Controversial Central PC bankrupt

By Shane Seneviratne and Sunil Jayatilleke

He said the date for the next provincial council meeting had been fixed for April 25 and until then the council would not be able to make payments.

After the budget was defeated in the PA-controlled council, the opposition members have been calling for its dissolution, but the Provincial Council Act does not specifically state the course of action in the event of the defeat of the budget.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Provincial Council said the government would seek advice from the Attorney General on the matter. 

The PA has 26 members in the 58-member council and the ran the administration with the support of the eight CWC-UPF members. But eight CWC-UPF members switched camp last week to join the 23 UNP members and defeat the budget while the JVP member abstained. 

Though the council has no funds and is in crisis, some bigwigs are alleged to be carrying on dubious activities.

Council sources claimed the Chief Minister had obtained Rs. 6 million luxury motor vehicle. Not to be outdone the chairman is reported to have obtained a house from a relative for a monthly rent of Rs. 20,000 while enjoying the residential allowance usually paid to parliamentarians in the peripheries.

The sources alleged the chairman was yet to return the three vehicles he obtained during the general elections in 2000.

Passport test bared

Topless male asks why not?

By Harinda Vidanage

Ranjan Karunarathne who had lived in the West for nearly 30 years said he was fed up with the colonial thinking in Sri Lanka. He said he would challenge the Immigration and Emigration Controller as his bare-chested photograph met the criteria set out by the Immigration and Emigration Department.

Anybody who wished to obtain a passport would have to present a recent and quality photograph of the required size, a deputy controller said. He claimed the bare-chested photograph was "ugly" and refused to entertain it.

Mr. Karunarathne said his photograph did not violate any legal provisions. He said he submitted the bare-chested photograph as he was wearing a nylon shirt which showed all the sweat. He then decided to take a photograph without the shirt.

Immigration and Emigration Controller Nandasena Bambaravanage told The Sunday Times there was no law against such photographs but he rejected it on the ground of decency.

He said the department in its entire history had never issued a passport to any member of the public who presented a picture with a bare body. An exception was made when Veddah representative Uruvarige Wanniya applied for a passport to attend the indigenous people's conference. The department also issued passports to monks and poosaris when they applied for passports with bare-bodied photographs, he said.

Mr. Bambaravanage said Mr. Karunarathne would not be able even to board an aircraft if he was not properly dressed. He said before challenging departmental procedure people should use their common sense.

Child abuse: saw still inadequate

National Child Protection Authority Chairman Harendra de Silva said laws alone were not adequate to solve the problem. 

In Sri Lanka, laws relating to pornography have been very weak with the maximum penalty for selling pornographic material being only a mere Rs. 2500. "The fine is usually paid by the person behind the trade and the business continues," he said.

Moreover, the internet, which has become a modern and effective tool of communication among paedophiles has little or no legal barriers. With no laws against internet pornography and due to the weak laws prevailing regards pornography as a whole, the Justice Ministry is in the process of introducing a new law, which will address this issue.

Teacher shortage hits Mannar & Mullaitivu

"Mannar and Mullaitivu districts are functioning with heavy shortages of teachers. Some schools are even allowed to function for years with only one teacher," Mr. Adaikalanathan said in a letter to the Education Minister. 

There is an acute shortage of Maths and Science teachers in the districts of Mannar and Mullaitivu, Mr. Adaikalanathan further said. 

The procedure adopted to recruit teachers had proved unsatisfactory since Arts and Commerce candidates with the highest marks if they had credit passes in science or maths at the GCE (O/L) were selected. 

"The performance of the teachers were not satisfactory since their study of science and maths had ceased with the GCE (O/L)," Mr. Adaikalanathan said. 

While an interview was held on August 8, 2000 for Maths and Science teachers from those who passed the GCE (A/L) with those subjects, the candidates were also awaiting the results of the interview, the letter said.

