Sajith gives a political lesson to Ranil at funeral house

UNP rebel MP Sajith Premadasa got an opportunity to give a simple political lesson to his leader Ranil Wickremesinghe last weekend.

Ranil met Sajith at the funeral house of veteran educationalist R.I.T. Alles, the founder of D.S. Senanayake College and Gateway College and father of parliamentarian Tiran Alles. This was the first meeting of the two outside the Parliament, since the appointment of UNP's controversial Leadership Council.

Sajith made use of the opportunity to press his struggle within the party. But he was clever not to discuss anything directly. Instead, he used a strategy to highlight emerging political leaders, bringing an example from the subcontinent.

He pointed out how Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi, who was crowned as the candidate for prime minister of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for next year's parliamentary general election, has strengthened his grip. Sajith said Modi was named BJP's prime ministerial candidate at a time their party was struggling against the Congress Party.

Sajith explained how Modi has transformed the BJP to become the hot favourite under his leadership. It appeared that Sajith was indirectly comparing Indian politics with that here and that he could become Sri Lanka's Modi. In other words, Sajith was indirectly pleading to become the UNP candidate for the next Presidential election.

A couple of weeks ago, Sajith had claimed that he would become the country's President one day. It seems that he is still under an illusion at a time when he doesn't hold any post in the UNP.

Welgama on women-only buses

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama told Parliament last week that women in Sri Lanka do not like to travel in 'women only' buses and as a result, moves to introduce such buses for their convenience had been shelved.

Welgama told the House that the implementation of women only busses had been unsuccessful exercise as the majority of women prefer to travel with men. Responding to an oral question by UNP Hambaltota District parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa, Minister Welgama said some women had personally informed him that they do not want to travel in women only buses.

Welgama added that his idea to provide special carriages for women in trains had to be abandoned due to this reason. "I travelled by train recently and spoke to female commuters. I asked them whether they wish to travel in special carriages for women in trains but they said no. They pointed out that that they didn't like to travel alone," the Transport Minister said.

But last week's mysterious train engine's journey without a driver from the Maradana Yard to Ratmalana in the wee hours was the talking point in many circles. Matara District UNP parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana attempted to question regarding this during the budget debate on the Agriculture Ministry by twisting words to find inter-connectivity between the two subjects.

However, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa said that Buddhika should ask such questions at a different time or privately as trains could not operate in paddy fields.

President commends Mandela's role

The death that shocked the world last week was that of South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela at the age of 95. Mandela led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison.

He had been receiving intense home-based medical care for a lung infection after three months in hospital.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa described the late Nelson Mandela as an iconic figure who has left an indelible global mark. In a condolence message, President Rajapaksa as Chair in Office of the Commonwealth said the Commonwealth was enriched with the return of South Africa to its fold in 1994, under the leadership of the late Nelson Mandela.President Rajapaksa, in his message of condolence to South African President Jacob Zuma said the legacy left behind by the late leader would be hard to surpass. The Government and the Opposition expressed condolence in Parliament yesterday on the death of Mandela.

Among the leaders offering condolences were Leader of the House and Irrigation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickramasinghe. Tributes have come in from around the world. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Mandela was "a giant for justice and a down-to-earth human inspiration".

"Many around the world were greatly influenced by his selfless struggle for human dignity, equality and freedom. He touched our lives in deeply personal ways," he said. US President Barack Obama said Mandela achieved more than could be expected of any man. "He no longer belongs to us - he belongs to the ages," Obama said, adding "Mandela took history into his hands and bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice". Obama, the first black president of the United States, said he was one of the millions who drew inspiration from Mandela's life.

Champika's dream becomes a reality

Technology and Research Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka who is an energy engineer has always targeted to take Sri Lanka to the modern world of technology. One of his long-felt dreams would eventually become a reality when Sri Lanka becomes a member of the elite 'Satellite Club of Nations' with the launching of its first satellite in two years under its ambitious 'Small Satellite Mission' program.

