In brief

Inconsistent

The Supreme Court declared on 1 December that the new Provincial Council Elections Bill, granting authority to the Elections Commissioner to conduct elections for five Provincial Councils, is inconsistent with the Constitution. The August elections were postponed under Emergency.

Levy

The National Security Levy on goods and services, introduced in the budget for 1996, was increased from 4.5% to 5.5% in the 1999 budget tabled in Parliament on 6 November.

Detention

Deputy Foreign minister Lakshman Kiriella told Parliament in 1 December that 550 Sri Lankans are detained in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Arab Emirates and Singapore for entry without proper documents.

Protest

After Sri Lanka accused in early November that UNICEF took a “soft approach” towards LTTE over child soldiers, UN special envoy on children, Olara Otunnu urged the Tigers to honour the pledge in May to refrain from recruiting children.

Moving

Following speculations that South African President Nelson Mandela may become involved in a peace initiative, the Sri Lankan government says the LTTE is trying to move its London headquarters to South Africa, where the Tigers are said to enjoy support from the large Tamil community. Next article.
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