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| Sunday, 8 June 2003 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Personal bodyguards issue boils over Several UNP Parliamentarians have objected to the UNP Working Committee's decision to do away with personal security for Ministers, MPs and Provincial Council Members, but the party hierarchy is understood to have decided to go ahead and implement the decision. The UNP Working Committee at its June 5 meeting decided that apart from three high profile ministers, other members, MPs and PC members did not require personal bodyguards,instead it was decided the politicos should be given police security on a "when necessary" basis. General Secretary of the UNP, Senerath Kapukotuwa, told the "Sunday Observer" that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had reiterated that providing State Security to all UNP Parliamentarians and PC members was unproductive. Kapukotuwa said that the UNP Working Committee was in the process of informing the politicians about the decision and would convene a meeting for all UNP politicians to convince them the need for reducing unwanted security. Assault on scribes: Report ready The two-member committee of inquiry headed by retired High Court Judge, Oliver Weerasena concluded its three-day inquiry into assaults of journalists in the North East Friday evening at the Jaffna District Secretariat Tamilnet reported yesterday, quoting sources. At the conclusion of the inquiry Mr. Weerasena said that he would submit his report on the alleged attacks and his recommendations, to prevent such attacks in the future, to the Prime Minister. The other member of the committee is Mr. E.G. Chandraratne, Senior Assistant Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Communications. Appearing voluntarily before the committee on Friday in Jaffna head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Mr. Ole Brondum narrated his first hand experience on the day when the security forces allegedly attacked the journalists at Manipay. He said he was at the scene when Sri Lanka Army soldiers manhandled LTTE women cadres by removing their waist belts. "I saw some Jaffna journalists being beaten by soldiers even after they identified themselves as media persons" he said. The committee recorded the evidence of four journalists, P. Jeyanandamoorthy from Batticaloa, Thavachelvam, Manohararajah and K. Sivapalan, all from Jaffna district. S S Another finance company vanishes into thin air Police have commenced investigations into the activities of a finance company, because of complaints, has put up shutters after collecting large sums of money from the public pledging far higher interest rates than what the recognised banks pay. SEDENT Finance Company has 16 branches, the main branch based at Talangama. Only a few complaints have been received upto yesterday from the finance institutions' sales promotion agents that the head office based in Talangama and all its branches have been closed down. Some complaints from the public stated that the cheques issued by the company as payment for cars sold had bounced. OIC Crimes Mirihana Police, R. K. B. S. Wijewardena said that a team of police officers were despatched to the residence of the chairman of the company in Gampaha could not traced but several documents were recovered from his residence pertaining to finance transactions. Complaints are trickling in which looks like the tip of an iceberg but we will get to know the whole picture in a few days time, a senior police official said. This particular finance company is not registered with the Central Bank. S S Safety for Poson pilgrims Over 300 lifeguards will participate in the Poson Safety Campaign conducted by Eagle Insurance with the support of the Life Saving Association. The project conducted for the 10th consecutive year, aims at safeguarding the lives of devotees who make their way to Anuradhapura during the Poson pilgrimage, from drowning when bathing in nearby reservoirs. Around 1.5 million pilgrims are expected to visit Anuradhapura and participate in this year's Poson religious activities. The organisers will also initiate a massive public awareness campaign prior to and throughout Poson via print, radio and television media with the intention of advising people against using unsuitable places to bathe and highlight the need for people to act with extra caution when bathing in tanks. The campaign will be extended into television medium this year, through knowledge enhancing TV commercials and safety snippets on selected channels. The well-trained lifeguards will be deployed near reservoirs in Anuradhapura. Billboards and warning signboards have already been put up indicating unsafe-spots that should be avoided for bathing while also guiding pilgrims to safer bathing areas. Leaflets in both text and picture-form, will disseminate practical information on maintaining proper safety procedures; and fact sheets will be distributed near major tanks and also at official monitoring terminals at selected locations that provide a broad view, drawing attention to the dangers of bathing at unprotected places. Baby needs help Baby A. Rahuman of No. 125/1, S.M. Road, Dharganagar, is suffering from a ventricular septal defect and needs to undergo immediate heart surgery. The operation, to be performed at Nawaloka, will cost Rs. 275,000 (Payable on admission). The family cannot raise the funds and appeal for public assistance. An account has been opened at People's Bank, Keselwatte branch where contributions could be made to A/c. No. 207-037750-5. |
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