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| Sunday, 15 May 2005 |
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Features |  |
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Ranil's pipe dream Political Commentary by Spectator In recent times the UPFA faced several challenges. The setting up of a Post-tsunami Operational Management Structure (POMS) for the North and East, restructuring of the CEB and the Petroleum Corporation were controversial issues that arose.
It was none other than the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe who dreamt that, one of these issues would cause a rift in the Alliance. Therefore the Opposition Leader had summoned his Special Media and Information Committee (SMIC) for a special meeting. Malik Samarawickrema, Nalin Ladduwahetti, Saman Ataudahetti, Upul Joseph Fernando and Shan Wijetunga attended the meeting while Thushara Gunaratne was absent as he had gone abroad on a special assignment of the Opposition Leader. At the meeting the opposition leader assigned them a special task of attacking the Alliance capitalising on differences of opinion between the President and the JVP. He opined that this could be achieved through various news items posted in allied media highlighting internal disputes of the Alliance. "We must get maximum benefit out of this dispute. One will be the function held in Anuradhapura next Sunday where they start the second phase of the Thousand Tank Project where I am sure the President will attack the JVP. We must record every word that she utters. Direct the Sirasa crew to record the speech in full. On Tuesday 10, the JVP will hold a public rally at the Town Hall where Wimal Weerawansa and Somawansa Amerasinghe will attack Chandrika. Tell Ariya Rubasinghe to record that meeting in full. We could use them as we have planned," he said. The SMIC crew left the place jubilant over the golden opportunity before them. Having thus assigned this task to his henchmen, the Opposition Leader went to Matara to spend the weekend. It was on an invitation extended to him by Deniyaya UNP Organiser Sagala Ratnayaka and UNP Organiser for Hakmana Luxman Yapa Abeyawardana to resolve a dispute over the appointment of the UNP organisers in the area. In addition to this the organisers had arranged several meetings for the leader. Meanwhile the President had called for a meeting with the JVP to resolve the issues pertaining to POMS. The discussion was held last Friday at President's House at 8.30 p.m and the JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva, Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa, Ministers Wijitha Herat, Bimal Ratnayaka and Sunil Handunnetti took part in the discussion on behalf of the JVP while Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Ministers Anura Bandaranaike, Mangala Samaraweera, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Sarath Amunugama, Susil Premajayantha, Atauda Senevirathne, Deputy Ministers Dilan Perera, Wijedasa Rajapakse, Member of Parliament Lasantha Alagiyawanna, WP Chief Minister Reginald Cooray participated on behalf of the SLFP. The discussion was presided over by the President. POMS The President started the discussion analysing the history of the problem. "At last we submitted a set of proposals to Norway and the LTTE on a suitable structure. By April 29, we did not get a response from the LTTE. Later they forwarded a set of proposals that we could not agree with. Then we made several amendments to the proposal. Therefore, we could agree to the final draft". She then continued to describe the nature and composition of the proposed structure. She said that this agreement augurs well for the future. "We could not agree to these proposals as they pave the way not for a joint mechanism but for a separate State and this structure could not contain the LTTE" said Tilvin Silva in response to the President's explanation on the issue. Wimal Weerawnasa who spoke next said that "the proposals present certain prerequisites for a separate State to the LTTE". "Well, then what is the alternative? The international community is observing the situation", observed Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Sarath Amunugama. "Agreeing to these proposals, means that the LTTE has accepted the sovereignty of the State and we could work in areas demarcated as LTTE held areas by Ranil Wickremasinghe. This is clearly a retreat on the part of the LTTE", said Mangala. "We cannot accept that point", said Weerawansa. The discussion concluded without a consensus. However, it helped to narrow the gap between the two parties and the President decided to hold another round of discussion in the coming week on the same issue. It was 11.30 p.m. by the time the discussion was over. After the JVP representatives left, the President discussed further with the Prime Minister and those who stayed after the