Fowzie takes the fight to Basil

Soon after assuming office as President, Mahinda Rajapakse unleashed a witch-hunt on SLFP seniors who had backed former President Chandrika Kumaratunga - the very people who worked to ensure his victory.

And now government ministers are seen on all state electronic media stations attacking former Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi who were both instrumental in bringing Rajapakse into power.

Just a year after assuming office, Rajapakse sacked the duo from their portfolios. Sooriyaarachchi was even arrested and remanded for over 60 days.

It was the boycott on voting imposed by the LTTE in the north that greatly helped Rajapakse to become president. It was Tiran Alles who organised the deal and the day after his victory, Rajapakse hugged Alles at Temple Trees saying, "It was you who made me the victor."

A year later, the CID and TID have been made to go after Alles to find details about his transactions with the LTTE.Opposite roles

The irony of it all  is that all those who are supportive of  the President are none other than those who spoke against Rajapakse during the presidential election over the alleged Helping Hambantota deal.

 It is G. L. Peiris, Rajitha Senaratne, Hemakumara Nanayakkara, Karu Jayasuriya and Gamini Lokuge who today speak in favour of the President.

While those who were instrumental in bringing Rajapakse into power have been ousted from the government, those who worked against him have now become heroes.

Apart from Samaraweera and Sooriyaarachchi, there is also another senior SLFP family that has always stood by the President - the Fowzie family.

Soon after former President Chandrika Kumaratunga assumed office in 1994, a rift developed between Kumaratunga and Rajapakse, who was then a government minister. Other ministers decided to give Rajapakse the cold shoulder as they feared that they would have to face Kumaratunga's wrath if they were closely associated with Rajapakse. However, even at that time, the Fowzie family did not isolate Rajapakse.

When many ministers did not invite Rajapakse to dinners held in their houses, Minister A.H.M. Fowzie made it a point to invite Rajapakse to every party held at his house.

Rajapakse then had only Fowzie and his son.At the receiving end

"We must look after Mahinda. No matter who does not look after him, we have to look after him," Fowzie always told his son.

Before long, Fowzie had to face Kumaratunga's wrath. She used Mervyn Silva to attack Fowzie. He even lost his position as organiser of the Colombo Central electorate. All this simply because he stood by Rajapakse.

His son, Nauzer Fowzie also faced a similar situation. At one point, the former President said that the father and the son could not be appointed as organisers.

Finally, Fowzie was stripped of his transport and highways portfolio and given the Environment Ministry.

When Rajapakse was named the presidential candidate of the SLFP, the Fowzie family believed that all their suffering would finally see an end.

During the election campaign, Fowzie and his son worked tirelessly to ensure Rajapakse's victory. But the credit for the whole election campaign was taken by Rajapakse's brothers - Gotabaya and Basil, and Dulles Alahapperuma.

After Rajapakse became President, Fowzie was appointed Transport and Petroleum Resources Minister. However, Fowzie soon faced several problems due to Basil's interference in large scale tenders at the Ministry. Fowzie brought the matter to the President's notice expecting his support.

Realising that Fowzie was not easy to handle Basil started to spread a story that Fowzie was leaking cabinet information to the media.

The President did not initially believe it as he knew Fowzie would not do such a thing.

Basil then concocted a tale saying that he was with Fowzie one day in a vehicle when he had received a call from a media man. Basil added that upon listening to the conversation, he understood that Fowzie was in fact speaking to the Editor of The Sunday Leader.

Through this story, Basil tried to imply that it was Fowzie who was giving information to The Sunday Leader.

The President fell for the story and anger welled up towards Fowzie.

The next to add to the lie was Alahapperuma who was eyeing the Transport portfolio which was held by Fowzie. He kept telling the President various irregularities that were allegedly taking place within the Transport Ministry.

Basil and Alahapperuma also made it a point to push Fowzie away from the President by pushing former UNPer A. H. M. Azwer closer to the President. The President pushed Fowzie away from him by getting the likes of Azwer and Omar Kamil close to him. They were given prominence in Muslim religious affairs organised by the government.

Basil then started to eye the Petroleum Ministry as the government was preparing to engage in oil exploration.carrier

Presidential Advisor Sajin Vas Gunewardena then began to carry tales about Fowzie's son, Nauzer, to the President. Rajapakse again swallowed the lies and sidelined him even more.

