4 Wednesday 18th April, 2012

Norway... From page 1 He claimed to be speaking as a com- mander of an “anti-communist” resistance movement and an anti-Islam militant Docs threaten token strike group he called the Knights Templar. Prosecutors have said the group does not exist. Maintaining he acted out of “goodness not evil” to prevent a wider civil war, Breivik vowed, “I would have done it again.” over DAT allowance Breivik has five days to explain why he set off a bomb in Oslo’s government dis- trict, killing eight, and then gunned down BY DON ASOKA WIJEWARDENA 69 at a Labor Party youth camp outside the Government Medical Officers’ In terms of allowances the doctors had Salary and Cadre Commission officials introduced a National Wage Policy in Norwegian capital. He denies criminal Association President Dr. Anuruddha only been getting the DAT Allowance and the Finance Ministry it was agreed accordance with the Occupational guilt saying he was acting in self-defense. Padeniya yesterday warned Health whereas other high officials of the public by the both parties to implement it. Classification, but ever since the govern- “The attacks on July 22 were a preven- Authorities that his association would be service were enjoying all the privileges, He pointed out that though the rele- ment had been unable to implement it, tive strike. I acted in self-defense on behalf compelled to take tough trade union he told a Media Conference at the GMOA vant authorities agreed to implement it, because of which most professional were of my people, my city, my country,” he said action in protest against non-payment of head office. no action had been taken so far. “We are affected. as he finished his statement Tuesday. “I the revised Disturbance, Availability and Dr. Padeniya said that though not asking the government for new He added that the GMOA had no therefore demand to be found innocent of Transport Allowance and the non-imple- President Mahinda Rajapaksa had agreed allowances. We have clearly explained to alternative but to resort to stronger trade the present charges.” mentation of salary revision. to grant Rs. 29,000 as DAT Allowance in the authorities the necessity for DAT union action to protest against the gov- Breivik’s testimony was delayed after a The final decision to launch a coun- 2008, due to enormous expenditure on the increase because we are unable to make ernment’s reluctance to implement a citizen judge was dismissed for his com- try-wide token strike would be taken by war, the implementation of the increase both ends meet,” Dr. Padeniya stressed. National Wage Policy and the constant ments online the day after the attack that the GMOA General Committee on April of the DAT was postponed. Even at the GMOA Assistant Secretary Dr. Navin delay in paying the enhanced DAT Breivik deserves the death penalty. 29. meeting GMOA had last month with de Soysa said that the government had Allowance. Lawyers on all sides had requested that lay judge Thomas Indreboe be taken off the trial. He was replaced by backup lay judge Elisabeth Wisloeff. Breivik is being tried by a panel of two Media reports of attack professional judges and three lay judges, local politicians who are appointed for four-year terms and participate on an equal basis as the judges in deciding guilt on TN fishermen and sentencing. not true – TN govt. Bangladesh... From page 1 Mahbub Uz Zaman, the Bangladeshi The Tamil Nadu Government on Minister K. A. Jayapal told the High Commissioner to said that Monday denied reports that Indian fish- Assembly. the fourth session of the Bangladesh- Sri ermen were attacked, allegedly, by the Such an event “did not happen” on Lanka Joint Commission for Economic Sri Lankan Navy on April 2, according April 2 and all the 504 fishing boats that Cooperation held in Dhaka recently had to a PTI story filed from Chennai yes- ventured out to sea returned on April 3, proved to be ‘very successful’ with several terday. he said, adding, they were not attacked. decisions being reached for the mutual PTI said: “A section of the media “However, our Chief Minister has benefit of both countries. reported that Tamil fishermen were been writing letters to the Centre on The Joint Commission had previously met as far back as 1993 in , he attacked by Sri Lankan Navy on April this (attacks on fishermen). She has said, adding that the fourth session in 2. On investigation, we found that the written six letters in these 10 months,” Dhaka had concluded with a great deal of reports were not true,” Fisheries Jayapal said. Visiting Indian MPs with their Sri Lankan counterparts at parliament on Tuesday. optimism.

