Opposition isolates Fonseka:

Ranil, the ultimate winner

Sarath Fonseka again cut a sorry figure after his latest attempt to become the self-appointed leader of a common Opposition ended in disarray without any support from any of the major political parties in the Opposition.

Wide publicity was given to the so-called common Opposition rally called by the United Bikkhu Front at Hyde Park on Thursday and there had been ‘paid’ television advertisements with Fonseka, pleading with people to come in their numbers to support his latest political move.

He also borrowed a popular slogan of the Opposition - the abolition of the executive presidency which was introduced by the J. R. Jayewardene Constitution in 1978. However, he not only failed to attract the main Opposition UNP but also failed to gain the support of the JVP, the only political party which still actively voices against the executive presidency.

The wide publicity and pre-event propaganda once again kept Fonseka under an illusion, assuming that he would attract almost all party leaders and seniors in the Opposition. It was similar to Fonseka’s day dreaming during the 2010 presidential election going by the number of spectators at political rallies and misleading information fed by his campaign leader Mangala Samaraweera.

But at the end, Fonseka once again exposed his political nudity by failing to attract a single political party leader in the Opposition. Isn’t that an indication that all political party leaders are in favour of executive presidency? Somawansa Amarasinghe would have at least marked his presence if his party is sincerely opposing the executive presidency. JVP, which formed a common alliance – DNA, with Fonseka to contest the last general election in April, 2010 boycotted the rally.

Arjuna, Tiran too keep away

What affected Fonseka most was the eleventh hour pull out of former UNP Deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya who had confirmed his participation until the eve of the rally. On the other hand, Fonseka could not attract even his two fellow DNA parliamentarians – Arjuna Ranatunga and Tiran Alles.

The former Sri Lanka cricket captain has been an ardent supporter of Fonseka but when it mattered the most, Ranatunga opted to keep away. Alles, who played a role in obtaining a special presidential pardon and got Fonseka out of jail, was another notable absentee.

The only consolation for Fonseka was the presence of a few UNP backbenchers – Asoka Abeysinghe, Palitha Thewarapperuma and Palitha Range Bandara.

The three UNP parliamentarians, along with provincial council members Maithri Gunaratne and Shiral Laktillake have already been served with letters calling for explanation and will have to come before the UNP disciplinary committee for a hearing.

Their party membership has already been suspended, pending a disciplinary hearing. UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake told media on Friday that the party would not show any mercy for those who disobeyed the Working Committee decision and attended the meeting presided over by the defeated presidential election candidate Fonseka.

Ranil tightens grip

Many political observers have pointed out that the real winner of Fonseka’s latest move to give self-appointed leadership to a so-called common opposition is none other than UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who tightened his grip with the backing of the Working Committee.

As a mature politician, Wickremesinghe was well prepared to face the challenge as some of the ‘Reformists’ within his party apparently planned a coup to make the first step towards a leadership change in the party by attending Fonseka’s controversial meeting.

But Wickremesinghe kept his cool and instigated his party’s Working Committee to take action. Following the party leader’s ruling that none of the UNPer should attend Fonseka’s meeting, the Working Committee too ratified it and issued a notice barring UNP members of taking part at Thursday’s meeting at Hyde Park.

Subsequently, Gampaha District UNP parliamentarian Karu Jayasuriya had requested party Leader Wickremesinghe to permit party members to participate in United Bikkhu Front organised rally under Fonseka’s leadership.

In his letter to the Leader of the Opposition, Jayasuriya had emphasised that the people expected the UNP to give leadership to a joint opposition effort to bring about good governance in Sri Lanka. He said this was essential at a time when all other opposition parties are taking a stand on the abolishing of the executive presidency.

Then came the instant reply from none other than the General Secretary of the UNP, who alleged that Jayasuriya had a hidden agenda in releasing the latter’s letter to the media even before it reached the party leader. Jayasuriya was taking time until the day of the event, assuming that he could persuade the party leader.

But Ranil was firm with his decision and stood his ground. He too had a good reason – that the UNP’s should not run behind other alliances when they have their own common opposition under his leadership. What mostly prompted Jayasuriya to go on the defensive was Sajith Premadasa’s decision not to attend the meeting.

