By Chris Kamalendran
The defeated PA claims that post polls violence against its candidates and supporters is continuing three weeks after the elections despite assurances by the new government and the police.
Amidst a spate of incidents and charges PA parliamentarian Salinda Dissanayake claimed the situation was so bad he could not even go back to his Kurunegala electorate.
But interior minister John Amaratunga responding to this charge claimed that Mr. Dissanayake had not even turned up to give a statement when a special police team was sent to the area.
In Anuradhapura district also reported to be badly affected by post poll violence former minister Tissa Karaliyaddha said scores of PA members working in the State Transport Board had been threatened not to come to work.
PA candidates claimed that during the past week alone more than 100 incidents had taken place while police were taking little or no action despite assurance from the IGP.
The candidates said the incidents included arson, intimidation, abduction and assault.
They said Kurunegala, Anuradhapura and Puttalam district were the worst affected.
As the violence spilled over into the third week, about 20 temporary shops mainly run by PA supporters in Ragama area were set ablaze on fire on Tuesday. The temporary shops had been given to supporters of PA MP Felix Perera and residents said they believed UNP supporters were now trying to get the shop space.
In some areas post poll violence is taking place against UNP supporters also.The Center for Monitoring Election Violence which sent a team to Gokarella said that of the 34 complaints 17 had been lodged by the PA and 16 by the UNP.
A claim by the PA that a supporter's testicles had been cut off during post poll violence in Weligama has been denied by PA politicians of the area.
The claim had been made in a report prepared by the PA polls Watch group. The report said the incident had occured on December 7.
However Indika Abeykoon, Vice Chairman of the PA controlled Weligama Pradeshiya Sabhawa, told The Sunday Times that as far as he knew no such incident had been reported.
"If such an incident had occurred I would have been the first to know about it. After the incident had been reported in the newspapers we checked with the police and the hospital but they were unaware of it," he said.
When The Sunday Times attempted to clarify the report with the PA polls Watch they said they would call back with the address of the victim, but until this edition went to press there was no response.
A Christmas eve truce between government troops and the LTTE is sending more positive signals to the country's stock market but frenzied trading is expected only after the New Year due to just two trading days this week in view of the holidays, analysts said.
"The market is bound to take off in the New Year with a lot of positive ground being covered in the peace process," said Dushanth Wijesinghe, research director at Asia Stockbrokers Ltd.
The government's response to a rebel truce announced on Wednesday was swift, and came on Friday. The ceasefire becomes effective the day Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe completes a three-day visit to India.
The new regime has also worked out an initial economic agenda which Finance Minister K. N. Choksy and his deputy Bandula Gunawardene are expected to spell it out today (Sunday) at a news conference in Colombo. Informed sources said the government was likely to announce a resumption of the reform measures proposed by the IMF with the possible signing of a fresh letter of intent including budget and deficit targets for the next year. These targets would be included in the delayed 2002 budget, now scheduled to be presented in parliament by end-February.
Minister Choksy confirmed that the budget would be presented by end February. He said there was no need for a separate vote on account since there has been an allocation of three months of funds after the first sitting of the new parliament on December 19. "This is a process followed by the president under the constitution and we have money till March 19," he told The Sunday Times.
He however declined to comment on other economic issues, saying that a lot of matters on the economy would be discussed at Sunday's news conference.
Stockbrokers and analysts said the overall confidence in the market had been raised with massive retail investment expected to be joined by institutional investment in coming weeks. "We are looking at the benchmark All Share Index at the Colombo Stock Exchange hitting the 800 point level by mid third quarter 2002," said Mr. Wijesinghe. The index inched towards the 600 mark at the close of trading on Friday.
Analysts said the ceasefire would put a cap on defence spending, trim the budget deficit and bring down interest rates. "The new government, after some initial disappointment on the appointment of some ministers, is making the correct signals like calling for a national government formation, initiating three committees on peace to prepare a more structured format for peace talks than a loose approach and a mutual ceasefire," said Mr. Wijesinghe.
He said foreign investors, however, were not going to be enthused by the signs unless they saw some positive developments in terms of peace talks and its initiation. Brokers said confidence was picking up in the market for the first time since 1995 when a breakdown in peace talks and labour unrest saw confidence waning.
The market has also been encouraged by government statements of a more aggressive privatisation of state ventures including Sri Lanka Telecom which has been on hold for close to a year due to inability of getting the best price. "We understand that the government will not wait for the best price but dispose of the Telecom stock at the best-available price," one analyst said.
With over 3000 suspected cases of dengue reported this year, the Epidemiology Unit has warned the public to take precautions by ensuring a clean environment to prevent the spread of the disease which has raised its ugly head again.
Dr. T. A. Kulatillake of the Epidemiology Unit said some areas might see an increase in the number of cases and the public should cooperate to keep the situation under control.
A total of 3442 suspected cases had been reported by Friday for this year while 213 of this were confirmed positive with 42 deaths, he said.
While sporadic cases were being reported from all over the country, Hambantota, Kandy, Matale and Kurunegala had seen an outbreak this month, Dr. Kulatillake said.
The Government Information Department is to be restructured as the Government Media Unit from next month, ministry sources said.
Meanwhile, the Government has made some temporary appointments in state media institutions until permanent appointments are made next month.
Accordingly, Mass Communication Ministry Secretary Kumar Abeysinghe is overseeing state run Lake House and the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Saman Athaudahetti, the Prime Minister's media officer, has been named as acting chairman of the Rupavahini Corporation while university lecturer Dhammika Ganganath Dissanayake is overseeing ITN and Lakhanda Radio.