Duminda... From page 1 National Christian At this stage ASP Shani Abeysekera, of that on the last occasion Merril Ranjan of At this stage, President’s Counsel the CID, in charge of the investigations, said the CID had been absent and proceedings Hemantha Warnakulasuriya said that fol- that he had recorded the statement of must be initiated to charge him for contempt lowing the order made by this Court to name Duminda ’s father. He said Duminda of Court, for being absent from Court when Duminda Silva as a suspect, the CID had Silva was warded at the Mount Elizabeth the case was called. recorded over one hundred statements, Literary Festival — 2012 Hospital in Singapore, where he was due to The Chief Magistrate observed that after which without any doubt established that undergo further surgery this month. Thus the Court adjourned, the officer concerned Duminda Silva was not a suspect but a vic- National Christian Literary Festival * Written or any other evidence of he would be unable to be present in Court. had met him in the Chambers and said that tim. is being organizing by the Department the creations should be mentioned in President’s Counsel Thirantha he had come to court but was out when the Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis said of Christian Religious Affairs of the application and the applicant should Wallaliyadda, appearing for Bharatha case was called. Therefore, there was no that the investigations had been concluded Ministry of Buddhasasana and be able to produce them in any time. Lakshman Premachanra’s family,said that need to take any further action. and the Information Books and investigation Religious Affairs and will be held on 5th * If one applicant has performed in he could not permit President’s Counsel Counsel Walliyadde said that an order notes were with the AG. If the AG decided to of October 2012. Parallel to this festival more than one field (lyrics, music, Hemantha Warnakulasuriya to appear for had been made by the Magistrate to arrest discharge anyone and not file plaint against it has been decided to present salutation singing) he/she should mention all rele- Duminda Silva, as he (Duminda) was a sus- Duminda Silva but it had not been carried anyone on the evidence provided, the Court awards to artists who have rendered a vant information in a single application. pect and not an aggrieved person. He said out. Therefore, he had lost faith in the CID had no power to interfere or would not inter- yeomen service to the Christian Hymn * An award will not be present for that there could not be more than one carrying out the orders of the Court and fered with such an order. The ultimate literacy In Sinhala, Tamil, and English any field if the applications are not in a aggrieved party in a case. At this stage, arresting Silva. But, he said, if the Court authority was the AG, the Chief Magistrate media. satisfactory level in that field. Counsel Warnakulasuriya interrupted say- issued a warrant, then the Interpol help said. Accordingly applications are call- * The pennons who were awarded ing that in any case there could be more than could be sought to have the suspect arrested Hemantha Warnakulasuriya PC with L. ing from the artists who have con- once in a Christian Literary Festival one person who sustained physical injury or and brought to Court within a very short A. C. Cardos, Weersinghe Ranahewa, tributed in fields of lyrics, music (tunes organized by this department should material loss and the Criminal Procedure time. Therefore, he said, under section 9 of Chandrasiri Wijesinghe and Mrs. Inoka and play) and singing Christian Hymns not apply. did not preclude anyone of the injured per- the Criminal Procedure Code, the Court was Gamage, instructed by Indrajith and fulfill bellow mentioned qualifica- * Delayed applications or applica- sons from retaining a lawyer of his own empowered to issue a warrant when it found Ameratunga appeared for Duminda Silva, tions. tions which will not be able to provide choice to represent his grievances. He said that the CID was not carrying out the orders the aggrieved party. * Both Catholic and Christian relevant evidence will be rejected and that it had been established beyond doubt of the Magistrate. Thirantha Wallaliyadda PC with Upul (Members of NCC only) laity/clergy the last decision will be taken by the that Duminda Silva had been shot first by a In refusing the application, Chief Kumarapperuma appeared for the relatives artists can apply. judge board. security guard and he had sustained serious Magistrate Prasanna Alwis said that the of Bharatha Laxman Premachandra. * Applicants should be alive and the Under those conditions all applica- gunshot injuries. Therefore, he and his fami- offence was such that a police officer could Anuja Premaratna appeared for the first creations should be Christian Hymns tions should be addressed to the ly had the right to retain a lawyer. arrest the suspect without a warrant and the suspect. created before 1980. Director, Department of Christian Colombo Chief Magistrate Prasanna CID had not made an application to Court ASP Shani Abeysekera of the CID * Applicant or an outsider (on Religious affairs, 155/10, Castle Street, Alwis said that he had made order permit- for a warrant to be issued. The CID had appeared for the prosecution. behalf of the applicant) can prepare an Colombo 08, by registered post or by ting any aggrieved person to be represented always maintained that he could be arrested. The suspects in the case were further application by him/herself with all rele- hand on or before 30th June 2012 by Counsel. Therefore, the application by the President’s remanded till the April 27. vant details. Thereafter Counsel Wallaliyadde said Counsel was refused, the Magistrate said.