From the very outset, deputy leader Premadasa declared that he would not attend the meeting as he had to honour the Working Committee’s decision as a member of the UNP. But Jayasuriya and Dayasiri Jayasekera went on saying that they would attend the meeting until they finally deserted Fonseka.

It was only on the day of the Hyde Park rally that Jayasuriya announced that he would not participate in the rally. In a carefully worded statement, Karu said that he had taken the decision “after a great deal of thought”.

“I will ultimately bow to the majority will of the party, as exercised through the UNP Working Committee. Most importantly, I cannot in good conscience take a step that will almost certainly further divide and weaken my party. Therefore after a great deal of thought I have decided not to attend the rally,” he said.

Karu expressed hope that the UNP will cease and desist from penalizing and exacting revenge from those members who took part in the rally.

Fielding Fonseka as common candidate, a mistake

UNP General Secretary Attanayake dropped another bombshell when he said that the party’s decision to field Fonseka as the common candidate in the 2010 presidential election was a mistake.

“We fielded a common candidate for the last Presidential election in 2010 with the hope of victory and we expected the candidate would secure more votes than what our party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had received at the 2005 Presidential election. Unfortunately Fonseka could not do that and we lost the election.

Therefore it is clear that the decision we took at the time was wrong,” Attanayake was quoted as saying.

Attanayake also accused that Fonseka’s conduct in organising such rallies would give an advantage to the Government.

He accused Fonseka of attempting to divide the Opposition. Attanayake told a news conference that the organisers of the Hyde Park rally, including Fonseka, were “carrying out a government contract to break-up the opposition”.

He said Fonseka had turned down a UNP invitation to join the Opposition protest as a joint opposition group some time back but instead was attempting to form another opposition group by dividing the UNP. “Sarath Fonseka should have joined as without interfering with the internal matters of our party. Fonseka should remember that the UNP made a great sacrifice during the last presidential election by not fielding a candidate purely to support Fonseka.Fonseka retaliated to Attanayake’s statement saying that the UNP should feel ashamed about its political decision-making.

“They must be ashamed at their political decision-making. It goes round the country asking people to vote for somebody at a crucial election and three years later they say it’s a mistake. Can you then believe them or trust such a party. They may do this in the future as well,” Fonseka was quoted as saying.

“We have our doubts and questions about the aspirations and objectives of those who were opposed to the rally. We expected everybody in the opposition to be a part of the rally,” he said.

No private camps in National Parks

There have been numerous allegations on unauthorised private structures that have come up inside national parks. Some Opposition politicians too have alleged that such structures and camps had been put up under the patronage of various politicians.

But when the matter was brought to the attention of President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week, he gave strict instructions to remove all such private camps and structures inside the country’s national parks. He ordered that everything in National Parks should come under the purview of the Wildlife Department.

He said that that the officials of the Department have committed an offence by allowing the private sector to set up camp sites at the Yala National Park. Addressing the special Hambantota District Development Committee meeting at the administration complex at Siribopura, Hambantota last week, the President said that such camp sites have now become permanent camp sites and the environment of the National Park has been polluted in alarming proportions, according to information he gathered.

The President also said the administration complex at Siribopura, Hambantota provides all services to the public under one roof.

He said a large number of state and semi-state sector institutions scattered all over Hambantota have been relocated at the new administration complex. President Rajapaksa said according to the information he received, only 50 percent of the administration complex remains vacant.

The President ordered the authorities to relocate the other institutions in the administration complex by January 2013.

MP Namal Rajapaksa in his welcome speech said Hambantota district is undergoing a period of transition due to the mammoth development activities launched on the President’s initiative. He hailed the steps taken by the President to bring to the political arena young people in the district to enable them to participate in the development activities.

KP to mediate with Govt and Tamil Diaspora

The government succeeded in reconciliation talks with the Tamil Diaspora using former LTTE chief arms procurement agent Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP, as mediator, Cabinet Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Addressing the weekly Cabinet press briefing at the Media Ministry, the minister said, taking into consideration the assistance given by KP towards reconciliation talks, he would be regarded as a government witness in any future legal matter.The minister said the national problem which has some 30-year-old military history would not be able to solved solely through military means. Similarly, in finding solution to the national problem, there are various dimensions that should be taken into consideration. “The government has to be flexible in some situations when it deals with the international community with regard to some issues though we have ended the war successfully,” he added. “The government has won the war militarily. But the remaining part of the problem could not be resolved militarily. It can be solved by means of sound morality and humanitarian principles”.

