Mavai's supporters take on Sampanthan at TNA meeting

The internal power struggle within the Tamil National Alliance has deepened with the declaration to hold elections to the Northern Provincial Council (NPC).

All these days, the former Tiger-proxy party TNA has been accusing the Government of delaying the NPC elections. But the Government had a reason for it as the NPC elections could not be held until demining and resettlement was completed. Now that these has been accomplished and the people in the North have begun a new lease of life, the Government honoured its pledge and decided to go ahead with the NPC elections in September as announced last week.

But the TNA thought they could keep on accusing the Government and were never prepared to face the election. Now that the nomination date for the NPC elections has been declared by the Commissioner of Elections, a cold war has erupted within the TNA over the selection of Chief Ministerial candidate.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan who often talks of democracy is not giving a reasonable hearing to the constituent parties of the Tamil alliance which was formed when the LTTE terrorism was at its peak.

LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran forced almost all political parties in the North and the East to come under one umbrella and remote controlled them from his Wanni hide outs.

The TNA leaders then had no option, but to become mere puppets of Prabhakaran for fear of their lives. It seems that Sampanthan is trying to emulate that dictatorship without allowing leaders of the constituent parties to air their views.

The TNA leadership has not shown any interest on the proposed chief minister candidature of parliamentarian Mavai Senathirajah who is even unlikely get nominations for the NPC elections from the TNA.

Senathiraja's name was proposed by the Jaffna branch of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK). But it has now come to light that the ITAK proposal has been manipulated by the vested interests within ITAK ranks.

However, TNA sources said that Senathiraja will not be a consensus candidate. However, a section of the alliance claim that it was Senathiraja who brought many Tamil moderate leaders and former Tamil militant leaders under the patronage of the LTTE leadership and the terror outfit's political wing leader S.P. Tamilselvan. They pointed out that Thamilselvan had threatened and intimidated moderate Tamil political leaders and controlled the TNA under direct orders from Prabhakaran.

Moderate Tamil leaders pointed out that it was the TULF leader V. Anandasangare, who stood firmly and refused to accept orders or the political leadership of the LTTE.

They added that it was an open secret most TNA seniors, including its leader R. Sampanthan showed a high degree of reluctance to join the LTTE political group, either on blind loyalty or for fear for his life. Hence, there are mixed feelings on Senathirajah within the TNA constituent parties.

Sources close to Sampanthan, who is the leader of the TNA and the leader of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi (ITAK) that Sampanthan prefers a person with a legal background to be the NPC Chief Ministerial candidate. Sampanthan prefers a comparatively young person with proficiency in all three languages.

Another name mentioned for the post is retired Supreme Court judge C.V. Vigneswaran. But he has categorically stated that he would contest for the post at the forthcoming NPC elections only if his name is accepted by all the five constituent parties of the TNA as a common candidate.

Meanwhile, the TNA plans to introduce a supreme council to govern party activities, similar to the high command of the SLMC. At the last politburo meeting of the TNA held at their party office in Colombo, it was decided on the final shape to their proposed Supreme Council.

They have decided to have four representatives from each constituent political party of the TNA, instead of three per party which was earlier decided.

Accordingly, the total members of the TNA Coordinating Committee representatives will be now go up to 20 from the earlier agreed 15.

No transparency in TNA funds

The TNA's problems have crept into its finance committee as well. With the top most TNA members and their parliamentarians receiving unprecedented amount of money from Tamil Diaspora, several TNA constituent parties have demanded transparency, instead of obtaining such funds through private channels.

They have demanded transparent account of funds received through various supporters in the West.

The stand-off within the TNA over selection of its chief ministerial candidate ahead of nominations to the Northern PC polls has irked party supporters as well, according to a former TNA parliamentarian.

No decision was taken at the TNA coordination meeting held on Friday evening at the party head office in Bambalapitiya on selecting the chief ministerial candidate due to the stand-off and heated exchange of words between party leader Sampanthan and the supporters of TNA General Secretary Mavai Senadhirajah MP.

