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Dangerous hair-splitting

In what could be considered a radical departure from the past, the Leader of the Opposition, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has offered his and his party's services to the President and the Government in their effort to re-build Sri Lanka after the recent shattering disaster, triggered by the tsunami killer waves.

This is a cause for relief because united action and consensual decision-making between the Government and the opposition have been woefully absent in the political culture of this country even in times of national crisis.

Wednesday's meeting between the President and the opposition leader on tackling the devastation jointly promises to change this bleak scenario.

We welcome this big step forward and urge the Government and the opposition to build on this newly established base of amity to enable the unfolding resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation plan to proceed smoothly in a spirit of cordiality.

It is a matter for regret, however, that signs of bickering are emerging in some quarters of the UNP, indicating that it is a divided house on some of the issues facing the country.

In fact the emerging divisions within the UNP on these questions make us wonder whether there are forces within the party which are strongly opposed to the incipient amity between the Government and the UNP on the reconstruction effort.

We are told that there is a splitting of hairs by UNP top-notchers Prof. G. L. Peiris and Dr. Rajitha Senarathne on the consensus between the President and the opposition leader on the mooted rule that building construction should be prohibited within a 300 metre boundary from the sea coast.

The dissidents we are told, are for a 100 metre boundary. This amounts to making a mountain out of a molehill. While it is clear that a 300 metre boundary would help preserve life and limb, what need is there for any hair-splitting on this issue?

In fact these objections by the former UNP Ministers fly in the face of expert advice which recommends a 300 metre boundary.

So, we are not very clear of the petty bickering which clouded the country's prospects of national revival in the past. This seemingly irrational stance by Prof. Peiris and Dr. Senarathne begs the question whether they are posturing dramatically to retain and consolidate the clout they command within the UNP.

Meanwhile, however, the national interest is being severely compromised and sold out. Given the enormity of the challenge facing the country, such empty posturing gives its practitioners the identity of anti-national saboteurs who are all out to wreck Sri Lanka's prospects of emerging from the devastation.

This is a serious attempt at undermining the unity of purpose which has emerged between the President and the opposition leader and threatens to return the country to the old set ways of destructive politics.

Such dangerous manoeuvres are of course, not without precedent. We are reminded of the peace process launched at the turn of the century by the President which earned almost total UNP backing for it but at the 11th hour it was torn asunder by forces within the UNP which preferred power politics over peace.

Later on, dissident elements within the UNP even went to the extent of consigning the year 2000 draft constitution to the flames within Parliament. Are we, seeing a repetition of this sad history?

MPs at work

A photo caption in a daily publication showing an Opposition MP in a strenuous pose hauling some timber on his shoulder in semi attire, while in the act clearing tsunami debris in his electorate would no doubt have provided some food for thought to the general public.

True, it may be in the fitness of things for every member of the public irrespective of their social standing to lend their mite into the biggest salvage operation ever undertaken in this country.

It may also be possible that this MP who is known to crack his whip in the opposition ranks wanted to make waves by this single act for obvious reasons.

But there are those who may opt to be charitable to this politico even though he is well known for his penchant to seize any disaster to make political waves to soar his political stocks. Readers who would have seen the caption may well exclaim that all is not lost after all.

Here at least is a sign that even the high and mighty could be humbled. It takes different ways to break different individuals and a catastrophe of the magnitude of the tsunami is good a reason as any to bring any high flying mortal down to terra firma.

The public may also be only too aware of the impact of the recent withdrawal of the Parliamentary meal subsidy on its inmates. They would no doubt attribute the MP's down to earth performance to increased agility and new suppleness of frame and link this to the spartan meals in Parliament.

Besides isn't the Parliament menu now bereft of beef,pork and mutton those high caloric delights which titillate the taste buds but oh so adds to one's waistline which in turn induces sloth and torpor and slackened mobility.

Perhaps the MP's act could spur more collective efforts on the part of his fellow MPs to similar exercises of gallantry in the devastated areas. Aren't Parliamentarians servants of the people after all ?

Besides haven's we seen such collective vigour at Wap Magul ceremonies where MPs of all hues sink knee deep in the ooze. One could picture a typical "Shramadana" act where bricks or cement trays are passed from hand to hand by MPs forming a line at a reconstruction site.

Wouldn't this be a catalyst for unity and solidarity which is the need of the hour in the present context. Besides wouldn't this also give credence to the authenticity of the various notice boards erected by the Colombo Municipal Council at strategic points proclaiming "your tax money [is] at work".

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