Kandy city has become a driver’s, pedestrian’s and vehicular nightmare...and that’s putting it mildly! There seems to be a build-up of sheer, mad, exasperation that is making the milder swear horribly and curse everything in sight; most of all the traffic lights that have caused rosaries of indignant drivers, bumper to bumper along Peradeniya Road, Trincomalee Street and at the Municipal junction. One gets into line.
Exhausts belch broad, polluting banners. One is now at Katukelle and the police station entrance to the city seems to be a galaxy away. I timed the green light. Forty seconds! Unbelievable.
In that forty seconds, if drivers’ reflexes are fine, four vehicles can barely get through. If there’s a bus that roareth thus, we inch up to watch it rattle on closely followed by a car, honking madly.
I mean to say, colour lights are all well and good, but on these narrow Kandy roads with vehicles turning into schools, backing out into the mainstream, with pavements that are nothing but shamefaced apologies, with more people than this world ever needs, who gives a damn if the lights are not regulated to behave in a more reasonable manner?
All this is sheer “pakum”, as one irate commuter said. “Now it takes forty minutes to enter Kandy and another forty minutes to manoeuvre inside the city.... and where’s the parking space?” Dalada Veediya is still cleared of standing vehicles.
Railings have mushroomed everywhere. Police whistles are blowing odes to skylarks. Who gives a damn? Somebody should, but will this somebody please stand up and show himself, tell us what this infernal mess is all about?
The old Laksala end of Colombo Street does have its warren of lawyers’ offices, and some of these buildings are so old that many became quite unstable after the bomb went off. One had its wooden doors splintered and the plaster around the mainframe badly damaged. The landlord told the tenant that he could have his door repaired. “No other repairs,” he warned.
Last week the mainframe showed signs of distress. It sagged perilously. It was morning, and marching off to the Court was our City Coroner. He was lucky. He passed the offending entrance. The lawyer who followed was not so lucky. The entire entrance suddenly keeled over.
The lawyer was struck by a beam, complained of head and shoulder pains and was suitably soothed by the tenant.
Shopkeepers say pedestrians should wear helmets. No knowing when some cracked or broken masonry may come apart!
A new Party, Organisation, Congress, whatever, has surfaced in Kandy, keeping well out of the white-light of a glaring white city - a sort of shadow watchdog of the masses. This party, the Eksath Mahajana Sevaka Sangamaya, is expressing its concern for Kandy by distributing leaflets. No printer’s name. Paper significantly green.
The leaflet broadly translated, says that if you wish to free this land of the Tiger threat, every right-minded person must be aware that the LTTE is fattening itself on “kappan” extracted from business houses, these being obviously, Tamil owned establishments.
The profits and success of these establishments thus becomes the strength, profit and success of the LTTE. The leaflet calls on the masses to join hands with it in boycotting all Tamil places of business.
Talking to some prominent Sinhalese businessmen including the owner of a guest house, I was told that there is little doubt about kappan paid to the LTTE. “There must be a well-meshed organisation with Tiger collectors in every town who extract money from Tamil businessmen,” one said, “but boycotting Tamil shops is not the answer because whether they stay in business or not, they will be still forced to pay. Many of them obviously pay for protection of their family members who live in the north”.
Another said that it is an open secret that kappan is paid. “Kandy was always a safe city because the Tamils here paid for protection and the LTTE found this place a source of much income. But of late there has been a swing, and many Tamils are not responding to this LTTE pressure.
Even in Jaffna the Tamils are becoming more and more appreciative of what this government is doing. This may be why Kandy had to be targeted. It may have also been to bring the Tamils to heel, force them to pay out more than ever.”
Another businessman agreed with this. “This Maligawa bomb was also a sharp reminder to the Tamils, but I think this Sangamaya’s call will only deepen the rift. The medicine is as bad as the headache.
What the police must do is smash this Tiger collector ring. There has to be a very strong ring in operation all over Sri Lanka and abroad. We must cut this LTTE funding. That is the biggest threat to this country because as long as the LTTE fills its coffers, this war will drag on.”
The position of the SLFP par liamentarian for Trincomalee district, Najeeb Majeed is cause for concern in SLFP Muslim circles. Mr. Najeeb who is the son of one time deputy minister for Broadcasting and MP for Muttur, the late A.L. Abdul Majeed, is a complete contrast to his father.
