10 Monday 16th January, 2006 One dead and twelve others injured Private bus race ends in tragic death of seven year old by Delgoda correspondent A little girl R. Hansika Swarnamali (7), of Malitha, studying in grade 2 at Devi Balika Vidyalaya in Dompe, died due to a bus accident on Monday 9 at 12.30 p.m. near the Siyane Maha Vidyalaya in Dompe. The incident occurred when the private bus she was The Minister of Industrial Development Kumara Welgama; handing over the Mahawakanda and travelling with her parents Gulanakanda electricity scheme to the public on January 8 in the village of Morapitiya in the crashed head on with an Palindanuwara Divisional Secretariat area built at a cost of Rs. 540,000.00. oncoming bus. Swarnamali, had boarded a bus plying between Gampaha and Pugoda (Route No: 207) at Dompe town, with Unjustifiable liquor tax her parents to return home Grief stricken parents by their daughter’s cofin from school. Near the Siyane by Sugathapala Mendis, Hikkaduwa budget of president Mahinda Maha Vidyalaya in Dompe, ents had come to the school to housewife. Small scale hotels and tourist liquor Rajapakse. there was another bus in attend a parent teacher meet- Twelve other passengers shops owners in Hikkaduwa have for- Small Hotels and Liquor Shops front and the driver of the bus ing. As her parents were there who travelled in this bus warded a memorandum to the president Swners Union Chairman T. in which Swarnamali and her Swarnamali had told the received injuries. Swanamali stating their distress for having to pay a Harischandra de Silva, has mentioned parents were travelling school van driver “uncle had received serious head 100% increase in the liquor tax as with detail in this memorandum that it attempted to overtake and today you don’t wait for me. I injuries and was rushed to revealed by the Divisional Secretariat at is highly unjustifiable one to small scale crashed his bus head on with am going home with my the Dompe hospital, as her the issue of liquor licences and not 50% industrialists battered by the tsunami, an oncoming bus which was Ammi and Thaththi”and she condition was critical she was increase as envisaged in the inaugural making a plea to rectify the error. proceeding to from stayed behind to go home transferred to the Colombo Pugoda, which caused the with her parents by bus. National Hospital from there. death of this innocent little Swarnamali is the only Due to the serious head girl. child in the family. Her father injuries she died on Swarnamali normally trav- R. Rupasinghe (27) is a Naval Wednesday 11 in the early elled to school by van. On the officer attached to the Naval morning hours. Dompe police day of the incident her par- Base in Colombo. Her mother is conducting further investi- Victim Swarnamali (7) R. P. Suramyalatha (26) is a gations.

Govt. LTTE talks could end NE crisis - Nanayakkara Deraniyagala Corr Nanayakkara says has been Vasudeva Nanayakkara done through another rival The ‘Diriya Padanama’ — Human Rights Commission (DPHRC) of the Southern Province present- former MP and Leader of the group and planned to resume ed its election monitoring report pertaining to the 2005 presidential election to the Elections Democratic Left Front in a war in the North and East. Commissioner, Dayananda Dissanayake, recently at a function held at the Siddhalepa Health press release had said that Killing of Pararajasingham Resort Hotel, Wadduwa. Human Right Co-ordinator of the DPHRC, Mohamed Zaman-U-Deen is seen attempts are made to exploit Nanayakkara says is a great explaining certain facts contained in his report to the Election Commissioner. The Election the death of Joseph blow to Democracy. Commissioner, Dayananda Dissanayake and Deputy Elections Commissioner, Sumanasekara are Pararajasigham, MP to re- Nanayakkara, therefore seen seated and listening attentively. (Pic. by Nimal Palihawadane, Akuressa Corr.) start the war in the North. In appeals to both the order to avert such a situa- Government and LTTE to tion, he says the government avert a war and enter into should resolve the North East talks with a view to arriving Two officers killed problem by negotiating talks at a final and everlasting with the LTTE with the inter- solution to the ethnic prob- by Diyasena Ratugamage, Vavuniya tions when a claymore bomb set by the vention of Norway. lem. He further says that it is Two navy officers were killed by a LTTE went off killing the two navy He accused the LTTE of the responsibility of the War claymore bomb while they were officers and injuring another. planning another war, which Surveillance Committee to engaged in search operations at Soon after the blast the Navy and has been proved by their organise direct talks by the Suruwil, Kayts in . the army were engaged in search oper- recent actions. A certain sec- Government with the LTTE. The two navy officers with other ations around the area but were unable Former Foreign Minister Anura Bandaranike at the opening of the General tion have accused the LTTE To stop the repetition of a officers were engaged in search opera- to arrest any suspects. Assembly of the United Nations, in New York, is received by US secretary of of killing MP war lies with the state, Ms. Condoleeza Rice and US Ambassador to United Nations, John Pararajasingham. The killing Government Nanayakkara Bolton and wife. according to information, observed. MPs sharply differ... from page1 petitions challenging the constitutionality of the The Bench comprised Chief Justice Sarath hotly disputed Bill. Nanda Silva and Justices Shirani Tilakawardene and Line rooms not repaired Claymore — The Lion Brewery Ceylon Ltd, Ceylon Tobacco N. E. Dissanayake. Co Ltd and Distilleries Company are Written submissions of relevant parties are to be remote control among the petitioners