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| Sunday, 25 April 2004 |
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At the election of the Speaker : Maha Sangha betrays majority mandate Behind the curtain by Deepla The election of the Speaker took an unprecedented time and turn exposing the venerable members of the Jathika Hela Urumaya to the charge that they had betrayed their voters by ganging up with separatist elements in Parliament. Posters came up overnight announcing that the Bhikkus were in the same camp as the Tigers and Elephants. Has not the JHU effectively exposed the Sangha to this kind of vilification and demeaned the esteem the public hold them in? We hope there will be a change of course on their part to usher in the `Dharma Rajya' or Righteous Regime that they aspire for. The JHU which pledged to the President not to tread the way the LTTE sponsored TNA takes at the last minute changed their pledge revealing their true nature indicating whom they stand for. Over five lakhs of voters who voted for the JHU will question the Ven. Maha Sangha on what they did betraying the mandate given by a majority of this country to the Alliance government. Political sources claimed that the Hela Urumaya was financially supported by the UNP alleged and also provided with luxury vehicles and even security guards. Speculation was heightened soon after, when MPs Ravi Karunanayake, Rajitha Senaratne and others were seen talking with JHU spokesman Ven. Athuraliye Rathana after the first count. The result was two of them voted for the UNF candidate elevating him to the Speaker's chair. According to Alliance sources the JHU committed a great betrayal and the conduct of the Buddhist prelates was questionable. They also pointed out this as one of the most heinous deceptions ever in the political history of this country. The dubious conduct of the Maha Sangha was part of a contemptible conspiracy between the UNP and Hela Urumaya to cheat the Alliance government. Sources also revealed that the government did not have secret dealings with the minority parties and left itself wide open. The JHU several days ago sharply criticised the President for being too soft on the LTTE. At the election of the Speaker, they completely forgot what they said earlier. Political sources also question as to how the Hela Urumaya can explain itself for having voted for the UNP led by Ranil Wickremesinghe who danced to many a tune of Tiger leader Prabhakaran. The JHU Ven. MPs who announced loud and clear that they were totally against the LTTE, last Thursday at the opening of the 13 th Parliament decided to consort with the LTTE sponsored TNA and supported the UNP candidate. What price hypocrisy! Alliance sources reiterated that Ven. Rathana will have the answer to this, soon. The subtlety of the grand deception could be seen from the fact that the Hela Urumaya asked the Freedom Alliance not to have any dealings with the minority parties and promised that they will support the Government in Parliament in times of crisis. The Hela Urumaya pledged to ensure that the Government will not be defeated in a crunch situation. This pledge was reiterated at the Dalada Maligawa. But, the monks broke their promise without having any qualms said senior political sources. This has brought the wrath of those who voted for them. Temples were inundated with protesters posters, came up overnight condemning the Ven. monks for their alleged two timing duplicity. To add insult to injury, the Hela Urumaya has had the brass to say that they will withdraw their support if the Government attacks it. What support? ask senior politicians "Here, they are hellbent on destroying the Government, that is obvious to even the most naive, and in the same breath they are saying they will withdraw their support. That the Hela Urumaya is speaking with a forked tongue is very clear. Is this the 'Dharma Rajya' the decorum, the dignity the Hela Urumaya is boasting they will introduce to the political landscape in Sri Lanka? Far from it! This motley band of ambitious monks have entered Parliament over the death of Ven. Soma Thera,' said senior politicians. "Their actions, nay antics in Parliament last Thursday, prove this", said these shocked veterans. * * * * President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga's guidelines and a code of conduct for ministers and deputy ministers were highly welcomed by all, including religious leaders and intellectuals. Political analysts pointed out that it would allow the President to have a clean Cabinet and the ministers and deputy ministers will not be pressurised for any kind of bribery and corruption. At the same time almost all the ministers have already taken steps to prevent the wastage of public resources and stop bribery and corruption in the public sector. They would also seek the opportunities to punish the wrong doers and the effort has been highly welcomed by the public. The President who is also the Minister of Education has already paid attention to the education sector of the country which was ruined by three UNF Ministers during the last two years. The problems faced by Universities such as insufficient funds and restrictions on the recruitment of staff and even the lack of sufficient accommodation for university students will be met soon, Presidential sources revealed. The sources also said. The President will be meeting Vice Chancellors of universities, senior Ministry officials tomorrow at the President's House. Asian Development Bank (ADB) marking its confidence over the new United Peoples' Freedom Alliance (UPFA) government has made a grant to initiate the government's development programmes. Prime Minister and Highways Minister Mahinda Rajapakse who received the grant from the ADB officials pledged that it would be utilised in development oriented projects prioritising a good highways network that would ensure road safety and minimising road accidents. A Road Development Act soon in Parliament and a Road Development Advisory Board to carry out the research work will be made realities by the UPFA government soon. John Seneviratne who assumed duties as the Justice and Judicial Reforms Minister has paid attention to minimise the backlog of cases in the country's judicial system. He has also emphasised the need for setting up more courts where necessary and solving all the related problems fulfilling requests of the needy. Athauda Seneviratne Labour Relations and Foreign Labour Minister highlighted an important factor which had been neglected for a long time. He promised to bring new legislation enabling at least 2 per cent of employment opportunities for the disabled. As promised by the Freedom Alliance manifesto, the cost of a 50 kg bag of Urea fertilizer will be reduced by Rs. 200 from May 1, Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said. According to him, `the backbone of Sri Lanka's economy; the paddy farming' should be given enough infrastructure to achieve the targets. A policy package to aid farmers and a good market for rural products among Samurdhi beneficiaries are no more dreams under the new government. The FM said that the Alliance government's expectation is to provide benefits of subsidies to both the farmer as well as the consumer. Minister Jeyaraj Fenandopulle who is the Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister has also taken steps to introduce what the people expected from the new government. He has already taken immediate steps to stop privatisation of the State Timber Cooperation (STC) and Salusala. The proposed sale of the Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) properties and vehicles will also be stopped. A committee to work on the necessary matters will also be appointed within one week time. However, there is still a lacuna in the UPFA governance with four ministerial portfolios kept vacant over the haggling that has received publicity in the allocation of some departments. The people's expectations three weeks after they voted in a new government have not been realised due to these delays and there is justifiable anxiety if not auger among certain segments of the UPFA vote base. |
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