• Straying fishermen glad to come back home
• Public warned of spurious cosmetics
• UNP urged to reject permits
• 600 students in Christmas 'Gloria'
• Take action against LTTE fund-raising
• Crisis over UGC bypass move
• MPs in row over staff salaries
• Polls Chief has nothing more to say
• Paris spotlight for Govt. Misdeeds
• Castle lessons for safe motherhood
• Gadget that outwits light-fingered gentry
• Refugees in poly-shacks cry for life
• Flying time for politicos
• Kalpage dead
• Who's misusing doctors' passes?
• Tomb of bricks after wedding reception
• Price hike greets festive season
• Meet the new MPs
• Insulin: animal is cheaper than man
• Appeal court ruling in ST case-II
• African similarities and lessons to learn - Focus on Rights
• Rehabilitating parliamentarians - Comment

Straying fishermen glad to come back home

By Shelani de Silva

Despite looking frail and weak and clad in scanty sarongs, relief was written on the faces of 26 Lankan fishermen who strayed into Indian waters more than six months back, when they returned to Sri Lanka on Friday.

For the fishermen hailing from the outskirts of Negombo the time spent in an Indian jail was a nightmare, the worst being not knowing whether they will see their loved ones again.

Last week the Indian Government released more than 50 Sri Lankan fishermen who strayed into Indian waters while fishing.

The nightmare they lived through still haunts them, with most of them still in a state of shock and finding it hard to come to terms that they are actually back home.

Thirty nine year old W. Sunil from Thoduwa along with four fishermen had left Lankan shores on January 27 hoping to return in a few weeks with a good catch.

" We did get a good catch, specially compared to the past few outings we went to sea. We were fishing for more than two weeks without any problem. We knew we had gone into Indian waters but there was no sign of any Navy ship. When we were returning, just before a few metres away from the limits we were captured," Sunil said.

Along with Sunil's boats six other Lankan boats were captured on February 12 at the same time.

"For more than a month we were in jail with no one assisting us. Since there was no one coming to help us, we went on a fast unto death. This was done to protest over our capture, but the officials highlighted the issue and said that we protested over the conditions and the food we received' he said.

After the fishermen were captured, their "mudalali's" were making visits to India in a bid to release the men. One "mudalali" had stayed in India for six months.

"We had no communication with anyone. We informed our families, and they were able to write to us, but every time we got a letter from home it was so sad because they would say how hard it was for them financially," Sunil said.

It was by accident that Quintus Anthony joined his nephew on the boat that day, specially since he had a very bad day in sea that day.

"I had returned home that morning, with hardly anything. I was sorting out the fishing net and getting my equipment, when my nephew called me to join him. They were all in the boat and about to leave. I went home informed my wife and joined them. At that moment the trip was a blessing since I had a bad day' said Quintus.

If the trip was a success Quintus says he would have been able to earn more than Rs. 25,000.

"I needed the money since I had to settle a loan, I have three young children and life is very difficult for us," he said.

It had been the first time that Quintus had ever gone deep sea fishing. On the day they were captured they had been just three hours in the area when Indian sailors seized their boat.

Twenty-three year old Denzil, another fisherman from Thoduwa, says the only thing which kept him going was thoughts of his baby daughter.

'She was just one month old when I was captured. Each day I prayed that I will be home before she turns one year, and today my prayers have been answered," he said.

While the fishermen were happy to be back home after their ordeal, their future was bleak since they knew there was no guarantee that they will not face a similar incident.

Public warned of spurious cosmetics

By Faraza Farook

The Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Authority (CDDA) has warned the public against misleading advertisements put out in the recent past by certain accredited companies about their products to increase sales.

Referring to recent advertisements and articles on fluoride in toothpastes, the CDDA said claims that fluoride is harmful to the teeth and is not effective in fighting dental caries was contradictory to international research which has confirmed that a regulated content controls tooth decay.

The CDDA said that except in certain areas such as Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa where fluoridated toothpastes could be harmful due to the water there containing fluoride, in other areas it was considered highly effective in the prevention of tooth decay.

In a series of checks on cosmetics, including soaps and toothpastes, with special attention to baby items, the CDDA has identified several products, which have been below the stipulated standard.

An official of the Drugs Authority said that in a check on 20 samples of baby eau de cologne this month, 18 were found to be of poor quality. He said often these bottles were refilled by local dealers and marketed under the original brand name.

"It is a must that the alcohol content in the eau de cologne be 56%, but in the ones we checked it was only 18% which means the rest is just water," he said.

Similarly, other products are also tampered with and would not prove effective during use. He said that the public should always check if these products are tamper proof (sealed), the expiry dates etc., and if any irregularities are found they should inform the Drugs Authority immediately.

Soaps were another target. In Hingurakgoda, a certain soap was detected being marketed under the label and symbol of a registered supplier, the official said. A circular calling for the withdrawal of the products immediately from the market had brought threats to the CDDA. The products were later seized with police assistance.

Some interested dealers are fleecing the public misleading them with false claims, the CDDA said adding that people should be more alert when purchasing a product to ensure that they don't become victims of today's competitive market.

UNP urged to reject permits

Several UNP MPs are urging the party to forego the offer of duty-free luxury vehicles.

One of these MPs said the UNP-introduced privilege had more or less boomeranged and resulted in public cynicism regarding MPs.

He said the matter would be taken up at tomorrow's UNP group meeting and some of the MPs have openly expressed their willingness to lobby support from among government ranks, if necessary.

600 students in Christmas 'Gloria'

'Godspell 2000', a Christmas carol to mark the conclusion of the Great Jubilee year 2000 and the 2000th birth anniversary of Jesus Christ will be held at St. Joseph's's college sports complex from .6.30 p.m. today.

