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 19th July 1998 |
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Nobel winners reach out to blasted livesBy S.S.SelvanayagamAn international campaign to ban landmines is to evolve a strategy to co-operate with Sri Lanka to reduce landmines damage to the population specially in the North and East. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines(ICBL) has also plans to increase assistance to landmines survivors and affected communities. As a prelude to this strategy, Eduardo Marino, one of the directors of the ICBL concluded his 23 day visit to Sri Lanka this week to do an extensive study on the landmines issue. Eduardo Marino, a national of Colombia, South America, spent more than three weeks studying the landmines problem in war torn areas and conducting consultations with many organisations. The visit was exploratory and President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and the Defence Ministry too were informed about it, Mr.Marino told 'The Sunday Times'. The ICBL won the Nobel Peace Prize last year and one of its priorities now is to work in countries where landmines are used not only by government armed forces but also by armed rebel groups, he said. Mr. Marino is not a stranger to Sri Lanka. In 1987, he was in Jaffna assessing and reporting on the operation of the Indian Army and he was injured in the course of duty. One year later, he came back to investigate and report on the JVP insurgency and the government counter insurgency in the South. He submitted a report titled 'Battle of Jaffna from peace keeping to war fighting' in 1987 and another report titled 'Southern Sri Lanka on the Brink of Civil War' in 1989. Meanwhile, an international programme to remove landmines from Jaffna peninsula has been delayed by procedural details, An estimate of the landmines in the peninsula puts the figure be at 10,000 and an average of 10 civilians are reportedly being wounded every month by landmines, unexploded mortar and artillery shells. Sri Lanka has not signed an international treaty banning the use of landmines, on the basis that it would give undue advantage to the LTTE which still uses landmines extensively in the ongoing war.
Rape and killing of pregnant girl shocks DehiwelaBy Chris KamalendranA close family friend turned out to be the alleged rapist and killer of a newly married young pregnant woman in Dehiwela, in a case that has shocked the area. The 28-year-old Sureka Fernando who was married in January this year to a businessman allegedly fell victim to a divorcee who regularly visited the house and even shared lunch with the family on weekends.
On Wednesday morning as torrential rain lashed the area, Sureka was found dead by her mother who visited the daughter after being told that she was pregnant. Police acted swiftly and found vital evidence, the wrist watch of the alleged rapist-killer. They tracked him down the next day. After the crime, the alleged rapist-killer had left the house with an umbrella in the heavy rain hardly noticed by neighbours. But while leaving, he had apparently realised that he had dropped his wrist watch at Sureka's house, police said. Then in a shrewd move to cover up the tell-tale evidence, the alleged killer had gone to two wrist watch shops to buy a similar watch and strap. According to evidence gathered by the police, the alleged killer had then taken a short cut to his house after throwing the umbrella into the Ratmalana Hindu College grounds. Dehiwala Police Chief Inspector, W. Wickrarmaratna and Crime Detection Chief Keerthi Ranaweera who led investigations said the wristwatch was identified by Sureka's husband, Thomas Suresh, 32. They said the alleged killer was a divorcee and father of three children. He had also grabbed a gold chain and bangle from Sureka in addition to the two gold rings which he robbed from a drawer. He had sold the bangle to a pawn broker at Sea Street. All these items have been recovered. Police said Sureka had even offered a drink for the alleged killer. The assailant after committing the rape had strangled Sureka with a wire while pressing his leg on her chest, causing the break up of the ribs and damage to the lungs. The Colombo South JMO after an autopsy confirmed that Sureka had been raped before her death which was caused by internal bleeding. The suspect has been remanded. Police said they found scratch marks on his face and hands, further evidence of the crime.
