Political parties intensify campaign

The election fever has reached its highest level as polls for the North Central, Sabaragamuwa and the Eastern Provincial Councils are fast approaching. All major political parties contesting next Saturday’s polls have intensified their campaigns, exchanging political blows to win the hearts of masses.

But most such campaigns of the Opposition have boomeranged. The United National Party (UNP) seems to be still in the wilderness less than a week away from the polls which are set to put the party further towards political bankruptcy. The UNP went down to an all-time low when they even dragged the ongoing Kapilavasathu Sacred Relics exposition as a political tool, making baseless allegations that the Government is taking undue advantage by enabling the devotees to pay homage to the Sacred Relics which have been brought from India on a request made by the Government.

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP’s deputy leader Sajith Premadasa and parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya seem to be campaigning separately. They were hardly seen on a common platform, creating further divisions in the party.

Sajith appears to be using the forthcoming Provincial Council elections to boost his own political image. Party leader Wickremesinghe is making a lone effort to boost the image of the party, but within his limitations. In contrast, Karu seems to be playing a different political ball game altogether, supporting his own candidates contesting Saturday’s PC polls.

Though the UNP is pointing an accusing finger at the ruling UPFA that their own candidates are fighting among themselves, it was the main Opposition that has been badly hit by internal clashes.

The latest such was witnessed in Kuruwita town after which an injured Kuruwita Pradeshiya Saba Member of the UNP I.K. Kularatne was admitted to Ratnapura hospital on Thursday evening. News reports said that a UNP candidate contesting the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, whose posters had not been permitted to be displayed in Kuruwita, had assaulted Kularatne after a heated exchange of words.

‘None could stop Lanka’s forward march’

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, joining the UPFA Provincial Council election campaign last weekend, stressed that he would not allow anyone to reverse the country’s forward march by creating ethnic and religious disputes.

Addressing the UPFA propaganda rally organised in Samanthurai town, the President said that he is duty bound to protect ethnic harmony as the leader of all ethnicities and as the guardian of all nationalities. He asked the people of Samanthurai not to fall prey to such conspiracies since certain narrow-minded politicians are trying to obtain political gain by rousing communal passions. The President said that he is the guardian of all ethnicities and religions in the country. He said that everyone is treated equally irrespective of their ethnic origins.

The President told the huge crowd that unscrupulous groups were attempting to disrupt peace in the country by arousing communal hatred. Even though, certain politically motivated forces try to destroy ethnic harmony, the harmony among Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim people is strengthening day by day.

The President said fear and uncertainty about the future has faded away with the eradication of the terrorism from the country. An era has now dawned where every one can live with dignity and self-esteem and with targets and goals to achieve in the future.

“We have to create a country, where we all can live in harmony respecting each other but not a country filled with hatred. That is the core value of every religion the President said. President Rajapaksa reiterated that there was no majority or minority in the country. “We all are Sri Lankans. The government has ensured a better education for all since the children are the future of the country. “I am the guardian of you all. I am not the President of only the Sinhalese, but, of all communities, Tamil, Muslim and all others. Similarly, I stand to safeguard all religions. I am responsible for protecting all religious places of worship, be it temple, kovil, mosque, or church, the President said.

Rankin out of internal matters

The ongoing trade union action by university lecturers seems to be taking a political twist. Though the Government, on principle, came to an understanding with the university lecturers, a handful of lecturers in the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA) seem to be having a different agenda. A few of them were seen in different anti-Government protests organised by extremist parties in the Opposition.

The British High Commission in Colombo hosted a reception to some of the Sri Lankans who have won Chevening Scholarships. During the reception, a prominent member of the FUTA approached British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka and Maldives John Rankin to give a diplomatic facelift to their ongoing trade union action.

“We plan to educate Colombo-based diplomats and UN officials on our trade union action. We will organise a meeting and would inform you,” he told the High Commissioner. But Dr. Rankin was quick to shoot down the idea. “It is completely an internal matter. We would certainly listen to you if you want but we will not get involved in internal matters,” Dr. Rankin politely said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Environment Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said last week that neither teachers nor university dons have a moral right to take trade union action, taking students hostage in effect as they all are products of free education.

"Every citizen has contributed at least Rs 50 for their education," the Minister said at a ceremony held to mark the laying of the foundation stone of a new Secondary Science Laboratory in Giri/Dodampotta Kanishta Vidyalaya. The Minister said that no country in the world offered free education as Sri Lanka did.

