A fortnight ago, the ex-minister the local press love to hate, was waxing eloquently about current political issues at the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition. When he had finished, he said goodbye and adjourned to the loo.

On his return, and as he prepared to leave, he looked for his briefcase. It was missing; personal items, cheque book and all.

By the weekend,sections of the media were blasting away on some coup theory about to be unleashed by the People's Alliance opposition.

They were quoting from a document that outlined a "revolutionary, but constitutional" overthrow of the United National Front (UNF) controlled Parliament, and to install a House led by the former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar from the PA.

The plan envisaged getting the backing of the JVP, sections of the SLMC that were willing to join the PA if PA national list MP Cegu Issadeen was removed, sections of the CWC, but how to look after its leader Arumugam Thondaman being the problem.

Branded a "coup" by some, this was undoubtedly a legitimate political document; an analysis of how to win control of Parliament in the normal ; back-room; back-stabbing methods adopted by all parties, all over the world, especially though in Sri Lanka.

The Media Mafia was however not the only suspects of stealing the briefcase. Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse, ironically, though not surprisingly was another. Afterall it was his official house was it not, and he is not in the good books of his fellow southern colleagues, or for that matter, he is not in the good books of anyone in the Bandaranaike-Kumaratunga hierarchy of the PA.

To clear the Rajapakse name, he has asked for the matter to be investigated, and called in an ex-DIG to find out.

But if the "coup" theory was a mere media putsch, the one that sent the shivers down a nervous public was the Prime Minister's announcement that exasperated as he is with the antics of the Executive President - he would be forced to call yet another General Election "very soon".

One time Justice Ministry Secretary Nihal Jayawickrama recently remarked that Sri Lanka is one country where the leader of the Opposition - in this case the President - sits as head of the Government. She can say like the French King Louis XIV " L Etat c'est moi" "I am The State" - Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Head of State, Head of Government, Head of Cabinet - and Head of the Opposition.

No wonder then, that when Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met Lakshman Kadirgamar last Tuesday in Parliament for a one and a half hour one-to-one make or break discussion on cohabitation, he complained of fear of a "parallel government" existing in Sri Lanka. His and Hers.

He cited examples where instructions he and his Defence Minister were giving were being countermanded by the President. Police and Service Chiefs did not know whose instructions to follow.

When the government stated they have no monies for certain projects, the President releases sums from the President's Fund to score a point.

Mr. Kadirgamar had his own brief to argue. He said that the conduct of some Ministers at Cabinet meetings was "unacceptable" - though he did concede that the President's mimicry of some cabinet ministers was equally "unacceptable".

The first thing to do - both agreed was a cessation of hostilities at cabinet - probably followed by a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding).

And the next day's cabinet passed without a hitch. All UNF troops were confined to barracks and ordered to be on best behaviour.

Except, again, the President pulled a surprise. She had sent a letter to the PM giving a detailed explanation bearing the stamp of the class of H.L. de Silva PC on the controversy revolving around the report of those VIP vehicles.

The Wickremesinghe-Kadirgamar talks decided that this issue be taken up outside Cabinet. So, the President asks for the letter back from the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister sent it back to her, and removed the item from the agenda.

Surprise, surprise! She tables it at Cabinet the next day with her own additions to Mr. de Silva's carefully crafted reply.

Minister Ravi Karunanayake cannot sit still anymore, and the PM averts yet another showdown by refusing to discuss the document at such short notice.Now, the President cannot cry foul and be provocative at the same time.
Her mimicry has cost her dearly in political terms. By what she did she has made the middle-of-the-road UNPers join the hard core elements pitted against her.

Those who were at her throat were, almost to a man, new entrants to the UNP. Some of them are not even UNP - they are UNF.

The old guard UNPers - M.H. Mohamed, K.N. Choksy, Karu Jayasuriya, Tilak Marapana and the like were courteous to her and never pressed for her impeachment.

Now they are saying "off with her head".

The country's long-suffering masses and its business community limping back as they are from a zero growth rate of last year, are simply tired and disgusted with the childish theatrics of its political leadership, that's far gone.

It is clear as clear can be to any student of politics, that on the one side is a group of defeated, disgruntled, sulking politicians pumping up the 'lady' to go on a head-on course.

On the other side is a group of victorious, pompous, crowing politicians winding up 'Lokka' to do the same thing.

The Prime Minister has made it clear that he opts for the middle-of-the-road approach - the President has shown she is the President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party rather than of Sri Lanka itself.

Sometimes the President's presence in Cabinet can be a good thing. Checks and balances are required. On and off she has spotted some glaring irregularities which Ministers often try to slip through in a you-scratch-my-back-I-scratch-yours Cabinet.

Co-habitation Government gives an opportunity to bring out the best from both parties, in fact all parties, not the worst. And to transform this tortured land - in their life time - to one where every citizen can live a decent livelihood.

Given the unnatural Constitution we have - and until it is changed, the President and the Prime Minister have one option. To co-exist or let the Nation co-perish.

Back to Top

Back to Columns

Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Webmaster