NE Governor wants all to help rebuild province

By Vishaka Jayasekara

The newly appointed North-East Governor Maj. General Asoka Jayawardana says he is seeking the co-operation of all political groups to rebuild the war-ravaged region.

Maj. General Jayawardana in one of his first interviews to the media told The Sunday Times he would visit all the districts of the northern and eastern provinces and draw up plans to develop the region with the help of Government officials, politicians and other groups operating there.

Asked whether the former governor was not accessible to people, Maj. General Jayawardana said he could not comment on how and under what circumstances the previous governor functioned, but added that in some instances the governor would have to visit Colombo to meet relevant ministers and officials at the Presidential Secretariat regarding official duties.

Uncles nephews and paper dolls

The dynamic leader has turned out to be just a doll, says Ranil

In recent months President Kumaratunga has regularly attacked 'The Sunday Times' and the 'Lankadeepa', accusing them of being UNP mouthpieces as they belong to the uncle of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Two weeks ago in one of her biggest outbursts she accused Ranil's uncle's newspapers of economic sabotage. But now the people know who is lying and who is fooling whom. Our story on the Inland Revenue Department's directives to banks is basically correct, Minister G.L. Peiris has admitted in Parliament. So someone had apparently misled and misinformed the President who blundered by shooting without checking.

In a Hambantota speech last week, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said he had little or no involvement with the 'Lankadeepa', 'The Sunday Times' Group though it was owned by his uncle. He said it was the Lankadeepa which had created and brought Ms. Kumaratunga to office.

But now the tumbling doll was hammering out at the newspapers on which she rode to the highest office. Today we publish excerpts from Mr. Wickremesinghe's complaint against what his uncle's newspapers had done. Whatever the President may think, Mr. Wickremesinghe's disclosures underline our position as an independent newspaper not controlled or influenced by any political party.

Apparently misled by some official, President Chandrika Kumaratunga alleged at a meeting in Galle recently that newspapers owned by Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's uncle were trying to sabotage the economy.

She was referring to reports published in the 'Sunday Lankadeepa' and 'The Sunday Times' on November 22 that the Department of Inland Revenue had sent a directive to banks asking for information relating to all who had accounts of more than Rs. 100,000. The President claimed that our reports were baseless and intended to undermine the economy. ''State media'' also quoted the Commissioner General of Inland Revenue as saying no such directive had been issued.

But 'The Sunday Times' in its special assignment page last week published documentary proof of the directive issued by the IRD and the protests by Banks Associations that the directive was blatant violation of the banking principles of confidentiality. Later Minister G.L. Peiris admitted in Parliament that such a directive had indeed been issued by regional tax commissioners to some banks. He assured that such directives or misdirectives would not be issued again. We asked him whether he could assure that the President would not shoot from the hip again without double-checking the information or advice given to her by officials.

In her Galle outburst, the President implied that 'The Sunday Times', 'Lankadeepa' owned by Mr. Wickremesinghe's uncle was serving the interests of the UNP. Last Sunday Mr. Wickremesinghe chose a UNP meeting at Hambantota to point out how his uncle's newspapers had helped Ms. Kumaratunga to come to office. He said his uncle Ranjith Wijewardene's newspapers had not given him even one fourth of the support they had given to Ms. Kumaratunga.

In 1994 Ms. Kumaratunga had swept to office with a historic majority promising peace, an open society and end to corruption.

More than four years had now passed but the one time doll or darling of the Free Media had done only a little more than talking about the ills and evils of former UNP regimes. The dynamic leader had turned out to be just a doll, he said.

The UNP Leader said the President had claimed that as Finance Minister she knew everything that was happening in the Finance Ministry and institutions under her purview, including the Inland Revenue Department. But she apparently did not know of the directive sent by Tax Commissioners to Banks and when newspapers pointed it out she accused them of lying. Now the people knew who was lying and who was trying to fool whom.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said it was his uncle's newspaper the 'Lankadeepa' which created and built up the political image of Kumaratunga and he was also of the view that if not for the Lankadeepa's backing, she would not be in the position she was in today.