Meanwhile, the schools continued to suffer without Maths and Science teachers, it said. A shortage of English teachers was prevalent in the Mannar and Mullaitivu districts, the letter said. Mr.Kodituwakku was not available for comment.

Let peace be with you: Archbishop

Though peace had been elusive in the past despite several efforts, the present set-up where the two major parties were in power in different ways, could be a corner stone in establishing peace, he said.

The ceasefire which began on Christmas eve and continuing to date had filled people's hearts with hopes of everlasting peace, the Archbishop said explaining that Christmas begins with the angels singing "peace on earth to men of good will" and Easter dawns with Christ saying " peace be with you."

Palm Sunday's Hossanas turned into Good Friday's crucifixion and finally changed into Easter Sunday's Allelujas. They were the reactions of the crow that was once joyful, the next moment sinful and finally victorious in the story of the holiest week in the church calendar.

Report on missing vehicles by Apr. 10

By Shelani Perera

Last week the government sent out letters to all ministry secretaries to obtain information on vehicles. The secretaries were asked to give details by April 10.

Sustainable Development Advisor K. H. J. Wijedasa told The Sunday Times once the information was obtained they would decide on the next course of action.

"We will get the police and the CID involved. Once the details are obtained we will even file action. We will also take disciplinary action against officials who were responsible for the transfer of vehicles," Mr. Wijedasa said.

He said although the exact number of vehicles taken out so far was not known, a large number of them had been removed from ministries.

"After the first appeal, only a few were returned to police stations. 

Some of the vehicles had been completely destroyed. We have sent out forms to all secretaries to get information on the vehicles," said Mr. Wijedasa. 

He said a report would be given to the Prime Minister by April 10.

Travellers' rest in Murukandy

By S. S. Selvanayagam

Hindu Cultural Affairs Minister T. Maheswaran told The Sunday Times the proposed lodging would cost Rs. 10 million.

He said even non-government organisations had volunteered to assist the project. The proposed lodging would consist of luxury and normal rooms with modern bathrooms. They would have an uninterrupted supply of electricity and water, he said.

Architects would visit the site next Sunday to study the project, ministry sources said. They said free meals would be given to travellers once or twice a day.

Murukandy, well-known for its celebrated Pillaiyar temple, had been a popular place for rest for travellers for many centuries, the minister said. The proposed travellers' lodging would be handed over to the temple trustees for management, he said.

Money under Ratwatte beds

By Shane Seneviratne 

According to prison regulations, remand prisoners are not allowed to keep money. 

The money was taken into custody.

The two sons of former minister Anuruddha Ratwatte have also used a jailer's mobile phone to take calls, prison sources alleged.

Fate of millennium triplets hangs in the balance

Allegations are being made against the Dharmavijaya Foundation, an organization that had undertaken to provide assistance, being irregular in sending its contributions. The family claimed they did not receive the dry rations worth Rs. 1500 sponsored by Janashakthi regularly.

Mr. Manupri, the father of the triplets alleged Dharmavijaya Foundation was delaying the building of a house with funding from Musaeus College. 

Dharmavijaya Foundation's ex-president and the present trustee Gamini Perera said complications regarding the ownership of the land had resulted in the delay in putting up the house.

Mr. Perera said the organization was not able to recommend funding because the family did not own a plot of land. He said a recent deed handed over to the organization was being verified to establish the ownership of the land. 

Meanwhile, Silver Hands, a group of eight women, who looked into the welfare of the triplets and their family said a deed was written out after the triplets' father blocked out a plot of land for him. However, the building of the house had been delayed and the funds had allegedly been used to build a house for somebody else.

A Silver Hands spokesperson said the rafter in the present house was in such a bad condition that it could come crashing down. She charged the Dharmavijaya Foundation had still done little to build the house.

Meanwhile, one of the three girls, Pabasiri, has been admitted to the Nagoda hospital with a swollen knee. While tests were still being conducted to establish the cause of the swelling, Manupri's cement block making business had been temporarily stalled to take care of his daughter, a family member said.