Akuressa PS Opp... From page 1 Political solutoin... From page 1 The victim’s relatives have accused the bribery against the Akuressa police as Political solution... mitment to the peace process, underscored police of not taking prompt action against baseless. While thanking the Government of the difficulties experienced by the govern- the politician as a police officer had been However, The Island learns that a ser- India for supporting GoSL’s campaign to ment due to it being a coalition. The min- bribed. geant has been transferred to the eradicate LTTE terrorism, MP Premadasa ister said as the ruling coalition had to Police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana told Malimbada Police post with immediate emphasized the responsibility on the part appease all constituent members, the The Island that the errant rider had not effect. of the Sri Lankan government to usher in ongoing peace process was a difficult been arrested immediately as the victim’s Tharindu Madusanka of the UNP was permanent peace. Every citizen should be process. The Indian delegation reacted condition was not serious initially. produced before the Matara Magistrate given the opportunity to live with dignity, strongly to an assessment by Minister De “As her condition became serious, and enlarged on personal bail in Rs. which meant the empowerment of people Silva that with the conclusion of the con- police arrested him,” he said. 50,000. politically, economically and socially, he flict the government had allowed fisher- SP Rohana dismissed allegations of said. Premadasa reiterated the men the freedom to operate. A member of Opposition’s commitment to the protec- the delegation pointed out that it was the tion of the territorial integrity, unitary right of the fishermen to engage in their Indian MPs to... From page 1 status and political independence of the livelihood. country. The visiting delegation reiterated DMK’s Muthuvel Karunanidhi too fol- de-mining, vocational training and eco- He emphasized the importance of peo- India’s commitment to the protection of lowed suit by saying that such visits in the nomic revival, are under implementation. ple of all communities enjoying post-war Sri Lanka, while warning that there past did not serve any purpose. The delegation is also scheduled to meet a benefits in a prosperous and peaceful Sri wouldn’t be permanent peace unless the The programme appears to have been wide cross-section of parliamentarians, Lanka. grievances of the Tamil speaking people changed at the last minute to include a Pradeshiya Sabha members, civil society TNA leader R. Sampanthan accused the were met. visit to the Menik Farm, where a hundred and community leaders in the Northern government of purposely delaying the Among those present at the meeting thousand displaced Tamils were kept. Province,” the statement added. negotiated political process. An irate par- MP with Opposition were MPs , Dinesh The remaining 197,000 were kept in five The visit is being organised in the con- liamentarian didn’t mince his words when MP Shrimathi Sushma Swaraj Gunawardena, Anura Priyadarshana other camps. Menik Farm is 40km from text of a commitment made by the he blamed the government for failing to Leader of the House, Minister Nimal Yapa, S. Muralidharan and Suresh Vavuniya. At the moment, it houses bare- External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna take forward the peace process, though the Siripala De Silva, while reiterating com- Premachandran. ly 7,000 or even less. It attracted global in Parliament in response to suggestions war ended in May three years ago. media attention after the war ended in from Members of the Parliament during May 2009 because it did not have adequate parliamentary debates on the situation in facilities for such a large number of IDPs. Sri Lanka, the statement said. In a statement released here, the It went on to say that the MPs are Govt. accused... From page 1 Ministry of External Affairs said the dele- expected to travel to different parts of Sri Centre for Environmental Justice Visakapattinam, also said that he was thing we can do is to have a bilateral gation is expected to start its programme Lanka, including its Northern, Eastern, Executive Director Hemantha Withanage, against nuclear initiatives since the agreement with India under the provi- in the Northern Province “with a visit to Central and Western Provinces. “The pri- who represents a large number of Sri 1960s. sions of these conventions to exchange the IDP Camp at Menik Farm”. mary focus of the delegation will, howev- Lankan environmental activists, stressed Withanage said that more than one information on the status of their power “The delegation is scheduled to visit er, be in the areas recovering from thirty that the setting up of nuclear plant was million people lived within the 30 km plants and emergency plans and to obtain Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Jaffna, years of conflict in the North and East of not a matter to be dealt with politically. radius of the Kundankulam Plant which assistance in case of a nuclear accident Kankesanthurai, Kalutara, Dickoya, Sri Lanka where development assistance He said he believed the Sri Lanka gov- far exceeds the recommendations of the in India,” a release endorsed by the Hatton and Batticaloa where Indian assis- projects for the resettlement and rehabili- ernment should be firm in its stand, with- Atomic Energy Regulatory Board. Power and Energy Ministry said. tance projects, including those related to tation of Internally Displaced Persons out worrying about its political ramifica- The plant was within 20 km off Wijayawardana said that Power and the development of rail and port infra- (IDPs) and reconstruction of areas affect- tions. Mannar Bay, as a crow would fly, an area Energy Minister Patali Champika structure, connectivity and transporta- ed by the conflict are being undertaken by “This problem is environment and that gave the country more than 30 per Ranawaka would refer the matter to the tion, education, public health, housing, the Government of India.” health and all civic societies, both in cent of its fish catch. Besides it was one International Atomic Energy Authority India and Sri Lanka, should join forces of the world’s best biodiversity hotspots at a meeting in September. Sri Lanka had with them to put an end to the project,” for cetaceans, dolphins and sharks. not brought up the issue of the safety of he added. Atomic Energy Authority’s chairman Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant as a Black Coat... From page 1 Withanage also noted that a leading R. L. Wijayawardana said, in a media reaction to India’s voting for a resolution Indian Scientist had urged that the proj- statement, that both Sri Lanka and India targeting Sri Lanka at the 19th session of had a field day when a lawyer kept on respectfully that the lawyer was angry ect should be stopped for the sake of civil- were members of the International the UNHRC last month. taking him on the other day in Court. with the CID as in all the cases, where he ians, in view of disasters like earth- Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Sri Ranawaka, an ardent environment While the banter went on ceaselessly, the appeared for the defence, the accused had quakes and tsunamis. Lanka fully understood the need of utilis- activist since the 1980s, campaigning for a sleuth, out of sheer respect for Court, gone to the gallows. Scientist, Prof. T. Sivaji Rao, formerly ing nuclear energy for electricity genera- better environment and the welfare of remained silent. All present in Court burst into laughter. of Rice University, Texas and currently tion. civilians, believes everything should be In the end, however, unable to take it (MA) Director of Centre for Environmental “As there are power plants in India under the internationally recommended anymore, the officer told the Court very Studies, Gitam University, close to our country, the only possible guidelines.