One
time UNP strongman and Premadasa era strategist Sirisena Cooray has created
a new stir by leading a powerful delegation to see Hema Premadasa, the slain
President’s widow, and apparently convincing her that the Premadasa image
is still a powerful force.
The outcome of this meeting is a declaration from Ms. Premadasa that she would contest the next presidential election unless she is nominated as the parliamentary candidate for Colombo Central by the UNP.
This means the UNP has to change its present rule of not giving nominations to two members from the same family.
At the same time Ms. Premadasa’s announcement has led to a new slogan in Colombo’s political circles - “Roma in India and Hema in Lanka.
While new alliances were being forged between Mr. Cooray and the Premadasas the State-controlled evening Observer reported that the Commission which probed the Lalith Athulathmudali assassination had recommended that Mr. Cooray be stripped of his civic rights for seven years for failure to appear before the Commission.
But Mr. Cooray’s lawyers say they are unable to move on the matter as the findings have not been gazetted so far.
According to Section 9 (1) of the Special Presidential Commission of Inquiry Act of 1978, the President should cause the publication as soon as possible until such time the findings do not become operative and the persons in question are unable to move legally.
When the findings against Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike were published during the Jayewardene regime, she went to courts but her case failed and the government acted accordingly.
In Mr. Cooray’s case, after extensive legal consultations, he left the country on Thursday. But he is expected back soon.
Before leaving, Mr. Cooray had a two hour discussion with Anura Bandaranaike amidst speculations that negotiations were underway to bring him into the People’s Alliance in a bid to form a National Government.
Rumour further has it that a close relative has moved to create a more congenial atmosphere between brother and sister. But Bandaranaike loyalists in the UNP pooh-poohed the stories in circulation as canards planted by the PA to cause new rifts in the UNP.
In the meantime, Mr. Bandaranaike was seen at a meeting organized by Sajith Premadasa in Hambantota.
Political analysts see this as an indication that Mr. Bandaranaike is no longer the patron of Mervyn Silva with whom Mr. Premadasa is having a running battle in Hambantota.
Mr. Premadasa is under a cloud after some newspapers reported that he met Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and S. B. Dissanayake for discussions. Mr. Premadasa has denied these reports.
At the UNP Parliamentary group meeting on Monday, leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said the government cannot blame the UNP for its failure to sell the devolution package to the people. “If the people are opposed to the package what can we do?” he asked. “The government should not blame us.”
Salaries of MPs also figured prominently at this meeting but no decision was taken on whether to support or oppose the increase. Mano Wijeyaratne said that according to Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, the government had decided to increase salaries on the request made by UNP MPs. If so, he proposed that salary increases be given to all workers in the country.
Trips for MPs were also discussed in detail and it was finally agreed that the choice must be left to the party leader alone, without recommendations from any ministers or others.
This surfaced after Minister Fernandopulle moved to nominate several UNP MPs for a trip to China without consulting the UNP leadership.
The UNP described this as a move to lure young UNP MPs to join hands with the PA at a crucial stage.
Minister Fernandopulle has denied this claim but there was an exchange of letters between him and the UNP leader.
After Mr. Wickremesinghe explained to the members his stand on this issue John Amaratunge raised questions on the privatization of AirLanka. He said the UNP should oppose this since there was the possibility of AirLanka losing its national identity.
A. C. S. Hameed said the UNP should be careful in handling this issue because it was the UNP which introduced the privatization policy. As the government of tomorrow, it should not take decisions which could cause problems in the future, he said.
Mr. Wickremesinghe however underlined the UNP position that all privatization must be done in an open manner to prevent manipulation or corruption.
In another development, there were rumblings in the state media scene. It started when Rupavahini, Director General W. D. Jayasinghe quit his post after a heated argument with Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
The resignation of the veteran civil servant was the climax of a series of disputes.
At one time Mr. Jayasinghe had been accused by the independent media of being a loyal and ardent supporter of the PA, even in his role as Director General of Rupavahini.
He was put in the dock by vernacular tabloids after a committee on agriculture reported about his alleged involvement in the import of seed potatoes when he was Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Services in Nuwara Eliya. A charge sheet too was framed by the authorities and the media agitated for his removal when Dharmasiri Senanayake was the Media Minister.
Though Mr. Senanayake wanted him removed, powerful figures in the government are said to have protected Mr. Jayasinghe.
But with time Mr. Jayasinghe had apparently changed his stance and acted with more independence and authority.
On a number of occasions he had refused to carry programmes produced under government patronage to slander political opponents.
The trouble with those in high places erupted when he refused to give air time to educational programmes produced by Dr. (Mrs) Tara de Mel.
Then he had problems with the President’s Media Advisor, Sanath Gunatilleke, when he was directed to carry a tele-drama “Yuga Willakuwa” at prime time - Saturdays at 8.30 p.m.
“Yuga Wilakkuwa”, which portrays the ethnic problem was produced under the auspices of Mr. Gunatilleke.
Mr. Jayasinghe refused to telecast this series on the basis that it was contrary to the policies of Rupavahini which had produced the teledrama “Ingammaruwa” for transmission at prime time.
The other controversy with Mr. Gunatilleke was over the setting up of a television tower at Pidurutalagala in the vicinity of the Rupavahini tower.
It was alleged that a new TV channel by the name of channel - 9 had asked for permission to set up a TV tower at Pidurutalagala and once again it was refused by Mr. Jayasinghe.
Channel - 9 is a pay TV and there was speculation that Mr. Gunatilleke was supportive of Channel 9’s requirement.
Mr. Jayasinghe had similar problems with other top officials in the government until he ran into the direct confrontation with Media Minister Samaraweera over a documentary produced by Tele-Cine on the life and times of business and newspaper tycoon Upali Wijewardene, who played a powerful role in the Jayewardene era.
