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We have come a long way, says Army chief A Court of Inquiry has been appointed to probe the fall of Kilinochchi defences during last week’s LTTE attack, Army Commander Lt. General Rohan de S. Daluwatte told ‘The Island’ yesterday. Major General Sathis Jayasundera will head the inquiry, which will comprise two more senior officers, he said. He also functions as the Operations Commander,Colombo[OCC] responsible for anti-terrorist operations in the City and as military censor. Lt. Gen. Daluwatte said that amidst the Kilinochchi probe, the army will go ahead with planned operations in the Wanni and other areas affected by terrorism.The Army Chief said that Jayasikuru troops had advanced approximately six kms on the Vavuniya-Jaffna Main Supply Route [MSR] since they resumed advance on September 29, two days after terrorists attacked Paranthan and Kilinochchi defences. Although troops have managed to advance both on the eastern and western flanks and by pass Mankulam some time back,the advance on the MSR had been difficult due to heavy concentration of enemy groups. The army had been at positions three kms south of Mankulam for several months. With the latest push, troops have now gained at least four kms north of Mankulam on the MSR, he said adding that the army was continuing their advance slowly but steadily. "We were approximately three kms south of the town [on the MSR] when we resumed the final push" he told 'The Island' yesterday insisting that the ongoing Wanni offensive, Jayasikuru will continue as planned. Admitting that losses suffered at Kilinochchi and Paranthan were a setback, the army chief said that despite that the armed forces have no intention of changing existing plans to restore the MSR. The necessity to restore the Vavuniya-Jaffna MSR has been further increased with the shooting down of Lionair flight 602 carrying civilian passengers from Palaly to Ratmalana on September 29.Since then all civilian flights to and from the peninsula had been suspended until further notice. The army commander also said that despite sporadic terrorist related incidents, forces deployed in the Jaffna peninsula,islands and the Eastern theatre of operations remain on top. Lt. Gen. Daluwatte said that Jayasikuru troops were continuing with their northwards advance, while troops deployed in other theatres of operations were engaged in operations aimed at reducing terrorist activity. He denied claims, reports and speculation that the setback at Paranthan-Kilinochchi will affect the armed forces campaign against the LTTE, particularly in the Wanni. The LTTE on September 27 mounted "Oyatha Aligal 2" against the Paranthan and Kilinochchi Brigades of the 54 Division headquartered at Elephant Pass.This Division comprised six Brigades Groups deployed along the MSR between Elephant Pass[north] upto a part of the Kilinochchi town.As a result of "Oyatha Aligal 2" troops had been forced to vacate approximately 4 1/2 kms northwards on the MSR from their positions at the Kilinochchi town. The army chief said that troops have pulled back to positions south of Paranthan. "We are consolidating our positions there," he said pointing out that the LTTE will find it difficult to resist advancing Jayasikuru troops and launch concentrated fresh attacks on army positions south of Paranthan. Lt. Gen. Daluwatte said that even before Mankulam fell after 24 hours of bloody fighting, Jayasikuru troops were operating approximately eight kms north of Mankulam-Olumadu stretch of road. Jayasikuru was launched on May 13 last year. He said that terrorists suffered heavy losses. Quoting enemy transmissions monitored by the elite police commandos, he said that over 700 terrorists were killed during the battle for Kilinochchi. "They lost over 700 persons to gain just a small piece of land", Daluwatte said. The Directorate of Military Intelligence [DMI] has obtained the names of almost 600 terrorists killed in the Paranthan-Kilinochchi battle, the biggest confrontation between the armed forces and the LTTE this year. Since August 1995, armed forces conducted a series of operations including Riviresa and Sath Jaya to restore overland MSR from Palaly right upto Kilinochchi. However five kms of Palaly-Kilinochchi MSR had been lost due to terrorist attacks in February this year and last month. Lt. Gen. Daluwatte said that the on-going efforts were to secure the MSR between Mankulam and Paranthan. Troops are already three kms northwards on the MSR off Mankulam, he said. The Army Chief said that the situation in the Eastern theatre of operations has tremendously improved after troops secured Valachchenai-Vakarai and Kuchchuveli-Pulmoddai coastlines in operations conducted in May and June. Terrorists find it difficult to move supplies from the east to uncleared parts