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13th January 2002

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The brave soldiers who fought against LTTE to save the country and the soldiers who are missing inaction were remembered at a ceremony held at Panagoda Regiment on Friday. Picture shows a soldier saluting against a background of a Ranaviru statue. Pic by Athula Devapriya
The brave soldiers who fought against LTTE to save the country and the soldiers who are missing inaction were remembered at a ceremony held at Panagoda Regiment on Friday. Picture shows a soldier saluting against a background of a Ranaviru statue. Pic by Athula Devapriya
Contents

PM heralds peace at party convention

By Nilika de Silva
Prime Minister and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe yesterday reiterated that he was confident of achieving success in his peace effort though the path ahead was a hazardous one.

"The road we travel will not be short, it is a long road. It is a road on which you cannot travel fast. It is a slow road. It is not an easy road. It is a difficult road. The road to peace is slippery, rugged and full of potholes. We will travel on it with eyes open to ensure that we deliver peace without dividing the country," Mr. Wickremesinghe told UNP members at the party's 47th convention at the Colombo Town Hall yesterday.

The Prime Minister said the peace process the new UNF government had launched would safeguard the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka while recognising rights and aspirations of all its citizens.

"We know that there are people and groups who hold different views about this road. We will talk to them so that the solution would be acceptable to all," Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

Recalling violent protests against the Indo-Sri Lanka accord in 1997, the Prime Minister warned that his government would not allow those who opposed the peace initiative to set this country on fire again.

"Seven years ago, when I took over the post of Leader of the party, it was restricted to only a name board. I came before you at the 1994 convention and gave you a pledge that we would win. I was able to transform this party to a party capable of forming a government. 

"But I must say that now I have been given a country limited to a name board. As I strived to develop the party, I assure you that the UNF would strive even harder to develop this country," Mr. Wickremesinghe said adding that the task of resurrecting a country with a negative growth rate was the toughest challenge he faced.


Move to gain access backfires

Wheeler dealers, not to mention those arms dealers who amassed billions in collusion with their uniformed buddies during the People's Alliance regime, appear to be back in business with the advent of the United National Front government.

Among those in the frontline is one who has had unimpeded access to the higher echelons of the defence establishments. Once dubbed as " kommis kakka" by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the big boss made his presence felt at a glittering party at the Colombo Hilton on December 30.

The occasion was to felicitate late Gamini Atukorale, when he became Minister of Transport, Highways and Civil Aviation.

"How did he gain entry into this party?" asked Mr. Atukorale in his bewilderment. 

"He had access to the people who organised this party," responded a guest.

"Probably, he is footing the bill," another commented. "I have to be careful about these fellows," Mr. Atukorale is reported to have said in his inimitable style. 

On December 31, this arms dealer hosted a party with a musical extravaganza at his Borella residence, with the invitees being some government heavy -weights. The previous day (December 30), the lavish entertainer par excellence was pleading with one of the close associates of the Prime Minister, who was holidaying with him at Diyatalawa, to grace this occasion. Frantic calls were made to PM's close friend asking him to attend the 31st night bash.

Having continued this party until the wee hours of the morning, he held another grand party with loud music for the kids of certain higher ups in Colombo, on Saturday, January 5. The revelry began just as fires from the funeral pyre of late Mr. Atukorale were rising into the sky at Seevali Grounds Ratnapura.

This extravaganza with loud music in his specially built permanent open-air pavilion created much nuisance to his neighbours who had several sleepless nights because of the several parties held previously. At 3 in the morning, when a much-affected neighbour sent the Police Emergency car to stop this over-loud music, they were politely told that sons and daughters of so-and -so were here.

In another attempt at 3 in the morning, Borella police also sent their Patrol vehicle with a plea to stop this loud music — but in vain. 



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