• Through Censor
• Mahanayake blasts Maligawa bomb report
• CID probes sex web frame-up
• Postponement likely: no top PA names
• Stassen chiefs throw hot chocolate on underlings
• Minister joins in attack on police chief

Through Censor

All material relating to military operations, past or present, published in The Sunday Times is subject to the approval of the Army Censor.

Mahanayake blasts Maligawa bomb report

By Shane Seneviratne

The Mahanayake Thera of the Malwatte Chapter, has rejected the findings of the official committee which probed the Dalada Maligawa bomb explosion.

"I will ask President Chandrika Kumaratunga to appoint an independent team to conduct a full inquiry," the Venerable Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi Mahanayake thera told The Sunday Times. "The findings of this committee are a clear attempt to hold lower level police officers responsible for the lapse of security leaving the higher authorities out," he said.

A three-member committee appointed by the President probed the LTTE attack on Buddhism's holiest shrines on January 26. The committee was headed by Defence Secretary Chandrananda de Silva and comprised former Police Chief Frank Silva and retired High Court Judge, Leslie Fernando.

The full text of the committee's report is yet to be made public. However, a communique issued by the Government's Information Department on Wednesday highlighted some of the Findings without any references to the names of those involved.

According to the communique," a cause of neglect in the planning of security for the event on the part of the Kandy Police has been the firm conclusion of the Committee."

"Significantly, the supervision and directions from Police Headquarters in Colombo into the planning for security and in the making of arrangements for the important event, did not serve to make good the deficiencies in the preparations made by the Kandy Police," the committee report said.

A significant finding of the committee, according to the communique, was "an insidious attempt" made by the Kandy Police. "Fabrication of evidence, falsification of documents and a conspiracy of collusion by other officers of the Kandy Police to cover up and divert blame from their negligence were apparent in the conduct of the Kandy Police after the bomb blast. The original neglect of duty of the Police was sullied by a moral turpitude in their subsequent conduct."

The Malwatte Mahanayake said he had already written to President Kumaratunga asking for a copy of the full report. "From the very beginning we were maintaining that we could not accept the composition of the committee. How can we therefore accept the findings?" the Prelate asked.

The bomb explosion at Dalada Maligawa triggered off a political drama with the resignation of the Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte. In what has widely come to be known as a staged exercise, Gen. Ratwatte later withdrew his resignation.

Earlier, the Mahanayakes of the Malwatte and Asgiriya chapters issued strong statements calling upon Gen. Ratwatte not to resign.

Last week the mahanayakes also strongly backed Gen. Ratwatte's call to put off Provincial Council elections until the separatist war is over.

CID probes sex web frame-up

The CID is investigating the alleged fraud where Minister Mangala Samaraweera's official credit card has been used to access 32 sex sites on the Internet.

Mr. Samaraweera told The Sunday Times details of the investigation could not be disclosed until more evidence was gathered. This maybe one of the biggest cases of fraud on the internet in Sri Lanka, he said. Mr. Samaraweera last week told The Sunday Times he was the victim of a cooked-up controversy, and a frame-up.

He maintained that to his knowledge this particular credit card had not been misused since last week for further access of sex sites or any other purchases.

The controversy over Mr. Samaraweera's credit card arose after it was disclosed in the media that Sri Lanka Telecom had picked up the bill for expenses on his personal and official credit card. The Japanese managed company had paid Rs. 277,852.41 on behalf of the Minister. Mr. Samaraweera has refuted charges that his personal expenses were met by SLT.

He confirmed that SLT had paid that sum of money in settlement of an outstanding amount on his Gold Visa Credit card, for official expenses. This card issued by the Bank of Ceylon had a credit limit of about Rs. 250,000. The card was given to the Minister in April this year. The Minister has admitted it was incorrect for SLT's Chief Executive Officer Kamitsuma to pay the expenses on his credit card out of his personal account. He said Mr. Kamitsuma was misled by mischievous elements.

Postponement likely: no top PA names

Provincial elections:

By M. Ismeth and Nilika de Silva

Moves are underway to postpone the provincial council elections using emergency regulations soon after nominations for the Western, Sabaragamuwa and the North Central Provinces close.

Nominations for the Central and Uva provinces closed on Friday.

The Sunday Times learns elections will be postponed by one month initially and extended thereafter.

With a question mark hanging over the PC elections, some PA frontliners who were accepted to come forward as candidates for chief ministerial posts appear to be having second thoughts.

Nominations for the Uva provincial elections closed last Friday but, despite much speculation, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva did not come forward for the chief minister's post. In the Central Province, Parliamentarian Janaka Tennakoon was expected to head the PA list but his name was not there when nominations closed.

Minister Kingsley Wickremeratne's name has been mentioned for the Western Province, Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake for the North Central Province and Deputy Minister Athauda Seneviratne for the Sabaragamuwa province.

But latest reports indicate all these frontliners are reluctant to resign from parliament and come forward for fear that PC elections might be postponed.

