As a part of strategy to feel the pulse of the people, the government has decided to hold local polls in March.
As far as the people are concerned there are a number of issues before them. There are National issues and local ones.
Though traditionally people have looked at local government elections somewhat differently to a Parliamentary election, it is difficult to analyse whether people would consider local issues as being more important than national ones.
Since most of the local authorities were administered by the UNP for the past two and a half years, they could not do much amidst financial constraints and other administrative impediments introduced by the government from time to time.
But in most of the local authorities, the councils resolved to increase assessment rates five fold putting the rate payers into difficulty at a time when they were complaining about poor services.
In most of the areas governed by local authorities there is no proper administration and basic amenities have not been provided to the people. Garbage collection, road repairs, street lighting and sanitation are in a deplorable state. When these councils resolved to adopt the latest valuation rates, there was a howl of protests from rate-payers. The government's decision to hold local elections prevented these authorities from going ahead with their decision to increase rates. The UNP at this stage moved to take advantage of this situation by directing the UNP-held local authorities to put off the decision to levy higher rates.
These are the issues before the people. But what assurance have they that the rates would not be increased if they elect a People's Alliance local body or UNP local body next time?
The people are eager to see what sort of promises the local politicians will make to get elected.
Generally the better tomorrow promised by the politicians never comes. But it is important for the people to elect a local body of their choice to administer matters which are more personal to the people.
As things stand at that, as far as local issues are concerned, it appears now that the government is planning to throw its full weight to win the local elections.
The government's thinking is that a defeat at this election would cause a serious setback to its agenda, specially its effort to solve the ethnic conflict through a political solution.
But for the people, this is not the only burning question, the rising cost of living, the lack of jobs for the youth and the increasing vice and violence are among the major problems people face today.
Would the people register their dissent on these issues is a matter to be examined, but what most of the people would tend to think is that such a protest vote could not make things better for them. They know it is the PA Govt. that would continue in office for the next four years.
So it would be an interesting scenario to watch as to how the people would respond at the local elections.
As far as the UNP is concerned the approach seems to be quite different. The hierarchy is aware that this election could only provide the government with a test of its popularity. The UNP therefore is planning to make this election an effort to clean the party.
The party leadership is likely to tell its members that it would be an "acid test" for them based on their performance. Hence those who fail in the local government elections are more likely to face the axe. The thinking of the hierarchy is that the UNP has accommodated most of its MPs for the last two and a half years though there were various allegations against them, and that this would be the most opportune moment for them to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they could perform well and that the allegations have no basis.
The UNP's thinking is that it would be rather difficult for it to face the election with a government having an upper hand equipped with everything including the administrative machinery. Nevertheless the UNP is likely to make use of all its resources to make the campaign a success.
As the local elections loom, the two main political parties the UNP and the SLFP-led People's Alliance are actively engaged in backstage manoeuvring to woo people to their respective sides.
The most prominent move was the resignation of Colombo's Mayor K. Ganeshalingam from the UNP. Mr. Ganeshalingam was also the treasurer of the UNP for a long time.
Originally, Mr. Ganeshalingam had an SLFP background but he was roped into the UNP's active politics by one-time Lake House Chairman Sunil Rodrigo. However he had a long acquaintance with the UNP from the time he joined Ford Rhodes under the guidance of one time UNP Chairman N.G.P. Panditaratne and later he became a close associate of Minister Cyril Mathew who was a strong man in the UNP.
After the local elections held in 1991, Mr. Ganeshalingam was appointed Deputy Mayor of Colombo and later succeeded Mayor Ratnasiri Rajapakse who was removed.
As the Mayor of Colombo he had a number of problems with his own UNP councillors over giving permission to hold the PA's May Day rally in 1995 at the Municipal Town Hall grounds.
The members protested over the Mayor's attitude and complained to the UNP leadership that Mr. Ganeshalingam disregarded an earlier resolution by the council, that the Town Hall grounds should not be given for any political purpose.
The councillors accused Mr. Ganeshalingam of virtually acting as a PA Mayor. Subsequently when the UNP group adopted a second resolution banning the use of the Town Hall for any political purpose, the Mayor prevented the resolution being debated in the Council.
Though the UNP hierarchy was briefed on Mr. Ganeshalingam's acts, no action was taken to the dismay of the councillors.
