Opposition's political nudity to be exposed

The election fever in Uva has reached its peak with the main political parties contesting for Saturday's Uva Provincial Council (UPC) elections intensifying their campaigns.

Fearing that their political nudity would be exposed once again, some Opposition political parties have been trying to project a gloomy picture, saying that there is an alarming situation in Uva, especially in the Moneragala district. Some Opposition parties have advised their candidates to lodge as much as complaints possible in a desperate bid to postpone the elections and put the blame on the Government.

Shashendra against mudslinging campaigns

UPFA Uva Province chief ministerial candidate Shashendra Rajapaksa last week that he was not prepared to participate in public debates with anyone. He pointed out that the Opposition make use of such opportunities for mudslinging.

"I don't like to participate in public debates with opposition politicians who engage in mudslinging campaigns. If people in Uva feel I had done something wrong, they will reject me at the election," Shashendra told a news conference in Colombo on Thursday.

Shashendra said the politicians who were popular only on television would not be accepted by the people and said he was the only one who was participating in so many election rallies. "I have assigned Tuesday as my public day and I am always there on that day to meet my people," he said.

"I have taken the Uva province to a turning point in every aspect mainly in education, information technology when compared to other provinces. The President has nominated me as the chief ministerial candidate again because I have fulfilled my duties to his expectations," he said.

Responding to allegations that underworld gangs that had come from Colombo were involved in election campaigns in the Moneragala district, Shashendra said people from all parts of country were participating in his election campaign. "Opposition politicians are alleging that Defender vehicles are being used in election campaign. But those are not weapons, they are just vehicles," he said

Deshapriya rejects postponement plans

Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said he had no intention of postponing the Uva Provincial Council Election due on September 20.

"Irrespective of our desire to hold the election as scheduled, the MPs of political parties that have been critical of the situations in Moneragala and Badulla as not suitable for conducting elections, have been adamant over the poll being held on time," said Deshapriya at a media briefing held at the Election Secretariat in Rajagiriya last week.

"The MPs of these political parties met me personally in Moneragala where they asked me not to postpone the election. Then I told them if there was violence at the rate they say there is, and things have gone out of hand and I cannot control the situation as they put it, what is the option available to me as the Commissioner of Elections other than to postpone the election?", he said.

"Although it was said by some there have been hundreds of incidents of election related violence, there have been only 56 actual complaints, leaving aside those minor incidents including those associated with cut-outs and posters," Deshapriya said.

He said, "It's the members of those political parties who allege that the situation in the Uva is replete with violence and that the conditions in the two districts in the province, Badulla and Moneragala are not conducive for conducting a free and fair poll, that want to persist in holding the election more than us," the Election Commissioner said.

However, he said only 56 true complaints were received. "I told them that I would then hold the election when the conditions are devoid of violence," he said.

"There have been many complaints received by us. Some of them are complete falsehoods, some close to the truth, some are half-truths and some are 100 per cent true. The most number of complaints are regarding non-removal of unauthorized party offices. But the complainants have not mentioned their exact locations," he said.

Mangala challenges Sajith

Hambantota district UNP parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa came out of wilderness to appear on stage with his party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the UNP's anniversary celebrations in Passara last weekend. Days later Matara District MP Mangala Samaraweera asked Sajith to show by action than by word that he would work for the victory of their national leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at a presidential election.

"It is commendable for Premadasa to have joined the leader at the party's 68th anniversary celebrations in Passara and I hope he will stand by his pledge to support Wickremesinghe to become the next president," Mangala told a news conference in Sirikotha.

The media had earlier reported that Samaraweera was unhappy over the decision to nominate Sajith as UNP Deputy Leader. "I have nothing against individuals. I only consider their principles. That's why even today I can have a brotherly discussion with the President regardless of issues over principles," Mangala said, adding that he has no intension of joining the Government.

Tissakuttiarachchi remanded

UNP's Moneragala District candidate for Uva PC elections Janaka Tissakuttiarachchi and one of his supporters Sujeewa Dissanayake who surrendered to Court on Tuesday in connection with the assault of another UNP candidate's son were remanded until Friday by Moneragala Magistrate Sanjeewa Jinasena.

It is alleged that suspects had assaulted Tharindu Sampath Jayasuriya, the eldest son of former UNP Provincial Council member and candidate Ervin Karunawardhana, when the victim was coming out of the People's Bank branch in Moneragala on September 3.

