EDB's London man left high and dry

The refusal follows an earlier refusal by the Foreign Ministry in Colombo to have a Trade Consultant in London working from the High Commission when there already were two Commercial Attaches in the London mission seconded by the Trade Ministry.

The EDB, which also comes under the Trade Ministry then under Minister Kingsly Wickramaratne appointed S.N. Balapatapatabendi to overcome the Foreign Ministry refusal.

Mr. Balapatabendi, a lawyer from the Attorney General's Department was designated to overlook trade matters with the European Union Headquarters in Brussels, but will reside in London. 

The High Commission refusal will mean that two Commercial Attaches from the Trade Ministry will not be permitted to be signatories to any bank documents of the EDB representative in London.

Meanwhile, former Trade Minister Kingsly Wickramaratne who originally gave a green light for Mr. Balapatabendi's appointment was this week appointed as International Trade Adviser to the President.

Living and dying with MSD

By Nilika de Silva

Although Traffic Police chief Camillus Abeygunewardena had recommended that licences of errant drivers be suspended pending conviction, but no action had been taken against MSD drivers, sources said.

An MSD vehicle knocked down a 30-year-old man at Panadura on October 6. The vehicle was allegedly providing security to Minister Richard Pathirana. The victim Bernard Nishantha was returning home on a motorcycle at about 11 p.m. when the accident occurred. 

While the MSD vehicle sped away without a second glance at the victim, people in the vicinity rushed him to Panadura Hospital. He was transferred from there to Kalubowila Hospital and then to Colombo National Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on October 11. Up to date no action had been taken against the driver who caused the fatal accident, sources said.

"No one is above the law. If anybody commits such an offence, he must face the consequences," said Mr. Abeygunewardena.

However, in several fatal accidents those with the right political connections had got away, sources said.

In July last year a ministerial back-up vehicle knocked down a woman in Kandy. The accident snuffed out the life of 58-year-old D. G. Guna- wathie, a mother of eight. The accident occurred when Minister G. L. Peiris visited Kandy to participate in a prize-giving ceremony at the Nugawela Madhya Maha Vidyalaya. The victim was allegedly run over by his escort vehicle. 

UNP top posts for non-combatants

Party sources said the appointments to be made before next month's annual convention would be in line with the new policy that the chairman and general secretary should be relived of burdens relating to parliamentary or electoral responsibilities. Charitha Ratwatte, known to be confidante of party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, was tipped to be the new chairman.

The party is yet to find suitable candidates to fill the posts of General Secretary and Treasurer

SLAS–non-SLAS

The debate continues

By Shelani de Silva

The new breed of ministry secretaries, not to be outsmarted by the SLAS, said they had the right qualifications coupled with leadership and innovative qualities.

When President Kumaratunga appointed 14 non-SLAS ministry secretaries last month, the association registered its protest. 

Meanwhile, Dr. P. Ramanujam, Secretary, Livestock Development and Estate Infrastructure, told The Sunday Times the secretaries should have the experience and expertise in the relevant ministries. He did not see anything wrong in appointing non-SLAS personnel as ministry secretaries.

S. Rannuge, president of the SLAS said ministry secretaries should have experience, knowledge and skill. Non-SLAS members might have postgraduate qualifications in some areas but to work as ministry secretaries they should be differently skilled, he said.

He also said the SLAS officers were able reach a high standard of professionalism in ten years while most of the non-SLAS officers would take 30 years to do so. Meanwhile non-SLAS ministry secretaries claimed the President had the power to appoint anybody as ministry secretaries. They also said non-SLAS officers had been appointed as ministry secretaries in the past as well.

S. Amarasekera, secretary to Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, who viewed the situation in a different angle said the present move might halt professionals leaving the country.

Secretary to Sam-urdhi, Rural Development and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said appointing non-SLAS members should be a challenge to SLAS officers to prove their capabilities.

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