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Chaotic WPC faces cut of funds
By Nilika de Silva
The PA-controlled Western Provincial Council is once again in crisis with the UNF government threatening to cut off funds after the council defied a court order by appointing a new chairman.

The cabinet of ministers at Wednesday's meeting discussed the possible cut of funds but the PA-appointed Western Province Governor Alavi Moulana accused the government of trying to stifle the council.

The PA-ruled council on Tuesday appointed Deputy Chairman Jagath Angage to the post of Chairman despite a District Court order restraining it from taking any action till August 30

The Western Provincial Council's UNP opposition leader Kithsiri Kahatapitiya said the council did not function on anyone's private funds and he supported the government's move to cut off funds if the WPC was being run according to the whims of some persons.

He charged that the PA was working with the JVP in a bid to cling to office in the WPC.

The Council is composed of 104 members. The PA has 49 seats, including three MEP seats, the UNP 44, the JVP 8, the NSSP, DWC, and SLMC one seat each.

The PA's Sumith Wijayamuni Zoysa, Leader of the House in the council, said the council had a direct mandate from the sovereign people and its decisions could not be over-ruled by courts.

After the council made its decision, the sessions again turned chaotic and Mr. Zoysa adjourned proceedings till September 3.

A new chairman was appointed to succeed the PA's Saddhatissa Sakalasuriya who had earlier been ousted after a no-confidence motion.

CPA delegation hopeful of a better future for SL
By Faraza Farook
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's UK delegation on Friday urged the need to begin whatever development work or programme in Sri Lanka now, and not wait for the dawn of peace.

Conservative party MP Baroness Flather of belonging to the seven-member UK delegation visiting Sri Lanka last week said that governments must recognise what needs be done and do it now.

Speaking at a press conference held on Friday at the Trans Asia Hotel she said, "When we go back, we must tell everyone who will listen to us that we must not sit back and say we will do this or that when peace comes. We must all be doing things now and we must be talking to our governments and say 'help now' ".

The seven-member delegation included MPs from both the Labour party and the Conservative party and the Secretary of the CPA UK who were here for over a week on a 'learning process', studying the culture of our country, talking to politicians and the common man, on political, social and economic issues.

The delegation expressed its enthusiasm over the peace process and said they are looking at what's happening here in Sri Lanka with great optimism. Further, they assured that UK would assist in any way possible.

"It's not and easy road to travel and you will have many problems down the way. I don't know how it will end, it will take its time, MP James Gray said. The delegation met government and opposition members, the Prime Minister, NGOs and visited several institutions in and out of Colombo including Jaffna. However, they were unable to meet representatives of the LTTE as the CPA office in Sri Lanka which is responsible in preparing the programmes and the agenda had been unable to organise it. Leader of the delegation Kevin Baron MP said, they were the first overseas delegation to have visited Jaffna in 30 years. In Jaffna, the team met the Navy Commander and deputy commander, in addition to several other officers with whom a wide variety of issues including the potential for peace and the present situation in Sri Lanka were discussed.

District Administrators in the Jaffna peninsula briefed the delegation on the ground situation while UNHCR discussed issues they were dealing with, in particular, the clearance of land mines.

While Sri Lanka had been torn with violence and misery for the last several years, the delegation was glad to learn of the commitment of the elected representatives to making Sri Lanka a better place to live in.

Armitage for UNF, PA cohabitation
The US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage during his short visit to Sri Lanka had expressed hope that the two main political parties -the UNF and the PA would work together and continue the cohabitation process.

Mr. Armitage expressed his concern regarding problems about the cohabitation agreement when he called on former Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar who met the visiting US official in his capacity as President Kumaratunga's International Affairs Advisor.

Mr. Armitage and Mr. Kadirgamar discussed a wide range of topics which also included fears about the proposed interim council.

'The interim administration (to the north and east) should be deeply rooted in the constitution. It cannot be allowed have a life on its own', Mr Kadirgamr had told the US official.

With regard to the existing ban on the LTTE in the United States which was also discussed, Mr. Armitage pointed out that at present there was no question about its removal of the ban.

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