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28th October 2001

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Stripped Samurdhi boss sticks on

By Shelani de Silva
With former Samurdhi Minister S. B. Dissanayake now leading an onslaught on the government, the Samurdhi Authority also is in chaos after its boss was stripped of her powers but is refusing to budge.

Samurdhi Commissioner General Kumari Navaratne has been stripped of her powers after an unsuccessful attempt by the government to transfer her out of the Samurdhi Authority.

Dr. Navaratne's powers and functions have been re-assigned to another officer after she refused to obey transfer orders on the grounds that the Elections Commissioner had ordered that transfers of public officers be suspended till after the general elections.

Dr. Navaratne told The Sunday Times the heads of departments in her office had been told by the ministry secretary that her powers had been removed and an additional secretary appointed to overlook the work.

"This is against the orders of the Commissioner of Elections. I am being politically victimised because I closely associated with Mr. Dissanayake. No one should assume that just because Mr. Dissanayake has crossed over, I will do the same. What I am sorry about is that I worked closely with the President and this is what I get in return," Dr. Navaratne said.

She said work at the department had come to a standstill, since she was powerless.

"Although an additional Secretary was appointed to overlook my work, all the work has to be taken to the ministry and the officers find it difficult to do it. I will not vacate my post, because it is against election regulations," she said.


New gateway to relieve telecom pains 

By Tania Fernando
The Public Enterprises Reforms Commission (PERC) has called for tenders for the second telecommunications international gateway.

The second international gateway ready to be advertised at the end of this month will result in the reduction of call charges and help 300,000 applicants in the waiting list.

An official of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) said the proposal had been sent to the PERC and hoped the link with the new company would bring down call charges.


Power cuts off soon

With heavy rain continuing, the power cut is likely to be further reduced or even totally removed within the next week or two, a Ceylon Electricty Board official said.

He said the current monsoon rains had increased the storage capacity in reservoirs substantially. In addition a big gas turbine plant which had broken down was now repaired and would begin operating by next week.


Teachers in protest show

Hundreds of teachers are expected to come to Isurupaya on Tuesday to protest against political appointments and promotions, a union official said.

Educational Professionals Association Secretary Wasantha Dharmasiri said the teachers would also be protesting against the failure to keep promises made by former Education Minister Susil Premajayantha.


FMM widens demo against Mervyn

The Free Media Movement (FMM) has invited all organisations and individuals to join in a picketing campaign tomorrow in Pettah to protest against former parliamentarian Mervyn de Silva's alleged threats on the Divaina editor and his staff.

The campaign would be held at 12 noon opposite the Goonesinghe statue in Pettah, a spokesman for the FMM said.

He said the alleged October 22 incident was a serious threat to the country's media independence.


President urged to probe killing

In an open letter to President Kumaratunga media watchdogs, journalists, editors and other organisations have called for a probe on BBC correspondent Mylvaganam Nimalarajan's killing one year ago.

The letter drafted by the Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka Tamil Media Alliance and the Reporters Sans Frontieres has been signed by 285 journalists, editors and media groups. The letter charged that police had failed to arrest the suspects responsible for the killing.


National list nominees

Political parties yesterday handed in their National Lists. published below are national lists of some of the main parties.

PA:D.M.Jayaratna, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Ronnie de Mel, Kingsley Wickramaratna, Alavi Moulana, Segu Izzadeen, Sumithara Peiris, S.Sathasivam, Batty Weerakoon, Raja Collure, Leslie Gunawardana, Geethanjana Gunawardana, Dilan Perera, Mohamed Abdul Raheem, Lincoln Christopher Rajan, T.Sivakumaran, A.V.Suraweera, Hemal Gunasekara, Mohamed Rauf, Chandima Weerakkody, Indrani P. Alvapillai, Rajaratnam Udaya kumar, Ajantha de Zoysa, Abdul Majeed Mohamed Amthaj W.H.Piyadasa and Jagatha Narampotha..

UNP: K. N.Choksy, Tilak Janaka Marapana, Prof. G. L. Peiris, S. B. Dissanayake, Rohan Tissa Abhayagunasekera, M.L.M. Aboosally, A. R. M. Abdul Cader, Dr. A. R. Abdul Hafeez, M. Abdul Majeed, Dr. Ranjith Atapattu, A. H. M. Azwer, Ananda Moonesinghe, Anura Bastian, P. P. Devaraj, Prassana Gunawardene, Indrani Iriyagolla, S. Jegatheeswaran, Appu Kandappa, S. M. Mushoor Moulana, M. M. M. Mustapha, A. J. M. Muzammil, M. N. M Salman, Rohan Pethiyagoda, P. P. Radhakrishnan, R. Saravanan, Dr. Adambawa Uduman Lebbe, Sudath Wickremaratne, Jayasundara Wijekoon and K .A. Senanayake

JVP: Anura Dissanayake, M. B. Ratnayake, P. Kularatne, Dimuthu Attygalle, Sunil Watagala, Harsha Sanjeeva Bulathsinhala, M. R. J. G. Sisira Amarabandu, P. M. Wickremaratne, Sunil Vedikkara, M. D. Herath Banda, K. M. W. M. Pabodani, Sumathipala Manawadu, K. P. S. J. Fernando, Chandramali Perera, Narayanan Sugumaran, P. Chandrasiri Warusamanna, D. R. M. Ratnayake, M. S. A. Waris, H.W. Tilak Jayawardena, D. M. Wijeratne, Hubert Warnasuriya, Muniyandi Ranjith Kumar, Andrahendige Atman, Wahalathanthrige Sisira Kumara, H. W. Piyasena, J. H. A. D. Dayakeerthi Jayatilleke, M. N. Mohomed Shinath, Wattegamage Dayani and W. Saranelis Perera. 

