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Ultimatum to President: JHU to decide soon
Rajapaksa walks out of Temple Trees meeting, but later apologises to Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera
Coal crisis explodes, Champika challenges Pavitra on charges of huge fraud
UNP leader under pressure to agree on another common candidate but Premadasa issues complicate party crisis
President Rajapaksa delivering the Budget speech in Parliament on Friday, while Prime Minister D.M.Jayaratne and House Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva appear to be asleep.
Some two thousand university students staged a protest Tuesday evening choking traffic on the roads in Kotte.
Even if they did not win their demands including enhanced bursaries, members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-backed Inter University Students Federation (IUSF) did succeed in two ways. One was causing a traffic jam that took hours to clear. The second, more importantly, was to disrupt President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s engagements that day.
He was at the Water’s Edge in nearby Battaramulla. He was chief guest at the awards ceremony for the best performing Municipal Council and Urban Council. The ceremony organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Provincial Councils also covered the best performing Pradeshiya Sabha.
Rajapaksa had to return to “Temple Trees” for his next engagement at 5.30 p.m. Presidential security personnel had a tough job on their hands — how to quickly escort the President. If it is only 55 minutes from Kottawa to Galle (Pinnaduwa), a distance of 96.3 kilometres on the Southern Expressway, from Kotte to Kollupitiya, just over seven kilometres, now takes over 90 minutes during rush hours in the morning or evening. That again depends on the approach roads where traffic lanes are being narrowed down to create wider pedestrian walks or the construction of new bridges.
Presidential security men escorted Rajapaksa from Battaramulla to Nugegoda and took a circuitous route. It was almost 6.30 p.m. when he arrived at his official residence.
By then, a delegation from the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) had started a meeting with UPFA leaders. It was more an exchange of pleasantries and did not focus on the subject matter then. The JHU delegation was led by Party Leader Venerable Omalpe Sobitha Thera and included Ven. Athureliya Rathana Thera, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka and Nishantha Warnasinghe. Representing the UPFA were its General Secretary Minister Susil Premajayantha, Ministers Basil Rajapaksa and Dullas Allahapperuma. External Affairs Ministry Monitoring MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena was seen walking in and out when the meeting was under way.
After Rajapaksa took the chair, the meeting assumed a more formal atmosphere. He first hurriedly gleaned through a three-page document encompassing the resolutions adopted at the JHU’s 11th annual convention. It was held last Sunday at the National Youth Service Council auditorium in Maharagama. In fact, last Monday, a day ahead of their meeting, the JHU had delivered to Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga a copy of the same document.
The gloves come off
Almost as the President finished reading, Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera began to brief Rajapaksa on the JHU’s position. He said that his party was satisfied with the first five years of Rajapaksa’s presidency since 2005. The JHU was also happy with the period after the military defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). However, the JHU was not pleased with what was happening in the UPFA Government from 2010 till 2014, he declared. There were many issues domestically, internationally and on the economic front. The Government was spending enormously but there were little or no returns to the people. The JHU had been speaking a lot on this issue but nothing had happened, he said.
The Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera said there was no independent mechanism to combat humongous corruption. There should also be an independent Elections Commission, measures to ensure the independence of the judiciary and a Right to Information Act (which would only exclude national security matters). He pointed out that the JHU raised strong protests when large hauls of heroin were discovered in Colombo. The party also voiced similar protests when there were moves to open casinos. He said, “Our voices were not heard. That is why we are presenting a package of reform proposals,” he added. JHU’s Ven. Rathana Thera had warned earlier that if Rajapaksa did not heed the JHU’s calls, they would have to do what they could to defeat Rajapaksa at the presidential election.
Rajapaksa was to explain that there were time constraints. It was not possible to bring Constitutional changes within the time available before the presidential poll. He said that if the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was in favour, the reforms could be implemented later. Government sources say Rajapaksa will issue a proclamation on November 20 calling for a presidential poll. Whilst there is strong speculation at the highest levels of the UPFA that nominations would be in the first week of December, polls are to be held on one of three dates — January 7, 8 or 9. The most favoured is said to be Rajapaksa’s favourite number 8. The presidential election in 2005 was held on November 17 (his birthday). The two numerals when added are 8. Similarly, the 2010 presidential elections were held on January 26, where the two numerals added also make 8. These sources said astrological advice was that the timing for the presidential poll was most auspicious until January 23.
