7th  December,  2003  Volume 10, Issue 21

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•  Not a time for rancour, party politics

Rapprochement between President, PM imperative

The ordinary people of the country of every ethnic group, have been greatly confused and disturbed by recent happenings in Sri Lanka.

A war-weary nation sighed with relief when the peace negotiations began and there were high hopes that at last a lasting peace was in sight.

Shortly after the Prime Minister took office,when questioned about the future of the peace process he said, “I do not ask to see the distant scene. One step enough for me.”

And so with infinite patience, the step by step negotiations began.  Regrettably, the response from the LTTE has not been the confidence-building measures urged on both parties by the MoU, but rather, in recent months particularly, the reverse.

Admirers of the Prime Minister’s efforts have been dismayed by the government  being willing to consider some proposals which could lead eventually to a division of the country politically and territorially. Perhaps, even at this stage the Prime Minister should ‘ask to see the distant scene.’

The ordinary people of the country have not forgotten that it was the President who initiated the first serious peace talks some years ago. However, inspite of the many valid points in the long statement she has made in connection with recent events, there is a widespread feeling among the people, including some of her supporters, that the move she made in the absence of the Prime Minister, was contrary to the spirit of the constitution.

It is now imperative for the well-being of the nation for there to be, without delay, a rapprochement between the President and the Prime Minister to restore the fabric of democracy, and to agree on a common approach to the peace process.  This is not a time for personal rancour or party politics.  All eyes are on the only two people who can bring unity and peace to the country

Sydney Perera

Politics of a ‘chickenomist’ has no place in Sri Lanka

Congratulations for braving the ugly banes of the kitchen politics of the Banda clan over all these years.  

It is time we get rid of the evil that has hovered over our heads for over half a century. The politics of a ‘chickenomist’ has no place in Sri Lanka.

The world is striving hard to end the reigns of dictators and despots. In Sri Lanka, CBK, should not be permitted to mutate her rotten eggs with her cohorts and thugs.

A Lankan born, I only witnessed thuggery and intimidation each and every time the SLFP won. We as conservatives, have held our heads aloof,whether in defeat or victory.

This is the finest hour that we have awaited to rid ourselves of a burdensome family. CBK’s fatal mistake of her kakussi coup is not in keeping with a paradise such as Sri Lanka for a president who has boasted of her prowess at the London School of Economics that with her in power, every Sri Lankan can afford to eat chicken once a month.

As good Sri Lankans, let us be generous with her. Let us pass our hats around, make a collection and send her entire family and friends to Harare, so that they could spend their retirement with Robert Mugabe.

Bravo, keep your good work up, lest the Sri Lankans forget the Banda evil.

Timothy France

The bane of Sri Lanka

I have laminated your editorial and “Bandara-naikes:The Bane Of Sri Lanka” (9.11.03) so that I can produce them as required (which is pretty frequent). For the past two decades I have been asked by hundreds of puzzled non-Sri Lankans “What is the problem in your country?” A tedious and time-consuming explanation follows.

This is no longer necessary. I will simply produce your two articles with “Read these, and all will be known unto you.”

Coming as I do from this cursed family, which was not of my choosing, I can endorse every word. Just one addition. Sir Solomon (Kindly Call Me God) was the eldest brother of my paternal grandmother. I was at his funeral.

Even after leaving the planet he was still not prepared to let mother earth contaminate the royal flesh.

He was embalmed and placed in a mausoleum. Ferret around on the hill just beyond the 25th milestone on the Colombo-Kandy road and you’ll see him there, mummified, I guess.

These two articles should be translated into Sinhala and distributed widely in the south.

Brian Senewiratne Australia

Fighting like kids in a Montessori

The main key figures, the President and the Prime Minister are fighting like kids in a montessori. They were both elected to be more responsible and their duty is to discharge required duties tor the country, instead of being involved in a cock fight.

It has cost a lot to the country both fiancially and otherwise. The country demands that they either stop this or leave it for someone who is more capable to handle this, say Pirapaharan... This is a very small country and both of you have had enough exposure in politics at the cost of the people of Sri Lanka. Your way of paying back is so strange that day by day the country is going from bad to worse.

I am not here to tell you what to do but any fool will understand that you have to change with a will to do good and save the country immediately. If there is a will, there is a way. You both know that.

Turin Perera

Hide-and-seek before final assault

A legal eagle who participated recently in the popular Kinihira panel discussion, composed mainly of lawyers, in answer to a charge made by a participant member that the government proposals delivered to the LTTE were not made public until now either by the government or the media, replied that it is available in the website and anyone interested could read it there.

