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30th September 2001
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Promiscuity on the rise, warns demographer

By Fareza Farook
A top Sri Lankan demographer has expressed concern over the widespread promiscuity among unmarried men and women owing to socio-economic and cultural problems.

"Sexual activity among the unmarried is getting extremely dangerous," Colombo University's Demographic Training and Research Institute head Prof. Indralal de Silva said. 

He said changes in the socio-economic and political environment over the past few decades had presented opportunities for pre-marital sex and unwanted pregnancies out of wedlock.

Prof. de Silva said the National Family Planning Programme should address the issue. "If the unmarried youth is not targeted by the programme, unwed females will begin to rely more and more on induced abortion to terminate unwanted pregnancies, he said.

Quoting the Sri Lanka Demography and Health Survey of 1987 Prof. de Silva said Sri Lanka topped other countries in the number of illegal abortions done for a day ranging from 700-1000 a day. 

He said pre-marital sex had been prevalent for quite sometime in Sri Lanka though the practice was still frowned upon by society. The survey said a "significant minority" of women had admitted to pre-marital pregnancies which they had carried to full term after marriage. One in six married women in the 20-24 age group at the time of the survey had the first birth conceived before marriage.

Better food and health care and also greater exposure to the sexual mores of the world outside through the communication revolution had led to the Sri Lankan female maturing faster than before, Prof. de Silva said.

The age of puberty, he said, had come down from 14 to12 and girls marrying later than before had increased the chances of pre-marital sex. "Earlier, the risk period was shorter – from 14 (the age of puberty) to 18(the age of marriage). But now, between 12 and 26, the risk period is longer", he said. 

He said marriage had become a problematic institution in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan females generally married at 26 and males at 28 while the corresponding figures for India were 18 and 23.

The survey said continuing imbalance between males and females with males being fewer than females had contributed to late marriages in Sri Lanka. To add to the problem, the imbalance was acute in the marriageable age groups. 

Apart from the male-female imbalance, there were other factors militating against early marriage. The worsening economic conditions had led to increasing unemployment and about 80% of the unemployed were in the marriageable age group of 15 to 29. About 150,000 young people entered the job market annually but the institutions could absorb only 40,000 per year, the survey said.

It also said the growing number of young people were disabled by war and unemployable. There were also families which had lost their breadwinners who had been killed, abducted or who had run away because of terrorist and counter-terrorist activities in the south. Thus females from such families found it difficult to get married, the survey said.



President-Editor criminal defamation appeal

Settlement formula to be worked out

By Laila Nasry
Lawyers for The Sunday Times Editor told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that their client was agreeable in principle to a settlement in the President Chandrika Kumaratunga criminal defamation appeal. 

Counsel Ronald Perera said the Editor's Senior Counsel Tilak Marapana PC was abroad and he had wanted more time to seek clarification on the formula the Chief Justice had originally suggested to settle the appeal. 

On the previous occasion the Chief Justice had suggested that the Editor tender a general statement to court and not to any person in particular, taking into consideration the fact that the Editor had already admitted that the article was factually incorrect and that it was not written by him. 

Provided the settlement was agreed upon the Chief Justice said he would set aside the conviction and the fine which were imposed on the Editor by the Colombo High Court and upheld by the Court of Appeal. 

Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva agreed to the defence request that Mr. Marapana should work out the details and wording of the statement in consultation with the state and communicate it to him. 

The hearing was put off for November 19. 

The Editor was convicted on two counts of criminal defamation of President Chandrika Kumaratunga for publishing a gossip column in The Sunday Times of February 15, 1995 and sentenced to 1 1/2 years imprisonment suspended for seven years and a fine of Rs. 10,000. 

The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction and the Editor appealed to the Supreme Court. 

Tilak Marapana with S. L. Gunasekera, Ronald Perera and Upul Jayasuriya instructed by Samararatna Associates appeared for the Editor. R.I.Obeysekera PC with Wijaya Wickremaratne PC, Ashley Herat and A. W. Yusuf appeared for the complainant President Kumaratunga. Additional Solicitor General Rienzie Arsecularatne PC with state counsel Gihan Kulatunga appeared for the Attorney General. 


