The Political Column

2nd April 1999

Talks must end by May 29

By our Political Correspondent

But whether the same spirit of consensus politics will remain when more controversial issues such as the unit of devolution, the nature of the state and land alienation are discussed, is still anybody's guess.

In the midst of these positive developments, both President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe are expected to be out of the country during the national new year period.

It is likely that the President would visit several European destinations while Mr. Wickremesinghe will undertake a tour in Egypt and thereafter in India.

In the light of the rapid progress the talks have made so far, the visits are seen as a move that would further delay a final agreement, meaning nothing concrete would emerge before the next parliamentary general elections.

Another positive development as far as the peace talks is concerned is the appointment of Norwegian Socialist Left Party parliamentarian Erik Solheim as special adviser by Oslo in its efforts to help end Sri Lanka's ethnic war.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said that Mr. Solheim had long been involved in Norway's work for peace in Sri Lanka. But Norway's facilitator role here is increasingly being seen with suspicion by several groups which fear that Oslo would be biased towards the LTTE.

But some political analysts say this won't happen because Norway has a good reputation as an international peacemaker with the Palestinian-Israeli breakthrough it helped achieve bearing testimony for it.

Norway's Sri Lankan peace initiative was not a sudden plunge. It came after much scrutiny of the problem. When a group of 15 Sri Lankan politicians headed by Deputy Minister Nirupama Rajapakse visited Norway in 1998 for a seminar on ethnicity, they saw Norwegian policymakers showing a keen interest in Sri Lankan affairs.

During talks with the Sri Lankan group, the Norwegian foreign affairs standing committee members offered their good offices to resolve the ethnic conflict. They pointed out that there were some 4500 Sri Lankans in Norway with work and resident permits while nearly 6000 people had got citizenship and some 1000 applications of asylum seekers were being processed.

The Norwegians told them that their country was bound by article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to grant asylum to anyone at any time. But a Sri Lankan delegate pointed out that Norway violated Article 18(4) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The article upholds the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. But in Norway it is compulsory that every student must study Christianity (Lutheran church) as a subject irrespective of his or her religion.

Pointing out this double standards in adopting the UDHR to suit its needs, a good section of political analysts ask whether the Norwegians will have double standards when dealing with Sri Lankan affairs.

Apart from peace politics, what is buzzing in political circles is a possible crossover by a UNP group led by Ronnie de Mel who is now in London. The story is gaining credibility in the backdrop of a rumour that the life of parliament will be extended by two years until the government finalises the devolution package. The talk doing the rounds is that Mr. de Mel will meet with the President in London or some other European destination and he is likely to join the cabinet, too, probably as finance minister.

But finance is a portfolio the President wants to keep to herself. But she may assign it to someone as instructed by international donors, analysts say. Some UNP insiders believe that Mr. de Mel will accept any ministry before he retires from politics.

Meanwhile, President Kumaratunga, largely confined within the walls of Temple Trees for security reasons, took time off her busy schedule to relax over the weekend in Matara along with her friend Ronnie Peiris and Secretary K. Balapatabendi. The presidential entourage arrived on an Air Force craft in Matara. They were received by Minister Mahinda Wijesekera. The President had lunch in a restaurant near the Dondra lighthouse, viewing the scenic beauty of the area.

In another development last week, Deputy Minister Reggie Ranatunga and his son and Cricket Board Chief Executive Officer Dhammika Ranatunga met the President soon after a Gampaha District organisers' meeting at Temple Trees. On seeing the Ranatungas with some files, the President asked what it was all about. When she was told it was about the Cricket Board, she declined to talk. She told them that she did not want to get involved in cricket matters as she had advised people concerned to take appropriate action. Disappointed, the Ranatungas made a retreat.

In a related episode, Deputy Minister Ranatunga and his son Prasanna Ranatunga who is a western provincial council member met Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. The Ranatungas told him that Prasanna wanted to contest the vice-presidency of the cricket board on the Thilanga Sumathipala ticket, but Sports Minister S. B. Dissanayake did not like the idea much.

When Mr. Rajapakse along with the Ranatungas went to see Mr. Dissanayake. Mr. Rajapakse asked Mr. Dissanayake whether the story was true. Mr. Dissanayake denied any knowledge of such a decision. Mr. Dissanayake then telephoned Mr. Sumathipala to clarify matters. But observers say it is unlikely that Prasanna Ranatunga would be included in the Sumathipala's list.

The Cricket Board affairs and the controversy over remarks he made on the closure of parliament and courts are the twin problems bothering Mr. Dissanayake. The Supreme Court panel which examined the affidavits filed by newspaper editors and others has decided that there is a prima facie case against him. The matter has now been finalised and Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva has informed the Attorney-General for further action. The Supreme Court will ask Mr. Dissanayake to show cause why he should not be punished for contempt of court. The matter is likely to come before a three-judge bench.

