Website battle over Sri Lanka

By Chandani Kirinde

Distorted anti Sri Lanka propaganda through websites is spreading but the Tourist Board is still in a dilemma as to how to effectively counter this.

A senior Tourist Board official said the distortions portraying Sri Lanka as a virtual battle ground with death and deadly diseases all over had been going on for months. But the Tourists Board did not wish to counter this on its official web pages because it might attract more attention to the anti- Sri Lanka propaganda sites and thus be counter productive.

Instead the Board has decided to launch special promotion programmes to re- assure and attract tourists. But others feel this is inadequate in the face of a growing campaign by pro LTTE websites.

Sihala Urumaya leader Thilak Karunaratne said a 24 hour vigilance campaign was needed to counter the LTTE propaganda.

He said potential tourists would get the shivers when they read such horrible stories on the web.

A recent report "Tourism to Sri Lanka" on the Tamilcanadian web site states Colombo has turned into a virtual battle ground with bombs exploding at regular intervals and that tourists would find it difficult to get proper food or medical treatment while diseases like malaria, hepatitis and AIDS were rampant.

The web report added that the government of Sri Lanka could not guarantee the safety of tourists and suggested instead a trip to the southern tip of India where the climate was the same without the dangers.

Historic move to legalise racism, says SU

By Nilika de Silva

Describing the 17th Amendment as one that had for the first time in history brought racism into the constitution, the Sihala Urumaya says it opposes what it saw as racism being legalised.

Tilak Karunaratne, leader of the Sihala Urumaya, whose solitary member abstained from voting during the vote on Monday, told a news conference, appointments to the Constitutional Council should be made on merit and therefore to enshrine a quota system in the constitution was wrong.

"According to the amendment three of the 10 constitutional council members will be from the minorities, but there is nothing to say the balance six should be Sinhalese, " Mr. Karunaratne said.

Commenting on the timing of the 17th amendment, he said although the party believed it was necessary to have independent commissions, the priority now was to relieve the ever increasing burdens on the masses.

He said he felt the whole exercise was an injustice committed not only on the Sinhala people but also on minority communities as the draft was rushed through parliament merely to beat the JVP deadline, giving little time for MPs to go through it.

The SU's comments came in the wake of its recommendations for seven independent institutions proposed by its national constitution drafting commission.

The commission comprising nationalist intellectuals has observed that members of independent commissions must be persons who have had no direct involvement in politics in the past three years.

Green Party calls for GMF ban

An environment friendly group has voiced concern over the Health Ministry's delay to ban Genetically Modified Foods allegedly due to pressure from the US government and some local traders.

Pointing out that the ban should have come into effect in September, the Green Party's general secretary Prasanna Cooray said the government should release a detailed list of GM food under their brand names to create awareness among the public.

" While Genetic Modification is beneficial in numerous ways to farmers to improve yield, and helps pest resistance and herbicide tolerance to an appreciable level, the hazards associated with it are much more," he warned.

He also warned that pest resistance and herbicide tolerance had its negative side and could turn toxic to wildlife. He said studies have shown that crops Genetically Modified to resist insects, kills both the "target insect" and other insects such as bees and butterflies.

In people, the consumption of GM foods may result in allergic reactions, toxicity and also deleterious effects to the unborn foetus, he said.

Pointing out at precautions taken in other countries Dr. Cooray said in Ireland a doctors environmental organisation was lobbying for the ban of GM foods despite a government-commissioned report confirming its safety and France had adopted strict regulations on the sale of GM foods.

For the sake of a healthy baby

By Faraza Farook

Lack of awareness and inadequate preparation for pregnancy are leading causes for birth defects today, a specialist has warned.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Head of the Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo University and Director of the Human Genetics Unit, Prof. Rohan Jayasekara said many couples undergo shock and trauma at the sight of a deformed baby but are often oblivious of what causes such defects.

"While blood marriages increases the risk of producing a baby with defects, several other factors that we may think trivial, could have disastrous results, Prof. Jayasekera said.

Emphasising the importance of planning a pregnancy at least six months ahead, he said pre conception counselling was very important, but sadly couples sought advise when it was too late.

He said these counselling sessions gave information and advice regarding the physical and mental status of the couple, past pregnancies and treatment of existing health problems.

Prof. Jayasekera said another cause for congenital deformities was late maternal age. He advised that 20 - 30 years was the best age for pregnancy while the accepted international late maternal age was put at 35 for a woman and 45 for a man.

Talking about the early stages of pregnancy, he said the developing embryo was sensitive to environmental influences such as infections, radiation, drugs, alcohol, medicines, drug abuse and chemicals.

