Universities Paralysed for Second Consecutive
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2 Saturday 25th February, 2012 The Island Home News Constitutional changes Universities paralysed for in the offing while AG studies LLRC Report BY ZACKI JABBAR With the United world, but no proper inquiries had second consecutive day Nations Human been conducted into the crimes it had Rights Commission committed in various countries. scheduled to open The Lessons Learnt and BY DASUN EDIRISINGHE its annual four- Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) All university activities came to a however depend on the government’s alies within two weeks,” Chandrapala week session in Commission of Inquiry was appointed standstill for the second consecutive day, response to their 48-hour token strike. said. Geneva on Monday, by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in yesterday, due to a two-day strike The trade union action had been very Secretary to the Higher Education the government May 2010 to inquire into the ethnic con- launched by the non-academic staff successful in all universities, but the gov- Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said that Sri flict between 1983 and 2009 and provide demanding rectification of their salary ernment had yet failed to respond, said that the ministry would have a dis- Lanka’s legal recommendations for an era of healing anomalies. Chandrapala said. cussion with non academic staff next framework was and peace building. After an 18 month President of the Inter University Members of the IUTUJC, ministry offi- week. likely to be inquiry, the Commission submitted its changed, depending report to the President on November Trade Union Federation and the Co – cials, representatives from the University He said however, the UGC would act Neomal Perera President of the Inter University Trade Grants Commission (UGC) and officials according to the Circular No. 890, which on the recommen- 15, 2011. The report was made public on Union Joint Committee (IUTUJC) R. M. from the National Salaries and Cadre enables it to place those striking on no dations of the December 16, 2011, after being tabled in Chandrapala told The Island that they Commission (NSCC) held several discus- pay. Attorney General, who was in the the parliament. were now likely to go for an all out – sions on the issue before launching the However, Chandrapala said they process of studying the Lessons Learnt The Commission concluded that the strike from Feb. 29. present trade union action, he said. wouldn’t allow the authorities to cut their and Reconciliation Report. Sri Lankan military didn’t deliberately Acting Foreign Minister Neomal target civilians but the Liberation “Our executive committee will meet “Finally we held discussions with the salaries for Feb. 23 and 24. Perera told The Island that the LLRC Tigers of Tamil Eelam, repeatedly vio- today or tomorrow to decide on what to NSCC and they promised to issue recom- “We will resort to tough action if we Report which was handed over to lated international humanitarian law. do next,” he said, adding that it would mendations to rectify the salary anom- are placed no-pay,” he said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa about According to the Commission the mili- three months ago had to be studied in tary gave the “highest priority” to pro- detail by the legal experts and that tecting civilians whereas the Tamil process had been entrusted to the AG’s Tigers had had “no respect for human Department. life”. It admitted that civilians had been UNP committed The legal framework had to be killed by the Sri Lankan military, albeit changed to accommodate whatever the accidentally, contradicting the govern- AG recommends, he said without elabo- ment’s line that there were zero civilian to protecting rating on the specifics. casualties. The Commission did howev- Asked about the US resolution, that er receive some eyewitness evidence has been presented to the UNHRC, alleging abuse by the military which country, not govt. alleging human rights abuses against warranted further investigation and if the Sri Lankan security forces during necessary, the prosecution of perpetra- by Zacki Jabbar the last stages of the war against the tors. LTTE, Perera said that nothing had It acknowledged that hospitals had The UNP said yes- been done purposely. been shelled, resulting in “considerable terday that it was fully “The war was fought in a region civilian casualties”, but did not say who committed to protect- where there was no civil administra- was responsible for it. The Commission ing Sri Lanka’s good tion or regular police force,” he said blamed Sinhalese and Tamil politicians name, but could not adding that if any crimes had been for causing the civil war and observed white wash the committed, they would be inquired into that Sinhalese politicians had failed to Mahinda Rajapaksa and the due process of law applied. offer a solution acceptable to the Tamil regime which had Priority would also be given to people and Tamil politicians fanned scant regard for demo- implementing any recommendations militant separatism. cratic norms and aimed at eradicating hatred and anger The LLRC which was headed by for- Lakshman human rights. that had resulted from the war. It was mer Attorney General C. R. de Silva, Lakshman Kiriella not only edifices that had to be rebuilt, included Commissioners Rohan Perera, MP, addressing a news conference in but also the confidence of those who Karunaratne Hangawatte, Chandirapal Colombo said that if only the govern- had to face a 30-year trauma, Perera Chanmugam, H. M. G. S. Palihakkara, ment had listened to the UNP and observed. Manohari Ramanathan, Maxwell implemented the rule of law, the coun- The US, he said was preaching Parakrama Paranagama and M. T. M. try would not have been in the democracy and human rights to the Bafiq. predicament that it was in now. “We are not talking only about the war, but the Rajapaksa regime’s repeated violation of the citizens Hospital roof top hunger strike ends rights, suppression of democratic BY CYRIL WIMALASURENDRE protests and media freedom, a pletho- ra of killings that have not been inves- KANDY – A minor employee of the inquire into his grievances. tigated, the white van syndrome, Peradeniya Teaching Hospital, after a The hospital worker began his cam- accused being abducted while being two-day hunger strike on the roof top of paign seeking redress when he was transported in prison vans etc,” the the hospital, gave up his protest when served with a letter of warning by the MP said adding that it was such a the Central Province Health Minister, hospital authorities that he could not track record that had placed the gov- Attorney-at-Law, Sunil K. Amaratunga, leave the hospital premises during his ernment in the dock. representing Health Minister duty hours. The international community had A fire broke out in a textile shop on Keyzer Street, Pettah yesterday. The Fire Brigade Maithripala Sirisena, assured that a Services of the hospital returned to ganged up against Sri Lanka not just seen fighting the fire from spreading in the highly congested commercial area. committee would be appointed to normalcy later in the day, yesterday (24). due to the war crimes allegations that Pic by Sujatha Jayaratne were being levelled, but due to the Rajapaksa regimes repeated refusal to acknowledge its faults and establish normalcy and the rule of law, nearly Joint time table system for buses from NWP DEATHS three years after the LTTE had been DISSANAYAKE — PIYANDANI. Beloved defeated, he observed. wife of Anil, loving mother of Anishke Minister C. B. Ratnayake. Transport Services Authorities and the Kiriella said that the cost of living BY CYRIL WIMALASURENDRE (Royal College) & Atulya (Lyceum), grand- The joint time table system would be National Transport Commission tht they was rising by the day and the price of daughter of late Senator Sarath KANDY – The joint time table system introduced to the rest of the provinces should refrain from issuing new route bread, the common man’s food had Wijesinghe, daughter of late Senator for SLTB and private bus operators would subsequently. The new system had permits and amending existing route per- also been jacked up. Vernon & late Nandani Dissanayake, lov- be introduced from March 1 beginning received the approval of the Sri Lanka mits. ing niece of Suriya & late Daphne and late “The President and his ministers with the North Western Province, the Transport Board (SLTB), the National The Secretary to the Ministry of Laura, cousin of Ranil, Rohini & Naomali, are globe trotting and living in style, Ministry of Private Transport Services Transport Commission (NTC) and the Private Transport Services and represen- daughter-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. P. B. while having the audacity to ask the said, yesterday (24). Provincial Passenger Transport Services tatives of the SLTB and National Dissanayake, sister-in-law of Amal, Anura, people to keep tightening their belts. The decision to implement the much Authorities (PPTSA) a statement from the Transport Commission and Provincial Amara, Anusha & Ayesha, Director of API The latest ruse was to frighten the wanted system was taken at a meeting at Private Transport Services Ministry said. Passenger Transport Commission attend- Group of Companies, passed away on 23rd masses by alleging that Prabhakaran the Ministry of Private Transport The Ministry, meanwhile has ed the meeting where decision was taken February 2012. Pansakula at 3.00 p.m. Cortege leaves residence at 4.00 p.m. had risen from the grave,” he added. Services under the patronage of the instructed the Provincial Passenger to implement the new time table system. Cremation at 5.00 p.m. at Borella, Kanatte on Saturday 25th February 2012. No 56, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7. Faecal menace from prison GODAMUNNE - SUNITA. Beloved wife of Pillay disassocaites from late Upali Godamunne, mother of Narendra and Ishani, mother-in-law of Channa Wickremesinghe, grand mother of threatens Seevali Rd.