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| Sunday, 13 July 2003 |
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Fingerprinting visa applicants to UK A six-month pilot project, fingerprinting all visa applicants to the UK, will be initially introduced by the British High Commission in Colombo from the end of this month to 'combat fraud and misuse of documents'. It will be expanded globally after its success, Second Secretary of the High Commission Ms Margret Tongue told the " Sunday Observer ". The British government has introduced this to ensure efficient and reliable procedures for entry clearance for the UK , she said. An officer involved in visa frauds was no longer working in the High Commission, she said, adding that the new procedure would enable them to efficiently process a bigger number of visa applications. During a six-month trial period, all visa applicants in Colombo will be fingerprinted except children under 5 years of age, diplomats and VIPs with official passports. The fingerprints will be taken electronically sans ink. The data collected will assist to identify immigrants to the UK, it has been stated. Top Islamic scholar due on Thursday One of the leading authorities in the world on Islamic banking, particularly on the concept of Riba (usury) as defined in the Holy Quran and Hadeeth, Sheikh Imran Nazar Hosein is due in Sri Lanka on July 17 on a five-day lecture tour at the invitation of the Al Islam Foundation of Sri Lanka. Sheikh Imran Hosein, who is a citizen of Trinidad-Tobago, served as Principal of the Aleemiya Institute of Islamic Studies in Karachchi as well as in the Trinidad Foreign Office. He has delivered the Friday prayer sermons at the United Nations, New York for ten years and also served as Imam of Masjid al-Quran, Long Island, New York. He has authored a number of books comprising the religion of Abraham and the state of Israel, the Prohibition of Riba in the Quran, Jerusalem in the Quran, Dreams in Islam and Islam and Buddhism. The main event of the Sheikh's visit here will be a full day seminar on 'Riba and Islamic banking' on Saturday July 19 at the Galadari Hotel. The eminent scholar's programme is organised by the Al Islam Foundation, the publishers of 'Al Islam' the longest published Muslim monthly in Sri Lanka. "UN peace keeping" course here COLOMBO, Saturday (Lankapuvath) - A training course on UN peace keeping operations is being held for the first time in Sri Lanka with the participation of local security forces. Fifteen Asia Pacific countries including Sri Lanka are participating in the 18th 'UNTAT' training programme to be held over a period of two weeks. It is aimed at standardising training modules and share peacekeeping experiences for countries contributing troops to UN operations. The course organised by the UN Department of Peace Keeping Operations also seeks to help the Sri Lanka Army set up a special training institute to provide troops for peace keeping operations overseas. No Sri Lankan had the opportunity of participating in UN peace keeping operations as a result of the two-decade old war. It would now be available to Sri Lankans due to the peaceful atmosphere prevalent in the country and on a request made to the United Nations by the Government. Devinuwara - Randoli Maha Perahera on August 11 The Devinuwara Esala Festival 2003 will commence with the Kap planting ceremony taking place at the auspicious time of 7.38 p.m. on July 29. Pariwara Peraheras (Peli Peraheras) will commence on August 5 and go on till August 10. The Randoli Perahera will parade the streets on August 11 starting at the auspicious time of 2.17 p.m. From August 12 to August 19, Esala Festival and Fair will go on. During this period devotees could pay their respects to the Sri Vishnu Maha Devalaya and subsidiary devalayas standing around the Maha Devalaya. Deva Thovilaya alias Kolmurayagaya will go on during the night of August 19 and Deva Danaya will follow at noon on August 20 with which the festival comes to an end. All necessities of pilgrims will be looked after by the organising committee headed by G. S. Ediriweera, District Secretary, Matara. Toddler appeals for help One-and-a-half-year-old M. Azroon of 47, Arunodaya Mawatha, Obeysekerapura, Rajagiriya, is suffering from Atrial Sepal Defect (ASD). Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dr. A. G. Jayakrishnan recommends immediate heart surgery, which will cost around Rs. 210,000. Parents appeal to well-wishers to contribute to Hatton National Bank, Panchikawatte branch, A/c No. 02-1213001-3. Kidney patient Anura seeks your assistance Subasinghe Arachchige Anura (40) of 436/194, Elvitigala Mawatha, Narahenpita, Colombo 5, a casual employee of the Colombo Municipal Council is in a critical condition, suffering from an acute kidney ailment. Specialist Dr. C. A. Herath of Sri Jayawardenapura Hospital and Specialist Dr. P. Ravichandran of Miyot Hospital, Chennai have recommended that an immediate kidney transplant be done. A father of two children, Anura is unable to bear the cost of the surgery and seeks the assistance of the public to save his life. Donations can be made to Account No. 207-054737 New rules for credit cards The financial sector legal reforms committee appointed by the government to formulate new legislation with regard to Information Technology frauds committed via the Internet and Automated Teller Machine (ATM) has forwarded a set of rules and regulations to all Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of banks for their approval. the rules are expected to help curb the escalating incidents of credit card fraud. According to informed sources, once these rules and regulations are approved by the CEOs the rules will be forwarded to Parliament. A Task Force on credit security and risk management was also formed to formulate legislation to tackle credit card fraud. It has been found that there over one billion credit cards are in circulation all over the world with more than trillion dollars worth of business transacted. Due to several credit card frauds being exposed in Sri Lanka, it is understood that a number of local and international banks have urged authorities to enact new legislations. The Police Fraud Bureau's Director, Senior Supdt. of Police V. Kanthasamya said during the last few years over 300 fake credit cards have been detected by his bureau. JJ Arundathi Roy to visit Want to meet the author of "God of Small Things"? Arundathi Roy, the celebrated and outspoken Indian author, who was awarded the Booker Prize for 'God of Small Things' will be on a week-long visit to Colombo later this year. Sarathchandra Wanniachchi, President of the Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association confirmed that Roy, a regular columnist for The Guardian will be in Colombo, to attend the Colombo International Book Exhibition to be held from September 15 to 21 at the BMICH. 'Made in Bogambara' : Garments project for jail inmates The first ever garment factory for prisoners will be opened at the Bogambara Prison by Interior Minister John Amaratunga, tomorrow, July 14 at 3.30 pm. Owned by Neil Bogalananda, the International Standard Garment Production Centre has facilities for over 130 employees and 48 machines. "The first batch of male and female prisoners will be employed in this factory and we will increase the number to 280", Prison Commissioner General Rumy Marzook said. Plans are also under way to set up a second garment factory in Colombo. According to Marzook, each prisoner will get a monthly salary of Rs. 3,000, 60 per cent of which will go to his or her savings, 20 per cent will go to the government and 20 per cent to prison welfare. "After serving his prison term the prisoner can walk out with money, training, experience and a recognised certificate", he added. -7 of Narahenpita Branch (119) of the People's Bank. |
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