 |
01st November 1998 |
|
 |
||
 |
Contents
|
|
 |
Dolls from Wanni create quite an attraction hereBy Shelani de Silva.Seven-year-old Dayanthi and five-year-old Dilanthi, two children from Vavuniya are just like other children their age when it comes to playing and talking but their physical appearance is quite different when compared to children their age.Both children are like miniature dolls, their heights being one and a half feet and two feet. Both girls were brought to the children's ward at Sri Jayawardenapura hospital accompanied by their mother after an NGO had sent them to Colombo for a medical check up. The children are not suffering from any disease. Their growth is not due to any sickness rather a genetic disorder. The girls' parents were advised by the paediatrician to bring the children to the clinic in two months' time. For the children their stay at Jayawardenapura hospital might have been like living in a five star hotel when compared to their temporary home at the Madhu refugee camp. This was evident in the manner the kids got on and how free they looked with other children. They were definitely very comfortable and friendly. When The Sunday Times visited the two girls in hospital they were engrossed in drawing, but the moment they knew that they will be asked to pose for a photograph they insisted their mother dress them better. "They are just like other children their age. They demand things, even fight with their brothers. We were never worried about their size until some officials advised us to seek treatment," said Alagarani, the mother. Talking to Alagarani it is not surprising to hear that she was not worried over the childrens' size when there were other things to worry about. One year ago their home was destroyed due to shelling and the family lost everything. They were forced to go to the refugee camp. "We had a comfortable home in Omanthai but everything was destroyed. Living in the refugee camp under trying conditions is very difficult but we manage. My two girls get on well with other children in camp, they are not cornered, they are treated just like other children," she said. The girls may have been treated well because Dayanthi is schooling and according to her mother is a very bright and intelligent girl, even better than her three elder brothers. The two girls are the fourth and fifth in a family of six. What is surprising is that only the two girls are affected while the boys are normal. The youngest who is just one month old was also brought to Colombo with his sisters. When asked whether their appetite was in keeping with their size, Algarani said that they hardly eat. If they are given biscuits it is with the greatest difficulty that they eat one. 'I thought that they will eat about half an apple since they have not eaten them, but both were full on a quarter of an apple. In taking liquids it is the same story. But they are very independent. I don't have to do anything. They can manage on their own bathing, washing and brushing their teeth,' she said. While Dayanthi and Dilanthi enjoyed all the attention from the people, Alagarani did not see anything amusing in the fascination shown about her kids. 'I don't mind people coming to see the children but I get very hurt when they laugh and try to lift the children and make fun. I never expected this specially since the children were treated like normal children in the camp. Visitors come to the bedside to get a glimpse of the children' she said. In fact the parents of other children in the ward said that on one particular evening the children had been forced to dance and sing [which they do well] by some people and Alagarani was thoroughly upset and wept. The two 'dolls' were scheduled to leave Colombo today, hopefully, to an acceptable environment.
Rs. 107b deficit, budget on ThursdayThe Appropriation Bill with a monumental budget deficit of Rs. 106.9 billion will be presented in Parliament by Deputy Finance Minister. G.L. Peiris on Thursday November 5 at 2.30 pm.With some hoping for an election budget, others praying for the scrapping of the burdensome Goods and Services Tax (GST), it is largely expected that several welfare measures would be removed with defence expenditure escalating The main allocations have been for defence and agriculture while there is a marked decrease in the funds for industries. It is expected that the private sector would be depended on for providing employment and income generation. The first part of the presentation would be the ceremonial budget speech of the Minister highlighting the economic achievements of the government for the past year and the programmes planned for next year. Following the tea break at four, the Minister will present his revenue proposals for the financial year 1999. The second reading of the Budget would be from 10th to 18th November with former UNP Chairman A.C.S. Hameed opening the debate for the Opposition. The committee stage would commence on November 19 and continue till December 16 when the vote would be taken and the Appropriation Bill passed.
Business leaders await nominees for peace talksBy Nilika de SilvaRepresentatives of the Chambers of Commerce are awaiting the two nominees of the PA and the UNP to go ahead with the business sector initiative to find a solution to the ethnic conflict.Patrick Amerasinghe, President of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka, said they had requested the President to nominate two members from her party.He said that it would facilitate matters very much if high ranking representatives are nominated. During the meeting on Monday between the representatives of the chambers, and a UNP delegation led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, the UNP too agreed to name two representatives to work in co-ordination with the business community. UNP Chairman Karu Jayasuriya said that they had not made their nominations so far, but hope to do so in the coming weeks. The PA also has not made its nominations so far.
