• Cutting of breast cuts the heart
• State bank officers want same salaries as in private banks
• Lit documentary put on hold
• LTTE's aircraft: yes, no
• Judge Mahanama and three others discharged
• Agonised July strikers going for final death fast
• PLOTE ready to fly
• Kumara in stilt walk for peace
• LTTE gets minister's letter
• Good swimmers drown in official silence
• Parties throw all they have into North Western polls
• Experts study UNP peace proposals
• Not me, not SEC
• Kadirgamar congratulates new Indian FM Jashwant Singh
• Restraining order on Suntel
• Serious security hazard at Orugodawatte
• Hullabaloo over Halal
• Eight-point plan to keep Colombo safe
• Red banner for Comrade Silva
• Kelaniya university to get new music department, says Vice Chancellor
• NE Governor wants all to help rebuild province
• Uncles, nephews and paper dolls
• For once a touch of decency prevailed
• Delhi pulling peace strings
• Ashraff factor and SLMC's decision
• The Sri Lankan ethnic conflict: a case for mediation
• For goodness' sake learn or depart'

Cutting of breast cuts the heart

Another mishap at Karapitiya

By Faraza Farook

While one investigation is being held on a death due to a faulty blood transfusion at the Karapitiya Hospital in Galle, another medical mishap has been alleged at the same hospital where a woman operated on for breast cancer died of an accidental cut in the chest cavity by the surgeon.

A probe has been ordered by Hospital Director Dr. Piyasena Samarakoon following the death of 40-year-old Chandrawathie Abeysinghe, a mother of five from Siyambalagoda.

The woman suffering from breast cancer who was admitted to the hospital on November 29, underwent surgery the following day and died the same day.

Professor Chandrasiri Niriella of the Ruhunu University who functioned as the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) said a successful operation had been carried out and then the doctor had made two incisions in the skin to drain the blood that collected after the operation.

"This is the normal procedure. But accidentally, one of the incisions has penetrated the chest cavity and cut the pericardium and the right ventricle of the heart which had caused bleeding and resulted in death," he said.

The cause of death, whether medical negligence or accidental must be decided by a court of law, Prof. Niriella said.

Dr. Samarakoon who declined to give details said the doctor concerned had been asked to give a detailed report on the alleged mishap.

Hospital Coroner V. Kulatilaka has referred the matter to the Galle Magistrate.

This was the second medical mishap reported from the hospital within two weeks.

Earlier another death occurred due a wrong blood transfusion. President Chandrika Kumaratunga ordered a full investigation into the case.

State bank officers want same salaries as in private banks

By M.Ismeth

Top state bank officers will meet today to demand immediate salary increases, pointing out that huge gaps between them and private bank executives were hampering efficiency in the state banks.

Sumathipala Kariyawasam, President of the Federation of Bank Officers which includes officers of three state banks, said a committee had proposed pay hikes but questions regarding affordability and operational difficulties were now being raised.

He said the federation felt there was a conspiracy to deny staff grades a just salary and marginalised them. Thus they were forced to get together and take collective action, he said.

Mr.Kariyawasam said state bank officers should be paid a salary in line with the responsibility and authority placed in their hands.

This was essential to improve the productivity and efficiency of state banks. "In most instances management trainees have left state banks for lucrative jobs in private banks," he pointed out.

Lit documentary put on hold

BBC has decided to put on hold an investigative documentary on Dr. Avtar Lit, the millionaire businessman who owns several businesses in Britain, India and Sri Lanka, until the current police investigation on him is over.

The documentary which was produced by a top investigative team of the prestigious Newsnight programme had to be shelved until British courts decide on Lit's fate in January.

Dr. Lit is the Chairman of Asian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) which owns Hiru, Tharu and Sun FM stations. ABC is a BOI project.

The background to the current investigation is published in 'The Guardian' and the 'Asian Age'. It involves a Radio Authority officer Janet Lee. Radio Authority is the government regulatory body which determines the operating frequencies for broadcasting in Britain. Lit's Sunrise radio has to renew its licence through the authority. There are investigations into some other RA officers who had gone on holidays sponsored by Dr. Lit.

Janet Lee had a 11 night holiday in Rajasthan. Sunrise had paid the travel agent US$ 5566 and there are records to prove this. The money was paid by Geeta Kohly who was a director of Sunrise. Geeta Kohly was also Dr. Lit's mistress until recently.

There are several legal proceedings currently in progress against Dr.Lit. most by his former business partners and colleagues.

He is well known character to the British Police with 177 convictions for fraud and petty crimes.

The manner of his acquiring British Citizenship is also under scrutiny. It is impossible with so many criminal convictions.

His honorary Ph.D. from Thames Valley University in Britain. was granted after., the University had received £20,000 from an organisation named Sunrise Community Trust, but the University denies any connection between the award and the donation.

There is a case filed against Dr.Lit by a broadcaster Daksha Shah attached to the Sunrise radio who claims that she was assaulted by Lit at the radio station.

He has recently diversified his enterprises and opened a night club in a seedy red light district in London's West End. Sunrise Radio said Dr. Lit has flown to the USA on business.

He was reported being seen in Colombo recently. British media analysts say the man is looking for safer havens because media and police investigations are increasingly threatening his lifestyle in Britain.

LTTE's aircraft: yes, no

By Chris Kamalendran

The Sri Lanka Air Force has reportedly printed and put out thousands of posters warning of possible activities by LTTE aircraft, though Deputy Defence Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte is still challenging the LTTE's claim of having acquired aircraft.