Basil and the rest then started to spread a story that Fowzie and his son were planning to join the UNP.

When the plan did not work, Basil took steps to get the news published in several weekly newspapers - that Fowzie and his son were planning to join the UNP. The intention was to push Fowzie and his son to the UNP.

Fowzie, a well-seasoned politician, ignored the story and told everyone who inquired from him that it was the work of Basil Rajapakse. He also sent letters of demand seeking Rs 500 million in damages from the newspapers in question.

At a recent dinner held at Nirupama Rajapakse's residence, everyone who surrounded Fowzie asked him about the story. "There are two parties behind the story. A strong UNPer from the Colombo District and a presidential advisor," he said.

When questioned as to the logic behind the combination, Fowzie said, "There is a reason. The advisor feels that he could not interfere in the million dollar tenders as long as I am the Petroleum Minister. The UNPers are under the impression  that we would join the UNP. His intention was to ensure that we would not join the UNP. The advisor wants us to join the UNP and get hold of the million dollar tenders. They are both mad."

UNP decides to boycott Thoppigala show  over Mahinda's Tiger deal

The Political Affairs Committee of the UNP with Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in the chair met to discuss the appointment of organisers to the remaining few electorates and to discuss the party's future course of action.

The party's organiser for the Colombo North electorate, Lilantha Perera lost the last general election and hence Wickremesinghe decided to appoint an additional organiser for the electorate. He proposed the name of Duminda Silva to the position.

Two members were not supportive of the nomination, but the majority of those gathered approved the nomination. However, a final decision was not arrived at on the matter and finally, Parliamentarian John Amaratunga said the decision should be based on the majority decision.

Wickremesinghe also explained to the committee the agreement that was to be signed between the UNP and the SLFP (M) Group. He said that all arrangements were made for the signing of the agreement and that all political organisations would be included in the alliance at a future election and that they may have to consider contesting under a different name and not as the UNP.

Arguments

Various arguments were put forward by those gathered at the meeting. While some were against such a decision, some spoke in favour of the idea.

Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella said what was important was to ensure the party's victory at the next election and not the name or symbol under which they contest.

He referred to the alliances formed by the SLFP which ensured the party's victory after 17 years in opposition.

While some members were talking emotionally about the symbol, most had forgotten the fact the majority of the members in the Political Affairs Committee themselves had at some point either quit the UNP and formed their own party and contested elections under a new symbol or joined an alliance and contested under the alliance symbol when in the PA.

Further, while the UNP had lost almost every election during the last 14 years by contesting under the 'Elephant' symbol, the SLFP had formed an alliance in 1994 and adopted the 'Chair' symbol and not only won the general election but the presidential election which followed, notching up an all time record 62% of the vote. Even the estate sector voters who voted for the 'Elephant' symbol in overwhelming numbers in August 1994 opted for the 'Chair' at the November 1994 presidential poll after Thondaman Senior switched camps.

What's in a symbol

More significantly even the JVP gave up its 'Bell' symbol in 2004 and contested under the 'Betel Leaf' and increased their seats from 16 to 39 while the SLFP once again moved from the 'Chair' to the 'Betel Leaf' and captured power after just two years of UNP rule. Likewise the TULF too went into an alliance with the EPRLF, TELO and ACTC and won all but one seat in the north. Such matters were in Kiriella's mind which he hinted at hoping no doubt to deal with at length at a future date if the need arises.

 The next matter to be discussed was whether the UNP should participate at the celebrations organised by the government to mark the liberation of the east from the LTTE.

It was Wickremesinghe who first spoke observing that the UNP should not attend the function. Wickremesinghe backed his decision by saying that the President was yet to respond to the allegation leveled against him by Mangala Samaraweera and Sripathi Sooriyaarachchi of a deal with the LTTE.

"Mangala and Sripathi have alleged that Mahinda has given money to the LTTE before and after the election. They have also said that Mahinda has entered into a secret agreement with the LTTE during the election. Mahinda has still not responded to it. So, a President facing such allegations cannot hold an event for the forces.

