Political Column

Political Column

The Ranil & George show at Oval office

Lost his Defence Minister at home, guard-of-honour at the Pentagon

“Mr. Prime Minister - do you think the President did this to embarrass you at a time you were my guest " asked a seemingly annoyed US President George W. Bush as Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe sat down for what turned out to be a 35-minute chat at the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday.

It was hardly 24 hours after President Chandrika Kumaratunga had pulled the carpet from under the premier's feet - so to say - because the premier was out of the country, and as to how a Reuter report referred to yesterday as the 'cut-throat politics of Sri Lanka', this came as no real surprise to most.

Certainly not to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe who seemed to have an inkling of what was about to unfold in Colombo - though the timing may have taken him, and all others, by an element of surprise no doubt.

The night before he had received a telephone call at around 2 am while he slept at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Washington DC. His office was desperately trying to break the news to him.

It was not the kind of news that could make him go back to sleep. UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrama then explained to him the happenings back home, and the Prime Minister got his troops - Ministers Tyronne Fernando, Milinda Moragoda, Ambassador Devinda Subasinghe etc., and drafted a statement that had to reach Colombo before the day was out to catch the next day's newspapers.

His focus was to two things. One, his visit to the US will not be interrupted. Two, he will consolidate his majority in Parliament and ensure a comeback through Parliament.

The statement was ready in four hours, i.e.by 6 am Washington DC time. It was transmitted to 'Temple Trees' which was the issuing authority of the release.
The statement was a marked improvement from the botched up speech the Prime Minister made only a month ago at the UN GA where his remarks on the US and the invasion of Iraq cost him some political mileage.

Fortunately, the telephone call with an offer of help from the busy-body Deva Addithiya, a.k.a Nerj, the Sri Lankan born European MP who carries a visiting card saying 'Adviser to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister' came after the statement had been released. He was one of those who 'helped' the Premier draft his UN speech, which the Premier later conceded himself "could have been bad English".

"Is there anything I can do?", President Bush asked. The Prime Minister seemed clearly caught in two minds. On the one hand, yes, it was a cut-throat thing to do. On the other hand, you don’t let the side down among foreigners.

He explained that the President was indeed planning to take over the ministries she had just grabbed by Presidential decree, but he did confess that the peace process in Sri Lanka with the LTTE would be jeopardized at this stage by the upstaging. " How often do you get to meet your President" asked President Bush. "Once in two months ", Premier Wickremesinghe replied.

"That’s less than how often I get to see you ", the US President responded - the two leaders having met in New York only last month at the United Nations, underscoring one of the key elements in the lack of communication and unnecessary misunderstandings between Sri Lanka's two parallel governments.

PA dissidents not welcome
"I will never let the tall Buffalo, the Short Buffalo nor the Tall hunched Buffalo ever to come back" said President Kumaratunga addressing a hastily organized PA group meeting a day after sacking three ministers of the UNF. The President was referring to PA dissidents who were top UNF ministers. As some were speculating that they would again abandon ship hoping to be rescued by the blue cruiser.

As to applaud the latest heroics of President Kumaratunga opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse stood up and went for a gesture of showing his allegiance to the president. “All who think that Her Excellency has taken this action in good faith and it is purely justifiable raise your hands" thundered Rajapakse immediately triggering a wave of right and left hands being raised. The PA group responded as obedient students to a master who himself was under the supervision of an education inspector.

Mahinda Rajapakse did not know a thing of what was happening as he was kept in the dark by the CBK strongmen. But ironically President Kumaratunga briefed the JVP delegation she met on Sunday of the events. The President had taken the decision even before she met the JVP but kept out the exact date of execution though she unveiled the whole plan.

The operation began from the President’s house just after 9.00 am. One astrological paper predicted this. The state media highlighted the predictions immediately not knowing that this was a deception to an actual attack,but later realising that it was a trap and a publicity tactic by the SLFP media team. The man behind this astrological paper was a long-term astrological advisor to the President.- HRV

CBK's 2000 Package
The highlights of the 2000 proposed constitution which President Kumaratunga proposed;

The executive power people shall be exercised, by the President acting on the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of ministers.
The President shall always, except in the case of the appointment of the Prime Minister act on the advice of the Prime minister, or of such other cabinet ministers to whom the Prime Minister may have given authority to advise the President on any particular function assigned to that minister.
The Prime Minister shall determine the number of ministers and ministries and the assignment of subjects and functions to ministries.
The President of the Republic of Sri Lanka who is the Head of State and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces shall act on the advice of the Prime Minister.
The president shall, on the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint from among the members of Parliament , ministers to be in charge of ministries.
The Prime Minister may at any time change the assignment of subjects and functions and recommend to the President changes in the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Parliament has exclusive power to make law repealing, amending or adding any provision.

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