Pic by Alexander Balasuriya-

• New address
• Fuming Gamini Fonseka challengesthe President
• Police reject CID move to rap judge
• Slain PS chief faces 18 cases
• BASL seeks commission to probe arrest
• 'No comment,' says President

Fuming Gamini Fonseka challenges the President

By Chamintha Thilakarathna.

A simmering dispute between President Kumaratunga and North- East Governor Gamini Fonseka has come to a head with the governor throwing serious charges against her and challenging the President to sack him if she wants to.

An angry Mr. Fonseka, who emerged into politics in the Premadasa era after rising to stardom in the film world, accused President Kumaratunga of insulting him and acting in a manner that threatened vital security interest in the war torn North-East provinces.

He charged the President was exploiting or misusing her powers while pandering to the whims of stooges.

"I have not submitted my resignation. I am waiting for the President to ask me to resign and I will. She appointed me and she can ask me to leave," Mr. Fonseka said amidst reports that a political third force headed by former UNP kingmaker Sirisena Cooray might invite him to join.

The governor said he had grave doubts about the transparency and fairplay promised by the Kumaratunga administration.

"The President has insulted and humiliated me on several occasions by interfering or overturning my decisions at the behest of politicians. I wrote to her several times, asking for appointments, but did not get even the courtesy of a reply," he lamented. The governor said he could no longer remain silent as the unresolved issues could endanger the lives of the security forces.

Referring to one such incident, the governor said that when the 65-year-old generator which gave power to the whole of Trincomalee was broken, the government gave little attention to it though he repeatedly appealed. "In a war situation that could be a turning point for the worse," he said.

"I was patient at the beginning, feeling that she was new to the job and needed time to get adjusted. But things got worse not better. So now I have decided to challenge her. She must choose between public servants and political stooges," he said.

Mr. Fonseka added his official residence in Colombo was not properly guarded, despite attempts on his life. "I have to meet ministers, MPs and top army officers, but they refuse to come , saying security is inadequate. We had to shift offices 36 times," he complained in an interview at his Colombo office.

Police reject CID move to rap judge

By Our Legal Correspondent

A resolution moved by DIG-CID Punya de Silva to condemn the conduct of HC judge Mahanama Tillekeratne in the on-going crisis over the arrest of the him has been roundly defeated by other senior police officers.

DIG de Silva himself in the centre of the storm over the arrest, proposed that the police request President Kumaratunga to prevent the judge from harassing police officers, especially CID officers who appear before him.

But it was defeated by a thumping majority with 134 votes against it, nine (mostly from the CID) voting for, with a few abstentions. IGP Lucky Kodituwakku, in an unprecedented move presided at the meeting on Thursday at the Senior Officers Mess.

DIG de Silva came in for severe criticism by his colleagues. One senior ex-CID officer, SSP Herby Jayasuriya said the fault lay with senior officers and their lack of knowledge of the Law.

DIG de Silva who was cautioned by the IGP not to drag the President into this issue insisted he had been working in consultation with the AG when asked whether he had acted on the AG's advice in arresting the judge despite the revocation of the arrest warrant. He said it was not prudent to disclose details at this juncture. This drew a sharp retort from DIG Lucky Jayawardene who said "if you don't trust us how can we support your resolution?"

The heated discussion drew DIG Crimes, H.M.G.B Kotakedeniya, to say that the police were not competent to ask the President or the Chief Justice to uphold the independence of the judiciary.

The DIG CID was told that the proper course ought to have been for the CID to record the judge's statement, forward it to the AG, and await written instructions before proceeding.

The resolution was then put to the vote and defeated. Thereafter two resolutions, one proposed by SSP Lucky Jayawardene and the other by SSP Gunasena de Silva were adopted requesting the President to form a Legal Branch in the Police like in the Army, and to request the AG to appear for ex-CID Director, Bandula Wickramasinghe in his contempt of court hearings before the Court of Appeal. These two resolutions were in DIG CID Punya de Silva's original text, but were passed in an amended form.

Please see the Editorial, Mudliyar and Paakshikaya columns inside

Slain PS chief faces 18 cases

A PA Pradeshiya Sabha chairman was shot dead at his residence in Arachchikattuwa on Friday night in a killing believed to be connected to several cases against him.

Arachchikattuwa Pradeshi-ya Sabha Chairman Kingsley Hemachandra was shot at point blank range when he returned after a wedding reception late at night, police said. They said Mr. Hemachandra had rivals in the area and 18 cases pending against him, including charges of attempted murder, theft and assault of political opponents.

BASL seeks commission to probe arrest

The Bar Council of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) yesterday adopted a resolution to ask President Chandrika Kumaratunga to appoint a Commission to investigate and report on the manner and the circumstances in which High Court judge Mahanama Tillekeratne was arrested by the CID.

The BASL also condemned what it called the 'illegal arrest' of Mr. Tillekeratne, strongly criticising the conduct of 'the authorities concerned' with the arrest.

Hemantha Warnakulasuriya told the Bar Council that he was giving notice of a resolution calling for the removal of the Attorney General and for the BASL to boycott all functions like ceremonial sittings at which the Attorney General participates.

Mr. Warnakulasuriya detailed the contradictions contained in the AG's interview in the 'Midweek Mirror' and the notes filed by ex-CID Director Bandula Wickramasinghe about the AG's prior knowledge of the judge's arrest when he was on bail.

The Attorney General had denied any prior knowledge, but the ex-CID Director in his notes filed before the Kesbewa Magistrate indicated he obtained prior instructions from the AG.

Mr. Warnakulasuriya was supported by Nimal Weerakkody and K.S. Ratnavale, but Daya Perera PC said that the CID was notorious for 'doctoring' notes and Mr. Wickramasinghe's notes should not be taken seriously.

Accordingly, he said he opposed moving for the removal of the AG on that basis. He was supported by Ananda Kulathillake.

A separate resolution proposed by J.E.D. Goonaratne and seconded by Hilary Fernando calling for the interdiction of ex-CID Director Wickramasinghe was also adopted.

'No comment,' says President

By Thalif Deen at the United Nations, NY

President Chandrika Kumaratunga, to the delight of feminists at the United Nations, was the only female head of state to address the current session of a male-dominated UN General Assembly.

But the Sri Lankan President's uniqueness also prompted a question from a female CNN reporter who asked her at the UN media conference: "As a woman, and a Head of State, what is your view of the Clinton-Lewinsky affaire?"

For a moment the briefing room remained silent. But far from being rattled, the President smiled at the reporter and said it would not be appropriate for her to make any comments. And then, with characteristic diplomacy, she added: "I think it is a matter for the American government and the American public to decide."

Less than 24 hours earlier, however, the 185-member General Assembly had given the embattled US President a heart-warming, standing ovation, only the second time it had done so after South African President Nelson Mandela was greeted in similar fashion during his first visit to the UN.

The massive show of international support for President Clinton, which included rousing applause from the Sri Lankan delegation, was a slap in the face to the Republican-controlled US Congress which is not only tightening the screws on the US president but is also in the process of cutting off funding for the United Nations.

At a formal luncheon for heads of state hosted by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, President Kumaratunga shared a table with both Presidents Clinton and Nelson Mandela. "We had a very long chat," she told reporters. She said she discussed many things with Mr. Clinton, but specifically zeroed in on a subject worrying both: terrorism.

The speeches made by both presidents had so much in common — particularly on terrorism — that one diplomat wondered whether the similarities were by accident or by design.

"Judging by the common theme," one Sri Lankan UN official commented, "I could swear that some of our foreign office boys are also moonlighting for the US State Department and the White House."