in the Wanni due to the presence of troops in Valachchenai-Vakarai and Kuchchuveli-Pulmoddai sectors, he explained. Troops have also secured the Vavuniya-Mannar road thus reducing the threat the LTTE posed to Wilpattu wild life park and Anuradhapura and Puttalam districts. "We have come a long way" the army commander said praising armed forces and police officers and men engaged in Jayasikuru and operations elsewhere in the island. He said that troops have been forced to play different roles according to the situation in each district. Troops in the Jaffna peninsula and the islands are engaged in fighting small groups of infiltrators sent to destablise the administration. Troops deployed in the eastern province too do a similar thing but the Jayasikuru forces have been given a different task, Lt. Gen. Daluwatte said. Lionair investigations with Civil Aviation All investigations pertaining to the Lionair aircraft which went missing last week have been handed over to the Civil Aviation Authority, Lionair sources said yesterday. However they declined to divulge further information when asked about the amount of compensation of any, that would be paid to the missing people’s families. The Lionair Anto-nov 24 aircraft went missing last Tuesday shortly after take off from Jaffna enroute to Colombo. The aircraft had 55 people aboard including 4 Russian crew members. Civil Aviation Authority sources also declined to comment on the present situation as regards the investigation. One official said without elaborating that investigations have started afresh and are being carried out thoroughly. Meanwhile, all private airline flights to Jaffna remain suspended until they get the green light to resume operations. Two
shot dead Policemen manning a checkpoint at Milleniya in Bandaragama shot dead two persons who had attempted to hold up a lorry yesterday. The duo including an army deserter were residents of the area, police said. The two men riding a motorcycle had stopped a lorry and attempted to rob cash from the driver, but he had accelerated and informed the near-by police checkpoint. Police had given chase when the duo had opened fire. Policemen had returned fire killing them. Kadirgamar in Washington meets US State Department officials Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar who is on a three-day bilateral visit to Washington, after attending the General Debate of the 53rd UNGA held in New York over the past two weeks, met with senior officials of the US State Department on Monday. On Monday morning, Foreign Minister Kadirgamar was received by the Assistant Secretary of State of the South Asian Affairs Bureau, Ambassador Karl Inderfurth. This was followed by a luncheon hosted in honour of the visiting Foreign Minister by Ambassador Inderfurth and was attended by senior officials of the US Department of State. Later that afternoon, Mr. Kadirgamar was received by the Acting Secretary of State, Strobe Talbott at the State Department. At these meetings the Minister reviewed with the respective State Department officials, the state of bilateral relations between the US and Sri Lanka, which were considered by both sides to be in excellent order. In view of Sri Lanka's current chairmanship of SAARC, special attention was also paid in these discussions to be prospects for greater regional cooperation in South Asia. Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the United States Dr. Warnasena Rasaputram was associated in these discussions. Later in the evening, Minister Kadirgamar addressed an academic gathering hosted jointly by the Georgetown University, George Washington University and Johns Hopkins University, on the subject "South Asia in the Emerging World". In Parliament The government side yesterday ignored an opposition UNP call, at the commence-ment of business in Parliament, to observe a two minutes silence in memory of the soldiers killed in the weekend LTTE attack on the Kilinochchi army camp but the opposition defying a ruling by the Speaker went ahead with the move. P. Dayaratne MP (Ampara district - UNP): rising before the House commenced its business moved that House which is sitting in condolence session to pay respects to its departed members observe a two minutes silence in memory of the reportedly 1500 soldiers killed in the LTTE attack on the Kilinochchi army camp. The MP added that the occasion was most fitting for such a gesture. However Speaker K. B. Ratnayake said that no notice of such a motion has been given in advance and therefore it was not proper to make such a call. "This is politics" he added. However defying the Speaker's ruling the UNP group in Parliament stood up and observed the two minutes silence while the members of the government side, present remained seated. While the UNP MPs were still on their feet with their eyes closed