It was the 'Lankadeepa' which often highlighted her outstanding leadership qualities and boosted her image.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said he had nothing to do with the 'Sunday Lankadeepa' and 'The Sunday Times' news report about the directive sent to banks. He said it was no secret that the Lankadeepa-Times Group was owned by his mother's brother Ranjith Wijewardene. There were differences of views between him and his 'mama', but that was no problem and there was no clash between them. He referred to a saying that family relationships were formed through birth but friends were chosen.

Mr. Wijewardene was his uncle. But Mr. Wijewardene was one of the closest friends of Vijaya and Chandrika Kumaratunga. They had freely chosen that friendship. It was so close that Vijaya Kumaratunga was built up as an actor by Sarasaviya Newspaper of the Lake House Group when Mr. Wijewardene was the Chairman.

Vijaya and Chandrika's had even chosen one of Mr. Wijewardene's Holiday Residence's for their honeymoon. Their friendship was so close. Mr. Wickremesinghe said he had come to know Vijaya Kumaratunga through his uncle. So why was the President now blaming him for what appeared in his uncle's newspapers.

Disclosing more secrets, the UNP leader said it was his uncle Mr. Wijewardene who intervened through him to get Mr. Kumaratunga released after he was arrested by the Jayewardene Government in 1982.

His uncle telephoned him and told him to get Dicky (President Jayewardene) to release Vijaya. Mr. Wickremesinghe said he had told his uncle he would need more details about the case. So his uncle arranged for him to meet Chandrika Kumaratunga at the uncle's residence. The UNP Leader said he had known Chandrika from her childhood and they discussed the matter in full at his uncle's residence.

After getting all the details Mr. Wickremesinghe said he met President Jayewardene and told him of the appeal made by Chandrika for the release of Vijaya because he was ill. Mr. Jayewardene immediately telephoned the Health Minister Dr. Ranjith Atapattu and told him to go and see about Vijaya's condition.

Later Mr. Wijewardene and Chandrika herself were able to see Vijaya. Finally Vijaya was brought to President's House and handed over to Chandrika. Mr. Wickremesinghe also said that after Vijaya and Kumaratunga quit the SLFP, it was again Mr. Wijewardene who gave them publicity and printed posters for them, all this was done because of a close friendship between his uncle and the Kumaratungas. But now she was attacking him for what was even published in his uncle's newspapers.

After Vijaya Kumaratunga was assassinated Chandrika went abroad and for several years the SLFP was dominated by the other two Bandaranaikes, Sirima and Anura. Chandrika Kumaratunga virtually had been forgotten if not for the regular publicity given to her again by his uncle's newspapers. But now choose to blame him for what appeared in his uncle's newspapers.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said he was disclosing these secrets to put the record straight and make it clear that he was not involved in what appeared in his uncle's newspapers.

Giving inside stories of how the 'Lankadeepa' helped to bring back Chandrika Kumaratunga from the political wilderness, Mr. Wickremesinghe referred to the Hanumantha Column in the 'Lankadeepa'. In a section titled Anjanama this column regularly carried reports saying that the people were eagerly awaiting the return of Chandrika Kumaratunga to give them new leadership. This column was regularly fed by people like Dr. Rajitha Senaratne who was then with Ms. Kumaratunga's party and is now in the UNP.

In June 1991 the 'Sunday Lankadeepa' published a story about an alleged plot to assassinate Ms. Kumaratunga in London. SLMP leader Ossie Abeygoonesekera said the story was a joke. Mr. Wickremesinghe said the then President Premadasa had asked him why the 'Lankadeepa' was publishing such ridiculous stories.

Obviously the motive again was to project Ms. Kumaratunga as a national leader, though the story had little or no basis.

After Chandrika Kumaratunga returned, it was again the 'Lankadeepa' which projected and promoted her for the leadership. The 'Lankadeepa' projected Ms. Kumaratunga at the expense of Anura Bandaranaike who eventually was forced to leave the SLFP and join the UNP. Mr. Wickremesinghe said Mr. Bandaranaike was his childhood friend and he had no problem in taking him to the UNP. But what he wanted to spotlight was the manner in which the 'Lankadeepa' pushed Ms. Kumaratunga into the frontlines of national politics and pushed Mr. Bandaranaike out.