Mr. Dissanayake's remarks that parliament and the courts should be closed down if necessary in the event the government failed to get a two thirds majority to enact the new constitution, created a furore in the country. Though President Kumaratunga and Minister G. L. Peiris dismissed Mr. Dissanayake's remarks as a load of rubbish, some of his ministerial colleagues had defended him. Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle is one of them. He made a statement in parliament, questioning the conduct of judges. Deputy Chairman of the Committees Rauf Hakeem who presided over parliament at that stage expunged Mr. Fernandopulle's comments on the Judiciary.

Minister Fernandopulle also came in for criticism for his attack on the judiciary. Analysts say he should have been discreet in defending his colleague without being critical of the judiciary.

Mr. Fernandopulle organised a felicitation ceremony in honour of Minister Rajapakse who was conferred the Malwatta Chapter's coveted title Sri Rahula Janaranjana — an honour rarely bestowed on any politician. The investiture of Sri Rahula Janaranjana was accorded in Kandy a few weeks ago amidst a representative gathering.

Mr. Rajapakse was felicitated by various organisations including the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress. The Parliamentary felicitation ceremony was held in committee room No. 1 of the Parliamentary Complex and Mr. Fernandopulle made it a point to invite Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, also. When he went to invite Mr. Wickremesinghe, UNP MP Vajira Abeywardene told other UNP MPs: "They are coming here to join us." But Mr. Fernandopulle was quick to say: "No, no, we are coming here to extend an invitation to the leader of the opposition." Many MPs attended the felicitation ceremony. The welcome speech was given by a parliamentary staff officer Abeysekera. At the end of Mr. Abeysekera's speech, Minister Fernandopulle quipped that Mr. Abeysekera nearly ordained Minister Rajapakse and said fortunately he stopped at that.

There were also words of praise from Mr. Wickremesinghe as well. He said the UNP became the opposition party and the PA the ruling party largely because of the relentless contribution made by Mr. Rajapakse to his party.

Beside these, we came across the news where seven senior army officers were relieved of their duties for their part in the Wanni military debacle.

Among them were three officers — Major General Gamini Gunasekera, Major General Wasantha Perera and Brigadier T. Burhan. All of them were summoned to Army Headquarters to hand over their letters of compulsory retirement. When they arrived at the office of the Army Commander Srilal Weerasooriya, the letters were on his table. The three generals knew what was in store for them.

The Army Commander told them: "Worst things would have happened." But he said he managed to do his best for the three officers. He said that the commissions would not be withdrawn and that the officers would be entitled to their pensions.

Lt. Gen. Weerasooriya told them he spent more than four hours with the President trying to convince her not to withdraw the commissions of these senior officers who served the Army with unblemished records. The Army Commander said the President would like to see them the next day. But the officers had reservations about attending the meeting. The Army Commander told them he had promised the President that he would bring them along. They were asked to arrive at the Army Headquarters at 6.30 p.m. on the following day for a 8.30 appointment with the President.

Though they were on time at Temple Trees, the President was busy with other matters and was able to see them only past midnight. The President was with defence secretary Chandananda de Silva. The President told the officers that there would have been worse punishments but she was considerate and this was the best she could do. She advised them not to get involved in politics. Defence Secretary Chandananda de Silva asked them whether they had anything to say. Major General Gunasekera broke the silence. He said : "if we were to talk about debacles in the Army, this was not the only thing. It is very unfortunate that we had to pay the price for this kind of thing after thirty years of dedicated service."

Mr. de Silva said the government would help them if they are in need of assistance.

The UNP and the PA had another round of talks last week on constitutional reforms aiming at resolving the ethnic crisis. At this meeting, the main grievance of President Kumaratunga was that the proceedings of their meeting had been leaked to the press. She said what was appearing was favourable to the UNP. When Mr. Wickremesinghe said that even cabinet proceedings had been leaked out, the President said she knew her team with whom she had worked for several years. For instance, she said Ratnasiri Wickremanayake had worked with her for 30 years, Dharmasiri Senanayake interjecting said that this has been leaked out from the UNP and not from their side.

Once again, the President referred to an issue involving her educational qualifications and said the UNP must be having some hand in it.

Dismissing the charge, Mr. Wickremesinghe said he would never resort to such things because he judged people by their performance. The President then said she could show video tapes to prove that she was studying at Sorbonne.

Thereafter they spoke about an interview purported to have been given by LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham to the press. The President said they should push the package through parliament whether the LTTE agreed or not. "We would have separate talks with the LTTE and decide what we could do," she said. The President also indicated that the talks between the UNP and PA had to be finalised before May 29 prior to the Aid Group meeting. They are also likely to have at least one round of talks with the LTTE by this time.

Situation Report

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