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Tiger hand in Ampara killings?
By Shanika Udawatte
The report of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) team, on the killing of two Muslims in Ampara last month, which had been forwarded to the Interior Ministry and the Prime Minister's Office, had said an LTTE involvement in it cannot be ruled out.
Two Muslims, who were on their way to a paddy field on July 17 at about 6.30 p.m. had been killed in Sennawattanchena, Bangalawadiya in Ampara. Though the killers had not been identified Muslims in the area believed the killing had been carried out by the LTTE.

CID sources said that the investigations had revealed that the involvement of the LTTE could not be ruled out. They added that any political motive for the killings has been ruled out, as it has been established that the two victims had not had ties with any political groups. CID sources said there are similarities in the manner in which the killings had been carried out when compared with three other incidents in which the LTTE had abducted or threatened people and forcibly taken their belongings.

They added that the description of the appearance of those who are believed to have carried out the killings matches the appearance of a person who had been involved in previous abductions.

Intelligence sources believe that there may be a group of about two or three people who are involved in this killing as well as in other previous abductions and killings.
T-56 rifle bullets had been found at the scene of the crime and it is reported that they are to be sent to the Government Analyst's Department to be compared with similar bullets found at other killings which had previously been carried out and is suspected to have been done by the LTTE.

Police sources in the area also pointed out that LTTE cadres moving to the Akkaraipattu area from uncleared areas use the paddy fields around Sennawattanchena during the night.

CEB workers want arrears before restructure
By Shelani Perera
Despite the CEB keeping to a December deadline for its restructuring process, the Board has been warned by the employees that the arrears due as a result of the revision of salaries should be paid by December.

The employees have informed the Board that they have to be paid the salary increment before the merger. Earlier the CEB Engineers Union had protested over the Board’s decision to commence the restructuring process on October 1 stating that practical issues need to be solved before the merger.

The engineers had warned that the CEB is facing problems regarding finance and administration. They had pointed out that there are legal issues which have to be looked into before the restructuring.

Meanwhile CEB Chairman S. Zubair told The Sunday Times that release of monies from the Treasury is awaited as the Board too wants to pay the salary arrears before the restructuring.

" The employees have informed us of their position. We too want to settle the issue before the restructuring commences. At present this is the only obstacle. The total sum is around Rs. 2000 million, but as some employees have taken loans the amount to be paid out is likely to be less" he said.

Driver honoured
By Ananda E. Jayakody
A three-wheeler driver who had saved a young girl who was being abducted by a group of gangsters has been honoured recently by the Government Servants Cultural Association.

J. Udawatta, a disabled three-wheeler driver living in Wathupitimulla, Veyangoda had risked his own life and fought with a group of gangsters in Naiwala to rescue the girl who was about to be raped. The association has honoured Mr. Udawatta for his act of bravery at a special ceremony held at Shri Dharmarama Buddhist Centre, Naiwala recently. Mrs. P. Udawatta had accepted the award on behalf of her husband who was out of the country.

DIG-Police Information Technology Unit and Elections Gamini Navaratne, ASP Colombo Central Dhammika Siriwardena and retired SSP S Thawalingam too had been honoured for exemplary service at the same ceremony.

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