According to Prof. Jayasekera, even cosmetics such as nail varnish could cause birth defects while certain pimple creams have been associated with malformations. "Life styles may have to be changed and in some instances, though it may sound radical, it may be worth it, for the sake of your baby," he said.

Probe on vehicle rackets stalled

By Tania Fernando

Investigations into more than 150 cases in which vehicles have been imported by unauthorised persons using permits issued to the tourist industry have been brought to a standstill, with guidelines from the Treasury and the Tourism Ministry being awaited.

After the case of the cricketer's wife being involved in the import of a vehicle using a permit issued to the tourist industry came to light, a directive was issued by the Treasury Secretary to the Customs Department to refrain from seizing vehicles imported on permits issued to the tourist industry.

Director General of Customs Janak Gunaratne said this decision was not taken due to political interference, but due to the crisis the tourist industry was facing.

He also said that guidelines will be prepared by the Tourism Ministry and the Treasury in consultation with the Customs Department to define the grounds on which vehicles should be seized.

"All cases where vehicles have already been seized have been suspended till we prepare the guidelines", he said.

Meanwhile, a senior Customs officer who was handling the case of the cricketer's wife, has left the country on two years leave claiming that there was interference in carrying out his duties.

Head of the Revenue Task Force (RTF) of the Customs N. Kodituwakku, said he was pressurised to drop investigations into cases handled by him.

He alleged that during a raid he conducted at the airport, he found corrupt Customs officers.

However, he claimed that the Director General of Customs had not taken any action against those officers.

"After the death of my colleague Sujith Prasanna in March, I too have been receiving threatening calls. At a meeting with the President we were promised protection, however to date no protection or weapons have been provided to us", he said.

When he wrote to Treasury Secretary Dr. P B Jayasundera requesting he be provided with a fire-arm, it was denied, he claimed.

He also said that the Customs Chief had allegedly told him that he should not interfere in the case of the cricketer's wife and that he should take orders from him.

Yemen deports illegal Sri Lankans

ADEN, Saturday (Reuters) - Yemen today deported 116 Sri Lankans who had arrived at Aden last month aboard ships whose captains are now on trial for entering the port illegally, the port authority said.

Officials have said they have evidence Yemen is being used as a staging post in smuggling illegal migrants from Asia to Europe. Yemen's wealthy Gulf neighbours, including Saudi Arabia, are also favoured destinations for Asian migrant workers.

Captain Mohammad Mubarak of the Aden port authority told Reuters on Saturday that the passengers had been flown back to Sri Lanka aboard a chartered Russian airliner.

The captains of the Ukrainian and Sri Lankan-flagged vessels that brought them also face charges of endangering passengers' lives by smuggling them in unsafe boats.

The captains have not disclosed where they were heading for.

National campaign to provide low cost drugs

An intensified national campaign to provide safe and good quality medical drugs to the people at the lowest possible price will be launched tomorrow ( Monday October 01).

The campaign is being spearheaded by the Action Committee on Justice for patients and the Medical Faculty students involved in Rational Health Action (SIRA) with the assistance of the Director General of Health Services, the Government Medical Offices Association, and the State Pharmaceutical Corporation among others.

The launch pad tomorrow will be the Senaka Bibile Memorial seminar and media forum to be held at the Colombo Medical Faculty. The keynote speech will be by Dr. H. Balasubramanyam, a disciple of Prof. Senaka Bibile and drug adviser to Health Action International.

Other eminent speakers will include Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Prof. Tissa Vitharana Prof. Lalitha Mendis, Prof. Githa Fernando and Prof. Colvin Guneratne who is also the Chairman of the SPC.

Dr. A M. L Beligaswatta Director General of Health Services, will speak on the role the government is playing in cutting the cost of medical care through the wider use of drugs under generic names.

Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya, Secretary of the GMOA will speak on how the 6000 doctors in the association are ready to cooperate by writing prescriptions for drugs mainly under generic names.

The national campaign including house to house visits , awareness programmes in schools and places of worship will initially focus in the responsibility that people have to fulfill to obtain their health rights.

British police find Lankan hideaways

LONDON, Sept 29 (Reuters) - British police arrested a German woman driver on Saturday after 26 would-be illegal immigrants were found in a van that arrived at the southern English port of Dover.

Police said customs officials spotted 23 men and three women believed to be Sri Lankans in a German-registered hire van which arrived on a ferry.

