The bloody political battle in Katana reached the climax on Friday, September 21 when alleged hooligans of the PA gunned down five of the UNP supporters.
The cold blooded murder took place when the UNP supporters were returning from the Negombo Magistrate's Court where the case against Davindra Vijeya Mendis was taken up. He is being held in connection with the death of a PA supporter at Katunayake recently.
In that incident last month, it was alleged that the UNPers opened fire at a group of PA supporters killing two when the UNPers were decorating the main Colombo-Negombo road for the Thanks-giving Service which was to be held in Negombo to mark the 50th anniversary of the UNP.
In the aftermath of this immediately following spate of killings in Negombo, the PA claimed that the angry PA supporters were attacking the UNP terror gangs for their past deeds.
The UNP claimed the government had stooped to this level since it felt it could not face public criticism any longer due to the precarious economic situation.
On top of all these, the UNP claims that the PA which came in to office with the pledges to renounce violence, re-establish democracy and generate employment is facing acute problems due to the dearth of sufficient foreign investments.
In short, the UNP claims the economy is in shambles and the PA is not in a position to manage it. Thus the PA is resorting to violence throughout the country to keep public agitation at a low ebb.
Deputy Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle who is in the centre of the controversy over Negombo killings made use of the state TV over the weekend to publicise his version on these incidents while the UNP had the help of private TV channels.
It could be accepted when Mr. Fernandopulle said the PA supporters in the Katana constituency had been the targets of a UNP terror campaign during the previous government.
Not only Mr. Fernandopulle's supporters, but he himself had to face severe problems during that period. Mr. Fernandopulle's wife had to face harassment as a public officer. With all these problems, the Deputy Minister managed to hold on to his constituency in Parliament because he proved to the people of the area that he was a versatile politician on whom people could place trust.
In the 1994 General Elections, Mr. Fernandopulle was returned to Parliament with a large number of preferences to his credit, but now with the unleashing of PA's terror gangs he is losing his credibility and popularity.
If Mr. Fernandopulle attempts to justify the killings in an indirect manner claiming that it was the work of angry PA supporters who were victims of a UNP terror campaign in early 1990's, it could be a disadvantage for the PA since it had made a solemn pledge during the 1994 elections that terror gangs would not be allowed to rule the country as it happened during the latter part of the UNP regime.
Much credit must go to former President D.B. Wijetunga who made efforts to pull the UNP out of violent politics.
But now it appears that the government is puzzled over the killings in Negombo and as to what it should do. On a directive, the Criminal Investigations Department handed over the investigations back to the Negombo police. This dismayed the UNP.
UNP General Secretary Gamini Atukorale made a formal protest to the Senior Deputy Inspector General Merril Gunaratne but the government did not want to change its decision.
In the meantime the UNP in a bid to push the investigators to do a clean job, has named four suspects.
The UNP said the suspects were all connected to a Taxi Service. The UNP also expressed fears that the man who gave vital information to the CID - the owner of van - might disappear in the process of investigations.
Though the Negombo police had given an assurance they would not bow to political pressure there are doubts whether they would be allowed to do the investigations properly and bring the culprits to book.
Amidst this controversy Deputy Minister Fernandopulle left for London on a private trip with his family. He has every reason to do so, in this complex political atmosphere.
After hearing of Friday's incident and getting details, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe made a surprise trip to Negombo on Sunday accompanied by John Amaratunga, and had a long discussion at Wijeyapala Mendis' residence.
After returning to Colombo, Mr. Wickremesinghe summoned an emergency meeting. John Amaratunga, K. W. Choksy, Karu Jayasuriya, Gamini Atukorale, Karunasena Kodituvakku, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Milinda Moragoda attended. Anura Bandaranaike who was at Horagolla that morning returned to Colombo to attend the meeting.
While the UNP leaders were meeting, there was another problem over the funeral of one of the victims, Sylvan Perera, Vice Chairman of the Katunayake-Seeduwa Urban Council.
It was confined only to his family at Kanatte amidst heavy rain.
Though Mr. Wickremesinghe wanted to attend the funeral, by that time the body had been removed to Colombo. When he said he wished to attend the funerals of others who died in the same incident, Mr. Mendis advised against it saying the security situation was bad.
