Concern over fallout from Mawanella incidents

By Faraza Farook and Nilika de Silva

Amidst local concerns on the Mawanella clash, the government has been warned of possible international repercussions that could affect economic benefits, mainly from West Asian countries.

The Association of Licensed Foreign Employment Agencies (ALFEA) warned that the Mawanella incident could impede foreign employment opportunities in West Asia and also the tea industry.

'This incident can be turned into one which could be portrayed as harassment of Muslims,' ALFEA President Suraj Dandeniya said. He pointed out that several other countries had suffered such consequences resulting from similar incidents.

During the year 2000 alone, over 180,000 jobs have been found in West Asia, he said and expressed concern at the possible impact on the country's largest foreign exchange earner.

With nine airlines from West Asian countries operating flights to Sri Lanka, Mr. Dandeniya also expressed concern over the airline industry being affected.

ALFEA Secretary and a Director of the Export Development Board (EDB) U.D.M. Anwer said the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) which monitors Islamic affairs the world over may raise its voice on the current problem.

He said the tea industry could possibly be affected with 75% of our tea being bought by West Asian countries.

Meanwhile the main opposition United National Party is preparing a no confidence motion against Mawanella MP Maheepala Herath to be presented early next week,

"We are presently engaged in signing the no confidence motion," party spokesman Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku said.

Opposition parties and Government MPs are united in pressing for a thorough investigation to bring to book those responsible for setting Mawanella ablaze last week.

Two weeks following the Mawanella incident, unrest was reported in several other parts of the country with tension prevailing in Colombo. Opposition parties hold the Government responsible for being dormant when the riot ignited in Mawanella on May 2.

Protests and processions planned during the week were put on hold with the Government bringing in a special regulation under the state of Emergency to cancel all protests for a week.

The NMAT office was raided on Wednesday morning by the CID and its inmates questioned extensively from 10.20 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.

NMAT Co-ordinating Secretary Sanath Devinda said the investigation centered around the address of the NMAT office having been used for the newly formed 'Api Sinhala' group.

On Thursday, shops in the Pettah area were closed following orders allegedly issued by Sihala Urumaya and other hardline parties.

'Api Sinhala' which was formed following the Maradana incident took to the streets from near Ananda College in Maradana with demonstrators refusing to budge despite police orders. The crowd was finally dispersed by riot police using tear gas.

Meanwhile, the UNP last week protested that the Government was allowing the culprits to roam freely in Mawanella which has resulted in sporadic incidents breaking out in other parts of the country.

Calling for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee comprising members of all parties to investigate and take action on the Mawanella incident, the UNP dismissed the Presidential Commission as being ineffective. UNP MP Mano Wijeyeratne asked, "So many Presidential Commissions have been appointed but did a single report of a Presidential Commission come to Parliament?".

A UNP fact finding mission comprising both Sinhala and Muslim MPs visited Mawanella in the aftermath of incidents last week in which two mosques and many boutiques and houses were burned and a Buddhist statue damaged.

Mawanella GA K.M. Ariyaratne said he was due to get the preliminary report yesterday from the fact finding team which has been appointed. It was headed by the AGAs of Mawanella, Rambukkana and Aranayake and included a member from the Valuation Department. a representative of the traders' association and a Deputy Director of Education.

The valuation report would be delayed because exact measurements would be required, the GA said.

Apart from the mosques and the temple, the main damage has been sustained by shops, while windows of houses have been attacked by mob passing through.

SLMC Spokesman Abul Kalaam in a release issued on Monday said, "the SLMC is of the view that the Mawanella incident is a calculated attack on the economy of the Muslims and NOT a communal clash between the communities."

"The SLMC fears that similar attacks may occur continuously or at regular intervals in other parts of the country," the release further stated.

The entire blame for the incidents is being laid on the shoulders of apathetic police officers in Mawanella.

With the SSP and ASP transferred with immediate effect from the area, many say this unpleasant incident would have never come to pass if it were not for patronage given by them.

DIG Sivaratnam who retired from the Police service had in a report to the IGP last year hinted at what was to come if the ASP and SSP were allowed to continue their work. However, the signals had been ignored by those in power resulting in the incidents witnessed in Mawanella last week.

