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| Sunday, 9 January 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Compassionate world focuses us Weekend Politics by Suraj & Viraj Relief looks aplenty for the tsunami victims with the all important international focus on this island nation. Aid is flowing in an unprecedented manner to help our country that experienced the worst disaster in its history.
The inflow of the foreign aid put the local rupee stable on Friday as it appreciated against the US dollar in a very satisfactory manner. The conversion, which stood at Rs.104 against the US dollar, changed to Rs.94 by Friday. The stage seems set for stabilisation for a New Sri Lanka in the New Year with political unity among many political parties glittering in diversity towards the national cause to rebuild the nation for the future generation. The Sri Lanka Parliament that looked a hostile house for parliamentarians from April last suddenly turned calm when it began its sessions for the New Year on Tuesday. Party leaders, ministers and MPs gathered in unity to discuss the national calamity that occurred on post Christmas in a moving manner. Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara was surprised at the manner when members from both sides spoke in one voice to get the nation out of the disaster. Lokubandara was further moved by the sentiments expressed by JVP's firebrand Wimal Weerawansa, whose contribution, the Speaker later described as something very special that came from Weerawansa's heart. The Tamil National Alliance leader R. Sampanthan too looked to have had a change of heart when he spoke high of the people of the South who rushed to assist the people of the North. Leaders from the South have already visited the displaced in the North and East where they had access. Though the LTTE continues to make claims that relief do not reach the areas under their control, Tiger leader Velupillai Prabakaran is yet to visit his displaced people in the North and East to ascertain the truth about the claim his organisation was making. Following the tragedy on December 26, that worst hit his sea tiger base in Mullaitivu, Prabakaran had been heard only once on his clandestine Tiger Radio. He had not been seen visiting the affected even in areas under LTTE control. It was only his Political Chief, S. P. Thamilselvan and Sea Tiger leader Soosai who have appeared in public to speak about the tragedy. This week the Norwegian Embassy officials visited Kilinochchi to meet Tiger leaders to discuss relief measures. This meeting too was attended by Thamilselvan. Prabakaran was a notable absentee even at this crisis meeting to help his people. While Prabakaran had failed to surface on behalf of his people at the time of a serious crisis caused by nature in those areas, TNA politicians seem to lock horns with Colombo making allegations that relief is deprived to Tiger held areas. The government has no access to those areas. Hence, a programme of coordination should be drawn up by the LTTE to work out a practical process to ensure that state relief reached their areas. The majority of the leaders of political parties have joined hands at this time of a national crisis to rebuild the nation setting aside petty political differences. The TNA, the mouthpiece of the LTTE in Parliament should follow suit to help their people at this hour of crisis. The sea proved supreme over the fighting capabilities of the LTTE and Prabakaran on December 26 when it destroyed the sea tiger power of Prabakaran in Mullaitivu. Despite allegations from the LTTE about relief distribution shortcomings, all world leaders have focused attention on the need to help rebuild Sri Lanka as one nation. The focus of their concern was amply demonstrated by the visits of key leaders like Kofi Annan, Colin Powell, World Bank President, James D. Wolfensohn, Republican Senator Bill Frist and Korean Prime Minister, Lee Hae Chan. UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan addressing the Jakarta Conference on the Tsunami disaster that ravaged Asian nations stressed the need for one billion US dollar aid to help the affected nations. The world body expects an early rebuilding process in Sri Lanka. The direct aid sent to the LTTE from the Italian government raised eyebrows of the Colombo government as well as the JVP as a political party. The government has sought clarification from Italian authorities over this controversial relief package. This move by Italy has annoyed the JVP which says that Tigers were using the sea disaster to achieve their political agenda. Now that the government has taken up this matter with Italy, the JVP should not continue harp on it and confront the LTTE on political grounds as all sections should give priority to the rebuilding of the devastated country. JVP Minister, Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaking over the "Thulawa" programme focused much attention on LTTE allegations over relief distribution. But Plantation Minister Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and Speaker Lokubandara who joined the programme stressed the urgent need was not political cross talk but to work towards taking the country out of the Tsunami rubble. Sri Lankan delegation headed by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar participated at the Jakarta meeting as an affected party. Even former US President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton also participated in a campaign to raise aid for Sri Lanka with a few Sri Lankan Bhikkus in the United States. Last week was a hectic week for President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. She was busy with meeting various persons who wanted to provide donations to the survivors as well as answering calls from World leaders. The President has also appointed three Task Forces to ensure the rebuilding and provide relief assistance for the affected areas. She was repeatedly checking with relevant authorities whether relief assistance reach the correct people. She was disturbed with the LTTE accusation that affected areas in the North and East had not received enough relief. Thereafter, she personally monitored with her officials whether enough foods and other relief assistance has been sent to the affected areas. She learned that more relief assistance have sent to the North-East areas than other areas. Meanwhile, JHU MP Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera took a decision to quit his party. He was frustrated with the behaviour of certain members in the party. During the last month he had discussions with his close associates about his political future. After discussion he took a decision to quit politics but to stay in his parliamentary seat for sometime to prevent rebels from nominating another. JHU leader Dr.Ellawala Medhananda Thera decided to assist the victims in Tincomalee district to clear the allegation that the JHU was a racist party. He and a few others went to the, Methodist Tamil Girls School with relief assistance to support the victims. Twenty Deputy Ministers had decided to camp in the North and East to coordinate the relief work and rebuilding effort. They were scheduled to go to North and East yesterday. |
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