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Thonda
on business tryst in Hyderabad After flying from Colombo to Chennai, he had boarded a flight to Hyderabad. The visit comes amidst speculation that Mr. Thondaman had brokered the revision of a multi million-dollar deal with Co-options Technology Limited, an Indian company based in Hyderabad, to equip IT facilities at the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. The project originally estimated to cost US dollars 7 million (or Rs 700 million) is said to be far in excess of such IT facilities that could be obtained from other sources. According to one source, the excess was over two million dollars (or Rs 200 million.) Financing of the project was to be carried out under the existing Indian line of credit. Approval for this had been granted during the tenure of the UNF Government but officials at the NWSDB had objected to it in view of the colossal cost factor. The Sunday Times reliably learns the UPFA Government may now give Mr. Thondaman the go-ahead for this project. A female executive of the Indian firm, a close associate of Mr. Thondaman, had visited Sri Lanka on many occasions to discuss matters relating to this deal. She is said to have been here last week also. Mr. Thondaman had entertained her at a southern tourist resort. Whether or not this has a direct relevance is unclear. But Mr. Thondaman, who, political circles say, is now negotiating with the UPFA leadership for portfolios and other concessions is said to have asked to be made Minister of Urban Development and Water Management. A cabinet re-shuffle is now on the cards with the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) becoming a constituent party of the UPFA government. The move is to accommodate CWC aspirants into the Cabinet. Mr. Thondaman wants the Urban Development and Water Supply Ministry for himself - a post he had held during the previous regime. In the event the President agrees to the demands of the CWC, the two ministers now holding these portfolios are to be offered other portfolios, UPFA sources said. With the cabinet reshuffle, the Government also plans to offer district development portfolios to three rebel Sri Lanka Muslim Congress members in a bid to further strengthen the government's stability in Parliament. The three rebel members, Najeeb A Majeed, Hussain Bhaila and Rishard Badiudeen, who were sacked from the SLMC could however, remain as MPs following a recent Supreme Court ruling in their favour. Hours after Mr. Thondaman announced on Friday that the CWC was extending support to the UPFA government, he held discussions with Minister Mangala Samaraweera, who was instrumental in negotiating the deal with the CWC. The demands came despite Mr. Thondaman on Friday declaring that he would be providing 'unconditional' support to the government. CWC General Secretary M. S. Sellasamy told The Sunday Times they would be meeting President Kumaratunga next week for discussions. Beside the cabinet portfolios, the CWC has also demanded deputy ministerial and diplomatic posts, The Sunday Times learns. With the Government obtaining the support of the CWC's eight members, it now possesses the required simple majority in Parliament with 114 members on its side. Senior Minister and UPFA secretary Susil Premajayantha told The Sunday Times the government would now identify the key bills to be presented to Parliament for approval. These would include amendments to election, finance and tax laws. Meanwhile the Jathika Hela Urumaya yesterday declared that it has not changed its position to support the Freedom Alliance Government even after the CWC pledged its support. However, the JHU said it felt that the UPFA was not interested in the well-being of the country. JHU General Secretary, Ven. Uduwe Dhammaloka Thera said they would not change their policy of giving conditional support to the Government though they had doubts about the sincerity of the CWC's move. |
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