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| Sunday, 5 June 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Politics back to the fore, crucial fortnight ahead Political Round up by spectator
The coming two weeks will be crucial for the Government as it faces the dilemma of taking a decision on Post Tsunami Reconstruction and Management Structure. President stuck to her view that there is an ethnic issue that needs a negotiated political solution based on a federal structure ever since she was involved in country's political affairs. It was during the tenure of President D. B. Wijetunga, the President as the then Chief Minister of the Western Province boldly expressed her views on the issue. She said addressing a public rally in Akuressa during the Southern Provincial Council Election campaign that ethnic issue has a political solution based on a federal structure. The enraged UNP painted her poster with a Pottu but she stuck to the policy. Now she faces the prospect of doing away with the mechanism or keep the Alliance intact. Sources from President's House revealed that a decision would be taken on the issue within the next two weeks following the President's Indian visit. Ranil tours with Akila Under the "Gamin Gamata" program, Ranil covered Monaragala District with Akila Viraj on May 26. Bandula Gunawardena who was to join Ranil, did not turn up due as his blood sugar was up. He addressed a public rally at Embilipitiya and then went to Wellawaya. The Opposition Leader had severely criticised the UPFA travelling from village to village. He returned to Colombo on Sunday to attend to important duties. Anura intervenes to settle Reginold's dispute A meeting was held at President's House last Friday. It was convened by Minister Anura Bandaranaike to settle the dispute regarding the Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council. On President's advice, the JVP leaders Wimal Weerawansa, Tilvin Silva and Anura Dissanayaka and Alliance leaders Dilan Perera, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Sarath Amunugama were invited to the meeting. At the meeting Anura pointed out that UNP's ploy to oust the Chief Minister by a vote of no confidence posed a serious threat to the Government and that the matter should be looked at in a more responsible manner. However the JVP leaders took up the position that they could not go against a decision taken by the Central Committee of the Party but they promised to raise the matter at the Central Committee. Thus the meeting ended inconclusively. Milinda at 'do' for Clinton against Ranil's will On Friday, former US President and UN Special Envoy on Tsunami Reconstruction, Bill Clinton arrived in Sri Lanka. He visited the Eastern Province on the following day. In the evening the Government hosted a farewell dinner to the visiting UN envoy. The President had invited representatives of all political parties to the party. UNP MP Milinda Moragoda was conspicuous by his presence at the party. It was against UNP's decision to boycott the party that Milinda attended the function. He had lengthy discussions with Bill Clinton for so much so that he missed the flight to Korea. Naveen refuses District Leader appointment Against the backdrop of turning down S.B.'s appeal by the Court of Appeal, Tissa Attanayaka convened a press briefing to explain the party's position with regard to the appointment of the District Leader for Nuwara Eliya. At the briefing Tissa said that the party could not wait till S. B. is freed to start the party's reorganization and that the party has taken a decision to nominate a person for S. B.'s seat. He said that Renuka Herath would be a possible candidate for the seat. However, later on the advice of Ranil, Tissa Attanayaka together with Malik Samarawickrema tried to woo young MP Naveen Dissanayaka into accepting the position of Nuwara Eliya District Leader which was failed. "S. B. had not maintained a good relationship with us. But I am not degraded into such a low level to accept the caretaker position of the District Organizer which was held by S. B. Please appoint another person". said Naveen directly. UNP politburo meeting Monday morning, Ranil called a politburo meeting at Cambridge Terrace Office. Malik, Karu, Tissa, Mahinda, Gamini Lokuge, Joseph Michael, G.L, Dayaratne, John Ameratunga attended the meeting. Though there were few topics for discussion. They first discussed the "Janabala Meheyuma". The "Janabala Meheyuma" is the protest campaign that the UNP organized to be launched from July 2 to July 12 by mobilizing people to be brought from Matara to Colombo in a parade. It was named "Janaduka Nivana Janabala Meheyuma" and the objective of the protest march is to oust the Government that according to them, lied to the people. Tissa Attanayaka said that party representatives should be banned from going abroad or attending to other work during the week. Ranil said this decision was taken to ensure more public participation in the protest march and to make it successful. John Ameratunga blamed Milinda on the failure of the discussion with the President to secure S. B.'s release. Tissa also said that Milinda had acted against party disciplinary code by discussing irrelevant matters with the President. Disciplinary action against Milinda "He had attended the dinner for Bill Clinton that was boycotted even by Party leader and Deputy Leader. How could he stick to party discipline?", said Gamini Lokuge. "We shall conduct an