Senior DIG T.E. Anandaraja was appointed last Thursday to inquire into mass allegations against the Police. DIG Ananadaraja said he is to leave for Mawanella shortly and would observe the scene there, following which he would inquire into assaults and other incidents, and into what action has been taken by the police to apprehend those responsible and to curb violence. The DIG is expected to submit a full report on his findings within three weeks from the date of appointment.

A request by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, a constituent of the People's Alliance Government for a special one day debate in Parliament, was turned down.

Its other requests included the appointment of a Special Presidential Commission to go into the Mawanella incidents, payment of compensation to affected persons on replacement value (100% compensation), stern action to be taken against all those who were responsible irrespective of their position or social status and special security measures to be taken to protect the lives and properties of the Muslim community and mosques in the wake of the incidents.

The Ministry of Rehabilitation is in charge of the renovation of the damaged mosques. The trustees of the mosques which were damaged in Mawanella, officials of the Rehabilitation Authority, Acting Minister for Rehabilitation, Ediriweera Premaratne and other ministry officials attended a meeting at the Kegalle Kachcheri yesterday morning to discuss and expedite work on the rehabilitation of the mosques.

Meanwhile, SLMC Leader Minister Rauf Hakeem on Friday presented a cheque for Rs. 100,000 and launched a fund to renovate the Ganewatte Mosque. Minister Hakeem handed over the cheque to MP Basheer Segu Dawood, after Jumma prayers, asking him to hand it over to the chief trustee of the mosque.

Stressing that this was an issue of "self respect" he said, "The Muslim community has the ability to renovate the mosque with its own funds."

Wayamba teachers gear up for action

A meeting of about 5000 teachers of the Wayamba Province is scheduled to take place in Kurunegala on May 26, as all promises made by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha remain unfulfilled, union leaders claim.

At a meeting on January 25, Minister Premajayantha had assured teachers their demands would be met by March 31 the latest. These demands include the granting of due promotions, removal of salary anomalies created by the B.C Perera Commission and the non-granting of promotions on political grounds.

However, more than six weeks past the deadline the demands remain ignored, as teachers prepare to meet and discuss action, a spokesman for the Adyapana Vruth-thikayinge Sangamaya told The Sunday Times.

Union claims teachers are disgruntled

With more than one lakh of promotions stalled since 1995, teachers are disgruntled, General Secretary of the Jathika Adyapana Seva Vruththiya Samithi Sammelanaya, Premasara Samaratunga, said.

Since the last instance when merit promotions were effected in 1994, no promotions have been granted and this has led to large scale discontent on the part of the teachers, he said.

A recent statement by Education Minister Susil Premajayantha that teachers serving in remote areas will be granted scholarships and other benefits has also drawn comment from teachers.

With no proper identification made for the last seven years to categorise schools in remote areas, how can any distinction be made, teachers have questioned.

'Intruders wanted article published'

By Laila Nasry

Testifying in the case against two Air Force officers who allegedly threatened, harassed and intimidated him and his family, The Sunday Times Consultant Editor and Defence Columnist Iqbal Athas told the High Court this week that the intruders told his aide Subramanium that the purpose of their visit was to get an article published in the newspapers.

Two Air Force officers Squadron Leader H.M. Rukman Herath, the bodyguard of a former Air Force Commander and Squadron Leader D.S.P.Kannangara Officer in Charge of the Special Airborne Force (SABF) had been indicted in the High Court for committing criminal trespass, intimidation and unlawful entry with weapons into Mr. Athas's home on February 12, 1998.

The trial was taken up before High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya.

Senior State Counsel P.P. Surasena leading evidence questioned Mr. Athas on the sequence of events that night.

Mr. Athas stated that having returned home after work he had showered and then settled down to watch television with his wife and daughter. After his daughter was sent to her bedroom he heard the sound of a door being forced open. Soon after the 1st accused had stormed into the room where he was and held a pistol to his head, closely followed by an accomplice.

Mr. Surasena asked Mr. Athas whether there were any brothels in the vicinity and whether his domestic aides had been involved in any such activity on any previous occasion. Mr. Athas answered in the negative to both questions.

Mr. Athas said he believed that the intruders had prior knowledge of the nature of his work.

To a question posed by the State Counsel as to who Mr. Athas exposed in his articles, he replied that it was a former Air Force Commander.

