Chandrika conspires with Ranil and Mangala in Galle

Former Presidents the late J.R. Jayewardene and D.B. Wijetunga, on their retirement from active politics, had exemplary conduct until their deaths. They enjoyed their retirement and spent the last leg of their lives privately without showing any interest whatsoever in public life.

They never thought of a political comeback even in their wildest dreams. When President Jayewardene retired in 1988 and R. Premadasa succeeded him as the country's second Executive President, the former President did not show any interest in politics.

Even when the country was facing severe problems due to 1988/89 JVP terror, President Jayewardene did not make any public statements or try to pontificate to President Premadasa on how the country should be run. Unless President Premadasa consulted his predecessor for expert advice, President Jayewardene never barged himself to the UNP administration which succeeded him.

More importantly, President Jayewardene and President Wijetunga completely kept away from politics on their retirement and never made public statements on the Governments which succeeded them.

In contrast, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga has gone to the lowest ebb and has disgraced the Executive Presidency by making sweeping statements from the day her period ended in November 2005. She even tried to remain in power until 2006, claiming that she could complete the full six years of her second term though she had taken oaths for the second time immediately after the 2000 Presidential election. If not for the Supreme Court ruling that a Presidential election should be held in 2005, she would have extended her term until 2006.

Her lust for power seems to have not ended even after holding the post of Executive President for two successive terms. When one looks back on her 11-year period as the President, it is crystal clear that the country has not achieved anything under her leadership. There has not been a single development project during that period and she had own enjoyable lifestyle with her kitchen Cabinet, headed by Mangala Samaraweera.

It is obvious that Chandrika is jealous of the exemplary manner in which her successor, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, is running the country. Most importantly, she would never have thought that President Rajapaksa would be able to eradicate LTTE terror and create a peaceful atmosphere. Adding salt to her injuries was the mega development projects implemented under President Rajapaksa's political sagacity.

Chandrika is still under an illusion and assumes that she is still the leader of the SLFP and enjoys powers of Executive President. She seems to be thinking that Attanagalle remains as her political kingdom forever and the people in Gampaha District are slaves of Horagolla Walawwa.

She seems to be getting a weird satisfaction by speaking to her former Cabinet colleagues, who still serve in the present Government, at the slightest opportunity she gets at a wedding reception, funeral house or any other public function. But almost all SLFP veterans and her former Cabinet colleagues have understood her true colours and try to avoid her at such meetings.

It is a public secret that she made zero contribution to President Rajapaksa's presidential election campaign in 2005. Ever since, she seems to be enjoying by making sarcastic and malicious remarks on the Rajapaksa regime. Assuming that there will be Provincial Council elections in near future and an anticipated early Presidential or General election, Chandrika has once again embarked on her dirty mission.

Chandrika's latest conspiracy to topple the Rajapaksa administration and capture power was made at a super luxury hotel in Galle last week. A couple of rooms, priced at USD 750 per unit were reserved to accommodate Chandrika, Ranil and Mangala. Initially, the trio had a closed door meeting, discussing extensively on a methodology to topple the Rajapaksa regime.

"None of us will ever be able to win an election till Rajapaksas are there. People are attracted towards them and we must first send the Rajapaksa regime home. Unless we do that, winning an election would be hard," Chandrika said. "We must send this Government home. We must have a plan to deviate the masses from Rajapaksa regime. We have to do that jointly," Ranil replied.

Mangala advocated a campaign to discredit the Rajapaksas so that they could reduce the current overwhelming support of the masses towards President Rajapaksa and his UPFA Government. Chandrika said she will individually speak to her former SLFP confidants and get their view as an initial step.

Then came the question of a common candidate for a future presidential election. "Once we come to an understanding and form an alliance, who is going to contest at a future presidential election?," Ranil asked. Chandrika neither agreed nor refused.

