|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 03 December 2001 |
 |
|
 |
Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries
|
What the eye does not see the heart does not grieve over! What the country cries for is a strong government of perhaps 125 members, which was thwarted by the 1978 Constitution of J.R. J. both in 1994 and the year 2000 when fake logistics became operative under P.R. When a Old Fox gave birth to this monstrosity, what was upper most in his mind no doubt, was that by 1994 the nephew would be in comfortable occupation of the Presidential throne, wielding all these powers, to rule for ever and ever, by fair means or foul. However it was not to be when Gamini Dissanayake of the Lalith Gamini Front ousted him from the Presidential stakes itself the rest of this tale is a part of the recent political history of this country. If the leader of the United National Front (Wickramasinghe) still dreams of becoming PM with the executive powers of the President vested in him, he is in for a rude shock, as the constitution incubated by his uncle makes no such provision. However it is ironical that the uncle nor doubt expected him to be wielding executive powers by now. All the gerry-mandering with the constitution that went on after 1977, the last clean General Election we have had, that brought J.R.J. into power not on his own merits, but purely by a protest vote against the Government of the late Mrs. B, and in addition, a national leader of the calibre of (several times PM) the Hon. Dudley Senanayake, who could laugh at defeat, had passed away shortly before. If we are to pick charismatic leaders we have had since Independence, the late Mr. Dudley Senanayake and CBK - are out-standing in their own way. Ex President Jayewardene who never got a break through, as long as the leader loved by the nation lived, was so filled with remorse and bitterness after his crushing defeat at Kelaniya in 1956 at the hands of R.G. Senanayake, no doubt had to wait for 21 years to do away with the electoral system that threw him out.That which was on Terra firma in this country until 1977 - true to the British system. We have had the bitter experience of the PA recording thumping electoral majorities, but gaining a one vote majority only in 1994 and 2000, both according to this fraudulent method. At a crucial juncture of our History when the US, UK and Canada are on the war path against 25 terrorist outfits, including the LTTE it would be disastrous for us to have a split house. A strong government of perhaps 125 members, we must have, to work under a President already in office, for many more years. Let us not forget the observations of Ranasinghe Premadasa as PM that he was a mere Karyala Kariya Sevaka (peon) under President Jayewardene: Wickremesinghe, who has yet to master his public speaking after 25 years in politics, appears so very amateurish in his approach. A few nights ago I was baffled to hear a man of the calibre of Tyronne Fernando (not a vulgar 'lunket Banda) say on Rupavahini that Wickremesinghe as PM would even invite the PA to form a Government after 5th December. Justice Minister Batty Weerakoon, did not mince his words, when he curtly replied that an Executive President already in office, acting according to the provisions enshrined in the Constitution of 1978, will decide what next. This is the crucial moment at which Wickremesinghe will miss the Bus for the umpteenth time. With the big powers on the war path, we have just had news that the funds of the LTTE in England are to be frozen, strongly demanded by her excellency over a long period. In sharp contrast what did we see at the Hilton during the rule of Ranasinghe Premadasa, with Wickremesinghe as a Minister, when, floors and floors were reserved for the visiting 'dignitaries' and a sum of 200 m changed hands from state coffers. At a decisive moment, as at present, when big powers have gone into action against Terrorism, what could the amateurish Wickremesinghe do on the war front other than gifting the North and the East to the LTTE for a vague period, seeking sung comfort for himself in Colombo. The powerful Indian newspaper the 'Hindu' has quite boldly stated that he cannot be expected to act in the interest of pure-bred Sri Lankans in the rest of the island, whilst toeing the LTTE line, laid down through those parties in the North who are expected to be with him, excluding perhaps the EPDP. A change of Government in Sri Lanka at this moment will be Calamitous for all purebred Sri Lankans when her excellency and her foreign Minister par excellence, have played a pivotal role over stamping out terrorism at international level, Sri Lanka being among the direct beneficiaries after a seven year hunt for peace. May my motherland clear this hurdle, smoothly in the interest of generations yet to be born of all races, including the peace loving folk in Jaffna. ASOKA RADDALGODA -Hiniduma
Vote for PA for a United Lanka It is very strange that the UNP in the South and TULF in the North are living on lies and false propaganda. From 1956, the date of the birth of federal party up to date no development has been done in the north. After Hon. G.G. Ponnambalam was sent out of the cabinet by Hon. Sir John a substitute Prime Minister for Hon. Dudley Senanayake, no development has been done in North and East. Only Hon. Ponnambalam QC by joining D.S. cabinet promoted and commissioned cement factory Parunchan Chemicals and Eastern Paper Mills. In this country no one promoted the poor to reach comfortable positions as late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Today the poor man can persevere and reach any position, that were preserves of uncles and nephews during UNP regime. Trade union strikers were dismissed by the UNP. The pensioners were refused on increase in pension. The estate employees were refused a pay rise. No one from the minorities was made permanent as Director of Education or Auditor General. Today, the President has appointed a Tamil as Attorney General. She has given a powerful ministry to a Jaffna Tamil Douglas Devananda, who is doing an excellent service to rehabilitate the Tamils. If Sinhalese and Tamils want a United Sri Lankan nation they must vote for PA. They can develop this country to enjoy a nice future. R.P.K. Vinasithamby -Jaffna |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
