Minister Mahinda Wijesekara, for his part, refuted the allegations and accused the JVP of attacking the students who do not support the GSU. He said he has nothing to do with students while admitting he was given the task of organising students’ front for the SLFP by the party secretary, Minister S.B. Dissanayake. Minister Wijesekara stressed it was merely a fight between two rival students’ groups.

JVP, however refutes the government’s argument and said this was not a fight but an attack. Gampaha district JVP MP Vijitha Herath told Sandeshaya that the recent wave of attacks of university students shows the authorities frustration over the protests against the privatisation of national universities organised by the JVP and its student activists. Published: Sat Feb 10 12:57:01 EST 2001

Led by opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, the walk ended with a meeting at the Town Hall where Ranil and other party stalwarts including some new faces addressed the large gathering.

The walk in fact has rejuvenated the flagging spirit of the UNP, so much so that Ranil today announced the UNP would now work towards organizing and island wide 'Hartal' to protest againt price hikes of essential commodities. The 'Hartal' will take place in March this year to coincide with the presentation of the PA budget 2001.

Meanwhile the 'Sihala Urumaya' also began a campaign today to collect one millioin signatures calling for Britain to ban the LTTE. Thilak Karunaratne, leader of the party says that the letter once signed will be handed over to the British High Commissioner in Colombo. Published: Fri Feb 9 11:15:16 EST 2001

Rauf Hakeem was last evening unanimously elected as leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) at a polit bureau meeting. The battle between Hakeem and Ferial Ashraff finally concluded with the election of Hakeem as leader. Ferial Ashraff later told reporters that she still believed that for the SLMC to move forward and develop the party needed co-leaders. Hakeem however asserted that the party constitution allowed for the election of a single leader. Ferial Ashraff meanwhile has been appointed as leader of the National Unity Alliance (NUA) a party that her late husband founded months before his death.

Last week both Ferial and Hakeem appeared on a joint platform at Kalmunai but Ferial was booed when she addressed the largely Muslim crowd while Hakeem was received with favour and said on stage that he had the backing of the SLMC to lead it.

The recent battle for power between Hakeem and Ferial effectively divided the SLMC into two camps and intrigue and wheeler-dealing as supporters of both sides tried to secure power became a daily ritual both for Hakeem and Ferial Ashraff.

Ferial however lacked the backing of key members in the SLMC who were of the view that the very fact by her being a Muslim woman, she could not lead a Muslim male dominated party. Ferial unfortunately was also backed by men who had previously aided and abetted with her late husband in various extra curricular activities and underhand dealings.

Hakeem in contrast had a greater hands on experience with politics and is > known for his political stance including being articulate on many issues. Hakeem was the obvious choice as far as the SLMC were concerned, him being male only further substantiating his claim to the leadership. Published: Fri Feb 9 11:33:12 EST 2001

India's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopalkrishna Gandhi has met with Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and expressed concern over the shooting of two Indian fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy. Gandhi has reiterated that while the straying of fishermen from both Sri Lanka and India into each other's territorial waters is a problem shooting should not be resorted to.

The two fishermen were shot by the Navy off the southern coast of Tamil Nadu while fishing in Lankan waters. Published: Fri Feb 9 11:33:11 EST 2001

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge yesterday held a meeting with the Inspector General of Police and other top cops to seek a solution to the present escalating crime rate in the country. Amidst allegations that underworld gangsters are backed by politicians, the President asserted to the cops that they must not bow down to the pressures of corrupt politicos but must instead attempt a clean up of the city, her suburbs and the rest of the country.

Over 25,000 cases of rape, murder including contract killings and drug smuggling has been reported since January this year. The police complain that constant interference and threats to the cops by government politicos prevent the sleuths from carrying out their duties. In addition the cops say that powerful politicians used thugs and underworld Mafia style gangs to bulldoze their way through the last general election in October 2000. The president despite giving an assurance last year that such politicos would be dealt with failed to do so. A large number of army deserters are believed to be the culprits behind the staggering crime rate.

Kumaratunge yesterday insisted that the cops must act with more diligence and help prevent the incidents of crime from rising further. She has asked the IGP and the top cops to report to her every two weeks on the progress against the rise of crime. Published: Fri Feb 9 11:33:12 EST 2001

Sources said today that peace may not be a priority in order to bring the government and the LTTE to the negotiating table. As the government's troubles shifted from the battle front to the country's cash straddled economy, the rebels are also concerned about new British anti terrorism laws which if implemented will severely affect the Tigers operating out of London.

Norway's peace broker, Eric Solheim, meanwhile left the country this week after having met with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge. Solheim is reported to have said that the first phase of the Norwegians peace plan is now drawing to a close. Published: Fri Feb 9 11:33:12 EST 2001