"A 27-year-old female German national van driver is in custody at Dover police station on suspicion of facilitating the illegal entry of those persons into the UK," a police statement said.

FMM condemns dismissal of journalist

The Free Media Movement has condemned the dismissal of photjournalsit Buddhika Weerasinghe of Sumathi Newspapers Pvt Ltd.

The FMM in a statement said Mr. Weerasinghe was dismissed from his job because he had given an interview to another paper.

Mr.Weerasinghe, one of the photojournalists who was attacked by the Presidential Security Division on July 15, 1999 while covering an opposition rally, had given an interview to the Ravaya in which he said those responsible for these acts were not punished and that no justice had been done to the journalists who had suffered as a result of the attack.

"We condemn the action of Sumathi Newspapers in denying Mr Weerasinghe his right to speak out against injustices done to him over the above incident. We are deeply concerned about the measures taken by Sumathi Newspapers against Mr Weerasinghe since we consider his dismissal to be an attack on media freedom and a blow to the dignity of all media persons.

"If we are dealing with a situation in which a journalist who gives an interview to a newspaper other than his own can be penalised for it and dismissed from his job, we see this as a clear warning to all journalists in this country. It will have a devastating impact on journalists and media personnel and also affect the independence of the media," the FMM said.

Public Trustee under Buddha Sasana Ministry

The Public Trustees Department is to be brought under the Buddha Sasana Ministry of the prime minister, Public Trustee N.S.A.S. Seneviratne said.

He said a gazette notification would be issued soon, announcing that the department which was under the Justice Ministry had been brought under the Buddha Sasana Ministry.

The public Trustee, however, does not handle funds only of the temples.

JVP chief set to return

By Dirukshi Handunnetti

As Sri Lanka's ultra left Marxist party makes steady progress into mainstream politics, authoritative political sources told The Sunday Times that the self-exiled leader of the JVP Somawansa Amarasinghe is expected to return to the country in October with a view to further consolidating the party.

With the JVP expanding its political base by offering conditional support to a weakened PA government through a 'probationary government' programme, it is reliably learned that the government has promised support to the JVP to bring back the London –based JVP leader to Sri Lanka at any time it chose.

Mr. Amarasinghe who fled to London under somewhat mysterious circumstances seeking political refuge during the onslaught on JVP cadres at the height of 88-89 terror regime, reportedly managed to escape with the assistance of a powerful UNP politician at that time.

With the JVP gaining entry into the legislature and making its presence felt at national level within a short period of time, party insiders are of the view that the return of the leader would add more strength to the organization which has often been criticized as a party run by a leader holding a remote control in London.

Battle of paternal rights gives way to huge yes

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti, Our Lobby Correspondent

The overwhelming support accorded to the 17th Amendment by political parties in Parliament is adequate proof that this country had been yearning for at least minimum democratic reforms for a long time.

While we could celebrate the fact that a House-often resembling a battlefield full of irreconcilable differences-could get together on an issue of this magnitude, it wasn't easy going for any of the political parties with bickering and backtracking continuing to the very last minute on a long and exhaustive Monday. Divisions certainly showed.

The JVP's power over the PA was apparent as they used the 'remote control' to push a reluctant government to introduce much-needed reforms. With so much uncertainty raging, when the much-amended 1978 Constitution was to be amended for the seventeenth time, in the House much was said about the JVP's atrocities and who should be lauded for a job well done than about the amendment itself.

With the UNP deciding to abstain from supporting the very reforms evolved by them, over the composition of the constitutional council, it appeared that despite the moral dilemma the party faced, political mileage seemed more important. Many heaved sighs of relief when the deliberations ended up with the UNP reversing its position.

With powerful politicians like S.B.Dissanayake and Prof. G.L. Peiris being relegated to backseats, the House was reminiscent of snakes and ladders, with a particular reference to power politics. And many relished the sight of 20 ministers confined to a single row, despite the cosmetic quality of the entire exercise.

It was a tense morning, with JVP legislators running about trying to earn the UNP's support to ensure the required majority. The Marxists' frustration finally came out in Wimal Weerawansa's heated delivery, with many dubbing his role to be that of PA's chief defender.

And the morning was volatile. Speaker Anura Bandaranaike who had a heated argument with UNP's Ravi Karunanayake over a comment made by the latter that the Speaker should be removed if he did not support the UNP agenda in a special statement apologized to the House for losing his cool.

He claimed that a Sunday publication had 'humiliated and slandered him in the most deplorable and disgusting manner', and saw Mr. Karunanayake's statement as a mere extension of the mud slinging campaign- an assumption many considered unfair when he made it from the Chair using his exalted position. With both members pledging to meet in court, the Speaker's admission at a late stage in the debate of his desire to speak in the House 'though not sure from which side' was also not lost on the onlookers.