and heads bowed down in deep meditation, Leader of the House Ratnasiri Wickremanayake was reading through the first condolence motion listed for the day. When the UNP group sat down at the end of the two minutes silence an opposition voice said "you sat down before the end of two minutes". The short episode ended in that note and the House continued with business. Judge files rights plea challenging arrest Mr. Mahanama Tilakaratne, High Court Judge, Colombo, yesterday filed a Fundamental Rights violation plea in the Supreme Court, challenging his arrest by the CID on September 10, 1998, subsequent to the revocation of the warrant by the Kesbewa Magistrate. The respondents cited in the petition are Bandula Wickremasinghe, Senior Superintendent of Police, Police Headquarters, Colombo 1, H. H. M. R. Premaratne, Superintendent of Police, CID, Colombo 1, Punya de Silva, DIG (CID Criminal Investigation Department), Colombo 1, Sarath N. Silva, Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department, Colombo 12, L. Kodithuwakku IGP and the Attorney General of Attorney General’s Department, Colombo 12. The petition has alleged degrading treatment, unequal treatment, illegal arrest and illegal detention, in violation of Articles, 11, 12(1), 13(1) and 13 (2) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka. The petition has claimed damages in Rs. 50,000,000 payable from Bandula Wickremasinghe, H. H. M. R. Premaratne, Punaya de Silva and Sarath N. Silva. The petition explained that the petitioner was arrested by the first respondent Bandula Wickremasinghe in the company of 20 to 30 persons in civilian clothes, who entered his house from the main door, along with some uniformed police personnel, presumably from the Kahatuduwa police station. The first respondent shouted at the petitioner in a rough manner and said "You are under my arrest. Now put on a shirt. Hurry up. Hurry up." Petitioner has had some lawyer colleagues who had come to see him. They had said that, the petitioner had been released on bail by the Magistrate. Attorney-at-Law U. R. de Silva had attempted to show the first respondent a copy of the order of revocation of the warrant issued by the Kesbewa Magistrate. But the first respondent, SSP Wickremasinghe had not cared. He had said, "Damned with the order, I don’t want to see that, I ignore that, I can arrest him whatever the Magistrate has ordered. I have got a cut and dry order from the Attorney General and the DIG. Even without a warrant I can arrest him. We obtained a warrant because he is a judge." The petition said that lawyers who were at his house had protested at the high handed, arbitrary and the illegal act of Bandula Wickremasinghe who had shown scant regard to the order of the Court, to the institution and to the rule of law. Bandula Wickremasinghe had retorted, "You go and fight in Courts. Now he is under my arrest." The petition had said that, the indictment of UNP Member of Parliament, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne was acquitted by the petitioner, when petitioner was the presiding judge of High Court No. 7 of Colombo. The investigation in this case was conducted by the CID. The petitioner had acquitted Senaratne and made adverse criticism of the fact that the case had been fabricated. The petition said that: In a note made personally by the 1st respondent in his PAD sheet bearing No. D/CL 2A 031209 at 1740 hours on 10.09.1998 whilst yet at the DIG CID’s office it is recorded that: "Whilst attending a conference chaired by DIG along with SP Mr. Samaratunge, CI Senaka Kumarasinghe and IP Abeysekera and a team of junior police officers commencing from 1700 hrs, SSP Mr. M. Dharmatilleke P/A to DIG informed DIG/CID that SP Mr. Premaratne has come on the telephone from the bungalow of HC Judge Mr. Tilakaratne and had informed that Magistrate, Kesbewa has recalled the warrant issued for the arrest of HC Judge and DIG asked Mr. Dharmatilleke to connect the telephone line to him and in my presence DIG/CID Mr. Punya de Silva spoke to SP Mr. Premaratne and he has informed him that the warrants had been recalled for the arrest of High Court Judge by the Magistrate Kesbewa. The DIG/CID in my presence contacted Hon. Attorney General Mr. Sarath N. Silva over the telephone and informed him re-withdrawal of warrants of arrest of H/C Judge and discussed the matter with Hon. Attorney General. The DIG/CID informed me that Hon. A.G. has granted approval for the arrest of HC Judge Mr. M. Tilakaratne uner normal law under provisions of Code of Criminal Procedure Code. DIG CID Mr. Punya de Silva instructed me and gave orders to proceed to Talagala Kiriwathuduwa in Kahathuduwa Police area to arrest HC Judge Mr. M. Tilakaratne and other suspects for committing offences under Section 316, 146, 300 being cognizable offences and