Najeeb Majeeb
The late Majeed was a fiery orator in Tamil. Najeeb is a soft spoken person who has been keeping the SLFP flag flying in the Trincomalee district. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress despite openly using communalism to promote its political programmes could not make any headway in the Trincomalee district due to Najeeb’s organisational work. Although in the early years of its existence the SLMC could muster support in the Digamadulla and Batticaloa district, Najeeb’s efforts kept the SLMC at bay and the SLFP always polled more Muslim votes than the SLMC in the Trincomalee district.
However, at the last parliamentary election in view of the electoral alliance between the SLMC and the PA, Najeeb had to contest under the SLMC 4LABEL. Despite the SLMC trying hard to ensure that one of its candidates wins the majority of preferences in the Trincomalee district, Najeeb won he most number of Muslim preferences, thus proving that the SLFP and Najeeb had more support in the Trincomalee district than the SLMC.
At that election apart from Najeeb, the only other Muslim to be elected from the Trincomalee district was the late M.E.H. Maharoof from the UNP. The SLMC was unable to elect anybody from the district to Parliament.
Consequently Najeeb has found himself in an unenviable position. Although he is an SLFPer he is 4LABELled an SLMCer and is under the SLMC whip. In consequence he had even to act against SLFP interests on several occasions.
However in contrast, SLMCers Rauf Hakeem and M.M. Zuhair who have been nominated from the PA national list continue to describe themselves as SLMCers and act according to the SLMC whip. With Ashraff being a strict leader Najeeb has to tread wearily and cannot identify himself with the SLFP which party is anathema to the SLMC leadership.
Najeeb being a senior SLFPer might have been in the running for a Deputy Ministership in the recent cabinet re-shuffle if not for his close association with the SLMC which has already got more than its due share of top positions in the government and another deputy ministership was out of the question. The SLFP leadership should do more for Najeeb by giving him the necessary support to identify and work for the SLFP in the Trincomalee district. Otherwise the efforts of this young and promising SLFPer will be wasted.
Najeeb on the other hand should take an open and strong stand in promoting SLFP policies notwithstanding the intolerant nature of SLMC politics.
Even recently Najeeb found himself in contradictory positions when SLMC General Secretary Rauf Hakeem toured Trincomalee district to re-organise the party’s electoral institutions. Najeeb too was asked to participate in several of these meetings.
The SLMC Secretary ran into a great deal of hostility at these meetings, with SLMC rank and file being openly critical of their leader M.H.M. Ashraff. The SLMC leader’s inaccessibility and failure to deliver the goods had caused a great deal of anger among party supporters which Hakeem may have brought to his leader’s notice on his return to Colombo.
In the meantime the Fez-wearing SLMC MP for Digamadulla district, U.L.M. Mohideen, has received an anonymous letter threatening him with dire consequences for closely associating with Transport and Highways Minister A.H.M. Fowzie. The letter warns him that “his fez cap” will be removed if he continues in his politically errant ways.
Mr. Mohideen who is an admirer of Minister Fowzie, however, continues regardless and is often seen in his company. It may be recalled that even in the last Municipal elections, Mr. Mohideen openly requested voters to cast one of their preferences to Minister Fowzie’s son Nawzer. This was not to the liking of SLMC leader Ashraff who pulled up Mr. Mohideen. Consequently Mr. Mohideen was compelled to tender an apology.
I am happy to be able to speak after my friend D.M. Jayaratne addressed the House. But my friend and other PA MPs who spoke prior to him attempted to draw a parallel between the Dalada Maligawa bombing and certain incidents that happened during the time of the UNP, such as the Arantalawa massacre and the attack on the Sri Maha Bodhi.
I wish to point out however, that there are great differences between the Dalada incident and the others. There should be no attempt made to excuse ourselves on the recent bombing by referring to these earlier incidents. To do so, would be shameful.
We asked Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte to resign. Why did we do so? In 1994, the PA took over the government of this country, promising to bring peace. What has happened since then? When we look back over the last 12 months, it is clear that inspite of having all the sophisticated weapons, the entire security of the country has been put at risk.