Japan joined other countries in hailing the ceasefire agreement in Sri Lanka and said it hoped peace talks would begin soon.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry in a statement said it hoped the cessation of hostilities this time would contribute to creating the environment to facilitate the peace process.
"We hope the negotiations would begin at the earliest possible date to realise the collective will of the people for peace as shown in the General Elections this month," the statement said.
By Nilika de Silva
Pavement hawkers are back in their numbers in Pettah as Christmas shoppers crowd the streets.
Colombo Mayor Omar Kamil says he has given then temporary permission for pavement sales till January 1 but the hawkers appear to have more permanent ideas.
Mayor Kamil said because of the festive season the pavement hawkers were being permitted to sell their wares until January 1.
Unofficial permission was granted through the district office in Pettah because most of the hawkers had gone through a lean period during the past two months, Mr. Kamil said.
Though the mayor has set a deadline, hawkers appeared to be having other plans. "Our shops were broken by the previous government, but now we've set up again," grinned hawker Sarath indicating that the traders have no intention of leaving the pavements unless their shops are demolished again. The Urban Development Authority had demolished pavement shops in Pettah and other parts of the city earlier this year.
By Dilrukshi Handunnetti, Our Lobby Correspondent
Despite feeling burdened, the British Burgesses didn't have the courage to go before the King of England to air their grievances, as they feared reprisals. As their burdens increased, the need for an articulate, intelligent and above all a brave man to 'speak up' on behalf of the masses became a dire need.
The man who was to withstand the King's regal disdain and still urge redress for the suffering masses was chosen by popular consent, and was known as the "Speaker", the man who spoke. Despite his bravado, sometimes his courage failed, and two able patricians had to drag him before the King so that he may discharge his onerous duty as expected.
The inaugural sittings of Parliament usually generates euphoria. But last Wednesday's opening lacked that enthusiasm. The 12th Parliament will have 36 new faces, demonstrating a noticeable increase, with the highlight of the legislature being the inclusion of a Buddhist monk Ven. Baddegama Samitha Thero for the first time.
The UNP legislators beamed as they entered the precincts, their faces awash with anticipation having bid adieu to a seven year opposition stint, while those relegated to the opposition entered with downcast faces
The House that assembled for the first time in the aftermath of a bloody election campaign, also had its gruesome reminders of election violence. Mavai Senadhiraja, with his arm in a sling smilingly referred to his fractured arm as 'an election result from the North'. The stunning indictment on representative democracy in this troubled land was manifest when a legislator, TELO member M.K. Sivajilingam had to be brought into the House in a wheelchair, demonstrating the despicable levels that Sri Lankan politics has sunk to.
By 9.45 a.m., those who had fared successfully in the 'manape' battles began trooping in. The galleries were filled to capacity with families and well-wishers of legislators.
The first item on the agenda was the election of a Speaker, and UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya proposed the name of Joseph Michael Perera, which was promptly seconded by SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem.
A solemn looking Prime Minister Ranil Wickre-mesinghe was the first to make a congratulatory speech. Stressing that a ceased to belong to any political party, he said the government stood committed to inject discipline to the legislature, for which purpose he promised urgent amendments to the Standing Orders.
Opposition leader Ratnasiri Wickremanayake explained to the House, how the role of a Speaker who spoke on behalf of others has changed into that of a silent, impartial being who held the scales even. A hint of a warning was contained, as he said that if post election violence continued, the opposition would find their hands tied when the government needed their support.
The former Speaker Anura Bandaranaike injected some mirth into the solemn occasion as he noted that the new Speaker's trial and tribulations would be less compared to that of his. " You don't have a sister who is the Executive President, nor do you have your childhood friend as the opposition member to make things difficult" he noted.
After a series of speeches made by various political party leaders, the new speaker Joseph Michael Perera said that it was indeed a distinct honour bestowed upon him to adorn the House as Speaker, a height he never aspired to achieve during his 25-year-old political career.
Appealing to the House to co-operate with the new government's quest for peace, he said that the very foundations of the country have been rocked by our many divisions, culminating in peace becoming an illusive dream.
"Let's attempt to eschew out violence this Christmas season, and make a resolve to unitedly rebuild this nation and usher in lasting peace to our war ravaged motherland," he appealed.
With the hope of reaching consensus with the opposition shortly, the deputy speaker's post was kept open. Keheliya Rambukwella and Gayantha Karunathileke proposed and seconded the name of Hambantota member Siri Andrahennadi for the post of deputy chairman of committees.
The House indeed seemed strange with the saffron clad Ven. Baddegama Samitha thero, a progressive LSSP member also entering it. Rev. Cannon Boteju was the other member of the clergy to have entered our legislature before this, wayback in 1921.
Ven. Samitha thero's brief remarks of felicitation were greeted by 'sadhukara' from government and opposition benchers. Puttalam district member D.M. Dassanyake also drew attention as he was brought for the swearing in from the remand prison, with a prison guard escort.
Despite many protestations over lack of female representation in the legislature, the 12th Parliament includes only ten women, while father and son combinations - Alick and Ranjith Aluvihare and Reggie and Arjuna Ranatunge have secured mandates. Creating political history, husband and wife duo Ronnie and Mallika de Mel have also entered Parliament, one on the PA national list while the other was elected.
Australian on Friday named the LTTE as a terrorist organisation, including it among 25 terrorist groups in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 of September 28, 2001.
The list which was officially gazetted by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer states that this action shows the Australian Government's commitment in ensuring that Australia does not become a financial haven for terrorists.
The Anti Terrorism Regulations in Australia were implemented soon after the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States and the subsequent adaptation of UN Security Council Resolution, which calls on all states to prevent and suppress the financing of terrorist acts.
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