S.B. ready to take on Gen. Ratwatte
By Shane Seneviratne in Kandy
Soon after the revolt in the PA and the dissolution of Parliament, rebel
group leader S.B. Dissanayake and his team went to Kandy to get the blessings
of the Mahanayake Theras for their campaign
 Dissident
members at the Parliamentary complex. Pic by Ranjith Perera
We spoke to Mr. Dissanayake on what had happened and what he intended
to do.
Excerpts:
Q:Why did you quit the PA ?
A: The main reason was a management crisis in the party. This
was caused mainly by the President's pattern of behaviour and thinking.
We tried to change it. But it was impossible, so we quit.
Q:Could you be more precise about this management crisis?
A: The management essentially needs to be at a collective level
in the cabinet. But the President often does not even attend the cabinet
meetings. When ever she does she is often hours late and many ministers
have left by then. She took over several Ministries and all decisions in
those had to be taken or approved by her. Even in other Ministries she
often had the final say.
Q: Would you comment on the dissolution?
A: The President never imagined so many would revolt against
her. The dissolution was another desperate bid to cling to power.
Q: Are anymore joining you?
A: Yes at national and provincial level. We can now pick and
choose.
Q: It is alleged that you were the main culprit in the mass rigging
and violence at the last general elections.
A: In my electorate of Hanguranketha there had been misdeeds
and violence at earlier elections also.I admit there were incidents at
last year's general elections, but I must point out that I won by a majority
of more than 10, 000 votes.
Q: On what basis and platform would you be contesting now?
A: We have Vision 2001 plan. We worked it out with intellectuals,
economists, sociologists, politicians and, management specialists. The
President doesn't even know what is in it, but Ranil Wickremesinghe likes
it.
Q: Do you anticipate interference or intimidation from govt. quarters?
A:With Parliament dissolved they cannot transfer any top police
officers. If they do it I will go to courts. If the Presidential security
division comes to threaten the people of the area in their election work
we are ready to welcome them very hospitably on the Maha Oya bridge.
Q: What about General Ratwatte. Are you afraid of any raid from him?
A: I know how to tackle him. If I was not so close to the people
of Hanguranketha I would have gone to Wattegama and challenged him there.
I am not afraid of General Ratwatte's weapons. I also have weapons and
people.
Rukman won't cross
UNP frontliner Rukman Senanayake yesterday denied reports that he was crossing
over to the PA. Mr. Senanayake said he intended to contest on the UNP ticket
from the Kegalle district.
Surgeons' seminar
The annual scientific sessions of the College of Surgeons of Sri Lanka
are presently being held in Colombo, from October 11 till today.
The programme will include a series of guest lectures by eminent surgeons
from India, Germany and Switzerland.
UNP forms front committee
The UNP has set up a 'front committee' where it will combine with other
political parties, PA defectors and groups in planning out its election
strategies and finalising nomination lists.
The 'front committee' will consist of representatives from the UNP,
the SLMC and the CWC.
The UNP has also named a four-member political affairs committee to
work out its election strategies and finalise nomination lists of candidates
consisting of PA defectors and others from opposition parties, a party
spokesman said last night.
Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, Party
Chairman Charitha Ratwatte and Assistant Leader Gamini Atukorale are the
members of the committee.
The common front's flag will be a rainbow on a green background while
the symbol will be several coloured elephants.
The nomination list will be prepared depending on each case and in some
instances candidates will be placed under the UNP list while in some districts
two parties in the common front may field separate lists depending on circumstances.
Meanwhile four Tamil political parties, the TULF, the ACTC, the TELO
and the EPRLF are planning to contest as an alliance, but eventually support
the party forming the government on the grounds that it would give priority
to settle the ethnic conflict.
Mystery tremors shake building
A mysterious tremor shook the Merchant Bank building in Kollupitiya and
adjoining buidings on Friday afternoon. The tremor was so strong that objects
on tables fell and panick-stricken office staff rushed out to the open
road while the building was evacuated. Pic by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Myee the things they say!
Mr.Wijeyapala Mendis when asked why he came back to the UNP:
"He's a sh.t. She's a bit..I'd rather use the sh.t to get rid of
the bit..".
****
What Deputy Speaker Sarath Munasinghe told the PA parliamentary group
meeting on Oct.10, two days before he quit the PA.
"I have principles. I am a soldier. I have convictions. Neither I
nor my dog will leave despite the many rumours"
Two days later he told President Kumaratunga:
"The decision to resign from the party was taken after much deliberation
and I will explain them later.
The tailpiece was added by Justice Minister Batty Weerakoon:
"He has gone, the dog is probably still with us".
****
SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem's comments on the eve of the Parliament revolt.
To the UNP-"I want to be king maker for a day".
To the PA - "I want to be the catalyst".
****
UNP leader Ranil Wickre mesinghe on the exodus from the PA:
"It's like the last days of Saigon before its fall to the Viet Cong-when
people hung onto the tyres of helicopters evacuating them".
****
A notice reportedly hungup at UNP headquarters 'Siri Kotha'.
"HOUSE FULL".
Wijeyapala Mendis on why he came back to the UNP:
"Does anyone question a man as to why he returns home."
****
What UNP MP Rajitha Senaratne said about the JVP after the dissolution:
"They now look like monkeys who have just eaten excreta".
The JVP's Wimal Weerawansa retorts:
"The UNP alliance is like a scavenging truck picking up muck from
all over and now carrying elephants, tigers and jackals"
****
Prof. G.L. Peiris at a news conference commenting about a statement
made by minister Anuruddha Ratwatte
"If people are to depend on rain gods for power supply, why have
a government at all. That means we are going back to the pristine age where
people live according to nature."
****
Former MEP member Bandula Gunawardhane on the JVP at a news conference:
"The JVP may have the remote control. But now we have prevented them
from switching channels."
****
Rauf Hakeem. at a news conference:
"As the man who started this debacle, all I have to say is, this
is definite retribution for the Mawanella incidents."
****
S.B. Dissanayake responding to a question whether the PA would resort
to rigging elections as it allegedly did last time:
"The PA cannot do that especially as I am not with them."
****
Ranil Wickremesinghe regarding the no confidence motion:
"The PA threw us a challenge by fixing a date for the no faith motion.
When the day dawned, they decided to run away from the backdoor."
****
Defector Ananda Moonesinghe at a news conference:
"I do respect the President for one thing, and one alone. She is
the daughter of two respectable SLFP leaders."
****
Minister Mangala Samaraweera on the post- dissolution relief package:
"What is wrong in announcing a relief package close to a poll? It
is much better to announce something good close to an election than not
at all."
President Kumaratunga addressing the PA group shortly after the defection
of three of her ministers:
****
" One man took everything from this party and received personal
benefits from me like no other. Another is a man of learning with not a
practical bone in his body. And the third left me because I told him not
to cut trees to get rich." |