While Samapanthan proposed former Supreme Court Judge Justice Vigneswaran, the constituent parties insisted on Senadhirajah being nominated as chief ministerial candidate.

Sampanthan, in a desperate attempt to justify his nominee Vigneswaran, said that the TNA needs a person who could guide the NPC in the right direction through proper coordination with the "United Nations and the international community, adequate confrontations with chauvinistic forces and fearless in the face of military aggression in the province".

Hence, Sampanthan's intension is crystal clear in case the TNA wins the NPC.

A Provincial Council cannot obtain international funds directly without channelling it through the Central Government.

Hence, Sampanthan's intension for 'his man' to deal directly with the UN and the international community is an indication that they are roaring to be the bad boys among Provincial Councils.

Most TNA seniors have objected to Sampantha's statement, saying that he is trying to push Tamils in the North back to troubled timwes and that he is attempting to rob the hard-earned peace.

Sampanthan's move was considered as wrong mvoe by other leaders of the constituent parties.

They vehemently opposed Sampanthan's proposal saying it was unfair to bring in a person totally new to politics as chief ministerial candidate while there are many suitable people in the TNA, including veteran Tamil leaders such as V. Anandasangaree, Mavai Senadhirajah, Sitharthan, Suresh Premachandran and Selvam Adaikkalanathan who had sacrificed much for the cause of the Tamils.

The meeting was adjourned after heated augments as Sampanthan looked speechless.

Premajayantha's pow wow with Fonny

Sarath Fonseka cut a sorry figure at the recent American Day celebrations at the Hilton Grand ballroom with hardly any takers. From the moment he entered the ballroom, he was looking for some high-profile person to have a pow wow but hardly anybody showed any interest. Except for a few smiles by workers on duty, none bothered about Fonseka.

When he was walking further down, it was Minister Susil Premajantha who came to Fonseka's rescue.

They talked for several minutes before Premajantha saw Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, Colombo District parliamentarian Thilanga Sumathipala and a couple of others looking at him.

He immediately cut short his conversation and joined his parliamentary colleagues and made a self confession. "He sought my help to find a venue for his party's May Day rally. He came up to me to thank for it. Yet, I am not scared to talk to him," Premajayantha said.

Fonseka, after Premajayantha curtailed his conversation, then walked up to former President Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga who too did not get the attention she would have loved to get. Fonseka and Chandrika then had a long conversation, perhaps making their own assumptions on local political front.

Despite repeated claims that she is spending her retirement and would not return to active politics again, Chandrika last week gave an indication that she may change her mind for reasons better known to her.

She said she does not have any political alliance with Fonseka and would only return to politics from the SLFP, in case she makes a comeback. One wonders whether that was an early indication what is on store or Chandrika has given a hint that she has not given up her day dreams.

President meets Maldivian leader

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Waheed met his Sri Lankan counterpart at President's House in Colombo last weekend. .

President Rajapaksa hosted for breakfast President Waheed, First Lady Ilham Hussain and the delegation in Sri Lanka on a two-day working visit. The meeting between President Rajapaksa and President Waheed focused on further strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. President Waheed will also meet several members of the business sector and the Maldivian community in Sri Lanka.

Urban Affairs Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha, Youth Affairs and Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma, Investment Promotion

Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha, External Affairs Ministry Monitoring Member of Parliament Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Western Provincial Council Minister Udaya Gammanpila and Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga were also present.

Memon meets President

President Mahinda Rajapaksa during a discussion with India's National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon last week said that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) is the best forum to reach a consensus on the implementation of the 13th Amendment.

The President agreed with Menon that the participation of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in the PSC is important. It is a top priority of the government to reach a consensus on the 13th Amendment, President Rajapaksa said.