He further said that KP was arrested by Sri Lankan Armed Forces with the help of the service of the Intelligence Units and not Interpol. “Therefore, all credit should go to the our Security Forces, the minister said.

First Lady visits quintuplets

Sri Lanka last week experienced the second birth of quintuplets. Dilini Rasangika Shyamanthi, the proud mother of the quintuplets, said she and her husband, a Pradeshiya Saba member of the ruling UPFA, considered the five babies as the greatest gift they had over received.

“They were not a burden during pregnancy and my husband and I would not consider them as a burden in the future too,” she said. “Dr Kapila Gunawardena informed me at the outset when I was one and half months pregnant that I will give birth to quintuplets. I was afraid. My husband gave me all the love and protection. Because of that, I spent the period during the pregnancy in a happy mood,” she said.

The quintuplets’ father Shilantha Wijepala who was overjoyed thanked the Kandy General Hospital staff for their support. The five babies were kept in an incubator.

Unfortunately, one of the quintuplets - a boy, died on Tursday. The deputy Director of the Kandy hospital said the infant had died due to underweight. The infant weighed only 540 grams. The other four babies are in good health.

First Lady Shiranthi Wickremesinghe Rajapaksa visited the mother and the quintuplets she delivered at the Kandy Hospital. On the day the mother, Dilini Rasangika gave birth to the quintuplets, the First Lady congratulated her over the telephone and expressed the view that these quintuplets are a blessing to the country and that it is the duty of the parents and society to ensure their future.

The First Lady stated that she would do everything possible to make their future bright.

The parents of the quintuplets stated that the doctors who attended on Dilini Rasangika predicted the birth of five children and that they would be happy parents.

This is the second instance of the birth of quintuplets recorded in Sri Lanka. It is a coincidence that both sets of quintuplets were delivered by Consultant VOG Dr. Kapila Gunawardena. Of the second set of quintuplets, two are girls and three are boys.

The First Lady offered gifts to the mother and father of the children and also commended the Specialist Doctor and the staff. She also inquired into the welfare of the other mothers in the hospital and assured all help to the hospital in addition.

Inspection aircraft lands at Mattala Airport

Many Opposition politicians expressed doubts when President Rajapaksa first announced that the Southern Province would get the country’s second international airport. But the Government’s ambitious program on mega development projects continues to become realities and Mattala will soon have a fully operational international airport, easing the congestion at the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake.

But all those critics were finally silenced when the first test flight successfully landed at the country’s second international airport in Mattala on Tuesday. According to the Civil Aviation Ministry, it was the first aircraft to land in Mattala.

Work at the Mattala airport is in full swing now under two phases. The first phase is nearing completion. Under the first phase, 98 percent of the construction of the runway has been completed . Besides, the construction of the passenger terminal is in progress and it has been scheduled to be completed by year end, the official said.

On Friday, President Rajapaksa made an inspection tour to gain first-hand experience. He visited the main control room and also inspected the newly laid runway.

The project was launched by President on November 27 , 2009. The new airport will be a boon to the local aviation industry while being a catalyst for the economic development of the southern province through the enabling of international trade, tourism, vocational training and employment.

The new airport will be geared to support both international and domestic travel, air-sea cargo transshipment in conjunction with the Hambanthota sea port and will be the alternative to BIA.

The entire project will cost 200 million US dollars. Under the first phase basic aerodrome facilities, runway, apron, taxi way, passenger and cargo terminals are constructed. Besides,infrastructure facilities including access roads, accommodation for officials, fuel farm, sewerage treatment plant, water supply facilities, meteorological building, fire building, catering facility and car park are in progress. Under the second phase of development a full length parallel taxi way, a flying school, an airport hotel and recreational facilities are to be constructed.