Mr. Jayasinghe had also refused to carry a military media unit documentary on the military’s counter-operation against the LTTE’s Paranthan attack.
Mr. Jayasinghe felt it would not be prudent to telecast a programme with a large number of bodies when Prince Charles was in Sri Lanka.
All that did not lead to a blow up but when it came to Upali Wijewardene and Lakmini Wijewardene Welgama, Mr. Jayasinghe got orders to carry the programme or quit.
This is the background to the story. Tele-Cine had produced the Upali Wijewardene documentary to mark his 15th death anniversary. It was viewed by top Rupavahini officials at the Chairman’s office recently.
Most of them felt it was too personal and defamatory.
Mr. Jayasinghe opposed any moves by the authorities to carry the documentary, saying it was a family matter and Rupavahini should not be drawn into such controversies.
But when Rupavahini Chairman D.E.W. Gunasekera informed the Media Minister that the national television could not run the documentary in its original form, Minister Samaraweera directed the Chairman to edit and use it.
The Minister had brought this to the notice of President Chandrika Kumaratunga since the documentary involves her cousin Lakmini, daughter of Seevali Ratwatte.
The Rupavahini top notchers once again went through the documentary editing chunks of it which they felt did not conform with the country’s laws.
But they did not cut out the parts where Mr. Wijewardene’s family members raised questions directed at Ms. Lakmini Welgama with regard to Mr. Wijewardene’s fortune.
The documentary starts with the humble beginnings of Upali Wijewardene, how he began with Delta toffees and how he rose to become one of the country’s top business tycoons with companies here and abroad.
Mr. Jayasinghe after having viewed the edited version of the controversial documentary still expressed opposition on the basis that it was defamatory.
This view was promptly communicated to Minister Samaraweera who in turn contacted Mr. Jayasinghe on the telephone. Mr. Samaraweera apparently lost his cool and asked Mr. Jayasinghe whether he was under obligation to Ms. Welgama.
Mr. Jayasinghe snapped back saying that politicians could be influenced more easily. But Mr. Jayasinghe stood firm on his code of ethics for the media.
Within two hours, the axe fell. He was removed from Rupavahini and transferred to the Sri Lanka Administrative Service Pool on the orders of the President.
The Media Minister then ordered the Rupavahini Chairman to carry the edited version of the Upali Wijewardene documentary. Thereafter the government had problems in finding a director general to take Mr. Jayasinghe’s place.
Several people were approached and ultimately they came to Asoka Pieris, Press Secretary to the President.
Mr. Pieris had told friends he was aware of the move but was not prepared to accept the post, even if he lost his position as Press Secretary to the President.
Another question is whether the Jayasinghe matter has ended or whether further action will be taken against him.
Inquiries into some allegations against him in the past may now be reactivated.
Meanwhile, the Channel - 9, a private pay TV is expecting to move to Radella, and locate its transmission tower near the SLBC transmitting station there.
It is in the backdrop that the well known TV and radio announcer Eric Fernando has been appointed as the director general of the SLBC.
It is expected that Channel 9 will have an easier passage in securing its transmission tower to Radella now with the new director general who may allow this application which has the blessings of powerful mediamen in the government.
Another story which has caused ripples in the political field is the controversy over the prestigious post of President of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL).
The present President Upali Dharmadasa is seeking ministerial approval to contest the upcoming elections while Vice President Thilanga Sumathipala will also stake a claim.
Mr. Dharmadasa apparently has a powerful lobby to promote his case, with Presidential Media Advisor Sanath Gunatilleke also said to be backing him.
The matter was discussed when Sports Minister S.B. Dissanayake joined President Kumaratunga for dinner recently.
She indirectly asked Mr. Dissanayake whether he would approve another extension for Mr. Dharmadasa to enable him to contest the March 6 elections at the annual general meeting of the Cricket Board.
Mr. Dissanayake said he could not agree as he felt Mr. Dharmadasa had not done enough to improve cricket.
The President who apparently had reservations for whatever reason about Mr. Sumathipala handling the BCCSL asked whether some one like Minister Lakshman Jayakody could take over the reins.
Mr. Dissanayake replied that in any case Mr. Sumathipala would contest and asked the President whether she was prepared to risk a Cabinet Minister.
In other words Mr. Dissanayake was probably suggesting that even if Mr. Jayakody contested, Mr. Sumathipala might win.
Later the President asked whether there was provision to appoint some one to this important post without going through an election. But she was told that no such provision exists.
At a later stage, a person known as Autolight Premasiri came to see the Minister along with Mr. Dharmadasa. But the Minister had said he would not give permission, as required by sports law, for Mr. Dharmadasa to seek re-election for a third year.
Meanwhile, the ministry has formulated certain regulations to be put forward at the next elections of the BCCSL.
Mr. Sumathipala has already submitted his list of nominees to the executive committee of the Board P.L.D. Kariyawasam, Abu Fuard, Anuruddha Polonnowita, Nuskie Mohamed, Lawrence Amarasena and A.J.M. Muzammil.
Over and above this, the most pressing issue for the government today is to find an acceptable solution to the ethnic crisis.
While the UNP says neither the government proposal nor its alternative proposals is capable of bringing peace. The LTTE has accused the government of hoodwinking and deceiving the Tamils.
The government’s thrust now seems to be to avoid the non-binding referendum if possible and push the package through Parliament with the help of the UNP.
For this, various modalities have been discussed. One way is to create an atmosphere conducive for a national government. The government may be now depending on defections from the Opposition to achieve this. On Wednesday President Kumaratunga had a close-door discussion with Ministers of her inner circle on how to push the package.
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