At the meeting at President's House in Colombo last morning, President Rajapaksa explained to Menon the practical problems involved in devolving land and police powers to the provinces in a small country such as Sri Lanka - and stressed that the structure that is implemented 'should apply and be acceptable to all parts of the country.'

The President also urged India to encourage the TNA to participate in the PSC and stated that the government is committed to taking the process forward despite any obstacles.

Indian Prime Minister's Office director Manu Mahavar, High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Y.K. Sinha and Deputy High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka P. Kumaran accompanied Menon.

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda, External Affairs Ministry Monitoring Member of Parliament Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India Prasad Kariyawasam also participated.

Bodh Gaya explosions shock Buddhists

Millions of Buddhists across the world, especially those in Sri Lanka, were shocked after a series of explosions hit India's secret area of Body Gaya last week.

The Indian Police arrested a man over the weekend attacks at the historic Bodh Gaya Buddhist temple complex and were studying CCTV footage that appeared to show two men planting explosives at the site.

"The Police are doing everything to identify the two persons on the basis of the CCTV footage," police official Chandan Kushwaha told AFP. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but police arrested a local man who was being questioned in connection with the blasts.

"A man identified as Vinod Mistri was taken into custody in connection with the serial bomb blasts in Bodh Gaya," state police official S.K. Bharadwaj was quoted as saying.

Police picked up Mistri in the Barachatti area, a stronghold of Maoist insurgents 129 kilometres south of the state capital Patna, Bharadwaj said.

Meanwhile, Chennai City Police strengthened security for all Sri Lankan institutions in Chennai deploying over 5,000 police personnel across the Chenna city, India following the blasts, Express News Service reported.

Police said they strengthened security in both Mahabodhi Society in Egmore and Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Nungambakkam with a minimum of 10 constables and one police officer present throughout.

External Affairs Minister Professor G.L. Peiris told Parliament the Indian government has informed Sri Lanka that according to revelations so far into the bomb attack in Bodh Gaya, the incident had no connection with Sri Lanka.

The minister said the Indian government seemed to be taking all measures to ensure the security of pilgrims visiting the birth place of the Buddha in India.

He added the Indian government as well as several other governments condemned this attack. Prof Peiris said President Mahinda Rajapaksa spoke to the Chief Minister of Bihar immediately after the attack.

The minister made these observations in response to Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's statement that Parliament should make a request from the Indian government through the External Affairs Ministry for a copy of the report on the Bodhgaya bomb attack compiled by the Indian Police.

The minister also expressed his regret over a statement by UNP MP Joseph Michael Perera earlier that there was a Sri Lankan connection to the Bodhgaya bomb attack although the Indian government states otherwise.

Opposition dreams shattered

Opposition parties - mainly the UNP and the JVP, which have been trying desperately to gain political mileage from anything that comes there way, ended up with shattered dreams after Gamunu Wijeratne's private bus association failed to show any impact with their bus strike.

The Opposition was thrilled as Gamunu planned to launch the two-day strike on Thursday, only a day after the railway strike was settled by the Government.

Though the some Opposition politicians were day dreaming to exploit the bus strike, Gamunu cut a sorry figure and exposed his limited command with the trade union as they abandoned the strike after a few hours.

The strikes enabled the state-owned SLTB to earn an additional income of Rs. seven million on July 8, the day a strike was launched by the Joint Trade Union Alliance (JTUA) to cripple train operations.

SLTB deployed 300 additional buses on Monday. The SLTB's income on a normal day is around Rs. 53 million and the day but on that particular day, it increased to Rs. 60million.

President opens fitness centre

A super physical fitness centre for middle class professionals built at Bogambara by the Sports Ministry in keeping with the Mahinda Chinthana program of setting up fitness centres in every main town, will be opened by President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said that he plans to extend the physical fitness centres to all main towns to build a sports culture, on a directive issued by the President.

Similar centres would be completed in Matale and Bandaragama before the end of this year.

The Bogambara fitness centre will be manned by a panel of instructors, medical assistants and masseurs.