furthermore than Hon. A.G. has already granted approval for the arrest of HC Judge Mr. M. Tilakaratne under normal law, although warrants have been recalled for the arrest of HC Judge Mr. M. Tilakaratne by Magistrate Kesbewa. DIG CID further informed me to inform all lawyers who are with HC Judge at his residence that Hon. A.G. has granted approval for the arrest of HC Judge at 1730 hrs on 10/09/98." The petition added that the petitioner and his family had been subjected to constant interference and threats from the members of the household of the complainant of assault, H. M. Somachandra, more often after night/fall. The petition said that Case No. 9192/92, in which UNP Member of Parliament, Sarath Kongahage, was an accused, was transferred from petitioner’s Court to another High Court, by the fourth respondent the Attorney General, purporting to act under section 47 of the Judicature Act. The petitioner said that he was not told the reason for his arrest by the CID, subsequent to the petitioner being released on bail by the Magistrate. The arrest and detention were both illegal and not done according to the law. He had been unequally treated before the law by the CID and degraded in the eyes of the public and the profession. The petition said thus, Articles 11, 13(1), 13(2) and 12(1) were breached. The petition requested the Court to grant leave to proceed, declare the violation of Fundamental Rights and to order compensation upto Rs. 50,000,000 from the first four respondents. The petition will be supported in the Supreme Court by Ranjith Abeysuriya, President’s Counsel, with Ms. Priyadarshini Dias. Korea Ceylon Footwear clarifies... Korea Ceylon Footwear Manufacturing Co., Ltd. in a letter to 'The Island' States: "We write to clarify the above news item which appeared in the front page of 'The Island' of Friday the 2nd of October, 1998. "Korea Ceylon Footwear Manufacturing Company Ltd. has neither made a decision nor an intention to close down its factory located at the Katunayake Export Processing Zone. On the contrary, the Directors have authorised Management to carry out a Business Recovery Action Plan to be more competitive in the international markets. Shareholders have been advised of the details of the Action Plan by a circular dated 30 September 1998. In the circumstances, the headline of the news item in question taken together with the contents of the news item is grossly misleading. "The news item had caused considerable concern to our shareholders, bankers, buyers, suppliers and the relevant authorities inclusive of the Colombo Stock Exchange. "We have also had to contact all buyers as a matter of urgency in order to appraise them of the correct position. "The following is a circular to all shareholders: • This is to advise you that the Board of Directors at its meeting on 25 September, 1998, approved a Business Recovery Action Plan prepared for implementation by the Management to make the Company's operations viable. The Management has been authorised the Directors to implement the Action Plan with immediate effect. The main features of the Action Plan are: • the right sizing of maintained production capacity by reducing the number of plant and machinery utilised and reducing production activities to a one shift operation to match with current trends in demand; • the right sizing of manning levels in production processes which will reduce the number of "bluecollar" workers employed. The reduction will be achieved by non-replacement of losses by attrition over a six-month period; • the offer of a Voluntary resignation Scheme to the employees in executive, clerical and supervisory grades so as to separate from redundant employees. Modifications to compensation packages, particularly to link incentive and bonus benefits to production and financial performance of the company's operations; • an Export Marketing Strategy to optimise gross margin per pair, develop shoe designs with buyers to meet the stiff price competition from manufacturers in China and South Asian countries; gain access to new markets/buyers and gradually to widen the range of designs manufactured for each customer so as to increase sales volumes; • the rationalisation of management and departmental structures to reduce cadres by re-allocation of job account abilities and the use of the computerised office automation system now in place; • the formulation of a Corporate Capital Reorganisation Scheme to improve the Company's gearing and thereby reduce financing costs; and • whilst restoring viability of the Company's current operations to carry out feasibility studies for capital investment to diversify within the footwear sector, and outside the footwear sector to produce various types of rubber-based products. No response by Defence Ministry to Dr.
