The Political Column

25th October1998

Ranil regrets rebuff of 'peace offer'

By our Political Correspondent

The initiative by the top business leaders to draw up an action plan to solve the country's ethnic conflict and other problems is gathering momentum with many political parties responding positively.

The first session held at the BMICH ended on an optimistic note with the entrepreneurs expressing hope they would be able to persuade the UNP also to join the dialogue.

While the UNP is weighing the issue on whether to join or not, the President's scathing attack on the eve of the all-party conference was seen as hindering rather than helping the process.

The main objective of the business community was to bring the two major political parties together on a common platform to solve the ethnic crisis and implement a common programme to boost the country's economy.

The government welcomed the move by the business leaders but the main opposition UNP as usual appears to be slow in responding.

When the matter was taken up at the UNP's Parliamentary Group meeting on Tuesday, the group endorsed party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's decision to keep away from the APC called by the business community. The UNP leader said he was not prepared to attend because the government representative could be Minister G.L. Peiris who has recently launched scathing attacks on the party. The UNP circles also suspect Dr. Peiris is behind scenes to make the latest APC a success.

They believe the initiative first came from business tycoons Ken Balendra and Mano Selvanathan who subsequently discussed the matter with Dr. Peiris.

Another grievance of the UNP is that Dr. Peiris had undermined an all-party conference called by the UNP last month to discuss new measures for free and fair elections.

But most independent political analysts say it is evident that the UNP is still smarting over its own APC which was a non-starter.

A senior politician told this column that however much the UNP was disturbed by Dr. Peiris' attitude the APC call by the business leaders was a major event.

The UNP which has always been a firm supporter of the private sector should have looked at it in a more pragmatic manner instead of confusing national issues with personal matters, another analyst said.

However the business leaders are optimistic that something positive could emerge when they meet Mr. Wickremesinghe tomorrow.

One top businessman told this column that the UNP's attitude was surprising and strange as the UNP was known as the 'Godfather' of the private sector.

It was noted that veteran socialist Philip Gunawardene had once described former President J.R. Jayewardene as the 'Pope' of the private sector.

Besides the Peiris factor, the UNP also probably does not see much political gain from a common approach especially with a snap Presidential Election on the cards.

The subjects listed by the business leaders for an extensive dialogue are matters of any party's concern specially with an election round the corner.

The UNP is likely to deal with these subjects extensively in its election manifesto and it is politically unwise for it to agree on a common action plan under those circumstances.

At the same time the UNP circles were also wondering whether the business community's APC was a political trap by the government in collusion with some interested parties in the business community.

However the official reply sent by UNP General Secretary Gamini Atukorale to the APC co-ordinator Lalith Kotelawala held out some hope.

The UNP said that after tomorrow's meeting with business leaders, the UNP along with them could decide on any further steps.

The UNP letter also says:

The North-East conflict is the main issue that faces our country today. Therefore we agree to a request made by the President to adopt a bi-partisan approach to this conflict. Unfortunately the government has not taken any steps in this matter.

In the meantime, the situation in the North-East continues to deteriorate. A humanitarian problem in both the cleared and uncleared areas of the Wanni, needing urgent attention is the spreading epidemic of cholera, a problem aggravated by the threat of starvation facing the people. A situation made worse by the government's failure to make available adequate food and medicines to the people. I would request you to make this a matter of priority in your discussions with the government and help prevent the loss of lives and spread of disease.

Wishing your initiative every success."

On the eve of the APC, the business leaders met President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Minister Peiris.

When they arrived at Temple Trees around 4 p.m. on Tuesday, they were served with tea and asked to wait for a while.

The business leaders discussed the proposals among themselves until the arrival of Dr. Peiris around 4.40 p.m.

Dr. Peiris told them, "I don't want to play a prominent role in the matter, you all can talk and decide.

I have discussed this matter with the President and she would inform you all about it," he told them.

After a while Dr. Peiris left the meeting room to come back with the President to continue the discussion.

At the outset the President profusely apologized for having kept them waiting for nearly one and a half hours.

Thereafter Lalith Kotelawala briefed the President on the action plan while Armyne Weerasinghe explained the proposals.

