BASL condemns polls violence

While condemnng all acts of violence, irrespective of who was responsible for them, the Exco has called upon political leaders and relevant authorities to ensure that elections are conducted peacefully and appealed to them to ensure that the voter exercises his vote freely.

Saukyadana ready for action

The Saukyadana Movement which originated 35 years ago is a leading government- approved charity which conducts free medical aid services, especially during the pilgrimages at religious places such as Sri Pada, Anuradhapura and Kataragama.

The Sri Pada medical camp is the biggest carried out by the movement and is held till the season ends in March. The medical service which is in operation 24 hours a day, utilizes doctors, nurses and trained volunteers.

Police torturers to face charges

The Sunday Times learns that the move has been made following pressure from the UN Human Rights Commission.

The Geneva-based UNHRC warned the government that it would recommend that donor nations cut down aid to Sri Lanka if urgent and immediate action was not taken against the errant officers.

The international body has applied pressure on the Sri Lankan government on the basis that Sri Lanka has signed the international Convention Against Torture.

The convention which Sri Lanka ratified two years ago, requires that States initiate legal action against police officers who have resorted to methods of torture. 

The AG's department has already prepared files for the indictment of five police officers, and is in the process of filing indictment against three others, Additional Solicitor General C.R. de Silva said.

The Sunday Times learns that Sri Lanka was given time by the world human rights body until Wednesday to initiate action against the police officers. 

Legal sources also said the Attorney General's Department was perusing some 300 Supreme Court rulings for possible indictment of police officers found guilty of violating fundamental rights.

Meanwhile a government statement said the AG's Department had filed 75 additional cases in the High Court against those responsible for the abduction of persons during 1988-1990.

While most of those charged are policemen including Douglas Peiris who has fled the country, several army personnel and civilians too are included. A special unit had been set up in the AG's department to file criminal charges against the alleged offenders.

While action has been initiated in the Magistrate's Courts in relation to 45 additional cases, the CID has been instructed to probe 60 others.

More study necessary on 'reborn' Premadasa

By Shelani de Silva

Dr. Granville Dharmawardene, Director, Radio Isotope Centre, at the Colombo University told The Sunday Times that studies will be conducted after six months when the boy is two years old. "At the moment it is difficult to get at anything, but when he is two, his vocabulary will be better. At present he is too attached to his mother and also too young to answer questions,'' said Dr. Dharmawardene.

However he added that they will not give up the study and have informed the parents that they will be visiting Sampath in six months' time. 

Sampath first caught the attention when he woke up at 3 a.m. one day and observed Pansil. Further, seeing a coin depicting the late President, he had said, 'that is me'. He had also referred to Hema as his wife and Dulanjali and Sajith as his children.

As a test the boy was brought to Colombo where he visited 'Sucharitha' and Armour Street. Commenting on the reactions of Sampath when visiting these places, Dr. Dharmawardene said that it is difficult to come to any conclusion.

"He may have cried at Armour Street, because he was separated from his mother or for any other reason, but we will have to wait and see.'' He added that they cannot go on what his parents and Buddhist priests say. A study has to be done on Sampath.

When asked whether the boy's memory of his past life will be affected due to media attention and the large number of people visiting Sampath, Dr. Dharmawardene said that it would be a nuisance to him, but added that with time the attention will die down.

According to medical experts generally a child of this nature, will remember his previous birth from two to five years. "But these change and it's not the same with all, as some may remember even after five years.'' said Dr. Dharmawardene.

Meanwhile OIC of the Hanguranketa police told The Sunday Times that public interest had died down and Sampath has got back to his normal life.

Top mediamen to judge journalism awards

The judges are Newspaper Society President Ranjit Wijewardene, Nation Founder Editor Hector Abhayawardana, former Dinamina Editor G. S. Perera, former Dinapathi and Chinthamani Editor S. T. Sivanayagam, Upali Group Editorial Director Edmund Ranasinghe and AFP Bureau Chief Amal Jayasinghe.

The Guild also says it has extended the closing date for entries by two weeks to February 15 to accommodate applications from Sri Lankan journalists contributing from abroad.

Seychelles' AG is a Lankan

This is the first time since Seychelles gained independence that a foreigner has been appointed as Attorney General.

Mr. Fernando (42) joined the Attorney General's Chambers of Seychelles as a State Counsel in 1991. One and a half years later he was promoted to the post of Principal State Counsel of Seychelles and continued to serve in this post until he was appointed Attorney General.

An old boy of S. Thomas' Mt. Lavinia and Kingswood College, Kandy, he won many prizes in school. At 22, he obtained his LL.B. from the Colombo University as an external student. During his first year in Law College, he won the Hector Jayawardene Gold Medal.

In 1977 he became the President of the Law Students' Union and at the age of 23 he joined the Attorney General's Department as a State Counsel and served in that capacity for eleven years.

Mr. Fernando has represented Seychelles at several international conferences and workshops. He has also appeared in the most important constitutional, administrative, civil and criminal cases and has been opposed by eminent Queen's Counsel of England and Mauritius.

Mr. Fernando is the son of late Mr.F.G.B. (Benzer) Fernando (Former District Judge) and the late Mrs. Lena Fernando.

Close detention centres says AI

By S.S.Selvanayagam

It brought to their attention that two teenage boys - Subramaniam Atputharasa(17) and Selvarasa Tamilchelvam(16) - continue to be held at the 'Lucky House' camp, an unofficial place of detention run by PLOTE members in Vavuniya.

It urges that the boys be either released or handed over to the police, if there are sufficient grounds for detention.

It also asked to be informed of the outcome of the investigations into the other 'disappearances' recently reported from Vavuniya. 

It expressed apprehension about the fate of five persons - P.Yogeswaran(16), L.Ketheeswaran(22), N.Rajaratnam(30), V.Udayakumar(30) and P.Ravindran alias Ravi - who are reported to have disappeared.

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