The Association has repeatedly asked for permission both from the government and the LTTE to visit Sinhalese service personnel being held prisoners of war in the Vanni. While the LTTE recently had reportedly granted permission, the Government did not.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) maintain that according to their records only 22 missing service personnel are being held captive by the LTTE.

Mr. Nanayakkara, President of the Association of Parent's for Missing Service Personnel said that 1200 parents from his association including him and his wife whose son has also gone missing in action hope that the LTTE list will hold the names of their children.

"We cannot be sure," he said, adding, "but we and the other parents of this association hope and pray our children's names will be on the Tiger list." Published: Tue Mar 27 02:33:45 EST 2001

He said the government has already made plans to introduce a scholarship in Grade 9 classes in addition to the Grade 5 scholarship which has been in force.

MP Vajira Abeywardena reiterated that free education is a must in this country and that small schools which cater to poor children must not be closed down.

MP Wimal Ratnayake charged that the government intended to privatise education on the instructions on the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

A government study conducted last year jointly with the Asian Development Bank into Sri Lanka's university education has found, that a lack of proficiency in English, a lack of skilled and trained managers and teachers and overall bad management both financial and structural including political interference, has prevented over 50 percent of the country's youth from even entering university.

The stunning revelations were presented at the recently concluded Paris Aid Development Group meeting and resulted in donors insisting that Sri Lanka's tertiary education must be changed. The report submitted at the donor meeting in France, stated in no uncertain terms that local universities are far below international standards and rate lower even in comparison to universities in the region.

Government bodies constituting of the National Education Commission, the Department of National Planning, the Presidential Task Force on University Reforms and an Employment Survey conducted by the Chamber of Commerce Colombo had observed that a lack of consistent national planning has in fact stifled graduates who pass out from public institutions. The unemployment rate is very high for graduates from state universities as against graduates who pass out from Private Post-secondary Institutions.

Both World Bank and ADB sponsored findings say that graduates from state institutions do not have the ability to communicate effectively, particularly in English, do not possess good inter-personal skills, do not have an open, positive, practical mind-set, have little knowledge of world affairs, are rarely computer literate and do not possess a dress sense. All of which, they maintain are essential requirements in today's competitive labour market.

An outcome of the findings is that donor agencies have now advised Sri Lanka to improve the tertiary education in the Island nation, noting that the development of tertiary education in the country is of strategic importance for the economic and social development of the country.

As many as fifty eight percent of university graduates under 25 are unemployed, while in the age group of 25-30 about 35 percent are without jobs.

The report asserts that while the low enrolment in universities is the result of highly limited access, the high unemployment rates among graduates reflect the sector's deficiencies in the quality and relevance of its curricula and teaching. Following intense discussions with government agencies responsible for post-secondary and tertiary education, the universities, post-secondary institutions, the private sector, the donor community and other stakeholders, the report concludes that the present structure and framework for post-secondary education lacks breadth and flexibility to respond to emerging opportunities and challenges in the sector.

Both the ADB and the World Bank point out that the sector for tertiary education should, therefore, initiate transformation relevant to national development, to strengthen the country's competitiveness in global markets and promote social harmony. Unless this is done the international community will probably think twice before making any financial commitments to the country. Published: Tue Mar 27 02:33:46 EST 2001

Anti Aircraft surface to air misslies, including guns, ammunition and some 75 bombs was among the secret cache.

It is the first time the police in Jaffna have managed to recover such a huge haul of secret weapons allegedly hidden for the LTTE. Published: Tue Mar 27 02:33:44 EST 2001

The plaint filed in the District Court of Colombo points out that the attention of the Court is drawn to the fact that the document filed by the Defendant as being the bio data of David L. G. Beckett is not signed or authenticated by any person, does not contain the data that would ordinarily be found in the bio-data of an applicant for a job such as this. The document also does not contain his date of birth, the number of flying hours he had on each type of aircraft he is alleged to have flown or the names of his previous employers. The document also begins with page 2, and has also omitted to mention his period of employment with each previous employer.

The Pilots Guild further charge that Beckett's bio data was sent direct to the Chief Technical Officer, Captain Richard Hutton of Sri Lankan Airlines, a month before the advertisement calling for captains and first officers appeared in February 2000. This advertisement calls for applicants to send their bio data to the Senior Manager Flight Operations, Sri Lankan Airlines and not to the CTO.

The Pilots Guild maintain, that Beckett did not have the necessary qualifications for appointment as a Captain to Sri Lankan Airlines A320 or A330 fleet. The Guild adds that Beckett's appointment was made by the foreign management of Sri Lankan Airlines purely to benefit Beckett for personal reasons to the prejudice of Sri Lankan Airlines and the country.

David Beckett, the Lankan pilots allege, also does not possess the necessary 1000 hours of glass cockpit flying experience.

Sri Lankan Airlines has asserted in its defence that Beckett was recruited on the basis that the airline was short of Captains for its A320 fleet. The Pilots Guild however say that it has four Captains over and above the required minimum and that in these circumstances the A320 fleet was by no means understaffed as contended by Sri Lanka Airlines.

According to Sri Lankan Airlines, Beckett was appointed with effect from September 8, 2000. Beckett has been paid by Sri Lankan Airlines, a gross remuneration package of USD 6,860/- per month since September 2000. This is despite the fact that Beckett has been idle since he was employed in September last year apart from six weeks of training he received in January this year. From September 8, 2000 up to January 2001, Beckett did not fly at all. He was however paid a salary of USD 6,860/- per month.

Since the Pilots Guild took this case to court this year, Beckett continues to be idle but receives his monthly remuneration package from Sri Lankan Airlines.

The Pilots Guild further add that Beckett was appointed in flagrant violation of the Collective Agreement and the Flight Operations Manual which states inter alia that "They (expatriates) will make way to Sri Lanka Tech Crew Members even at cost to the Company." That, in no way will expatriate training be offered to hinder the chances of promotions of any of the local pilots who are in service with the company at the time. Published: Tue Mar 27 02:33:45 EST 2001

Sir Arthur C. Clarke told millions of viewers that he lives in Colombo Sri Lanka giving the war torn country much desired publicity. Even though mega movies such as Indiana Jones directed by Steven Spielberg had been shot on location in Sri Lanka, most Americans have a poor knowledge of the country and Hollywood producers and film stars are reluctant to visit the island considering the security situation in the island. Published: Mon Mar 26 09:56:02 EST 2001