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31st January 1999 |
Editorial/Opinion | Business | Plus | Sports | Mirror Magazine |
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Chemmani: CID calls in geologistBy S.S.SelvanayagamThe CID has called in a top geologist in the excavation of the alleged mass graves in Chemmani, a Jaffna court was told.The CID which took up the investigation into the alleged mass graves told court it had obtained the services of Patrick Korale, a Peradeniya university geology lecturer, in accordance with the Jaffna District Court directive. Attorney J. R. Jayawardene appearing for the CID along with superintendent Nandasena Munasinghe on Friday told the court that conditions were not conducive for excavation owing to rain and floods. Meanwhile, Jaffna police Inspector S.G. Mark told court that security at the Chemmani cite had been strengthened with military police being posted. When the writ in connection with the excavation of the alleged mass graves was filed on January 8, the judge directed the police to seek the services of an expert in geology.
Athas case in High Court on April 22The Colombo High Court will hear the Iqbal Athas case on April 22.High Court judge Andrew Somawansa has directed the two accused, Squadron Leader Herath Mudiyansalege Rukman Herath and Squadron Leader Don Pradeep Sujeeva Kannangara of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), to appear in courts on this date. The two Air Force officers, (now under interdiction) were indicted by the Attorney General for criminal trespass, criminal intimidation and unlawfully entering the Nugegoda residence of Iqbal Athas, Consultant Editor and Defence Correspondent of The Sunday Times on February 12, last year. They were taken into custody by a CID team led by ASP Palitha Perera on a complaint made by Mr. Athas and were produced before Gangodawila Magistrate N.V. Karunatilleke. The two officers were identified by Mr. Athas and his wife, Anoma Prasani. They were remanded and later released on bail. Sqn. Ldr. Herath was a bodyguard of a former Air Force Commander and Sqn. Ldr. Kannangara was the officer in charge of the Special Airborne Force (SABF). A further 26 airmen from the SABF were produced four months later (with 200 others) at an identification parade also at the Gangodawila Magistrate's Courts but none of them was identified by Mr. Athas, his wife and witness Marimuthu Subramaniam. A.R.C. Perera with Ranjini Mendis, Dilum de Abrew, Christopher de Alwis, Ganesh Dharmawardena, D.R.A. Kannangara and Kapila Liyanage appeared for the defence. Hemantha Warnak ulasuriya with Wijeya Weerasinghe and Vijitha Wickremasekera watched the interests of Mr. Athas.
Ex-naval officer seeks redressThe Supreme Court has granted former Navy Chief of Staff D. K. Dassanayake leave to proceed with a fundamental rights petition, challenging the President's decision to retire him.Rear Admiral Dassanayake in his affidavit said he had not received any reply to the Redress of Grievance (ROG) made by him to the President in March 1997. He requested the court to direct his ROG to the President for consideration under the Navy Pensions and Gratuities Code. He was then informed on June 11, 1998 that the President had received the letter and made an order to retire the petitioner from the post of Chief of Staff of the Navy. On July 24 1998, Rear Admiral Dassanayake submitted a further affidavit alleging that the 2nd Respondent, Vice Admiral H.C.A.C. Tissera, acted maliciously by not forwarding the ROG to the President in time to get an early reply. In the past chiefs of staff were given extensions in rank or adjustments in seniority if they were below 55 years and extensions were given to officers in other branches of the Navy. The case will be heard on June 24 this year.
Tri Star to prune its operationsBy M.IsmethTri Star Apparel exports (Pte)Ltd, a pioneer in the garment industry, is to sell 16 of its 30 factories and three other properties owing to loss of quotas.According to sources, the Tri Star group will concentrate mainly on orders from the British department store Marks and Spencers and other traditional customers. The group invested millions of rupees in setting up factories in rural areas to tackle rural unemployment. The group attributes the loss of quotas to poor performance by a large number of its factories where production was low due to the inexperience of the workers. But it was unfortunate that they lost the quotas at a time when the employees had acquired sufficient skills and were ready to perform to peak efficiency, a Tri Star official said. Sources said the group had during the past several months made several attempts to obtain redress and get the quotas restored so that these factories would come out of the red. Tri Star officials said factories located in Nikaweratiya, Polpithigama, Yapahuwa, Galgamuwa, Kamburupitiya, Ambalantota, Bandarawela, Badulla, Buttala, Welimada, Hasalaka, Girandurukotte, Nilwella, Kekanadura, Malwatte and Mawathagama would be sold but they hoped the new owners would continue to employ the present work force.