Jayalath’s request UNP Member of Parliament, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena’s request to visit Madhu district has not received any response from the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Jayawardena told ‘The Island’ yesterday. He said he had sent a letter to Mr. M. S. Wickremaarachchi, Additional Secretary Ministry of Defence as well as Mr. Chandrananda De Silva Secretary, Ministry of Defence on September 16 requesting permission to visit Madhu from October 5 to October 9. Mr. Wickremaarachchi said that he had not got instructions from Mr. Chandrananda De Silva, and until now he has not received any response, Dr. Jayawardena said. He further added that the PLOTE leader and Co-Chairman of Vavuniya district development committee, Mr. D. Sidharthan had sent a letter to Mr. Chandrananda de Silva on September 23, informing him that he approved the reconstruction of the Madhu Church tank utilizing Dr. Jayawardena’s Decentralized Budget (DCB) funds of Rs. 400,000. "The money has been already reserved on my request by the Ministry of Plan Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs", he said. Dr. Jayawardena said he should be allowed to assess the progress of construction work in the Wanni region initiated by him and look in to the welfare of the refugees in the area. Airlanka yesterday announced that its services between Colombo and Karachi will continue uninterrupted this winter. After its corporate restructuring earlier this year, Airlanka re-assessed its route network with a view to enhancing profitability. While non-stop terminators to Europe and more flights to several destinations — London, Tokyo, Riyadh, Muscat and Madras were added to its flight schedule, some routes including Karachi were to be curtailed with possibility of re-instatement at a later date. A critical re-evaluation was made in recent weeks however, and it was decided that Karachi could be a viable destination in the business plan that the national carrier has mapped out for the immediate future. Airlanka will offer non-stop flights every Wednesday and Friday from Colombo to Karachi and back in Winter 1998. All flights offer standard departure and arrival times. The flights depart Colombo at 7.50 p.m. and arrive in Karachi at 10.45 p.m. each Wednesday and Friday. The return flights depart Karachi at 11.59 p.m. and arrive in Colombo at 4.30 a.m. on the following day the airline said in a news release. Enabling e-Government through Internet Technologies Internet Technologies are now in the mainstream of all economic and social development activities. This is more so in the developed world. It is therefore an urgent need for Sri Lanka and other developing countries to move forward with great speed in this sphere, not only in trade and commerce, where we have already made a head-start, but also in other areas of the government mechanism. Kingsley T. Wickrama-ratne, Minister of Internal & International Commerce & Food has already taken several steps in this direction with the setting up of the Trade Information Network of Sri Lanka (TradenetSL) for trade facilitation through electronic means, by the setting up of the Information Technology Park for IT education, which will mainly include an IT institute in collaboration with the University of Mora-tuwa, and a Software Development Park in collaboration with the BOI. On an initiative by the Minister the TradenetSL is organising a seminar, which will be held today (7) at 7.00 p.m. at the Crystal Room, Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo, with the objective of introducing Information Technology to the Government sector. A large number of VVIPs including key government ministers, ministry secretaries and other officials at the highest level will constitute the audience. Mr. Neil Fairhead, a very senior official of Microsoft Corporation, USA will present Mr. Bill Gates (Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, USA) vision on a Digital Nervous System which means using advances in Web, Database and Messaging Technologies to effectively implement electronic government solutions in all areas of economic and social development. It is hoped that this seminar will provide the awareness and initiate action by those present, to eventually create a society which can fully compete with the trends of the modern World. (Press Release) Anne Ranasinghe wins poetry prize Well known poet Anne Ranasinghe has been selected as the 2nd place winner in the International Open Amateur Poetry Competition conducted by the International Library of Poetry for her competition entry 'Against Eternity' as published in 'A Quiet Storm'. Upali Newspapers Ltd denies charges in