Instead, the UNP moved to confirm him as the Mayor when the Court of Appeal dismissed former Mayor Ratnasiri Rajapakse's application to restore him as the Mayor.
But soon after Mr. Ganeshalingam took his oaths as the 21st Mayor of Colombo, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe made it a point to meet the councillors along with the Mayor.
Though the UNP did not take any effective action on the allegations against Mr. Ganeshalingam, Mr. Wickremesinghe cautioned Mr. Ganeshalingam and advised him about keeping to conventions.
He pointed out that Mr. Ganeshalingam had taken his oaths before the Western Province Chief Minister Susil Premjayanth in the presence of Health Minister A.H.M. Fowzie at the Chief Minister's office.
Mr. Wickremesinghe said it was never done in the past. All other mayors had taken their oaths in the CMC premises. Even former Mayor Ratnasiri Rajapakse had taken his oaths in the Mayor's office, the UNP leader said.
"I checked up with former Chief Minister Susil Moonesinghe and found that the former Mayor Ratnasiri Rajapakse had taken his oaths in the Mayor's Chamber in the presence of Mr. Moonesinghe and late Minister and DUNF leader Lalith Athulathmudali," Mr. Wickremesinghe had said.
If ministers like Mr. Fowzie were invited, the Mayor could have also invited senior members of the UNP such as M.H. Mohamed and Tyronne Fernando, he added.
When Mr. Ganeshalingam said that it was suddenly arranged, some councillors raised a question about the presence of some TV crew and asked as to how he informed them.
Mr. Wickremesinghe at this stage said that in future all UNP mayors should take their oaths in the council itself and views of the UNP group should be sought as to who should be invited for the occasion.
As this was going on, Councillor Gintota queried from the Mayor as to how a piece of land had been given from the Vihara Maha Devi Park for the erection of a statue of late Minister Felix Dias Bandaranaike who had nothing to do with the CMC.
Mr. Ganeshalingam said he allocated this land as per directions from the President's Office.
Mr. Wickremesinghe at this stage said the mayor had failed to follow the procedure adopted by the council in such instances.
He said the mayor should have taken up with the Council before deciding. "Don't get pushed by pressures. You must follow the correct procedure always," Mr Wickremesinghe told the Mayor.
Councillor Gintota once again intervened to say that as long as Mr. Ganeshalingam was mayor, the UNP would not benefit much as most things appear to be done on PA directives.
Mr. Ganeshalingam defending himself said the council had to fall in line with the Provincial Council to obtain funds.
But Mr. Wickremesinghe said the municipal council was an autonomous body, which had its own funds and provincial councils must support the local bodies as funding local bodies was part of their duties.
"If they refuse, we can go to courts," he said.
Subsequently Mr. Wickremesinghe directed Mayor Ganeshalingam to work with the UNP and ensure a balance.
"It will be the UNP in office in the future also and you would win. They say they are going to hold elections in two months. Let them hold any election, the UNP will win," he said.
At the same meeting Omar Kamil pointed out that the council had failed to pass a resolution as directed by the UNP leadership on the prevailing milk food prices. The UNP leader asked why the mayor failed to do that. He was requested to move the resolution without delay.
In Mr. Ganeshalingam's episode one point has been proved that he did not work entirely to the benefit of the UNP as the Mayor of Colombo.
Mr. Ganeshalingam who resigned from the UNP and decided to lead the independent group backed by the PA said harassment and humiliation caused by certain sections in the UNP camp had led him to the decision he took.
Mr Ganeshalingam held extensive discussions with ministers Fowzie and Nimal Siripala de Silva and also met Mr. Wickremesinghe before sending his resignation to the UNP General Secretary.
Besides Mr. Ganeshalingam, the PA is also fishing for others from the UNP, such as S.A. Yaseen, popularly known as football Yaseen. Minister Fowzie offered him the No 2 slot on the PA list for Colombo, but he declined. Mr. Fowzie got him down to his house and tried his best to woo him but he said "no Sir I have decided not to contest from any party."
Subsequently UNP stalwart M.H. Mohamed called him and invited him to see the party leader on Monday but he declined saying "the PA has offered me No 2 slot, but the UNP is not ready to give me even that".