Wimal wants police to investigate Mangala’s statement

Construction, Engineering Services, Housing and Common Amenities Minister Wimal Weerawansa said last week that the Police should investigate UNP media spokesman and parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera’s statement in respect of the alleged attack on the Judicial Services Commission Secretary Manjula Tillakaratne.

Participating at a ceremony to hand over a house to an underprivileged family in Athurugiriya under the Janasevana Kepakaru Housing Program, Weerawansa questioned whether there was an involvement of the UNP in the assault of the Secretary.

“Mangala Samaraweera says that the JSC Secretary was assaulted using a drug addict and the Police will arrest them. It is only because he is aware of such a plan, he could make such a statement.

As we all know, the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha chairman was arrested over allegations of molesting a girl. We have no idea about whether it is true or not. But did the Police neglect their duty because he is the Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha chairman? Did the Police send a drug addict to Court?

The Police took action against him without considering his position,” the minister said.

Weerawansa said another Pradeshiya Sabha chairman was arrested in connection with the Kahawatte incident. “Some blamed the government over the killing of MP Maheshwaran and Janaka Perera. But finally everyone understood that they were done by the LTTE. Some people wait for an incident to blame the government,” he said.

“The Police should investigate MP Samaraweera’s statement. Only the person who gave the contract can make this type of statement. “Drug addicts have no idea who the Judicial Services Commission Secretary is. These people want to create problems in this peaceful country and destroy it. We have a responsibility to defeat all these forces,” Weerawansa said.

Asia not a playground of others, says President

President Rajapaksa, addressing the first Asia Cooperation Dialogue in Kuwait said that the Asian Continent cannot be the playground of other forces, who seek our wealth, our natural assets and human resources.“Our progress must draw from the best of our own cultures, while learning from the best of others who come with genuine friendship,” he said.

“We are seeing the dawn of the Age of Asia. We must together see it bring new light to a troubled world dominated by the grave errors of other continents,” President said adding that Asia should strive to regain and safeguard its independence that is challenged on many fronts and across many borders.

“The countries of Asia can succeed in rebuilding our continent by greater reliance on our cultural affinity, rich history, and the strength of our human resources, the President said.

On the sidelines of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue Summit, the President met Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and held bi-lateral discussions on Tuesday.Special attention was drawn during the talks on promoting trade between Sri Lanka and Thailand. Detailed discussions were also held for creating a systematic bilateral strategy for the promotion of investment and tourism between the two countries.Talks are already taking place between the two countries towards achieving this objective and the Sri Lanka – Thailand Joint Commission formed in this connection is due to meet in Sri Lanka in 2013.

The discussions also centred on the promotion of fisheries and agriculture sectors of the two countries by exchanging technology and know-how between the two countries to maximise the progress of the fisheries and agriculture industries in both countries. Discussions were also held on further stabilising long-standing cultural ties and relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Dons back at work

The country’s university system, which had been crippled due to the 99-day trade union action by the Federation of University Teachers’ Association (FUTA), began functioning from last Monday, much to the delight of thousands of undergraduates who were greatly inconvenienced by the strike.

The academics returned to campuses to resume teaching, Vice Chancellors said. The students turned up in large numbers at universities islandwide after the strike ended, they said.

Colombo University Vice Chancellor Prof Kshanika Hirimburegama said all faculties at the Colombo University are functioning smoothly.

Prof Hirimburegama said university lecturers will work to catch up on the three month backlog. “However, we have held University Senate, Council and Deans’ Committee meetings at the Colombo University even during the strike,” she said.

Meanwhile, lectures have begun at some faculties in universities. Secretary of the FUTA Terrance Madujith said all universities resumed work. “The government has paid the full salaries for the three months the university teachers were on strike, Madujith said.

“There was a problem at the Ruhuna University this morning where the university academics were not paid their salary arrears. It was solved in the evening,” Madujith said.

Asked if lectures have begun, Madujith said lectures have started in all faculties. He said academics will also commence the Advanced Level paper marking this week. Marking will be completed within a month of its commencement. “We have discussed this with the Examination Commissioner,” Madujith said. Asked about their stand on conducting leadership training programs, Madujith said they have been asked to give their opinion about conducting the leadership training programs for university students.