by Shan Wijetunga
Ranil intent on doing something special on the government's fourth anniversary summoned a group of his party men to his Cambridge Place office. Chief Opposition Whip W. J. M. Loku Bandara, Dharmadasa Banda, Tyronne Fernando, John Amaratunga and H. M. Azwer had been invited for the meeting, but Loku Bandara could not make it, because he had left for Kataragama.

Ranil explained the purpose of the meeting. Last year, on the third anniversary of the government, a number of UNP MPs hurled charges against the government and walked out of the chamber. A special statement on behalf of the party was made by then Chief Whip Wijayapala Mendis.

"This time also we must do something, but it has to be totally different", Ranil explained. He had already decided what it was to be. His plan was to raise the issue of the postponement of Provincial Council elections and to point out that the gazette notification relating to the declaration of the Emergency contained paragraphs that we a breach of M.P.'s privileges.

They discussed how the question of breach of privilege could be raised, and for this purpose studied the Standing Orders. They discovered Standing Orders number 25 and 17 (c) could be employed for the purpose.

According to Standing Order 25, an Emergency proposal directly related to the Parliamentary privilege receives precedence over all other business of the day. Unless a vote is pending about a question of privilege raised recently, all business of the Parliament can be temporarily suspended through a motion dealing with Parliamentary privilege,

According to Standing Order 17 (c), even if the Parliament does not permit a motion relating to a question of privilege, if 20 or more members support the motion, it has to be taken up.

Their decision was first to raise the issue of privilege in this manner and later to accuse the president of violating MPs privileges. They also looked into the possibility of summoning her to Parliament.

"Is it possible to bring a breach of privilege motion against the president" asked John Amaratunga. "According to the constitution, the President cannot be summoned only before the courts". We will raise this question and see what happens" replied Ranil.

The rest of the strategy was mapped out by entrusting specific tasks to individuals and it was decided to maintain absolute secrecy. Posters and slogans were prepared by a committee comprising Rajitha Senaratne, Dharmadasa Banda and Azwer. They were expected to take the posters with them to Parliament. Loku Bandara on his return from Kataragama in the evening was instructed to summon all UNP MPs to the parliamentary group meeting. Each one of them was informed by phone to attend Parliament without fail, but only a very few knew what was afoot.

Bells are ringing.....
The bell in the chamber summoning members for the meeting began to ring. "Now the MPs can show their opposition at the first meeting after the fourth anniversary of the government" Ranil commented with a smile.

"I could have come with a black arm band if I knew it before" said an MP "That is why the government has included all the condolence motions for today" someone else commented. None of them knew what was in store.

Meanwhile all the posters had been brought there. "No arm bands are necessary. Come with these posters" Ranil instructed. They were distributed near the lift. Someone brought a camera also hidden in his bag. The government MPs totally in the dark about the UNP plan did not smell a rat seeing high opposition attendance.

...for the Sparks to fly
When Parliament started at 9.30 a.m. with Anil Moonesinghe in the chair, the first item on the agenda was the presentation of petitions. Dharmadasa Banda got up and indicated that a breach of privilege motion was to be moved. He said that the breach of privilege has arisen on account of the postponement of provincial council elections.

While he was speaking, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle interrupted and tried to point out that no breach of privilege lay due to the dissolution of Provincial Councils or by the postponement of PC elections. The Deputy Speaker said that to present a motion of breach of privilege without prior notice was a violation of tradition.

Dharmadasa Banda did not agree. He pointed out the relevant standing order. John Amaratunga supported him. He maintained that the members have the perfect right to interrupt any business of the House to raise an issue of privilege.

Anil Moonesinghe countered saying there was an opportunity to raise the issue when the Emergency was gazetted. Tyronne Fernando was ready for this. He argued that Members a have the right to raise the issue at any time.

Although the government MPs were busy interrupting the proceedings, only Jeyaraj was prepared to speak for them.

Since the emergency has already been promulgated, it is too late to argue about it....he maintained.

Although Dharmadasa Banda pointed out that the gazette has not been legally approved, Jeyaraj refused to concede. Azwer came forward to demand that the motion should be accepted and signalled the members to get up.

The UNP members got up from their seats with posters in hand and started to shout slogans. When the slogans were being aired in all three languages, the Deputy Speaker adjourned Parliament for ten minutes.

Then it was a shouting match for all! D. M. Jayaratne waved an envelope and claimed that it contained charges of corruption against the previous government.

The posters contained slogans demanding elections, references to alleged interference with the Bribery Commission etc. The pandemonium continued for about 10 minutes and subsided. Minutes later the very antagonists were seen in friendly discussion on the floor of the House.

"If the government can't work, it must get out" Mervyn de Silva told Jeyaraj Fernandopulle. "Before we resign, the racketeers on your side must be chased out" Jeyaraj countered. He collected some posters from the UNP members and inserted the prefix "Former" before the word "Ministers" (in slogans referring alleged shortcomings of ministers) and started to shout making a display of modified versions.