It was the 'Lankadeepa' which first spotlighted Ms. Kumaratunga for the Western Province Chief Minister's post and then for PA leadership. The nomination came not so much from the SLFP or PA but from the 'Lankadeepa'. Then a dispute arose as to whether Ms. Kumaratunga or Sirima Bandaranaike would be the Prime Minister if the PA came to office. Again it was the 'Lankadeepa' which came forward and confirmed Ms. Kumaratunga as the Prime Minister if the PA came to office. Before even the party decided, it was the 'Lankadeepa' which projected Ms. Kumaratunga first as Chief Minister of the Western Province, then as Prime Minister. But now she was blaming him for what was published in his unlce's newspapers.

In the campaign for the 1994 General Elections it was the 'Lankadeepa' which again projected the canard about a plot to kill Ms. Kumaratunga. This further boosted her image. The UNP leader said the real reasons for her keeping away from election meetings was that she was not the best of speakers. So the party spread a story about a plot to kill her and got the top speakers to boost her. All this was carried out with the assistance of the 'Lankadeepa', his uncle's newspapers. Now she was blaming him for what appeared in those newspapers.

Several top people in the 'Lankadeepa' Editorial were among those who gave full support to Ms. Kumaratunga, the UNP leader said. Among them were the 'Lankadeepa's' Editor-in-Chief Siri Ranasinghe, Deputy Editor Lakshman Jayawardene and Ariyananda Dombagahawatte along with free lance Political Correspondent Chulawansa Srilal. Mr. Jayawardene was made Deputy Chairman and later Chairman of Lake House while Mr. Srilal became the Press Secretary to President Kumaratunga. Later 'Lankadeepa' Deputy Editor Deltota Chandrapala was made Editor of the Dinamina, Editorial writer Nimal Horana was made Editor of the Silumina, 'Lankadeepa Premakumara Rajapakse was made a Night Editor at Lake House and Photographer Lalith Welivitigoda was made Presidential Photographer. This showed how those who helped her from her uncle's newspaper were given top posts but now she was blaming him for what appeared in his uncle's newspaper. To run her Lake House Group she got several top people from the 'Lankadeepa'.

In the Provincial Elections of 1995 the state-control led Lake House newspapers described the result as a victory for the Government but the 'Lankadeepa' proclaimed it as a victory for President Kumaratunga. She was thrilled and personally called Editor Siri Ranasinghe to thank him, Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

He said he was aware that Presidential Media Adviser Sanath Goonetilleke once or twice a week met or telephoned 'Lankadeepa' Editor Siri Ranasinghe to discuss various issues, and the newspaper was giving a big helping hand to the President and her objectives. It was the 'Lankadeepa' that sidelined Anura Bandaranaike and made out a case that Sirima Bandaranaike was too frail to hold the top post. It was this 'Lankadeepa' that built up this beautiful doll called Chandrika Kumaratunga. But the doll had no dynamics and was only playing and over-playing an old record of the UNP's corruption and killings.

So the 'Lankadeepa' gave the country a doll and as an act of gratitude she was slamming the newspaper which created and built her up. Mr. Wickremesinghe said that by bringing Ms. Kumaratunga to the leadership the 'Lankadeepa' had contributed towards the decline of the country and it was quite in order for the newspaper to get hammered for it, though he personally did not agree with policy of attacking the free media.

His complaint was that he was being blamed for what was now being published in his uncle's newspapers which had brought President Kumaratunga to office.

This doll created by the 'Lankadeepa' had now created a serious crisis for the country. Even who voted for the PA in 1994 were now dejected and wondering where to turn from the 'Lankadeepa' doll that failed.

The UNP leader said that though Ranjith Wijewardene was his uncle he had sought no help from him or his newspapers and little had been given. They had not given him even a fourth of the help they had given President Kumaratunga and he had never asked for more. Family relationship was one thing, business another. Just because he was a close relative he won't seek help or find fault with him for helping another party. They were good friends. They met last week and will meet again next week. He can get on in that way with uncles and aunties, Mr. Wickremesinghe said. He said the newspapers of the 'Lankadeepa' Group were still critical of him but he had never tried to stop that criticism through influence. Lots of the mud slung against him, President Premadasa and others during hearings in various commissions had been published in the 'Lankadeepa' Group of newspapers.

