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‘Hand’ to cement new SLFP-JVP alliance
By Harinda Vidanage
The SLFP and JVP have come closer to finalizing an electoral symbol for the alliance and according to sources close to both parties it will be the "hand", the old symbol of the SLFP.

This symbol has been proposed because of its strategic value in a new ballot paper which places symbols according to its identification in the Sinhala alphabetical order and secondly, it eliminates the PA symbol of the chair and the perception among the people of it.

Both parties are also looking into a change of name from the People's Alliance to a new one said a senior SLFP member who was involved in these talks. The names that have been suggested are now being studied by a team of astrologers known to the party.

The alliance also became closer to being sealed with two of the three elements of the alliance phase completed. The documenting of the Broad Policy framework, also identified as the five-point programme to achieve a common policy in governance is underway.

The Sunday Times learns that the five policy heads which are being documented are economic development, democracy and good governance, ethnic problem and its political solution, law and order restoration and cultural revival.

According to Nimal Siripala de Silva, a member of the negotiating team, the agreement to find a political solution to the ethnic conflict by both parties has been a significant achievement.

The JVP is willing to negotiate with the LTTE on condition that Sri Lanka remains a democratic state, undivided, meting out justice to all ethnic groups. Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse told The Sunday Times that neither he nor the other members of the SLFP, other than those in the negotiating committee know what is being discussed. Both parties are to meet once again on Monday and Tuesday.

EU MP seeks opposition support for peace process
By Faraza Farook
Continued abduction, child recruitment, targeted killings of political opponents and extortion by the LTTE and the conflict between the government and the opposition parties are drawbacks in fully implementing the peace process, European Parliamentarian John Cushnahan said yesterday.

Mr. Cushnahan who was the chief observer at two general elections in Sri Lanka said he believed that though some of the grievances of the LTTE were legitimate, the continuing abduction, extortion and killings threatened to destabilise the peace process.

Speaking at a news briefing at the end of his two-week visit to Sri Lanka to familiarise himself with the peace process, Mr. Cushnahan said, one of the serious drawbacks of the peace process apart from the LTTE's offences was the lack of support from opposition parties. He said a lack of cooperation from the opposition and conflicting interests had contributed towards the collapse of earlier peace initiatives.

He expressed regret over the LTTE's move to temporarily withdraw from the peace talks. While acknowledging the LTTE's annoyance at being excluded from the Washington preparatory donor conference, Mr. Cushnahan also emphasised on the importance of its participation in the Tokyo aid conference.

There was also emphasis on the need to attach strict conditions to the funds dispersed. "These funds should be provided on the strict understanding that the peace process is implemented fully in spirit and in detail".

Having visited troubled areas in the East, he said that the LTTE, when forwarding proposals for political structures, must recognise the concerns of other minority groups. He said that having experienced discrimination itself, the LTTE must demonstrate generosity to others.

Scientist warns: Landslides - watch out!
A scientist has issued a warning against landslides which may be triggered by the monsoon rains. H.G.G. Ariyaratne of the Landslide Studies and Services Division of the National Building and Research Organisation coming under the purview of the Housing Ministry told The Sunday Times that though initially Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kandy, Matale and certain parts of Kalutara districts were alone commonly considered to be prone to landslides, other hilly areas in the country too may be vulnerable.

Opening up of cracks, sinking surfaces, sudden creation of muddy fountains, change in the current fountain systems, skewing of trees and lamp posts and cracks on walls starting from the bottom up are early signs of a possible landslide, he said.

Specially at the initial stage of the monsoon season people living in hilly areas have to be extra careful because Sri Lanka has been experiencing many landslides at present, he said.

"If people can detect the signs mentioned here in the areas in which they live, they should immediately evacuate those areas and inform the Divisional Secretary and also the Landslide Studies and Services Division, so that necessary advice can be given", Mr. Ariyaratne said.

Women's groups blast WB
Representatives of several women's groups including fisher folk, farmers and plantation workers met the World Bank’s Colombo chief Peter Harold and told him bluntly they believed that the WB's poverty reduction strategy would only increase the burdens on millions of poor people.

The Women's group coordinated by the Alliance for the Protection of National Resources and Human Rights said they wanted a dialogue with the World Bank and Government leaders on key factors in the poverty reduction strategy.

"It is our view that the World Bank programme would have an adverse impact on the poor and working people of all sectors of society and that the poor rural and urban women would be specially victimized by the harmful results of the proposed strategy.
"Adequate discussion has not been held in the preparation of this strategy with any of the people's organizations and their participation has not been obtained. Therefore, we do not agree with this strategy document.

"The stake holders considered in this process have been only the Government, representatives of the World Bank, other International Financial Institutions and those of the private sector", the women's group said.

"The total debt estimated in the poverty reduction program of June 2002 is US $ 6095 million which is equivalent to about Rs. 590,000 million. Thus, the per capita debt of Rs 83,000 would increase by another Rs. 32,000 and the total per capita debt would add up to Rs. 115,000. This is a burden of debt that the average citizen can not bear.

"Various taxes and tax reforms has been included towards strengthening the financial situation of the Government. What is intended here is to provide concessions to the private sector to encourage investment in the country. These tax burdens arising out of the concessions as well as the burdens above have been transferred to the ordinary people. This cannot be accepted as a plan for reducing poverty", the group said.

They said the programme had proposed that the number of employees in all Government Departments should be effectively reduced. The large numbers of people who would thus lose their jobs and the 90% of the poor in the rural areas and the rural population that is encouraged by the Government to migrate to urban areas would add on to the poorest population in Sri Lanka in the future.

Since these processes would only increase the number of un-skilled, inexperienced people who will have little opportunities for improving their social status. "These proposals would not reduce poverty but would only worsen the situation and the number of the poor,” they said.

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