President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Leader of the
Opposition Ranil Wickremesinghe greeting each other
at the 15th Sri Lanka Muslim Congress convention in
Colombo. In the centre is the SLMC leader and
Ports and Shipping Minister M.H.M. Ashraff.
Pic. by Sajeewa Chinthaka

• Phosphate tender:

• Are we all haram, ask Batti Muslim youth
• Postal unions warn of fresh trouble
• Pakistan protests, but Lanka soothes feelings
• Mangala's credit card goes to Commission
• Irish 'ayes' are smiling

Phosphate tender:

Ministers' lips are sealed

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Ministers have been debarred from making any comments on the billion rupee Eppawala Phosphate deal.

A note to this effect has been circulated to ministers by Additional Cabinet Secretary, B.N.Jinasena. The Sunday Times learns that the embargo will remain in force until the cabinet formally approves the project.

The move came amidst protests from Science and Technology Minister, Batty Weerakoon who claimed that although a Cabinet Minister had said the privatisation of the phosphate project had taken place he was not aware of such an approval given by the Cabinet.

Mr. Weerakoon who is currently abroad had wanted the President to delay any decision on the matter until he returns to the country.

The embargo came on the recommendation of Social Services Minister, Berty Premalal Dissanayake, who represents Anuradhapura where the project is sited and where the protests have been centred.

He told the Cabinet it was impossible for him to support the project amidst mounting public protests especially in his district. Moreover, he had pointed out there were other ministers too who were opposed.

The Government was determined early this year to clinch a 425 million dollar foreign investment deal to exploit the Eppawala Phosphate reserves, despite mounting pressure against the project. The deal was due be concluded with foreign investor IMC Agrico of the United States.

'The Sunday Times' learns that the government is reconsidering its options while not wishing to upset foreign investors who may get a negative view in the event of decisions being reversed.

However, the ministers have reportedly agreed that going against public opinion would be detrimental to the government, and hence all efforts to accommodate public view point should be explored.

The main opposition UNP, Buddhist monks, and farmers led a campaign against the project mainly protesting that it would displace settlers, cause environmental hazards and also deprive the country of an important source of fertilizer.

Under the deal the investor was to be allowed to mine and export up to 3.6 million metric tons of phosphate in rock-form for the first 12 years.

Are we all haram, ask Batti Muslim youth

By Chris Kamalendran

Life in parts of the Batticaloa district came to a standstill yesterday when two youth groups opposing SLMC proposals for a Muslim majority Provincial Council in the Southeast staged a hartal to coincide with the party convention.

Shops were closed, bus services within Batticaloa were halted, lorry transport services were curtailed and civilian movements were reduced in the Valachenai, Oddamawadi, Eravur, Kathankudy and surrounding areas.

The groups known as the 'Islamic Youth Front' and another organisation identifying itself as 'Fighters against the SLMC' were involved in the protest. The Youth Front had announced the hartal through the mosques in the area on Friday night.

They were protesting against the SLMC proposal to include only the Muslim areas in the Ampara district in the south-east provincial Muslim devolution unit. The Youth Fronts want Muslim areas in Batticaloa also included.

Some 10,000 delegates took part in yesterday's SLMC convention at the Stanley Jansz Park in Colombo

Postal unions warn of fresh trouble

By Arshad M. Hadjirin

Postal union leaders have warned of a fresh action, if the government fails to implement promises which ended a two- month long strike.

UPTO Secretary N.P. Hettiarachchi told The Sunday Times, ten transfers and numerous vacation of post notices were yet to be revoked and the unions were seriously concerned.

"We do not want another strike but we want our demands implemented soon," he said. The postal go-slow which lasted fifty seven days, brought mail delivery to a grinding halt with millions of letters piled up.

Mr. Hettiarachchi said Postal Chief Soma Kotakadeniya has so far not implemented certain crucial decisions agreed upon with the Govt..

He said they wanted to meet President Kumaratunga and tell her they could not work under Ms. Kotakadeniya till charges against the postal chief were probed.

Pakistan protests, but Lanka soothes feelings

Pakistan has lodged a strong protest over Sri Lanka's stance on India's recent nuclear tests which have provoked an international crisis.

Sri Lanka's acting High Commissioner, J. Sadeek, was summoned to the Foreign Office in Islamabad, where he was told that the Government of Pakistan took strong exception to the Sri Lankan stance.

Earlier, Pakistan's High Commissioner Basit Ali Haqqani, expressed 'surprise' here at remarks by Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, that Sri Lanka had nothing against India realizing its nuclear ambitions.

As exclusively reported in The Sunday Times last week, Mr. Haqqani said, Mr. Kadirgamar's statement was surprising.

Mr. Haqqani also explained his Government's position to Opposition Leader, Ranil Wickremasinghe, during a meeting recently. And Mr. Wickremesinhe is learnt to have assured he would raise the issue with the Foreign Minister.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad had also instructed Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations to lodge a similar protest with his Sri Lankan counterpart, John de Saram..

Whilst this went on, Mr. Kadirgamar who was in Cartagena, Columbia, attending the Non Aligned Foreign Ministers' Conference met Pakistan's Deputy Foreign Minister, Abdul Kanju to explain matters.

"Their is no need to make lengthy explanations. We are close friends and we understand your position," he told Mr. Kadirgamar.