challenging the Bill gazetted filed today (16) and the Supreme Court would inti- for years on in the government of November 25, 2005 and was mate its determination to President Mahinda placed on the order paper of Parliament on Rajapakse and Speaker Lokubandara. Ven. Omalpe by Deraniyagala Corr prevailing situation of their line rooms found December 20, 2005. Petitioners include liquor Sobitha thero expressed belief that the Speaker to the notice of a Trade Union, of which by Percy Kuruneru, Anuradhapura traders, licensed liquor manufacturers, distributors would reveal this on January 17. Workers of Mahakumbura Division of their family are members, but they seem and sellers. Petitioners fiercely oppose the unprecedented A remote control used to blast clay- Maliboda Estate, Deraniyagala complain to ignore their complaint. The worker The JHU action came in the backdrop of the curbs on advertisements. They are of the view that more bombs was found in the premises of that their line rooms have not been also alleged that the Union Subscription launch of the House of Dunhill with the exclusive this would deprive the government of revenue while Mannar - Pesalai Government Hospital repaired for the past 39 years, as a result is recovered form their pay monthly, but Dunhill signed range of cigars. The cigars were to be helping the illicit liquor manufacturers. by the Talaimannar police. the roof leaks from all corners. When no positive action is forthcoming from available exclusively at 16 cigar outlets in Colombo. Ven. Sobitha acknowledged that it would not be On a tip off on January 14 the there is a heavy shower they are com- the Union. Vinivida, the Ceylon Tobacco Company newsletter an easy task to discourage tobacco and liquor con- Talaimannar police searched the hospi- pelled to spend sleepless nights and at In frustration, their families, have said they would have personalised cigar delivery sumers. “But we wanted at least to save the young tal premises at about 12.00 noon and times they stand embracing their chil- decided to cross over to another Trade service, within the city limits, for orders for over three generation,” he said. “We know we are taking on an found the remote control hidden inside a dren, in order to keep off the ground Union of the Estate, the Worker said. cigars. influential lot,” he said reminding that hundreds of heap of garbage. filled with water. This estate is managed by The JHU Deputy Leader is cited as the second liquor licences were issued through political patron- The police believe that the remote con- A Worker said that he and his wife are Bogawantalawa plantations Ltd. whose respondent in all the petitions. age. trol had been hidden in the garbage by resident workers of the Division for the managing Agents are Metropolitan The petitioners had complained that the Bill was JHU President Ven. Kotapola Amarakeerthi said the LTTE to attack army vehicles which past fifty (50) year and have brought the Estate Management Services Ltd. unconstitutional and it denied alcohol and tobacco that about 30% of the population was addicted to pass through the road opposite the hospi- traders their right to engage in their lawful trade if smoking and about 2800 die annually of smoking- tal. choice. They wanted the Supreme Court to declare related diseases. The Ven. Thero said that about Talaimannar police is conducting fur- the Bill unconstitutional. 50,000 die annually of excess drinking. ther investigations.

Suspects ordered Mere legislation won’t be enough – Jayalath Gampaha District MP Dr. Jayalath had not been discussed by the parliamentary to do community Jayawardena last night said that a large number of group and the decision making Working Sri Lankans die of cirrhosis annually. Committee. This would be discussed in due work Acknowledging that liquor and tobacco addition is course. a serious problem he said that Gampaha district He accused the JHU of seeking political advan- by Kalutara Correspondent faced a serious threat due to both licensed and tage through its action. “Mere legislation would not Kalutara Additional district Judge P. illicit liquor. Fielding questions, he said that this be enough to curb this menace,” he said. Punchihewa ordered two suspects who were found guilty of possessing sixteen drams of ‘Kasippu’ to engage in com- munity work in the court premises at SL Navy invites... from page1 Kalutara. information. We should, therefore, start thinking We told them that such attacks can only be taken The district Judge ordered like the terrorists---the way they think when they try to care of if there is cooperation (between our two Liyanagedara Anil of Dhargha town. destroy us." )." He asked not to be identified. Kalutara and Nadesan Sivakumar of Talking of the January 7 , a lieu- Sayura is a Sukanya-class the Indian Dodangoda, to be employed in commu- tenant commander posted on the Sri Lankan Navy’s Navy had gifted to the Sri Lankan Navy in 2000. The nity service at the court premises. D. J. Dabarera, vice Principal of Pamunugama, MV was granted a reception on his retirement. S. A. D. Sayura confided to an Indian reporter: "We got hit Sea Tigers had attacked the Sri Lankan sailors off The judge also ordered each suspect Gunawardena, Principal of Pamunugama MV, who garlanded Dabarera, walks to the venue of the meet- because this is peacetime. This is the first such at a time when Sayura was on its way to a certified bail of twenty-five thousand ing accompanied by Mrs. Dabarera and old boys including Rev. Fr. Damian of Kepungoda. (Pic by S. attack on our ships since the ceasefire. Our Indian Port Blair to participate in the Indian Navy-organised rupees. K. I. Kurera, Pamunugama Corr.) counterparts are also very troubled by the incident. Milan 2006, which has since concluded.