Don't resign, says family :

Mayoralty, a gift of 'God'

Sunday Observations: The Political Column

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was a busy man this week working out arrangements to forge consensus among the southern parties to find a lasting solution to the ethnic problem. He summoned an All Party Conference, the fourth since the resumption of the peace process on Friday. The aim was to offer a viable devolution package to suit the country.

As a positive step towards that direction, the President called upon all parties to nominate their representatives for an Advisory Committee on the subject under review. President Rajapaksa described the European Union ban on the LTTE as a window of opportunity to resolve the crisis. He reiterated the fact that peace could not be achieved by a single party in this multi-plural society and stressed the need for a consensus among all parties.

Suggestions and proposals at this meeting looked positive. All wanted justice meted out to all sections of the society. That was what the President too had in mind. The meeting ended on a cordial and successful note with the parties deciding to move forward with the President's plan.

Moves by the President look positive to resume the peace dialogue. The proposed Oslo talks this week were hailed by Defence Spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella on Friday. He said the doors were fully opened to resume the peace dialogue. He urged the LTTE to stop violence and seriously consider to resolve the crisis. The LTTE has responded favourably agreeing to send a delegation to Oslo where the SLMM monitoring modalities and the ceasefire would come up for discussion.

While the government gave priority to work towards establishing peace, the main opposition UNP was seen playing' hide and seek' in the 'shade' of a new administration in the Colombo Municipal Council.

Having being rejected at nomination level, the UNP is trying to creep into the CMC administration through the Independent Group(3) list. Its leader, Suppiah Rajendran goes missing from time to time. This week too there were reports that he had been abducted. He, then surfaces and says he went on his own. Now his absence is not seriously taken by his own colleagues who are in two factions in the group.

Rajendran is fully backed by Colombo UNP parliamentarian, Mohamed Maharoof. The security at Cambridge Terrace was accused of Rajendran's latest abduction this week. A former Deputy Mayor was held responsible for that drama. But, in the end, Rajendran in his customary style told the Kotahena Police that he hid himself.

As this abduction or hijack drama proceeded this week, the newly elected CMC Mayor, Mohamed Uvais Imtiyaz, was housed at a five star hotel in the city with a millionaire, UNP Parliamentarian, who is now well 'cemented' in the 'centre' of Colombo paying the bills.

Imtiyaz, a poor three-wheel driver by profession was bought luxury suits and shoes by this MP. Hotel sources said that on Friday morning, the new Mayor clad in full suit and new shoes was seen doing a 'rehearsal' in the lounge.

He was later sworn in before the unfortunate UNP Mayoral candidate, Sirisena Cooray who is a Justice of the Peace at the Premadasa Centre. It was a private ceremony. The new Mayor's parents who heard that their son had been sworn in were sad that they were not informed.

His mother, annoyed over the 'games' played by a Colombo Central in hand with Cooray demanded that the UNP stop playing 'dirty' games. She claimed that her son was taken away by some UNPers last Saturday to the Premadasa Centre stating he would be safer there. She lamented that the UNP had deprived her and her husband of witnessing their son being sworn in as the first citizen of Colombo.

The new Mayor's father a CMC labourer. "I will address my son as 'Sir', the aging father told his neighbours on Friday.

The new Mayor will now travel in his luxury official car while his three-wheeler yet stands opposite his house. The faction in the UNP backing the unfortunate Sirisena Cooray is to request Imtiyaz to resign as Mayor by end June. But, developments within the family of the new Mayor indicate that family pressure is likely to mount against the UNP Cooray faction move to have him ousted early.

The mayor's wife, a housemaid in the Middle East is to return early to assist the husband in his work. Already, the family which had a meeting with their relatives yesterday unanimously decided to ask Imtiyaz not to resign as "God' has given him that opportunity according to Islam. The family claims that acting against the will of God would be a sin, according to Islam.

The developments within the Independent Group appear that the chances of the UNP trying to creep into that list are remote. The independent group is fragmented with nine members refusing to resign. They have openly announced that they would support the administration of President Rajapakse.

If they cross over in the CMC, the opposition has a better strength than the ruling independent group. The new Mayor will have to think twice. He has been offered a 'gift' by God according to his religion as family members claim. Can Imtiyaz betray the wish of his Creator is the question.