The Political Column

22nd March 1998

Ear pinching in UNP

By our Political Correspondent

The Wijeyapala Mendis civic rights issue has set off one of the most dicey problems for the UNP Chief Ranil Wickremesinghe since he took over as leader. The issue has been there for about one year with the Working Committee and the Parliamentary Group taking it up on a number of occasions. But a firm decision was never taken. It was kept under the surface.

But now the volcano has erupted and the UNP apparently is not sure what to do. The party does not seem to be able to forge a consensus because of differences.

Mr. Mendis' insistence that he will not quit come what may seems to take away the one possible settlement that could get broad support within the party. Some MPs complain that the issue had not been settled by the party in time without allowing it to fester and now finally erupt.

Anura Bandaranaike's statement that the motion should be opposed is the only silver lining for the dejected UNP MPs and party activists - not because all of them support Mr. Bandaranaike's position, but because they feel that this is the first time one of the leaders of the party has come out clearly.

"We often take the correct decision either too early or too late. This is our fate," one MP said.

But now, what next? This seems to be the question worrying every UNP MP. It is unlikely that the party could reach a unanimous decision and the government, quite aware of this, is pushing the motion, though all its Parliamentary allies outside the PA have declined to support it.

If this is the scenario, the government may not get more than 81 votes, and "It would also be an irony if the UNP is to provide the required majority," remarked a UNP MP from the Colombo District.

If the line-up in Parliament is so slim for the government, why is it pursuing the motion? UNP's boycott of Parliament gave the government a field day and PA speakers were able to forcefully and convincingly present their case to the country.

The government is sure that even if the UNP does not support the motion the issue has badly divided the party. If the UNP supported the motion, we would surely see more daggers being drawn at each other within the UNP.

The government has thrown the elephants into the almost dry rivers, hoping that the monsoon floods will carry them away. Meanwhile the UNP's boycott of Parliament is coming under criticism within the party itself. The question going round the UNP Parliamentary group is "Who advised the leader to take this decision?"

The UNP Parliamentary Group met on March 5 for a full discussion on the Eppawela political violence. UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said he would announce his decision the next morning before Parliament sat. What he did announce was a one-month boycott. The question being raised is whether the decision to boycott was taken after a careful assessment. Didn't they realize that the Mendis motion was on the Order Paper?

Meanwhile, UNP MPs are furious that the Speaker had allowed a telecast of the debate live on Rupavahini. Judging from the rumblings in the UNP, it is likely that this issue too would burst out when they return to Parliament.

So far, the Speaker has despite heavy odds, been able to maintain the dignity and decorum of the House through tact and tolerance. Indeed, he has grown grey with this onerous responsibility, but would he be able to continue to do so?

While the UNP was in the Mendis muddle on Tuesday, President Chandrika Kumaratunga hosted a dinner for the PA Parliamentary group at the President's House.

The guests would have enjoyed the banquet, especially after a hard day's work when they smashed up the UNP in Parliament.

The MPs had used it to launch attacks on several opposition politicians, including Mr. Wickremesinghe.

An angry Mr. Wickremesinghe has written to the Speaker saying the allegations against him were false, malicious, insulting and libelous but the President appeared to be happy with the performance of her MPs.

More than anybody, President's loyal lieutenant Jeyaraj Fernandopulle whose running battles with Wijeyapala Mendis in Katana for the past few years are no secret. It was Minister Fernandopulle who requested the Speaker to allow a live coverage of the debate.

When Mr. Fernandopulle did not receive a positive response from the Speaker he brought the matter to the notice of the President, who called the Speaker personally.

The Speaker said that a live coverage on the debate had already been granted and the government had both the say and the way since the UNP was not present to defend itself.

The Ministers conducted themselves to the satisfaction of the President and it was the subject of discussion at the President's dinner where the MPs danced and sang.

Some political analysts now believe the UNP's boycott of Parliament is proving to be a major blunder.

When Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was throwing allegations against Mr. Wickremesinghe and referring to his personal conduct, Deputy Chairman of Committees, Rauff Hakeem intervened to stop him in fairness to Mr. Wickremesinghe.

