By Faraza Farook
A full scale doctors' strike which paralysed public hospitals and hit tens and thousands of poor patients was called off by the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) last night after the Health Ministry agreed to withdraw a controversial cabinet paper regarding Assistant Medical Officers.
GMOA secretary Anuruddha Padeniya said last night they were calling off the strike with immediate effect and work at hospitals was likely to limp back to normal today.
He said the Health Ministry had agreed to withdraw a cabinet paper which the GMOA saw as a subtle way of putting AMOs on par with medical graduates.
On Friday and yesterday public hospitals all over the country were plunged into their worst crisis with the doctors and the AMOs battling each other while continuing their strikes.
This was the first time that two major health service trade unions were striking at the same time and against each other, leaving hundreds of thousands of poor patients helpless.
while the GMOA called off the strike last night, the AMOs also announced they too would end the strike which was launched in protest against what they saw as a backing down by the Health Ministry in the face of pressure from the powerful GMOA.
AMO union leader M. L. Liyanage said they also were calling off the strike on the basis of a compromise reached with the Health Ministry.
Dr. Padeniya said they believed patients would be in grave danger if AMOs were allowed to get medical degrees from the cabinet without going through full-scale studies and tough tests of a medical college.
But Mr. Liyanage said they were not trying to come on par with medical graduates and accused the GMOA of being jealous of the higher status and better facilities which the Health Ministry had agreed to give to the AMOs to settle an earlier strike by them.
"We are not against better facilities for AMOs but we need to ensure that their work does not clash with our duties," Dr. Padeniya said explaining why the GMOA had launched a lightning strike on Friday.
By Faraza Farook
Amidst allegations of releasing a large number of vehicles for election work Sri Lanka Ports Authority chairman says he is not responsible if they are used for election campaigns.
SLPA chairman L. P. Chandradasa said he instructed his officers to release some vehicles following a request made by the President's secretary. However, he said he could not be held responsible if the vehicles were used for political campaigns of the PA. "That's beyond my control," he said.
Explaining why he ordered the release of vehicles, Mr. Chandradasa said they were necessary for the security of the President who had faced attempts on her life during previous elections.
He said he was still considering how many vehicles could be released, debunking Prof. G. L. Peiris's allegations that 40 trucks and 25 other vehicles had already been released.
On Thursday Prof. Peiris came out with letters exchanged between the SLPA and the Presidential Secretariat on the release of vehicles. He said the Presidential Secretariat had requested the vehicles for election work on the pretext of beefing up security for the President.
UNF spokesman G. L. Peiris alleged that SLPA chairman in a letter had asked the managing director to release 25 vehicles to the Presidential Security Division (PSD). The letter also confirmed that ten vehicles had been released for the same purpose during the previous elections.
Prof. Peiris said another letter to the PSD on November 13 had confirmed that five double cabs were being released with immediate effect for the President's security. The vehicle numbers were : 59-7184, 57-1951, 58-7618, 59-7182, and 54-8569.
However, SLPA chief denied having released any vehicles. He also refuted Prof. Peiris's charges of having released shotguns belonging to the SLPA without any proper requisition being made.
Prof. Peiris said there was gross abuse of powers by the PA which distorted the election process in every possible way. The PA was making use of state property for its election propaganda, he alleged.
A member of Navy Commander Daya Sandagiri's personal staff, has been moved out of Navy Headquarters after allegations that 50 rounds of sniper rifle ammunition were found in his possession.
He is said to have got down this high velocity ammunition from the Navy's Special Boat Squadron in Trinco-malee after making a personal request.
Navy officials discount the possibility of this ammunition being passed down to a political group or the underworld since the officer concerned had left it in the hands of a Duty Officer to be collected when he went off duty.
However, Vice Admiral Sandagiri, who ordered the immediate transfer, has appointed a three member Court of Inquiry to conduct a thorough probe. It is headed by Commodore S.R. Samara-tunga (Director, Personnel and Planning) and comprises Captain R.R. Wijesundera (Supplies) and S.S. Rana-singhe (Senior Operations Officer).
Former MP, Minister and Governor Major General Montague (Monty) Jayawickreme died on Friday at the age of 90.
Entering the first parliament in 1947 from his home base of Weligama, he held the post of parliamentary secretary on several occasions and became Minister of Transport and Works in the 1954 regime of Sir John Kotalawela.
After losing the 1956 general elections, Maj. Gen Jayawickreme, a volunteer in the army returned to the hustings for the two elections held in 1960 and won, but lost the 1970 elections contesting from Haputale.