They said 'shut up', and cut upBy Chamintha ThilakarathnaA Kelaniya MEP member whose face was cut from mouth to ear near the Pradeshiya Sabha office, has appealed to President Kumaratunga to keep her promise of ending the criminalisation of politics.PS member Bennet Ranawake who lost more than three pints of blood in the horrifying incident and narrowly escaped death, said he was convinced the attack was politically motivated after he challenged some unauthorised land deals and malpractices in school admissions. Mr. Ranawake, who is warded at the National Hospital, said he was coming for the monthly meeting at the PS office near the temple when he saw a large crowd gathered near the office. "I was walking towards the entrance when a man with a knife cut my face from my mouth to the ear. "There were three others with pistols but they did not shoot. Perhaps they thought the bloody attack with the knife would kill me," Mr. Ranawake, the MEP members said. He said he was convinced the incident was a politically motivated one. He said he had recently challenged Kelaniya PS chairperson S. Kumudini on the unauthoirsed refilling of paddy lands in the area and the admission of children to popular schools through illegitimate means. "I have received death threats and been warned to shut up. . Even my wife has been threatened that she will be made a widow," he said. Although he had complained to the Peliyagoda police station and insisted that he be provided security, no response had been received, the PS member said. Mr. Ranawake was earlier a member of the SLFP and the PA before he joined the MEP and has been in politics for 30 years. The Sunday Times contacted PS Chairman.Kumudini for her response but she declined to comment and told us to call again tomorrow.
Arjuna sues NOC chief for defamationBy Ayesha RafiqSri Lanka's cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga has filed a thumping damages case against the country's sports chief and three newspapers for alleged defamation of character.In a plaint, Mr. Ranatunga is claiming Rs. 100 million as damages from National Olympic Committee Chairman Hemasiri Fernando over a recent statement he made regarding the decision by top players to skip the Commonwealth Games cricket tournament. The cricket captain is also claiming a total of Rs. 300 million as damages from three newspapers — Divaina, the Island and the Weekend Express — for publishing the remarks made by the NOC chief. Sri Lanka sent a second stream team to the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in September after almost all the star players in the dream team which won the World Cup decided to skip the tournament. Speaking at Kuala Lumpur, the NOC chief is reported to have alleged the players were more interested in money than in the honour of their country, and they had forgotten the fans who were looking forward to seeing the players in action. Refuting this charge, Mr. Ranatunga says the star players skipped the Commonwealth Games because they were tired after a long overseas tour or due to injuries. The damages cases were filed in the District Court of Mt. Lavinia. Mr. Fernando is also the secretary to the prime minister and chairman of Sri Lanka Telecom.
LTTE base in South Africa exposedBy Roshan PeirisWith Britain joining the US and India in cracking down on the LTTE's front organisations, there is increasing evidence that the Tamil rebels are moving their international operations centre to South Africa.A South African newspaper recently reported details of the LTTE's growing South African connection — the secret supply of arms and money through Tamil supporters there to the war coffers of the LTTE here and secret moves to set up their main centre in South Africa. The Sunday Times of South Africa quoted a group calling itself the South African Tamil Tigers saying LTTE members were receiving training there. The group's spokesman, was quoted as saying LTTE members regularly slipped into South Africa to receive secret training in the latest weapons technology. "We are in daily contact with members of the LTTE. We also have a highly disciplined and militant group of Tamils here who have received training in explosives and tracking. Some of our members are prepared to make the supreme sacrifice for the Tamils in Sri Lanka," he was quoted as saying. Mr. Veerabadren denied local supporters were supplying arms to the Tamil Tigers. But Edward Pillay, Public Relations officer for people against Sri Lankan oppression, another local Tamil support group, said regular financial donations were made to the minority struggle in Sri Lanka. "Before the unbanning of the African National Congress, when foreign countries gave the ANC funds, no one questioned what the funds would be used for. Likewise we are sending money to Sri Lanka and we are not questioning what it will be used for," Mr. Pillay said. Responding to these, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner Gamini Munasinghe was quoted as saying he was aware of several organisations in South Africa which were allegedly acting as LTTE fronts.
Record-breaking burglar a drug addictBy Marcus JosephThe burglar against whom 52 court warrants were pending has been finally remanded after he was nabbed and grilled for days under emergency regulations, police said.The 32-year-old suspect, wanted by several police stations for robbery of jewellery, gems, tusks and watches and other valuables is said to be a drug addict who needed at least Rs. 600 a day to satisfy the craving. He was nabbed at one of his hideouts in Koralawella, Moratuwa. Police said they searched his house and found a hand grenade along with some wrist watches hidden under a hearth. The Sunday Times last week spotlighted this case as an instance where a criminal was taking the law as an ass and evading 50 court warrants.
Return to News/Comment Contents |
|
 |
|
|