inquiry into this. Milinda who did not inform us about the discussions he held with President. On inquiry he evaded me by uttering contradictory facts. He should be taught about party discipline." Tissa undertook to take disciplinary action in this regard. Once again S.B.'s issue was raised at the meeting. This time it was by Karu Jayasuriya. He suggested that a new District Leader be appointed to Nuwara Eliya District. Ranil said "It is not a bad idea but we should appoint a MP for Nuwara Eliya first." Though several names were suggested, the Central Committee nominated Lakshman Kiriella as the District Leader while appointing Renuka Herath as MP. Ranil turned down several names suggested for the post including Thamara Dissanayaka and two brothers of S.B." "Does S. B. have respectable brothers?" Questioned Ranil. Malik informed the decision to S. B. over the phone and it was obvious that S. B.'s response to the call was harsh from the manner Malik put down the phone. Prime Minister starts work with 'Maga Naguma' Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksha returned to the island on the night of May 29 from South Korea after attending the 6th Session of the South Global Forum on Reinventing Governments. He hurriedly tried to finish his routine duties to prepare himself for 'Maga Naguma' program. Akila - Sagala dispute Another reason for Ranil's troubled mind during the week was that some members were openly critical about the Ranil's weekend tour of Galle with Akila Viraj. In a letter to Ranil former Deputy Minister Sagala Ratnayaka accused Akila Viraj of politically threatening him by using newly appointed UNP organisers for Matara District Buddhika and Pramodaya Wickremasinghe abusing the privilege of his close connection with the leader. During his visit to Matara with Akila, Ranil said to Pramodaya, "Do not forget that you have to compete with the most powerful candidate in the Matara District and the only qualification that you possess is your popularity and caste. You are new to the game and learn from Akila" Thereafter Akila spoke to Buddhika and Pramodaya and tried to use them against Sagala. It was because of a long-standing struggle to be more close to the leader. Split in the UNP In those days the UNP had a lot of factions called Premadasa, Lalith, Gamini and J.R. factions. Now the party has factions like Akila, Sudath and Thushara and Ranil's poodles. Akila tried to get close to the leader through the Youth Front. Ranil also entered politics through the Youth Front, as it was the most active section of the party. Ranil helped Akila to become the leader of the Youth Front. Last year Naveen, Sajith and Sagala ousted Akila from the post. Since Akila was not at the helm, Ranil liquidated the Youth Front. Akila became a close ally of Ranil and began to tour the island with him. Now UNP organizers are being appointed not in consultation with senior UNP leaders but according to the whims and fancies of Akila. Accordingly "Lankadeepa" crown prince Ruwan Wijewardene was appointed Biyagama UNP organizer and Dayasiri Jayasekara was expelled and another person was appointed. Akila expelled Upali Piyasoma and became Kuliyapitiya organizer. Once S.B. as the National Organizer of the party entrusted Dayasiri Jayasekara with the task of overseeing the affairs of the Ministry Secretaries Association and Akila through Ranil expelled Dayasiri from the position. The same thing happened when S.B. delegated responsibilities of the UNP Lawyers Association and Sri Lanka Three Wheeler Drivers' Association. Finally S.B. summoned Akila and reprimanded him. Since then the relationship of Akila and Ranil with S.B. became sour. JVP adamant On May 31, the JVP had also convened its politburo meeting. The meeting was called to discuss the latest position with regard to the Post Tsunami Reconstruction and Management Structure. After a lengthy discussion the politburo adopted a unanimous resolution that in the event of the Government signing the Joint Mechanism, the party will handover the 4 Ministerial positions to the Government and will act as independent MPs. JVP Politburo also decided that the party has no option but to field a candidate for the Presidential Election and contest for Local Government bodies independently. Muthaliph killing - Public wrath on Ranil Major Tuan Muthaliph was a senior intelligence officer who was in charge of the operations conducted by the Long-Range Deep Penetration Unit. President Kumaratunga who was deeply moved by the killing, ordered the Army Commander and the Inspector General of Police to initiate a comprehensive investigation on the shooting and to produce a report. She also instructed the Prime Minister to look into the needs of the bereaved family. the Prime Minister, who visited the Muthaliph residence at Dehiwala, condoled with the family on behalf of the Government. Another group perturbed by the killing was National Patriotic Movement's leaders. Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera contacted Wimal Weerawansa and inquired about the prevailing situation. They also joined the mourners and condoled with the family. Though the LTTE are prime suspects in the Muthaliph killing, the public wrath turned on Ranil Wickremesinghe. It was the worst betrayal that deprived the nation of this brave
intelligence officer. Ranil was repenting during the whole week that was
demonstrated by his unreasonable angry mood. |
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