But a more significant diplomatic development in Cartegena came early on Thursday whilst NAM delegates were waiting for the final document to be prepared as a prelude to the concluding sessions.

Mr.Kadirgamar appeared keen to set the record right after the statements he made at the Foreign Correspondents Association luncheon meeting which triggered off a diplomatic furore with protests from United States and Pakistan.

He escorted India's fair Deputy Foreign Minister Vasundhara Raje, out of the conference hall to the lobby and introduced her to the waiting Mr. Kanju. The introduction over, the two ministers from the rival countries were seen talking to each other animatedly in Urdu. .

Thereafter Mr. Kadirgamar returned to his seat in the conference chamber while the two Ministers continued their conversation for about half an hour in full view of the delegates. Many expressed appreciation that the two State Ministers who had not spoken to each other during the conference had finally met.

Mr. Kadirgamar has proceeded directly from Cartagena to Beijing to soothe the ruffled feelings of the Chinese against whom serious allegations have been leveled by the new Indian leaders for their collusion with Pakistan over the transfer of nuclear technology.

"After all, it was the stalwart of non - alignment, Premier Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who intervened successfully to defuse tension between India and China after the border skirmish in 1962. Minister Kadirgamar is known to believe strongly that good relations between India and China, just as much as between India and Pakistan, are vital to the peace and security of Asia," a Foreign Office spokesman told The Sunday Times yesterday.

Mangala's credit card goes to Commission

By M. Ismeth

UNP MPs have made an official complaint to the Permanent Commission probing Bribery and Corruption regarding a transaction between Minister Mangala Samaraweera and the Japanese boss of Sri Lanka Telecom.

Parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne accompanied by his colleague and lawyer Sarath Kongahage made the complaint on Friday relating to the payment of Mr. Samaraweera's big credit card bill by the SLT Chief Executive Hedeaki Kamitsuma.

Mr. Kongahage told 'The Sunday Times', the complaint in the form of an affidavit with documents was handed over to the Commission's Chairman T. A. de S. Wijesundera and member Rudra Rajasingham.The receipt of the complaint was acknowledged by the Commission.

Mr. Wijesundara said it was the first complaint made by the Opposition, but he regretted the Commission did not have the investigative staff or the lawyers since they had been withdrawn by the Attorney General's Department.

Mr. Kongahage said more complaints would be made and the UNP would fight in Parliament for the reactivation of the Commission. He wanted the complaint against the Minister and Mr. Kamitsuma to be taken up first.

Mr. Kongahage said that the non-cooperation of the government had brought the work of the Commission to a stand still while the UNP had several complaints to make against those who preached about transparency and integrity in public life.

For more than a year, the Permanent Commission which was expected to spearhead the fight against bribery and corruption has been plagued in an internal crisis. The Commission's Director General Nelum Gamage was moved out last year after she clashed with the Commissioners while the Commissioners themselves had been asked by the President to resign but they are staying on.

Irish 'ayes' are smiling

The Sunday Times speaks to top leaders

By Keith Noyahr in Belfast

As Ireland and the world yesterday was all smiles over the resounding yes vote in the referendum in the historic peace agreement, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams told The Sunday Times it was a major step towards lasting peace in Northern Ireland. The Yes campaign received a massive 71.12 percent of the 80.1 percent turnout while those opposed to the agreement accounted for 28.22%, according to official results from northern Ireland. Across the border in the Republic of Ireland the yes vote was a massive 95%.

Today exactly 200 years ago the United Ireland rebellion began at the cost of Thousands of lives

Gerry Adams

But in the last 30 years of violence , over 3,500 have died on both sides of the divide. Majority of Protestants in Northern Ireland were keen on union with Britain and to remain part of the United Kingdom. Catholics want to make Northern Ireland part of the mainland Ireland

"I am confident that we are going to get a lasting peace settlement," Mr. Adams told me, as awar ravaged people voted for the promise of the future rather than the pain of the past. He assured that the Irish Republican Army, widely regarded as the military wing of the Sin Fein would not return to violence.

"A vast majority of the people here have voted for peace and we will not disappoint them," Mr. Adams told me at the Balmoral Kings Hall where the Referendum results were announced.

Social Democratic and Labour Party leader John Hume, who played a key role in bringing Sinn Fein to the negotiating table expressed similar sentiments.

David Trimble

"For the first time the people of the two communities have voted for peace and I am sure the healing process will begin ,"Mr. Hume told The Sunday Times.

The strongest campaigner for No vote, Protestant leader Rev. Ian Paisley, who heads the Democratic Unionist party was jeered when the results were announced.

Elections will now be held on June 25 for a new Northern Ireland National Assembly which will maintain ties with Britain but also have links with the Republic of Ireland.

Meanwhile Rueters news agency quoted British Prime Minister Tony Blair as saying

"It's a day for joy, this is another giant stride along the path towards peace and hope in the future."

As Chief Electoral Officer Pat Bradley read out the result in Belfast to hordes of waiting reporters and cameramen, waiting "Yes" campaigners broke into cheers and jeered at their "No" rivals.

Bradley gave no breakdown of the vote in the north, so it was not clear how many of Northern Ireland's pro-British Protestant or "unionist" majority had backed the deal.