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Parliamentarians play pandu
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti, Our Lobby Correspondent

Frayed tempers, obscene language, raucous behaviour and unearthing sleaze and scandals of the past were the highlights of last week's Parliamentary debates with the nomination of Thilanga Sumathipala to the ICC playing havoc with legislative debate.

The cannon firing began with former Sri Lankan cricket captain turned legislator, one time close associate of Sumathipala deciding to criticise his nomination through an adjournment motion.

In the process, perhaps the more important debates like the TNA proposed debate on the non-implementation of the MoU and the need for a hybrid election system were shadowed by the fiery debate on the ICC nomination.

The return of Anuruddha Ratwatte created euphoria among opposition benches who accorded him a welcome that was similar to the return of the prodigal son. But the spirit of celebration evaporated with the demise of veteran politician and TNA President S. Sivasithambaram the following day.

Consensus politics prevailed when MEP leader Dinesh Gunawardhane moved a private member's motion urging the introduction of a combined election system to ensure effective representation and less political clashes.

Gunawardhane claimed that he had steadfastly remained committed to a combined system which led him to issue a 'dissent' report at the end of the select committee deliberations on franchise and election wayback in 1988.

"Though unaccepted then, it is heartening to note the emerging consensus on the need for a hybrid system. The present system has not only jeopardised the rights of voters but also created much intra party rivalry and violence," he noted.

He said 130 petitions have been filed before the Supreme Courts consequent to the recently concluded local polls, which proved that Sri Lankan elections were thoroughly flawed, violent and unfair.

Quoting from a book written by D.C. Ranatunge, he said that the writer has claimed that his father, a committed public servant instructed his wife to refrain from even having curtains in any of the colours associated with political parties as public servants were ethically bound to display strict neutrality. " Gone are the days of such ethical standards and free polls," lamented the member.

Power and energy minister Karu Jayasuriya who spoke after Gunawardhane, proposed that a new system be evolved to suit local conditions. Proposing sweeping reforms including maximum power devolution, clear demarcation of task, accountability and responsibility of politicians, reduction of violence, participatory government and efficient administration among others, the minister further proposed that elections should be held on Saturdays to prevent disruption of work and presidential and parliamentary elections be held simultaneously.

Riding his hobbyhorse was constitutional affairs minister Prof. G.L. Peiris who defined six areas for detailed discussions for the evolution of effective electoral reforms.

Prof. Peiris said that it should be first decided whether there should be uniformity in the system, the nuances of a new hybrid system, the need for by elections to test the pulse of the people, re-introduction of multi member constituencies and whether the cut off point should be altered to prevent exclusion of smaller parties.

The law professor regretted that the PR system unleashed rancour and brought out the worst inhumanity while the previous system established better contact between representative and voters, though the system reduced minority representation considerably.

Endorsing Prof. Peiris' view was PA's Richard Pathirana. He articulated the thought that by elections was a necessity in a democracy, serving as a barometer of public opinion.
" I came to this House thrice through by elections. People should know their representative and the representatives should be responsible for a geographically demarcated area.

To inject some semblance of decency to elections and reduce friction, fraction and chaos, the preference system also must be scrapped," he argued.

The morning's serenity was short lived as a fully charged opposition militantly declared war on the government and its selection of Thilanga Sumathipala as the nominee to the ICC. It was also to be the first motion moved by Arjuna Ranatunga in the House.

The baby faced legislator, once loved for his cricketing genius who lambasted Sumathipala as he tainted him as a corrupt 'bookie maker' who should not be considered for the prestigious position.

" He is, locally and internationally unsuitable for this position and is not a member of the Board of Control for Cricket. There are cases pending against him for alleged fraud omitted in awarding telecasting rights of matches and gaming activates. Upon his selection, respected cricket officials have resigned in sheer disgust," charged he.

An emotional Ranatunga thundered that many questions have not been answered about the kickbacks involved in the Dambulla stadium. The cricket mafia must stop and corruption must come to an end for the advancement of the game we love".

Taking broadsides at the smiling minister of sports, Ranatunga said: "emathithuma bukiyakata yatawela" that earned howls of protests from government benches with errant ebullient parliamentary affairs minister A.H. M. Azwer demanding that the 'young boy' should withdraw the aspersion cast.