Earlier five suspects were produced in Court. Four were released on bail and one remanded. Arrest warrants were issued on Tissakuttiarachchi and Dissanayake who were evading arrest. They surrendered to Court through attorney Ruwan Basnayake. Moneragala Police Sergeant Bandusena prosecuted.

Dayasiri's office denies reports

The Chief Ministerial office of the North Western Provincial Council on Monday denied reports that the Chief Minister cut his ear off after seeing the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, MP Sajith Premadasa and the party's candidate Harin Fernando together on stage.

New reports quoting NWPC Chief Minister's office said that the picture that had been going around in the social media sites was a fake. A picture of Dayasiri with a bandaged ear was circulating in the social media sites and on email in disgraceful attempt by certain quarters in the UNP.

Sources claimed that the Chief Minister had offered to cut one of his ears off if the UNP leader and the Hambantota District MP Sajith Premadasa joined the campaign of UNP chief ministerial candidate Harin Fernando. But it was another politician in the same party who had made that claim and not Dayasiri.

"The duo got together only to celebrate the party's anniversary and many had got themselves carried away with this situation. Sajith must stop talking now and prove his abilities as he had claimed before. If the UNP loses, Sajith should take responsibility without putting the blame on the leader," a Colombo District UNP MP said.

Follow me, Muza tells Wignes

The Mayor of Colombo A.J.M. Muzammil asked Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran to take a cue from him if he is interested in developing the Northern Province. He said the Northern Province Chief Minister should cooperate and work closely with the Government for the development of the North.

Speaking at the handing over of utility vehicles and machinery for the operation and maintenance of city infrastructure to the Colombo Municipal Council and vesting of public convenience complexes for the benefit of the people in Colombo, Muzamil said that they should throw petty party politics aside when serving the people.

The ceremony took place under the patronage of Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. "The Chief Minister should solve political issues at a different forum. He should not use his position as a platform to settle political scores," he said.

Muzamil said he was able to bring massive development to Colombo by working closely with the Government. "I did not pawn my political career for the development of Colombo. I maintained a close rapport with the Government which immensely helped in the development of the city," he said.

The Mayor said that the Colombo Municipal Council has set an example to other Local Government bodies by cooperating with the government for the development of the city.

He said that his cooperation with the Government devoid of politics has brought greater benefits to the Council and the people at large. He said other government bodies should take a cue from this kind of cooperation.

Buddhika eats green chilies

When the Western concept of raising funds through the Ice Bucket Challenge, many locals queried as to why we should collect funds for a disease that does not exist in Sri Lanka.

As a result, a similar fund-raiser has been launched, challenging those proposed to eat three green chilies in the Sri Lanka 'Amu Miris' Challenge.

The challenge has been initiated to collect funds for the treatment of the kidney patients in the country. The donations will be handed over to the SL Aid organisation.

Matara District UNP MP Buddhika Pathirana was among the first who accepted the SL Amu Miris Challenge and chewed up three green chilies within two minutes during a press conference in Colombo last week.

The one who accepts the challenge and eats three green chilies within two minutes has to donate Rs. 100 or any higher amount. If anyone failed to accept the challenge he would have to donate Rs. 1,000 or higher amount according to the rules. Pathirana was challenged by Anuradha Sennanayake, a member of the SL Aid.

Pathirana made a donation to the SL Aid and challenged Education Service Minister Duminda Dissanayake, UNP MP Palitha Thewarapperuma and a few others.

Mannapperuma finds fault with highway

UNP MP Ajith Mannapperuma, whose vehicle met with accident on the Southern Expressway last week and had one of his legs amputated, is finding fault with the highway to cover the fault of his driver who is charged with reckless driving. It would be interesting to ascertain the speed at which Thevarapperuma's driver had driven the vehicle when the speed limit is 100 kmph.

Considering the manner in which the MP's vehicle had struck the railing along the expressway, it is obvious that the driver of the vehicle had come on a speed which he could not control the vehicle.

But Thewarapperuma had threatened to claim compensation saying that the accident had occurred due to a fault of a highway.

A fellow MP recalled an ancient Sinhala proverb and compared Thewarapperuma's action to a person who doesn't know to dance claiming that the floor is uneven.

