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SC to take up Reference on Int'l Covenant

Sarath Malalasekera

A full Bench of the Supreme Court presided over by Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva PC will today express its opinion on the Consultative Jurisdiction Provision of the Constitution invoked under Article 129 of the Constitution.

The Bench will express its opinion on the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR Convention of the United Nations).

This determination of the Supreme Court is tied to the GSP as to whether the legal provisions presently available in Sri Lanka could satisfactorily implement the Conventional obligations under the ICCPR.

This is the third occasion in recent political history of the country that an Executive President has made a reference under Article 129.

The first and second references were made by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on the allocation defence portfolios and the Tax Amnesty Law. Senior legal luminaries said that this judgement will have a far reaching effect on the economy of the country.

Colleges of Education to come down hard on ragging

Dharma Sri Abeyratne

Minister of Education Susil Premajayantha has advised the Commissioner of the College of Education to take measures against ragging in the Colleges of Education following an incident which took place at the College of Education in the Uva Province. Accordingly, immediate precautions are to be taken to eradicate ragging from Colleges of Education while ensuring discipline among students. Further, the Heads of Colleges of Education have also been advised not to lag behind when taking disciplinary action so as to establish a better educational atmosphere. The college administration and disciplinary committees will take stringent measures against indiscipline.

The commissioner has also worked out a mechanism to minimise clashes between groups of teacher students.

Workshop for trainers to streamline Community Policing

A five day workshop for trainers in the Police Department to streamline Community Policing will be inaugurated at 9 am today at the Kirulapone Police Inservice Training Centre.

The objective of the workshop is to streamline Community Policing by introducing a unique method for all Police Divisions in the country when implementing the Community Policing system.

Community Policing was introduced to get community support towards eradicating terrorism and crime from society under a concept of Colombo DIG Nimal Mediwaka. "Forty five trainers in the Police Department will be trained under this programme to introduce an inovative method when implementing the programme countrywide," Director Inservice Training Division of the Police Department, SSP Neville Gray told the Daily News.

"This workshop will help educate the trainers on effective methods of getting community support to eradicate terrorism and crimes", the SSP added.

Colombo DIG Nimal Mediwaka, Director Community Policing SSP I.M. Karunaratne will participate at the inauguration of the workshop, he said.