parade was to be held to identify them in order to charge them with a number of murders that took place in Colombo in recent weeks.

When questioned by police the men had claimed they were carrying weapons for self-protection as they feared attacks by rival gangs. 

Justice Minister Batty Weerakoon told The Sunday Times last week he was bringing in legislation to make organised crimes a non-bailable offence as a deterrent to gangsters who operated freely in certain areas of the city knowing they could not be held in custody for long without enough evidence to prosecute them.

Many charged with firearm offences get off lightly by paying a fine.

There has been an escalation in gang related crimes after the recent elections with a number of murders among rival gangs. 

The most recent one was the killing of an uncle of gang leader "Olcott" who is presently in custody. 

He was shot dead on Magazine Road in Borella last month. 

Kaduwela Wasantha's gang is alleged to have carried out the attack.

Special IDs for disabled soldiers 

The government is to issue special identity cards to disabled soldiers and widows and parents of soldiers killed in action in order to grant them easy access to state institutions. 

The identity cards issued to widows and parents of soldiers who lost their lives will include details of the soldier, including his rank and the operational area. The photographs of the widow and the parents will also be incorporated. The ID issued to the disabled soldier will have his membership number in the Association of Disabled Ex-Service Personnel.

As this is the first time that such identity cards are issued, an awareness program to inform the institutions is underway.

The project is conducted by the Ranaviru Seva Authority and the Association of Disabled Ex-Service Personnel.

The identity card is issued to mark International Disabled Day which falls today.

President of the Association of Disabled Ex-Service Personnel H. K. A. Dayaratne told The Sunday Times initially 200 identity cards would be issued today to mark the occasion.

Sanath returns

"The 44th London Film Festival was a tremendous opportunity for Sri Lankan artistes to meet counterparts from rest of the world," says actor Sanath Gunatilleke, who has just returned to Colombo after taking part in the event. 

He said there were over 122,000 attendances at the event, the biggest ever festival organised by the British Film Institute.

Info Dept's faux pas over UK visit

The official Government website managed by the Department of Information made a serious blunder this week when it announced that President Chandrika Kumaratunga had called on British Prime Minister Tony Blair when the actual meeting is scheduled to take place in the next few days.

The website known as PIRU had released the news item on Wednesday under the headline 'President Kumaratunga meets British leaders'.

The news item said: 'President Kumaratunga who is in London met British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook for discussions on the north-east conflict and other matters.

A spokesman for the British High Commission said Deputy Foreign Secretary Peter Hain who visited Sri Lanka last week had also taken part in the discussions at the Foreign Office in London.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair whose Downing Street residence is opposite the Foreign Office also met President Kumaratunga for about 15 minutes at the Foreign Office.

Meanwhile, the President is also scheduled to have an audience with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace today with Prince Charles also being present.

President Kumaratunga is also expected to visit other European countries'.

Following the erroneous news item the embarrassed Sri Lankan High Commission in Britain issued a statement correcting the news item. The High Commission referring to the particular news item said 'The above news item which appeared on the Official Government Website - PIRU datelined 29th of November 2000, erroneously stated that President Chandrika Kumaratunga who is presently in Britain on an official visit has met British Prime Minister Tony Blair. However, the President is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Blair only early next week'.

'The error is regretted', the High Commission said.

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