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HL played a vital role in national issues
President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Friday felicitating President's Counsel H.L. de Silva for having served 50 years in the Bar struck a personal note of gratitude for his advice both to her and her late mother on issues of national importance and in most daunting circumstances.

Addressing a distinguished gathering at the Taj Samudra, President Kumaratunga praised the professionalism maintained by Mr.de Silva. Mr. de Silva, President Kumaratunga said, had two eminent qualities a lawyer should possess. Among the qualities listed were a social conscience and involvement with public issues, both of which, she said, were a part of Mr. de Silva. "In a democracy lawyers have a key role to play in shaping public opinion."

Mr. de Silva, she said, has been generous with his time and energy and ability in championing causes, both in and out of court that would otherwise have withered for lack of skilled advocacy. The President commended his courage to face challenges and to muddle through controversies.

Emphasising the importance of possessing eloquence of speech for those choosing the legal profession, she pointed out that academic excellence alone will not assist a person to rise up the ladder in this field. "A lawyer must be a master of the language of the Court."

Elaborating she said, "A good academic degree could be a good start to a career at the Bar, but is certainly not a guarantee of success. Personality, flair for self-presentation, charm and ability to think quickly on one's feet are all necessary ingredients. "

She cied Mr. de Silva to be living proof for possessing these criteria, which has made him successful at the Bar. The President wished him long life and success, so that he could be a model to the younger generations of lawyers and a fountain of wisdom to the country.

Others who participated at the felicitation ceremony were Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Chief Justice, Judges of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal and several other members in the legal fraternity.

LTTE admits that cadres died in naval incident
The LTTE admitted yesterday that 11 sea tigers and another person described as a patriot were killed when the Sri Lanka Navy sunk one of their vessels off the North Eastern coast of Mullaitivu on June 14, according to the Tamilnet website.
This contradicts the earlier LTTE claim that the Sri Lanka Navy had taken their cadres on board the ill-fated vessel into custody.

The LTTE has released the names of their cadres who had died in the incident. The LTTE had claimed that the vessel was an oil tanker, but Navy authorities said that the vessel had been engaged in smuggling weapons and explosives to the country.

The list of those killed are as follows: Lt. Col. Anpukumaran (Vallipuram Sivakumar) from Sreethar Road, Aathikoilady, Valvettithurai), Lt. Col. Senthamil (Veera-mani) (Sinnarasah Sivaroopan) from Vettilaikerni, Jaffna, Lt. Col. Kathir (Selvara-tnam Sasitharan) from Meesalai South, Chavakachcheri, Lt. Col. Gajendran (Nallaiah Krishnan Kapil Dinesh) from Jeyapuram, Kilinochchi, Maj. Nirmalan (Ranarajah Ragun-ath) from Nediyakaadu, Valvettithurai, Maj. Kanniya Naadaan (Ponnamba-lam Kirupaharan) from Peraalai, Pallai, Maj. Valluvan (Thurairatnam Saileswaran) from Mayilankaady, Erlaalai, Jaffna, Maj. Nimal (Thangar-asa Selvaku-mar) from Paranthan, Maj. Maniyarasan (Muthulingam Lavakumar) from Vincent Road, Nedunkerni, Mullaithivu, Maj. Veeranathan (Thiyagarajah Thayanithi) from Mullai Road, Mankulam, Capt. Cheliyan (Sokkalingam Jegan) from Uthayanagar, Kilinochchi and Mohan from Naranthanai, Kayts.

S. Thomas' produces model citizens, Prof. says
The annual prize giving of S. Thomas' Preparatory School in Kollupitiya was held last Friday at 5.00 p.m. at the School Hall. Prof. P.P.G.L. Siriwardene, an old boy of the St. Thomas' College, was the chief guest.

N.Y. Casie Chetty, the headmaster of the school, stressed the importance of implementing a system of education which is value-based and socially mindful that will eventually produce citizens who care for fellow human beings.

He said S. Thomas has a rich tradition of inculcating students on the value of good morals and social consciousness. They have benefited by this training and have grown up to be patriotic citizens and have helped the less privileged citizens in the country.

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