Mr. World doesn't lure Tourism Ministry

By Nedra Wickremasinghe
A major multi-million rupee world famous pageant - Mr World 2002 scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka is on the rocks as the Tourism Ministry is not willing to play any major role.

The designated franchise-holder of the pageant, which also organised the Miss World contest, has run up against lack of Government cooperation, leading to the possible cancellation of the show where contestants from 70 countries and about 3000 people, including international television crew, are expected here in the third week of January.

The local franchise holders said former Tourism Minister Lakshman Kiriella had promised support, but change of Ministers had left issues in mid-air. Mr. Kiriella told The Sunday Times he had pledged financial support for this event as he felt that any international event "gives exposure to Sri Lanka, and helps boost tourism."

Tourism Ministry Secretary P Ramanujam said the Government did not sponsor private events and the franchise holder must contact the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, an independent body that comes under the Ministry of Tourism, to raise funds for the event. 

Dr. Ramanujam downplayed the issue of lack of funds by the Ministry for a project of such magnitude, saying that the ministry did not dole out money for events like this but only promoted tourism. The new Minister of Tourism, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle is out of the country and expected back only in late October.

With all plans drawn up and more than Rs 2 million spent so far by the local franchise holder, state patronage appears not forthcoming.



Iqbal Athas intimidation case

Identification parade was lawful and proper: CID officer

A CID officer and two others testifying in the case against two Air Force officers charged with criminally trespassing and intimidating The Sunday Times Consultant Editor and Defence Correspondent Iqbal Athas said the identification parade was held in a lawful and proper manner.

The identification parade was held at the Gangodawila Magistrate's Court on May 5, 1998. 

In the case two ex-Air Force officers Squadron Leader H. M. Rukman, the bodyguard of a former Air Force Commander and Squadron Leader D. S. P.Kannangara the officer in charge of the Special Airborne Force, have been indicted for criminal trespass, intimidation and unlawful entry with weapons into the Athas residence at Nugegoda on February 12, 1998. The case came up before High Court Judge, Sarath Ambepitiya.

CID officer Sub Inspector M. L. Wijesekera identifying the two accused in court in his evidence in chief said the two accused were arrested on May 5, 1998. Having filed a "B" report in the Gangodawila Magistrates Court for the purpose of an identification parade, he said the two accused, covered in a black cloth, were escorted by police officers Dhammika, Nandasena and himself to court. 

He said upon entering the court premises their vehicle was driven upto the door used by the Magistrate. The accused were then led to the Magistrate's chambers and produced before the Magistrate along with the "B" report. 

SI Wijesekera told court he handed both the accused over to prison overseer Linton Wickremasinghe at the Gangodawila Magistrate's Court. 

Answering a question posed by state counsel P. P. Surasena, SI Wijesekera said there was no chance of the witnesses seeing the accused prior to the identification parade and that he even checked the cloth covering of the two accused which prevented any identification. 

Mr. Wickremasinghe said the witnesses had no indication as to the identity of the two accused. 

He said he was informed by acting Magistrate Robert Perera of the identification parade and was ordered to accept the two accused who were covered in black from a person in civvies. 

He said he had led them through a connecting door to a room adjoining the Magistrate's chambers where the identification parade was to be held. 

"I didn't leave them until the parade was over," Mr. Wickremasinghe said adding that he held them for 45 minutes prior to the commencement of the parade behind closed doors which were only opened to admit the rest of the 16 persons to be included in the identification parade. 

Asked whether there were windows in the room Mr. Wickremasinghe said it was not possible for anyone to identify the accused from outside as the windows were closed and the panes were thick and had a flower pattern which made visibility remote. 

K. Piyadasa, former peon of the Gangodawila Magistrates Court said on instructions from Acting Magistrate Robert Perera he assembled the people for the identification parade.

"I knocked on the door to the room adjoining the Magistrate's chambers and admitted the 16 persons required for the parade. Mr. Wickremasinghe took them in and locked the door from inside. Thereafter, I stood guard outside the door," he said.

