MEP rallies prelates to save heritage

By Shelani de Silva

Accusing the Archaeological Department of incompetence, the MEP is to discuss with Buddhist prelates and other organisations effective means of checking the vandalism of ancient treasures.

MEP leader Dinesh Gunewardene told The Sunday Times they would meet the Mahanayake's and call a meeting of Buddhist organisations next week to discuss various proposals to save the country's heritage which was being increasingly threatened by vandals.

After a spate of robberies of artefacts including the guardstones at the historic Watadage,the government announced that it would introduce tough new legislation to stop the vandalism.

The MEP leader said he felt the need was to urgently and efficiently implement existing laws but he regretted that archaeological officials were only talking a lot while doing little.

Archaeological Commissioner Shiran Deraniyagala told The Sunday Times they were drawing up a scheme to offer rewards to those who give information relating to these heritage crimes. But it would take time to implement this scheme. Meanwhile leaflets were being sent to thousands of temples and schools to bring about a greater awareness of the value of our ancient treasures and the need for public co-operation in fighting the vandalism.

Cultural Affairs Minister Lakshman Jayakoday has said all those who own ancient artefacts would be told to return them to the state. If they did not, a house to house search would be launched and the treasures seized. Only replicas could be kept as private property while all the original treasures would belong to the people.

In one of the most shocking incidents recently an Army officer was arrested in Anuradhapura while he was allegedly trying to sell a gold statue worth several million rupees.

Two more policemen challenge findings

By K.M. Weeraratne

Two more police officers filed writ applications in the Court of Appeal challenging the findings against them by the Lalith Athulathmudali Special Presidential Commission.

Inspector B.G. Devasurendra and Sub Inspector N.A. Abdeen in their petitions cited Commission Chairman Tissa Dias bandaranayake, member G.W. Edirisooriya, IGP Lakdasa Kodituwakku, DIG Punya de Silva, and the Attorney General as the respondents.

The petitioners state that the findings of the Commission against them are based on matters which were never placed before the Commission as evidence

They said the findings were based on surmise and conjecture and were unreasonable in that the commissioners have failed to consider they were elsewhere at the time in question.

The petitions say the findings were made in breach of natural justice and fair procedure; and have been arrived at without observing the mandatory requirement of Section 16 of Law No. 7 of 1978 of informing them that their conduct was the subject of inquiry by the Commission or that they were in any way implicated or concerned in the matters under inquiry.

Peace group calls for sincere talks

A national movement for peace has appealed to all parties to negotiate seriously and sincerely in a bid to find an equitable political solution to the ethnic conflict.

In a statement, the National Movement for Justice, Peace and Reconciliation has noted with deep outrage and sorrow, the senseless killing in a bomb blast at Jaffna Municipality recently of the former Mayor of Jaffna, Ponnadurai Siyapalan, Jaffna Brigade Commander, Susantha Mendis, several senior Police officers and others.

"The bloody incident while receiving our forthright condemnation is fresh evidence of the cyclical and self-perpetuating nature of the violence in Sri Lanka. While appreciating the efforts made by the Lankan Government to bring normalcy to the north, we wish to point out that this outrage is further proof of the need for a negotiated political settlement of the country's ethnic conflict.

"For it is very clear that the continued resort to war only begets further violence, thus bringing pain and suffering to everyone, irrespective of community and creed," it said.

Extra security at church after threats

In view of threats from unidentified parties, extra security measures have been taken at the Rawatawatte Catholic Church where an yet mysterious vision on the wall behind the altar is continuing to attract thousands of devotees.

Rev. Fr. Edward Revel, Parish priest of the Queen of Angels Church at Rawatawatte near Moratuwa, told 'The Sunday Times' the callers had made various threats but he did not wish to say anything more about it.

He said that despite the threats and efforts by some parties to undermine the apparition, thousands of peoples of simple faith were continuing to congregate and pray at the site of the vision.

Swarnavahini recently telecast the apparition which many viewers saw as an image of the Blessed Mother holding out a Cross. Fr.Revel said that whatever the sceptics might think, miraculous healings were continuing to take place at the Church while the vision which first appeared on August 16, continues into its 6th week.

The first miraculous healing was that of an Airforce officer who had a lung patch which was diagnosed as cancer. He testified that the patch had disappeared after he prayed for healing during a visit to the Church.

Later a lady doctor who suffered from cancer also testified she had been healed after praying before the vision of the Blessed Mother holding out the Cross.

Others testified they had been healed of various ailments including kidney stones and hepatitis.

As part of the security measures, volunteers at the Church are checking bags and parcels including handbags of ladies. The area around the apparition has also been completely enclosed till the Catholic Church officially conducts a study by theological and scientific experts.

Among the devotees flocking to the shrine are lay people, priests and nuns from even the war zones of Jaffna and Mannar. Three Holy Masses are celebrated every day and today's Masses will be at 8.30 a.m., noon and 6 p.m.

The little known Church which has now become a revered shrine will be celebrating its feast on October 11 and huge crowds are expected for it. Novenas in preparation for the Feast of Mary Queen of Angels will be held every evening from October 2.

Unjust taxes, say shipowners

Shipowners have protested against what they see as illegitimate and unjust taxes imposed on them for purchasing vessels and warned they would register their ships elsewhere if they were not granted exemption.

A spokesman for the Shipowners' Association said the import of ships in most countries was duty free because the vessels played a major role in economic activity. If the customs persisted in their moves, the shipowners would register elsewhere and Sri Lanka's economy would suffer as a result.

He said they had appealed to the Customs and to the Finance Ministry seeking redress after Customs officers raided some ten shipping companies and seized files on charges that taxes had not been paid.