Mr. Hakeem said MPs had to be careful when they make reference to sitting members and refrain from damaging their reputation.

UNP MPs will now have to wait at least until April 7 to return to Parliament and reply some of the allegations during the debate on the extension of the emergency.

The Working Committee of the UNP is likely to discuss these issues when it meets in the first week of April.

Some party members hope that by then the leadership would have taken effective steps to sort out the Mendis issue.

It is likely that Mr. Wickremesinghe would openly ask Mr. Mendis to step down from the policy making Working Committee and his post as chief opposition whip.

However, it is likely that Mr. Mendis would seek support from his party colleagues saying that he is not the only politician involved in land deals allegedly detrimental to the interests of the people.

He will point out that there are about 40 such cases in the UNP and ask - what about them?

Will the party take action against those politicians who had bought valuable state land for a song, is the next question.

But those who are close to the hierarchy argue that those matters have not come into the open yet.

As far as Mr. Mendis' case is concerned the matter is now before Parliament and the party leadership says it would take appropriate action against individuals when the matters are brought to light.

Among other UNP politicians Gamini Jayawickrama Perera's name is also mentioned over a similar transaction, where he had allegedly acquired state land of 50 acres from Bomiriya. Despite all the internal turmoil, the UNP has also to launch an aggressive campaign against the government on the issue of allegedly state sponsored political violence as seen in Eppawela recently.

Wednesday's Sathyagraha at the Viharamahadevi Park was aimed at this. Though the organizers expected a huge crowd the strength was only about 5000. But it is not too bad for starters, an optimistic UNPer said.

Minutes before the Sathyagraha was started UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe along with Mayor Karu Jayasuriya, Anura Bandaranaike, Ronnie de Mel, Rohitha Bogollagama, Tyronne Fernando and Sarath Kongahage arrived at the Mayor's Chambers to watch the crowds gathering at the venue.

The UNP believed that its campaign against the government is gathering momentum culminating in an electoral defeat for the PA by year 2000.

While UNP leaders put their heads together, on Tuesday night to meticulously plan the Sathyagraha, the President's House in fact boomed with music and sing song.

Minister Lakshman Jayakody, a vocalist of no mean repute, sang some all-time hits, supported by Ministers Dharmasiri Senanayake, Anuruddha Ratwatte, Richard Pathirana and others.

President Kumaratunga was also seen clapping and getting into the thick of it. If was a significant occasion for them, since they thought the day's debate gave them a lot of political mileage over the UNP.

The Tamil parties, the EPDP and the PLOTE participated in the dinner along with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress while the TULF was divided on it.

TULF Parliamentarians R. Sampanthan and Neelan Tiruchelvam felt that they should take part while the Eastern Province firebrand Joseph Pararajasingham opposed the move.

Finally, some members participated in the dinner while others kept away.

Titles Bill

Few hours before the PA Parliamentary group went into its song and dance, Parliament passed an important piece of legislation, named the "New Title Registration Bill" aimed at simplifying the registration of titles.

There was vehement opposition by the lawyers and other professional bodies to the Bill but Minister D.M. Jayaratne went ahead with it.

Rauff Hakeem who was in the Chair, realizing the gravity of it sent a note to his Parliamentary group leader M.M. Zuhair (SLMC) indicating that Parliament would take this up in a little while.

Mr. Zuhair immediately informed Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle of the development and they discussed it.

Both of them felt the Bill should be held back and they rushed to the President's Office in Parliament to inform the President's Additional Secretary.

It took nearly ten minutes for Secretary Dissanayake to contact relevant authorities at the Presidential Secretariat and by the time he issued written instructions to Minister Fernandopulle requesting a postponement, the Bill had already been passed.

Later President Kumaratunga also expressed concern over the matter and agreed to review this new piece of legislation. This means the government will have consultations with the Bar Association of Sri Lanka and other professional groups to make changes in the Bill.

The only Minister who was keen to see this Bill goes through Parliament was D.M. Jayaratne. He was very happy since he could do it despite vehement opposition by lawyers.

