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President smart, Wimal smarter
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Otto Von Bismarck once remarked that politics is the art of the possible. This is the story of a battle of wits between two Sri Lankan politicians who have practised that art to some perfection. One is President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the other, Minister Wimal Weerawansa, leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF).
A meeting of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) MPs or organisers in five electorates in the Colombo District was held at the Open Air Stadium in the Viharamahadevi Park. Before being driven to the event, the President telephoned Mr. Weerawansa to ask him to come over to ‘Temple Trees’ so the two can travel together. However, he was not contactable. Knocking his mobile phone off, he had been taking part in the NFF’s election rally in Badulla.
Days later, Minister Weerawansa called President Rajapaksa from Moneragala. He was to appeal to him to travel to Badalkumbura when he is on the campaign trail. He said an ancient temple there, which had been visited by Dutugemunu and an adjoining village, would go under water if a diversion project in the area got under way. He said the village was well known for pepper and coffee. Some, he said, were earning as much as Rs. 100,000 a month. President Rajapaksa said he would do so.
He then asked his minister where he was on the day the event in Colombo took place. On being told he was in Uva, Mr. Rajapaksa seized the opportunity to invite his minister to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) convention in Badulla. Kohoma hari enna oney (you must somehow come), he exhorted.That no doubt was a knotty political issue for Mr. Weerawansa. He was fielding candidates in Badulla on the NFF ticket. What would his candidates and would-be voters say if he took part in an SLFP event?
He sent Deepal Gunasekera, a member of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council, to represent him.
Cow and goat
It was literally a case of getting the goat into him. The United National Party’s Kurunegala District Parliamentarian, Ashoka Abeysinghe, raised a question in Parliament about the import of cows and goats. The reply came from H.R. Mithrapala, Deputy Minister of Livestock and Rural Community Development. He said Rs. 66 million was allocated to import 2,500 dairy cows this year. He said so far some 2,000 had arrived.
Mr. Abeysinghe wanted to know if any goats were imported in 2010, 2011 and 2012. He claimed millions of rupees had been spent on them. All what Deputy Minister Mithrapala could say was that no money has been allocated in 2013 and 2014 to import goats.That left Mr. Abeysinghe wondering what happened to the goats and above all what happened to the money allocated. This episode brings to mind another humorous event involving goats. Years ago, a British executive who had a passion for growing crotons, got some rare plants. He planted them in his garden and gifted one to his office assistant, Faleel.
Months later, he asked, “Faleel, how are your crotons doing.” Pat came the reply “Sir, Mutton ate the croton.” That was his way of saying a goat had devoured the young plant.
Polls chief says he is powerless after 18A
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake was somewhat puzzled at the comments made by Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya, when they met officially for the first time last week.
“This is the second JVP leader I am shaking hands with,” Mr. Deshapriya said. Asked what he meant, he said the previous one was Rohana Wijeweera, the slain leader of the JVP.
Later when they sat down to a discussion, the Commissioner confessed that he was powerless since the introduction of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. There were several obstacles for him to enforce the law. He said the political parties should therefore initiate action on their own.
Minister planted
“You are not present at most Cabinet meetings,” noted President Mahinda Rajapaksa pointing to Plantations Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe.
Since the remarks were made, insiders say, he has been regularly taking part in weekly ministerial meetings.
Vasu looking for a new building in Kotte
The Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration is responsible for the implementation of the Official Language Policy, the Social Integration Policy and Ethnic Affairs. These tasks are carried out by Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara from a private building for which a monthly rent of Rs. 1.7 million is being paid. He has cautioned that the rental would soon become higher.
Minister Nanayakkara now wants President Mahinda Rajapaksa to cancel a vesting order for land bestowed on the Kotte Municipal Council. He wants half of this land, some 75 perches, to construct a building for the Ministry of National Languages and Social Integration.A Government source said that with Parliamentary elections due any time after April next year, whether such a Ministry would continue to function remains an important question. Who cares when more and more ministries are putting up their own buildings?
Education Minister’s plan for child-friendly primaries
Details are now emerging about Education Minister Bandula Gunawardena’s proposal to open five “New Child-Friendly Primary Schools” within the Colombo District due to what he calls limitations on number of students entering Grade I and II in 2016. He says a Supreme Court decision restricting the number of students in a class room of a Government school to 35 may lead to a “problematic situation.” He argues that a majority of residents in close proximity to schools will not be able to get schools closer to their residences.
Therefore, he proposes that five schools within the Colombo District — where the student population is large – should be fully equipped and developed as “as child friendly Primary schools as an alternative to the current problematic situation.”He proposes that five “under developed” schools in the Colombo District be selected and administered by the Ministry of Education. He has sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to get Rs. 100 million for each such school.
Ministers discussed the matter recently. President Mahinda Rajapaksa asked Minister Gunawardena to first discuss the matter at a meeting of the Colombo District Co-ordinating Committee.
Industrial estates in former war zones
Industries and Commerce Minister Rishad Bathiuddin has recommended to the Government that industrial estates be set up in Weli Oya and Musali, both war-ravaged areas.
A Government official said the matter was now being studied by the Ministry of Finance and Planning. Fifty acres of land in Weli Oya and 25 acres in Musali have been identified for the purpose.
Buses to Jaffna: Sariya, Sariya
Minister Douglas Devananda tried to practise Sinhala at last Thursday’s depleted ministerial meeting. Most ministers were absent. They were either engaged in the Uva Provincial Council election campaign or taking part in other events. Mr. Devananda complained about the bus services to Jaffna. Minister C.B. Ratnayake told the EPDP (Eelam People’s Democratic Party) leader to speak in Tamil and he would reply in the same language.
After Minister Ratnayake ended his explanation, there was a stentorian voice asking, “Sariya, Sariya” (Tamil for ‘Is it right?). There was laughter all round. The occasion also saw Rajapaksa ticking off Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne. “You went to India to talk on fishery matters. Why did you have to speak on Kachchativu when that is ours?”
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em
Has the main opposition United National Party (UNP) placed an unwritten moratorium on its members raising issue both in and outside Parliament over matters relating to the Ministry of External Affairs?
At least some insiders seem to think so. The reason? A lady politician in the party successfully sought the help of a supervising type in the EAM to have her sibling join a diplomatic mission.
Now comes the news that another lady politico has followed suit. But her efforts bore fruit only because of the clout of a UNP stalwart who sports the word ‘leader’ as part of his name.
So how could they complain that it was only friends and relatives of the UPFA leadership who are posted to Sri Lanka diplomatic missions overseas? They could say relatives of the UNP are there too — and through the back door of political influence. Guess it’s a case of “if you can’t beat them; join them”.
National Safe Home for child victims
Special protection is to be given to victims of child abuse and other forms of violence, while they await conclusion of judicial proceedings against perpetrators.
For this purpose, the National Child Protection Authority is to set up two different establishments. They are a National Child Counselling Centre and a National Safe Home.
The move comes on the initiative of the Ministry of Child Development and Women’s Affairs. A building for the purpose is to be constructed by the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation.
Free: Rs. 5 m TV package for opposition politico
An opposition candidate in the Uva Provincial Council election has been the beneficiary of a TV broadcaster’s largesse.
He has approved five million rupees of promotional work for him in the channel owned by him. It is free of charge.