“From Year I to the university degree, they study free of charge. From Year I to GCE (A/L) they get free text books and free school uniforms. Everyone who holds high posts in the public and private sectors including Parliamentarians studied from the funds of the people. “So they all are duty bound to serve the people and their children as a mark of honour,” the Minister said,

President returns from Tehran

President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to the island in the early hours of yesterday after a successful tour to Iran to attend the XVI Non Aligned Summit in Teheran. On the final day of his three-day state visit, President Rajapaksa called on his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Teheran.

At the outset of bilateral talks between the two Heads of State, President Rajapaksa expressed his condolences to the Iranian government over destruction and deaths caused by the earthquake that took place in North Western Iran last August. He wished that the lives of the people who were affected by the natural disaster will return to normal soon. President Rajapaksa also congratulated President Ahmadinejad for taking over the Chair of the XVI NAM Summit and promised his fullest cooperation to the Iranian Government to steer the movement under the Iranian chairmanship.

The two leaders also discussed the progress of the Uma Oya multipurpose hydro power project funded by the Government of Iran. They also focused on the rural electrification projects being implemented in the country under Iranian assistance.

The President said over 1,200 villages benefited by the rural electrification projects. President Rajapaksa also met Lebanon President Michel Suleiman on the sidelines of XVI NAM summit in Tehran. He requested his Lebanese counterpart to ensure maximum welfare facilities to the Sri Lankan expatriate workers in Lebanon. The Lebanese President drew his attention towards this request. President Rajapaksa also informed the Lebanon President on the development projects being implemented in the country. He also addressed the members of the media who had arrived in Tehran to cover the proceedings of XIV NAM summit.

President Rajapaksa was of the view that the NAM is an important parley for the developing countries in the world. He stressed the importance of retaining the noble objectives on which the Movement was established for the benefit of developing countries and the member states at large. Replying to a query by a journalist over the present situation in Sri Lanka, the President said country is enjoying the dividends of peace after ending 30 years of terrorism.

He said those who were involved in terrorist activities with weapons in their hands have been rehabilitated and reintegrated into society as productive citizens. He briefed world leaders of the development activities taking place in the country.

Diversifying trade with Pakistan

On the sidelines of the NAM Summit, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari called for diversifying trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka to promote greater economic interaction between the two countries. He also expressed satisfaction that trade volume between the two countries was following an upwards trajectory.

President Zardari called for diversifying trade between Pakistan and Sri Lanka to promote greater economic interaction between the two countries. During a meeting with President Rajapaksa‚ the Pakistani leader said there is an urgent need to attract more trade as indicated by the Joint Commission last year.

He said two hundred million dollar Buyer’s Credit Facility offered by Pakistan to Sri Lanka should be fully utilized to maximize bilateral trade. President Zardari expressed the hope that the two countries would continue to stand together at regional and multilateral fora. The meeting at the Conference Center was also attended by Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Pakistan and Sri Lanka besides being located in the South Asian region are members of various regional and international bodies such as the UN, Commonwealth, NAM and SAARC.

President meets Polonnaruwa farmers

President Rajapaksa, prior to his departure to Iran for the MAM Summit,toured several areas in the Polonnaruwa district on Tuesday to personally look into the problems encountered by the farmer community due to the current drought. During the tour, the President visited Attanakandawala, Jayasiripura and Ithiriwewa Mahaweli G Zone coming under the Elahera project, exchanged views with farmers and paid attention to their problems.

Thereafter, he visited the Unagalawehera 48th Village in Hingurakgoda and looked into the problems of farmers belonging to the Bedunela Farmers’ Organisation engaged in cultivation under the Giritale project. The President ventured into a paddy field and inspected the damage caused to the cultivated land.

The President immediately directed the Irrigation and Water Management Secretary to effect urgent repairs to the ‘D’ 19 canal in Giritale. Thereafter, the President visited Lankapura and Kirimetidamana villages and met farmers and told them that the government had already set apart funds to provide seed paddy and fertiliser needed for the next cultivation season, free to the farmers. He said this assistance would be forthcoming during the ploughing season.

President Rajapaksa also said that the government had implemented another program to provide farmer relief in association with the FAO. A program to rehabilitate irrigation canals and provide drinking water facilities will also be implemented for the benefit of farmers.

The President said he was attending to people's problems with a genuine concern for their welfare rather than with an eye on elections. If he made promises at this time, it would be considered an election bribe, the President said. “The era when pledges were election gimmicks had ended long ago. The government would take urgent measures to provide every possible relief to farmers affected by the drought,” he said.