Deputy Mayor Mahroof also put forward some conditions if he is to contest from the UNP. He has apparently said that the UNP should assure him at least No 1 slot in two years if he is to contest under the UNP. Omar Kamil and H.M. Ishak have also declined to contest.
Not only the UNP, the PA is also unable to find a strong Muslim candidate for the No 2 slot. In the circumstances it is likely that PA's No 2 slot will go to Vasantha Ananda Nanayakkara.
Though the crossover of K. Ganeshalingam had caused ripples in the UNP it is too early to determine as to whether he could attract minority votes for the PA. It appears Colombo-based Tamils are not too happy with Mr. Ganeshalingam and hence there could be a vigorous campaign among the Colombo Tamils against him.
The UNP's choice, its Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, is also not known to the people very much. He has not even met President Chandrika Kumaratunga personally until they met each other at CP leader Pieter Keuneman's funeral.
It was UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who introduced Mr Jayasuriya to the President at the funeral house as he was walking out after signing the condolence book.
President Kumaratunga was taken by surprise when Mr. Wickremesinghe appeared before her while he was walking out of Mr Keuneman's house. The President gave her hand to Mr. Jayasuriya as Mr Wickremesinghe introduced him saying "Have you met our party Chairman Karu Jayasuriya"? But Mr Jayasuriya opted for the traditional way and greeted her clasping his hands. Though some thought that it could have been an opportune moment for the President to talk to Mr. Wickremesinghe on the devolution issue she did not go in that direction.
But the UNP's main concern is the local government election more than the devolution package. The working committee of the UNP discussed their prospects at a brief meeting on Wednesday.
It gave the Party Leader full authority to deal with all matters connected with the elections, inclusive of the composition of the nomination board and disciplinary panels to deal with any charges against members of violating party discipline during the elections. Strangely, no questions were asked or reference made to Mr. Ganeshalingam. Nor was mention made of Karu Jayasuriya who is tipped to lead the UNP's team in Colombo.
The meeting was a brief one and Mr. Wickremesinghe told the members he would call a meeting on February 13 to further discuss various aspects of the polls. A discussion took place as to what steps were necessary to ensure a fair election.
A.C.S. Hameed proposed that a special unit be set up at Siri Kotha to catalogue all complaints from various parts of the country connected with the elections so that at the end of the election the party would have a full list of any illegal, anti-democratic activities. Paul Perera who supported the proposal said it would be foolish to expect fairplay from the government. He said the PA would say one thing and do another. Joseph Michael Perera said he had information that already a number of police transfers had been made with a view to accommodating certain selected officers for chosen stations. Gamini Lokuge said the UNP has faced thuggery for quite a long time, starting from the Dedigama by-election. Gamini Athukorale said the Party would go ahead and fight the elections whatever the odds. John Amaratunga thought that it would be a good move to invite foreign observers but Mr. Wickremesinghe said it may not be possible for a local poll.
Meanwhile, the Parliamentary Select Committee will meet on Thursday to put the finishing touches to the proposed introduction of executive committee system in the provincial councils. The introduction of the executive committee system at the provincial level has had a unanimous endorsement at the select committee. The Attorney-General has been requested to formulate a draft based on the main points already agreed by the select committee.
The committee decided that political parties in provincial councils should be accommodated in the executive committee and that the executive committee as a whole could exercise executive functions. It was also agreed that the political parties would also be given portfolios according to their numerical strength in that particular provincial council, and that the number of ministers of a council would depend on the population and size of the territory of each council. Ravi Karunanayake argued that a similar system be introduced at Parliamentary level but Minister Peiris who is often ready to accommodate new ideas was not impressed. Mr. Hameed thought that some form of committee system should also be introduced in urban councils and pradeshiya sabhas since municipal councils already have an arrangement where the members of the council participate in various committees.
Mr. Hameed had some very useful arguments in support of the executive committee system. He said in the introduction of the proportional representation system all elected bodies from Parliament to local bodies would have 40 percent sitting in the opposition. He maintained that our Parliament would always have roughly about 40% in the opposition as long as the PR system remains.
He told the committee that the country must take a decision whether we are going to allow this 40% in all elected bodies to spend their time in the politics of confrontation or whether this 40% should also be co-opted into the development process of the country.
As the Select Committee on Constitutional Reforms was actively engaged in finding ways to introduce the Donoughmore style executive committees at regional level, the main constituent party of the People's Alliance, the SLFP has focused its attention on a different exercise, mapping out its strategy to wrest control over a majority of the local authorities at the coming polls.
