Restraining order on Suntel

Sri Lanka Telecom and a private telephone company are embroiled in a legal battle following allegations that the company was providing international telephone facilities through unauthorised methods depriving Telecom of it's income.

Sri Lanka Telecom has obtained a restraining order against Suntel (Pvt) Limited's provision of international telephone facilities, through any other method than the international gateway of the Telecommunication system, operated by SLT.

A company based in the USA, Lanka Discount Telecom, Inc., operating under the trade name LankaTel and a Sri Lankan based company, Electroteks Ltd. have also been cited as defendants.

SLT holds the monopoly on the provision of all international telephone facilities until the year 2002. All other telephone companies providing international facilities have to operate through SLT.

When telephone calls are forwarded to and received from the United States, SLT receives a large portion of the revenue generated from the call, through their role as sole provider of international facilities.

Suntel had however allegedly been providing international telephone services at a lower rate, in collaboration with Lanka Discount Telecom and Electroteks through the Internet, thus allegedly depriving SLT of a big slice of revenue.

SLT has submitted that the revenue it earns through the generation of international telephone calls serves to subsidise domestic call service charges, to facilitate expansion of it's Telecom system and to earn foreign exchange for the government.

Acting District Judge of Colombo A.W.A. Salam, issued a restraining and an enjoining order in the operation of international telephone facilities.

The order has been issued from December 4 to 17, and is to be renewed every two weeks.

The three defendants have also been ordered to appear in court on December 17, to show cause if any why an interim injunction should not be issued against them.

Serious security hazard at Orugodawatte

The parking of unauthorised containers in a large area of deserted land around Orugodawatte, Wellampitiya, is posing a serious security hazard.

The threat is being posed in an area close to a trade complex occupied by a number of companies which have bought sections of this land and come here since 1990.

Authorities have turned a blind eye on the unoccupied sections of this land which has become a haven for kasippu dealers and thieves. Unauthorised constructions too have came up: it is today a hot bed of vice,, said a member of the Association of Entrepreneurs. One of the main problems is the parking of unauthorised vehicles in this complex which is a serious threat. "One lorry has been parked beside the parapet wall of a BOI factory for the past year", said a spokesman for one of the companies of the association.

Much had been done in the time of the former Director, UDA Ivan Gooneratne. "Our problems are common" said the Chairman of one of the member companies in this association.

"Unauthorised vehicles account for 99% of those which come into the premises", he said.

"We are prepared to pay and engage security, but they have to fence it in," said Christopher Dias, explaining that the Urban Development Authority should take steps to solve the problems on this land.

"We have a severe drainage problem. It's supposed to be a canal. It has been blocked by encroachers at the end. The water is not flowing, and therefore this stagnant water creates many problems" said S .Wickramasinghe.

"But though we contact the UDA and the Land Reclamation Board no action is taken to solve our problems. Each one is passing the buck on to the next person and we are getting nowhere. They are hoodwinking us," explained another member of the association.

"The UDA built a dump and we are putting our garbage there, but it is not being collected regularly," said Mr. Dias. "There has been no help from the Urban Council Kolonnawa. We don't know why we are paying taxes." Ms. S. Indrasiri, Actg. Director, Development Regulations of the Urban Development Authority(UDA), said; " I think that although laws exist they are often not implemented.

Hullabaloo over Halal

By Shelani de Silva

Animal rights groups are protesting over an upcoming Halal bill which they feel would lead to a cruel form of slaughter, though Muslims say it is a spiritual and healthy process.

Sisil Godamune, who heads a Kandy humanitarian society told The Sunday Times that Religious Affairs Minister Lakshman Jayakody had recently confirmed that a bill for the 'Halal' process would be introduced in parliament soon.

"We feel this process is inhuman," he said.

Another organisation Gal Gawa Mithuro began a mass protest against the proposed bill. A spokesperson for this group also said the process of draining every drop of the animal after slaughter was a cruel method.

"We always call for a humanitarian way of slaughter, but if the Halal bill is passed, it will be barbaric way of slaughter. They say it is a purification process but we feel it is uncivilised," she said.

"Those who are trying to present this abominable bill should first do their home work.

They should study what 'Halal' means. Under pretext of correcting misuse of so called 'Halal' the government is making a bid to establish a wholly cruel way of slaughter," she added.

The Cultural and Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary R. A. A. Ranaweera confirmed that the draft was being prepared but declined to give any more details.

Veteran UNP Muslim leader M. H. Mohammed, defending the move said some people had misunderstood it and were causing problems.

He said the main purpose of the bill was to ensure that manufacturers of meat products adhered to the Halal process if they carried the Halal tag on their products.

Eight-point plan to keep Colombo safe

Operations Commander, Colombo, Major General Sathis Jayasundera, armed with an eight point plan, has appealed to the public to assist ensure the security of the city.

A handbill printed in colour and distributed widely lists the eight points. They are:

* Be observant of your surroundings, travellers and pedestrians.
* Be cautious of employees and visitors to high rise buildings.
* Be inquisitive of vehicles parked for long hours at crowded places, opposite shops and hotels.
* Avoid unnecessary movement in public places by day and night.
* Pay special attention to unattended parcels and bags.
* School children should ensure the correct identification of their colleagues.
* It is essential that you establish the identity of your domestic aides and temporary residents.
* Any unusual incident or occurrence likely to endanger security of the city should be immediately informed to the Police or the Army Detachment/Camp.

Red banner for Comrade Silva

The cremation of Y. P. Silva, President of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP) and Deputy Food Minister, will take place at the General Cemetery, Kanatte tomorrow at 3.30 p.m.

The body is lying at his residence 100/42, Keppetipola Mawatha, Colombo- 7. Cortege will leave residence at 2.30 p.m.

Mr. Silva, 68, who died on Thursday at his residence was actively involved in politics. He was a pioneer of the Communist Party before he joined the SLMP.

In 1952 he worked at the CWE and lost his job when he participated in the 1953 'Hartal'.

He was reinstated in the S.W.R.D. Government in 1956. In 1964 he left the Communist Party. He was again taken into custody during the 1971 insurgency. Later, he worked at the Ceylon Tourist Board.

Kelaniya university to get new music department, says Vice Chancellor

By Roshan Peiris

A department of music will be setup at the Kelaniya University. Vice Chancellor of the University Dr. Senaka Bandaranayake said the idea was given to him by Dr. Earle Thomas Joseph de Fonseka, conductor of the prestigious Symphony Orchestra of Colombo.

According to Dr. de Fonseka the emphasis should not be on passing examinations, but learning to appreciate music and carrying out serious research on it as a subject. At the end of the course of studies a degree in music will be conferred.

"We are hoping to recruit dedicated men and women musicians to lecture and teach music to the students," he said.

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