We are sick of promises, we'll fight to the endAnniversary pledge by July strikersBy Shelani de SilvaOn the 18th anniversary of the July strike some 7000 victims who are yet seeking justice staged a demonstration in Colombo pointing out that the then strike leaders were now rich and powerful as ministers while many strikers were bedridden or reduced to beggary. Minister Alavi Maulana who plays a leading role in PA Trade Unions along with Labour Minister John Seneviratne says the government is doing everything possible for the strike victims and will soon do justice to all, but a spokesman for the victims says they are sick of such promises and will launch a fast unto death next month. Last Friday's protest which was staged by a joint organisation of July strikers was supported by ten Trade Unions. A spokesman charged there were upto 2000 private sector strike victims who had not got any compensation. The joint organisation's Secretary Amaradivakara told The Sunday Times they would meet on August 8 to decide whether to go ahead with a fast-unto-death campaign. Every time we decide to take some drastic action, the authorities give us promises. But we have had enough, next month we will fight to the end. From the President down, our one time strike leaders who now enjoy the highest positions have failed us badly. For the past four years we have been seeking for an appointment with the President but the doors are closed, " he charged. Of the 40,000 workers sacked after the July strike some 30,000 got compensation or their jobs back during the previous government. In 1995 a further 3000 workers were given jobs in the state sector. The other 7000 workers are yet to receive compensation of which 2000 are in the private sector, the organisation says. The Secretary said a few months ago they were told to hand over a list of names of those who were awaiting compensation. They did that but nothing came out of it. It was a betrayal. "It is not just 3000. Their families are also affected. It will carry on to the next generation too. Five of the workers committed suicide a few months ago, while most of them are either bedridden or suffering from poor eye sight and other ailments," he said. Responding to the allegation, Minister Moulana claimed the government had solved 95 percent of the problem and the rest would be sorted out soon. He blamed the strikers for not acting in an organised manner. Rather than agitating, he requested the strikers to hand over a list of names of those whose cases were yet not settled. "The government has given back the jobs to state employees. I have employed 480 workers in institutions under my ministry. The problem lies with the private sector. The strikers cannot blame the government. However we are doing everything possible to get compensation for them," he assured. Mr. Moulana's views were not shared by his PA colleague Vasudeva Nanayakkara. The radical LSSPer justified the strikers allegations and lashed out at present ministers, claiming that even the President had gone against her promises. "We have become hypocrites. The government can definitely afford the compensation. It is a small sum when compared with the massive amounts spent on luxuries," he said. Labour Minister John Seneviratne said the President had given directions for all strike victims to be compensated and a special fund was being set up for it. But the strikers organisation was sceptical of the latest promises and said this time they would fight to the end, unless the government went beyond empty promises.
Cholera: watch the festive fairBy Faraza FarookMore than 10 cholera victims are still reported from the Puttalam district daily, mainly in refugee camps, an official said, while the Health Ministry announced measures to prevent any outbreak at forthcoming festivals. District Medical Officer A. Ramachandran said about 25 Cholera victims were warded at Chilaw Hospital, while steps such as clean water and a clean-up of toilets were being taken in refugee camps to curb the outbreak. Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said several of the districts — Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Polonnaruwa, Gampaha, Colombo, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy — were still reporting Cholera cases. Measures to detect cases, disinfection of toilets, chlorination of wells, food inspections, campaigns and other educational activities were carried out in affected areas to control the infection. The ministry has also warned the public to be careful during the forthcoming festivals at Kataragama, Kandy and other areas. They are advised to use boiled water or adequately chlorinated water, take food that has been thoroughly cooked and still hot and fruits that have been peeled off by themselves, avoid salads, avoid food and beverages from street vendors and take treatment immediately from the nearest hospital if watery diarrhoea is developed.
UN award for young Lankan cartoonist
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in a worldwide competition to mark its golden jubilee, selected Mohan's cartoon on socio- economic issues for a runner-up prize. The cartoon by 21 year old Mr. Samaranayake was among the top ten from some 280 cartoons submitted by media artists all over the world. Among the other runners-up was veteran cartoonist S.C. Opatha. In 1997 Mohan received a top prize for his road safety graphic in a competition conducted by CTC Eagle Insurance.
Customs busts bag racketBags manufactured for a BOI approved fertilizer export company have been found in a private warehouse, Customs sources said. They said their raid on the warehouse had revealed thousands of such bags meant for fertilizer being stacked to be sold for bogus fertilizer racketeers. Investigations are continuing, the sources said.
Carry on doctor - sex in hospitalBy R.S. KeeriyawattaA case of how a young couple got into the doctors' restroom at the Peradeniya Hospital to have 'fun' is being investigated by authorities. According to initial investigations, a doctor in the hospital had been giving the key of the restroom to this couple, who were his friends, for sometime. The behind-the-door sex act came to light when another doctor who had a duplicate key opened the door, hospital sources said. The doctor nabbed the couple and handed them over to hospital security officers. But the couple had managed to leave the hospital. The sources said the couple returned to the hospital. This time not to make love but to get the vehicle they came in. A senior hospital official said the health ministry had been informed about the incident and an inquiry would be held.
More News/Comment * Helping hand for Samanmalee * Susanthika left n the lurch * Lankan refugee now sells Canadian citizenship * Your daily bread 'pus paan' * CRM asks, where's the commission? * Doctors to strike again * Paksitan tells Lanka to mediate Return to News/Comment Contents
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