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19th November 2000

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Happy to be flying home again

By Hiranthi Fernando

After a lapse of about seven months, the Sri Lanka Air Force commenced civilian flights to Jaffna on November 17. The newly chartered AN 24 aircraft took off with 13 passengers from Ratmalana Airport at 11.35 a.m. on Friday.

The passengers, most of who were residents of Jaffna had sailed to Trincomalee by ship. When transport by ship was suspended recently, they had no way of getting back home. The flights recommenced at an opportune time for these passengers.

The civilians flights to Jaffna were suspended since March 30 due to the threat from missile attacks. Since then, the only method for civilians to travel to Colombo was by ship to Trincomalee and from there by road.

There would be daily flights to Jaffna, Wing Commander Ajith Silva of the Air Force Media Unit said. As this was the first flight, many who wished to travel were not aware of the resumption of the service. There had also been a delay in obtaining clearances.

"When we saw the announcement about the flight in the newspapers, we first went to the Police Station to apply for clearance. They told us they had not received instructions to accept applications," S.K. Gunasingham, a bank executive from Jaffna said.

He had come to Trincomalee by ship on November 7 and travelled by bus to Colombo. Mr. Gunasingham had to come to Colombo for a promotion interview. "When the passage by ship was suddenly suspended on November 9, I had no way of getting back. I had to spend Rs. 450 each day to stay in a guest house. I went to the Head Office of my bank and they faxed the Defence Ministry for my clearance on an official basis. It was only the day before yesterday that the Police started accepting applications. They had a form, which we had to take outside and get photocopied. I am happy that we have the chance to take a flight back".

Those who wish to make use of the air service need to obtain security clearance applications through the nearest Police station. The completed applications are submitted to the Defence Ministry through the respective Police stations. After clearance is granted, the Ministry of Defence informs the applicant in writing as well as sends a list of cleared applicants to the Air Force Helitours Ticketing Office at Attidiya Road, Ratmalana. Thereafter, the tickets can be purchased from the Ticketing Office before the flight. Passengers from Jaffna need to obtain their security clearance from the Security Force headquarters in Jaffna and the tickets from Helitours ticketing office also in Jaffna. A one way ticket costs Rs. 3,500, while a return ticket is Rs. 6,000.

"The resumption of the flight to Jaffna is an advantage for us", said S. Mahalingam, Lecturer at the Palaly Teachers College, who came to Colombo for an Education Service interview. "Even though the ship journey costs only Rs. 1000, the flight is more convenient. I spent one day and one night on the ship travelling from Jaffna to Trinco. From Trinco, I took a bus to Colombo". Mr. Mahalingam was able to obtain a permit easily in Jaffna as he was a government servant. He reported to the Police station two days ago and got his permit to travel by ship converted to travel on the flight.

An Air Force officer explained that those with travel permits to travel by ship were allowed to take this flight after their permits were faxed to Jaffna to ensure its authenticity. However, usually, fresh applications need to be submitted and the necessary security clearance formalities carried out even if the passenger has been cleared for previous flights.

At the ticketing office there were several officers from the Education Department who had attended a seminar in Trincomalee. Director of Education, D. Rasiah, arrived in Trincomalee on 31st October. He heard about the flight two or three days ago. He obtained his clearance through the Governor of Eastern Province. He arrived in Colombo on the morning of the flight.

A female registered medical officer working in Jaffna, came to Colombo two weeks ago for her mother's death anniversary. She found the ship journey very arduous. "The entire travel time was around 36 hours", she said. "We do not come to Colombo unless it is absolutely necessary. This is the first time I am taking the flight". T. Balendra, who works in a bank travelled to Colombo by ship with his wife and two daughters to attend a family wedding. He said it takes about three months to obtain clearance for the ship journey.

"These flights are exclusively for civilians", Wing Commander Ajith Silva said. "Even though this flight is not full, the return flight from Jaffna is fully booked. The passengers have already checked in and are waiting in Jaffna.

At the checking-in office at Ratmalana, Air Force officers first checked the passengers' identity card numbers, ticket numbers and the permit. In the next room a body check was done. Next all baggage was carefully examined. The baggage then went through an X-ray machine as well. After weighing both passenger and baggage, the Manifest was entered and the boarding passes and baggage labels were given. The passengers were shown a video presentation of safety procedures in an air conditioned waiting room while waiting to board. The flight took off at 11.35 a.m.

The return flight which landed at Ratmalana at 2.37 p.m. had its full complement of 48 passengers, including three children.

One child of about eight years was suffering from a hole in the heart. The parents were so happy to be able to bring their child to Colombo for medical treatment. For many people living in Jaffna the resumption of civilian flight is a great consolation.


