Members of National Movement Against
Terrorism place placards near cabinet Minister
S. Thondaman's residence as part of their
demonstration held in Colombo on Friday.
Pic by Sajeewa Chinthaka

• Devananda disappointed, expectations unfulfilled
• Remove Thonda, says front
• TULF seeks probe
• A tragedy he cannot draw
• Puttur mine kills four
• Summons for doctor in molestation case
• No my baby isn't dead
• Women's cricket still on turning pitch
• Kasippu Ralahamy
• Security plan for city traffic
• Sella Vs Thonda: a contempt case
• Gothami Principal sets record straight
• 'I want none but Ponna'
• New DIGs take over
• Jubilee race today
• Aranayake cops return
• Water and phones will cost you more
• Thousands line up for entry, only 500 allowed in daily
• I'm innocent, won't quit-Mendis
• Move to force SLMC contest under PA banner
• NATO expansion:its effect on peace

Devananda disappointed, expectations unfulfilled

By S. S. Selvanayagam

EPDP leader Douglas Devananda has protested that some of his party members, including chairmen elected to Pradeshiya Sabhas in the Jaffna islands, are being denied freedom of movement by the Navy.

"If this type of interference by the security forces continues, how could anyone have hopes of bringing back civil administration to the Jaffna peninsula?" he asked.

On the issue of 105 members of EPDP taking oaths in the 17 local authorities, particularly in the 10 councils controlled by the EPDP, he said they had to have answers to some of the many pressing issues that were raised by the people of Jaffna, before and during the election campaign.

Blaming bureaucratic red-tape for the dilemma, he said, "on several occasions, we made representations to the government on recommending ship transportation between Trincomalee and KKS. Bureaucratic bungling in the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Rehabilitation has prevented any progress.

"Although the President had agreed to appoint a commission as far back as December 1997 to inquire into the disappearances of more than 600 persons in 1996, the establishment is slow in implementing that decision of the President," he added.

"Besides, the President had agreed in 1997 to resume activities of the KKS Cement Factory by providing a grant. "There is a short supply of cement in Jaffna for any meaningful rehabilitation work while about 1000 employees and their family members are awaiting an answer.

"We gave a promise that the employees would be back in their jobs by January 1998 but bureaucratic soft-pedalling has caused embarrassment to us," he said.

"President agreed to allocate Rs 3 million to each of the 17 local authorites in Jaffna peninsula. This was for capital expenditure in respect of community projects. I recently received information that Rs 25 million has already been released in the first instance for all the councils and that the balance will be released in due course. My request to RRAN for an allocation of Rs 40 million for rehabilitating local authority office buildings and markets had not been favourably considered," he fumed.

"Meanwhile, the President agreed to allocate Rs 50 million from the MTIP for rehabilitation of schools in Jaffna district. But at a meeting to finalise the list of schools, the Governor and Provincial Secretary for Education stated that they had no specific order from the President to release Rs 50 million and that only Rs 15 million provided in the Provincial budget will be made available for schools in Jaffna District," he further said.

"The President had ordered that not less than 150 unemployed graduates belonging to Jaffna district be absorbed as Samurdhi Managers. She had also ordered that not less than 200 unemployed graduates should be absorbed in the teaching serivce. Other unemployed graduates were to be absorbed in administrative and managerial posts. But none of these decisions of the President has been implemented by the bureaucracy," he pointed out.

Remove Thonda, says front

A newly formed Front known as the 'National Movement Against Terrorism' is launching a fresh campaign against terrorist activities and called for the removal of Cabinet Minister Savumyamoorthy Thondaman claiming that his statements were in favour of the LTTE.

The demonstrators paraded around the Colombo city starting from the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress (ACBC) and planted placards outside Minister Thondaman's Racecourse Avenue home in Colombo 7 protesting against the party.

The protesters also showed their anger against the TULF and a section of other Colombo Tamil political parties saying that they have made comments in favour of the LTTE.

"Tamil politicians living in Colombo under the protection of our Police forces, and not in Jaffna, and posing as moderates are the real supporters of LTTE terrorism," the Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera told a meeting held at the ACBC on Wednesday.