More than 600 students from 17 Catholic school choirs and in the Archdiocese of Colombo will perform at this choral presentation.

The presentation led by Francis Almeida, will include Handel's 'Halleluiah Chorus', 'O come all Ye faithful', Schubert's 'Ave Maria', 'the Magnificent', spirituals such as 'Go down Moses' as well as several traditional and modern carols in Sinhala, English, Tamil and Latin.

Take action against LTTE fund-raising

The Canadian Opposition is calling for government action against terrorist fundraising after Canada's intelligence service reported that front organizations for the LTTE are channelling up to $2-million a year to the Tigers.

Canadian Alliance Foreign Affairs critic Monte Solberg has stated that Canada should join the United States and the United Kingdom in passing a law banning terrorist fundraising and launch an investigation into groups that may be linked to foreign extremists.

"While Canada plays peacemaker on the international stage, front groups are working within the country to finance political violence, he said.

"Here we are basically turning a blind eye to this sort of behaviour, and I think it's time to put our money where our mouth is and pass a law."

Meanwhile The National Post reported last weekend that secret Canadian Security Intelligence Service documents have alleged that eight non-profit groups and five businesses in Canada are fronts for LTTE. Funds raised in Canada for humanitarian causes in Sri Lanka are instead funding the war effort, said a report by CSIS analysts which describes in detail how money is being channelled from companies and non-profit groups here to the LTTE's weapons purchasing arm in Thailand.

Crisis over UGC bypass move

By Nilika de Silva

A controversial decision by the University Grants Commission to allow university students to upgrade or change their courses has aggravated the backlog problem.

There was speculation that the sudden change of the system had been made to accommodate a section of students who wanted to upgrade their courses.

Until the decision was finalised on Friday it was prohibited for students to re-apply for another course based on their second attempt at A/Levels.

The decision finalised on Friday has been taken without consulting vice chancellors and has hampered plans of universities to clear the backlog of students who have been awaiting admissions.

Vice Chancellors and academic staff complain that it has upset the entire backlog clearance programme and will pose huge problems in scheduling of curricula as students who have already been selected to a university will suddenly leave to join another course of their choice depending on their next year's results.

Currently it takes at least one year for the processing of admissions and the entry of the students to university after the Advanced Level results are released. Following two years of university closures due to troubles during the 1988 and 1989 JVP backlash, the entire university system had to bear the burden of the backlog which the universities have not been able to clear so far.

Vice Chancellors have at no point been consulted regarding this decision which will allow students already engaged in studies to quit and leave for another university.

Sri Jayawardenapura University Vice Chancellor Jagath Wickremesinghe told The Sunday Times the vacancies created by students leaving to join other faculties would not be filled as the work done so far would leave newcomers behind. As the backlog created due to university closure was gradually being bridged, this new move is seen to be once again dragging the university system backwards.

Colombo University Vice Chancellor Savithri Goonesekera also confirmed that the UGC had not consulted the university prior to making this decision.

UGC Chairman S. Tilakaratna said the decision had been taken on a request by parents as this system appeared to be beneficial to students.

Prof. Tilakaratna said all vacancies created would be filled by students on the waiting list. He claimed that the excess paperwork would not be too much.

"If any university objects to the system we will not implement it in that university," he said.

MPs in row over staff salaries

Angry MPs who are pocketing out money to keep their personal staff going are to move a motion, seeking payment of allowances to the staff.

UNP sources said talks with Parliamentary Affairs Ministry officials on the payment of salaries to personal staff were not making headway and they were considering a motion to be moved in parliament to settle the matter.

"More than two thirds of the government MPs are either ministers or deputy ministers.

They are not affected by this delay, because their staff members do not come under the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry," one UNP MP said.

Ministry officials said there was no delay for two months but one month's salary for MPs' personal staff had been held back till the credentials were checked and appointments approved. Each MP is entitled to a four-member staff comprising a driver, an office aide, a secretary and a stenographer.

Polls Chief has nothing more to say

By Shelani de Silva

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake will not submit new recommendations to the ministerial committee looking into an electoral system for lcoal government polls.

Mr. Dissanayake told The Sunday Times he would instead submit the recommendations he made to the Local Government Reforms Commission last year.

In its recommendations last year, the commission propsoed a restoration of the ward system for elections instead of the present PR system and preferential voting procedures.

The commission has also proposed the nomination period be reduced to three days and the mayor or chairman be elected by the councillors.

The committee appointed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga is headed by Minister D. M. Jayaratne and includes several ministers.

The Committee is to submit its report to the President at the next Executive Committee meeting of the PA .

A committee member told The Sunday Times that they would incorporate the recommendations made by the 1999 commission in their report.

Paris spotlight for Govt. misdeeds

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

The main opposition UNP has been briefing the international community through their Sri Lankan missions about the alleged conduct of a fraudulent general election and various issues of good governance prior to the development forum meeting in Paris.

A senior spokesman of the UNP told The Sunday Times that a series of discussions were held, upon a request, to educate the donor countries about the financial mismanagement and various issues affecting democracy in the country.

It is also learnt that the inordinate delay in holding the Paris Aid Consortium meeting for nearly two years was caused by the donor countries desire to learn about the ground situation in Sri Lanka. Later, representatives were sent here to ascertain the state of the economy, the war situation and good governance issues.

With the opposition mounting its campaign against the PA administration and internationally lobbying against its various decisions and actions, the UNP is also to hold a protest campaign on December 18 in Paris, to coincide with the President's arrival there. Posters condemning the government's failure to conduct free and fair polls have already been prepared. The ethnic question, the Samurdhi programme and issues of good governance are to be discussed before the powerful Aid Consortium decides to grant finances.

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