Sajith takes on Ajith at WC meeting after Ranil's bombshell

Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe dropped a bombshell on the eve of the announcement of elections to the Northern, North-Western and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils by taking disciplinary action against 31 party members, including UNP Provincial Council members Shiral Laktillake and Maithri Gunaratne, known to be leading figures in the Reformist group supporting Sajith Premadasa.

On Monday, the Working Committee of the United National Party (UNP) decided to expel ten leading members of the UNP including Maithri and Lakthilake who were charged with attacking Sirikotha.

UNP sources said the UNP Working Committee decided to expel the 10 members from the party on the recommendations of the committee headed by Joseph Michael Perera appointed to investigate the attack on Sirikotha, the UNP headquarters. The same source said that the party membership of 21 others have been suspended for one year.

When the UNP Working Committee began its session under the patronage of Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at 4 p.m. at Sirikotha on Monday, the vacancy of the UNP-affiliated trade union, JSS chairmanship was discussed. The post of JSS chairman fell vacant after the death of Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena.

Sajith's group made every effort to promote one of their Reformist group members to the post but Ranil "worked the ball on the blind side" to appoint veteran parliamentarian John Amaratunga as the new JSS Chairman. It was also decided to appoint President's Counsel Srinath Perera to the Human Rights Assistant Secretary post held by the late Dr. Jayawardena.

Then the Working Committee meeting heated up after the Srinath Perers Committee Repora on the Sirikotha attack was tabled. On Monday morning, the report was handed over to UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake by Srinath Perera.

Names of 18 UNP members were identified in the first report. The second report gave the names of 11 UNP members who took part in Sarath Fonseka's controversial rally at Hyde Park despite the party leadership's warning. Since Laktillake and Gunaratne had been found guilty in both reports, their expulsion from the party was declared with immediate effect.

Sajith raised his voice in support of his accused Reformists; "It is better to give them sufficient time".

But there was no positive response from Ranil's side. Hence, Sajith made another appeal; "At a time the party should unite and march forward, our advance will slow down if we take a drastic decision like this. Hence, we must give them another chance," Sajith insisted.

"Those are attempts to gain cheap publicity, get banner headlines in newspapers," Ajith C. Perera intervened to make Sajith even more furious. Hence, Sajith and Ajith got involved in a heated debate and eventually Ranil had to intervene. "We didn't come here to witness your debate. Both of you sit down please," the UNP leader ordered.

Sajith showed his displeasure when walking out immediately after the Working Committee session concluded.

"I have first-hand experience on how the party suffered after expelling Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake when they had differences when my father was the President. It harmed the party in a big way. It is with that in mind that I made this request, though it was ignored," Sajith told parliamentarian Ranjith Maddumabandara after the meeting.

'Can't kill PC white elephant'

President Rajapaksa held his monthly breakfast meeting with chief editors and media heads at Temple Trees on Friday. Ministers Basil Rajapaksa, Keheliya Rambukwella, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, S.B. Dissanayake and Susil Premajayantha were present along with the Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga.

"Media is yours, you do the welcoming," the President told Minister Rambukwella, who then made a brief welcome speech and opened the floor for questions as usual.

Early questions were fired on the powers of Provincial Councils and the 13th Amendment.

"We all know that the 13th Amendment was something that was forced on us without consulting the masses. True that the Provincial Councils are a white elephant but we just can't kill that white elephant," he said.

"That is why I have asked all political parties to come forward and discuss their proposals and suggestions at the Parliamentary Select Committee," the President said.

When asked whether the Indian Government had officially taken up the matter about the 13th Amendment after the TNA delegation visit to New Delhi, the President said he had only seen newspaper reports, but had not been officially informed about it. He said the Government would seek public opinion on the 13th Amendment and the Provincial Council System.

When the much publicised topic of media ethics was taken up, the President said that he would permit journalists themselves to decide on a code of ethics for themselves, instead of the government introducing one for them. He said that the media personalities should discuss the existing code ethics and improve on it by including necessary amendments.

He said that the existing code of conduct by a certain group of media men could also be included along with the Government's proposed media code of ethics, which was circulated by the Media Ministry.

"There is no need to have a confrontation on this issue. Media personnel themselves can discuss and make fresh proposals so that we could further discuss on the matter", the President said. He said the code of ethics was not a law and had been misinterpreted when it was circulated.

