Outside Politics

19th April 1998

No questions

This was all about re- organising for the hustings.

So the blue boys from all parts of the country met in cooler climes. The man who was to teach them how to organise campaigns and ensure victory held forth. When he finished, he ensured there was no question time. The reason ? The blue boys from the South who took part in the meeting had a volley of questions to fire.

They were all about how well the boss of the campaign had organised himself. It was all about houses though it did not refer to the one at Diyawanna, the hallowed precincts to which the campaigners want the blue boys returned.

President defies planets

Planetary changes portending malefic influence have prompted many politicians and the like to travel abroad.

It seems Rahu and Kethu would not go chasing them beyond the shores of Sri Lanka. Or so they believed. Although sections of the media speculated that President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga would also follow suit, a PA source insisted she had no such plans.

Planetary changes or otherwise, she has no immediate plans to travel abroad, the source added.

Boasts and realities

It was only in Decem ber, last year, Deputy Defence Minister, General Anuruddha Ratwatte, declared boldly that the south will be linked to the north on February 4, the 50th Anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence.

He predicted that critics who criticised his conduct of the war would be in for a shock and even forecast he would shake hands with Tiger leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran. But last week Sri Lankans heard a different view from the country's military leaders.

Overall Operations Commander, Major General Srilal Weerasuriya, told ITN during an interview that "Operation Jaya Sikurui" could not be conducted to a deadline.

That's not all. Army Commander, Lt. Gen. Rohan de S. Daluwatte, told a customary Avurudu tea party at Army Headquarters last Friday he could not give a specific date for clearing the road through Wanni to the north. Nor has he given one. However, he said, the road would be open "very soon."

Jungle Telegraph

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