The President commended the business community for taking the initiative after realising the gravity of the situation.

She explained her view of the current political situation and how it came about.

She said the government wanted to end the war soon and bring in constitutional reforms for the devolution of power but the process was stuck due to the UNP delaying tactics.

"We need only 16 votes to get the required 2/3 majority and the UNP is delaying the process," she lamented.

"When we first signed the bi-partisan accord the UNP leader used to meet me and discuss important matters at least once a fortnight. I called him to discuss important matters. But of late he has been dodging us. So we stopped dealing with him," the President said.

At this stage one member of the delegation cautioned the President against attacks on the UNP and its leader.

He said the UNP might co-operate more if the President restrained herself.

When the President asked for any particular instance where she had severely attacked the UNP, the businessmen told her to read the Daily News of Saturday October 17.

Where there was a reference to City Mayor and UNP Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, the report said he had started only as an accounts clerk.

The President asked an aide to get her a copy of the Daily News. But she could not find the news item. The business leader Mr. Jayasuriya is a distinguished and honest man. He is a gentleman and did not attack his opponents. He was at one time the head of the Chamber of Commerce and commanded much respect.

The President replying said that though Mr. Jayasuriya did not attack his opponents personally he got others to attack them. But she went through the newspaper again and perhaps finding the news item agreed with the business leaders that the report was in bad taste.

The President also said that if Dr. Peiris was a problem for the UNP, and if that really was the reason for it to reject the invitation she would lead the government delegation herself.

But when Mr. Balendra asked whether she was ready to drop Dr. Peiris from the delegation, the President stressed no one could be dropped.

Then the President inquired as to how they were going to structure the meetings. Mr. Kotelawala explained that they would be talking to the other parties to get their views too. The President then said that she would be available for them at any time to discuss the issues involved.

She also said that all parties should be given an equal opportunity to express their views.

"The war is escalating and it is important that we resolve the matter as early as possible.

"I want the UNP and other parties to join hands with us to make this a success. I don't want personal credit for anything since it is a joint effort. I am willing to make an announcement on any platform that it is a joint effort," she said.

The President then asked the business leaders to keep the UNP informed of what transpired at the meeting.

The President's decision to lead the PA delegation to the APC put the UNP in a difficult situation once again.

But her scathing attack on the UNP at a meeting in Moratuwa the next day created more problems for the business leaders. They lost even the little room available to talk to the UNP about the APC.

Soon after the meeting with the President Mr. Kotelawala had telephoned Mr. Wickremesinghe and said they wanted to meet him immediately.

He agreed and they went to his residence immediately. Mr. Kotelawala briefed Mr. Wickremesinghe on the latest development.

Mr. Wickremesinghe expressed satisfaction with what had happened but he said it was too late to reverse the UNP's decision to stay out.

"I can't go back and tell the Parliamentary Group about this development now. It is a time consuming effort and it is very unlikely that they would agree," he said.

However Mr. Wickremesinghe gave an assurance that he would be available tomorrow to discuss the issues at length.

Mr. Wickremesinghe repeatedly claimed that the government was lacking in management skills.

The delegation appeared to acknowledge this and said it was the responsibility of the private sector to come forward and initiate an action plan when the country was "down".

They said that in other countries too similar initiatives had been taken by the private sector.

Mr. Wickremesinghe promised even if there was an election on the cards, the UNP would stick to a bi-partisan approach.

He commended the private sector's initiative to address national issues.

"It is good that you come forward to resolve national issues. We have to forget the past," he said.

Does this mean, he is reviewing the UNP's position.

The stark reality today is that the ethnic crisis or any other major problems cannot be effectively solved unless the major parties agree on a path of co-operation rather than confrontation.

At another level, the left-wing parties are not enthusiastic about the move by the business community.

In their view the business community should not get involved in problems that are political in character.

They said the role of the private sector should be to ensure the implementation of the steps taken by the government to create a better economic environment, besides making their contribution towards economic growth.

Trade Unions are concerned that the business community's initiative and the consequent influence on the government could bring about a situation where they could persuade the government to drop or dilute the workers' charter. .