President Rajapaksa said not a single liquor licence, betting centre or casino licence has been issued since he first assumed office in November, 2005. "All such licenses had been issued by previous regimes and I have not issued a single during my tenure office.

Our Government had taken a policy decision to desist from issuing new licences for casinos and liquor shops," he said.

He added that Government decided to relocate all existing casinos and clubs to one area, instead of having them scattered around Colombo.

The President said casinos which did not possess a valid license it would be closed down, highlighting that the authorities raided a similar one in Fort, along Janadhipathi Mawatha.

Chairman calls the President, Madam!

A chief editor pointed out that hydropower generation in the country has been curtained at a time the reservoirs are filled to capacity citing various service requirements. Another media chief of a television station alleged that he could not get at the Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board over the phone despite many attempts.

President then attempted to get in touch with either the Power and Energy Minister or Chairman of the Ceylon Electricity Board. Minutes later, the Temple Trees exchange connected CEB Chairman, W.B. Ganegala.

"Chief Editors are asking why the hydropower generation has been curtained when there is rain. They have been trying get at you over the phone, but you had not answered those calls," the President said.

"No Sir, there were many calls from media yesterday and I answered over 15 of those calls," Ganegala said.

"Where are you now, can you come to the Temple Trees immediately," the President asked the CEB chairman. Then came the reply from the other end, "Yes, I could come Madam!" much to the surprise of the President.

"Your Madam is not here any more, she is now at Torrington," the President corrected Ganegala as the media heads laughed loudly.

He immediately rushed to Temple Trees and met the President and also answered queries from media heads while they were having breakfast with the President.

Twitter experience for Lalith

Social media is rapidly becoming more and more popular among people across the globe and there is no exception in Sri Lanka. The Government last week made use of Twitter to take its message forward by answering various questions Twitted by various individuals across the world.

It was Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga who participated at the maiden Twitter Q and A session on behalf of the President on Wednesday afternoon.

He began the session by tweeting "It's nice to be tweeting for the first time - an experience that I would cherish for a long time".

"The Government is not against the LLRC recommendations. If the Government wants to go against the Report why would it implement the National Action Plan, he tweeted.

Commenting on current progress on implementing LLRC recommendations, Weeratunga said that the progress is satisfactory but there are certain activities that take a long time to complete.

"One cannot expect steady progress all the time. On power devolution the Secretary tweeted: 13 A has to be viewed from the people's standpoint. Devolution must be to the village. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will always honour the Constitution," he said.

In a session that lasted more than two hours on the President's Twitter account [email protected], his Secretary tweeted in answers to a wide range of questions from evolution, land issues, media issues to the Secretary's personal relations with the President. To the question "Are you social media savvy and do you see yourself having a twitter account?", Weeratunga replied, "I think Social Media is a powerful tool; it's just that I don't have much time to be using it often. This is the first time I am doing it".

Asked about his views on Defence Secretary Gitabaya Rajapaksa's assertion that "social media is a threat to national security", Weeratunga said that the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence "has a point".

"He has a point since it has been used for destructive purposes elsewhere, he has said so," the Secretary to the President said.

Weeratunga said that there is satisfactory progress in the implementation of LLRC recommendations, though there are certain activities that take a long time to complete. One cannot expect steady progress all the time.

"You say 13th Amendment is an obstacle to administration, Do you oppose meaningful power-sharing as political solution to Tamil grievances?" another questioned through Twitter.

"The 13th Amendment must be viewed from the angle of the citizen. It's no secret that administratively it's a white elephant, experience of 22 years shows that," Weeratunga tweeted back.

Do you enjoy your job as the country's foremost civil servant? Was there any occasion you thought of resigning due to any reason? Weeratunga was questioned.

"I take my job as a national commitment - b'cse I can do good to others, I enjoy it. I have never been in a situ forcing me to retire," he replied.

Another tweeted to as "How is PresRajapaksa as a boss? and if there is one thing you want to change about him what would it be? "Started work with President Rajapaksa in 1994, later continuously for eight yrs from 2004. He is a visionary leader and it's always been great to work with him.

The only thing I would like him to change is to give us more time to complete our tasks. He is a hard task master!" Weeratunga said.