This is a direct result of selecting Sri Lanka as the pilot country by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) for the five-year plan carried out to measure the sustainability of using space technology for sustainable development on a proposal made by Minister Ranwaka.

Addressing the media at the National Science Foundation (NSF) last week, the Minister said Sri Lanka was still in infancy in using Earth Observation Satellite Data, Remote Sensing, Global Navigation Satellite Systems, Satellite Communication and Geographic Information Systems for her development. These new technologies can be used for each and every sector for accelerated progress and value addition.

They also can be used for advance warning of natural disasters and environment and climate change. The Arthur C Clarke centre will be the focal point in this exercise and the local technology and human power will be used in assembling Sri Lanka's first satellite.

The decision to choose Sri Lanka as the Pilot Country was taken at the regional conference of the UNESCAP in Bangkok on November 27 and 28 where Minister Ranawaka represented Sri Lanka.

Saman sings for Bindu

The dispute between popular singer Saman de Silva and Southern Provincial Council Minister Bindu Weerasinghe came to a settlement under the guidance of DIG Anura Senanayake and Galle District parliamentarian Nishantha Muthuhettigama.

The popular baila singer was allegedly assaulted by SPC Minister Bindu during a musical show in Borella last Saturday. But the duo ironed out differences as the dispute was amicably settled at the Borella police station.

De Silva had told the media that they arrived at a compromise through the mediation of Senior DIG Senanayake. Bindu was accompanied by Deputy Minister Muthuhettigama.

"DIG Senanayake advised us not to drag the matter any further and we decided to resolve this matter which was to have been taken up at the reconciliation board," Saman was quoted as saying.

Saman later told a newspaper that he would join the political platform of the WPC Minister to sing, if he is paid for his professional services.

However, Sri Lanka Singers' Association (SLASA) President Madumadawa Aravinda has said he was not personally satisfied with the manner in which the matter was settled.

He assured the support of his professional body to any artiste in incidents of this nature.

Sanath bats on a different wicket

Former Sri Lanka cricket captain turned politician Sanath Jayasuriya rarely makes political statements. One such rare occurrence was experienced when the new Deputy Minister attended a sporting event in the Indian state of Kerala last weekend.

Santh dismissed recent calls for an international probe into allegations of war crimes by government troops just before the end of the three decade-long battle against terrorism.

"There is no need for any international probe because we have our own judicial system and the process of law is going on," Jayasuriya said in an interaction with the media in Kerala.

Sri Lanka's chairman of selectors was in the Kerala capital as the chief guest at a cricket tournament organised by the Thiruvananthapuram Press Club.

"Our President Mahinda Rajapaksa has done a wonderful job and is doing everything possible to see that there is overall development in the country because things were not proper as there was terrorism that went on for three decades, so it's not easy," he said.

"Anyone can ask for a probe and you all know what happened at the recent CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka," he said.

On relations with India, the dashing former Sri Lanka opener said India has been a long standing friend.

"Yes, there are some issues, but we continue to have a good friendship," he said. Sanath said that China is participating in Sri Lanka's infrastructure development, especially in road building, adding that India too has played a significant role in developing the North after the eradication of LTTE terror.

Arjuna on India's WC title defence

Kalutara District parliamentarian Arjuna Ranatunga more often gets sports rather than political headlines. Sri Lanka's World Cup-winning captain still faces sports interviews in the media and not political interviews.

Arjuna too was in India recently on a cricket event and expressed his views on India's World Cup title defence in 2015. Ranatunga feels India might find it difficult to defend their World Cup title in 2015, due to be played in Australia and New Zealand, due to the team's weak bowling resources.

"India look strong in their batting, but I don't know whether their bowling is good enough to win a World Cup," he said on the sidelines of the 'Wills Realtors' event in Mumbai last weekend. Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup winning captain said young Indian batsmen have proved themselves in the shorter formats but need to perform well in Test cricket in overseas conditions.