Change in standing orders soon for more sittings

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

The UNP is to propose that standing orders of Parliament be annexed to increase the number of sitting days from eight to ten.

UNP sources said this was one of the matters discussed when a UNP delegation met the new Speaker Anura Bandaranaike to discuss what they saw as a decline in the standards and effectiveness of Parliament's role in national affairs.

They said the decline was seen clearly in the low attendance rate with the Government side of the House often having just a nominal presence.

The sources said the Speaker had agreed on the need for a more vibrant parliament where the legislative process was more substantial and effective in terms of meeting the needs of the people.

The UNP is also proposing that the number of days allocated for the budget debate be increased substantially because the 19 days allocated now were not enough to cope with the jumbo sized cabinet of more than 45.

According to standing orders the second reading of the budget is taken up for 7 days while 19 days are allocated for a discussion on the votes of each ministry.


Dengue danger persists

Dengue claimed another victim on Thursday when a medical student succumbed to the virus at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital.

The medical student, a male from Beliatta, died at about 5 p.m. on Thursday (16), hospital sources said. The student was in his fourth year.

The death toll islandwide has risen to eight, with the Epidemiological Unit of the Department of Health Services registering two deaths in Gampaha, two deaths in Batticaloa, one death in Kandy, one in Badulla and two deaths in Karapitiya.

Up to Thursday afternoon, 2810 admissions of dengue patients had been registered from hospitals islandwide.

Meanwhile, the Epidemiological Unit has stated that from January 1 this year up to Tuesday, 5028 suspected cases of dengue had been reported, while 32 deaths had been recorded.

Action is being taken in all parts of the country to combat the killer disease by cleaning garbage sites and disposing of all materials likely to help the breeding of mosquitoes.

Colombo city engaged in a clean up operation yesterday, with large numbers turning out to get rid of stagnant water conducive to dengue carrier mosquitoes.


Don't spoil the Peak plea

In a bid to protect the environment an appeal has been made by Wild Life authorities to pilgrims visiting Adam's Peak during the forthcoming Sri Pada season not to bring polythene bags, radios and liquor with them.

"This is a protected area, which is the upper watershed. Now people ruin the environment by taking liquor, radios and polythene bags up to the Peak. We bring back lorry loads of polythene from there. If this continues the upper watershed will be ruined", Wild Life Director A.P.A. Gunasekera said.

Mr. Gunasekera said a concerted effort is being made by the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, Ratnapura GA , Pradeshiya Sabha authorities of the area, the Police, the Department of Wild Life Conservation and the chief incumbent of the temple to protect the environment.

They have decided to strictly prevent pilgrims from taking liquor, radios or 'sili sili' bags to the Peak.

"We appeal to the pilgrims to be prepared for this prohibition and bring food in bags or containers that can be taken back with them," a statement said.


March to Norway embassy by POW association

By Shelani de Silva

The association for servicemen missing in action is scheduled to carry out a march on December 5 to the Norwegian Embassy demanding that the Government and the LTTE expedite peace talks.

The association calls on the Norwegian Government to request the Government and the LTTE to come to the negotiating table which they claim is the only way to achieve peace.

President of the association E P Nanayakkara told The Sunday Times that they were assured by the Norwegian delegation that peace talks will take place.

"We met the ambassador three months back, when he told us that they were hoping to meet the LTTE but did not want us to make it public. At that meeting we made our representations and told them to work out an understanding between the two parties and even to exchange prisoners. We were informed that they had reached a settlement and that the President will be informed," he said.

The Association is scheduled to carry out a peaceful demonstration from Viharamahadevi Park to the Norwegian Embassy on December 5.

"There will be around 2000 members taking part in the protest. We will then hand over a petition to the Norwegian ambassador extending our full support for talks, and also urging that they mediate in the problem. We strongly feel that for the last five years no individual or group has come forward to genuinely solve the problem," he said.

The association has also requested an appointment with President Chandrika Kumaratunga to work out a method to exchange prisoners and for the families to visit the prisoners.


Beware of the traffic lights

By Nilika de Silva

Motorists are advised to be careful when observing traffic light signals following several accidents which occurred due to faulty systems.

More than 20 people were injured in an accident which occured at the Buller's Road junction opposite Malalasekera Mawatha last month, while a fortnight ago a similar accident occurred.

"These signal systems are not up to standard," Colombo Municipal Council Traffic Engineer, Jayantha Guruge told The Sunday Times last week. They are affected by voltage fluctuation. They were installed just because they were a cheaper system, he said.

Cheap traffic lights systems installed are proving costly as faulty functioning has resulted in several accidents in Colombo and the suburbs.

Officials state that the lights at this particular junction were not faulty but had actually been disconnected for the purpose of road construction.

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