Another significant development of the week was the desertion of UNP members in the East. At a ceremony held at Trans Asia Hotel, some 700 UNP members, including Rizvi Sinne Lebbe and Uthuman Lebbe, joined the SLMC in a dramatic turn to a dispute they have had with the party leadership.

They pointed out the UNP had not appointed even one MP to look after the interests of the Muslims in the East.

The crossover took place on a grand scale amid much jubilation, but UNP leaders are downplaying the problem. They say the SLMC would grab any one it gets since its popularity is on a decline.

Before attending the crossover meeting SLMC leader M.H.M. Ashraff participated at a lunch hosted by a Colombo businessman to bid farewel to the outgoing Indian diplomat Jothy Singha. He hit out at the UNP saying it had done little or nothing to the Muslims in the East and that was why so many were crossing over.

But UNP sources say it was Mr. Ashraff who wanted a commission to go into the election malpractices alleged to have been committed by Rizivi Sinne Lebbe.

Today Mr. Ashraff was welcoming the same man with open arms, a prominent UNPer said.

The UNP leader also had a crack at the SLMC recently, saying Mr. Ashraff's party might even grab a Netanyahu, if he came its way.

He had another crack when he met Deputy Chairman of Committees and SLMC spokesman Rauff Hakeem at the Parliament Canteen.

Mr. Hakeem innocently asked the UNP leader whether he would be sending any representatives to the opening of the SLMC headquarters in Colombo.

Mr. Wickremesinghe replied the representatives had already been sent and Mr Hakeem, wondered what he meant till he realized that the reference was to Rizvi Sinne Lebbe and Uthuman Lebbe.

It is however evident that the UNP has lost some ground among the Muslims in the East.

Indeed it is a sad situation for a party that was once regarded as the champion of minorities.

At the weekly Cabinet meeting President Kumaratunga rejected two proposals submitted by Ministers Jeyaraj Fernandopulle and S.B. Dissanayake.

Mr. Fernandopulle proposed a new scheme for unemployed graduates including land for them.

"I only learnt about it from the newspapers," the President shot back.

Then, she warned Mr. Fernandopulle to refrain from making sweeping statements and giving promises which the government would not be able to fulfil.

"There are things that we can do and, things we can't do."

She said there should be a common policy on the matter after a careful study.

The President also rejected a similar proposal by S.B. Dissanayake to give land to journalists.

She said that a policy had to be drawn up and preference could be given to various categories, including journalists.

She emphasised on proper planning and cited the case of Samurdhi animators who have now turned their guns against the government, since the appointments were made without a proper plan.

After the President rejected the two proposals Minister Mangala Samaraweera complained in jocular vein that the UNP was calling him "Ponnaya".

The solution is clear, Minister D.M. Jayaratne quipped.

"You must file action, go before a judge and prove your masculinity. If you fail to do so the UNP's conclusion is right".

Soon after the Cabinet meeting the President had a separate meeting with her inner circle to discuss the initiative by the business leaders.

She said most of them were connected to the previous regime, but when she read their proposals she found that there is something positive. But she said she would leave no room for them to dictate terms to the government.

The President said she was prepared to formulate national policies on the matters discussed. She said that the ethnic issue should get priority and she was ready to issue a joint statement on it in consultation with the UNP and other opposition parties.

The President also discussed matters relating to the postponement of Provincial Council Elections. She said that she initially did not want to put off the elections but she had to listen to others since the government had to take notice of the ground situation before taking a decision.

She said the government was now planning an amendment to the Provincial Council Act to enable the Elections Commissioner to fix a new date for the poll. She explained that under the law the Elections Commissioner should fix a date between a period of five to eight weeks after calling for nominations. Since the Emergency Regulations imposed by her rendered the date ineffective and the stipulated period had already lapsed the Elections Commissioner is not in a position to fix a date for a fresh election. The amendment would enable the Elections Commissioner to fix a new date and parties concerned to change their nominations according to their wish. The amendment will be moved in Parliament shortly to offset any adverse ruling by courts on the postponement of the PC elections. The postponement has been challenged by the UNP and several individuals.

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