Stripped Samurdhi boss sticks on
By Shelani de Silva
With former Samurdhi Minister S. B. Dissanayake now leading an onslaught
on the government, the Samurdhi Authority also is in chaos after its boss
was stripped of her powers but is refusing to budge.
Samurdhi Commissioner General Kumari Navaratne has been stripped of
her powers after an unsuccessful attempt by the government to transfer
her out of the Samurdhi Authority.
Dr. Navaratne's powers and functions have been re-assigned to another
officer after she refused to obey transfer orders on the grounds that the
Elections Commissioner had ordered that transfers of public officers be
suspended till after the general elections.
Dr. Navaratne told The Sunday Times the heads of departments in her
office had been told by the ministry secretary that her powers had been
removed and an additional secretary appointed to overlook the work.
"This is against the orders of the Commissioner of Elections. I am being
politically victimised because I closely associated with Mr. Dissanayake.
No one should assume that just because Mr. Dissanayake has crossed over,
I will do the same. What I am sorry about is that I worked closely with
the President and this is what I get in return," Dr. Navaratne said.
She said work at the department had come to a standstill, since she
was powerless.
"Although an additional Secretary was appointed to overlook my work,
all the work has to be taken to the ministry and the officers find it difficult
to do it. I will not vacate my post, because it is against election regulations,"
she said.
New gateway to relieve telecom pains
By Tania Fernando
The Public Enterprises Reforms Commission (PERC) has called for tenders
for the second telecommunications international gateway.
The second international gateway ready to be advertised at the end of
this month will result in the reduction of call charges and help 300,000
applicants in the waiting list.
An official of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) said
the proposal had been sent to the PERC and hoped the link with the new
company would bring down call charges.
Power cuts off soon
With heavy rain continuing, the power cut is likely to be further reduced
or even totally removed within the next week or two, a Ceylon Electricty
Board official said.
He said the current monsoon rains had increased the storage capacity
in reservoirs substantially. In addition a big gas turbine plant which
had broken down was now repaired and would begin operating by next week.
Teachers in protest show
Hundreds of teachers are expected to come to Isurupaya on Tuesday to protest
against political appointments and promotions, a union official said.
Educational Professionals Association Secretary Wasantha Dharmasiri
said the teachers would also be protesting against the failure to keep
promises made by former Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.
FMM widens demo against Mervyn
The Free Media Movement (FMM) has invited all organisations and individuals
to join in a picketing campaign tomorrow in Pettah to protest against former
parliamentarian Mervyn de Silva's alleged threats on the Divaina editor
and his staff.
The campaign would be held at 12 noon opposite the Goonesinghe statue
in Pettah, a spokesman for the FMM said.
He said the alleged October 22 incident was a serious threat to the
country's media independence.
President urged to probe killing
In an open letter to President Kumaratunga media watchdogs, journalists,
editors and other organisations have called for a probe on BBC correspondent
Mylvaganam Nimalarajan's killing one year ago.
The letter drafted by the Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Tamil Media
Alliance and the Reporters Sans Frontieres has been signed by 285 journalists,
editors and media groups. The letter charged that police had failed to
arrest the suspects responsible for the killing.
National list nominees
Political parties yesterday handed in their National Lists. published below
are national lists of some of the main parties.
PA:D.M.Jayaratna, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Ronnie de Mel, Kingsley Wickramaratna,
Alavi Moulana, Segu Izzadeen, Sumithara Peiris, S.Sathasivam, Batty Weerakoon,
Raja Collure, Leslie Gunawardana, Geethanjana Gunawardana, Dilan Perera,
Mohamed Abdul Raheem, Lincoln Christopher Rajan, T.Sivakumaran, A.V.Suraweera,
Hemal Gunasekara, Mohamed Rauf, Chandima Weerakkody, Indrani P. Alvapillai,
Rajaratnam Udaya kumar, Ajantha de Zoysa, Abdul Majeed Mohamed Amthaj W.H.Piyadasa
and Jagatha Narampotha..
UNP: K. N.Choksy, Tilak Janaka Marapana, Prof. G. L. Peiris, S. B. Dissanayake,
Rohan Tissa Abhayagunasekera, M.L.M. Aboosally, A. R. M. Abdul Cader, Dr.
A. R. Abdul Hafeez, M. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Ranjith Atapattu, A. H. M. Azwer,
Ananda Moonesinghe, Anura Bastian, P. P. Devaraj, Prassana Gunawardene,
Indrani Iriyagolla, S. Jegatheeswaran, Appu Kandappa, S. M. Mushoor Moulana,
M. M. M. Mustapha, A. J. M. Muzammil, M. N. M Salman, Rohan Pethiyagoda,
P. P. Radhakrishnan, R. Saravanan, Dr. Adambawa Uduman Lebbe, Sudath Wickremaratne,
Jayasundara Wijekoon and K .A. Senanayake
JVP: Anura Dissanayake, M. B. Ratnayake, P. Kularatne, Dimuthu Attygalle,
Sunil Watagala, Harsha Sanjeeva Bulathsinhala, M. R. J. G. Sisira Amarabandu,
P. M. Wickremaratne, Sunil Vedikkara, M. D. Herath Banda, K. M. W. M. Pabodani,
Sumathipala Manawadu, K. P. S. J. Fernando, Chandramali Perera, Narayanan
Sugumaran, P. Chandrasiri Warusamanna, D. R. M. Ratnayake, M. S. A. Waris,
H.W. Tilak Jayawardena, D. M. Wijeratne, Hubert Warnasuriya, Muniyandi
Ranjith Kumar, Andrahendige Atman, Wahalathanthrige Sisira Kumara, H. W.