He said he was not angry about what was being done and was on the contrary friendly whenever he met the 'Lankadeepa' people, though they had created and blown up a doll who was ruining the country. Now the doll was turning around and blasting the ladder on which she climbed and she could only say that they had asked for it. They had projected her as a saviour of the country and as a Vihara Mahadevi but now she was slamming them as saboteurs.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said his mother's cousin brother had started the Upali Group of newspapers. His father was at one time the Managing Director of Lake House. But he did not need newspapers to carry out his campaign. Party branches and cluster organisations were his newspapers, radio and TV. Those who were blown up in newspapers would also be blown out by them and President Kumaratunga was possibly facing such a situation.

Outlining this strange situation Mr. Wickremesinghe said President Kumaratunga was now being attacked by the Divaina Group which was started by his uncle (Upali Wijewardene) and was now being run by her uncle (Seevali Ratwatte). Ms. Kumaratunga was boosted into top level politics by his uncle, Ranjith Wijewardene's newspapers. All this was being done by his relatives.

For propaganda today the President had three cornerstones. One was the Lake House Group, started by his grandfather D.R. Wijewardene; she was attacking him today through state television, Rupavahini, which had been gifted by Japan to his then leader J.R. Jayewardene. She was also attacking him through ITN which had been launched by his brother Shan Wickremesinghe. Thus President Kumaratunga was created by his relatives and was still running through the publicity provided by his relatives. If she did not have the support from Lake House, Rupavahini and ITN all of which had connections with his family she would not be able to run, Mr. Wickremesinghe said.

In contrast he pointed out that S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirima Bandaranaike had come to office without the support of Lake House or any other powerful media groups.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said that if not for his relatives President Kumaratunga would have no organs to trumpet her image. But he had no problem with that. She could keep and cuddle and keep all her newspapers and media organisations but he believed that time was running out for her and for the PA.

For once a touch of decency prevailed

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti-Lobby Correspondent

In a House where sanity is rare and debating quality at an abysmal zero, the debate on the Foreign Affairs Ministry proved to be different with able speakers taking the forefront to deviate from the drudgery of mudslinging.

Opening the debate was Anura Bandaranaike who expressed concern over two of our neighbouring countries crossing the nuclear threshold.

He also pointed out that the Foreign Affairs Consultative Committee had not met in months and that an entire ministry was not a task entrusted to an individual, to shovel glory upon himself!

"We learn about his trips and achievements through vernacular press releases extolling his successes abroad. There should be vibrant discussions and he should be seen and heard in Parliament more,"Mr. Bandaranaike said. Quipping there was dinosaur diplomacy, he questioned the 'amazing' policy of recruitment to the foreign service. "The best in the diplomatic corp were sent to Katmandu to cool their heels- condemned as a UNPer while men with less stature were sent to serve in better missions. Some were men nearing three scores and ten!"

Speaking next was the amiable Deputy Chairman of Committees Rauff Hakeem who focused attention on the controversial speech by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on the LTTE's Martyrs' Day- expressing willingness to talk peace.

He said the LTTE appeared to be under pressure and was being driven to the negotiating table.The LTTE has been active in about 47 countries he noted, reiterating that getting Prabhakaran into mainstream politics was necessary.

Listing the many achievements of the foreign ministry was Deputy Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said:

"There was a suggestion that we should immediately respond to the LTTE's call for talks. I disagree for I believe we must work according to our pace. Nothing is achieved by jumping into situations like the anti India stance the UNP once adopted, for which we still pay the price." Showering praise, on Lakshman Kadirgamar he claimed the minister had removed the stains that soiled the reputation of a once proud nation.

Responding to Mr. Bandaranaike's query, he said the ministry followed stipulated criteria in recruiting personnel to the foreign service and selected those who fared well at a competitive examination.

"We are not serving our kith and kin like you, when selections were done through the back door. Pausing for emphasis, he quipped that no sanitary inspectors were sent abroad either, and Opposition members jumped to their feet in vehement protest- accusing him of uttering falsehoods.

"For 17 years, you could not restore the Sri Lankan image. The day before the SAARC Summit, India refused to come and the country had to face a diplomatic embarrassment. The untold reason was the anti Indian stance of the UNP and its record of human rights violations," he thundered.