As a prelude the SLFP organised the 45th anniversary on a grand scale. Though the main ceremony went on smoothly, political circles are now talking about backstage moves by certain interested parties to sideline party seniors, which later emerged as a dispute between the prime minister and the organisers of the convention.
When Prime Minister and party president Sirimavo Bandaranaike learnt of a move by the organisers to put down Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte's name to carry forward five resolutions, inclusive of a resolution to appreciate the services rendered by the Prime Minister, she immediately lodged her vehement protest with the party general secretary.
She asked those who were around as to whether Minister Ratwatte was trying to appreciate her services after allegedly defaming her. She said she did not want such appreciation from Minister Ratwatte and said she would boycott the event if this was to take place as scheduled.
She telephoned Party Secretary Dharmasiri Senanayake who telephoned the President. The President advised Mr Senanayake to take appropriate steps to resolve the matter after discussing it with D.M. Jayaratne. Ultimately it was decided to distribute the five resolutions among the senior ministers - Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Dharmasiri Senanayake, Richard Pathirana, D.M. Jayaratne and Anuruddha Ratwatte.
Minister D.M. Jayaratne finally moved the resolution in which he paid a glowing tribute to Ms Bandaranaike in appreciation of her services to the country.
Though a possible clash was defused, problems in the SLFP are numerous. The latest among them is the misunderstanding between the President and the Prime Minister over an Avurudu Pola (New Year fair) organised by SLFP women's front on the advise of Ms Bandaranaike.
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As the President of the SLFP, the Prime Minister convened a meeting of its Women's Front in a bid to organise a Sinhala Avurudu Pola in April.
The meeting which was held at the Prime Minister's office was attended by the wives of Ministers and Sunethra Bandaranaike the elder daughter of the Prime Minister.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister said they need financial assistance for the purpose and said it would be better to appoint a committee to generate funds for this cause. There was unanimity that Sunethra Bandaranaike should lead the committee.
Though the matter ended there, the committee resolved to go ahead with their work, the after effects of the women's front meeting cropped up during the latter part of Wednesday's Cabinet meeting.
The President who arrived towards the tailend of the meeting walked up to the Prime Minister and queried as to why she summoned the women's front meeting without her. "I am also a woman and I am the President of the country."
The Prime Minister listened carefully to what the President had to say and replied that she (the Prime Minister) was the Party President and she would summon such meetings. She went on to say that Sunethra her elder daughter was a member of the SLFP and explained that she was appointed to head the committee not by her but by others who were present. With this the Prime Minister left the cabinet meeting hall. But the others including the President had an opportunity to meet again in the evening at Minister Ashraff's residence when they were united for a Ramazan break-fast dinner.
Though the time indicated was around 7.00 p.m. the President arrived early, even before Minister Ashraff togged up in his clothing to attend the break-fast rites. She spent nearly two hours talking to the Minister. All the ministers carefully watched as to whether Minister Fowzie who has a running dispute with Minister Ashraff would come to the dinner. As the late comer Minister Fowzie arrived there was a cheer. The guests were offered a dish of special "Kanji" (porridge) and shorteats and later with a sumptuous dinner catered by Hotel Hilton. A notable absentee was Minister Srimani Athulathmudali who also clashes with minister Ashraff as Minister Fowzie does.
At Wednesday's cabinet meeting too there was ample ground for a clash when Ms. Athulathmudali moved for a postponement as Minister Ashraff presented a cabinet paper on shipping policy.
There had been a long- drawn battle between the two Ministers over the shipping policy when Ms. Athulathmudali accused the Ministry of Shipping of not consulting all those who matter. But Mr. Ashraff maintained that the matter had now been finalised, Ms. Athulathmudali who was apparently not satisfied with the draft moved for a postponement to the utter dismay of Minister Ashraff.
On a previous occasion Ms. Athulathmudali urged the cabinet to re-advertise the offer to develop the Queen Elizabeth Quay in view of a dispute which cropped up at that stage. However the cabinet decided otherwise and approved two cabinet papers presented in this connection by Mr Ashraff.
More than anything, the primary concern of the main parties is to face the local polls and change the political course of the country. Therefore it would be interesting to see how the main parties fare at the polls.
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