News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 April 1999, 22:50 GMT]
Jaffna Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) gives evidence on stadium grave and Provincial Councils to begin functioning on Friday.

Court hears evidence on stadium grave

Jaffna Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), Dr. Sri Rajeswaran, while giving evidence at the Courts on the Jaffna Stadium grave, listed the details of human skeletal remains found there.

The case was heard by Mr. Ekanathan, the Jaffna Additional Magistrate.

The JMO said that investigations so far have revealed that 25 bodies have been buried at the stadium grave.

The court has been adjourned until tomorrow.

Meanwhile the body of a man was found in a cesspit during construction at Nagoda Hospital in Kalutura, 40 km. south of capital Colombo today.

Police sources said it was not known whether he was murdered or a patient of the hospital who had committed suicide.

The police are conducting investigations.

Announcement on Provincial Councils

The General Secretary of the ruling People's Alliance, Mr. Jayaratna, said today that the newly elected Provincial Councils (PC) will begin functioning on Friday, April 23.

He also said that parliamentarians who had been elected as Chief Ministers of the new PCs will submit their resignations when parliament meets tomorrow.

The following will take up positions as Chief Ministers: Susil Premajayanth (Western Province), Nandimithra Ekanayake (Central Province), Athauda Seneviratne (Sabaragamuwa Province), Berty Premalal Dissanayake (North-Central Province) and Samaraweera Weerawanni (Uva Province).

The PA candidate to the Central Province, who got highest number of preferential votes in the Central Province was sworn in on April 15 as Chief Minister.

However, she will submit her resignation tomorrow to make way for Social Service Minister, Berty Premalal Dissanayake, to take up duties as new Chief Minister of the province.

Meanwhile sources said that president Kumarathunge is expected to make a few changes in the cabinet this week.