At his wittiest best was NDUNLF er Kesaralal Gunasekera who is enjoying a bit of limelight these days with MP Ravi Karunanayake being the conspicuous NDUNLF absentee in Parliament. Mr. Gunasekera, nursing a bout of influenza informed the House that though Mr. Bandaranaike freely dished out advice, it should be taken with a pinch of salt in case his 'foreign' advice disagreed with that of the prudent PA Minister.

Highlighting the many achievements of Minister Kadiragarmar soon after that was the exuberant MP Dilan Perera who reiterated the necessity to strengthen international links, specially with India to end the ethnic conflict. A former roving minister now quietly returned to the UNP front rows to enjoy the luxury of Opposition politics was pint sized Harispattuwa member A.C.S. Hameed, who was next in line.

Making a sweeping gesture at the empty government benches he quipped that it appeared the government desired to distance itself from the minister or his ministry.

Concluding a debate which for once did not insult public intelligence and never experienced vitriolic language was Minister Lakshman Kadiragarmar.

Paying a handsome compliment to his predecessor who held sway for over 40 minutes, the Foreign Affairs Minister compared Mr. Hameed's performance to that of a theatre personality with considerable elegance but one who had unfortunately forgotten his lines.

Displaying his customary eloquence, Mr. Kadiragarmar said despite the prophets of doom casting doubts, the fast track trade agreement with India would soon take off.

" The nuclear testing is a cause for concern, but it is not the end of the world. While this factor cannot be ignored, the fallacy lay in believing that nuclear testing signified the end of the regional grouping. It is not so. Both countries have separately conceded that trade links within the region is very important," he enthused.

And the minister thoroughly enjoying his thrust and parry quipped: "Yes, I put the president's picture with that of Mandela on my report, and don't grudge me that. I would have loved to see more portraits of Mr. Hameed hung up and I won't grudge that either" he smiled.

On a serious note, he opined that by claiming the ruthless LTTE indestructible, what the UNP indirectly said was that the war was unwinnable and not to do anything as there was actually nothing anybody could do!

" I refuse to be so defeatist and don't make apologies and excuses on their behalf. That was the height of irresponsibility. This bloodshed must stop, and we must think whether we are willing to sacrifice the next generation also on the altar of war. We shall talk when it suits us and not when the LTTE in pursuant of its own agenda decides to talk. And this does not mean I want doors for negotiations closed either," he added carefully.

Delhi pulling peace strings

By Our Political Correspondent

It is said that peace cannot be main tained by force and that it can only be achieved by understanding.

It seems to be true in the Sri Lankan context, too, since the Chandrika Kumaratunga administration is indulging in a war for peace.

It is clear that war alone could not bring peace to Sri Lanka. In the present context, there has to be a concerted effort on the part of both feuding parties to initiate a dialogue for a peaceful settlement.

Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran in his message to mark the so-called heroes' day has declared that the LTTE is prepared for a negotiated settlement if peace talks are initiated by a third party.

Should the government respond to this offer?

Prabhakaran has said peace talks cannot take place under the prevailing conditions of war, violence and oppression. The LTTE, he said, was prepared to hold talks in an atmosphere of peace and normalcy in a congenial environment free from military aggression, oppression and economic blockade imposed on the Tamils. He explained that peace talks could not be free, fair and just if the Sri Lankan government utilised military aggression and economic strangulation as political pressures on the Tamil community.

Opposition UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe immediately responded to the LTTE's call, saying the government should hold talks with the rebels for a negotiated settlement. Mr. Wickremesinghe on an earlier occasion, too, advocated unconditional talks where the government does not have to stop its military thrust against the LTTE.

However, it appears that Prabhakaran's call is somewhat different. He has laid down some conditions when he said that negotiations could not take place under the prevailing conditions of war, violence and oppression. In other words, they prefer to hold talks in an atmosphere of peace which means that the LTTE is calling for a cessation of hostilities.

The government, it appears, is thinking twice before making its response and it believes an invisible Indian hand is behind this LTTE's offer. It is believed that the Central Government in India has responded to a call from Hindu fundamentalists, thus forcing the LTTE to make a peace offer.