By evening, the same day Mr. Wickremesinghe had more visitors including former Speaker M. H. Mohamed and Imitiaz Bakeer Markar. They discussed the need to have concerted effort to bring an end to this kind of violent politics.
They decided that the UNP should join hands with other political parties represented in Parliament to protest against political violence. They also decided that the UNP group and the Working Committee should meet together to discuss the matter in detail.
On Friday September 21, when Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike heard about the shooting incident about 15 People's Alliance MPs were at her Rosmead Place residence.
The initial report she heard was that Anura Bandaranaike too had been injured in the incident. She immediately telephoned senior DIG Merril Gunaratne to check, but he was not there. Then she called Police Chief W. B. Rajaguru, but he too was not available. But to her relief Anura called her to say he was okay and gave details of what had happened.
Still there are suspicions as to whether there was a plot to attack Mr. Bandaranaike when the UNP motorcade was proceeding towards Wijeyapala Mendis' house after the court proceedings.
The matter was raised by the Soviet Ambassador last week when Mr. Bandaranaike met foreign diplomats from about thirty countries to brief them on the political violence.
The Soviet envoy inquired whether a parallel could be drawn between the Negombo shooting and the recent killing of premier Bhutto's estranged brother in Pakistan. Anura replied he was not so unlucky.
Apart from Mr. Bandaranaike, who presided over the meeting at the Cambridge Terrace office of the Opposition Leader, others present included Bradman Weerakoon, former Ambassador, C. Mahendran, Stanley Kalpage, Karu Jayasuriya, John Amaratunga and former Sri Lanka's Deputy High Commissioner in Madras K. Valsan.
Mr. Bandaranaike who told the diplomats the terror campaign unleashed by the government was a well-orchestrated plan to destroy the main opposition party.
It looks more like a terrorist organisation attacking a political party, he said.
He added the purpose of the invitation was to tell the world community that democracy in this country is being threatened by a state-sponsored terror campaign.
Bradman Weerakoon said the situation was even worse than the JVP terror campaign while Dr. Kalpage said that this was not a pre or post election scenario but a completely new phenomenon.
"We are against terrorism and political violence but we have to get ready to face this threat by democratic means. The UNP acts with responsibility and has not opposed any government programme so far," he said.
At this stage, Mr. Bandaranaike interjected to say that when he was the Leader of the Opposition, the SLFP opposed everything the UNP did. It opposed the Indo-Lanka agreement and he stressed he had still not changed his stance on that matter. But he said that the UNP was different and did not oppose everything the government did.
The Bangaladeshi High Commissioner who raised some queries at this point asked as to what was UNP's response to the President's invitation for talks.
Mr. Bandaranaike said it was not an invitation but a feeler made through a third party. If the UNP was invited in the proper way, it would make a decision.
Answering a question as to whether the UNP was trying to boycott the Select Committee proceedings on account of the recent violence, Mr.Bandaranaike said that these were separate issues.
"We don't want to link violence with the package. However, the UNP is under pressure from the rank and file to withdraw from the Select Committee."
Mr. John Amaratunga answering a question as to whether there were any religious problems, said there was no such problem. "The Catholic Church issued a strong statement since PA supporters had behaved disgracefully in the precincts of St. Mary's Church Negombo".
There was an intense debate on the Negombo incident when the UNP working committee and the Parliamentary group met in a rare joint session at Sirikotha on Wednesday.
Opening the debate party leader Mr. Wickremesinghe said the UNP had faced greater dangers and it would face the present challenge also with boldness.
He charged that the President's recent speech in Veyangoda would encourage wrong doers and violence.
Mr. Wickremasinghe again named the suspects involved in the Negombo shooting incident. He said even the undertakers had been threatened by this PA hooligans.
Mr. Wickremesinghe charged the government had interfered with the probe while the CID was getting vital information and was stopped in its tracks when a directive was given for the Negombo police to take over.
Wijeyapala Mendis gave a full account of the events saying they had their roots in the air-port Taxi dispute.
He said a legitimate group was chased out by armed goon squads who he alleged were taking orders from a top PA politico in Negombo.