Srinath Perera, counsel for the first accused, in his cross examination suggested that Mr. Wijesekera while recording a statement of his client took his identity card and handed it over to another officer only to be returned 45 minutes later. 

Mr. Wijesekera denying the allegation said both the national and service identity cards were inspected only for the purpose of recording their numbers.

Answering a question by the defence counsel Mr. Wijesekera said the case was handled by an Inspector Dhammika and a notice had been dispatched to the first accused to come to the CID on May 5, 1998. He said he arrested him and later escorted him to the Gangodawila Magistrate's Court around 12 noon. 

Counsel for the second accused Anil Silva said his client had made a statement to a woman Sub Inspector of the CID called Peramuna that his service identity card had been called for and then handed it over to another officer who returned with it sometime later. 

Mr. Wijesekera while agreeing denied the charge that the service identity card was photocopied by the CID and that the copy was handed to Ms. Athas for identification purposes. 

State counsel objecting to the the defence counsel using substantial evidence in cross examination said the contents of a statement were not admissible in court under section 110 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. 

However, the court upheld the counsel's argument that such evidence was important as it went to the root of the matter was upheld by Judge Sarath Ambepitiya.

Mr. Silva said showing Ms. Athas photocopied pictures of the accused was subsequent to the furore which erupted after the February 12, 1998 incident. He claimed the CID was acting under immense pressure to make a breakthrough in the investigation and his client had been falsely accused.

Although Mr. Wijesekera denied the allegation he was asked to explain presence of the media in the court premises for the identification parade. The counsel said only the CID was aware of the identification parade.

Mr. Wijesekera answering a question by Mr. Silva said though he was present in the Magistrate's chambers when those participating in the parade had been gathered he did not look in their direction.

Mr. Athas's domestic aide Marimuttu Subramanium answering a question said he along with two other domestic aides, Devi and Kanaga, went with Mr. and Ms. Athas and the CID officer to the Gangodawila Magistrate's Court for the identification parade. 

Answering a question by Mr. Perera, Mr. Subramanium said he identified a person who was not one of the accused persons. 

Referring to the previous evidence given by Mr. Subramanium stating that the intruders produced a red identity card prior to their entry Mr. Perera questioned him as to whether he was aware that such cards were issued to police officers. Mr. Subramanium answered in the negative. 

When asked to identify the colour of the first accused Airman's service identity card Mr. Subramanium said it was light blue. 

The trial was put off for October 10.

Senior state counsel P. P. Surasena and M. Navavi appeared for the prosecution. 

Daya Perera PC with T. G. Gunesekera and G.G. Ponnambalam watched the interests of Iqbal and Anoma Athas. Srinath Perera PC appeared for the first accused while Anil Silva defended the second accused. 


Elder care not in our hospital system

In the hospital system in Sri Lanka there was no place for geriatric patients, said Helpage Sri Lanka executive director N. W. E. Wijewantha. 

"Unfortunately the state never wanted to include elders in their macro-economic planning," said Mr. Wijewantha addressing a media conference in preparation for the International Elders Day (October 1), at the Helpage Secretariat last week. 

Geriatric care was a science and it was Helpage that started educating people on this specialised care. We had residential facilities for 50 people to be trained here, Mr. Wijewantha said. 

He said Helpage Sri Lanka was promoting the care of elders within their home environment while day care centres had been set up to provide stimulation and companionship for elders. 

Homes for the Elders was a concept brought down to Sri Lanka by foreigners and we were against it, Mr. Wijewantha said. 

Meanwhile, Social Services Department statistics revealed that homes for the aged were spreading in the country. It said there were at present 156 homes registered with the department. Only three homes were run by the state.

The statistics showed at present only 0.4 per cent of the country's population over 60 were in homes. Meanwhile, Social Services director N. J. Pathirana said the numbers of elders' homes were increasing.

According to the statistics 10% of the population is aged and in another 20 years 1/4 of the population will be aged over 60 years. 

This is primarily due to increase in life expectancy. In 1951 life expectancy was 59 for females and 62 for males, forty years later it is 74 for females and 72 for males.

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