• Now golf row in Kotte
• Photo rule withdrawn
• Surveyors measure next step
• Anyone linked will lose funds and property
• Thondaman and grandson face contempt charges
• Overseas link in porn case
• Reggie decliness compensation
• Nothing against me: Thonda
• FBO accepts challenge
• I got no land: Ronnie answers Warnapala
• Cyclists catch minister's eye
• AirLanka top brass interdicted
• ACHC appeals to Vajpayaee for solution
• Gem case tomorrow
• Handicapped teen girl molested on way home
• Mother, 4 children shot and burnt
• Batty showing some true colours
• Emirates chief talks of plans but mum on AirLanka deal
• Motions to strip civic rights and maithree
• Our leader has no IOUs!
• In defence of Gamini Dissanayake
• Saffron support for Lankan Tamil cause
• How Bangladesh struck peace in the Hill Tracts

Now golf row in Kotte

By A.M. Hadjirin

Another major controversy is brewing overa project near the parliamentary complex in Kotte — this time a massive golf course which would mean the eviction of hundreds of families.

The UNP has already sounded alarm bells, warning there would also be a massive sellout of the people's land to a foreign company.

According to Urban Development Authority Director Irvin Gunaratne, a decison regarding the project covering 136 acres will be taken in two weeks' time, after a feasibility study is completed.

The main opposition UNP, infuriated over the idea, said it had reliable information that the governemnt had approved this project. "A perch of land is to be sold at a rock bottom rate of Rs. 9,600 and even a reduction on this is being considered," a UNP spokesman said. He said this land was to be sold to a company called Asia Pacific Golf Courses Ltd. "We are worried about the secret deal for a virtual sell-out to a foreign firm," he said.

However, he said the UDA was not planning a sell-out but was hoping to lease out the land. Last year plans to build a Presidential mansion near Kotte also ran into a political and legal storm.

Photo rule withdrawn

The need to affix photographs of Kotahena residents in the householders' declaration forms, has been withdrawn.

CWC Parliamentarian R. Yogarajan told "The Sunday Times" that the over-cautious Kotahena OIC who assumed duties recently introduced the new procedure. But on representations made it was withdrawn.

Surveyors measure next step

By Shelani de Silva

Alleging that government officials are dragging their feet on implementation of an agreement reached more than one year ago, Government surveyors are threatening another strike within a month if action is not taken by then. The Government Surveyors Association had launched a month long strike last year in support of demands related to recruitment and other matters. A spokesman for the association told The Sunday Times that the strike had been settled on an agreement which was approved by the cabinet but the provisions had not been implemented so far.

He said surveyors were seeking urgent discussions with the Lands Ministry and the Presidential Secretariat but the response was negative and they would have no option but to launch another strike within a month.

He said there appeared to be delays and possible irregularities regarding the appointment of a Surveyor General also.

The association was demanding that this appointment be made in a manner acceptable to surveyors.

Anyone linked will lose funds and property

LTTE ban

Under new regulations promulgated to ban the LTTE, the Defence Minister has been empowered to order the confiscation of the property or funds of any person that may be used by the proscribed organisation.

Under the provisions the Minister's decision to order the confiscation of any property will be 'final and conclusive' and cannot be questioned in any court.

The regulations state that 'Where the Minister is satisfied, after such inquiry as he may think fit, that any person has custody of any moneys, securities or credits which are being used, or are intended to be used, for the purpose of the proscribed organisation, the Minister may by order in writing, declare that such moneys, securities or credits as are in the custody of such person or any moneys, securities or credits which may come into his custody after the making of such order any other movable and immovable property belonging to such organisation, shall be forfeited to the state. The regulations promulgated under Emergency laws also have brought in restrictions regarding the publication of matters connected to the LTTE.

The Government has gazetted that in case of any violations of the regulations connected with the ban of the LTTE the offender is liable to a jail term for of between seven years and 15 years. The provisions of the regulations will also apply to any other organisation and other persons engaged in activities 'substantially' similar to those carried on or formerly carried on by the LTTE.

Wearing of any uniform, dress, symbol or other emblem indicating any association with the banned organisation, summoning or attending any meeting connected with the LTTE and enrolling of members, contributing or collecting funds or furnishing information in relation to the proscribed organisation are also offences under the regulations The Government in an attempt to avoid confusion regarding the services of certain international relief organisations operating mainly in the north and east has specified that the regulations would not affect these organisations.

However the organisations should have approval of the Defence Secretary.

Thondaman and grandson face contempt charges

By S.S. Selvanayagam

A Colombo Court has issued summons on CWC leaders for alleged contempt of court in going ahead with a controversial national convention on March 8 despite a restraining order from the court. Former CWC stalwart M.S. Sellasamy, who was removed two years ago as general secretary, on Thursday filed a petition in the Colombo District Court saying CWC leaders were in contempt of court when they held the convention at the Sugathadasa Stadium, though he had obtained the restraining order two days before the convention.

