• Bail Act amendment coming
• Ombudsman post filled
• Investment declines 
• Expensive machines gather dust as staff sign on attendance sheets
• Routine transfer, says Wildlife Dept. chief 
• Brief respite for demolition squad
• SC upholds right to equality 
• Snippets 
• Laj receives threats 
• Editors call for dialogue, not censorship
• Campaign to stop talks gathers pace
• No major displacement 
• Guild's media law reforms get PM's consideration
• Order reserved in test case challenging CJ's appointment 
• Cheaper drugs: it's all in docs' hands
• Web of corruption before classroom
• Expert calls for precautions 
• Charges and counter charges in company row 
• News in brief 
• The deadly sting is back 
• U-turn of the prodigal son 
• Interim order against HNB 
• Mannar yet to get Samurdhi manna 
• Ticket to Grade One won't be on lottery
• Protect Jayalath, world body appeals to CBK 
• SB: 'If you take one, we'll take two'
• Aids claims the boy who shamed a president
• Philippines embroiled in kidnap stand off
• Cycle of violence and a frustrated people - Point of view
• A game of switching friends and foes
• Genetically modified foods: comedy or tragedy? - Point of view

Bail Act amendment coming

By Laila Nasry

The Act is being amended taking into consideration the current trends in criminal activity in the country and in response to the need to provide an environment which will be conducive to the better administration of justice. 

Under the proposed amendment, bail would be denied to any person brought before court for a scheduled offence, until the conclusion of the trial.

However, if no proceedings have been instituted against the person within three months, the Magistrate can release such person in the absence of any reason to remand him further. 

With regard to non-scheduled offences if the Magistrate deems it expedient to detain the person he can do so for a period of 15 days. 

At the conclusion of fifteen days the Magistrate shall release the person subject to Section 13 which, inter alia, deals with offences punishable by death or life imprisonment.

Further, in order to facilitate investigation and aid the efficient detection of crime the provision authorizing anticipatory is to be repealed.

Proposed legislation to deal with organised crime will be drafted in conformity with the amendments proposed in the Bail Act. 

Ombudsman post filled 

By Tania Fernando

This post which has to be filled by the President has been vacant since the retirement of the last Ombudsman, Prof. Bertram Bastiampillai.

The Sunday Times learns that more than thousand complaints are presently stagnating at the office as none of the queries could be answered without a head of department.

The Ombudsman's office receives more than 100 complaints for a week and all have to be personally replied by the Ombudsman.

The appointment is made under the Parliament Act No. 17 of 1978 to look into all service problems, promotions, violation of human rights disciplinary action against public servants, etc. However he has no authority to hold inquiries into complaints against politicians.

Investment declines 

By M.Ismeth

According to BOI sources the realized investment in BOI approved industries in 2000 declined by 35 percent, from Rs. 28,814 million in 1999 to Rs 18,709 in the year 2000.

The main reason for the decline in investment was due to deteriorating investor confidence owing to several war related incidents in 2000.With the declaration of a 'war footing', investors may have adopted a 'wait and see' approach by withholding investment projects.

The uncertainty created by the general election also contributed to the lower investment flows in 2000. The BOI which functions as the main government agency for the promotion of foreign investments made substantial efforts to attract investment.

It organized several investment promotion missions to USA, India, UK, Sweden, Norway and France in 2000. Several foreign delegations also visited Sri Lanka in 2000 in search of new investment opportunities.

Expensive machines gather dust as staff sign on attendance sheets 

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Authoritative sources said the machines are kept in a cubicle. Workers claim the purchase of the machines has been a waste of money as there is no effort taken to install them even two years after their purchase.

Parliament has over 800 employees who are issued with identity cards bearing the Parliament logo. As we reported last week, the IDs still bear former Secretary General Bertram Tittawella's signature and are in a worn out state.

Sources said that despite the costly purchase, the recording of attendance is still by signing on attendance sheets while almost all other public institutions have by now adopted the card swiping machines. 

Routine transfer, says Wildlife Dept. chief

Mr. Gunasekera was transferred as the Senior Assistant Secretary to the Cultural Ministry.

Senior Assistant Secretary to the President Janath Gunaratne has been appointed Acting Director Wildlife.