He returned to win the 1977 elections from Weligama and was made Minister of Plantations and later held the Public Administration and Home Affairs portfolio. He was also the Leader of the House.
A keen sportsman, he had been President of the Bandarawela Tennis Club for nearly 40 years.
His remains lie at 48/1 Ward Place until 12 noon tomorrow (Monday) and thereafter will be at 'Shalimar', Weligama. Cortege leaves 'Shalimar' at 3.30 on Wednesday for cremation at family burial grounds in Weligama
By Laila Nasry
The trial against two Air Force officers charged with trespassing and intimidating The Sunday Times Consultant Editor Iqbal Athas, which came up before the Colombo High Court last Monday, was postponed as High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya was indisposed.
In the 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.
Eric Amaranath Weerasinghe, a Squadron Leader in the Sri Lanka Air Force, the sole defence witness was present in court to give evidence and was informed to be in attendance on the next date of trial, on November 22, to make his testimony.
Day 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 Anil Silva represented the 2nd accused.
By Tania Fernando
Luxury motor vehicles imported for former MPs are in the warehouses of the importers, awaiting instructions from the government.
The 71 vehicles imported on duty free basis by MP's who were elected to the 10th Parliament, have arrived at the local agents, however, they are yet to be released to the MP's in whose name the vehicles were imported. An official of Toyota Lanka, said they had got instructions not to release the vehicles and to await further instructions from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs or Ministry of Finance.
Police Spokesman, Rienzie Perera SSP has responded to The Sunday Times front page lead story of November 11 headlined 'Political Police for Three Divisions.' He says:
"The Police Headquarters is dismayed to note that the headline and several statements are gross distortions of the truth which could have given a misinterpretation to the public.
"It has stated that Police Chief Lucky Kodituwakku has assigned a senior police officer to be in charge of what he calls all 'politically motivated' inquiries in Gampaha, Negombo and Kelaniya divisions. The task has been placed in the hands of SSP Wegodapola. The Police Chief's latest order means the Senior Superintendents of Police in charge of the three divisions around Colombo will have no supervisory role or responsibility for inquiries into what has been termed 'politically motivated' inquiries. All such inquiries will come under the direction and control of SSP Wegodapola.
"The actual position is that when the representatives of the political parties met the IGP last week at Police Headquarters, some of them pointed out that some political complaints have not been inquired into promptly. Thereafter a decision was made to appoint senior police officers to look into these matters to reduce the burden of divisional Senior Superintendents during the election period. This scheme started from the Western Province. These special officers have to get the investigations expedited through the divisional officers who should carry out inquiries and report facts to courts. This does not mean that divisional Senior Superintendents have no supervisory roles for inquiries into such complaints.
"The Sunday Times news report has maliciously twisted the actual position of the duties and responsibilities of these special officers."
The Sunday Times Reporter adds:
I strongly deny that I have maliciously twisted the actual position of the duties and responsibilities of these special officers. To the contrary, the above Police Headquarters statement makes a feeble attempt to twist the facts as can be seen from the following:
The Inspector General of Police, sent out a message to SSPs in charge of Gampaha, Negombo and Kelaniya dated November 9. The message bearing reference My No D/MD/ADM/1844/01 says:
"The following posting is made with immediate effect. SSP M.B. Wegodapola, OIC, Parliament Division, has been appointed to be in charge of inquiries pertaining to election incidents in Western Province North Range. This will be in addition to his present assignment."
As can be seen, there is no mention whatsoever in the IGP's message about a supervisory role or responsibility for divisional Senior Superintendents. It specifically lays down that Mr. Wegodapola 'has been appointed to be in charge of inquiries.' In fact The Sunday Times learnt from highly placed Police officials in the Gampaha, Negombo and Kelaniya divisions that they were now referring all political complaints to the SSP in charge.
If as Police Headquarters claim, the appointment of an SSP to be in charge of political complaints in the Gampaha, Negombo and Kelaniya divisions were the result of complaints by political parties telling the IGP that some complaints have not been inquired into promptly, it raises more questions. That would be a serious lapse on the part of SSPs responsible for each division and would warrant action by the IGP for neglect of duty. The very appointment of an SSP to be in charge of election related or 'politically motivated' inquiries tends to highlight the fact that a large number of complaints had not been investigated. If this is the truth, then it is a serious indictment on the Police.
It is no secret that some politically sensitive inquiries related to the upcoming elections were in the Gampaha district. Legal constraints prevent The Sunday Times from baring details.
Who then is twisting the actual position, maliciously or otherwise, is very clear.
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