That’s no doubt a fine piece of advice, but how many of us, including the farmers who go hungry to feed us and have no idea whatsoever about the MoUs and what not, are equipped to access the website? Where then, pray tell us, is the transparency that the government boasts about so much? And how do we know that it is the same as that issued to the LTTE rebels?

The same participant was very confident that the LTTE proposals that went far beyond an Eelam or federalism was subject to discussions and negotiations and, therefore, not to be construed as final and conclusive. We who have been bitten several times during the 20 year old insurrection, are more than twice shy to accept anything as honest when it concerns the LTTE who are playing a well rehearsed hide-and-seek game with us to buy time for the final assault. LTTE will accept nothing less than the proverbial pound of flesh. For them, discussions and negotiations are mere ruses, as are the government financed expensive tours abroad to study different federal structures as if those countries also have a Tamil racist problem in the form of LTTE.

This is a unique problem created mostly by Tamils left behind by the Dutch and the British. Therefore, by no stretch of imagination could this peculiar problem, be compared to or equated with those in other countries. This fact should be patently clear even to a second grade student although self-seeking politicians offer different interpretations to suit their own agendas.

So, if our so-called politicians, who swear to high heaven that they want to save the country from disintegration, really mean what they proclaim, the first thing they have to do is to diagnose the ailment before prescribing medication for imaginary symptoms.

Col Blimp Panadura

Navy Commander who could not protect his own naval base

When considering the security of Trincomalee naval base, we should not forget the past. Who was the eastern naval commander when it was attacked by the LTTE in 1995, ending the ceasefire which cost lives and gunboats. The commander of the eastern naval area was none other than the present Navy Commander Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri.

When Jaffna was under attack by the LTTE, President Kumaratunga directed chiefs of staff of the army, navy and air force to personally oversee the situation but at the time the vavy chief of staff Sandagiri was not sent by the navy. Instead another officer was sent.

This situation and the decision raises questions about the competence of the Navy Commander. What is most disturbing is that at that time he could not protect his own naval base ( Trincomalee) and now he is in- charge of the entire navy. And last year he was given an extension of service till 2005.

I hope the past will not haunt our country. When politicians make vital decisions involving the nation’s security what they take into consideration we will never know.

G. Pereira San Francisco, Ca.

Political hypocrisy

The President has claimed that the reason for her taking over the Defence and Interior Ministries was the deteriorating security situation and the breakdown of law and order. Between 1995-2001 the Central Bank, Kolonnawa oil installations, Dalada Maligawa airport etc., were bombed by the LTTE.

The army was thrown out of the Wanni and also lost two major bases at Mullaitivu and Elephant Pass. The security situation was so bad  that even censorship was imposed. Why didn’t this same President sack the defence minister, deputy defence minister and the defence secretary at that time?

During 1995-2001 the state media was like a PA mouthpiece. In the last 20 months it was more balanced than in the previous 30 years. The President wants to introduce media freedom. What a joke! This coming from the daughter of a person who shut down The Sun newspaper in 1975 and who herself banned The Sunday Leader.

Kadirgamar has been throwing tantrums on TV over the LTTE’s interim administration proposals. This is only a piece of paper to be negotiated over. Nothing has been finalised. There is no point in raising one’s blood pressure over it as any deal with the LTTE has to be passed by a two third majority in parliament and at a referendum.

Since Kadirgamar has been so critical of the peace process I would like to suggest that the President assign him the task of heading the peace delegation. If he is not prepared to lead the negotiating team, he must then shut up for good.

Another instance of political hypocrisy is where the Sihala Urumaya (with a miniscule islandwide vote base of less than 50,000 votes, which is far less than what the UNP polled in Colombo Central alone) has condemned the Norwegians for suspending their role in the peace process. It was this same party that earlier wanted the Norwegians thrown out.

Some of our politicians sadly seem to think that the voters of this country are jokers like them.

C. Ramachandra Ratmalana

International school building nears collapse

A certain international school in Colombo has constructed a four storeyed building for the primary school on the bund of a canal. Today this building is tilting towards the canal and may collapse at any moment. This is because after the plan had been approved by the CMC, the management apparently had made certain structural changes. Lives of hundreds of innocent children are at risk.

Appeals made by parents have fallen on deaf ears. Will the CMC step in and prohibit the use of this building or will everyone wait till the building collapses killing hundreds of innocent children?

Worried Parent Colombo 5

Mother of all liars

This is to appreciate the bold editorials you are writing on your weeklies and I am specially thankful for the editorial on 09.11.03 specially for publishing crystal clear statements about the Bandaranaike family. It is a shame that  we Sri Lankans still continue with this mother of all liars.

Earlier the father and mother put their interests before the country and now the daughter, and of course son Anura.

Dr. Raymond Los Angeles