By Shan Wijetunga
The Mayor of Colombo, Karu Jayasuriya had made arrangements for a delegation of city fathers to visit Singapore on a fact finding mission. The objective was to gain first hand knowledge of the progress made by Singapore that can be applied for the improvement of Sri Lanka's capital city.

The JVP representative in the delegation was the party's propaganda secretary and MMC, Mr. Wimal Weerawansa. This the party considered to be a good opportunity for him to meet JVP chief Somawansa Amarasinghe who was in Italy at the time. Accordingly, during the Singapore visit, Weerawansa met the JVP boss Somawansa.

It was a crucial meeting for both JVPers specially because this provided an opportunity for Somawansa to get a briefing on Sri Lankan affairs after nine years. On his part Somawansa enlightened the others on the progress achieved by JVP activists on the European front. It was reported that he had been able to build contacts with registered left parties in Europe and facilities were created to enlighten Sri Lankans in Italy through a radio channel operated by left wing organisations there. According to Somawansa, there is a distinct growth in JVP sympathisers in European countries. In discussing about Sri Lankan affairs the JVP boss to Weerawansa not to change the party's stand on crucial matters, and to launch activities on a timetable without depending on government action.

Bandaranaike Commemoration
This year, the customary Bandaranaike commemoration at Horagolla had to be held without Chandrika and Anura. The president was in the U.K. at the time. Although Minister Mangala Samaraweera had been billed to address the gathering at a Bandaranaike commemoration meeting in London, the president made it in time, and addressed it before the minister's speech. In addition to Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake and others who had accompanied the president to New York, there was another notable personality. He was Pandit Amaradeva, who sang the Bandaranaike commemoration song compiled by the late Mahagama Sekara.

Mr. Anura Bandaranaike organised the pinkama in memory of his father in Los Angeles and in the same day evening participated at the UNP fund raising dinner held at Hotel Marrot.

In Sri Lanka, the commemorative celebrations at Horagolla took place under the prime Minister and the President was represented by her son, Vimukti.

A tricky question
At the press conference held before her departure from New York, a woman reporter put a tricky question to the President. "As a woman and the leader of a state, what is your opinion about the Clinton affair," she asked. There was a pindrop silence in the room. The president did not get rattled. She smiled and said it was not proper for her part to express views on a matter that must be decided by the US government and the people.

The northern war
Politics of last week took a back seat perhaps due to the absence from the island of both the president and the Leader of the Opposition. Instead, developments in Mankulam and Kilinochchi came to be the main topics of attention of almost everybody.

The president in London maintained a continuous line of communication with Defence Secretary Chandrananda Silva and Acting Minister of Defence General Anurudhdha Ratwatte.

The Leader of the Opposition came to know about the attack on Monday via the internet and press agencies. He spoke to both the party secretary and the party chairman. Because of the news censorship in Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe had information not accessible to the senior UNPers in the country. He instructed the party leaders to organise a protest campaign against the government's conduct of the war on his return to Sri Lanka and to also issue a statement on the subject.

Mr. Saman Athavuda was entrusted with the task of organising the issue of the statement. This drafted in concurrence with senior UNP members, faxed to Washington for the chief's approval and released to the media.

Ratwatte at Rosmead Place
Last week's cabinet meeting was held at the Rosmead Place residence of the prime minister instead of at the customary venue - Temple Trees. The Prime Minister takes part in cabinet meetings rather sparingly. However as she was keen on being enlightened on the war situation the meeting was held at Rosmead Place.

It also brought to the Prime Minister's home a long time absentee, Acting Defence Minister General Anuruddha Ratwatte, who, according to reports, was avoiding the place on account of a misunderstanding with the prime minister.

Except for a few small items, the main item of discussion at the meeting was the lengthy briefing to cabinet colleagues on the war situation by the Acting Defence Minister.

UNP disagrees on date change
Last Tuesday, an official from the office of the Leader of the House rang up the Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition to get his approval for advancing the date set for the Emergency debate. The secretary objected on the ground that Wickramasinghe is due to return on Oct. 7 and he is keen to take part in the debate.