"S. Thondaman, a senior minister of the government is one of them. At a recent meeting to mark the CWC anniversary, Thondaman demanded that the LTTE be given control of the north-east province for 15 years. This an improvement on the 10 year control of the north-east by the LTTE demand by Thondaman upto now," the Thera said.

"Tamil politicians like Kumar Ponnambalam, M. Sivasithamparam of the TULF are supporters of LTTE terror even if they do not carry arms," the Thera said.

The Ven. Ittapana Dhammalankara Thero said that though the government had proscribed the LTTE no legal steps had been taken to implement this decision, such as the punishment of those who actively support the LTTE, confiscation of property etc.

With every fresh bomb explosion the Tamil politicians step up their demands and urge the government to negotiate with the LTTE and make more and more concessions to them. The Tamil politicians, living in the safety of Colombo do not condemn these barbaric acts, but complain incessantly about the 'harassment' of Tamils who are searched," he said.

Dr. Piyasena Dissanayake, Secretary of the National Joint Committee reiterated that it was shameful that a senior minister who supported the terrorists was being tolerated in the Cabinet. Thondaman should be removed from office, he urged.

TULF seeks probe
Missing people

By Roshan Peiris

A top level tulf delegation held a lengthy meeting with President Kumaratunga recently to discuss several important issues, a party official said.

He said the TULF urged the President to expedite the setting up of a Commission to probe hundreds of disappearances which have caused grave concern among people of the Jaffna District.

The meeting took place two days after the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva issued a report putting Sri Lanka on top of the list of countries with the highest number of involuntary disappearances last year with local NGO's putting the figure in the North at more than 600.

The TULF leaders also called for early elections to local bodies in the Vavuniya District and the East along with an appointment of a new Committee to facilitate implementation of the new National Languages Policy, he said.

A tragedy he cannot draw

Just three months after marriage, the young Major Ifthikar Yoonus — son of a famous cartoonist — made the supreme sacrifice for his country when he died in a mortar attack in Mankulam last Wednesday.

Major Yoonus and a squad from the Gemunu Watch were moving in a tractor when they were attacked. Another officer and several soldiers were killed or injured. The dynamic young officer was the son of Jiffry Yoonus, who is widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka's best political cartoonists.

Major Yoonus was buried at Mattegoda Muslim Burial Ground the following day and the family has expressed heartfelt thanks to all those who shared in their hour of sorrow.

Puttur mine kills four

An officer and three soldiers were killed when LTTE rebels set off a claymore mine under a military vehicle in Puttur area in the Jaffna peninsula on Friday evening, a military spokesman said yesterday.

The officer killed was a Lieutenant.

The army vehicle was going to Achchuveli when it was hit. Four soldiers were also injured in the incident.

Rebels also attacked an army foot patrol in the Batticaloa district killing one soldier and injuring three civilians last evening.

Meanwhile, troops involved in operation 'Jaya Sikuri' backed by air and artillery cover made further advances yesterday.

Summons for doctor in molestation case

A Colombo Magistrate on Wednesday issued summons on a medical officer in connection with the molestation of two girls.

Magistrate Anoma Wijewardene issued summons on Dr. W.R.Piyasoma of the Kalutara hospital who examined the two domestics, aged 13 and 15 after it was alleged that they were molested by the suspect, Chadhambaram Subramaniam, a director of a private company at his wife's residence when she had been away from the country.

The medical officer had submitted one report on one of the girls but has failed to do so on the other girl. The case had been postponed many a time during the past one year as the medical report has still not been submitted to court.

As a result, one case was postponed to April 22 and the other was taken up for judicial non-summary inquiry and adjourned for March 18.

The accused is on bail and the alleged victims have been in the care of the Salvation Army for the past year.

More News/Comments * No my baby isn't dead * Women's cricket still on turning pitch * Kasippu Ralahamy * Security plan for city traffic * Sella Vs Thonda: a contempt case * Gothami Principal sets record straight * 'I want none but Ponna'