At that time, according to statistics supplied to Ranil, there were more opposition members than government MPs in the House.

A Close Shave.....for the government?
Ranil was quick to see the possibility of voting the government with the opposition out numbering the government two to one. He summoned Loku Bandara and Azwer and told them to raise the issue of breach of privilege and demand a vote.

When the House resumed, D. Dharmadasa Banda asked for a vote. But the Deputy Speaker overruled him. He said that he could not allow it and asked that the agenda business begin.

Azwer got up to point out the relevant provisions of Standing Order 17 under which it was permissible for the motion to be taken up if more than 20 members request it.

The UNP MPs stood at their seats and shouting erupted from both sides. The Deputy Speaker's plea for calm went unheeded and he adjourned Parliament for the following day.

Government MPs were totally unaware that the Deputy Speaker's ruling saved the day for the government because the opposition was in a majority at the time. There was the possibility of the government facing a defeat if the motion was brought up.

Secondly, the Opposition would not have hesitated to summon the President before the Parliament according to Standing orders. This would have been resulted in a constitutional crisis.

Anura and Sajith compare notes
Sajith received a telephone call from Anura on Thursday. He said that there was something he likes to show Sajith and did not specify what it was. When Sajith went there, he was shown Anura's collection of rare and valuable books. Together they watched a video film on the life of Rajiv Gandhi. It included several scenes of the assassination. When Rajiv's children were shown on the screen, Anura said with feeling, "This is what happened to your father and mine. Because of this politics we both lost our fathers."

"We criticised each other furiously inside the Parliament and blackguarded each other on the platform. But only now that I realise his true greatness" Anura told Sajith of Premadasa. The pow wow ended with a request to attend the UNP protest rally together."

First things first
But, before attending the protest rally, around 10 a.m. on Friday, Anura paid a call to Ranil by prior appointment. Together, they were closeted for over an hour discussing a range of subjects. According to reliable sources, Anura had assured the Leader of the Opposition that he has no intention of joining the PA government.

Anura returned home and together with Sajith attended the protest rally. However, since he was not billed to speak, he left the meeting even before the arrival of Ranil.

Pouring oil on troubled waters
It is no secret that there is some sort of friction between Hema Premadasa and the UNP high command. A senior member of the party attempted to bring about some rapproachement. Hema was disappointed with the party decision that two members of the family should not be made organisers. This was the crux of the matter.

"If two members of the same family cannot become organisers, then, one member cannot support the other on the platform either" Hema had countered.

However, the senior member insisted that the issue should be settled. Hema avoided a direct reply. Even by Sunday, she did not appear to have made up her mind.

A Peace of cake
The Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held at 6.30 p.m. on Wednesday started without the President as she was involved in another meeting. Cabinet proceeded to work with Ratnasiri Wickramanayake and the Prime Minister and several matters had been cleared by the time the president arrived.

She arrival with a cake to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the government.

There was a proposal by minister Indika Gunawardane regarding the provision of housing for media personnel. When this was being discussed, a minister in a back seat commented "A house should be given to the editor of the Leader" President smiled without comment.

After the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting around nine O'clock, there was the traditional tea. The president was rather reluctant to cut the cake. But, she had to give in at the persistent requests of the ministers. They enjoyed a slice each served by the president with good wishes for the coming year.

Sharpening the tusks
These days, the UNP is busy engaged in improving the organisational network and the functional efficiency of its cadres. Accordingly. Ranil summoned a group of MPs to his office and requested them to examine and report on weak and inactive branch organisations within two months. They got down to work on Thursday itself. In the meanwhile, Ranil had summoned district level MPs, and others organisers. Matters were discussed and relevant instructions given to them by both Ranil and party secretary Gamini Athukorale.

Lowering the price of fuel? No Way!
Last Wednesday and Thursday witnessed several important meetings of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Enterprises. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation came up on Wednesday. CPC top brass were in attendance and in the absence of Reggie Ranatunga the chair was occupied by Professor Viswa Warnapala.

There were some new faces from the government side. Among them...Dilan Perera, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, M. Zuhair, R. Yogarajan and Ravi Karunanayake. The UNP was represented by A. H. M. Azwer, Pradeep Hapangama and Rohan Abeygunasekara.

During the discussion, Karunanayake asked why we cannot reduce the price of fuel when the world price of crude oil has come down. "In 1996 a barrel of crude oil was US $18.70. Now, it is 11 dollars. So, Why can't we reduce prices?"

The CPC chairman pointed out that the rupee had depreciated against the dollar. But Karunanayake countered that the corporation still has a big advantage.

The Chairman said that although the net reduction is about 20% it is not possible to pass this advantage to the consumer.

However, Ravi Karunanayake emhpasised that the government had given an election pledge to reduce the price of fuel. As much as it took steps to increase the price with the increase in world prices of crude oil, it also must take steps to reduce it when the price comes down.

Impossible, because the corporation had incurred losses in the past years...was the chairman's defence.