"When I saw Rohit Sharma a some time back, I was wondering why he is not playing in Test matches. I feel he is one of the most talented cricketers I have seen. Even (Virat) Kohli is a talented cricketer. Batting wise, I am sure India is strong with the left-hand (batsman) Shikhar Dhawan. India is struggling with bowling.

"The important fact is that they need to go out and win games. The testing part will be playing in South Africa, England, and Australia and not in the sub-continent.

It is important to win matches at home but you are tested when you go out," he said.

Guardian exposes real British press freedom

British Prime Minister David Cameron, even since his controversial remarks during his stay in Sri Lanka for CHOGM 2013, seems to have embarked on a determined campaign to discredit Sri Lanka.

Though he makes a huge noise on transparency and press freedom, the practical side of his UK government was exposed last week.

Hauled before the British House of Commons to answer the allegation as to why The Guardian newspaper published (US) National Security Agency classified surveillance and eavesdropping disclosed by Edward Snowden, Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger said the Guardian had been put under the kind of pressure to stop publishing stories that would have been inconceivable in other countries.

"They include prior restraint; they include a senior Whitehall official coming to see me to say: 'There has been enough debate now'. They include asking for the destruction of our disks. They include MPs calling for the police to prosecute the editor.

So there are things that are inconceivable in the US. "I feel that some of this activity has been designed to intimidate the Guardian," Rusbridger said.

The Guardian has published a series of stories about the mass surveillance techniques of GCHQ and its US counterpart, the NSA, over the last six months; two of the most significant programs uncovered in the Snowden files were Prism, run by the NSA, and Tempora, which was set up by GCHQ. Between them, they allow the agencies to harvest, store and analyse data about millions of phone calls, emails and search-engine queries.

The Guardian has come under concerted pressure and intimidation designed to stop it from publishing stories of huge public interest that have revealed the "staggering" scale of Britain's and America's secret surveillance programs, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper had said.

Giving evidence to a parliamentary committee about stories based on the National Security Agency leaks from whistle-blower Edward Snowden, Alan Rusbridger said the Guardian "would not be put off by intimidation, but nor are we going to behave recklessly".

Bandula on scraping Grade Five exam

The Grade Five scholarship exam has been a controversial topic over the past few years. Dubbed as the 'mothers exam' due to the undue pressure exerted on children to pass to exam by their mothers, the Grade Five scholarship exam has been considered the only way a brilliant child could seek admission to a popular Colombo or an urban school. However, educationalists and psychologists have continuously pointed out that the examination has turned out to be a mental agony for children at that age.

Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena said last week that the Government's policy is not to make the Grade Five Scholarship examination a burden to students.

He said that the government's view is to make the Grade Five Scholarship examination one that provides scholarships to students from low income families.

The minister said the National Institute of Education (NIE) conducted research to find out how the Grade Five Scholarship examination affected children and the result of the research was positive.

He said that the government is to implement its recommendations on the Grade Five Scholarship examination by next year. The Minister made this observation in response to TNA MP Ponselvarasa's speech during the debate on five financial heads at the Second Reading of Budget proposals.

Meanwhile, in response to a query by UNP MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam regarding international schools, the minister said the government has taken a policy decision not to register any more international schools, adding that a department will be set up under the Education Ministry to regulate the existing international schools.

GL on migrant workers

Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris said that 52 million migrant workers work outside their homes of which approximately 82 percent are women with over 40 percent from Asia.

Speaking at the 'Asia - Gulf States Regional Dialogue on Standard Terms of Employment for Migrant Domestic Workers' in Colombo last week, the Minister said that the regional dialogue between sending states and receiving states was a timely initiative and noted the importance and commitment played by six of eight receiving states participating at the meeting in Colombo. The Minister commended the immense role played by migrant workers who leave Sri Lanka's shores for temporary employment overseas and contribute towards the economic growth of receiving states.

Prof. Peiris said the vibrancy of the Sri Lankan economy was due to the invaluable service that migrant labour played with remittance flows amounting to some US $ 7 billion that surpassed all export earnings from commodities such as garments, tea and rubber.