defamation case Upali Newspapers Ltd. last week denied any liability in its answers tendered to Colombo District Court in the one hundred million rupee civil defamation suit filed by Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera. Upali Newspapers Ltd. and the Chief Editor, Divaina are the defendants in the case. In this case, Minister Mangala Samarawera sues the defendants for carrying articles of news in the ‘Divaina’ of September 26, October 04 and October 6, 1997 defamatory of him and for bringing disrepute to him, his political career and for causing prejudice to the "Sudhu Nelum Movement". The answers of the defendant Upali Newspapers Ltd. denying liability were tendered to court by counsel for the defendants Samararatna Associates. The answers of the defendant stated that the plaint doesn’t confirm to the imperative requirements of the Civil Procedure Code. The said article was published on a privileged occasion without malice and in the bona fide belief in the truth of the contents thereof about a matter of public interest in the discharge of the duty owed by the defendant newspaper to the public to keep it informed thereof. The contents of the said article are true in substance and in fact were published for the public benefit. Wijedasa Rajapakse with Q. de Silva instructed by Wijeyasinghe Associates appeared for the plaintiff minister. S. L. Gunasekera instructed by Samararatna Associates appeared for the defendants. Lanka second to Japan at end of British rule The eleventh annual sessions of the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka was inaugurated last Friday by the Minister of Industrial Development C. V. Gooneratne. The sessions were conducted under the theme " Sri Lanka at 50- Quo Vadis?" and was attended by professionals from diverse spheres. The Minister relating his speech to the theme of this year’s sessions said that at the time the British rule ended, Sri Lanka was only second to Japan, "Tragically, 50 years later Sri Lanka is at the bottom of the league while several countries have overtaken her" he said. Minister Gooneratne also observed that Sri Lanka was looked upon as the country which had the richest square mile in terms of the potential for earning foreign exchange. "Countries such as Singapore whose vision was to reach Sri Lankan standards have overtaken Sri Lanka so much that the reverse progress has come about where-by Sri Lanka’s vision is to target for increases in her GDP and per capita income levels to emulate Singapore" the Minister observed. He said that the challenge for Sri Lanka is to raise the growth rate; " In a nutshell, peace is essential to sustain private confidence in Sri Lanka’s economic prospects. Without peace, Sri Lanka is unlikely to emulate it’s dynamic East Asian neighbours". The sessions was held at the BMICH and several topics including the fields of agriculture, medicine and media were covered by well known speakers. President of the OPA Lakshman Hettiaratchi delivered the welcome address and guest of honour IMF Resident Representative in Sri Lanka Anton Op de Beke also spoke. (DB) Correction — Jabe-Ali not in Saudi The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Colombo, says that the news item in our issue of October 3, 1998 under the headline "Striking Lankan Workers flogged in Saudi", there is an error as "Jabe-Ali" is located at Abu-Dhabi in UAE and not in Saudi Arabia. The news item also stated that the Foreign Employment Bureau had called for a report from the Sri Lankan Mission in Abu-Dhabi. Therefore the name of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not related to it. Mid-Week
Politics Many political parties representing Parliament are experiencing internal problems. The latest problem erupted within the newly formed United Lalith Front of Mrs. Srimani Athulathmudali last Friday. Mrs. Athulathmudali summoned her Working Committee to discuss many issues including some amendments made to the party constitution. Members of the Working Committee were surprised to hear that fourteen amendments had been made reportedly without their knowledge. Partymen Walter Perera and Victor Palliyage questioned how fourteen amendments had been made giving the party leader exclusive powers to decide on party matter when in fact the Working Committee had only agreed to move only five amendments. They asked how fourteen amendments had been sent to the Elections Commissioner with regard to the party constitution. Majority members in the Working Committee noted that it was a move to give the party leader dictatorial powers and accused a certain person who had been removed from the party earlier being behind the move. When the majority members claimed it was an undemocratic act, Mrs. Athulathmudali agreed to appoint a four-member committee to examine the legality of the amendments already moved and report back. The Working Committee welcomed this move. It was at this juncture a Mahapola loyalist of the late Lalith Athulathmudali, identified as Nissanka Bandara