That morning when the Minister came to Parliament he was met by Leader of the House Ratnasiri Wickramanayake to tell him to withdraw the Bill on the instructions by the President.

But Minister Jayaratne said he had got the approval of the President and was going ahead.

Though several Ministers tried to stop the Titles Bill, Mr. Jayaratne had his way though it may not be for long as moves are now underway to review the Bill.

Eppawela incidents

Meanwhile, the Eppawela incidents, a major issue between the UNP and the PA, is also having repercussions within the main opposition party. At a meeting of the UNP's Anuradhapura District Committee, former Minister A.M.S. Adhikari raising the matter came out with a scathing attack on the UNP's North Central Province Chief Minister Jayasena Dissanayake.

The barrage was so heavy and lengthy, the Chief Minister could not even reply.

Mr. Adhikari's outburst was centred on Mr. Dissanayake's comments at a Working Committee meeting where he said the violence at Eppawela was directed not so much against the UNP but against Mr. Adhikari.

The Chief Minister had said the UNP could hold meetings on any day at Eppawela if it comes without Mr. Adhikari. At the District Committee meeting, Mr. Adhikari did not stop at the verbal attack but also allegedly pulled and pinched the Chief Minister's ear till tears came from Mr. Dissanayake. Now in a symbolic gesture of protest some UNPers cover their ears when they see Mr. Adhikari as happened at Wednesday's Sathyagraha.

Mr. Adhikari was unrepentant. He told the General Secretary that if "Amden" could bite "Annie's" ear in the TNL muppet show "Always Breakdown," why couldn't he pinch the ear".

However, the UNP leadership is taking things more seriously, to bring the tapes of the Anuradhapura meeting to probe whether any member had violated Party's disciplinary code.

Re entry-Hema Premadasa

Another significant event is the re-entry of the Premadasa family to the political scene. (As we reported earlier), Hema Premadasa has warned she would come forward to contest the next Presidential election, if not given an opportunity to contest Colombo Central seat of her late husband.

The UNP leadership has earlier decided that as a matter of policy the party would not allow two people from a family to contest the same election.

This has now become a controversy and Ms. Premadasa has declared her intention of contesting the presidency to show her strength to the UNP and the country.

The Premadasas believe that the grassroots vote bank which propelled Mr. Premadasa to the high seat in 1988 still identifies itself with the Premadasa name rather than the UNP. Hence the decision to contest unless the Premadasas are given their due positions.

However, now they are in the limelight for a different reason.

President Premadasa's only son Sajith is due to wed shortly a young surgeon attached to the Jayawardenepura Hospital. She is the daughter of a one-time prominent politician in the Gampaha District. They all were seen at the Galle Face Hotel terrace when Mr. Premadasa's daughter, Dulanjali choose to host her birthday party.

Among the guests were two prominent UNPers, Anura Bandaranaike who is the organizer for the Mirigama electorate and National list MP Sarath Kongahage.

A high point of the party was Mr. Bandaranaike's waltz with a young lady.

Guess who? Whoever that be, Mr. Bandaranaike appears to be more interested in the Wijeyapala Mendis motion in Parliament.

Mr. Bandaranaike who opposed the stripping of his mother's civic rights by the then UNP government has said that the resolution against Mr. Mendis is ridiculous.

The question now is whether there is a serious dispute on this between Mr. Bandaranaike and the UNP leaders.

SAFTA

At the weekly meeting of the Ministers, Kingsley T. Wickramaratne delivered a lecture to his colleagues on the pros and cons of the SAFTA.

Among the critics of SAFTA are Minister D. M. Jayaratne who has warned that if the agreement is implemented, Sri Lanka would be at the receiving end and might become like Somalia.

The President also expressed concern over the trade balance after having examined the data. Later she decided to give 14 days for the Cabinet members to submit views on the matter.

More than the SAFTA, the President was keen on more economic co-operation with India where the country would benefit in the long run.

At present, Minister G. L. Peiris is working on one such project to set up a triangular economic co-operation network among Sri Lanka, India and Brazil.

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