The smoke cloud over Sri Lanka, a minute part of the smoke cloud coming from Indonesia, is likely to be with us till the North East monsoons in mid December, according to Dr. Mohottala, Director of the Meteorological Department.
He said that with the identification of the haze last weekend and confirmation that it is due to forest fires in Indonesia, he feels that the North East Monsoon will push it away from Sri Lanka.
Earlier it was expected that the smoke would not reach Sri Lanka, but the cyclone 'Linda' close to Brunei has changed its direction turning towards Lanka. But according to met men it is difficult to predict the direction of the haze since there could be several weather changes taking place within the 3000 km from Indonesia to here.
The fires are still active in the south of Sumatra and in Java as well, but Sri Lanka will not experience any major effects, the officials assured.
Recent satellite pictures show that the haze is heading south due to low pressure that is being building on top of Sri Lanka, "yet that does not imply that the haze will travel south avoiding Sri Lanka," the scientists said.
"This is only a small part of the spread and there is nothing for people to worry about in terms of weather changes or in any other way," said Dr. Mohottala.
But how long it will last is yet unpredictable as it depends on the weather patterns expected in this season. If the weather remains dry, it is likely to stay for a longer period.
Several stone
anchors have been recovered from the old harbour area of Galle bay during
archaeological explorations by a joint Sri Lankan-Australian project.
The major find was about 800 lbs in weight. It is of a type found in many places in Asia, the Arabian waters and East Africa, but is unusual in that it was found with the stone section ("shank") complete and unbroken. Similar ones have been found in the Palk Straits near Rameswaram and in the Lacadive Islands (Lakshadweep).
This type of anchor is believed to be a mooring anchor, and was permanently placed on the bottom of the sea and any ship could tie up to it. It was probably not carried on board ship because of its size, weight and difficulty in handling. A piece of a broken anchor of this type was also found.
Six undergraduates of the Peradeniya University now in remand custody in connection with the ragging incidents which led to the death of S. Varapragash will be expelled from the campus shortly, said Vice Chancellor Prof. Leslie Gunawardena.
He said the expulsion decision had been taken after a three member committee found that these students were also guilty for the offence of ragging which led to Varapragasha' s death.
He said that the decision would be implemented soon irrespective of the outcome of the on-going court case against the six suspects.
Last week the University expelled K. Satheeshkaran, the student who led the ragging and is now evading arrest.
The expulsions came as students of the Peradeniya University began marking the 'Varapragash week' in remembrance of the death of their colleague and also as a step to create an awareness to prevent ragging at the campus. 'Varapragash week' which commenced on the 11th will go on till 18th, and there will be a series of discusions by the undergraduates in their respective halls, on the 16th and 17th. The remembrance week the brainchild of Professor Leslie Gunawardene will condemn the inhuman treatment meted out physically and mentally to the victim student. The campaign has the blessings of Lecture Hall supervisors Prof. H.W. Cyril, A.J. Pitigalaarachchi, Prof. Rajakaruna, D.M.G. Fernando and Ms. P.D. Bandaranaike of the teaching staff. The discussions will be held in the Obeysekera, Ramanathan Arunachalam and Jayatilleke halls after 7.30 pm. on 16th, while on the 17th lecturers Wickrema Gamage, M. Chandrasekera. Prof. Wickramanayake will be at the discussions in Sangamitta, Marcus Fernando and Wijewardene halls. Prof. Gunawardene will be the chief guest at the closing ceremony on the 18th.
A cholera epidemic is still riding high in Chilaw, with the recent heavy rains putting hospital wards under water and making matters worse.
Health sources said some 30 cholera victims warded in the Chilaw hospital were facing additional dangers from flood related problems while researchers were trying to find out why the epidemic was so intense.
As the outbreak neared its second month, hospital officials said over 300 people had been admitted with symptoms and about 150 of them were confirmed as cholera victims. About 25 suspected cholera patients are being admitted each day while preventive measures such as the provision of safe water and more toilet facilities are also in effect.
Doctors said patients carrying cholera germs were moving around freely in buses and elsewhere thus spreading the infection.
They have appealed for suspected cases to be admitted to hospital immediately and for people of the area to co-operate more in fighting and overcoming the epidemic. They said the two deaths so far in the cholera epidemic could have been avoided if the patients had been admitted to hospital on time.
Cholera cases have also been reported from Wattala, Mahara, Negombo and Bingiriya areas.
A lecture demonstration on "Sri Lankan composers" will be presented by Lylie Godridge at The British Council Auditorium on Thursday at 6.00 p.m., under the auspices of the Department of Cultural Affairs and the Western Music Panel of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka.
Some of the composers are Deva Suryasena, Norman Corea, Terrance Scharenguivel, Carl Drieberg and Nimal Mendis. Those taking part are Rohan De Lenerolle, Anagi Jayasinghe, Eshantha Andrado, Gayanjalee De Lanerolle, two Koreans Yun Joo Jung, Myung Joan Park and a choir of teenager girls.
