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 20th September 1998 |
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New crime buster to target gang leadersBy Christopher KamalendranUsing modern technology and with more public co-operation, the newly appointed chief crime buster of police has pledged a tough new campaign to crack down on underworld criminals and wealthy businessmen or politicians who back them. The once controversial H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya, newly appointed as DIG in charge of Crimes and Criminal Intelligence said yesterday the clamp on underworld gangs would be part of the Police's new campaign to counter the rising crime wave. "We are identifying underworld gangs. We have obtained photographs and other records and we are ready to act," he vowed. DIG Kotakadeniya who had been moved out of Colombo earlier amidst allegations that he overstepped his bounds, said the police were going for the gang leaders in the belief that if the bosses were roped in, the gangs could be kept under control. He said the police were getting the information desks streamlined to act effectively in this operation but he hoped the public would co-operate more by giving tips and leads. "Sometimes we do not receive information as the public do not trust the police. But we are giving a reassurance today our sources of information will be kept secret and full protection will be given to informants. It is difficult for us to send decoys to get information as strangers would be easily detected. "But if the people of the area act as informants, they cannot be detected by the gangs," the DIG said. He said all available modern technology and skills would be put into force to fight the increasing crime rate. He believed that more than politicians some wealthy businessmen were backing underworld gangs to achieve their objectives.
Judges throw full weight behind MahanamaDistrict Judges, Magistrates and Primary Court judges from all over the country have thrown their weight behind High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne while urging President Kumaratunga and Chief Justice to take tough action against the police officers responsible for the malicious, illegal and improper arrest of the judge. The Judicial Service Association, comprising District Judges, Magistrates and Primary Court Judges at an emergency meeting on Tuesday moved tough resolutions, saying the action of the police against judge Tillekeratne was a serious threat to the independence and integrity of the whole judiciary. As the national crisis continued over the arrest of the judge, the JSA headed by Mt. Lavinia District Judge Eric Basnayake decided to send one resolution to President Kumaratunga and the other to Chief Justice G. P. S. De Silva for effective action. "The JSA whilst condemning the derogatory manner in which Mr. Tillekeratne was arrested illegally and kept in custody by the CID appeals to you to take stern action against those responsible," the resolution to the President said. In a resolution to the Chief Justice, the JSA said: "We learn that Judge Thilekeratne was arrested illegally on a alleged statement belatedly made by an interested person causing embarrassment to the entire Judiciary and affecting its independence and integrity, further eroding the public confidence in it as a service that subdued by the police and the law enforcement. "Information available establishes malice on the part of the officers involved. The position is strengthened by the fact that the arrest was made in spite of the intimation made to the officers present that the warrant was recalled. It is further corroborated by the fact that the investigation could have been carried out in a very lawful manner without affecting the dignity of the office he holds by merely requesting him to make a statement either direct to the CID or through Court and the law could have taken its own course. This course of action resorted to by the law enforcement officers has the effect of eroding the confidence of the public with regard to the independence of the Judiciary. "Therefore, the JSA at an Emergency General Meeting held has unanimously resolved to earnestly request you to call upon the President to hold an inquiry impartially to this matter and to take necessary disciplinary action against those found guilty of malicious and/or illegal and/or improper arrest and the improper manner in which the said arrest has been executed. "It is our view that such officers should be given exemplary punishment so that public confidence in the institution of justice could be restored. "The JSA also requests you not to initiate any disciplinary action against Mr. Thillekeratne in the light of fabricated material that appears to be available and await the findings of the Magistrate before whom a plaint has been filed."
Ranil on big dollar huntThe UNP has launched its massive fund raising initiative in the United States, with party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Treasurer Milroy Perera, canvassing financial support from US based UNP affiliated groups and others to boost party coffers. After appointing 40 fund managers for the party two weeks ago, Mr. Wickremesinghe will combine a personal visit with wife Maithree to meet some Congress leaders and party activists. The UNP top rungers will campaign in the big cities of Los Angeles and New York to raise funds to meet a target of Rs. 26 million by December, party sources said. They are scheduled to meet various UNP affiliated groups during the stay and are also likely to meet the US based pro LTTE, Tamil sangam representatives. President Kumaratunga will also be in the United States later this month and there is speculation whether she might meet Mr. Wickremesinghe in New York.
Were cops behind Twin Tower hoax?Widespread reports last Thursday about hand grenades being discovered in the basement of the high-rise World Trade Center were frivolous or ill-motivated, prompting a request by the management of the WTC for an independent inquiry. The call for the inquiry came amidst claims that Police personnel were involved in spreading the news that grenades were found inside a jeep in the car park of the WTC. Y. S. de Soysa, the Deputy General Manager of Overseas Reality (Ceylon) Ltd., owners and Developer of the WTC, has requested the Inspector General of Police to probe how such a frivolous news item received such wide publicity. Mr. Soysa told The Sunday Times they wanted to find out whether the bomb story was spread to bring the WTC into disrepute. Investigations so far have revealed the four hand grenades were found on the road opposite the WTC, close to the former Fort Police station on Wednesday around 10 p.m. The grenades were recovered in a box and not in a jeep at the car park as reported in some sections of the media. A WTC security guard who wished to remain anonymous said that half an hour before the grenades were found, he noticed four persons walking towards the former Fort police station. I identified as one of them as a policeman who was known to me. I spoke to him, but he was not so friendly like the other days and I felt he was trying to avoid me. I did not take much notice of it and returned to my guard post. "Minutes later I saw a police team rushing towards the road opposite the WTC and they claimed that bombs had been detected near the WTC," the guard said. A senior official of the WTC, better known as the Twin Towers, said the police had earlier wanted to occupy a section of the towers, but it was turned down as the management did not want to cause a risk by renting out premises to the security forces. Senior Police officers who spoke to The Sunday Times appear to play down the story or any police role in the false alarm. They said they were not aware of any probe on the detection of grenades or any police role in the hoax.
