News in Brief:

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 07 March 2000, 11:24 GMT]
Court to examine Sports Minister S.B.Dissanayake's comments, Confession refused "Not voluntary", Home guard killed in Eravur.

Court to examine Minister's comments

Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake's allegedly controversial remarks about Courts and Parliament are to be inquired into by three Judges appointed by the Chief Justice to ascertain whether such remarks are tantamount to contempt of Court.

The Supreme Court Registry has already tendered the affidavits of the Sunday Times Editor and the cassette of the relevant speech to the Chief Justice, it is reliably learnt.

In case the Judges hold that there was an element of contempt Court, the Chief Justice will refer the matter to the Attorney General to frame an indictment.

The Sunday Times, of February 27 quoted Minister Dissanayake as saying, "If we cannot obtain the required two-thirds majority for the constitutional reforms, we will close down Parliament for a short period and convene it as a constituent assembly and if required close down the courts and implement the reforms. There could be views against it. If any judges are in disagreement with this they can go home".

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Confession refused "Not voluntary"

A request by Abdul Gayoom, a suspect arrested in connection with the Town Hall bomb blast, to tender a confession has been turned down by Colombo Chief Magistrate G. D. Kulatilake who held that it did not appeared to be voluntary.

The Magistrate directed the suspect to reconsider the decision to make a confession when the suspect was produced before him in his chambers.

The suspect from Chettikulam was arrested in Vavuniya, allegedly for helping in the transport of explosives to Colombo, which had been used in the bomb blast at the Town Hall, on December 18, 1999.

The suspect was remanded till March 10.

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Home guard killed

A paramilitary personnel was shot and killed by suspected members of the Liberation Tigers at Eravur, 15 km. north of Batticaloa, around 9 a.m. this morning.

He was identified as M.S.Thaha, a home guard attached to the Eravur police station.

His weapon was also taken away by the attackers.

The police conducted a search operation in the area, but no arrests were made, sources said.