But a defiant Ranatunga stood his ground as he claimed that truth would not be compromised, earning the wrathful remark from minister Azwer that Parliament allowed qualified truth and a Sinhala copy of Erskine May could clear the fogginess of mind in the cub legislator regarding parliamentary practice.

With minister Azwer himself creating the biggest din in the House, it was an equally vociferous Mahindananda Aluthgamage who seconded the motion, shouting the minister down with equal zeal.

Waving a scurrilous publication, the former deputy minister accused the government of falling prey to the ill-gotten money of a bookmaker. " Leaflets maligning the character of a MP were brought into the House and dropped near the opposition lobby. At this rate, anything could be brought here and there won't be safety for members" he accused.

Gesturing towards minister Azwer, Aluthgamage demanded that action be taken against those who brought in scurrilous publications into Parliament precincts. " The parliamentary affairs minister has not won even a maranadhara samithi election. I dare him to stop discussing unknown cricket and take appropriate action," thundered he.

" Dirty mouth, foul mouth," smiled minister Azwer triggering off Aluthgamage to unleash a barrage of accusations against senior UNPers, adding that it was tragic to see the young sports minister with his hands tied and lacking clout to decide on his own.

Sniping, he said that all sports ministers in the recent past have been more eager to develop sports and later on excelled in a particular sport, the 'Rathi kreeda" which brought disrepute to governments and respective sports, in addition to destroying the future of talented sportswomen.

Young Naveen Dissanayake followed and after Aluthgamage's impassioned speech, his delivery was like a breath of fresh air, even though he stoically refused to meet the actual argument. Appreciative of Arjuna Ranatunga's contribution to cricket, Dissanayake's contention was that there was no need to disqualify Sumathipala merely because he was no BCCSL membership as there have been previous instances when non members have been sent for similar purposes like Daya Pandita and Nuski Mohomed, an argument that was vehemently opposed by Arjuna Ranatunga.

" I hold no brief for anyone and have written critical comments on Sumathipala. But on principle, one need not be a Board member to go to the ICC" he argued, amidst a chorus of 'ugly politics' from the opposition.

As if Aluthgamage's fire wasn't enough, next was Mangala Samaraweera with daggers drawn and tearing apart Sumathipala's reputation to smithereens.

Obviously seeing only evil in Sumathipala's selection, he accused that some with ill-gotten money needed power and prestige, hence their desire to enter the ICC which had nothing to do with the love of cricket.

" The game is being tainted by the mafia, the Lilliputians who seek to wrest control. The political column of The Sunday Times recently stated that despite book makers being banned from entering the prestigious international cricket bodies, Sumathipala, a man who was behind the downfall of the PA government has secured his position with the new government," he breathed, amidst catcalls from an angry government that screamed back angry retorts.

The former media minister demanded to known whether the UNF government needed to pay for previous favours. "Haven't you paid back enough? Haven't you appointed him as Telecom Chairman despite his dubious track record? Haven't you bought enough PA legislators with his money? Then why allow the destruction of cricket as well," he cracked.

It seemed that the opposition backbenchers were collectively pushing the motion, a sort of a labour of love. It also was the story of friendship gone sour with the change in political hue.

So the chirpy sports minister Johnston Fernando, saddled with an unenviable job of defending the government's decision and himself, struck the argument that what was good for the goose was also good for the gander.

The Mawathagama member, zealously attacked opposition benchers who from the outset attempted to drown his response. " The PA created interim administrations every time they got stuck, and they got stuck because they had self interest in the cricket Board. This is why the PSD intervened once, a fact admitted to by former PSD chief Nihal Karunaratne," he threw back passionately.

The young ministers aid that his interim committee had no politicians, a policy the new government is committed to. This debate emanated from a personal grouse against an individual which had nothing to do with his cricket involvements," he said.

" You used him and supported him and the moment he altered his political colour, the entire PA is behaving like a pack of blood hounds out to destroy Sumathipala. I cannot stop people from contesting elections as it would be an infringement of their rights," he said.

Rubbing salt on the wounds, minister Fernando noted that whatever the allegations that were raised against Sumathipala emerged during the PA's tenure when ministers were seeking his favours.

One thing seemed to be clear: Did anyone say that there were permanent friends in politics, but permanent interests only?

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