"Customs officers who raided the shipping companies claimed they had reasonable grounds to suspect that there were uncustomed goods in the premises. But, when they visited our offices they took away files pertaining to the purchase of ships, saying Sri Lankan companies were liable to pay duty for the import of vessels," the spokesman said.

The association alleged that the recent raids were unjustifiable and discriminatory as some other private sector firms and the public sector had been acquiring ships since 1971 with no import duty being paid.

The association warned that imposition of taxes on the import of vessels could be be harmful to the country as many investors might be discouraged.

Shipowners' Association president Nahil Wijesuriya, told The Sunday Times that if the duty was not withdrawn, they would register ships overseas and Sri Lanka's economy would be affected.

"Duty is not levied for the import of vessels by any country. In some countries the vessels are not only exempted from import duty but their owners get financial and other incentives because of the contribution they make to the county's economy," he said.

The Sunday Times learns that according to the latest Customs tariff system even ships acquired by the navy and other security forces will be subjected to a duty of 10 percent like any other cargo ship acquired by companies.

"Our war-relief efforts will suffer if there were no Sri Lankan ships. A large number of ships owned by our members are used by the government to serve the Tamil population in Jaffna by carrying essential items there," Mr. Wijesuriya pointed out..

W .D. Soysa of Mercantile Shipping, one of the companies raided, said that seven customs officers had stormed in and seized files.

Lanka Maritime Services, a BOI company, was also raided two weeks ago and photocopies taken of purchase documents.

Garbage collection privatized

By Nilika de Silva

Garbage collection in Fort and Pettah will be privatised with effect from October 1 as first step to handing over garbage disposal to the private sector, Colombo's Mayor Karu Jayasuriya said.

He said garbage distribution would be privatised in the Fort and Pettah areas as an experiment under which three zones would be privatised and compared against another three which are being handled by the municipality. The third zone to be privatised is the Wellawatta area.

"Thereafter it would be the survival of the fittest," he said.

He was speaking at the Organisation of Professional Associations where he had been invited to inspect the functioning of GARBY an environment friendly unit for garbage disposal.

"My garbage in my backyard," is the philosophy behind the creation of GARBY, says Environmental Engineering Consultant Tissa de Silva who together with a team of graduates has put into place this project which they hope will be the solution for garbage disposal in a country where "the main method of garbage disposal is to throw it over the wall into a neighbour's garden.'

The GARBY is made up of six ferro-concrete plates which keep it totally rat free. And also unlike other bins it cannot be knocked over by cats and dogs or attacked by crows. Therefore kitchen and garden waste can gradually turn to organic fertilizer which, in turn can be used for gardening in place of chemical fertilizers which are known to be very harmful when consumed in vegetables and greenery.

One of the main attractions of GARBY is that the roadside dumping of kitchen waste, with the associated odours and hazards, would be reduced and also there would be no dependence on municipal collection.

Mayor Karu Jayasuriya participated in a tour of the OPA premises which is using this method of garbage disposal. The categorising of waste into separate bins as organic, plastic and paper takes place, and then the paper is sold to Vallachchenai, explained Project Officer, Environmental Project of OPA, Parakrama Perera.

The Mayor said he and his colleagues would extend their support to the project but requested the assurance that Mr. De Silva would provide guidance, advice and commitment.

The Mayor also stated that though privatisation had become a dirty word and people had come to fear it, but in this instance people would not lose their jobs.

Greater Colombo with its daily output of 1000 tons of garbage requires a lasting solution to garbage disposal.

AI call to free SEP members

The Amnesty International has appealed for the release of five members of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) who have been taken into custody by the LTTE in the North more than a month back.

The AI in its appeal called on organisations to send messages to the LTTE asking them to give an assurance that the SEP members will not be ill-treated or tortured and allow the ICRC representatives and relatives to visit the captives.The SEP also has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the five SEP members.

Shooting wall under fire

By H.P.P. Perera

Minister Ratnasiri Wickr-amanayake has instructed that the parapet wall which is used for target practice by recruits at the Kalutara Police Training College should be raised as stray bullets could hit people in the nearby houses.

Kalutara's Divisional Secretary Rupasiri Wellage said that a year ago the wall was raised after residents complained but it was not tall enough to rule out any danger, he said.

Lecture to remember Bakeer

The Bakeer Markar Memorial Lecture will be delivered on September 22nd at 4.30 p.m. at the Mahaweli Centre Auditorium, No: 85, Ananda Kumaraswamy Mawatha, Colombo 7. Dr.Neelan Thiruchelvam, MP, will preside.

The lecture will be delivered by Mr. Bradman Weerakoon on the theme "The Challenges of Unity in Diversity."

Hammered or not?

A well known Colombo auctioneer Dunstan Kelaart, has complained to police that he was assaulted by two unknown men who forcibly took a ride in his vehicle on Tuesday.

In his complaint Mr.Kelaart said that two men got into his jeep at the traffic lights near Longden Place around 8.30 p,m.

They hijacked the vehicle and demanded him to drive to Battaramulla.

When proceeding to Battaramulla via Borella they demanded Mr. Kelaart stop the jeep near Polduwa junction by the side of a marshy land. Then they tried to push him out of the vehicle for them to take over the wheel. However he had clung on to the steering wheel and tried to proceed. The two men had then assaulted him and disappeared, according to the complaint.

Mr. Kelaart then tried to proceed when his jeep fell into a pit. Unable to get it out he had gone home in another vehicle and later returned with a companion to retrieve his vehicle.

Though Welikada police confirmed the complaint, Mr.Kelaart, when contacted by The Sunday Times yesterday, for some reason denied that he was assaulted.

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