The Political Column

12th December 1999

Early euphoria in green camp

By our Political Correspondent

In this regard, he pledges to set up independent police, election and public service commissions. The government also has come up with similar proposals which are incorporated in the constitutional reform package.

However, the UNP's proposals are said to have received much acceptance, especially from public servants and police officers.. The police officers are happy because an independent police commission will allow them to act impartially and eliminate political interference.

The UNP's pledge to set up an independent election commission and public service commission is also welcomed by many as they would help stop an erosion of public confidence in these institutions.

Though the PA has also incorporated several provisions aimed at good governance in its constitutional reforms package, they have not been given adequate coverage in the media or in any other forum.

It is no secret that Minister G. L. Peiris took great pains, while going through the select committee process, to make the constitutional reforms a reality. But the government was forced to apply brakes on his moves due to various reasons, including fears about Sinhala hardline reaction.

Meanwhile, the rising election violence is causing concern among many right thinking people who ask whether the country is heading for anarchy. Election laws are blatantly violated with all parties putting up posters, banners and cut-outs.

Though peace-people cry foul, politicians appear to take little notice of their protests. Their main objective and interest is to grab power by any means. A rare exception is, however, reported from Moratuwa where Minister Peiris and Tyronne Fernando of the UNP set an example by agreeing to take steps to conduct a violence-free campaign.

Recently UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe's cut-out just erected at the UNP office in Araliya Uyana at Attanagalla was destroyed. Initially, the party supporters wanted to display cut-outs of Mr. Wickremesinghe and Anura Bandaranaike at the Bandaranaike ancestral home in Horogolla. The job was entrusted to the Liberal turned UNP and Attanagalla organiser Gamini Gunaratne. When Mr. Gunaratne visited Horogolla, Sunethra Bandaranaike was there. On seeing Mr. Gunaratne trying to erect the Wickremesinghe cut-out, she asked Mr. Gunaratne to keep Horogolla free of any politics and told them to take the cut-out to Araliya Uyana where the UNP office is.

Mr. Gunaratne then suggested that she call her brother Anura and decide. Sunethra then telephoned Mr. Bandaranaike and reportedly told him that she felt that their mother would be hurt if Mr. Wickremesinghe's cut-out was placed at Horagolla, and had no objection in shifting it to the Araliya Uyana.

Accordingly, Mr. Bandaranaike directed Mr. Gunaratne to shift the cut-out. But to the dismay of all the party men in Attanagalla, Mr. Wickremesinghe's cut-out had been vandalised on the following morning.

Having heard about the incident, Mr.. Bandaranaike telephoned Mr. Gunaratne on Monday and said he now intended to erect a cut out at the entrance of the Bandaranaike ancestral home in Horogolla as initially planned. He said that he wanted to personally supervise this. Mr. Bandaranaike said he had been decent enough to shift it following a request by her sister Sunethra, but after the PA hooligans had destroyed the cut-out he had no option but to erect it at the entrance to the Bandaranaike ancestral home. He also visited the Araliya Uyana office and put up a banner which read: "The democracy of the President".

Another matter that was discussed widely in political circles is the opportunity given to UNP parliamentarian A. H. M. Azwer to preside over the final sittings of this century in parliament.

Mr. Azwer was delighted, while many others thought there would not be any more controversies in parliament because Mr. Azwer has taken the chair. As he took the chair, Parliamentary Secretary General Dhammika Kitulgoda whispered to him, "Sir, please don't make any controversial statement."

Mr. Azwer told him: "Have no fear. I have to take responsibility. The House has elected me."

Mr. Azwer performed his task brilliantly and earned the praise of many. Mr. Kitulgoda told Mr. Azwer, "Sir, If you keep quiet for sometime and allow the other youngsters to shout about, you will emerge as one of the brilliant parliamentarians." Mr. Azwer smilingly replied "Who told you that I am not a brilliant parliamentarian?"

Winding up the sittings in parliament on Wednesday, Mr. Azwer said: "I am praying for the unity of this country. I am praying for the peace of this country and I am praying that we should have an enlightened leader with a new vision for the next millennium."

From the government side, D. M. Jayaratne thanked the chair and made his exit through the opposition door prompting Karunasena Kodituwakku to say that Mr. Azwer had taken the chair and that PA Ministers were going through the opposition doors which is an indication of a change. Later, in the MPs' canteen, Mr. Jayaratne told Mr. Azwer that he used the chair to hold a candle to his leader. Mr. Azwer said not at all. When he said enlightened leader, it would be even you. Then Mr. Jayaratne said, "I am not contesting. But Mr. Azwer said "things could change".