Fulfilling a long awaited social need to introduce basic reforms to democratise society, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake elected to move the 17th amendment to the Constitution. Historic it was too, to finally amend the country's supreme law with broad consensus unlike in the previous occasions where it was done in furtherance of the political goals of the ruling UNP.

But the debate from the beginning became a 'paternity issue' with the Prime Minister claiming that the proposals were part of the draft constitution while UNP's Tyronne Fernando stated it was 'their baby'. While not staking claims so strongly, the JVP's claim was that if not for them, this would not have been possible irrespective of whose creation the concept of commissions was.

The Premier's claim was that the PA manifesto promised to abolish executive presidency and return to the Westminster system imposing several other restrictions on the executive, urging that the amendment was their own, conveniently forgetting that the police commission proposal was something they opposed when the PA enjoyed a Parliamentary majority.

UNP's Tyronne Fernando's remarks signalled the UNP's disassociation from the amendment. Reiterating that the party stood for the independence of the commissions, he noted the surprise inclusion of a presidential nominee had ruined the balance in the composition of the constitutional council.

In pained tones he noted that the four commissions was 'their baby' but they did not want a deformed baby.

"We don't want commissions for the sake of having them when they are open to presidential interference. An unbalanced composition is equal to appointing political hacks," he said.

The alleged state media attempts to destroy the TULF was the concern of TULF's V. Anandasangaree who noted with defiance that theTULF could not be destroyed by threats and condemnation.

Mr. Anandasangaree, whose party boycotted the vote on the 17th amendment in protest against the ethnic issue being not given priority in the PA-JVP deal, charged that political opportunism had ruined many opportunities of initiating a meaningful dialogue with the LTTE through Norwegian facilitation. In a similar vein, ACTC's sole member A. Vineyagamoorthy impressed upon the need for dialogue to end the ethnic strife.

While backstage manoeuverings continued, Minister Ronnie de Mel thought that a constitution that enjoys a dubious record of being amended at will was finally being amended for a laudable purpose.

Meanwhile JVP's Wimal Weerawansa was euphoric declaring it a historic day.

"The 1978 constitution crippled civil society with excessive power concentration on the executive and was amended according to political whims, but never was it done with broad consensus like today. These ideals that find legislative expression today originated and were discussed at different fora, but are being translated into legislation today because the JVP exerted the required pressure," he noted, earning jeers from UNP legislators.

Explaining the issue concerning the composition of the constitutional council, he thundered that the 'fundamentalists'in political parties were preventing the introduction of vital legislation. "Don't be dogmatic and Shylock-like in approach. We have always allowed political divisions to prevent public victories and let us not act as political pigmies," he urged.

He branded those planning to move a no faith motion against the government as 'traitors' who wanted the public to suffer. At this juncture the UNP protests grew followed by catcalls, in condemnation of what they felt was a brief held for the PA.

Observing that unfortunate situations could bring about positive results was SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem who felt the results emanated from the SLMC's departure from the government.

Stressing that Muslims have been subjected to rampant discrimination in public sector appointments, he urged adequate minority representation in the constitutional council.

Next in line was the fiery Rajitha Senaratne. In a display of militancy, he thundered that even if the commissions were set up, he had no faith that the PA would give them teeth and make them work. Breathing fire, he charged that the JVP was trying to take credit for something the UNP achieved after years of toil.

"Weerawansa defended the PA better than Minister Dinesh Gunawardene. Money certainly talks. What a joyous occasion it is for the JVP today? Is it because it signifies a successful political bargain for them? It would be joyous only when one sees the democratic reforms working," he said. With the day drawing to a close, backstage manoeuverings intensified, leading to an adjournment at 7 pm. While other political parties opted to be non active participants in the process, CWC's Y. Yogarajan manipulated the amendment to increase the ethnic quota, much to the annoyance of Leader of the House Richard Pathirana.

UNP's Mahinda Samarasinghe, who acted as go-between to ensure safe passage for the legislation noted that the UNP had done its utmost to ensure that consensus was achieved.

Explaining the evolution of the concept, he said the UNP was happy not to make it a UNP monopoly. But the core issue was the independence of the constitutional council, which made all the appointments, and if that was not independent, the purpose was lost.

"But we never gave up hope, negotiating upto to the last minute and keeping doors open to reach a consensus to achieve this collective dream," he said.

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