Astrologers no, no, on Ranil’s political future
Many politicians concentrated on the astrological changes that took
place last Friday. Prominent astrologers had to work overtime to cater
to the unprecedented demand from leading politicians, mainly from the
Opposition.
Some UNP politicians thought that they could get undue mileage and
pose some kind of threat to the Government, at least using the movement
of the planets. Those close to Ranil thought that it was the best time
to make a couple of leading astrologers to state that the UNP leader’s
stars look brighter and that Friday’s planetary change has given a
distinct advantage to Ranil.
They decided to hold a one day workshop at Sirikotha with the
participation of several leading astrologers. The intention in
organising the workshop on astrology to get a couple of astrologers to
make an astrological forecast at the end of the workshop saying that the
UNP could return to power before the end of this year.
Ranil loyalists thought that they could make the best use of the
latest astrological developments and raise the morale of the party
supporters.
But the UNP failed to get a favourable response from any of the
prominent astrologers, who politely turned down the request as they have
not seen any chances whatsoever of Ranil becoming the head of state or
the UNP gaining power in the near future.
“How can we lie and ruin our names. In whichever the way Ranil’s
horoscope is analysed, it does not show any Rajayoga. When we don’t see
any astrological chances of Ranil becoming the President or the UNP
capturing power in this decade, how can we say wholesale lies and
tarnish our images?” a well-known astrologer said.
Another astrologer, better known as UNP loyalist, said that he too
was shocked with what the UNP seniors requested from him. “I have made
astrological forecasts to suit the party that I have my loyalty. But it
does not mean that I could make an unrealistic lie as a forecast and
ruin the good name that I have earned,” he said.
Jayalath’s death - shock to UNP
The news that shocked the main Opposition last week was the death of
UNP parliamentarian Dr Jayalath Jayawardena who passed away in Singapore
on Thursday after a brief illness.
The 59-year-old parliamentarian was receiving treatment at a hospital
in Singapore at the time of his death. A medical doctor by profession,
Dr. Jayawardena was elected to Parliament from the UNP in 1994.
President Rajapaksa paid his last respects to the Gampaha district
UNP MP at his Ja-Ela residence on Friday. Dr Jayawardena who was the
Deputy Secretary of the UNP, was the Rehabilitation, Resettlement and
Refugees Minister from 2002 to 2004.
But the talk in the UNP circles was on the person who had given
misleading information to Dr. Jayawardena on the cause of action that
should take for his heart problem. Dr. Jayawardena was known as a
confidant of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. He stood by the UNP leader
during the difficult times against the Reformist Group within the party.
When Jayalath was touring London last year, he was taken ill and the
doctors in London recommended a heart bypass for the UNP
parliamentarian.
Accordingly, the family members of Jayalath made preparations for the
operation.
In the meantime, Jayalath’s fellow parliamentarian, a prominent UNP
figure from the East, met him and recommended another doctor, named
Michael, from France.
On his UNP colleague’s advice, Jayalath had changed his mind and
agreed to meet Dr. Michael in Paris to have a stent, instead of an open
heart bypass. But month’s after that operation in France, Jayalath was
taken ill again. Jayalath would have well saved his life if he had taken
advise of his doctors in London.
Why Ranil wanted postponement
Jayalath’s family members originally planned to hold the funeral
today in Ja-ela. When they informed Ranil, he advised Jayalath’s family
members to postpone it to Monday. No reason was given though Jayalath’s
family members responded to the party leader’s request positively.
But it has now come to light why Ranil asked to put off Jayalath’s
funeral by a day. Ranil had already made arrangements for a holiday in
Nuwara Ealiya this weekend with his inner circle friends and was not
willing to compromise even to pay last respects to one of his loyal
party seniors.
When the funeral organisers found why Ranil wanted a postponement,
they ignored the UNP leader’s call and decided to hold the funeral today
as scheduled.
When Jayalath’s body was brought to his residence in Ja-ela on
Friday, several UNP parliamentarians were seen discussing how Ranil had
let down Jayalath in the latter stages. Despite being an ardent
supporter of the UNP leader, Ranil had not visited Jayalath when he was
sick.
A UNP parliamentarian said at the funeral house that Ranil had not
even given a telephone call to Jayalath’s family even on the day the
body was brought from Singapore.
Thai PM, cynosure of all eyes
The cynosure of all eyes was the visiting Prime Minister of Thailand
Yingluck Shinawatra who came to Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte to address
the Parliament on Friday.
Making a historic speech at the Parliament, the Thai premier said
that democracy is the best form of the government to protect the rights
and liberty of people and advance social interests.