More than 90% of the MP's right leg below the knee had been badly injured and doctors were trying to save the leg without amputating it. However, as his condition had deteriorated doctors had were reluctantly compelled to amputate the leg below the knee.

Chandrika, record for most liquor licences

Skills Development Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said last week that it was during the tenure of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike that most of the liquor licences were issued in the Uva Province. He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had not given a single liquor licence in Uva province since he was first elected to office in 2005.

"JVP chief ministerial candidate Samantha Vidyarathne had said that Mahinda Rajapaksa government has given 26 liquor licences in the Uva Province. It's a wholesale lie. I say with responsibility that not a single liquor licence has been given by the present government in Uva Province.

Most of the licences were given during Chandrika Bandaranaike Government," Minister Allahapperuma said.

The minister said he was prepared to resign from the Parliament, if it was proved that the present Government had given a single new liquor licence in Uva province.Allahapperuma charged that the Opposition was carrying out the election campaign alleging falsely that the election to the Uva Province was full of election violence.

"Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that Election Commissioner was attempting to postpone elections due to increasing election violence which was a baseless allegation. Only 68 complaints of election violence have been reported to the CaFFE while 58 complaints have been reported to the police," the Minister said.

Madras HC permits video-conferencing

The Madras High Court on Wednesday permitted Minister Douglas Devananda to appear through video-conferencing in the 1986 shoot-out case at Kodambakkam in which one person died.

The permission was granted in view of the peculiar circumstances of the case, given the diplomatic status and the effect of issuance of non-bailable warrant against the minister of a neighbouring State may entail, Justice C T Selvam said. The order should not be treated as a precedent in any other case, he added.The judge was allowing a petition from Devananda challenging the orders of the IV Additional Sessions rejecting his plea to recall the non-bailable warrant pending against him and to dispense with his presence before the lower court in Chennai and to enable him to appear through video-conferencing.

The judge said that Devananda should appear through video conferencing at the office of the High Commissioner of India at Colombo as and when required.

He also should appear before the trial court when called upon to do so. The TN government should provide necessary protection. The judge noted that even during the pendency of the non-bailable warrant issued by a lower court against him, he had accompanied a visiting team of Sri Lankan officials to Chennai on June 12, 2010. No attempt was made to arrest him. on that occasion, the judge pointed out. The State did not arrest him in view of his status as a minister and to maintain cordial relationship with Sri Lanka, the judge noted.

Wimal commends Cuban act

A special meeting over signing an MoU over building low cost housing was held between Foreign Minister of Cuba Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and Construction Minister Wimal Weerawansa in Colombo last week.

A letter relating to the signing an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was handed over to the Cuban Foreign Minister at the meeting. The importance of interchanging knowledge of building strong, creative and low cost houses was discussed at length at the meeting.

Minister Weerawansa conveyed his gratitude to Cuba for appearing on behalf of Sri Lanka without any conditions at the UN.

He also expressed his support to the Cuban government and to the Cuban citizens for their courage in carrying their journey despite sanctions brought against them by the US.

SC clears drought relief

The Supreme Court on Friday made an order instructing Economic Development Ministry Secretary Nihal Jayathilaka to take steps to distribute the drought relief package of Rs. 2,500 among residents of Moneragala via the Divisional Secretaries and District Secretaries.

The Supreme Court also instructed the Secretary to ensure that the distribution of the relief package is carried out without any political interference. The Supreme Court gave the instruction after considering a petition submitted by five residents of Moneragala.

The Supreme Court's view was that it was unjust and unfair not to provide the relief package to the residents of Moneragala as they too have suffered the consequence of the drought as did to people of other districts. The petitioners stated in their petition that they had to face the consequence of the drought and suffered immensely without means to live.

Appearing on behalf of the Economic Development Ministry Secretary, Senior State Counsel Dr. Avanthi Perera informed court that the decision to withdraw the distribution of the relief package from the Moneragala district was taken on the directives of the Elections Commissioner.

The ministry is ready to release funds, the Senior State Counsel told Court.

Appearing for the petitioners, Attorney-at-Law Nadun Fernando told Court that by not distributing the relief package as it was distributed in other areas, Moneragala residents who faced the same consequences of the drought had their fundamental rights violated. They were in considerable difficulty as a result.