UPFA confident of victory 

The United National Party has all but conceded the Herculean task it faces in the Moneragala District and is hopeful of giving a “better show” in the Badulla District. Judging by the numbers attending different meets it is clear that the UPFA is quite literally streets ahead and the final tally is likely to be not much different: 14 for the UFPA in Badulla with six to the UNP and one other minority party and nine to the UFPA in Moneragala with two to the UNP.

A senior UNP parliamentarian confirmed that they do not expect to do well in Moneragala and that it was to Badulla that the UNP was looking for consolation. Another senior parliamentarian said that the UNP needs to “re-energise” and “focus” at the grassroots level. These provincial elections, especially in the Moneragala area he said, needs to be used as a tool to get the party machinery well oiled and ready for a parliamentary or presidential poll.

 There was, little point in responding to speculation and reacting to the President’s de facto start of either parliamentary or presidential elections. More than an almost indecent haste to have the name of the main opposition candidate announced is the need to establish that the party machinery at the grassroots level is ready and raring to go.

No match

It was not immediately clear what the motivation will be as, another senior parliamentarian pointed out, funds are at a premium for the party and certainly no match for the full might of the UFPA campaign which had all the resources of the state. Being in the opposition is clearly fraught with greater difficulties than citizen Banda conceptualises or visualises.

Moneragala was to be used as a “reawakening” for the UNP — in this area, they conceded that the UFPA was steam rolling the UNP. The converse view was that in Badulla the “tide had been stemmed” and they envisaged a “close fight.”

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was campaigning in Moneragala on Monday using Diyatalawa as his base. Though this area is conceived to be very much in favour of the government the meeting in Moneragala was well attended with Tissa Attanayake and Ravi Karunanayake also campaigning.

Interestingly Ministers G.L. Peiris, A. Thondaman and Chandrasekeran too were campaigning in this area using the same hotel in Bandarawela as Ravi Karunanayake. Political factions aside the politicians from opposite camps exchanged relative merits of the campaign.

Misuse of state resources

The UNP camp was hopeful of a good showing in Badulla. People were aghast at the ostentatious show by government ministers and politicians and the misuse of state resources. They were not averse to voicing their protests.

An Alliance member envisaged that by September, the public would see a well oiled and well informed grassroots level machinery in place from the UNP, ready, willing and able to take on the might of the incumbent rulers — enthusing positively that the results would show a solid base to form at least a credible opposition.

The talking point of the week was the party held on the banks of the Bolgoda Lake. It was hosted by Mangala Samaraweera — in his inimitable and flamboyant manner — in honour of his sister’s siblings’ 21st birthday. The guest list at Bolgoda had no competition from the guest list in Washington. A whole host of political heavyweights minus Mano Ganesan and S.B. Dissanayake were present and it was a public relations dream. Mangala Samaraweera was joined by virtually all of the Grand Alliance members including the politician turned snooker champion, “putting the balls in the right holes” — Rauf Hakeem.

Sensational arrival

The most sensational arrival was of course not new to being in the news. Arriving early, President Chandrika Kumaratunga was at her charming best much to the delight of almost all the guests including Rauf Hakeem, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maithree Wickremesinghe, Karu Jayasuriya and Tissa Attanayaka.

Ranil and his wife who arrived later than the former President were greeted with a very loud “Hello my friends how are you” by the former Madam President. Quick as a flash, said Ranil, “Only you are missing from the action.”

 “I am very busy these days looking after my grand child,” said the former Head of State, before telling no one in particular that once the ‘Alliance’ got going “a good counter attack” can be given and volunteered her help on this ‘counter attack.’ Someone asked her if her children were likely to enter politics. “Oh No! They have no idea at all. Nothing at all,” was the spontaneous response from President Kumaratunga who partied well into the early hours minus the Wickremesinghes who left at midnight. 

The food catered to the epicurean tastes of some of the guests, with Western and Oriental music catering to the diverse and arty guest list.

Speaking to this column later in the week Samaraweera said that the former President had no desire herself to enter politics but that there maybe a role for Kumaratunga as a senior statesperson, perhaps in the international arena where her input in rebuilding Sri Lanka’s integrity would have a positive impact.

“Rogue states”

Samaraweera bemoaned the fact that relations with the established democracies had taken a beating under the watch of the present regime and it was worrying that Sri Lanka was leaning on at times, “rogue states” where democracy was questionable at best. China, he said was a traditional friend and ally and there should be nothing untoward in Sri Lanka’s relationship with her.

Mangala Samaraweera ruled out his return to the mainstream SLFP any time soon. He was worried about the shift of the SLFP policy towards extremism which was at odds with the ideals the party was originally formed on. Even if he was offered the prime ministership, it seemed that he would not sway his principles as there were many issues that needed addressing. The people of the country needed solutions to their burning problems now — the war being no longer an issue, he said.

The Parliamentary Privileges Committee was busy this week that saw no cabinet meeting. It was the first time the committee met since the prorogation of parliament and Dinesh Gunawardena proposed Nimal Sripala de Silva as chairman and Dr. Rajitha Senaratne seconded it. With Nimal Sripala de Silva in the Chair, the committee deliberated on what was before it. Prof. G. L. Peiris was of the view that the committee should set some criteria to ascertain whether it was handling relevant cases.