“Democracy is not an internal affair of one country alone.
Democracies around the world must join to protect the people. Our two
countries with our experiences and lessons can contribute greatly to the
advancement of democratic forces,” she told Parliament on Friday.
Shinawatra said she was in Sri Lanka with the intention of building a
closer partnership between the two nations and to seek Sri Lanka’s
support in building a bridge of multi-dimensional cooperation throughout
Asia.
“Ayubowan, Wanakkam, I am excited to speak for the first time in this
Parliament after 10 years my brother, the second Prime Minister of
Thailand. It is a great pleasure for me to be in Sri Lanka, a beautiful
island nation at the opposite end of the Bay of Bengal,” she said.
“Although we are separated by an ocean our two countries share common
religious faith, and close cultural and political beliefs. I feel
privileged to speak to the elected representatives of the people of Sri
Lanka.
The Sri Lankan people have always shown great courage in protecting
their nation and the value of their democracy. On a personal level I am
deeply honoured to be addressing the same Parliament where the world’s
first female Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike once led the
government,” she said.
“I am here in Sri Lanka with the intention to build a closer
partnership between our two nations, and to seek Sri Lanka’s support in
building a bridge of multi-dimensional cooperation throughout Asia. In
the religious dimension, the reference of Thai word ‘Lanka wong’ carries
a noble meaning for Thais,” the Thai Prime Minister said.
“It showed the establishment of Buddhism from Sri Lanka to Thailand
some eight centuries ago, and 260 years ago a group of monks from
Thailand gifted higher ordination to Sri Lankan monks. These eventually
led to the establishment of the Siam Maha Nikaya here in this country.
This made our Buddhist link unique and this is the reason why our people
are so firmly connected. More importantly, with rapid changes in the
world with economic capitalism, political turmoil and social disruption
these days we must work together to strength Buddhism as a religion and
a way of life. I would like to ask you all to join this quest so that,
Buddhism can be a force to bring peace not only to the individual minds
but also for human communities as a whole,” she said.
Prime Minister Shinawatra, on a two-day state visit to Sri Lanka,
also called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential
Secretariat on Friday and held bilateral talks.
Speaker says Sri Lanka grateful for Thai friendship
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 2.45 p.m on
Friday at a special session for the address to the Members of Parliament
by the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Yinghluck Shinawatra.
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said it is an honour and privilege to
welcome to our Parliament at this special session, Yingluck Shinawatra,
the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, one of the most dynamic
and outstanding leaders in South East Asia. She is also the first woman
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand.
“In the year 2003, we were honoured and privileged to have had the
opportunity to welcome Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra, the then Prime Minister
of the Kingdom of Thailand and the beloved brother of Your Excellency,
who graciously accepted our invitation to address our Parliament.
“Today, we are equally privileged and honoured, to be able to listen
to your address, Madam Prime Minister, which will be delivered after ten
years from the address of your distinguished and illustrious brother Dr.
Shinawatra, which is a historic event in our Parliament.
“Madam Prime Minister, your visit to our Parliament will strengthen
the long standing relationship with Thailand, which dates back to many
centuries. Both our countries have a predominantly Buddhist culture
based on the Theravada tradition. We are also grateful to your country
for the assistance rendered to revive Buddhist practices at a time when
Buddhism suffered a decline in our country.
“The Parliament of Sri Lanka and the Parliament of Thailand have had
a close friendship for many decades. Our Parliament is privileged to
have formed a Sri Lanka -Thailand Parliamentary Friendship Association
to further consolidate and strengthen the relationship between the two
Legislatures,” the Speaker said.
Prime Minister Shinawatra became the third world leader to address
the Sri Lankan Parliament after former British Prime Minister Margaret
Thatcher in 1985 and elder brother, Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003.
President returns after successful tour
President Rajapaksa returned to the island mid last week after a
highly successful tour of China, during which he strengthen bilateral
relations further. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang met President
Mahinda Rajapaksa on the final day of his tour at the Great Hall of the
People and assured him that the trade imbalance, which is now in favour
of China, will soon be addressed to benefit Sri Lanka as well.
“China will explore the possibility of setting up an industrial zone
in Hambantota,” Prime Minister Keqiang said. “In addition, we will help
Sri Lanka to develop capabilities in satellite communication, space
technology and maritime industries,” the Chinese premier said.
Prime Minister Keqiang reiterated China’s commitment to following
through on all the development projects that were agreed upon during the
bilateral agreements on Tuesday.