Three vie for top post in journalist bodyThree journalists are vying for the post of president of the Working Journalists' Association of Sri Lanka. Nominations for the election of new officials to this main body of journalists were handed in at the Press Council and the annual general meeting will be held on October 3 at MICH in Fort. Nominations for the main posts are as follows: President: Daya Perera (Lake House ), Mahinda Abeysundera (ITN) and Newton Seneviratne (Ravaya). Vice Presidents (two posts): S.N.R.Pillai (Virakesari), G. M. Wickremesinghe and Ajantha Ranasinghe (Lake House) and Chandragupta Amarasinghe (Ravaya). Secretary: Dushantha Samarasinghe (Wijeya) and Gunasiri Vithanage (Lake House). Asst.Secretaries (two posts): C. Dombawatte (Yukthiya), N. M. Ameen (Lake House), R. Selvaraj (Virakesari), Sudharman Radaliyagoda (Express) and Bandula Abeyratne (Lake House). Sirimevan Kasturiarachchi of the Upali Newspapers was declared elected as uncontested as Treasurer, while M.H.M. Ismeth of Wijeya Newspapers and A.V.S. Moses of the Express Newpapers will be assistant treasurers. Twenty two members will also be elected to the executive committee.
Unit to monitor powder pill docsBy Faraza FarookWith more people dying due to wrong prescriptions, an adverse drug reaction monitoring centre is to be set up in Sri Lanka soon, a Health official said. Such units have been set up in many countries with the main centre in Geneva to control deaths occurring due to negligence in prescribing drugs. Wrong prescriptions issued by doctors who were unaware of the basic properties contained in drugs and how they interacted with each other had resulted in some 450 child deaths throughout the world last year, officials said.
Cooray denies links with poster, leadership tussleBy Roshan PeirisWith colour posters of Sirisena Cooray being splashed on city walls, the former UNP strongman is again denying he is eyeing the Colombo Central electorate or the UNP leadership. The controversial Mr. Cooray — sidelined from a party he once controlled, arrested last year and in the thick of many other conflicts — returned recently from another trip to Australia and said he knew nothing about the Cooray posters. "The poster campaign has been done by the boys of Colombo Central. I had nothing to do with it. "Why should I wish or request to be the organiser of Colombo Central though some newspapers and politicians are making much of it. To be or not to be the Organiser of Colombo Central has to be the wish of the people" he said. The sometimes tough and outspoken Mr. Cooray pointed out he was now not a member of the UNP because he had not renewed his membership. Responding to reports that he had abandoned Colombo Central during the Wijetunga era and that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe looked after Colombo Central since then, Mr. Cooray said "Ask Ranil about it, not me. He will know the truth doubtless". Asked whether he was aspiring for the leadership of the UNP, he laconically replied "I have no such ambitions but if there is a vacuum of sorts in the leadership what can I do? Go around the country and talk to the people and understand what they think and say". "If Ranil is performing well then in the first place the question of talking about me or anyone else for possible leadership does not arise. If Ranil is performing well he has no need to worry about others aspiring to the leadership." Mr. Cooray in a philosophical mood said people should meditate and think about their good points and weak ones. This would help rather than trying to put one against the other in the party. "I often meditate on those lines. Also Ranil must sort out his friends from his enemies. One does not fight with friends", he said.
India keen to give Lanka 'MFN' statusBy Our India CorrespondentIndia is keen on according Sri Lanka the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to help boost bilateral trade and narrow the widening trade gap between the two countries, the Indian Commerce Minister, Ramakrishna Hegde told journalists during the SAARC fair at the BMICH in Colombo.. He said he had accepted President Chandrika Kumaratunga's suggestion that a joint working group be formed to discuss the entire gamut of issues relating to bilateral trade. Mr. Hedge said it was agreed that the working group should have three members from each country. Each delegation would have a representative of trade and a representative of the government, besides an independent expert. At present, Indo-Sri Lanka trade is heavily in favour of India with Indian exports to Sri Lanka amounting to $416 million and imports from Sri Lanka just $28 million in 1997-98. Looking at India's trade relations with the SAARC countries as a whole, India exported $1370 million and imported $ 218.5 million in 1997-98. On the Most Favoured Nation status for Sri Lanka, Mr. Hegde said India would like Sri Lanka to join the league of Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the Maldives and receive MFN treatment from it. Right now, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are classified as developing countries and not accorded MFN status. Mr. Hegde said India had offered Pakistan MFN status but there was no response. Mr. Hegde said he favoured the entry of Sri Lankan tea into the Indian market and felt the reservations expressed by the Indian tea industry were groundless.
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