Piyasena, J. H. A. D. Dayakeerthi Jayatilleke, M. N. Mohomed Shinath, Wattegamage
Dayani and W. Saranelis Perera.
TULF: M.Sivasitha-mparam, N.Kumar-aguruparan, M.Abu Yusuf, S.Muthuligam,
Illlaythamby Nadarajah and K. Kulasekaran Mahendran,
SLMC : M. I. M. Mansoor, A. R. M. Mansoor, Y. L. S. Hameed, A. L. A.
Majeed, T. K. Azoor, Moulavi A. L. M. Kaleel, Moulavi H. M. M. Illiyas,
Munas Kariapper, Basheer Niyasdeen, I. M. Adham, M. S. M. Aslam, M.T. Malhardeen,
M. S. M. Ghouse, N. M. Shaheid, A. M. Faaiz, U.L. Abdul Najeem, Hussein
Ahamed Bhaila, U.T.M. Anver, U. M. Nizar, M. A. H. S. Fazil, Imthiyas Musheen,
Badur Muneer, S. S. Thajudeen, Mohamed Nassar, A. P. Thasneem, M. Uthumma
Lebbe, M. Uvais, A.L.M. Rasheed, Kamal Musthafa.
Sihala Urumaya: Tilak Karunaratne, K. M. P. Rajaratna, Mithra Wettimuni,,
Dr. Dudley Gunasekera, Prof. Buddhadasa Hewavitharana, Prof. Chandra Wickrama
Gamage, Prof. Mangala Illangasinghe, Prof. Malani Endagama, Prof. R. M.
W. Rajapaksha, Dr. Keerthi Wickremesinghe, Dr. Wimaladharma Abeywickrema,
Dr. Ranjith Wijewardena, Dr. Shantha Hennayake, Chandima de Silva, Shivanthimala
de Silva, Dr. Lincoln Bastian, Dr. Gamini Buthpitiya, Dr. Jayantha Edirisinghe,
Dr. Kamala Ediriweera, Dr. Ranjan Fernando, Dharmasiri Alahakoon, Daya
Sirisena, Badhra Gunatilleke, M. D. Daniel, E. A. Amaratunga, R.T. P. Kariyawasam,
Anuradha Yahampath, Udaya Prabath Gammanpila, Asoka Abayagunawardena.
Sinhale Maha Sammatha Bhoomiputhra Pakshaya: Dr. Harischandra Wijetunga,
Prof. Abhaya Ariyasinghe, W. D. M. J. Abayagunaratne, Ravindra Illeperuma,
Mahiepala Katuwawala, M. Shantha Egodawela, M. J. Sarath Chandrasiri.
Liberal Party: Kamal Nissanka
Iqbal Athas intimidation trial
Witness describes how a proper identification parade was held
By Laila Nasry
Former police sergeant Dissanayake Bandara testifying in the case against
two Air Force officers charged with trespassing and intimidating The Sunday
Times Consultant Editor Iqbal Athas told court he arranged the identification
parade at the Gangodawila Magistrate's court on May 5, 1998 with 18 persons
resembling the two accused.
In this case two ex-Air Force officers Squadron Leader H. M. Rukman,
the bodyguard of a former Air Force Commander and Squadron Leader D. S.
P. Kannangara the officer in charge of the Special Air Borne Force have
been indicted for criminal trespass, intimidation and unlawful entry with
weapons into the Athas residence on February 12, 1998.
The trial came up before Colombo High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya.
Answering a question by state counsel P. P. Surasena, Mr. Bandara said
he took great care in finding persons with similar looks. They wore shirts
and trousers so that the two accused persons would not stand out in the
identification parade.
Questioned as to whether an outsider could enter the room where the
identification parade was to be held he said the doors and windows were
closed.
He said the witnesses were brought to the identification parade by Mr.
Piyadasa, an officer of the court. He knocked on the door and admitted
the witnesses and stood guard outside the door.
Explaining the procedure followed subsequent to the witnesses taking
part in the identification parade, Mr. Bandara said they sat in the Magistrate's
chambers. He said the identification parade was held by Magistrate Robert
Perera .
Christopher de Alwis appearing on behalf of senior counsel for the 1st
accused Srinath Perera questioned Mr. Bandara when he first saw the two
accused. The witness said he first saw them when they were brought for
the identification parade.
Asked as to how he had arranged the identification parade subsequent
to the orders given by Magistrate Robert Perera without seeing the two
accused Mr. Bandara said the two accused had been described to him. He
denied seeing the accused in person or having been shown a photograph of
the two accused previously.
Mr. Bandara denied the defence allegations that the persons lined up
by him for the identification parade in no way resembled the two accused
thereby inevitably making them prominent at the identification parade.
Due to the demise of Magistrate Robert Perera the prosecution was unable
to call him as a witness and record his evidence.
The defence objected to the marking of the identification parade notes
instead on the basis that the identification parade was not conducted properly
and that their clients' photographs obtained from their service identity
cards could have been made available to the witnesses for identification.
Further they objected to the Magistrate not being available for cross examination.
The objections were overruled by court.
The defence submitted a list of witnesses whose evidence will be led.
The trial was fixed for November 12.
Daya Perera PC with T. G. Gunesekera and Rasika Weeratunga watched the
interests of Iqbal and Anoma Athas. Senior state counsel P. P. Surasena
appeared for the prosecution. Srinath Perera PC with Christopher de Alwis
appeared for the 1st accused while Mr. Anil Silva represented the 2nd accused. |