Govt. launches two-pronged

President personally handles polls campaign to ensure bigger victory while divided UNP fails to exploit major issues CEB and CPC face major crisis and consumers may have to pay for it South Africa takes initiative to revive GOVT.-TNA talks on reconciliati

There is no one who is busier than President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the upcoming North Central, Sabaragamuwa and Eastern Provincial Council elections.

Without the glare of publicity, in the past days he has been chairing meetings with MPs of different districts in the three provinces. Coopted to help them and given specific areas to campaign are cabinet ministers. All of them have been told that they should work towards ensuring a higher percentage of votes than the previous 2008 elections for the UPFA.

It has become priority number one for Rajapaksa for many reasons. More than three years after the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas, he wants to demonstrate that the voters have endorsed his government's achievements including the ongoing development programmes. The message to be delivered, both domestically and internationally, is that the Rajapaksa administration is having the full backing of the people. To achieve its goal, the government has intensified welfare measures. Farmers hard hit by the prevailing drought are receiving water pumps. Housing assistance is being provided to those wanting to improve their abodes. Ahead of the nominations, where it is legally permissible, hundreds received jobs. This week, Rs. 1.5 billion was set apart for development work in the North Central Province alone.

In the 2008 elections to the North Central Province, the UPFA polled 56.37 per cent of the 573,522 votes polled. The United National Party (UNP), its closest rival, came second with 37.64 per cent. This is despite the UNP contesting together with the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). The SLMC, though a constituent partner in the ruling coalition, is going it alone this time. In Sabaragamuwa, the UPFA polled 55.34 per cent as against the UNP's 40.53 per cent from a total of 901,673 votes polled. In the Eastern Province where 646,456 votes were polled, the UPFA won 52.21 per cent whilst the UNP obtained 42.38 per cent. Despite the increase in voter strength in all three provinces, the UPFA's chances are very much brighter in both the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provinces. However, the multiethnic composition of the voter strength in the Eastern Province coupled with the widespread unpopularity of former Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Piliyan's administration had dipped the popularity of the UPFA. This time, the SLMC has fielded candidates in the east on its own. The demographic composition of the three districts, according to 2007 statistics of the Department of Census, in the eastern province is as follows: Ampara -Muslims 44 per cent, Sinhalese 37.5 per cent and Tamils 18.3 per cent. Batticaloa -- Tamils 74 per cent, Muslims 25 per cent and Sinhalese 0.5 per cent. Trincomalee -- Muslims 45.4 per cent, Tamils 28.6 per cent and Sinhalese 25.4 per cent. There has of course been a proportionate growth since then.

The murky politics in the east was muddied further by remarks made by the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauff Hakeem. He told an election meeting in Sammanthurai in the Batticaloa District that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had successfully eradicated terrorism. In similar fashion, he said, Rajapaksa should eradicate what he called "yellow robed terrorism". Hakeem was alluding to complaints of reported attacks on at least two mosques during the holy month of Ramadan. The remarks touched a raw nerve among members of the Buddhist clergy. There were strong protests by them over the leader of a constituent party of the UPFA making such remarks. Equally hurt or even embarrassed were a vast number of Muslims themselves. In the light of racial tension, the result of extremists in various communities fanning the flames of communalism, some had arranged for members of the Buddhist clergy and leading Buddhist citizens to attend Ifthar ceremonies which mark the end of the day's fasting. Muslims partake in a pre-dawn meal and remain without food or water until sunset.

An angry Udaya Gammanpilla Deputy Secretary of the Jathika Hela Urumaya, a constituent partner of the UPFA along with the SLMC told the Sunday Times, "Rauf Hakeem's statement clearly reflects the duplicity and double standards of the SLMC and his own. When he speaks in Sinhala and English in the South he praises the Sinhala monks and Buddhism. However, when he speaks in Tamil in the East, he insults the same monks labelling them yellow-robed terrorists. He has forgotten that the majority of the country praises Buddhist monks and consider them sacred. In this backdrop he has done irreparable damage to Sinhalese and Muslims by aiming for shortterm electoral gains."