They include Colombo-Jaffna and Colombo-Kandy-Kurunegala expressways,
the extension of the Southern Expressway, working towards a free trade
agreement, water supply schemes in Attanagalla, Minuwangoda and
Kurunegala, an international conference hall in Kandy and an arts
theater in Anuradhapura, among several other projects.
President Rajapaksa, who is currently on a four-day state visit to
China, thanked the Chinese government for its continuous and
multifaceted support of Sri Lanka’s development and noted that the East
Asian nation has become a key development partner in Sri Lanka’s
post-conflict era.
The Chinese Prime Minister said, “The long-standing friendship
between the two countries has now reached the level of strategic
cooperation” and described President Rajapaksa as “a mature politician
and able leader who ushered in peace to the country.”
President Rajapaksa told the Premier that the terrorist war that went
on for nearly 30 years devastated infrastructure particularly in the
North and East. Now that peace has returned to the country, the
President said, the government’s focus is to develop all areas of the
country on an equal basis.
President Rajapaksa also expressed gratitude to the Chinese
government for its consistent support in combating terrorism and its
support at regional and international fora.
He further reassured the Premier that Sri Lanka is committed to
maintaining the “One China Policy” in its foreign policy.
Before concluding the bilateral talks, President Rajapaksa reminded
the Premier of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that
will take place in Sri Lanka in November of this year and invited China
to send a business delegation to the Commonwealth Business Forum, which
is open to non-Commonwealth nations. Prime Minister Keqiang said his
country will make use of the opportunity. The President also extended
invitations to both the Chinese President and Prime Minister to visit
Sri Lanka.
On Tuesday, the visiting Sri Lanka president met his Chinese
counterpart, President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in
Beijing.
The two leaders held bilateral talks encompassing several areas,
strengthening Sri Lanka- China relations and laying the base for a new
era of friendship and cooperation. Chinese President Xi Jinping and
First Lady Peng Liyuan welcomed President Mahinda Rajapaksa accompanied
by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa at the Great Hall of the People.
President Rajapaksa is on a four day State visit to China. President
Rajapaksa was accorded a 21-gun salute on arrival and he later inspected
a Guard of Honour.
During discussions, China pledged to provide further funding to
develop Sri Lanka’s transport sector that includes a number of
expressways, road networks and railway lines, including a new
Colombo-Jaffna Expressway. The agreement was one among several others
reached during the bilateral meeting.
President visits Lingguang Buddhist Temple
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa, along
with members of the Sri Lankan delegation, visited the Lingguang
Buddhist Temple located on the outskirts of Beijing last Monday. Chief
Incumbent Most Venerable Chang Zang and fellow monks welcomed the
President, the First Lady and the delegation, and invoked blessings.
The temple, which was established 1,200 years ago, has become a
centre for Buddhist pilgrims because of the Buddha Tooth Relic that it
houses.
The only other recognized Tooth Relic of the Buddha is located in the
Sri Dalada Maligawa (Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic) in Sri Lanka.
The Tooth Relic at the Lingguang Temple had first been taken to what
is now Pakistan after the passing of the Buddha before it was brought to
China. President Rajapaksa donated a gold-plated Buddha statue to the
temple when he visited China in 2007.
External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Ministers Wimal
Weerawansa, Douglas Devananda, Parliamentarians A.H.M. Azwer and Namal
Rajapaksa, Chief-of-Staff Gamini Senerath and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in
China Ranjith Uyangoda were also present.
Minister to get to bottom of Port fire
Measures will be taken promptly to prevent a repetition of the fire
which broke out at the Colombo Port, Ports and Aviation Deputy Minister
Rohitha Abeygunawardena said last week.
He said three separate investigation teams are still continuing the
probe into last week’s fire at a warehouse in the JCT Terminal.
Accordingly, the CID, the Government Analyst and the security division
of the Colombo port are conducting investigations.
The Minister noted that the investigations will reveal the cause and
the story behind the fire soon, probably within the next few days.
Investigations are being carried out with transparency and stern action
will be taken against those who are found responsible for the act.
The Government Analyst has collected all necessary samples in
connection with the incident.
Further investigation will be based on the Government Analyst’s
investigation report.
Colombo Port sources said that it was the biggest ever fire that had
occurred in the port.
The total cost of damage is being estimated. There had been 25
container loads of textiles imported for apparel factories and
electronic goods.
The fire was brought under control by the Police, Army, Navy and the
Air Force fire brigades with the assistance of Colombo Harbour fire
fighting unit after a few hours, it caused severe damage to cargo stored
in the warehouse and the warehouse building. According to a rough
estimate, the damage is estimated at over Rs 40 million. |