Unable to face the truth
President Rajapaksa was visibly angry at the turn the meeting was taking. He rose from his chair, excused himself and walked away saying he had another engagement. He asked the other UPFA leaders to continue the discussion. Whilst moving away from his seat, he told Ven. Rathana Thera that “You and I come from the same village” and expressed displeasure that remarks about defeating him at the presidential poll had been made. At an October 14 BMICH meeting where leaders of the UPFA and opposition political parties were represented, Ven. Rathana Thera had issued the ultimatum to the President either implement the JHU proposals or face efforts by the JHU to defeat him. Palatuwa in the Kamburupitiya electorate of the Matara District was where Rajapaksa was born. It was in his mother Paltuwawe Dona Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake’s village. Ven. Rathana Thera was born in the adjoining village of Athureliya.
The JHU delegation talked for a while with Minister Basil Rajapaksa and two of his colleagues. Minister Rajapaksa said the JHU reform proposals could be placed before the SLFP Central Committee, discussed and implemented thereafter. It was no secret that the JHU delegation was displeased when they withdrew.
If their ultimatum was not heeded, there was also strong displeasure that Rajapaksa had walked out in a manner which a senior JHU member described as “most disrespectful.”
The next day, Wednesday, Rajapaksa telephoned Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera to say he was sorry if he had in anyway offended their feelings when he walked away. He had said it was not intentional or was in any way meant to insult members of the sangha in the JHU delegation. However, that Tuesday night the party had already embarked on a string of measures that would see the exit of the JHU from the UPFA Government even before the presidential proclamation is issued. The party has sought meetings with other Buddhist organisations in the next few days. Although a formal decision is still pending, a high ranking JHU source said, “We will make a public announcement very soon, possibly next week.”
The mood in the JHU vis-à-vis the UPFA Government is one that is bitter. Ven. Omalpe Sobhita Thera was absent at the annual convention since he was abroad. He had arrived on time for the meeting with President Rajapaksa. The speech by Ven. Rathana Thera at the convention last Sunday reflected the party’s thinking.
Here are edited excerpts:
“At the next Presidential election it will be decided whether a single person’s horoscope is powerful or the future of some twenty million people is more important. We wish to tell the astrologers that the auspicious times of the millions of people are stronger than those of one person.
“One of our proposals is to streamline the ministries because they are overlapping. We want this done before the Presidential election. Another proposal is the independence of the judiciary. A good leader should be someone who shares responsibilities and makes judgement on the good and the bad. The leader should be a judge. But what has happened today. Some ministries are less influential. Portfolios held by Vasudeva Nanayakkara, D.E.W.Gunasekara and some others are less important. Majority of the funds are spent by the ministries held by the President. That is indecent. The late J.R. Jayewardene was one of the bad rulers we have seen. But even he did not do that. The Finance Ministry was given to someone else. The Mahaweli Ministry was given to Gamini Dissanayake. Houses were constructed by Mr. Premadasa. Therefore there were seven to eight ministers who were powerful. But today how many influential ministers do we have? I do not want to tell too much of that, because we are still in the Government.
“Wherever there has been foreign intervention in countries it has been due to a breakdown of democracy. We have witnessed some bad events in the past like in 1989. This type of situation arises when there is no democracy and no independent judiciary. On the introduction of casinos we were told that they would be allowed to function in areas where there aren’t many people. But instead what happened? Permission was given to set up casinos in the Colombo city. The JHU cannot agree to this. The government says the country has developed. But we depend on the remittances that come from the women who work overseas. This money is spent on import of milk food.
“It is under this Government that the Sinhala race will suffer. How many women do we send to Middle Eastern countries? We have demanded that this be stopped, but no decision has been taken to date. The country is run by two to three people who make arbitrary decisions. It seems the main objective is to make money. Remember life is short, but I do not understand why leaders are selfish.
“This President has gained a lot of respect for eradicating terrorism. He can have his name written in golden letters. It will depend on the policy he follows. If he follows the proper policies he can gain that respect. If he takes a policy decision on our proposals he can gain that respect. We will be with him. If not we will have to take a decision. These proposals should be implemented before the Presidential election.”
Some of the highlights of the JHU proposals placed before President Rajapaksa are:
POLITICAL REFORMS:
To limit the number of portfolios to be held by the Executive President through a provision of the Constitution.
The Cabinet of Ministers to be reduced to minimum of 20 Ministers and maximum of 25 Ministers. The subjects of ministries should be divided on a scientific basis. Maximum number of deputy ministers 35.
The Executive President to be answerable to Parliament and be subject to judicial action.
To amend the provisions of the Constitution that infringe on the sovereignty of the country. These provisions include Land and Police powers in the Provincial Council System.
STATE ADMINISTRATION:
Only professionals in the relevant disciplines or Public Servants to be appointed as Ministry Secretaries.
To have a Peoples’ Consultation Bureau consisting of intellectuals, entrepreneurs, professionals, trade unionists and representatives from NGOs to assist the Cabinet of Ministers for formulation of State policy.