Mr. Gunasekera was under pressure following an incident at Udawalawe where a tracker was attacked by an elephant which resulted in the closure of the park. However Mr. Gunasekera denied he was transferred due to the recent incident and added that it was a routine transfer.

Brief respite for demolition squad

By Nilika de Silva 

While more than 2000 quit notices await the signature of the Colombo Mayor, the people living in unauthorized buildings have gained a brief respite. The powers are vested in the Municipal Council to remove obstructions to streets. However, the UDA is planning to get more legal powers to go ahead with its plans.

On June 1, the UDA acquired the power to issue planning permits to the people of Colombo and the CMC was informed on May 28 that water supply would also be taken over from June 15.

Main opposition UNP spokesman Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku said the move was a ruse to privatize the distribution of water. He said the UDA was established under the UNP regime to approve plans but the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) continued to handle the water supply, The new move would render 300 CMC workers jobless.

Meanwhile, the CMC is to challenge the UDA for the alleged violation of the 13th amendment of the Constitution. The CMC's case against the UDA for acquiring the Vihara Maha Devi Park is pending before the courts. 

The UDA on Friday opened the City Points at Maligawatte and Narahenpita, which would handle building applications, giving approval for land subdivisions, sewerage connections and preliminary plans.

The UDA's deputy director general K. V. Dharmasiri said applications would be processed on the Internet to help those living abroad. He also said the UDA had taken over certain functions from the local authorities in Nuwara Eliya, Kataragama and Anuradhapura.

Meanwhile, former Mayor M. H. Mohammed said the water supply, sewerage and garbage clearance were matters for the CMC and not the government. He expressed fears that the current trend might extend to cover even Urban Councils.

Meanwhile, the CMC will formally inform the UDA not to go ahead with its demolition programme, as it would adversely affect the livelihood of the people. 

SC upholds right to equality

By Laila Nasry

The Bench comprising Justices Mark Fernando, C. Wigneswaran and P. Edussuuriya. ordered the Defence Secretary, Inspector General of Police and the Public Service Commission (PSC) to grant the petitioner H. L. Jamaldeen his promotion to the rank of Inspector of Police with effect from December 24, 1980 and to the post of Chief Inspector of Police with effect from April 12, 1986.

The court further directed that he be promoted to the rank of ASP on a supernumerary basis within three months. 

Mr. Jamaldeen citing Defence Secretary Chandr-ananda de Silva, former IGP W. B. Rajaguru, PSC chairman Tissa Devendra and ten others stated in his petition that he failed to get his promotion as ASP due to political pressure. He said he had all the academic and professional qualifications for the promotion.

He said in 1983 he had a misunderstanding with the then Minister of Trade A. R. Mansoor. While serving at Moneragala as assistant O.I.C. (crimes) attempts were made to obstruct him from performing his official duties during the referendum by the then Member of Parliament Dharmadasa Banda. Mr. Jamaldeen also said though such attempts had been unsuccessful the MP bore considerable animosity towards him. 

He had been branded as an SLFP supporter as he gave evidence for former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike against President J. R. Jayewardene in an election petition. 

He said as a result he was transferred to operational areas and denied due promotions for the past 17 years.

Snippets

No meals with dirty crooks 

PM's aim won't hit 1000

Which woman?

Promise and practice

Commissions galore

Laj receives threats

Editors call for dialogue, not censorship

Members of the Editors Guild challenged the censorship on military news before the Supreme Court last year, as being futile, arbitrary and unfair.

It was argued that it served no purpose other than to deprive citizens of their rightful access to news on the most crucial issue in the country, a statement from the Guild said.

The Supreme Court directed the Competent Authority to meet the editors and formulate guidelines on the implementation of the censorship, but no such meeting was held and consequently no guidelines were formulated, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the Editors Guild has called on the authorities to establish a continuing dialogue between the government, the military and the media in the reporting of war-related news. The parameters for such a dialogue had been spelt out in a working paper that had already been submitted to the Government Information chief and the Army Commander by the Guild some time ago, it said.

"The parameters have been formulated based on concerns expressed by the military and the requirements of the media in executing their responsibilities", the statement said.

The Editors Guild has also called upon the government to withdraw yet another impediment, that of access to operational areas by the accredited media which together with the censorship has remained an obstacle to the fair reporting of the northern insurgency.

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