Under these circumstances, the government is weighing the options, looking into all the aspects before responding. It should be taken into consideration that the Tiger supremo's offer came after the LTTE unveiled officially its Air Tigers squadron. Simultaneously as Prabhakaran made his peace offer, he let the world know for the first time that the Air Tigers had a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft.

In the circumstances political analysts wonder whether the Tigers are making this offer due to their sagging strength and the need to regroup or some other reason entirely different. Amidst all this, Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar pointedly accused the UNP of representing the LTTE's view in parliament.

"The UNP is representing the LTTE in parliament. You say that the LTTE is an invincible organisation. Your arguments were almost for the LTTE. You are trying to show how nice and brave they are," the Minister said, referring to several speeches.

Mr. Kadirgamar said both A.C.S. Hameed and Anura Bandaranaike were saying the government should jump into talks with a pack of murderers. But Mr. Kadirgamar later qualified his statement saying that terrorist organisations did talk at some stage, referring to the PLO and IRA.

But Mr. Hameed replied saying that the LTTE's foreign offices such as the London and Oslo offices, are in full steam and that all the government propaganda had not hindered their progress.

The US point of view on this episode is that the government should accept the offer by the LTTE whether it comes from India or not.

The government scepticism on this matter arises from the fear it might be walking into an Indian trap where they would be forced to halt all military operations against the LTTE in the north and east.

Since the LTTE has indicated directly its willingness to talk to the government through the mediation of a third party the main opposition has urged the government to respond positively to this offer, one wonders where the business community's initiative would fit in this scenario.

With the LTTE offer and the UNP's positive response it appears that the business community's role has come to an abrupt end. A section of the UNP feels that correspondence between the UNP and the business community is no more necessary under these conditions.

In the event of the government not responding to the call of the LTTE, can the business community achieve anything further through dialogue between the government and the opposition? If the government responds positively what role would they have been left with to play?

However, it is now understood that the opposition leader is expected to nominate the UNP team to liaise with the business community after the business community's co-ordinating chairman clarified matters. Co-ordinating chairman Lalith Kotelawela has reiterated that they have no hidden agenda and their role was as a facilitator or a corridor for a bi-partisan approach.

Judging from the parliamentary debate on the foreign ministry votes, it does not look as if the government is interested at this stage to talk to the LTTE. Although the UNP speakers, including Mr. Hameed, Mr. Bandaranaike and Karunasena Kodithuwakku pushed the government towards the commitment, Minister Kadirgamar did not come out with anything concrete.

Political analysts say it would be unwise to believe that the LTTE is making the offer because it is pressed against the wall. They are of the opinion that the LTTE must be thinking that it should talk again to the government before it makes up its mind to go for an all-out war.

If the government's assumption is that the LTTE is pressed against the wall and if it is right, it is fine, said one analyst. If it is wrong, it would be disastrous, he added. "The government has said it would be talking to the LTTE when the rebels are militarily weakened. So it is unwise now to assume that the LTTE is weak because the government has not responded to the LTTE's offer and the UNP's call for direct talks with the LTTE.

At the same time, the government must be thinking that the UNP is playing games, the same analyst pointed out. If they feel the UNP has tried to corner them, they will have an equal opportunity if they respond to the UNP's call, he added. If the government responds positively for peaceful negotiations with the LTTE, the UNP will have no option but to support them that is how the government could push them to a corner. If this becomes a reality, the government and the UNP would have to implement the Liam Fox agreement, he said.

As far as the LTTE is concerned, it does not hope that the government will undergo a fundamental transformation to talk to it.

If such changes do not take place, the LTTE states that the government will have to bear the responsibility of creating an independent Tamil state. Since the international community had now pushed the government to grab this opportunity, it has to be understood that they are not considering the LTTE as a terrorist organisation.

Though Prabhakaran's speech has a fascist flavour it may be wise now for the government to take an objective look at this offer, since the expenditure incurred on the war is causing an irreparable dent in the county's economy, and making the lives of the people miserable day by day.

More News/Comments* Ashraff factor and SLMC's decision * The Sri Lankan ethnic conflict: a case for mediation * 'For goodness' sake learn or depart'

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