Gammanpilla added, "I am confident that Muslims in the east are mature enough not to be deceived by hate speeches made by Mr. Hakeem. I urge the people in the east to denounce and defeat extremists elements who cause damage to national amity and unity."

Even some of Hakeem's UPFA colleagues were embarrassed. So much so, official government spokesperson, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who is quick to respond aggressively to media queries told the post-cabinet news briefing on Thursday that the matter would be investigated. Faizer Musthapha, Deputy Minister of Technology and Research, told the Sunday Times, "Buddhists are very compassionate and have tolerance. For the past 30 years all communities have been divided. But after the end of the conflict all communities are living united. Mr. Hakeem's statement could be harmful to the national reconciliation process. He has now realised the gravity of his statement and he has decided to withdraw it."

Added UPFA national list parliamentarian A.H.M. Azwer, "I will not agree with the statement made by Mr. Hakeem. It also insults the Muslim community. This will hinder the chances of winning the rights of our community in a democratic manner. As a founder of the SLMC, he should not have made that statement. In the past Muslim leaders worked towards ethnic harmony. Three-fourths of the Muslim population are living among the Sinhalese and we have cultivated a very good and healthy relationship. We have won their confidence. We should not antagonise them nor give cause for any misgivings."

Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie said, "no comment."

By Friday, more angry reactions prompted Hakeem to tender a public apology. If he had hurt the susceptibilities of the Maha Sangha, the Maha Nayaka Theras and the Jathika Hela Urumaya, he said, he was tendering an apology without any reservation. Hakeem was campaigning in the east and was not available for comment. According to the statement issued in Tamil, Hakeem said he had referred to the incidents that have caused unrest among the Muslims. He said he took the "full responsibility" for making the controversial remarks.

In marked contrast to President Rajapaksa, his main rival in the political fray in the PC polls, Opposition UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is very much in the glare of publicity. It is, however, for the wrong reasons. Deep divisions within the party came to the fore again when a group of 'revisionists' went to two different courts challenging the decision of the UNP Working Committee to amend the party constitution to allow a party leader to hold office for six years. They said it was illegal.

A third case was filed before Colombo District Judge Dhammika Ganepola by Mahen Gunasekera, a former MP from Minuwangoda and a lawyer, challenging the UNP Working Committee for changing the constitution of the National Lawyers Association, an affiliate body of the party and electing a new set of officebearers without the knowledge of the majority of the membership. The Judge issued an enjoining order preventing the new office-bearers from functioning in their positions till August 23 when the inquiry will be held by court. Priyantha Fernando, District Judge, Mount Lavinia issued an interim injunction restraining the UNP from giving effect - until August 22 when the case will be taken up for inquiry - to the amendments passed at the Working Committee meeting on July 19. This case was filed by Southern province Councillor Maithri Gunaratne. On the same day Western province Councillor Srilal Viranttha Lakthillake went before Colombo District Judge Dhammika Ganepola who however ordered that notice be issued on the same 85 Working Committee members to appear before him on August 23. No interim relief was given. These twin cases were over the decision of the Working Committee on July 19 to amend the UNP Constitution.

In terms of the existing provisions of the UNP constitution (Article 8.1), the leader of the UNP, deputy leader, assistant leader, national organiser and the chairman of the party will have to be selected by the Executive Committee. On occasions when there is no unanimity, an electoral college comprising the Executive Committee and the UNP Parliamentary Group will elect such officials through a secret ballot. Article 8.7 of the same constitution says that such elected persons would serve a one year term.

The move to amend the UNP constitution to change this goes back to December 19 last year. This was during the election of officials for the first time since the UNP constitution was amended. Groups that expected leader Wickremesinghe to lose the vote attacked Sri Kotha, the party headquarters in Kotte causing considerable damage. