Government responsible for crime wave – Mahinda Rajapaksa

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said that underworld gangs that fled the country during his tenure had been brought back by the politicians of the present government to do their political dirty work and those dregs of society were behind the present crime wave.

He said that narcotics were the main reason for underworld warfare and during his time the then Defence Secretary had waged an anti-narcotics war to keep the underworld elements at bay. "Many underworld characters fled the country to evade arrest. Powerful politicians of the incumbent government brought them back to get their dirty work done. Now, the underworld gangs go on killing one another to settle their old scores," the former President told yesterday.

Aravinda and Sangakkara appointed to the Sri Lanka Cricket selection committee

Sri Lanka’s team for the T20 World Cup was shrouded in uncertainty just a day before it was to leave for India after the committee of selectors was unexpectedly disbanded for not complying with SLC’s selection policy on Monday night and new members appointed.

The new committee comprising Aravinda de Silva, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Ranjith Madurusinghe and Lalith Kaluperuma were sitting till late night to finalize the 15-man squad after skipper Lasith Malinga resigned as captain citing his knee injury. De Silva was named as the Chairman of the committee in a press release issued last night, which included former captain Kumar Sangakkara.

“The appointment of the National Selection Committee was carried out by the Minister citing recent failures encountered by the National Team in their Tours to New Zealand, India, Asia Cup in Bangladesh and the inconsistency in the selection criteria,” the statement said.

Last month Sri Lanka Cricket announced identical teams led by Lasith Malinga for both the Asia Cup and the World Twenty20 despite the 32-year-old not having fully recovered from a recurring knee-injury sustained during the home series against West Indies last year. Malinga played only the opening game of the Asia Cup and was forced to sit out the entire series which Sri Lanka lost embarrassingly.

He missed Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand in December and January, and was later ruled out of the T20s in India, in February.

The MRI scans of his injured knee have shown substantial damage. The physiotherapist has recommended ten days of rest, meaning that the 32-year-old paceman will not be available for any of the practice matches ahead of Sri Lanka’s opening clash on March 17.

However, Malinga has offered to play if selected to the team. Sources said Malinga would now be replaced by Angelo Mathews as skipper but the former was likely to be retained in the squad as Sri Lanka looked to defend their title won two years ago in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the new cricket selectors were discussing bringing in left-handed bat Lahiru Thirimanne and spinning all-rounder Seekkuge Prasanna in place of wicket-keeper bat Niroshan Dickwella and Jeffrey Vandersay.(Champika Fernando)

HIV rumours - New school for Kuliyapitiya boy

Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam today said the government has found a new place for the six-year old boy who had withdrawn from a school in Kuliyapitiya on a false rumour that he was HIV positive.
Minister Kariyawasam said that funds too will be arranged for the child’s education and the mother will be provided with a new home, close to the student’s School.

The Education Minister said that donors have come forward to fund the above efforts.

Earlier parents withdrew their children from a School in Kuliyapitiya after rumours spread that the child was HIV- positive.

However, government authorities denied the claim insisting that medical tests had proved that the boy was not HIV positive.

The rumour of the child being HIV-positive spread after his father had died some time back due to an illness. Later a rumour had spread in the village that he had been infected with AIDS.

A meeting which was organized between authorities belonging to child care, education, health and police and the parents about one week back failed to produce the desired results.

Amidst heavy opposition from parents education officials withdrew the six- year-old boy from the school.

Following the media exposure on the child's plight, both the President and the Prime Minister too got involved in the issue and had promised to find a school for the child.

Malinga requests to step down as WT20 captain

Lasith Malinga has requested Sri Lanka cricket allow him to step down as captain for the WT20 series citing knee injuries. However, Sri Lanka Cricket sources said Malinga would be available for the series if he was to be chosen by the select committee. Malinga dropped out of the recently concluded Asia Cup after the first match citing a knee injury. Sri Lanka is to play the first WT20 match on March 17.

Eyewitnesses say Chamipika drove vehicle

Two eyewitnesses yesterday submitted two affidavits to the Police Headquarters, claiming that Megapolis and Western Development Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka, had driven the vehicle involved in Sunday’s accident which left two youth injured.

The injured were identified as Sandeep Gunawardena and Manul Abeysundara. Sandeep, the rider, is being treated in the intensive care unit of the National Hospital for brain injury.

The eyewitnesses, Gayashan Vinura and Mohamed Sufai, had been accompanied by their lawyers when they visited the Police Headquarters last evening to submit their affidavits, Police Spokesman ASP Ruwan Gunasekara told The Island last night.

ASP Gunasekara said that affidavits had been forwarded to Acting Inspector General of Police, S. M. Wickremasinghe, who referred them to Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police, Pujith Jayasundara.

The eye witnesses have said, in their affidavits that they mentioned in their complaint to the Welikada police that Minister Champika had driven the vehicle that knocked down Manul and Sandeep. The policeman took down their complaint in a small book and got them to place their signatures thereon, they have said, adding that they were not allowed to read their statement. They have said they were kept waiting for about one hour from 11.45 p.m. by the policeman who claimed the traffic police personnel were not available. While they were waiting, the jeep involved in the accident, bearing registration no: KT 7545 was brought to the police station by some policemen, the eyewitnesses have said.

The eyewitnesses have said they, together with Manul and Sandeep, Varuna and Kamil went for a motor show at the BMICH and had dinner around 10.00 p.m. They were proceeding on their motorcycle towards Rajagiriya.

