'BBS, a threat to good governance'

by Sureshni Pilapitiya

The voting system must be changed was the vociferous sentiment expressed by representatives of minority parties at a press conference to apprise the media and the public about re-introducing the 17th Amendment and also the progress of the 100 day program of the Government.

It was held by the Movement for Unity with Power Sharing at the Flower Road residence of Azaath Salley.

This was a weekly press conference held by parties who represent the Movement. Mano Ganeshan, leader of Democratic People's Front, Azath Salley, leader of the National Unity Alliance and Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne were present. Minister Sumanthiran, did not turn up due to official duties in Jaffna.

Dr. Wickramabahu Karunarathne opened the session . He said the unprecedented number of fraud and corruption that had taken place during the previous regime were beginning to unfold. He said that legal action was being taken at the moment, regarding such issues.

Wickremabahu said they had a hand in the victory of President Maithripala Sirisena in the belief that a new Amendment will be introduced.

The Executive Presidency, Dr. Karunarathne said had unlimited power and also enabled the President to sign MoUs with multi national companies and other institutions.

The former president also had this opportunity to sign these MoUs and is alleged to having signed MoUs with various foreign companies raking in millions. The Colombo Port City project was one such.(It has been shelved as of now) According to Dr. Karunarathne the 17th Amendment should include certain sections of the 19th Amendment and abolishing the 18th Amendment was a must.

The LLRC Report should be taken into consideration and could give a solution to the Constitution issue.

"The extremists want to stop this by giving various excuses. The unlimited powers of the Executive Presidency should be removed and the 17th Amendment should be put into operation", she said.

Azaath Salley of the National Unity Alliance said ''We supported the present Government with the leadership of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera,to make a change in this country and also by bringing a common candidate.

We of the National Unity Alliance were of the view that the Government should abolish the Executive Presidency within six months. If it is a 100 day program, the process must be over within 100 days. But it seems that things are moving in a different direction.

According to the present situation, we cannot tell the difference between good people and those who are fake. My view is, that the promises that were made must be fulfilled". Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha thera had a different take on the issue. He said that it did not matter even if it exceeded 100 days but that the promises should be fulfilled.

"The extremists were trying to create havoc and ruin the country. Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpilla were trying to hold a meeting again in Kandy. We challenge Wimal Weerawansa to put aside his ''Panchayuda'' and come as an individual candidate for the general election. The Bodu Bala Sena recently held a media conference. They made variuos accusations agaist the leaders of the Government . Ven. Galabodaaththe Gnanasara thera was threatening the good governance program of the Government ", he said.

"Ninety five percent of the Sinhala people are friendly and easygoing. They are trying to poison the minds of the Sinhala people and create problems. I request that inquiries must be initiated in this regard.

During the presidential election, the BBS held a conference and the former government gave Rs 40 lakhs towards it. Gnanasara thera urged the younger generation not to be afraid to wear full face helmets.

Is he behind all these thefts that were taking place in the country with the robbers wearing full face helmets?", he asked.

"Machinery of the cement factory in Kankasanthurai have been given to friends and allies of the Rajapaksas. If these incidents were taking plac , then there is an issue with good governance", he said.

Mano Ganeshan said changing the voting system is being frequently discussed. Abolishing the 18th Amendment, re-introducing the 17th Amendment, implementing the Rights to Information and implementing the Drugs Policy, were bing discussed .

"Most people agree with the idea of changing the voting system and dismissing the preferential votes system.

At the National Executive Council meeting also we expressed this. The voting system cannot be developed unless there is a minority representation involved in it too", he said.

Rains expected in the morning:

Aussies strong, Lankans confident

Hughes will be remembered :

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from Newzealand

[INTRO] Every single ticket has been snapped and up and a packed Sydney Cricket Ground will soak in the action between Sri Lanka and Australia in a Pool ‘A’ game under lights in the 2015 World Cup, here today beginning at 9 a.m. Sri Lanka time.

Every single ticket has been snapped and up and a packed Sydney Cricket Ground will soak in the action between Sri Lanka and Australia in a Pool ‘A’ game under lights in the 2015 World Cup, here today beginning at 9 a.m. Sri Lanka time.

The venue will also carry a bit of emotion. It was the venue where Australian left hand opening batsman Phil Hughes was struck on the back of his head by a short ball from Sean Abbott and later succumbed to his injuries.

The SCG is also remembered for the batting heroics of that Australian legend Sir Donald Bradman the greatest batsman the world of cricket has seen and will ever see. Runs flowed from Sir Don’s bat like the Mahaweli in spate and his records are too numerous to mention.

To the Sri Lanka-Australia game and where both teams are confident that they have the cricketing warriors, arms and ammunition to outgun each other. But it must be remembered that a match is not won or lost till the final ball is bowled.

Both teams, Sri Lanka and Australia have lost a game each to New Zealand and this game will see a no quarter asked or given game as both teams lock horns to pocket a victory and move on.