The warning against enemy aircraft came in the form of colour posters printed at the Government Press and put up at vital locations. The posters told the public to be vigilant about three types of enemy aircraft. They also displayed pictures of 15 types of SLAF aircraft.

One of the enemy helicopters is similar to SLAF craft. It was described as an R-44 with a single rotor blade while two others were similar to glider planes.

The Sunday Times learns that the order to print the posters had been given by the SLAF.

The posters came out a week after LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran claimed that the rebels were in possession of light aircraft. These aircraft had been put on display during heroes week to scatter flowers on the graves of those who had died for the LTTE cause, it is claimed.

Earlier Deputy Defence Minister General Anuruddha Ratwatte speaking at Hingurakgoda challenged Prabhakaran to prove the Tigers were in possession of helicopters by sending his mother in one of them to Colombo.

Judge Mahanama and three others discharged

By our legal correspondent

Kesbawa Magistrate Munidasa Nanayakkara on Friday discharged former High Court Judge Mahanama Tillekeratne, his son and two doctors on the issue of a medical certificate.

The prosecution alleged the medical certificate submitted by Padmin Tillekeratne to court that he was suffering from migraine was not tenable. The state was intending to file charges against the suspects under section 175 of the Penal Code for having furnished false information to court.

The magistrate in ordering the discharge of the four suspects said there was no reason to reject the medical certificate issued by the two medical officers Dr. (Ms) Jayanthi morawake Kularatna and Dr.Anoma Kamalani Arangala.

The magistrate added he was satisfied that the person who sought treatment was the suspect, Padmin Tillekeratne.

The suspects were Mahanama Tillkeratna former High Court Judge, Padmin Tillekeratna, Dr.(Mrs.) Jayanthi Morawaka Kularatna and Dr.Anoma Kamalani Arangala. Earlier the prosecution informed court the police intended to record a statement from Jayantha Weerasinghe, senior counsel for Padmin Tillekaratne to help in their investigations. Romesh de Silva, PC, President Bas Association, objected to the application. He cited several authorities and Supreme Court cases which held a communication between a client and his attorney is privileged and cannot be questioned. At that stage State Counsel Sajeewa Samaranayake withdrew the application.

Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, senior counsel for Mahanama Tillekeratna, said the episode proves some sections of the Attorney-General's Dept. and police were acting with malice to take revenge some the first suspect. He said it was a matter of regret, the order granted by court, on an application to find out whether the medical certificate was obtained by some one impersonating Padmin Tillekeratna had been abused by the police to harass Mr. Tillkeratna and the District Medical Officers who issued the medical certificate.

After both doctors identified the second suspect as the person who was present to obtain the medical certificate, the police have questioned both doctors for more than 5 hours. He said the JMO expressed a different opinion on an illness and the duration of the illness, and these doctors who are medical practitioners for a number of years have thought otherwise. It could be only concluded the opinions of the JMO and the two doctors differ. To state that, merely because one doctor expresses a different opinion, he is furnishing false information to a public servant is an affront to medical community.

Hemantha Warnakulasuriya, Jayanatha Weerasinghe, Nihal Gunasinghe and Anuja Premaratna appeared for the accused. Romesh de Silva P.C. appeared for Jayantha Weerasinghe. Sajeewa Samaranayke, State Counsel and Senaka Kumarasinghe, OIC CID, appeared for the prosecution. Meanwhile the Mahanama Tillekeratne main case will come up before High Court on Dec. 8.

Agonised July strikers going for final death fast

By Shelani de Silva

Thousands of July strikers, accusing the government of being unfair and indifferent to their needs, have directly appealed to the people to contribute a day's pay for the affected families and also vowed to launch another fast unto death which this time would be carried on to the bitter end.

The Joint Secretary of an association of those who lost their jobs in the infamous July 1980 strike and have still not received justice, said several trade unions and others had pledged support for the fast which would begin opposite the Fort railway station on Thursday.

Secretary P. Amaradivakara said they would begin with a half hour picketing and then launch the fast unto death. He said fifty strikers had volunteered to join the fast but the association had decided that ten would launch it and others would join if necessary.

About 1000 people are expected to take part in the picketing for which July 80 union leaders and others are also being invited.

"If the Government does not give us a definite assurance we are prepared to continue to the end. The assurance must come through a gazette notification or a cabinet paper. We are disgusted with the verbal assurances given by the Government. In the recent past several ministers intervened and had meetings but little or nothing came out of them. We have told the President and the ministers of our decision," he said.

PLOTE ready to fly

By S.S.Selvanayagam

A Tamil party claiming it has the resources and technical skills has sought permission from the Defence Ministry to resume civilian air services from Jaffna.

PLOTE Vice President N. Manickathasan told the Sunday Times they met Defence Secretary Chandrananda de Silva to seek permission to resume passenger air services which have been crippled for more than two months, leaving thousands of people stranded.

He said that initially they could operate flights from Palaly in Jaffna to Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and back and gradually extend the service after they won the confidence of the people.

According to Mr. Manickathasan, the Defence Secretary has promised to consider the request.

More News/Comment * Kumara in stilt walk for peace * LTTE gets minister's letter * Good swimmers drown in official silence * Parties throw all they have into North Western polls * Experts study UNP peace proposals * Not me, not SEC * Kadirgamar congratulates new Indian FM Jashwant Singh

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