It was obvious that Mangala did not like Chandrika's reluctance to contest. But Chandrika, having won two presidential elections, knows the ground situation more than anyone else. She would have gauged how difficult it would be to contest her successor at a future general election.

Fonseka pleads for partners

President Rajapaksa once said that the doors of his UPFA Government work either way, that the doors are open for those who wish to join while those who want to quit are also free to do so. The President could afford to make such statement as many opposition figures who are sick of being in the Opposition are dreaming to join the Government while there is hardly anybody who would give up their ranks to join the Opposition.

But not all the party leaders could afford to make such statement. In fact, we wonder whether there could be any other party leader who could make that bold statement. All other party leaders are struggling to keep their parliamentarians and prevent them from joining the Government.

Sarath Fonseka, who marched from grace to disgrace after unsuccessfully contesting the 2010 Presidential election, exposed his political nudity further when he said that his party does not have a barber saloon door which works both ways. "My party does not have a saloon door for politicians to come and go at any time. But certainly, all those who oppose the Government could join my party," he said last week. Fonseka would have made this statement fearing that even the few members left in his party would desert him in the near future.

Though Fonseka has been pleading for other parties in the Opposition to join him, none of those party leaders have shown any interest whatsoever. This is probably due to the bitter experience the UNP and the JVP had after giving their blessings to Fonseka to be the common candidate at the 2010 presidential election.

From the time Fonseka got the consent of the JVP and the UNP to be their sole candidate at the presidential election, he showed his dictatorial qualities and military way of handling things. Fonseka forgot he even got that much of votes because the JVP and the UNP supported him. His goons took control of the common Opposition's presidential election campaign without allowing the UNP and the JVP to be stakeholders.

There is no doubt that Ranil and Somawansa would now be regretting for allowing Fonseka to enjoy such a luxury. Ranil was quicker in realising this and abandoned Fonseka at the parliamentary general elections that were held four months after the presidential polls in April, 2010.

Though the JVP formed the DNA with Fonseka and jointly contested the 2010 April general election, Fonseka could not maintain that alliance even for a few months. Under the circumstances, it is no surprise that no party leader is willing to take a risk by accommodating Fonseka or join the so-called common alliance the former Army commander is boasting of.

Bandula back to teaching

Former popular economics teacher turned Minister, Bandula Gunawardena is a person who has always enjoyed teaching students. During his day as a popular tuition master in Advanced Level Economics, Gunawardena had thousands of students in his packed mega classes. His teaching methods had been well received by AL students who came in their numbers for all classes conducted by Bandula during that era. Despite being Minister of Education, holding the highest position in his pet subject, Minister Gunawardena could not resist when it came to a teaching opportunity.

He grabbed an opportunity he got to teach Advanced Level students of Mahinda Rajapaksa College, Homagama recently.

Minister Gunawardena gave a two-hour lesson to A/L students in economics and it seemed that the students enjoyed every minute of his lecture, followed by a question and answer session. On the other hand, Bandula too looked happy to get back to his old passion of playing the role of a popular teacher.

Speaking after teaching the students of Mahinda Rajapaksa College in Homagama, Minister Gunawardena said his only aim is to offer higher education for all students in the school to a university.

"My dream is to see all of you entering university for higher education and going well as economists. I will make it a habit of visiting you regularly and monitor your progress," he said.

The Minister made a pledge to the A/L students of the school who are taking economics as a subject - that he would visit them at every possible time to teach them on a regular basis.

"I will make sure all of you would be in good shape before the exam," a determined Minister said.

President emphasises need for holistic education

President Mahinda Rajapaksa observed that it was important to ensure that children are provided with an education which is of a holistic nature to prepare them to meet the day to day and academic challenges.

He said both teachers and parents had a responsibility to ensure that children are not only confined to academic achievement but given time and space to develop their natural abilities in sports, extra-curricular activities, cultural activities etc. He noted the above addressing a ceremony at Temple Trees where children of active members of the Employment Trust Fund who have passed the Year Five Scholarship exam were given financial scholarships on Friday.

