Matrimonial blues greet home coming

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti, Our Lobby Correspondent

Anura for CPA meeting

The Oxford dic tionary is clear on the definition of the word 'probation' which includes the "testing of conduct or character of a person, moral trial of discipline or a system of withholding sentence on selected offenders during good behaviour under supervision of a person".

The word acquired particular significance when Parliament met on Thursday ending a two-month long prorogation, with more being said on the 'probationary government' than the drought and power cuts that affect the commoner than power sharing agreements and unholy political alliances.

The UNP seemed deflated- what with its ambitious plans of power sharing and attempts to defeat Presidential policy statements to moving impeachments all compulsorily referred to a political back burner for the time being. 

In contrast, the government seemed in better spirits. Despite a shaky marriage of convenience to the JVP that had thrust strange bedfellows on a thorny matrimonial bed, the PA seemed happy to have outmanoeuvered the UNP.

Hence, Thursday's debate on an amendment to the General Marriages Ordinance had a jubilant government defending their new allies the JVP, in stark contrast to its earlier vituperative attacks.

The day began with UNP's Mahinda Samarasinghe rising to a matter of 'urgent privilege', labouring the point that an alleged statement issued by the Presidential Secretariat quoting the President where she had purportedly told diplomats that the government had sought legal expertise on how to circumvent the existing constitution to introduce another. The Kalutara member urged that such an attempt was contemptuous and a subversion of parliamentary powers.

What Samarasinghe saw as an attempt to intentionally violate the constitution providing 'impeachable grounds', was an insignificant matter meriting to be ruled out in the eyes of the Leader of the House Richard Pathirana.

UNP's John Amaratunga who opened the scheduled debate had much to say about marriages of political conveniences.

Waxing eloquent, the MP gave the Oxford meaning to the word 'probation' and mirthfully called the PA a 'juvenile delinquent' in need of rehabilitation. And who better than the JVP to hold the threat of cutting off oxygen supplies, suggested he amidst opposition laughter.

"Often we find juvenile offenders and they are put under a rigorous correction programme. If mistakes are repeated, they are remanded again" he noted.

"Why are you insulting a historic accord without debating the General Marriages Ordinance," queried PA's Chandrasiri Gajadheera, earning the Speaker's quick witted reply that this was instead about the PA-JVP marriage.

Explaining the travails of marriage when the cost of living was so high, Amaratunga lamented that bachelors would be compelled to remain unmarried. "It is not that difficult," interjected the witty Speaker, and Amaratunga responded: "You are luckier in more ways than one Sir".

Interrupting Amaratunga to explain the position was JVP's Wimal Weerawnsa who sought to explain that the political union should be seen as a subversion of one group by the other. "It is the subversion of a government to the will of the public" he declared, amidst thunderous opposition applause.

And John Amaratunga continued that the PA had plunged from one crisis to another- the latest being the power crisis which has plunged the country into darkness and despair. Amendments to the GMO would serve no purpose when newly weds would be compelled to grope in the dark, he said. But Minister Richard Pathirana was quick to assure that newly weds preferred the dark.

Responding to Amaratunga's lamentations, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said the UNP having failed to enter a power sharing agreement with the PA despite so much being on offer, now slighted the JVP's magnanimous role.

UNP's Tyronne Fernando, dubbed a vociferous advocator of a PA-UNP joint administration spoke next, doing his best to minimize damage to the UNP's negotiating team as he explained that the talks began because the PA so desired. He insisted that the UNP was offered the premiership because the PA needed UNP assistance to bail them out. "If we are to share your problems, we needed the powers to fix them as well. We are glad that the JVP has given you the shaking you deserved," noted Mr. Fernando.

Explaining the ramifications of the arrangement was Wimal Weerawansa himself, who said that he pitied whose attempted marriages have failed. Never has an agreement of this nature been reached without the number of posts being the foundation of an agreement. "But this marriage was not founded upon such dowries," declared Weerawansa, and up jumped Rajitha Senaratne to quip:

"This is a barren union with children not being produced," a remark Weerawansa opted to ignore.