The weather here is to the likings of the Sri Lankans. It is warm with a strong sun shining. The Lankans love to have the sun shining on their backs and will have the sun in the first half of the game. Rain is predicted in the morning.

Score of over 300 a must

The SCG wicket looks like being fair to both, batsmen and bowlers. To make the match a contest the side bating first must make a score of over 300. Anything below that may not mean losing, but it can make winning that much more difficult.

Both teams were seen hard at training. Mahela Jayawardena and Kumar Sangakkara play their last game at this hallowed venue. They will like to go out in a blaze of glory, by not only making scores to be remembered by, but also play stellar rolls in a memorable Sri Lankan victory.

The star attractions in this game will be ‘Mr. Exquisite’ Kumar Sangakara and ‘tormentor’ David Warner and in bowling Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Lasith Malinga. There will be three Mitchell’s playing for Australia - Johnson, Starc and Marsh.

‘Mr. Exquisite’ Sangakkara a genius

While Sangakkara is a genius and a thinker with the willow, playing exquisitely, with fine timing and spraying strokes all over the park and is a sight to behold when he plays the drive, Warner is a crusher of bowlers with his belligerent power hitting that can demoralize any bowler. Warner in addition is a master sledger. Both will take strike after centuries in the two previous games.

Of the Australian bowlers Johnson and Starc will be difficult to negotiate. They bowl with tremendous pace and swing. Johnson can get the ball to climb viciously from a good length and Starc has a lethal yorker. Together they form a terrifying duo.

The only Sri Lankan bowler who could match up to them is slinger Lasith Malinga. But sadly Mainga is not slinging at his best just yet.

Lasith Malinga’s ankle surgery

After his ankle surgery he is not landing his left foot hard while delivering to gain momentum and is struggling to direct his toe crushing Yorkers. Pity his inability to get the early wickets.

As for Sri Lanka sadly they are not a settled side, because of the injuries firstly to Dhammika Prasad, then to Jeevan Mendis, Dimuth Karunaratne and Rangana Herath. Prasad, Mendis and Karunaratne have all gone back and Dhusmantha Chameera, Upul Tharanga, Seekkuge Prasanna and Kushal Janith Perera have been flown in.

It is sad that the promising pace man Chameera has still bowled a ball. He could trouble the Aussie batsmen with his pace and bounce. With Herath out a sensible selection will be offie Sachitra Senanayake or Seekkuge Prasanna.

But selectors are known to work in mysterious ways and it won’t be different this time round.

Rain expected in the morning

With a bit of rain expected in the morning, the Sri Lankan selectors will as usual delay naming the playing eleven until they have a look see at the conditions and the wicket.

When they bat, it essential that openers Tillekeratne Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne lay a solid foundation for batsmen following Sangakkara, Jayawardena, Chandimal, Mathews and Thisara Perera to build on.

But it is the bowling and fielding that is a sorry sight at this level.

The bowling has been too short and not well directed wicket to wicket and the least said about the fielding the better.

Strong and well balanced

As for Australia they are strong and well balanced in all departments. In Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke, Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner and Glen Maxwell they have batters who could hit the covers off the white balls.

In the bowling from pace to spin they are well served. For pace they have Johnson, Starc and Faulkner and probably Jos Hazlewood and spin from Glen Maxwell and Smith. They are agile fielders and will put to a far second best the Lankans in this all important aspect.

The Sri Lankan supporters will as usual be there with their papare, papare bands making all the noises possible and shouting and singing themselves hoarse baying for a Sri Lankan victory. But they would not be disappointed if the Sri Lankans cricketers prove worthy competitors and lose.

Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia, Saturday.

Nishantha Warnasinghe of the JHU said that if presidential powers were being handed over to Parliament, then the same time the voting system should be changed. "We need representation of the minority communities also. As you can see they are talking about changing the presidential system. It is because of this system, at least during the election period that our intentions were fulfilled to a certain extent. Since we have to move along with the present journey, we agreed to create a movement with Maduluwawe Sobhitha thera with other parties and organisations.

Sometime back Minister Dinesh Gunawardene brought a report about changing the voting system. The Hela Urumaya said we should agree with that report as it is. But we do not agree with it. The UNP did not agree with it either". The population in Sri Lanka consists of 200 lakhs. Since there are 225 MPs, there should be one member for 90,000. The Tamil community of Sri Lanka comprises 32 lakhs. The Muslim community is 14 lakhs. We need some representation. Taking this into consideration the voting system should be changed, Mano Ganeshan said though he was eligible to be the president of Sri lanka, he could never be the President because of his Tamil identity.

"To change the voting system there should be a fair minority representation. The preferential vote system should be abolished. There is always dissension in the UNP with regard to preferential votes. If the authorities decide to take off the rights which one community has and change the voting system, then they were ready to fight for the lost rights' Mano Ganeshan said..