TULF: M.Sivasitha-mparam, N.Kumar-aguruparan, M.Abu Yusuf, S.Muthuligam, Illlaythamby Nadarajah and K. Kulasekaran Mahendran, 

SLMC : M. I. M. Mansoor, A. R. M. Mansoor, Y. L. S. Hameed, A. L. A. Majeed, T. K. Azoor, Moulavi A. L. M. Kaleel, Moulavi H. M. M. Illiyas, Munas Kariapper, Basheer Niyasdeen, I. M. Adham, M. S. M. Aslam, M.T. Malhardeen, M. S. M. Ghouse, N. M. Shaheid, A. M. Faaiz, U.L. Abdul Najeem, Hussein Ahamed Bhaila, U.T.M. Anver, U. M. Nizar, M. A. H. S. Fazil, Imthiyas Musheen, Badur Muneer, S. S. Thajudeen, Mohamed Nassar, A. P. Thasneem, M. Uthumma Lebbe, M. Uvais, A.L.M. Rasheed, Kamal Musthafa.

Sihala Urumaya: Tilak Karunaratne, K. M. P. Rajaratna, Mithra Wettimuni,, Dr. Dudley Gunasekera, Prof. Buddhadasa Hewavitharana, Prof. Chandra Wickrama Gamage, Prof. Mangala Illangasinghe, Prof. Malani Endagama, Prof. R. M. W. Rajapaksha, Dr. Keerthi Wickremesinghe, Dr. Wimaladharma Abeywickrema, Dr. Ranjith Wijewardena, Dr. Shantha Hennayake, Chandima de Silva, Shivanthimala de Silva, Dr. Lincoln Bastian, Dr. Gamini Buthpitiya, Dr. Jayantha Edirisinghe, Dr. Kamala Ediriweera, Dr. Ranjan Fernando, Dharmasiri Alahakoon, Daya Sirisena, Badhra Gunatilleke, M. D. Daniel, E. A. Amaratunga, R.T. P. Kariyawasam, Anuradha Yahampath, Udaya Prabath Gammanpila, Asoka Abayagunawardena. 

Sinhale Maha Sammatha Bhoomiputhra Pakshaya: Dr. Harischandra Wijetunga, Prof. Abhaya Ariyasinghe, W. D. M. J. Abayagunaratne, Ravindra Illeperuma, Mahiepala Katuwawala, M. Shantha Egodawela, M. J. Sarath Chandrasiri.

Liberal Party: Kamal Nissanka



Iqbal Athas intimidation trial

Witness describes how a proper identification parade was held

By Laila Nasry
Former police sergeant Dissanayake Bandara testifying in the case against two Air Force officers charged with trespassing and intimidating The Sunday Times Consultant Editor Iqbal Athas told court he arranged the identification parade at the Gangodawila Magistrate's court on May 5, 1998 with 18 persons resembling the two accused.

In this 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 Air Borne Force have been indicted for criminal trespass, intimidation and unlawful entry with weapons into the Athas residence on February 12, 1998.

The trial came up before Colombo High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya.

Answering a question by state counsel P. P. Surasena, Mr. Bandara said he took great care in finding persons with similar looks. They wore shirts and trousers so that the two accused persons would not stand out in the identification parade. 

Questioned as to whether an outsider could enter the room where the identification parade was to be held he said the doors and windows were closed. 

He said the witnesses were brought to the identification parade by Mr. Piyadasa, an officer of the court. He knocked on the door and admitted the witnesses and stood guard outside the door. 

Explaining the procedure followed subsequent to the witnesses taking part in the identification parade, Mr. Bandara said they sat in the Magistrate's chambers. He said the identification parade was held by Magistrate Robert Perera . 

Christopher de Alwis appearing on behalf of senior counsel for the 1st accused Srinath Perera questioned Mr. Bandara when he first saw the two accused. The witness said he first saw them when they were brought for the identification parade. 

Asked as to how he had arranged the identification parade subsequent to the orders given by Magistrate Robert Perera without seeing the two accused Mr. Bandara said the two accused had been described to him. He denied seeing the accused in person or having been shown a photograph of the two accused previously. 

Mr. Bandara denied the defence allegations that the persons lined up by him for the identification parade in no way resembled the two accused thereby inevitably making them prominent at the identification parade. 

Due to the demise of Magistrate Robert Perera the prosecution was unable to call him as a witness and record his evidence. 

The defence objected to the marking of the identification parade notes instead on the basis that the identification parade was not conducted properly and that their clients' photographs obtained from their service identity cards could have been made available to the witnesses for identification. Further they objected to the Magistrate not being available for cross examination. The objections were overruled by court. 

The defence submitted a list of witnesses whose evidence will be led. The trial was fixed for November 12. 

Daya Perera PC with T. G. Gunesekera and Rasika Weeratunga watched the interests of Iqbal and Anoma Athas. Senior state counsel P. P. Surasena appeared for the prosecution. Srinath Perera PC with Christopher de Alwis appeared for the 1st accused while Mr. Anil Silva represented the 2nd accused. 



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