Speaker after speaker advocated various lines of action. Finally the consensus was that any boycott of the Select Committee on Constitutional reforms would not be a wise move. Even Dr. Kalpage who is against the package did not back such a boycott. He made a few biting remarks on Ronnie de Mel's controversial interview with the state-run Rupavahini.
A. C. S. Hameed, however, intervened to say it would be better if criticism against a member was made when he was present. Mr. Wickremesinghe also said the meeting was convened to discuss the violence.
Hambantota District MP Mervyn Silva already embroiled in some controversy over the goings-on with Mr. Fernandopulle at Mr. Thondaman's Kandapola party, said that when the alleged mix up of babies took place it was not Anura but some one else.
Former Speaker M. H. Mohamed was critical of what he saw as the UNP's poor performance in Parliament and in general and said that the party needed a greater push.
Mr. Bandaranaike said it was clear that the government was behind the cycle of violence in Negombo.
Sarath Amunugama said that such incidents in Negombo and Katunayake would scare away foreign investors and worsen the economic downturn.
Dr. Kalpage who intervened said that Mr. Wickremesinghe should meet the President, but the group disapproved with a loud roar and Anura said "No No,... never, never."
General Secretary Gamini Atukorale closing the sessions proposed that the party should boycott government functions attended by the President and the Prime Minister. This was unanimously approved.
But Mr. Wickremesinghe said this boycott would not apply to friendly exchanges in Parliament between government benches and the opposition. He also said that he would decide on an appropriate strategy to show the UNP's disapproval of the undemocratic behaviour of the government.
There was also consensus that the Negombo incident should be raised when Parliament meets on Tuesday.
It was also decided that all UNP held Provincial Councils should adopt a resolution condemning the Negombo incident.
As a direct protest against government sponsored violence some UNP members urged the leadership to boycott Parliament for at least a few days but a decision on the matter was deferred until the next meeting of the parliamentary group on Tuesday.
Soon after this meeting with diplomats on Wednesday, Mr. Bandaranaike visited the UNP leader's residence at 5th Lane to tell him that it was successful.
The same evening he went to the Horagolla Walauwa where his mother and elder sister Sunethra were preparing for the Bandaranaike Day ceremonies.
Mr. Bandaranaike who paid homage to his late father around 7 a.m. on Thursday left Horagolla before the President's arrival for the commemoration ceremony. Mr. Bandaranaike later left for London on an Emirates flight but gave instructions to the authorities that nobody should enter the premises of the Samadhi of his late father with weapons. Mr. Bandaranaike was obviously shocked by what took place in Negombo when he made the decision.
The Negombo incident obviously shook the UNP since they happened in the most unexpected zone - trouble free Negombo. Now the party is in the process of finding ways and means to face such threats. One proposal is to join other opposition parties in Parliament in launching a campaign against violence. But will the Tamil parties agree on such a protest when they are actively involved with the government in trying to find a lasting solution to the ethnic crisis?
At present the TULF and the PLOTE oppose the government on certain issues but the EPDP is still behind the government on almost all issues except the setting up of the N-E interim committee.
As the UNP was looking at ways to launch a strong protest against the government, news about ACTC leader Kumar Ponnambalam's controversial visit to Australia and Britain was the subject of discussion among some of the Sinhalese hardliners. The controversial Ponnambalam Jnr. has apparently shifted from his earlier policies and had advocated the LTTE line during his trip to Australia.