The 'crisis maker' himself Rauf Hakeem spoke next.

Claiming that this marriage would soon be dissolved due to 'irreconcilable differences', Hakeem noted that if he backtracked now, he could still take away the remote control from the JVP's hands. "Each week, you shall collectively face stumbling blocks, and each day you shall remain subservient to the JVP because the SLMC changed the composition of the government," he charged.

"Sour grapes" chimed government hecklers, with flaying arms and occasional catcalls. "Not sour for me to watch your slavery and subservience as the JVP keeps you in bondage" threw back the SLMC leader, cautioning that what the JVP did not spell out in the MOU was actually when it intended to severe the PA's head altogether.

Bus operators take fare-hike case to JVP

Lanka Private Bus Owners Society President Gemunu Wijeratne said the JVP had told them not to increase the fares but they wanted to discuss other solutions which they believed would help them set off losses. He said they could agree to the one-year price increase freeze only if diesel prices were reduced. Mr. Wijeratne said that they were to write to international financial institutions, complaining about the government's indifference to their plight, but in view of the latest political deal, they decided to talk to the JVP first.

Reservoir water levels reaching danger mark

Although there has been a slight increase in rainfall during July, the previous month's rainfall was less, according to the Meteorological Department. 

According Met Department Director A.N. Amaradasa, the overall average rainfall has been low in all catchment areas.

The water level in the Randenigala reservoir has dropped beyond the lowest point at which the power plant can be operated. Thus the reservoir does not generate power but only releases water for irrigation purposes. 

The turbines at the Kotmale power plant are being used for short periods, as it is feared that with the water level being low the turbines will be damaged if used to the maximum. 

The water levels in most of the reservoirs have reached the minimum level at which the power plants can operate. When such a level is reached they have to be carefully operated to avoid mud and other residue entering the turbines.

The lack of sufficient rain from last October has resulted in the power crisis. However by October and November the inter-monsoon rains are expected to arrive.

Galle Road for normal traffic

They said the National Security Council was discussing this move to reopen the road which had been closed since 1994.

Customs confused in cricket car case

By Tania Fernando

In a letter to the Customs Director General, the Finance Ministry Secretary states that till a decision was made, Customs officials should not seize any vehicles.

Customs Director General Janak Gunaratne said he had received a letter from the Tourism Ministry secretary, advising there should not be harassment of those using tourist Industry vehicle permits, but Customs could take action if such permits had been sold. But the Finance Ministry letter said no action should be taken for the moment. Meanwhile, an inquiry was held on Tuesday on allegations that a former cricket captain's wife had used a car permit that was issued to a hotel in the south. She and the managing director of the hotel were told that the car had been confiscated and the non production of the car would mean a fine of Rs. 4.5 mn. The wife was ordered to pay Rs. 100,000 for her involvement in this case, while the hotel was ordered to pay Rs. 400,000 for having sold the permit. They were ordered to make these payments on Thursday, so far Customs officials have not received the money, though the Customs chief said inquiries were continuing. Customs sources said the letter from the Finance Ministry Secretary was sent in the wake of this incident and Customs officials were under pressure to drop the probe.

Outstanding media men Chennai bound 

Mr. Jayasinghe was selected as the Best Sinhala Language journalist of the year 2000 and Mr. Ranasinghe, the Upali Wijewardene Feature Writer of the year 2000, at the recently concluded Journalism Awards for Excellence programme of The Editor's Guild of Sri Lanka, a press release from the Guild said. In 1999, the Aranayake correspondent of the Dinamina, Pradeep Kumara, the winner of the D. R. Wijewardene Award was sent on a scholarship to Thailand and in 2000, staff photographer at The Sunday Times, Gemunu We-llage, winner of the Best Photographer Award was sent on a tour of India through the good offices of the External Affairs Ministry of the Government of India. During their stay in Chennai, Messrs Jayasinghe and Ranasinghe will observe the teaching facilities at the newly established Asian College of Journalism headed by its dean Prof. Thomas K. Oomen and be on attachment with The Hindu newspaper, the release added.

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