Arundika on missing journos

Puttalam District UPFA parliament Arundika Fernando became the talk of the town overnight when he disclosed that controversial journalist Prageeth Ekanaligoda, who is said to be missing, is living in France.

After his stunning statement in Parliament a couple of weeks ago, a greater dialogue developed on the media personalities who had gone missing for reasons better known to them.

Arundika is a frequent visitor to France where his mother and sister have been living and has many Sri Lankan expatriate friends in Paris. Hence, he is capable of collecting concrete evidence and it is on such information that he told the House that Ekanaligoda, who came to be known as a journalist only after his disappearance, is having a comfortable life in the French capital.

Arundika made another statement in the Parliament last week and claimed that all journalists, including Sandaruwan Senadheera, who are said to have disappeared, are living abroad.

He said Senadeera has been operating a new website from London, adding that it was questionable how these journalists obtained political asylum overseas.

Citing an example, he said journalist Sunanda Deshapriya had no reason to flee the country. He said Deshapriya's brother would not have been appointed to the post of Elections Commissioner if this government was opposed to journalists.

President condoles with Indian Premier

In a letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, President Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed condolences for the loss of life and property as a result of the unprecedented natural calamity in north India.

"The people of Sri Lanka and I are deeply saddened by the loss of life and property as a result of the unprecedented natural calamity in Uttarakhand and parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

We in Sri Lanka share the grief of the people of India at this time of grave distress," the President said.

"We are confident, however, that the Government of India and the relevant authorities in Uttarakhand and other Indian states that are affected by this natural disaster possess the strength and fortitude to work towards recovering from this unprecedented calamity".

"Our thoughts, at this difficult time, are with the families of those who lost their lives, those who were injured and with those who have suffered damage to homes and property.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration," the message sent to the Indian Premier said.

President in Anuradhapura

President Rajapaksa travelled to Anuradhapura yesterday for this weekend's Poson Poya celebrations in Mihintale.

He will commission the newly installed Mihintale Raja Maha Viharaya electricity scheme by switching on illuminations at the Mihintale Sela Cetiya tomorrow. He will be accompanied by National Heritage Minister Jagath Balasooriya.

The new electricity scheme was installed at a cost of Rs 7.5 million by the National Heritage Ministry under the supervision of the Archaeology Department in response to a request by Mihintale Raja Maha Viharadhipati Ven. Walawahengunawewe Dhammaratana Nayake Thera.

Mihintale, the birth place of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, was gleaming with thousands of electric bulbs with the commencement of the Mihintale Aloka Pooja conducted by Lake House for the 51st year, in collaboration with the Ceylon Electricity Board yesterday.

The inaugural ceremonial illumination, better known as 'Aloka Pooja', began yesterday with Mihintale Raja Maha Vihara Chief Incumbent Ven Walahahengunawewe Dharmaratne Nayaka Thera performing religious observances.

It will be continued today and tomorrow.

Prabha handed Eelam baton to Sambandan

Mass Media and Information Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said last week that when LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran died in the Nandikadal lagoon at the hands of the Security Forces, he had handed over the Eelam baton to TNA leader R Sambandan.

"Now, petty minded political parties in this country and other extremist groups are cheering Sambandan as he attempts to carry forward the Eelam baton, said Rambukwell, adding that the self same forces which supported Prabhakaran in the past are supporting Sambandan by raising their hands in his favour.

Minister Rambukwella made these observations at a meeting at the Matale Rest House auditorium to mark the awarding of jobs in Qatar for a batch of 100 youths in Matale under the aegis of the Purasiriwara Social Hospitality Foundation under the direction of Matale Pradeshiya Sabha Vice Chairman Nimal Jayawardena who is also Senior Advisor to the Association of Pradeshiya Sabha Chairmen of Sri Lanka.

Minister Rambukwella said it was regrettable and ironic to see certain Opposition political parties and groups running to the UNHCR in Geneva to complain against the government for trivial matters.

"However much they carried tales, the government was not prepared to dance to the tune of international sinister forces," he said.

Although killings had been a common feature in other countries, which had ended war-like situations this had not been so in Sri Lanka.

In fact, Sri Lanka was the only country where a killing spree had not followed the ending of terrorism, the minister said.

The government had put a full stop to the terrorist gun culture and the people should enjoy the freedom gained without trying to belittle or undermine it, Rambukwella said.