Like Mr. Azwer who is expecting a change, many businessmen also believe Mr. Wickremesinghe would win. Recently, a majority of Muslim businessmen who were attending an opening of a hotel in Wellawatte raised their hands for Mr. Wickremesinghe when asked who they would vote for. This prompted Minister Fowzie's son, Nauzer Fowzie, to make a speedy exit. But before that he charged that the businessmen were expressing the views of smugglers.

The mood in the UNP camp is euphoric. The UNP believes the President is fast losing her grip and Mr. Wickremesinghe is making headway.

A recent survey conducted by a prominent don with the help of some NGOs also showed an upward trend for the UNP candidate. Mr. Wickremesinghe's popularity stood at 51.8 per cent while President Kumaratunga had slid down considerably. The survey team attributes Mr. Wickremesinghe's sudden surge in popularity to several reasons. First, the UNP is carrying out an effective media campaign, making inroads on the president's image. Secondly, the UNP's protest campaigns have gathered momentum throughout the country. Thirdly, the media campaign to build up Mr. Wickremesinghe's image as a clean and honest leader has been successful and the fourth factor is the economic package put out by the UNP is more acceptable to the people than the PA's peace package.

But to counter all this, Minister Peiris is doing some hard work as a politician and an intellectual. He is organizing his Moratuwa electorate to suit the present day demands. Minister Peiris conducted a job market at Prince of Wales College, Moratuwa, where some 45 big companies participated. There were nearly 3,000 graduate applicants of whom 350 secured jobs immediately. At least another 750 graduates have been called for a second interview by the employers. All this has boosted Prof. Peiris' image. He is carrying out an effective campaign in support of President Kumaratunga in his electorate.

However, it appears that President Kumaratunga is said to be little worried over the trend. A recent NIB report, indicated that the UNP was gaining ground in both rural and urban areas.

Paddy farmers in rural areas, especially those in the North Central and Eastern Provinces, are said to be upset over the government decision to reduce the import duty on rice after assurances were given to them that under no circumstances such a thing would happen. Not only are the paddy farmers, but also potato and onion cultivators are also grumbling, saying their products do not fetch a good price as the markets were flooded with cheap imports.

Trade Minister Kingsley T. Wickremaratne's response was that the government has to open up the trade so that a greater number of people would benefit. But this policy has angered the farmers who may vote against the PA.

Besides all this, the government also had to face strike action by the ground staff of the SriLankan Airlines. Despite a presidential order to Aviation Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake to settle the matter immediately, the trade union action is continuing in the form of a work-to-rule campaign.

While the government is facing problems, the UNP received a shot in the arm when eminent lawyer Faiz Mustapha joined the UNP. The UNP is more than happy as it believes that Mr. Mustapha will fill the void created by the death of A. C. S. Hameed. Kalutara District MP Imtiaz Bakeer Markar is planning to bring Mr. Mustapha on the Akurana stage.

The UNP first approached Mr. Mustapha on the day of the funeral of Mr. Hameed, Mr. Wickremesinghe invited him to join the UNP. UNP's Kurunegala organizer Rohitha Bogollagama later on made a tireless effort to convince Mr. Mustapha, a long-standing legal adviser to Ms. Bandaranaike. He finally agreed to join the UNP at a meeting held at the 5th Lane residence of Mr. Wickremesinghe. Mr. Bogollagama was also present. It was past midnight when they decided that Mr. Mustapha would join the UNP. He was to come on the platform at the Beruwala meeting, but he could not do so due to personal reasons. But the UNP thinks that Mr. Mustapha would throw his weight firmly behind the UNP.

Apart from Mr. Mustapha, M. J. M. Muzammil, one-time controversial political broker, has also pledged support to he UNP leader. Mr. Muzammil was with Mr. Wickremesinghe when he arrived at Sirikotha on Thursday for the party's annual convention.

Many thought the SLMC, too, would drift towards the UNP as Mr. Muzammil was equally friendly with the SLMC leadership.

Mr. Muzammil, one time close friend of President Premadasa and the late Gamini Dissanayake is the political adviser to Minister M. H. M. Ashraff.