Manul and Sandeep riding together and only one of their motorcycles had engine capacity of 1000 CC and others had capacities ranging between 100-250 CC, the affidavits say. All the motorcycles had valid revenue licenses. While they were proceeding towards Rajagiriya on the Parliament Road, the motorcycle ridden by Sandeep knocked against a jeep. The eyewitnesses were riding behind that motorcycle. Manul, the pillion rider, fell on to the road and Sandeep’s head hit the jeep which moved forward and stopped near Sarana Road. Manul got up after a while, but Sandeep remained motionless. The eyewitness kept calling Sandeep, who did not respond.

A large number of people gathered at the scene of the accident. A passing vehicle stopped to help the victims. Meanwhile, the person in the jeep, who had been looking at the scene, sped away. The people shouted that he was fleeing. The witnesses got on to one motorcycle and gave the chase. They managed to obstruct the path of the jeep opposite Global Jobs Institute. But, the jeep continued to move and they had to swerve the motorcycle and got on to the pavement to avoid another accident. At that point Gayashan got off the motorcycle and opened the door of the jeep, demanding to know why the vehicle had not stopped after the accident. The driver, wearing sunglasses though it was night said: "It was my fault, don’t assault me. I am Champika Ranawaka, a minister."

Gayashan has said in his affidavit that he identified Champika Ranawaka, who refused to hand over his identity card. Instead he had asked Gayashan and Sufai to get into the jeep. They were hesitant to do so because the vehicle had dark glasses. All of a sudden, the jeep moved forward with one door still open. The witnesses took down the number and returned to the scene of the accident, where some people said Champika frequently visited the area. The injured had been taken to the hospital by that time.

The witnesses first went to the Kalubowila hospital thinking that the injured had been taken there. Subsequently, they went to the National Hospital, where the victims were being treated. Thereafter they went to the Welikada police station with some friends around 11.45 p.m.

Mohammed Sufai has said that he heard the driver of the jeep say: "It was my fault, don’t assault me. I am Champika Ranawaka, a minister." He has said he subsequently identified the driver as Champika Ranawaka.

Rs. 1.5 million robbed from an employee of a finance company

An individual employed at a leading finance company has been robbed by two unknown assailants this morning while walking to the finance institution he was working in. Two assailants had injured the person’s hand with a knife before fleeing with the Rs. 1.5 million he was transporting. The injured victim has been admitted to the Ragama Hospital. The Ragama police is conducting further investigations into the incident.

Arjuna pledges development process under confirmed national security

Hon. Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga at a meeting held at the District Secretariat auditorium in Trincomalee today (03) pledged that no damage would be made to the national security in developing the country.

The Minister asserted that the government would give priority for the country’s legal procedure and proceedings  when considering  any agreement with foreign investors. “The fact where they come from either Singapore, China, Japan or Ethiopia does not matter,” the Minister said.

The meeting aimed at discussing the issues pertaining to the lands owned by Sri Lanka Ports Authority in Trincomalee district. At the meeting, it was discussed to extend legal right of those lands to the people who have settled down and living there since several years.

The Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan, government officers and several other officials attended the meeting.

Development projects of the country should depend on the policy of the Government instead of personal interest. Foreign investments play a significant role in the developing process of a country. We have to demand them to obtain targeted economic growth. Singapore mainly depended on foreign investments when carrying out their development projects in 1980 but we never obtained them to the country at the same period of time. Hence, Singapore achieved their development targets while we lost. The time has come to learn lessons from Singapore and welcome appropriate foreign investments to the country at the same time, confirming and safeguarding  national security. We should think beyond traditional ways and means,”  the opposition leader said.

Minister Arjuna  Rantunga said that the expectation of everyone was to develop this country  as one nation.

“Currently the unity Government is implementing its  development plans. It is up to the  people to  support the government's effort.  But I confirm that the President or Prime Minister would never engage any activity which has a bad impact  on national security. Opposition leader is also in the same view.

The attraction of the investors to the country would depend  on Government policies and laws apply on them. But the previous regime applied poor policies and laws on investors. Politicians depended on their own benefits and personal interests when they consider investors to the country.

Hambantota harbor is a good example. I would never allow any investor to enter into any place in the country, avoiding the existing legal procedures.  The rule would be the same with regards to the procedures of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping but we saw a completely deferent practice followed by the previous regime on investors. Hence, today many of them who were in previous regimes have been summoned before the law", the Minister asserted. The Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping Mr.L.P.Jayampathi and other distinguished guests also participated the discussions. 

Child undergoes surgery On wrong leg at Peradeniya Hospital

A resident at D. B. Wijetunge Mawatha, Pilimathalawa has made a complaint to the Peradeniya Police alleging that his 14-year-old daughter had been subjected to a surgery on the wrong leg due to the negligence of doctors at the Peradeniya Teaching Hospital.

He has said in his complaint that he channelled an orthopaedic surgeon of the Peradeniya Hospital and took his daughter for examination for an achievement in her right knee. There after she was admitted to word 16 of the Peradeniya on February 20 for a surgery prescribed by the surgeon. The surgery was done by another assistant surgeon on March 1 at 9 am since the Consultant Surgeon who examined her was on a tour abroad.

When his daughter was brought out of the theatre he observed that the surgery had been operated on the left knee rather than the right knee which was giving her trouble. When he inquired about the matter from the surgeon concerned he told him that the left knee was operated due to a problem in it and added that the surgery on the right knee would be performed three days later. He suspected this to be a surgical misadventure.

However, the father is reported to have forcibly removed the girl from the Peradeniya Hospital on March 2 afternoon and admitted her to a private hospital.

Peradeniya Hospital's Director Dr. Jayabandu Herath when contacted said the Consultant Surgeon who examined the girl earlier is out of the country and he would take a decision regarding the issue after investigating it on his return.

He said the girl was suffering from internal bone abnormalities and such abnormalities may be found in both legs.