Mervyn’s exemplary act

Most media institutions often blow things out of proportion when it comes to Minister Mervyn Silva, but hardly any of then give credit when he comes out with charitable acts. He was instrumental in donating a new 52-seater bus to the Kelaniya Vishnu Devalaya.

The bus was gifted to Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva by a donor - G.W. Hector, who has maintained a Kali Amma Kovil in Anuradhapura. The Minister accepting the gift said he would in turn donate the bus to the Kelaniya Vishnu Devalaya for the benefit of the people of Kelaniya.

Minister Mervyn Silva said any other person who received a bus like this would have utilised it to fill his own pockets by obtaining a route permit for it. But he had decided to hand it over to the Vishnu Devalaya for the benefit of the people in Kelaniya. If devotees visiting Kelaniya wanted to use the bus for pilgrimages the donor of the bus G.W. Hector was prepared to bear the cost of fuel used for such pilgrimages too. However, he hoped to established a separate fund to finance such pilgrimages soon.

Minister Silva also said the donor G.W. Hector recently donated Rs 150,000 towards the provision of meals and refreshments to pilgrims who visited Kelaniya to pay homage to the Sacred Kapilavastu Relics. The collection made at the Kali Amma Kovil in Anuradhapura was also used by him to cater to the welfare of people. G.W. Hector said he had been maintaining the Kali Amma Kovil in Anuradhapura for the last 40 years but he had never sacrificed animals at the Kovil.

Call to halt communal slogans

The UPFA last week requested Opposition parties not to obstruct the path towards national reconciliation for the sake of securing votes at elections. Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister and SLFP General Treasurer Dullas Allahapperuma requested political parties contesting the Eastern Provincial Council election to refrain from using communal slogans.

He said inciting racial hatred among communities would have an adverse effect on national integration and ethnic harmony of the country in the post-war scenario. Allahapperuma said the government is in the process of promoting ethnic co-existence to sustain the newly earned peace.

He said the UPFA is committed to a one Sri Lankan nation. The minister said the TNA is campaigning for a Tamil Chief Minister, SLMC for a Muslim Chief Minister and the UNP in this context for a Sinhala Chief Minister, whereas the UPFA is only campaigning for a suitable Chief Minister for the Eastern Province.

Allahapperuma said the voters would make a wise decision at the elections on the political parties which attempt to take advantage by arousing ethnic disharmony. He said the UNP has resorted to using even the Sacred Buddha Relics which arrived in the country after 32 years, in the elections in its desperation for slogans. The minister requested the main Opposition party to actively engage in the election without finding easy ways out of its pending defeat. He said the majority of government servants who used the postal vote have lined up with the UPFA understanding the need of the hour.

Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha said the National Opinion Poll is the best opportunity for the public to show their solidarity with the government. Premajayantha said the tourism industry is flourishing in the North and the East after the conclusion of terrorism. He said businessmen have been able to engage in business activities freely while the military presence in the area has been reduced to restore civil administration. The minister said in this backdrop, the promotion of ethnic harmony and unity is the main concern in the country.

Mervyn hits out at critics

Public Relations and Public Affairs Minister Mervyn Silva last week lashed out at elements attempting to erase the memory of the Security Forces’ victory against terrorism from the public mind, on the grounds that victory was achieved a long time ago.

“Some persons say saving the country from terrorism and crushing the LTTE is an old story. I would like to ask them whether they stop alms givings and cease bestowing merits for their dead parents merely because they died a long time ago and is not valid and required now,” Minister Mervyn Silva queried.

He said people celebrate birth, death and wedding anniversaries. The minister questioned whether they stop those traditions saying that it is a long time ago now and there is no need to celebrate them. “Sri Lanka has a rich culture. It is based on the village, the temple, the tank and the Dagaba (Chethiya).

That is why people worship the Bodhiya. That is why people keep the pictures of Princes Hemamala and Prince Dantha in their homes. People should keep a picture of the leader who gave a fearless political leadership to the country’s victorious battle against terrorism,” he said.

Minister Silva said accusations and protests in the country these days in connection with various issues show how democratic the government is. “The government has allowed anybody to conduct any protest or rally anywhere in the country and express any view on anything. Unlike during the UNP regime, there are no barriers to conduct protests. This is due to the democratic nature of the UPFA government,” he said.

“We do not like to see the Opposition getting destroyed. The President wants to see a united and strong Opposition. Even our indigenous people are divided into two groups now. It is those who get paid by foreign countries who create these divisions,” he said.