With all these, it looks as if Mr. Wickremesinghe is gaining ground in the run up to the presidential poll.

The cross over of the up-country's People's Front leader P. Chandrasekeran is also helping the UNP in a big way. While there is a split in the CWC vote, Mr. Chandrasekeran's vote would come to the UNP.

However, President Kumaratunga's views are quite different. At a meeting with PA organisers, she told Minister Arumugam Thondaman that he (Mr. Thondaman) should be happy now, referring to the exit of Mr. Chandrasekeran.

Amid all this political jigsaw, the state-run print media questioned the political integrity of Mr. Wickremesinghe, claiming that the UNP leader had allocated state estates to companies where he had some stakes. Lake House Plantations Ltd. was one of the companies cited where Mr. Wickremesinghe had shares. The company sent a clarification to Lake House which is yet to publish it. The company statement says inter alia:

"We have observed a number of inaccuracies and gross misrepresentations of facts both in the lead news item and also in the article under reference and would therefore be grateful, in the interest of justice and fair play, if this statement is given the same kind of prominence in your newspaper that was given to the articles referred to, in the Sunday Observer.

"The lead story 'Gross Abuse of Power' states that the management of Kurunegala Plantations Ltd. a productive state plantation company has been handed over in June 1992 to LH Plantations (Pvt) Ltd., a company owned by Ranil Wickremesinghe, his mother and other very close relatives on a recommendation made by a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Economic Affairs headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe himself as Minister of Industries, Science & Technology.

"It is indeed testing the very limits of credibility when, in the same front page, the composition of the directorate of LH Plantations (Pvt) Ltd., as it was in June 1992 is also given, and the name of Ranil Wickremesinghe does joint not appear there. We can confirm that Ranil Wickremesinghe was never at any stage a director of the said company nor was he even in possession of one single share in the company.

"It may be useful to have an idea of the process that was involved in the selection of the managing agents for the regional plantation companies, for a reader to form an assessment as to whether a proper procedure was adopted in the selection process.

In June 1992, 22 state owned Regional Plantation Companies were incorporated under, The Conversion of Public Corporations into Companies Act. No. 23 of 1987 and, the private sector was invited to participate in the management of these entities.

"As a first step to this process, applications were called from prospective companies for pre-qualification in which around 120 firms applied and 39 firms were eventually selected to participate in a final tender for the management contract of the 22 Regional Plantation Companies. Lake House Printers & Publishers Ltd., a public company quoted on the Colombo Stock Exchange was one such pre-qualified company selected to participate in the final tender and, after a technical evaluation process, was eventually selected as the successful tenderer for the management of Kurunegala Plantations Ltd., through a newly formed subsidiary named LH Plantations (Pvt) Ltd.

"The composition of the newly formed LH Plantations (Pvt) Ltd., as its formation in June 1992 and the shareholdings were as follows:

%

Lake House Printers & Publishers Ltd. 55

Lake House Investments Ltd. 35

Mr. R. S. Wijewardene 2.5

Mr. G. B. S. Gomes 1.5

Mr. L. C. Gooneratne 1.95

Mrs. N. M. Wickremesinghe 0.05

Mr. U. S. de S. Wijesundera 1.25

Mr. D. V. Gunatunga 0.50

Sarathi Ltd. 2.5

The directorate of the same company as at the same date was as follows:

Mr. R. S. Wijewardene - Chairman

Mr. G. B. S. Gomes

Mr. L. C. Gooneratne

Mrs. N. M. Wickremesinghe

Mr. U. S. de S. Wijesundera Mr. D. V. Gunatunga

"It may thus be seen that, even in this instance, the newspaper articles referred to, appear to have got their facts all mixed up.

"In the article appearing on page 6 of the Sunday Observer referred to, written by one Mr. J. Vitharana, it is stated that Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe was a director of LH Plantations (Pvt) Ltd., at the time of signing the management contract with Kurunegla Plantations Ltd.

"Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe never was and is not a director of any of the companies mentioned and his shareholdings of the said companies are given below for the information of the public.

"We may also add that the last two companies named are both public companies quoted on the Colombo Stock Exchange and their shares can be bought by any member of the public depending on availability in the market.

As stated elsewhere we firmly reiterate that Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe was, and is, neither a director nor a shareholder of LH Plantations (Pvt) Ltd., and is only a minority shareholder of the other two public quoted companies as shown above."

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