He had made headway in convincing the Tamils in Australia that they should give a mandate to the LTTE to achieve the goal of a traditional homeland. Mr. Ponnambalam persuaded almost all the Tamil Associations in Australia to adopt the following resolution:
"Whereas, we the... are of the view that the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka have come to the conclusion that more than five decades of political dialogue with the Sinhala leaders of eleven different Parliaments, resulted only in deception and violence meted out to our People and that the Sinhala Nation will never recognise the inalienable rights of the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka, and
"Whereas, we are of the view that the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka all over the world must now close ranks and unite to put forward their political objectives categorically and in unison at this critical juncture when our self-respect, dignity and rights are abused and violated and our very existence as individuals and as a Nation is threatened, and
"Whereas we re-state that the non-negotiable political position of the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka is that the indigenous Tamil People of Sri Lanka are a Nation, and that they, therefore, have the inalienable right to self-determination, and that they have a traditional homeland for themselves in the North-East Province of Sri Lanka, and that they must be accepted and recognized as equals in the country of their birth, and
"Whereas, the rights of the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka, as outlined above have been denied over decades and continue to be denied, by the Sinhala Nation, and
"Whereas, this denial of the rights and repeated violence meted out to the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka has led to the birth of a national liberation movement, and
"Whereas, this national liberation movement finds justification under international law to take up arms to establish the rights and protect the lives of the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka, and
"Whereas, this national liberation movement is seen as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and
"Whereas, most indigenous Tamils in the Sri Lanka Parliament today have, by their overt and covert collaboration with the Sri Lanka Government, for reasons best known to themselves whilst that Government continues to destroy the property and lives of the Tamil Nation of Sri Lanka, have compromised not only themselves but also the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka of the present and future generations and have, thereby, forfeited their right to speak for or represent the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka,
"We, the indigenous Tamils of Sri Lanka living in... unanimously call upon the indigenous Tamil Diaspora of Sri Lanka, this day, to also unanimously adopt this our resolution and give a mandate to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to have the rights of the indigenous Tamil Nation of Sri Lanka enumerated above, which are also its avowed political objectives, be recognised and adopted by the Sri Lanka Government, in the first instance, by continuing the struggle with renewed vigour and with the unanimous support, this time, of the indigenous Tamil Diaspora of Sri Lanka, as well."
However, the government is not so concerned about expatriate Tamil associations and is determined to go all out against the LTTE.
Besides all these, the party leaders held their regular meeting the previous Friday.
A smiling Speaker K. B. Ratnayake asked the party representatives "Why have we all come today?"
Mr. Hameed said it was always a pleasure to meet and discuss matters with him and that was why they came.
Leader of the House Ratnasiri Wickramanayake who was also present said "... to have a cup of tea and a piece of wedding cake..." referring to the wedding of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar that took place the previous day.
The Speaker then asked, "What has happened to our parliamentarians? Why are they getting married like this?" He said, "Some of the MP's are leaving the country so often and it is very difficult to keep track of them. They are often travelling on human rights issues."
He requested the party leaders to keep a record of the movements of the MPs.
At the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the Ministers discussed many issues but not the Negombo incident.
The President presented an unusual cabinet paper strongly backed by her. It envisaged the ban on the sale of refrigeraters and deep freezers at the duty free shops at the arrival lounge at the Katunayake Airport.
The President explained that this was to protect the ailing local industry which has shown a marked decline in sales and to protect another company which imports these items from Taiwan.
The two local companies had apparently made a strong case and had been able to convince top Treasury officials.
When the President presented this paper backed by her argument that the government should protect local industrialists, Labour Minister Mahinda Rajapakse opposed the move. He said the government should not close the door on poor Sri Lankan workers who came with foreign exchange from West Asia to buy such items duty-free. The President argued that she felt the returnees were getting a duty free allowance that was far in excess of the salaries they get in West Asia. She proposed that the duty-free allowance be valid only for purchases at the Airport itself and not outside. But Mr. Rajapakse held his ground though the President tried to overrule him. Trade Minister Kingsley Wickremaratne also chipped in saying the local industry was ailing largely because of poor quality and it should improve the quality to suit to-day's standards.
The President was apparently impressed by these arguments. At this stage Minister S. B. Dissanayake also intervened.
He said, "At least now the country is benefited by the West Asian workers since they bring in money. But if we impose this rule, that money will not come into the country. They will spend their money abroad and buy what they want there." With this the matter came to an end and the cabinet paper was deferred.
In another move, Minister Rajapakse is opposing a proposal to hand over the Hambantota salterns to Yasoda Enterprises under the government’s privatisation scheme. There are other companies including, Guruge of Kahawatte, vying for the salterns.
Meanwhile, the Government-TNL dispute has taken another turn. The TNL has received information that its transmitting towers in Ratnapura, Untenna, Nuwara Eliya and Piliyandala are under threat.
The TNL owners have written to the Police Chief asking for extra security for their transmitting stations.
The Negombo incidents and tightening of screws on the independent media appear to be part of a general trend towards a more authoritarian rule by the government.
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