This lecture is open to the public.
Colombo Traffic Police yesterday announced that no parking will be allowed on main roads to and from Colombo with effect from tomorrow. The restrictions will be effective as follows:-
Galle Road Galle Face roundabout to Moratuwa: Sea side 7 am to 10 pm. Land side 4 pm to 7 pm.
Colombo Kandy Road - From New Kelani Bridge to Kadawatha: Kandy to Colombo arriving - left side of the road 7 am to 10 am. Colombo to Kandy leaving left side of the road 4 pm to 7 pm.
Negombo Road - Japan Friendship Bridge to Negombo: Negombo to Colombo arrival - left side of road 7 am to 10 am. Colombo to Negombo leaving - left side of road 4 pm to 7 pm.
High Level Road - Tunmulla Junction to Maharagama: Maharagama to Colombo arriving - left side of road 7 am to 10 am. Colombo to Maharagama leaving - left side of road 4 pm to 7 pm.
Old Avissawella Road - Orugodawatta to Gothatuwa: Gothatuwa to Colombo arriving - left side of road 7 am to 10 am.
Colombo to Gothatuwa leaving - left side of road 4 pm to 7 pm.
Parliament Road - From colour lights signals at DS to Battaramulla - Battaramulla to Colombo arriving - left side of road from 7 am to 10 am.
From Colombo to Battaramulla leaving - left side of road 4 pm to 7.00 pm.
The 50th anniversary independence celebrations to be held in Kandy is to cost the Government around Rs 300 million, a senior Government official said yesterday. The Government has already spent more than Rs 25 million for the renovation of some Kandy schools which are to accommodate thousands of policemen and soldiers arriving for duty and for ceremony.
Amidst continuing media exposure and public pressure for action on the Cricket Board bribery scandal, CID and Bribery Commission detectives are to visit Dubai and India to interview officials there.
An investigating official told The Sunday Times yesterday that Worldtel Chief Mark Mascarenhas — a key figure in the six million rupee bribery bombshell — had agreed to cooperate and the local detectives were going to Dubai to interview him there.
They hoped that various accounts, including bank statements would be made available.
Cricket Board president Upali Dharmadasa has given the Bribery Commission a tape where Mr. Mascarenhas in a conversation with him claims that a senior official of the Cricket Board had sought a bribe of Rs. 6 million for a contract on television rights for Worldtel.
The official is alleged to have already obtained half the bribe and was pressurizing the Worldtel to give the balance on the basis that part of it was to be given to Sports Minster S. B. Dissanayake.
Mr. Dissanayake has flatly denied seeking or receiving any such money and made an official complaint to the Bribery Commission.
Detectives said they also hope to visit India to interview, among others, the International Cricket Conference Chairman Jagmohan Dalmiya who in recent weeks has also been accused of having close contacts and favouring Worldtel in the provision of television rights of international matches.
During local investigations over the past few weeks, detectives have recorded statements from Minister Dissanayake, Ministry Secretary R. M. K. Ratnayake, Additional Secretary Ms. J. Pinnawela, Cricket board Chief Executive Dhammika Ranatunga, Secretary Tryphon Mirando and Mr. Dharmadasa himself.
The detectives declined to reveal details except to say that Mr. Mirando had essentially corroborated Mr. Dharmadasa's statement. They also revealed that the tape contained the name of a third person idnetified as Kamal.
A specially constituted High Court comprising three judges will try the nine Army personnel who are accused of the rape and murder of a school girl and the killing of her brother, mother and a neighbour in Jaffna last year.
The trial in this widely publicised Krishanthi Kumaraswamy case will begin tomorrow in Colombo before a bench comprising judges Nimal S. Senanayake, Andrew Somawansa and Gamini Abeyratne.
The Army personnel are accused of raping the girl after they stopped her at a checkpoint near her school and then murdering her. It is alleged they also killed the other three who went to look for her.
U.S. President Bill Clinton has reiterated full support for the efforts by the Sri Lanka government to find a peaceful solution to the ethnic conflict, saying that when peace is restored the country could emerge as South Asia's leading trade and investment centre.
Speaking at a White House ceremony to accept the credentials of Sri Lanka's new Ambassador Warnasena Rasaputra, the US President said Sri Lanka had achieved impressive economic growth despite the heavy drain of resources on the war.
Dr. Rasaputra in response said the recent US decision to ban the LTTE would help Sri Lanka in its fight to end terrorism and restore peace. He called for the expansion and strengthening of US - Lanka ties in economic and other fields.
Former Minister A. C. S. Hameed is suing the SLBC for Rs. 100 million on charges that the state radio had defamed him by implicating him in a case connected to the printing of forged ballot papers.
In a plaint filed in court, Mr. Hameed says that on the eve of the local government election in March this year, the SLBC English and Sinhala news bulletins had repeatedly broadcast a news item about a raid on a Katugastota printing press where allegedly forged ballot papers were found.
The news item indicated that the printing was being done by persons linked to Mr. Hameed. This was personally and politically damaging to him.
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