When we handed over the government to the PA in 1994, the war was limited to the North East. Now, the situation is different. The war is there in the Uva, in the Central Province, in every area of the country.
Various boasts are made that the war would be finished by this date, by that date. There was even the boast that a lorry would be driven from Kandy to Kilinochchi. Before this promise was realized, a lorry was driven from there to here, and we saw what tremendous damage it caused. The world revered Dalada Maligawa was attacked. Then what were the boasts that were made over Rupavahini? It was said that the Independence Day celebrations would be held in Kandy come what may, and the Maligawa would be restored in days.
My friend D.M. Jayaratne attempted to whitewash the name of one “Palayakat Siva.” Why did he do this? You yourselves were the persons who talked about Anuruddha Ratwatte’s son, Lohan Ratwatte. Is there not a secret in all this? We have no faith in the committee appointed to look into this incident, as the Leader of the Opposition has already pointed out. There are police officers who are willing to testify as to the truth of what happened, but not before this committee. They should be given a chance to speak freely and fairly.
We celebrated our 50th Independence Day without the freedom of movement for our people. The ordinary people, the schoolchildren were put to tremendous inconvenience. S.W. R.D. Bandaranaike’s daughter, the present President addressed the nation only in English. The programme however said that she would first speak in Sinhala and then in English.
It was because of lax security that the attack on the Dalada Maligawa occurred. The Minister of Defence took three, four hours to arrive at the scene.
A person by the name of R.T. Karunachandra of Kandy has written to me regarding a shocking incident that had happened at the Maligawa on 18.12.97 when the Chairman of the Special Committee set up to oversee Independence Day celebrations who is none other than our Deputy Minister of Defence had sent word through the Presidential Secretary to the Pest Control Division at Gannoruwa to destroy all the bee hives within the Maligawa. Vehicles of the Fire Brigade division had been provided for this purpose, and the extermination of all bee hives were carried out in secrecy on the midnight of the 21st.
Why did such a heinous act take place within the sacred precincts of the Maligawa? Numerous other world leaders have come to the Maligawa before, but such incidents did not happen.
I will table this letter. An inquiry ought to be held into these incidents that are unprecedented in the history of this country.
There is another matter about which I wish to speak. It is well known that some people are making themselves rich through this war. I wish to table the following letter that I have received.
Dear Sir,
Air Force Commander Oliver Ranasinghe
We of the Air Force would like you to take up the matter of exposing the most corrupt Military officer in Sri Lanka. That is Oliver Ranasinghe.
Sir,I do not have anything against this officer but I will have to read out the contents of this letter.
“On the 27th of August the Secretary Defence handed over a commission report to the President which has exposed the Commander. We expected that he would be removed from office but we understand that he is being covered by a powerful politician.
Who is this politician, Sir?
“Who has made millions of dollars together with Oliver. Now he may get an extension. He should leave by the 16th of February. They are scared that if the Chief of Staff becomes the Commander that he will expose the whole gang who has been plundering this country on crisis purchase basis out of tender. We airmen wish you to ask for investigations into the following:
Purchase of life expired Mi 24 Helicopters from Global Omarus. Payment of US dollars 7800 per month per Pilot (these Russian Pilots could have been got for US dollars 1000). The payment was made to Global Omaru. There were more than ten Russian Pilots. They were suddenly stopped when exposed in the press. Purchase of Laser guided bombs at US dollars 40,000 each. The whole deal cost US dollars 3,760,000 over Rs. 223 million. The SLAF order is M-256, LC No. is 95/52365. The tests failed. These bombs were to hit targets 8 by 8 metres but fell 200M away. This is only one case. There are many more like this. Another crisis purchase - Airborne surveillance system. Cost US dollars 6.5 million. SLAF order No. M-245. LC No. is 95/52916.