Appointments of non-career diplomats to the Foreign Service cadre be limited to 35% and there should be proper guidelines even when these appointments are made.
LAW AND JUDICIARY:
To have a centralised judiciary for the whole country and scrap laws which are based on ethnicity or limited to certain areas.
Ensure the independence of the Judiciary and all appointments to the Judiciary on merit and experience.
The powers of the President to appoint any person to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court to be scrapped and to formulate proper procedures regarding such appointments.
GOOD GOVERNANCE:
To set up a Commission with powers, financial and human resources needed to investigate cases of corruption independently.
To create an independent Election Commission to regulate election laws, raising of funds by candidates, expenditure at elections and use of various propaganda methods. This Commission should have powers to control the misuse of State property for elections, to regulate media institutions and to direct the Police during elections.
BUDDHISM, RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ETHICS:
Introduce a Bill in Parliament in keeping with clause nine of the Constitution which specifies the protection of the Buddha Sasana and fostering the religion while giving freedom to other faiths.
To have the Ministry of Buddha Sasana under the direct authority of the President.
To form a Supreme Religious Council giving priority to problems affecting the Buddha Sasana and other faiths and to promote co-existence among religious groups.
To punish severely by law those who are guilty of charges of narcotics and disclose the names of the offenders.
SINHALA HERITAGE:
To resettle the Sinhala population ousted from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts in terms of the demographic distribution of ethnic ratio in the population census in 1971.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:
To introduce legislation to prohibit economic gains through casino, drugs, betting and prostitution in the country.
Whether it was a co-incidence or a swift response to the only JHU minister in the cabinet in a case of the empire striking back, is not clear. Pavithra Wanniarachchi who succeeded Champika Ranawaka as Minister for Power and Energy cast collective responsibility to the winds when she declared in Parliament that one of her predecessors’ deals were now being probed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). She was answering a question raised by the United National Party’s Harsha de Silva.
Wanniarachchi said CID detectives were investigating the import of 143,932 metric tonnes of coal imported in November 2012. This was after the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) reported that a loss of Rs. 852,768,000 had occurred “in generating electricity by burning these coals.” She added: “In addition, it was calculated that the loss occurred due to supply of 29,896 metric tonnes less than the agreed quantity of coal at the same price and within the same quality….” She has declared that the cumulative loss was more than Rs 1.507 billion. The ‘calorific value’ of the relevant coal consignment at the point of power generation by burning the consignment of coal, “is less than the calorific value” in the laboratory tests carried out. She said that the discrepancies had occurred before she took over as minister.
Not to be outdone, Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka called a news conference on Friday to rebut the claims. He said, “”We have been compelled to respond to the allegations referred to by Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi in Parliament on Thursday as I was the Minister in charge of the subject at that time. The incident to which the Minister referred to is correct, but it took place without the knowledge of the Ministry. The particular coal shipment was imported by Lanka Coal — a company floated by the Finance, Ports, Power and Energy ministries. It was the Ceylon Shipping Corporation which undertook the unloading of the stocks of coal. The sea is rough during this period and usually the unloading of coal is not done. The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) had not given its permission for this unloading.
“The purchase had been made from not the usual company from which we obtained supplies. We rejected the stocks as the coal was of inferior quality. I ordered an inquiry into this purchase. The Coal company’s then Chairman T.M. Herath, was removed from the post and a new Board of Directors was named. A few days later I was removed from the Ministry and entrusted with another subject. A few days after I was removed, Mr Herath was named as the Vice Chairman of the CEB.
I am happy that this issue has come to the public domain. We have relevant documents which can be submitted to the CID. This is part of corrupt activity. You may find out how one company has been given the contract to import coal without calling for tenders.”
Another UPFA partner, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), is now consulting its grassroots level organisations. Party leader Rauff Hakeem told the Sunday Times, “Whichever candidate we are to market before our supporters should make known the programme for our core constituency.” He said the SLMC had not come to any “conclusive decision.” It would be taken only after wide consultations, he said. On Tuesday, the party’s annual convention takes place and the matter is to figure prominently. One of the political parties that have sounded out the SLMC informally is the main opposition UNP.
UNP and its greenhouse effects
Even if the UNP is now in election mode in a limited way, the attention of the party appears to be still focused on putting its house in order. On Thursday evening, leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had another round of talks at his office at Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha with his deputy, Sajith Premadasa. Also present were Party Chairman Kabir Hashim and Wickremesinghe’s close friend Malik Samarawickrema, who holds no position in the party now, except for being a member of the Working Committee.