discussion. Though she was not very happy with the outcome, she emphasised the importance of further discussions. Later the President instructed the Prime Minister to hold discussions with the CEB employees on Monday itself and to come to a compromise with them. The party parted at midnight. As discussed earlier the Prime Minister met the officials of the CEB Trade Union. The Prime Minister had cancelled a function at Reach Hotel in Negombo, especially to attend this discussion. Ministers Sarath Amunugama, Susil Premjayantha, Nimal Siripala de Silva and other officials took part in the 4-hour long discussion where the parties agreed to implement short-term and long-term solutions to the problem. The employees decided to call off the trade union action and the Government gave a written undertaking not to privatise the CEB and withdraw the Cabinet paper on CEB restructuring. Both parties agreed to hold discussions on how to solve the issue. Sunday May 8 was an important day for the UPFA Government. The second phase of the government's Thousand Tank Project got off the ground at Kahatagasdigiliya, Lulnewa in Anuradhapura under the patronage of the President. The President participated in the ceremony dispelling rumours and anticipation of the Opposition that she would not attend the function owing to differences of opinion with the JVP. President enthusiastic The President was enthusiastic about the project. She highly praised the program launched by Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayaka. However she emphasised the fact that all the parties of the coalition should work together to overcome challenges faced by the Government. She said "Certain actions of some coalition partners posed impediments to the betterment of the country and those partners should actively participate in programs launched by the Government. The expectations of the Opposition that the President would attack the JVP did not materialise. Deputy Minister Bimal Ratnayaka also did not answer some of the issues raised in the President's speech as expected by the Opposition media pundits. At the end of the function, every one had tea with Kurakkan Helapa. The President left the place to attend to an urgent matter after politely declining the offer made to her by Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayaka to lunch. The UNP did not hold the politburo meetings that Monday.Instead the UNPers made arrangements for the inaugural youth propaganda meeting to be held on Tuesday May 10 at 10.00 a.m at Sirikotha with the patronage of the Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. The campaign aimed at forthcoming elections comprised meetings at provincial level and grass roots level. The task entrusted at the headquarters level propaganda operation was to attack the Alliance on the basis of taking a tough stance against the JVP. The operation was to be carried out by the SMIC headed by Nalin Ladduwahetti. The grass roots level propaganda operation was given to the Unit headed by Sudath Chandrasekara. The so called "Media Brigade" was to train 6 persons from each polling station in spreading rumours, party propaganda, character assassinations of opponents and image building of UNP politicians. At 10.00 a.m the UNP's grass roots operation started.The organiser of the operation, Sudath thought of an innovative plan. He thought that the youth, organisers, heads of local government bodies and members of Lak Wanitha Unit and Yowun Peramuna should be humoured as if they were subjected to a 'blitz'. According to the plan, lights in the main hall were switched off prior to the function. All of a sudden spotlights began to hover over the floor and multi-colour pieces of papers flew up in the air. The enthralled youth began to dance and the hall was riotous in pitch darkness. Rays of light revolved as in a night club and through the thick smoke appeared the figure of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe. He was enveloped in the multi-colour pieces of papers. The organiser got the expected effect from the magic performance. The effect of the performance was visible on the faces of the youth who began to dance to the amusement of the UNP seniors. "What on earth is this?" questioned some of the participants. It was a magic performance by Sudath Ralahamy another one answered. One said that this kind of function should commence after lighting an oil lamp and observing five precepts. However another one said those traditions belonged to the past. Later the proceedings started.Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, President Malik Samarawickrema, Secretary Weragoda attended the meeting which was presided over by Party's Deputy Secretary Tissa Attanayaka. The Opposition Leader explained the pros and cons of the propaganda operation in five points and named the project 'Youth Propaganda Project' under two postulates - 'People had had enough of the UPFA Government' and "People are in need of a UNP Government". Opposition meeting Thereafter the Opposition Leader addressed a meeting of appointed organisers, MPs and Presidents and Secretaries of various district organisations. The meeting was held at the Jatika Seva Sangamaya auditorium. Tissa Attanayaka gave a targeted time frame for organisational activities.The proceedings went on till 2.00 p.m and after that the opposition leader distributed trophies for those who performed well at the UNP's May Day Rally. The Janabala Operation Committee convened a meeting at Sirikotha which was attended by Secretary Weragoda, Chairman Malik Samarawickrema, Luxman Senevirathne, Tissa Attanayaka, Karu Jayasuriya, Gamini Lokuge, Mahinda Wijesekara and Ravi Karunanayaka. Rajitha Senaratne could not participate as he was abroad. They discussed about the walk from Matara to Colombo from June 03 to 12. Disgraceful conduct After that Ranil switched on to another topic and spoke about the disgraceful conduct of the supporters of the Galle District MP Hemakumara Nanayakkara. The supporters had attacked a journalist at Polonnaruwa. "He has showered dirt on himself," said Ranil. "This type of work should be assigned to people like Mahinda. Hemakumara is inefficient to carry out such work" said another at the meeting. Karu Jayasuriya and Tissa Attanayaka spoke about the damage caused by the incident. The Opposition Leader instructed Tissa Attanayaka to issue a statement to the effect that the party will take disciplinary action against the miscreants. This would remind the people of the dark period of the UNP regime where Richard de Zoysa and Rajini Tiranagama were assassinated. The Opposition Leader with Malik Samarawickrema left on Tuesday for Singapore and Malaysia. He had instructed his media acolytes to propagate that he had left for Singapore to have a medical check up at Mount Elizabeth hospital. He had not failed to attend another matter before leaving the country. A senior leader and confidante was asked to look into the case against Sudath Chandrasekera at Mt.Lavnia Court. Ranil was particularly worried that he could not take a side in this case. The case was filed by UNP Kalutara District MP Sarath Ranawaka alleging that his wife Shashikala Hettiarachchi who is a famous TV actress, was abducted by Sudath. The case was taken up for hearing on the 12th. A function was held at the Russian Embassy to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of Second World War. This was exclusively for Ambassadors. Somawansa Amerasinghe's presence at this occasion was conspicuous. Most of the Ambassadors spoke with him. Most of them had focused their discussions on the donor conference to be held in Kandy on the 16th and 17th of this month and about POMS. The JVP leader explained the party's stance on the issue without embarrassing the Government or the President. Another news was the proposed trade union action that was to be taken by the Air Traffic Controllers at the Bandaranaike International Airport. The Air Traffic Controllers numbering 67 demanded an additional allowance of Rs. 25,000. All other unions at the Air Port that were against the proposal threatened that they would launch a strike if the request for the allowance was granted. The Authorities informed the Air Traffic Controllers' Union that the demand was unreasonable and that they would inform the union whether the demand could be fulfilled or not on the May 20. However, the Air Traffic Controllers Union had informed at about 4.00 p.m on the 11th that they were going to launch a strike and the Minister was informed by the Airport Authorities about the strike. Minister Samaraweera as soon as he received the information visited the air port and instructed the authorities about measures that had to be taken and the Minister refused to have discussions until the trade unions gave an assurance that they would not resort to strike action. The Minister learnt that strike action on the part of the union was instigated by former Chairman Hemasiri Fernando and Working Director Gamini Abeyrathne in order to prevent donors from attending the Donor Conference to be held in Kandy. After discussions with the Heads of the Departments the Minister answered a call in English and assured the authorities that nothing would disrupt air traffic operations as India would send Controllers to Sri Lanka. "There will be no problem. Whether they launch the strike or not, tonight we will bring down Controllers from India and India will look after the problem". On hearing this, the Chairman conveyed the information to the employees. Little later the Union gave up the trade union action and sent a letter to the Chairman. Then the Minister Samaraweera expressed his willingness to discuss the matter with the union during next week. |
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