This system cannot access High Frequency communications which the LTTE use. To fit this system a Beechcraft plane was purchased at US dollars 4.5 million. All these were purchased without valid reasons. For the first time in our history a private company was given a contract to train Air Force Pilots. The cost of a trainee is Rs. 1 million. The initial batch was eight. The instructors are sub-standard. The advance course is done using SLAF Aircraft with fuel and oil put in by the Air Force. Only the instructor (an expat) is from Lion Air. The joke is why the Air Force could not contract an expat instructor if required. From Oct. 95 to Dec. 96 Lion Air was paid 8.5 million US dollars to transport Army personnel to the North. No other company was allowed to do this. Tenders were not called. Three AN 32 Aircraft could have been purchased for this amount of money. This is still going on. Please find out who benefits? This is an open licence given to the SLAF for crisis purchase.”
(Mr. Deputy Speaker)
Hon. member your time is up now. Unless you got extra time you will have to conclude.
(Mr. Gamini Atukorale)
Sir, I will take another five minutes.
“The Commander’s daughter studied for a short period at the University of Buckingham, UK. He used to travel with his wife to UK three or four times. How did they afford this?
The SLAF has purchased an electronic fence for Rs. 10 million to safeguard the Kfir hangar. There is no purpose for this purchase, only the Commission. The purchase of the Kfir which is not in use and out of production, was a big financial crime committed against this country. This purchase was done whilst the Chinese F7 jets were kept on ground. This is like using a sledge hammer to kill a fly. The other catch is that since this aircraft is out of production spare parts are and have to be bought only from one party at very high prices which includes a high commission shared by you know who?
(Mr. Deputy Speaker)
Hon. member, unless you are given time by your party, I have to ask you to stop speaking now because you are taking more time. I will have to take it off from others.
(Mr. Gamini Atukorale)
Yes, Sir. It is okay. I will take the responsibility
(Mr. Deputy Speaker)
No, the whip must do that.
(Alhaj A.H.M. Azwer)
He needs about five minutes more.
(Mr. Deputy Speaker)
You take the responsibility. I am going to cut time off from others.
(Mr. Gamini Atukorale)
Sir, I hope that you are not against the reading of this letter.
(Mr. Deputy Speaker)
Not at all. Surely you should not make a remark like that, Mr. Atukorale?
(Mr. Gamini Atukorale)
Sorry, Sir.
(Mr. Deputy Speaker)
I have to go strictly by the time.
(Mr. Gamini Atukorale)
“The latest crime is the payment of an unbelievable sum US dollars forty thousand per month to Israeli Pilot to train our Kfir instructors. This is only a refresher course. The file No. is Z/40002. Oliver Ranasinghe has three houses”.
I am not worried whether he has one or two or three houses.
“One at Epitamulla Kotte, the other at Royal Garden, next to Chandra Wettasinghe Hall, Rajagiriya, and the other in the Raddoluwa housing scheme. There are many other investments that have to be probed.
His commission dealers are Access International. An old Air Force officer Brian Obeysekera, a director of Access is the contact. They have connections to a very powerful politician and a secretary’s son. The other contact is the Israeli arms dealer, Joseph, who is in and out of Air Force Headquarters. Oliver is supported by other high ranking Air Force officers?
(The Hon. GeneraI Anuruddha Ratwatte)
I accept what you say. But our problem is that nobody comes forward to give any facts.
(Mr. Gamini Atukorale)
Mr. Minister, here I have given you the file numbers. I have also given the L/C number.
(The Hon. General Anuruddha Ratwatte)
Yes, those are there. Our experience is that invariably the file numbers given are not correct. We have that difficulty. So will you please help us to inquire into this by giving us that information?
(Mr. Gamini Atukorale)
Certainly, I will take the responsibility.
(The Hon. General Anuruddha Ratwatte)
Will you take the responsibility and help us?
(Mr. Gamini Atukorale)
Yes, I will help you.
(The Hon. General Anuruddha Ratwatte)
These things are said for publicity. But when we go to inquire into these matters we find nothing in the allegations and all file numbers given are wrong.
I am not blaming you. I accept the fact that you are naturally concerned when allegations like this come up. I am asking you to help us. Those who give you this information must come forward to help us to inquire. I am sure, they have the correct information. So, ask them to come and help us. I do not know any of them. I do not handle procurements. But I am ready to go into it objectively because I do not know any of those things. I am not part of the procurement process. So, I will assure you that it will be a very objective inquiry, provided you give us the necessary information.
(Mr. Gamini Atukorale)
I have been in this House for the last twenty one years. I have never used this House to sling mud at another person.
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