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| Saturday, 8 March 2003 |
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Akuressa PS election today The Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha (PS) election will be held today with the PA, JVP and the Bhumi Puthra Party vying for 21 seats. The UNP will not be in the fray following the rejection of its nominations for the poll which was originally fixed for March 20, along with island-wide elections for the Pradeshiya Sabhas. Meanwhile the election monitoring body PAFFREL has made representations to the Commissioner of Elections and the IGP regarding certain irregularities which would mitigate against the conduct of a free and fair poll. ********** Japan gives Rs. 100 million to develop groundwater resources In response to the request made by Sri Lanka Government Japan has approved to utilise the "Japan Food Production Counterpart Fund" amounting to Rs. 100 million for the reconditioning of tube well drilling machines and related equipment to enable the Water Board of the Irrigation and Water Management Ministry to accelerate groundwater resources development in the North and East and in the dry zone in Southern Districts. The Food Production Counterpart Fund is made-up with the funds generated through the sale of fertilizer and other agricultural equipment provided by the Japanese Government under its Food Production Grant. The proceeds of the funds are utilised to fund development projects mutually agreed between the two governments. The drilling machines were a part of the items provided under the Japanese Food Production Grant in the year 1983. ********** Seventeen years RI for rape A twenty eight-year-old married man, who was indicted with having raped a nineteen-year-old girl was sentenced to seventeen years rigorous imprisonment by Sisira de Abrew, Kandy High Court Judge when he was found guilty after trial without Jury. In this case E. M. Nissanka Edirisinghe of Handagannawa was charged with committing rape on a 19-year-old girl on February 19, 1997 at Handagannawa, a village in the Hasalaka police area. The trial lasted eight days and the evidence of five witnesses including Dr. A. B. Seneviratne, JMO Kandy, SI H. M. Herath and the prosecutrix were led and seven productions were marked by State Counsel Alan David and State Counsel Miss Dishana Warnakula. The evidence revealed that at the time of the incident the accused was 22-years-old and the victim was a student. On the day of the incident between 12 noon and 2 p.m. the victim went to buy a piece of soap from her relations shop which is close to her house. The relation told her that there was no soap in his shop and asked her to buy it from a shop which is a few yards away from her house. While she was walking towards the shop the accused dragged her into his house and committed the offence. All the witnesses were cross examined by defence counsel Wasantha Wijewardene. The Trial Judge having considered the totality of the evidence and submissions of State and Defence Counsel found the accused guilty and imposed a sentence of 17-years RI on him. ********** Kidney patient seeks help G.K. Kumari Priyangika (26) of 225/2, Kammalpitiya, Radawadunna, Nittambuwa is suffering from kidney ailment and is recommended a kidney transplant by Dr. Thilak Abeysekera of Kandy General Hospital. Her mother R.H. Karunawathie has consented to donate a kidney and after the surgery both of them have to spend about Rs. 400,000 for medicine and other needs. Her husband is unemployed and they are undergoing much hardship. They seek the assistance of the generous public to collect the money and those who are willing, may contribute to Account No. 1-039850-9 of Mirigama Branch of the Bank of Ceylon. |
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