Last month the government's Information Department issued a statement from the four Mahanayakes calling for a postponement of PC elections till the military operations in the North East were successfully completed. The government also sought the cooperation of the UNP in getting a two thirds majority for a constitutional amendment that was believed to be necessary for the postponement of PC elections.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe initially made statements indicating he might be prepared for this on certain conditions but the party's policy making working committee at a June 20 meeting decided to oppose any postponement of PC polls.

Stassen chiefs throw hot chocolate on underlings

By Frederica Jansz

Stassens Group Chairman V.P. Vittachi, named as a suspect by Customs in a case of alleged fraud by his company has clarified the events that led to this case.

Another Stassens Director Harry Jayawardena, Chairman of AirLanka, is also seeking legal advice against the concluding evidence of this case, where he too has been named as a suspect for allegedly under-invoicing the import of chocolates.

Mr. Vittachi says as a senior citizen concerned about his good name, he wishes to state for the record what happened with regard to this case. Mr. Vittachi has confirmed that he signed a letter of credit, approving the import of the said consignment of chocolates. The chocolates were imported from a company in Belgium to a company based in Singapore known as 'Libra Ltd.', which is affiliated to the Stassens Group. The allegation is that Libra then under-invoiced the consignment of chocolates by as much as US$ 13,238.00 (SL Rs. 850,000).

Mr. Vittachi raises objections to him and other Stassens personnel being labelled as 'suspects'. He says Customs Prosecuting officer Sujith Perera has no legal or moral right to label witnesses in that manner even before the facts are ascertained.

Mr. Perera told The Sunday Times Mr. Vittachi was separated from being a witness to being named as a suspect "due to his obvious involvement in this matter." Customs say they have heard that Harry Jayawardena and Stassens are seeking legal advice on this matter to appeal against the final conclusions of this case in which a Rs. 4 million penalty is attached.

Mr. Vittachi claims the document he signed was a routine one, among hundreds of which he lends his signature to as Chairman of Stassens. He maintains that on January 16, this year, he received a 'politely worded' letter from Customs Assistant Director K. Somasiri, asking him to be present as a witness at an inquiry on January 27.

Later, Mr. Vittachi says he received a not so politely worded letter signed by Mr. Somasiri saying the inquiry had been postponed to February 5 and warning him to be present without fail.

Mr. Vittachi says this warning letter was clearly intended to intimidate and was an abuse of power on the part of Mr. Somasiri.

The inquiry was finally held on February 11 where together with Mr. Vittachi, several other officers of Stassens had also been summoned as witnesses. The Stassens personnel were told at this inquiry that Customs were on a fact finding mission.

Mr. Vittachi says he pleaded ill health thereafter and since has not personally been aware of anything that transpired.

He alleges that under-invoicing could very well have been committed by an underling at Stassens, insisting that he and Harry Jayawardena were innocent.

Mr. Vittachi has been a strong advocate against corruption during the regime of former President J. R. Jayewardene. He is the author of a publication titled 'What Went Wrong?' which focuses on numerous cases of bribery and corruption during the Jayawardene administration.

Mr. Vittachi told The Sunday Times the media had implied that a person who castigated the corrupt conduct of others should himself be like Caesar's wife. But he added that even Calphurnia could not be expected to ensure that vilifications are not directed against her by some underling.

A Customs official however rebutted this position stating that under the law those who place signatures as well as Board Directors must take the responsibility for the work of an underling.

Minister joins in attack on police chief

By Chamintha Thilakaratna

A senior Cabinet Minister has joined opposition leaders to condemn Police Chief W.B. Rajaguru's remarks that the security of parliamentarians and provincial councillors would have to be withdrawn if provincial elections are to be held.

"Not only I, not a single PA member will agree with what he has said," Fisheries Minister Mahinda Rajapakse told The Sunday Times last night.

He said it was not a fair statement to make when political parties had already begun their polls campaign. He warned that if Mr. Rajaguru's advice was taken and if something were to happen to opposition members or their leader, it was the Government that would become responsible.

UNP spokesman Karunasena Kodituwakku pointed out that never in the history of elections had any police chief made such a statement.

threat to withdraw security could lead to a situation where parliamentarians and councillors could be attacked, he warned.

"We never agreed to postpone elections. Nor have we agreed to hand over our security personnel for deployment on polls duty," he said.

MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardena accused the IGP of acting like a government puppet and making outrageous suggestions .

"Elections must go on. The two main contenders must behave themselves. Then, there is no need to give outrageous reasons to put off polls.

"The IGP is a puppet in the hands of the government. He seems to be expressing his ideas to suit government's convenience," Mr. Gunewardena said.

JVP spokesman Wimal Weerawansa said that if the main parties agreed to avoid violence, and the elections were held on a staggered basis, there would be no need for extra security.

He said the JVP would not accept lame excuses for the postponement of the polls.

Police chief Rajaguru's extended term of office expired on

June 15 and has been further extended until August 30 during which period the government wants to host the SAARC summit and intended to hold Provincial Council elections.