No need for criteria

However, Nimal Siripala de Silva said that there would be no need for any such criteria as in any event, all cases referred to the committee was done by the Speaker. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was present at this meeting and his issue was that Ananda College has used a statement by him, made in parliament in a court action the school had initiated in terms of the appointment of their principal. Wickremesinghe said that the school was ready to apologise through Karu Jayasuriya but when the school was contacted they had changed their mind.

Thalatha Athukorale’s matter was also brought up. Jagath Pushpakumara had said that Athukorala had asked for an investigation on her brother’s death. In her response in parliament Athukorala had denied such a request. The Chairman said that this was not a balanced viewpoint and that not enough prominence was given by the state media to Athukorala’s viewpoint. The Chairmen of ITN and Rupavahini were to be summoned before the Committee.

The Committee then took up Dr. Senaratne’s matter. Dr. Senaratne being a member of the Consultative Committee looking into the licensing of foreign medical schools in Sri Lanka had been critical on some aspects including the case of a Nepalese school that was not licensed by their own government.

Walked out in protest

During these discussions, Dr. H.H.R. Samarasingha and Nonis had walked out in protest at Dr. Senaratne’s articulation. Sometime thereafter, the Medical Council issued a “show cause” letter to Dr. Senaratne, setting the stage to having Dr. Senaratne “struck off.” Some felt that cancelling Dr. Senaratne’s Medical Council licence was not fair and that it would affect Dr. Senaratne for life. His role in the committee was one of a parliamentarian not that of a doctor, it was pointed out.

Earlier when Dr. Senaratne stated he had complained to the Ministry of Health, Nimal Siripala de Silva excused himself due to conflict of interest and Dinesh Gunawardena suggested and it was accepted, that Dr. Amunugama take the Chair.

The government viewpoint on the provincial election in Uva was that in Moneragala there was hardly any UNP activity and they did not even expect that the UNP would provide polling agents in much of Moneragala. Badulla, especially in Welimada, the UFPA was expecting a “walkover,” such was the confidence of the UFPA.

Took pains to explain

Last week’s parliamentary proceedings were mostly centred around the IMF relief package and the government took pains to explain that it was not restricting welfare measures. Ravi Karunanayake’s position was that though the UNF government did borrow from the IMF it was for poverty alleviation and not confined only as a standby facility. The UNP leader was also harsh on the government for harassing the legal fraternity through the defence web site and read chapter and verse off the constitution.

In Hulftsdorp, the Supreme Court was being taxed by Faiz Mustapha  representing P.B. Jayasundera, the former Treasury Secretary. There was much confusion. Lawyer Sumanthiran claimed that despite appearing for the Petitioner, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, he was not served with any of the documents. This was quite astonishing given that Mustapha had filed the original application.

The Court then ordered that the other respondents be noticed. Mustapha had thereafter filed an “amended application” which the court pointed out they had not acceded to and finally asked the Court if he could file a further affidavit of a “sensitive” nature. Earlier it was noticed that both Mustapha and Sumanthiran had entered the august chamber from the judges entrance to Court 502. This suggested to the onlooker that both the counsel had been to see the judges in chambers. Reliable sources stated that Mustapha had attempted to show the judges a video recording which they claimed had relevance to the P.B. Jayasundera application.

On enquiry however, it was stated that the contents of the video was of a speech made by the former Chief Justice in Badulla after the judgements were delivered previously and that in itself was innocuous enough. The CJ was not minded to admit this as part of their pleadings.  The CJ asked for all the necessary paperwork to be delivered and set August 24th on which a date would be given for support.

Sensational news

The country awoke on Friday morning to the sensational news that the self-appointed Leader of the LTTE in exile, “KP” had been arrested in Thailand. As news filtered in, it was reported that “KP” had been brought to Colombo and was being held at an undisclosed location by the TID.

Minister Keheliya Rambukwella at a press conference acknowledged that KP was arrested with the assistance of officials from an Asian country. It was known that KP was not the unanimous choice to lead the overseas operation of what is left of the LTTE and information may have leaked from within the organisation leading to his Adolf Eichman style of arrest.

No doubt President Rajapakse is going to milk the resultant political advantage out of this arrest. Whether KP will be too “hot” to be kept in Sri Lanka for long or whether he would be questioned and sent to India where he is wanted for, amongst other crimes, the killing of Rajiv Gandhi, will be known soon.

KP is reportedly a Thai citizen and married to a Thai lady. The Thai PM has asked for an inquiry on this issue claiming he was unaware of the events. From Sri Lanka’s part for once we must thank Rohitha Bogollagama who went to Thailand some months ago and lobbied for various treaties including extradition matters.

It is now believed that KP was arrested previously but managed to buy his way out before trouble brewed. Luckily for Sri Lanka, he was unable to pull off the same stunt again. The news of his arrest came through to officials on Friday evening. Rohitha Bogollagama, who was celebrating his birthday at home, received the news as he was entertaining a small group of friends that included the IGP, Harry Jayawardena and Sajin Vaas Gunawardena.