CWC leader S. Thondaman, his grandson and general secretary Arumugam have been summoned to appear in court on April 3 to answer the contempt charges.

Mr. Sellasamy - who now heads a rival union and claims his removal from the post of CWC general secretary was illegal - obtained a 14 day injunction on March 6, restraining the CWC from holding the convention till an earlier case against his removal was settled.

Overseas link in porn case

By Imran Vittachi

Police established an international connection when they arrested a Kandy resident on suspicion of hawking pornographic photographs internationally including ones displaying naked Sri Lankan children a Deputy Inspector General of Police has revealed.

On March 6 local police, acting on a tip-off from British Police, picked up the suspect after searching his home and finding up to 88 photographs of naked men, women, and children as young as seven, DIG M. S. M. Nizam told "The Sunday Times".

The suspect who has been charged with illegally holding and intending to flog pornographic material, and is awaiting trial in a Magistrate's Court, was linked to a suspected buyer of porn photos in Britain, and may also have been trading in these as far afield as New Zealand and Qatar, DIG Nizam said.

"It may be part of an international network," he said.

According to the DIG, Sri Lankan Police moved on the suspect after his colleagues in British customs and excise sent him a request for assistance in another porn case. In January, British police, having obtained a search warrant, combed the home of a 51-year old Staffordshire man, collecting similar photos as well as airmail correspondence traced back to the suspect, in Sri Lanka Nizam said.

"Customs and excise officials had searched the house in Staffordshire and found a quantity of nude photographs - pornographic photographs and some airmail letters sent from a Sri Lankan man, giving the address in Kandy. The letters suggested that there had been some to-and-fro transaction between them."

DIG Nizam declined to comment further, citing a need to keep the investigation confidential. He said this was important to determine whether the suspect was operating alone in Sri Lanka or if he was part of a wider porn ring.

Reggie decliness compensation

By Chamintha Thilakaratne

More than 20 years after mobs attacked and burnt down his house and property in Gampaha, Deputy Minister Reggie Ranatunga has been offered Rs. 5 million as compensation by the government on a special cabinet paper presented by Minister M.H.M. Ashraff.

But Mr. Ranatunga has declined to accept the compensation until all the other affected persons were also given relief.

Mr. Ranatunga had said two bus loads of alleged UNP thugs had stormed his house in Gampaha in the wake of the 1977 elections. They burnt down his house and property forcing him and his children including Sri Lanka's cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga to flee for safety.

The Deputy Minister said the destruction amounted to a loss of upto Rs 15 million.

Rehabilitation Minister M.H.M. Ashraff moved for special cabinet approval recently to pay compensation to his Deputy Minister Ranatunga saying he had suffered much and waited long.

Mr. Ranatunga said the estimate of the total damage suffered was Rs. 15 million then, but much more now.

Yet because there were several other incidents in the Gampaha area he would not accept the compensation until others affected were given a fair deal.

A spokesman for REPIA, the state authority in charge of rehabilitation of persons and property, said around 1000 applications had been received from 1977 victims and Mr. Ranatunga's case was the first to be settled.

Nothing against me: Thonda

By Roshan Peiris

Minister S. Thondaman has angrily rejected suggestions that he also should be charged in the controversial Wijeyapala Mendis case.

"Those saying I should be charged are imagining things. The question of my role in this transaction does not arise," he said.

Mr. Thondaman sat next to the leader of the House and Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake in Parliament last Tuesday when he read out the report of the Presidential Commission which probed the case where ex-minister Wijeyapala Mendis allegedly exchanged 76 acres of paddy and shrub land in Anuradhapura for an equal acreage of prime coconut land in Puttalam.

The commission said Mr. Mendis had worked out this transaction using his influence with two ministers, S. Thondaman and E.L. Senanayake.

The commission recommended that Mr. Mendis be stripped of his civic rights and expelled from Parliament. But Mr. Mendis has asserted that the other two ministers also should be charged.

Mr. Thondaman sat seemingly unperturbed as Mr. Wickremanayake read out the commission report. He left the house without commenting, but CWC member K. Yogarajan said the party would not support the motion to expel Mr. Mendis. Mr. Mendis' land transaction through a Board which came under Mr. Thondaman allegedly cost losses to the state amounting to millions of rupees. The head of the Board concerned had told the commission that Mr. Thondaman allegedly induced him to approve the deal.

More News/Comments * FBO accepts challenge * I got no land: Ronnie answers Warnapala * Cyclists catch minister's eye * AirLanka top brass interdicted * ACHC appeals to Vajpayaee for solution * Gem case tomorrow * Handicapped teen girl molested on way home * Mother, 4 children shot and burnt * Batty showing some true colours *