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Govt. awaits forensic medical report
By Faraza Farook
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) is awaiting the Forensic Medical Report by Prof. Ravindra Fernando to establish the cause of death of Somalatha Satharasinge, which continues to remain a mystery.

A report on an inquiry by the Bureau revealed that organ transplants without the consent of the donor was legal in Kuwait under the organ transplant law, upon recommendation by three specialist physicians and approval of the Minister of Health in that country.

The organ transplant law, according to Mrs. Padmini Ratnayake, DGM, SLBFE who was sent to Kuwait to conduct the investigation, was applicable on both Kuwaiti nationals and foreigners. However, Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said neither the Sri Lankan government nor the SLBFE was aware of such a law until today.

Mrs. Ratnayake said that 100 such organ transplants had taken place, but claimed that this was the first instance where a Sri Lankan was involved.

According to the Forensic Medical report from Kuwait no traces of injury or criminal violence or resistance had been recorded nor was intoxication indicated. Yet,the cause of death, attributed to cardio respiratory failure raised several questions.

Two CT scans had been done on Somalatha on her admission to hospital on July 6,in an unconscious state. Another scan done two days later showed a swelling on the right and left sides of the brain, but no cause was recorded in the medical report.

However, it was recorded that Somalatha had been suffering from an illness which led to this condition, but the type of illness not recorded.

Minister Samarasinghe said any irregularities on the cause of death could be established only after Prof. Fernando's report is received and action would be taken accordingly.

Meanwhile the Government has decided to issue circulars to all diplomatic missions in Colombo and overseas about the need to inform the embassy or the High Commission of any sudden deaths or an illness so that family members could be informed promptly.

Dilemma over two confidence motions
By Shelani Perera
The Government turned down a request by the JVP to debate both the confidence motion and the no confidence motion next week, The Sunday Times learns.

JVP parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa made this request from the Government when Party Leaders met last Thursday.

The confidence motion was due to be debated last week but postponed when the Opposition Leader requested for a two day debate.

The JVP requested that the debate be held on September 11 or 18 which dates had been set aside for condolence vote. The Government Chief Whip Mahinda Samarasinghe informed the leaders that the debate will be taken up next month.

JVP Parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa told The Sunday Times they had informed that debates should be governed by the standing orders.

" We requested that if the Government was not going to debate the confidence motion, then the no confidence motion against Minister Marapana be debated, that too was refused. This clearly shows that the Government is not sure of getting the support of the MPs" he said.

The Opposition parties had then requested that a debate be held on the situation of the country following the de-proscription of the LTTE. The debate was asked for September 11. But this too was turned down.

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