President should resign, says NJCThe National Joint Committee (NJC) has called upon President Chandrika Kumaratunga to resign claiming that she has failed to honour the democratic process.Dr. Piyasena Dissanayake, Secretary of the NJC, said the President had failed in her constitutional duty to prevent lawlesness and uphold the rule of law in Wayamba "The President has also failed to ensure the peaceful conduct of the poll and thus deprived the people of Waayamba of the right to freely exercise their vote. The people have lost confidence in the ability or willingness of the President to protect and uphold their rights under the Constitution," he said. The NJC which comprises some 46 organisations has also decided to hold a mass protest next week condemning the polls.
Fasting July striker diesRs. 1.5m compensation soughtBy Shelani de SilvaFollowing the death of a protester, the July Strikers have called off their fast-unto-death but demanded that the government pay compensation immediately.Last week seventy year old G A Ariyadasa died due to complications in his stomach. The one and a half month strike was called off on Monday with a protest march from Fort to Mr. Ariyadasa' residence. P Amaradivakara, secretary of the Joint Organisation of July Strikers, told The Sunday Times they are demanding the government pay Rs.1.5 million to Mr. Ariyadasa's family immediately.. "We have also written to diplomatic missions, labour organisations and international trade unions to request the government to pay compensation and condemn the government's attitude to the thousands of July strikers," he said. He said letters had also been sent to the President and the Labour Minister. "We will also hold an emergency meeting with several trade unions participating to discuss our future action. We were compelled to call off the strike because all the members wanted to attend the funeral," he said. Meanwhile Parliamentarian Vasudeva Nananayakara has sent letters to Ministers and the President demanding the government pay compensation.
Mason with axe still at largeBy Frederica JanszHave you seen the man in the picture?He has been identified as the mason who allegedly attacked a family in Kandana early this month. The Sunday Times two weeks ago highlighted the horrific episode of the Perera family being hacked with an axe when the mason working on their house in Kandana broke in and allegedly attacked them around 2.30 am. Priya Perera, his wife Nicoli and two children, Christina (10) and Crisantha (5) were almost killed on that fateful Thursday night which remains a nightmare for this family. Nicoli who was hit on her left eye with the axe has been flown to India for medical attention. Doctors say the injury was so grave that she may go blind The Perera family still in a state of shock told The Sunday Times that in the early hours of Jan 7, they were awakened by the screams of the woman domestic aide downstairs. Priya saw a rope hanging from the ceiling and realised someone had broken in. No sooner he aksed Nicoli not to come out of the bedroom than he was attacked by the suspect who was hiding in the TV room adjoining the bedroom, the Pereras said. The intruder then hit Priya with an axe on the back of his head. When Nicoli tried to save her husband, she was hacked on the side of her left eye. Their little daughter Christina in the bedroom was crying with terror, and trying to cover herself with a blanket. But the deranged man went upto the bed and hacked the little girl over the blanket with the axe, the Pereras alleged. Five year old Crisantha was then hacked on his ear. Except for the little boy, all of them were unconscious for about half an hour before Nicoli regained consciousness and called for some help from her sister who was staying closeby. The mason had been contracted by the Perera family to build a building
next to their home. The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Sampath Sinha Arachchi alias Indika, had got away with some jewellery. His identity card number is 733653841V. Family members say that both children are now out of danger. Meanwhile, Police have arrested a man in connection with the Sabri Mohideen murder. Police said the man had confessed to the murder and attempted rape of Sabri's fiancee. Four others remain at large,the police said.
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