Year five Scholarship Assistance scheme by the ETF for the children of their members was started in year 1994 according to a proposal by President Rajapkasa who was the Minister of Labour that time.

The President recalled that in 1994 around 2,500 children were given Rs.10,000 each and today it has grown to encompass 7,000 children with each getting Rs.15,000.

Speaking on efforts to uplift education, the President said the government led by him always strove to give equal opportunities and facilities to all children at education irrespective of where they live.

He emphasized that it was the decisions taken today which will form the future tomorrow and added that the government will do today whatever necessary for the progress of education and will not allow delays to happen. He said under the "Mahindodaya" concept the government is striving to provide equal opportunities and facilities at education to all corners of the island.

The President invited all stakeholders to join government effort to develop education, irrespective of differences.

The President also addressed the gathering in Tamil.

On the occasion 500 children representing all districts, who have passed the year 5 examination with highest aggregates received scholarships from the President.

This year nearly 6500 children of ETF members are eligible for financial scholarships. The ETF has allocated Rs.105 million for the purpose. The ETF offers the Scholarship in partnership with Peoples Bank.

President spend more time at Deyata Kirula

For the first time in the Deyala Kirula exhibition history, President Rajapaksa spent more time, visiting the site at Ampara on several days.

He made a special point to visit the Lake House exhibition site, built as a replica of the ANCL, Lake House in Colombo.

He was received on his arrival by ANCL's Director/ Editorial Seelaratne Senerat at the entrance to the Lake House replica building at Deyata Kirula site.

He was impressed with the load of knowledge one could acquire by visiting the Lake House site. "What a load of knowledge we could get by visiting exhibition of this nature," the President said.

Seelaratne then showed the President a copy of the first issue of the Sunday Observer. "What a proud and long history it has. I would like to take a copy of this to my personal library," he said. Seelaratne then promised to send copies of the first issues of the Sunday Observer and Silumina to the Temple Trees.

Yesterday was the final day of the 7th Deyata Kirula, the national development exhibition at Hardy College of Technology, Ampara.

Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister and Deyata Kirula Exhibition Committee Chairman Ranjith Siyambalapitiya said over two million people had visited the exhibition from all parts of the country so far.

The facilities being provided for the people, who visit Ampara to view exhibition have been improved due to the increasing numbers.

A special traffic plan was implemented in the Ampara urban areas and to and from the exhibition grounds. Special security arrangements were made for occasion.

This year's exhibition at Ampara attracted an average figure of 300,000 people daily, statistics revealed. A survey at the entrance to the exhibition revealed that most people came from Kegalle, Kandy, Badulla, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ratnapura and Polonnaruwa.

Statistics also revealed that over 350,000 visitors from the North and East so far.

The minister said on the President's advice, the Deyata Kirula exhibition organising committee, took steps to showcase the country's ancient and proud history through the Deyata Kirula exhibition.

Maithri sets example

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena last week set an example on saving public funds.

He ordered health officials not to hold any ceremonies, conferences, workshops or seminars at star class hotels and in Colombo, wasting valuable public funds in future.

"Many ceremonies take place at Colombo based star class hotels to mark International days on various health issues/disease.

Many other ceremonies take place in hotels in Colombo in connection with various health related international events. No event takes place in outstations," he said.

Minister Sirisena said that the Colombo-based ceremonies, conferences etc take place with the participation of many scholars, professionals and other health officials.

Such events are useless because all the participants are already well educated on the relevant topics. Nothing goes to the public and no awareness raising take place among the public.

Minister Sirisena stressed that hereafter all events organized by the Health Ministry and the institutions coming under the purview of the Health Ministry should be held in modern auditoriums available at moderate rates at state institutions such as Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI), BMICH, the Department of Information, Maharagama National Youth Services Council and school auditoriums.