South Africa's Vice President, Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe has told the country's National Assembly that a Sri Lanka delegation met the three-member United Nations Panel probing alleged war crimes issues in Sri Lanka.
The meeting between the two sides in New York was exclusively reported in the Sunday Times of March 6. Both the UN and the Sri Lankan side have kept this meeting a secret.
A question was raised by S.J. Nijekalana of the African National Congress in the South African National Assembly, their Parliament. It was directed at the Deputy President, Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe. Here is his response:
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| Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe |
"As far as we know there are no such investigations taking place, and thus our government has therefore not been requested to contribute.
"What we do know as the government of South Africa is that the United Nations Secretary-General appointed on 22 June 2010 a three-member United Nations Panel of Experts to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the Sri Lankan conflict.
"The panel consists of Mr Marzuki Darusman (Indonesian and Chairperson), Ms Yasmin Sooka (South African) and Mr Steven Ratner (United States) and officially commenced its work on 16 September 2010. The deadline date for submissions in this regard was set as 31 December 2010.
"As of March this year, we are aware that a Sri Lankan government delegation met with the UN panel in New York. The UN panel was expected to issue its report to the UN Secretary General, but has decided to postpone the issuance of the report by two to three weeks. "Once again may I express that we are not aware of any investigation of war crimes in Sri Lanka. We know and respect the work of the advisory panel as established by the UN and we thus await the panel's report."
Dayasiri wants to prove a point
UNP's Kurunegala District parliamentarian, Dayasiri Jayasekera, one of the staunch supporters of Sajith Premadasa, wants to contest the post of National Oraganiser. This is when the party's Working Committee has a discussion on the subject tomorrow.
He told confidantes that his move was to prove a point to Premadasa that there was nothing wrong in contesting and losing.
The Working Committee meeting last week chose persons to some top positions but left open the post of National Organiser. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was elected uncontested as leader, picked Tissa Attanayake to continue as General Secretary. Senarath Kapukotuwa will be the treasurer. The party Chairman will continue to be Gamini Jayawickrema Perera.
Presidential whip on VIP vehicle
After a series of reports in newspapers about VIP vehicles and their backup vehicles getting involved in accidents, the President got his officials send these clippings to the Ministers and government MPs in a bid to minimize such cases.
It was only thereafter that he decided to personally drive to Parliament and find out the situation. During the visit, one of the back-up vehicles of Deputy Minister and former LTTE deputy commander Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan brushed against his vehicle in his entourage. But there was no serious damage.
The President's action now seems to be having its results. Yesterday at the Borella colour lights junction, the vehicle of a Minister and his backup vehicles were seen patiently waiting for the green signal to proceed.
UNP MP tones down for President
A UNP MP was addressing Parliament on Tuesday and went on to criticise the sale of the Galle Face land to a hotel project. He said the lands were being sold at low prices compared to the land value in the area.
As he was talking, President Mahinda Rajapaksa walked into the House.
The UNP MP appeared to have seen the President and lost his rhythm in his speech. Government members were heckling him saying he could go ahead with his speech though the President was present.
The MP changed his tone saying it was his duty to point out the shortcomings and soon ended his speech saying he was happy to see the President be present to listen to his speech.
Kiss for Ranil from CBK
Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was re-elected as leader of the United National Party only on Wednesday, turned 62 on Thursday.
His close friend Malik Samarawickrema hosted him to a private dinner at Lagoon, the seafood restaurant at Cinnamon Grand. Close friends of Wickremesinghe were on hand for the event.
Who should walk in when the dinner was under way? It was none other than former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. She was to kiss Wickremesinghe on the cheeks and wish him "happy birthday."
Then she asked, "When are you trying to topple the government". "Let me celebrate my birthday tonight," replied Wickremesinghe.
On Friday night, Wickremesinghe hosted the party's Electoral College to dinner. They were made up of members of the Working Committee as well as the parliamentary group.
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