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Probe on embassy official
A senior Sri Lankan embassy official in Kuwait is under investigation for allegedly luring Lankan girls there into prostitution, a Foreign Ministry official said.

He said this senior official who had come to Colombo was asked to stay back till the probe was completed.

The probe was launched at the request of Labour Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe who said he had received complaints against the official.

The Sunday Times learns that the official had been recommended for the post by the Commerce Ministry.

Police officer faces bribery charges
By Laila Nasry
Acting on a complaint, the Bribery and Corruption Commission has issued notice on a senior police officer to show cause why he had not declared his assets.

Commission officials said they had received complaints that the officer had acquired assets through bribes from January 1996 to December 1999.

The officials said that the police officer had been asked to submit an affidavit before yesterday and if he failed to do so, legal action would be taken.

The officer is alleged to have purchased a house and obtained fixed deposits to the tune of several lakhs.

Prabha on Eye
The state-run television's 'Eye' channel yesterday broadcast the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's heroes' day speech.

The speech was made at the end of a series of commemorative programmes held to remember the LTTE cadres killed during the 19-year war.

They want two governors
The Sinhala group of MPs which met President Chandrika Kumaratunga last week requesting that two Governors be appointed to the North and East is to get signatures, backing the proposal, from people living in those areas, to be submitted to the Government.

The MPs pointed out that the people in the North and East need two separate Governors, especially as the LTTE is further establishing its administration.

Convenor of the group MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena told The Sunday Times there is ample proof that the LTTE is establishing itself.

"The people living in those areas, especially the Sinhalese, are in fear that the LTTE will once again start the war. While the LTTE is establishing its offices in the North and East the people are helpless. Furthermore Prabhakaran's recent speech clearly shows the LTTE has not given up its struggle for a separate state, which is unacceptable " he said.

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