Dial 444444 to complain about child abuse to Police Headquarters.
The new number is meant to help the public to keep it in mind.
'They can make any complaints about cases of child abuse.
They can remain anonymous, but must give us the exact location where child abuse is taking place," he said.
Media revelations on the eating habits of MPs have apparently given stomach upset to some of them and they have taken restaurant staff to task for giving the media some spicy stuff.
A Minister who had been seething on the last day of the Budget debate had come to the restaurant and asked for fresh fruits which was quickly complied with. The Minister lost his cool when his piece of papaw had some seeds and screamed that the staff should tell journalists about such lapses also instead of divulging only the juicy stories.
On the subject of gastronomy, it has been pointed out to the Speaker that the Parliament restaurant is fast becoming a subsidized dining place not only for members but also for others. Certain members do not come to the chamber, but only for subsidized meals.
According to a senior Parliamentary official, some of the members who are lawyers and businessmen, bring their clients and associates to dine on non-sitting days, and some are known to travel from the Madiwela MP's quarters for their lunch.
Certain members are known to consume both rice and courses. Owing to their health concerns, the demand is for vegetable and fish courses supplemented with fresh fruits.
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe proposing the customary vote of thanks on the final day of the budget debate accused sections of the media of negative thinking on the provision of subsidized food for the MPs.
He said MP's did not come to Parliament merely to eat and sleep. It was a tradition absorbed from the Mother of Parliaments to provide subsidized meals to members, and the privilege was extended to the staff and media as well.
He pointed out that some 1600 bottles of wine were consumed daily by British Parliamentarians - a practice not adapted in Sri Lanka.
NEW DELHI - Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar has urged that South Asian nations must stop the export of terrorism and divert the money for constructive purposes.
"The export of terrorism in the South Asian region must stop," Mr. Kadirgamar told a seminar on Friday on "South Asian cooperation in the 21st century-opportunities and challenges."
Several countries in the South Asian region are wrecked by terrorism. Sri Lanka has been fighting separatist Tamil guerrillas for the past 14 years.
Bitter foes India and Pakistan accuse each other of funding terrorist related activities in each others' territory.
Mr. Kadirgamar said economic benefits would be worthless if the region failed to curb terrorism.
"By taking collective action we could spare the lives of thousands of people and free billions of rupees for more constructive endeavours in our countries," he said.
He said the South Asian nations needed to forge closer economic bonds to achieve higher growth.
"United we can forge a strong regional economy that could compete effectively in the global market place; disunited one by one we will fall behind the rest of the world," he said.
- Reuter
Former minister Wijeyapala Mendis, facing expulsion from parliament for abuse of power, has flown out to Britain while a fresh storm is brewing over the motion against him.
Earlier this year, a presidential commission found Mr. Mendis guilty of abuse of power on a land transaction. The government was to move the expulsion motion in October.
But it was deferred amidst differences of opinion in both the ruling PA and in the opposition UNP.
Recently, the government decided to introduce the motion early next month with the UNP still divided on its stand regarding this.
A UNP spokesman told The Sunday Times the party's parliamentary group would discuss the matter when it met on January 5.
Some sections of the UNP, especially the young MPs, want the party to be firm against corruption whoever the accused person may be. but others insist the party should stand by a senior member while many in the leadership feel Mr. Mendis should resign from parliament before the motion is taken up.
The government also proposes to call for a vote by name apparently intending to show who opposes corruption and who condones it.
The Dehiwala police are on the look out for a four-year-old child who reportedly disappeared over a month ago.
Officer-in-charge of the Dehiwala police, W. Wickramaratne told The Sunday Times that until Friday there was no breakthrough in the investigations and the search was still on.
The four-year-old girl, Malisha Wickra-masinghe reportedly disappeared on November 18 from her father's office premises in Dehiwela.
"I have complained to the police, but the search for the child has been slow.
"I am praying and have gone to all churches, temples and places of religious worship making vows for her safety," Nelson Wickramasinghe, 50 told The Sunday Times.
Continue to the News/Comment page 2 * Trinco sits
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