A 'conspiracy'

"Also, during the Thoppigala attack they said that all the LTTErs could be killed. But now about 1,000 cadres have fled the area with their weapons. If the area was surrounded from all sides, how did the Tigers flee? They were allowed to flee as the government had already announced dates when they were going to 'liberate' Thoppigala. If not, they would not have been able to hold the celebrations. This is a conspiracy," Wickremesinghe said.

Betrayal

Wickremesinghe also revealed another alleged betrayal by President Mahinda Rajapakse. It was on the captain who was court martialed for allegedly giving information to the LTTE. Since the captain was found guilty of the charges, the court martial sentenced him to death. Wickremesinghe observed that the President commuted the sentence to life in prison.

Wickremesinghe noted that it was a great betrayal of the nation by the President to pardon such a person and it was also a betrayal of the armed forces who are fighting against the LTTE.

Finally, it was decided that the UNP would not attend the celebrations organised by the government

President and the tele-prompter

President Mahinda Rajapakse has been criticised many a time for his uninspiring speeches made at public events. Even his interviews have been disastrous both in content and delivery,

However, Rajapakse made an inspiring speech at the "Rising Of The East" celebration held on July 19 at Independence Square. Everyone was surprised to hear the President's words. They were also shocked to see that for once Rajapakse was making a speech without looking at a piece of paper.

It is an open secret both in government and among members of parliament that the President is no rocket scientist and finds it difficult to discuss any issue in depth. He even has to be told what should be said at a meeting. His strength on the other hand is his public relations, which makes up for the lack of intellectual depth.

That is why many were surprised at what appeared to be an off-the-cuff speech where the words flowed freely. 

Details behind the President's speech are now gradually coming out into the open.

Secret out

The President's speech was telecast live on Rupavahini and those watching his speech began to wonder how Rajapakse managed to make such an impromptu speech.

The key to the President's paper-free speech was a new high tech gadget. It is called a tele-prompter by the electronic media.

It is a television screen in appearance and the only difference is that instead of the pictures, the screen shows in clear lettering the script for the speech. Usually, a tele prompter is fixed in front of the speaker for him to read the words off the screen without much difficulty.

 The President however got himself the latest in tele prompters for his address at the July 19 event. The Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) brought it down.

Unlike the older version, the latest version does not look like a television screen, but is a glass panel divided into two sections - left and right. Therefore, the speaker is free to deliver his speech looking both to the left and right. Viewers then get the impression that the speaker is delivering an impromptu speech.

Rajapakse received the help of this latest tele-prompter to make his speech that day. Only a few saw this and among them were the chiefs of the three forces and the IGP who were standing right behind him.

Costly piece

The SLRC spent a colossal amount of money to bring down  this latest tele-prompter a few months ago. Rajapakse first made use of this prompter during his visit to Geneva when he addressed the ILO summit.

In order to use it at the July 19 event, the President had a two hour practice session the day before at Temple Trees. The speech was written by Dulles Alahapperuma and it was fine tuned by Mahinda Illeperuma of the President's media unit.

When traveling to Geneva, the President took along with him two technicians from SLRC to handle the tele-prompter. This time in Colombo, he received the help of three SLRC technicians for the purpose.

The opposition is now planning to call the President's bluff by challenging him for a public debate without the use of any technical equipment for assistance.

Sumangala Thero takes JHU to task over sale of vehicle permits

A statement made by Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe on the conduct of MP monks has got the JHU declaring war on the UNP Leader.

The statement was made following the illegal sale of the MPs' vehicle permits. Wickremesinghe also said that by selling the permits, the MP monks were party to a non-meritorious group (Dusseela Samagama)

Wickremesinghe made the statement soon after he received copies of letters stating the sale of vehicle permits by several MP monks of the JHU. Two other monks asking him to expose the sale for the benefit of the people in fact handed over the letters to Wickremesinghe.

"The people voted for the 'robe' due to their respect for Buddhism. It was not for anything else. So these monks cannot be allowed to engage in these illegal acts by hiding behind their robes. Please, as the Opposition Leader you have to reveal this to the country. Many people did not approve the decision for monks to enter politics as they felt it would degrade Buddhism and now that has happened," the monks had told Wickremesinghe.

"The first thing these monks did by entering parliament was to engage themselves in fisticuffs. Many  Buddhists who saw this lost their respect towards the monks," the monks further said.