Mr. Athas stated that the 1st accused had then gestured to him to walk out of the room. While doing so he said he saw two other intruders proceeding towards his daughter's room, also with pistols in their hands.

Mr. Athas said that the 1st accused (who had been identified by him at an identification parade held at the Gangodawila Magistrate's Court) had asked him 'ko badu?' 'Umbala badu vikunanawaneda ?'

At this point Mr. Surasena questioned Mr. Athas as to whether he possessed any knowledge of firearms to which he replied in the affirmative stating that the intruders carried Browning automatic pistols.

Mr. Athas had then yelled out fearing for his daughter's safety. The 1st accused had then threatened to smash his face. He had then asked his duo waiting outside to lock up his domestic aide and his daughter in their room. Then his daughter had come running towards him crying and clung on to his body.

Mr. Athas stated they tried to lead him downstairs.

But when he tried to go down the staircase his daughter prevented him from doing so. At that time a fifth person carrying a Browning pistol had come running upsatirs and told the 1st accused that they should leave immediately.

He had then asked Mr. Athas for his identity and where he worked. Thereafter he had claimed they had come to the wrong place by mistake.

The incident had lasted around 15 minutes. Mr. Athas later noticed from his balcony that there were unknown people in the area. He had phoned Assistant Superintendent of Police H.K.S. Pinidiya in charge of Mirihana Police and related the incident.

After about one hour later a police team had arrived headed by Sergeant Manawadu to be later followed by another team.

In his cross examination, Mr. Srinath Perera, counsel for the 1st accused suggested to Mr. Athas that the intruders who entered his home came in search of women and not for the purpose of intimidating him. He said he did not believe so.

Mr. Perera questioned Mr. Athas about two persons coming to his house on a previous occasion looking for women. He also asked whether there were rumours in the neighbourhood that his home was a brothel.

Mr. Athas said those hurt by his exposures on corruption in the Air Force had carried out a vicious campaign against him that he ran a brothel in his house. This was how two different persons who came looking for women were arrested by the Police on different occasions. He said he suspected some people in the area were bribed by those interested to carry on the campaign to malign him.

Referring to two statements supposed to have been made by the first intruder (the first accused) and the fifth intruder Mr. Perera questioned Mr. Athas as to whether it didn't occur to him that their storming into his house was purely to seek pleasure and not with the intention of harming him.

Mr. Perera repeated the two statements. The first by the first accused who came in asking 'ko badu'? 'Umbala badu vikunanawaneda?. The other by the fifth and final intruder who inquired of Mr. Athas for his name and work place and then stated that this was the wrong place, there had been a mistake and indicated his intention to leave, to the rest of the party. Mr. Athas said he did not believe so.

Mr. Athas told courts that his helper Subramanium had told him that the intruders had asked whether Mr. Iqbal Athas was at home and had told him the purpose of their visit was to get an article published in The Sunday Times.

Though not representing the 2nd accused Mr. Perera attempted to establish that the second accused D.S.P. Kannangara did not in fact enter Mr. Athas's home that night. Citing the statement Mr. Athas made to the CID that the 2nd accused was a foot shorter than the 1st accused, Mr. Perera requested both accused to stand up in the dock to verify his point in spite of Mr. Athas's wife Anoma having identified the second accused in an identification parade on a previous occasion.

Reading the statement made by Mr. Athas to SI Asela of the Mirihana Police, Mr. Perera questioned Mr. Athas as to why he had not stated at the outset that the 1st accused had held a gun to his head.

Mr. Athas said he was not in a clear frame of mind at the time and he only answered questions posed to him. He added that he was only answering questions put to him by the Police officer who recorded the statement. Mr. Athas stated he was not happy at the way the Mirihana Police conducted the investigation and had requested government authorities for a special investigation by the CID into the matter.

Two fresh dates were fixed for June 11 and July 16 in addition to July 30 and 31, for the trial.

Mr. Daya Perera, PC with Mr. T.G.Gunesekera and G.G.Ponnambalam, watched the interests of Iqbal Athas and Anoma Athas. Senior State Counsel P.P.Surasena with M.Navavi appeared for the prosecution. Srinath Perera, PC with Anil Silva and Ganesh Dharmawardhana appeared for the defence.

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