No details of the discussion were immediately available. However, one source said the discussion centered on tasks to be entrusted to Premadasa as the Deputy Leader. Premadasa had earlier placed a list of demands through a broker to be forwarded by General Secretary Tissa Attanayake to Wickremesinghe. The UNP leader did not accept the list and has insisted that no such demands would be heeded. The matter, the source said, figured at the talks with Premadasa raising issue about his role. He had said that General Secretary Tissa Attanayake had told Tiran Alles (an MP of the Democratic National Alliance) that the requests he made to accept the post of Deputy Leader had been agreed to.
Wickremesinghe was to reply that the functions Premadasa had sought belonged to the party and hence he was not in a position to confer them on others. It was suggested that Premadasa together with party chairman Kabir Hashim should spearhead the party’s Jana Jaya or People’s Victory programme. It envisages strengthening the party’s grassroots level organisations. However, Premadasa did not appear enthusiastic, said the source. The meeting ended inconclusively. The source said Wickremesinghe may seek another meeting with Premadasa. Matters relating to the upcoming presidential election and the budget debate were also discussed.
Wickremesinghe is also due to meet Harin Fernando, former MP and now Leader of the Opposition in the Uva Provincial Council. The party source said this was also to discuss the responsibilities he would be tasked with as Deputy National Organiser. “Once these matters are finalised, the leader will provide in writing each person’s responsibilities in the new offices they hold,” the source added. That would include a letter to Premadasa too, spelling out his new tasks.
A notable development on Friday was a move by UNP parliamentarians to boycott the tea party hosted by President Rajapaksa after he presented the budget. He is also the Minister of Finance and Planning. As soon as Rajapaksa ended reading the budget, these MPs went to the upper floor office of the Leader of the Opposition. There Wickremesinghe presided over a meeting of the UNP parliamentary group. A notable absentee was Premadasa. He was seen speaking to reporters just a little distance away from where the meeting was being held. Also boycotting the President’s tea party was the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and MPs who are members of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). The only opposition party in attendance was the Tamil National Alliance (TNA).
Earlier on Friday, the UNP’s “Group of 20″ also met in the Parliament complex. Wickremesinghe was to announce that the six-point common minimum programme formulated by the party has been accepted by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera. The prelate will now address at least one meeting in every district to educate the people on the importance of it, he said. He urged that all party MPs give their fullest support to this initiative. Conspicuous by his absence was Deputy Leader Premadasa. Also absent were Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Harin Fernando and Kabir Hashim.
For the UNP, these developments came as sections appealed to leader Wickremesinghe to bring together all opposition and civil society groups to pick on a “suitable common candidate.” They are urging him to prepare himself to play the role of the Prime Minister once the winner, who comes on the undertaking of abolishing the executive presidency, sets upon that task. Formidable among them is the Eksath Bhikku Peramuna (United Bhikku Front) which is literally the Buddhist clergy arm of the UNP. On Wednesday, the EBP met at the Nalandaramaya Temple in Nugegoda.
After a lengthy discussion the EBP decided to inform Wickremesinghe of its appeal to him to select a “common candidate” and not contest. A delegation from the EBP led by Ven. Girambe Ananda Thera, Anunayake of the Amarapura Nikaya, met Wickremesinghe last evening. Others in the delegation included Ven. Bopitiya Dhammasara Thera, Ven. Thiniyawala Palitha Thera and Ven. Attanganey Sasanaratne Thera.
Ven. Ananda Thera told Wickremesinghe the delegation was concerned about the country. He said it was his duty to work towards protecting it. He had a greater role to play. Hence, the delegation said the UNP should talk to all political parties on a common minimum programme. They said that the UNP leader should prepare him for a much more important role and urged him to work towards that. This was whilst the party picks on an “acceptable common candidate.”
Wickremesinghe has been hearing viewpoints from different groups. Other than the “G-20″ meeting where he declared his candidature should be announced only after a presidential proclamation was issued, he had not made any public comments. After that meeting, the party has changed posture to say the candidate would be decided upon and announced only after the proclamation. In the unlikely event of Wickremesinghe agreeing to a candidate other than himself, he would have another dilemma on his hands. Premadasa has already declared that if the UNP leader is not contesting, it would have to be him.
If the dates speculated turn out to be correct, there are barely ten weeks left for a presidential election. The UPFA has gone into full throttle planning its election campaign. Meetings with different professional groups are already under way. However, for the main opposition UNP, putting things in order within continues to preoccupy it. The main issue appears to be the future role of Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa. If his demands are not heeded, it is almost certain he would not put his best foot forward. So, worries are greater for leader Wickremesinghe both within and outside as he sets out to take on Mahinda Rajapaksa.