Wickremesinghe's stance

"No, it was not the monks, it was the MPs and ministers from the JVP and the government who started the fight. It was we who intervened and saved the monks. We intervened to protect the monks hoping they would be engaged in  middle path politics. But if the monks are now involved in collecting money by selling vehicle permits then we would indeed reveal it to the country," Wickremesinghe said.

Wickremesinghe asked the monks to hand him the relevant documents. Once he received it, they were handed over to several parliamentarians to confirm if it was indeed true. The parliamentarians within a few days confirmed to the Opposition Leader the sale of the vehicle permits.

Wickremesinghe decided to make the matter public following requests made by several nayaka theros.

The JHU monks who were disturbed by Wickremesinghe's statement decided to attack him the following day at the monk's convention. Although the monks attacked Wickremesinghe, they did not deny the sale of the permits. For by this time one of the leading members of the JHU, Presidential Advisor H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya had confirmed the deal to the media.

The JHU MP monks who believed that the Opposition Leader's statement had tarnished their image decided to turn towards the government for help. The monks requested the President to attack Wickremesinghe through the state media.

Attack strategy

The plan was then put in place to attack Wickremesinghe through ITN, Rupavahini and Lake House newspapers. The JHU monks requested the state media to carry out the campaign in a manner that would highlight the fact that Wickremesinghe made insulting statements of the Buddhist clergy ignoring the issue of the sale of vehicle permits.

The Presidential Secretariat issued a list of names to the state media of well-known monks as well as several others. It was said that these people could be used to attack the Opposition Leader.

Surprisingly however, at the top of the list was the name of Ven. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Thero. Wickremesinghe heard of the inclusion of the name of this monk in the list issued by the Presidential Secretariat. However, he also believed that an educated monk like Wimalarathana Thero would never endorse the sale of vehicle permits by the JHU monks.

Ven. Wimalarathana Thero however proved Wickremesinghe wrong by making statements in the state media that very evening that the JHU monks were indeed insulted.

The following day everyone, including monks, flocked around Wickremesinghe and asked him to respond to the statement made by Ven. Wimalarathana Thero. They said that the monk was issuing statements to please the Presidential Secretariat as he had built a close friendship with the President. However, Wickremesinghe said he first needed to hear the tape where the Thero had made the statement.

Surprised

Wickremesinghe, Tissa Attanayake and several others listened to the tape at the party headquarters. Hearing the statement, Wickremesinghe could not believe it.

"Why would someone like Ven. Wimalarathana Thero make such a statement? I cannot believe this. So is he saying that it is right for the monks to have sold the permits they received as MPs?" Wickremesinghe asked.

The parliamentarians said that Wickremesinghe had to tell the country what had pushed the Thero to take this position.

Copy of speech

"I am not going to respond. I am going to send him a copy of my speech. Sometimes, the Thero may not have heard my speech and would have read something else. So I will  send a copy of my speech and ask him where I have insulted Buddhism. The Thero may then understand that I have not insulted the monks or Buddhism. That I have only said that after entering parliament they had sold the vehicle permits given to MPs. I firmly believe that after he sees the speech I made, an educated monk like him would not find fault with what I said. I believe the Thero would then issue a statement finding fault with what the JHU monks have done," Wickremesinghe said.

Wickremesinghe sent a copy of his speech to Ven. Wimalarathana Thero the following day. He also made a telephone call to a special person - former JHU MP, Ven. Kolonnawe Sri Sumangala Thero.

After inquiring after his well being, Ven. Sumangala Thero asked, "You are facing several issues these days aren't you?"

Different tune

"People did not vote for us during the last election for us to go to parliament and sell the vehicle permits given to us or the television licence given to us. What is happening? Is this how they plan to form the dharmarajjya?" Ven. Sumangala Thero asked.

Wickremesinghe then asked, "Ven. Thero, when you were hammered in parliament or when you were admitted to hospital afterwards, did any of these people who are critical now stand by you? Did anyone issue statements against the JVP or the government saying that Buddhism was insulted due to those acts?"

"That is what is so surprising. That day  when we were attacked in public in parliament none of the people who have now come out making statements were there. But today when a statement is made saying the JHU monks have sold the vehicle permits given to them as MPs, so many have condemned it," Ven. Sumangala Thero said.