The official from the office of the Leader of the House stuck to his guns saying that a large number of ministers are scheduled to attend outstation meetings. The official from the office or the Leader of the House stuck to his guns saying that a large number of ministers are scheduled to attend outstation meetings. The approval of party leaders. However, the meeting has been postponed for Oct. 9.

Media committee meets again
According to government plans, the media committee will play a crucial role in the coming election. And the task expected of it is to judge public opinion and win as many converts to the government side as possible. At a previous meeting reported in this column the subject of providing welfare facilities to media people played a prominent part in the discussions. The proposals made were also given wide publicity.

Another meeting of media men was arranged for last Friday. The business of gathering media representatives had been assigned to a group including a Lake House news editor.

Accordingly, the meeting was held at the residence of Minister S. B. Dissanayake. Among the participants were representatives from Lake House, Divaina, Lankadipa, I.T.N. Lakhanda, Chairman of Rupavahini and officials from state media agencies. Director of Information Mr. Ariya Rupasinghe was also present.

From the political field, there were Mr. S. B. Dissanayake, Alahapperuma, Janaka Tennakone and Alavi Moulana.

Minister S. B. Dissanayake announced there will definitely be an election in February next year, it could be a presidential or a provincial councils election. He said that it is not difficult to get 45% of the votes, but what has to be done is to strive to win the rest of the votes as well. He proceeded to outline a programme capable of winning the objective.

"Propaganda by government papers do not reach the people. Therefore, it must be done by independent papers like Divaina and Lankadipa" he maintained.

It was pointed out that welfare must be provided before attempts are made to get the co-operation of the media. Mr. Alahapperuma explained some of the measures taken by the government in that respect. There were proposals and counter proposals. There were complaints that nothing had been done during the first four years. There was also a proposal that the position of mediamen who had been thrown out of state media institutions should be looked into and steps taken to provide relief for people subjected to unfair treatment. There was another complaint that government advertisements are given only to UNP advertising men.

However, everybody agreed that although it is possible to solve the problems of media people in state agencies, it is not possible to do so those in independent organisations. Minister S. B. Dissanayake requested them to present their problems.

There were also complaints about certain state officials. It was pointed out that it is impossible to get news from some state agencies. Difficulties about contracting certain ministers were brought up. Names of some ministers who did not co-operate were mentioned. Another complaint was that no information was forthcoming about the government's development work. it was suggested that all media sections of the government, beginning from the President's office should be subjected to a thorough overhaul. There was the senior media man who maintained that nothing comes out of these discussions. Both Dissanayake and Alahapperuma tried to prove otherwise. The meeting lasted well over two hours. It was followed by the spirits that cheer.

Cooray-Hema combination in the offing?
According to well informed sources, a joint meeting organised by Mr. Sirisena Cooray and Mrs. Hema Premadasa is due to be held at the Sucharita Hall on October 9. A large number of Cooray supporters from Colombo Central are expected to attend the meeting.

In the meantime, there is a widespread rumour that a group headed by Ven. Elle Gunawansa is trying hard to being about a rapprochement between Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe and Mr. Cooray.

Ven. Gunawansa, it is reported, is planning to meet the Leader of the Opposition on his return regarding this matter.

News leaks
If you cannot plug them... open the taps!

At the conclusion of a Parliamentary Committee meeting held last Wednesday, several members complained about the leakage of news relating to proceedings to the media.

Deputy Minister Reggie Ranatunga who was in the chair remarked that he did not pay much attention to what is published in the papers.

But the others did not share his view. They said that not only proceedings of this committee, but even cabinet news somehow found their way to the papers.

If any attempts were made to stop the news from going out they will somehow search and discover... they maintained.

A counter proposal was made to the effect that if the leakage, of news cannot be prevented, the proceedings of the committees could be opened to the public. It was also mentioned that the late President Premadasa had made a written request to the Speaker to amend the Standing Orders so as to open to the public not only Parliamentary Committees but also the Advisory Committees as well. Nothing had come out of it.

It was finally agreed to follow the same system as in India and U.S.A. and open committee proceedings to the public, and to present it as a proposal to the Parliamentary standing committee.