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Sunday Observations: Political column

On Monday this week, Palitha Kohona the Peace Secretariat boss was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the ambassadors representing the donor co-chairs who flew to Kilinochchi to meet with the Wanni leadership. He was confident that the talks will go ahead, and he expressed his hope in so many words.

He turned out to be right, some hiccups on the way notwithstanding. He turned out to be right for the simple reason that at the end of the week it became increasingly obvious that the talks would take place, even though perhaps not on the schedule that had been proposed earlier.

Kohona was vehement in saying that the government will not be provoked despite the continuing LTTE attacks.

But, he did allow that this was a "third world country" which was "poor" and did not have the resources to ensure that there was complete compliance even on the part of the government, with what was agreed in Celigny in the previous round of talks.

The government will respond categorically, and to a plan, to any criticism about not complying with the Celigny round he said, and added that the "government has always condemned any killings such as the killing of a politician in Trincomalee."

The government intent is also not to confine the next round of the talks to the ceasefire alone, but to sue for a solution of outstanding issues, involving some kind of permanent solution.

Meanwhile, the talks themselves though postponed on the LTTE request to the Norwegians, have been put through in an atmosphere of destabilization in the North and the East. The government however organised sea transport for the LTTE for ''consultations'' in this atmosphere of insecurity. (see news story and separate stories.)

While President Mahinda Rajapaksa was busy with his agenda on the next round of the peace talks next week,Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe sat to clear hurdles placed on his leadership. He chaired the Working Committee expecting pressure from the group led by S. B. Dissanayake over the Mahinda Wijesekera issue.

Though Dissanayake was expected to come down hard on Wickremesinghe for the latter's decision to remove Wijesekera from the Working Committee and as Matara District leader, Dissanayake looked more moderate in his approach on the issue. He virtually pleaded with Wickremesinghe to reconsider the decision. But, Wickremesinghe stood firm saying that when members were allowed to go scot free, he found it difficult to maintain discipline in the party.

Rajitha Senaratne in his usual style let off the steam on the leader over Mahinda Wijesekere's issue.Despite the vociferous stand taken by Rajitha, Wickremesinghe looked unmoved. He was not prepared even to reconsider Wijesekere back into the Working Committee. Wickremesinghe has been monitoring the conduct of Rajitha Senaratne since his defeat at the presidential election.

At the Working Committee he told the members that he would not tolerate any members who criticised the leadership of the party and said that a Steering Committee would be set up for members in the party to iron out differences. At this juncture, Rukman Senanayake welcomed the move saying the party should forge unity among its members before talking about national unity.

The inclusion of Sajith Premadasa into the Political Committee has raised eye brows of party men who won their districts at the presidential election. They look hurt over the move. Premadasa was badly beaten in the Hambantota stronghold of President Rajapaksa.

It was the worst defeat among all districts the party suffered, the seniors say. Party stalwarts say that Kandy District MP, Lakshman Kiriella who won the district in a convincing manner should have been considered over Premadasa. Kiriella, a former SLFP stalwart and a close friend of President Rajapaksa has turned down several offers by his friends in the SLFP to re-join his former party.

He has been given less or no recognition in the party though he has captured the Gampola stronghold of D. M. Jayaratne at three elections. Kiriella who claims that shifting sides time and again is no good for his reputation as a lawyer and unfair by his voters, has now given thought to make an early retirement from politics. He is likely to revert to the Kandy Bar where he practised for many years as a senior lawyer.

Kiriella joined the UNP after been sidelined under the Chandrika Kumaratunga administration. He was a loyal supporter of late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and was front liner in the 1989 Parliament along with incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa. The UNP has been treating Kiriella shabbily though he has earned incentives for the party. Kiriella's one and only request to be included in the UNP Political Affairs Committee had been turned down and hurt over the treatment given to him, Kiriella took wing to India for a short holiday.

The notable exclusion from the Political Affairs Committee was Rajitha Senaratne. Though Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya proposed to bring in Senaratne, the UNP leader conveniently turned down the proposal. Prior to SB Dissanayake's recent departure to Australia he had a meeting with Jayasuriya at the latter's residence to plan out the future leadership of the party.

There it had been decided that on his return, he would fight to ensure the leadership to Jayasuriya by pushing to make Wickremesinghe a senior leader in the style of Lee Quan Yew and for him to have the deputy leader slot. It had also been decided to create a new post called,'Propaganda Secretary' like in the JVP for Rajitha Senaratne. Dissanayake had assured that he had the support for his plan and he could do the reforms with amendments to the party constitution.

Wickremesinghe who got wind of this meeting at Jayasuriya's residence drew up plans to counter the SB faction.

As the first step to neutralise those who opposed and criticised him, he decided to expel Mahinda Wijesekere from two positions held by the latter. SB had to cut short his holiday and return to defend Wijesekere.

The SB faction had to concentrate on how to defend Mahinda Wijesekere rather than executing their plan to capture the leadership. Wickremesinghe, a vily politician like his uncle, the 'old fox' J. R. Jayewardene played his cards in handsome style.

The SB faction which earlier boasted of 21 UNPers in their camp is now said to be reduced to four after the last Working Committee. Having consolidated his position as the leader, Wickremesinghe left for a month long tour of the United States to deliver a series of lectures on politics.

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