almost gate-crashed into the venue making a loud noise by thumping on the entry door. Mr. Bandara who arrived late was in an aggressive mood and rushed to the head table and started thumping the table challenging the leader’s actions. These rough tactics annoyed Mrs. Athulathmudali. Mrs. Athulathmudali lost her cool and partymen present said that Mrs. Athulathmudali was compelled to take evasive action as the man was becoming more rough. It was reported that Mrs. Athulathmudali was forced to push the man away from the head table while some said that she in her anger punched the man twice. Mrs. Athulathmudali categorically denies these charges of assault and maintains that she called in her security to move the man out of the venue. Majority of those present say that Bandara being a Mahapola teacher should have conducted himself in a decent manner as the meeting was chaired by a woman leader. Mr. Bandara who claims that he was punched by Mrs. Athulathmudali is now contemplating police action about the alleged assault, it is reported. Of late Mrs. Athulathmudali’s party is experiencing many internal problems. She is reported to have fallen out with her one time confidante Ravi Karunanayake. There appears to be a contrast in the thinking of the two to decide which way the party should go at future elections. Mrs. Athulathmudali who had differences with her other parliamentarian Kesaralal Gunesekere earlier as the latter was much thinking the PA way is now reported to be in good terms. Mr. Gunesekere was the only MP in the party to place his signature with the government to appoint a Select Committee to remove the Commissioners of the Bribery Commission. Both Mrs. Athulathmudali and Ravi Karunanayake did not sign the motion as they favoured the reactivation of the now defunct Bribery Commission. However, there was no action taken against Mr. Gunesekere in this regard. Mr. Gunesekere who is opposed to the UNP is always present as important PA meetings and conferences on the devolution package. He was present at the devolution package conference of the government chaired by Justice Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris at Wadduwa a few weeks ago. In contrast Ravi Karunanayake presents himself at UNP organised meetings such as the All Party Conference to resolve the ethnic problem. His presence at the UNP organised APC was treated as an ‘Non-event’ by the party leader Mrs. Athulathmudali. When nominations were given for the provincial elections in last August, Mrs. Athulathmudali gave consent to her members to contest through the UNP. The UNP welcomed a large number of Lalith partymen to the fold. The other parties that are experiencing internal problems are the SLFP, CP, LSSP, UNP and the EPDP. In the SLFP, insiders say that supporters of the National Organiser Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte are being axed when new appointments to district and electoral organisers are made. Those close to the General say that more than SLFPers former SLMP supporters are appointed. The LSSP does not wish to make public the action the party would take regarding their Deputy Ministry Athauda Seneviratne for violating party decisions and voting with the government to extend the state of emergency. They do not deny the fact that action is being now taken at party level and LSSP leader Batty Weerakoon is on record saying that it was an internal matter which the media should not be concerned. The Communist Party plays the same tune with regard to the internal dispute with Minister Indika Gunewardene. Mr. Gunewardene’s trusted men, H. K. D. Chandrasoma and H. H. Sarath are still under suspension for having held secret meetings to back the minister’s nominee from Avissawella for the next provincial elections. Minister Gunewardene too plays a silent role on this issue. The United National Party is experiencing problems from the Premadasa family and its former General Secretary Sirisena Cooray who is trying to make a comeback. Young Sajith Premadasa, according to party sources, is expected to be taken to task by the party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe this week for the reported criticism made by Mr. Premadasa about the personal and public conduct of the leader at an editorial office of a newspaper in the city, the day after Mr. Wickremesinghe left for the United States. Mrs. Hema Premadasa and Mr. Cooray will hold a meeting at Colombo Central next Friday where Cooray supporters have been asked to gather, Cooray loyalists told this column yesterday. Among the Tamil political parties, the EPDP internal rift between party leader Douglas Devananda and his two MPs, Messrs. Rameswaran and Ramamoorthy continues with the two MPs accusing the leader of giving them step-mother treatment. |
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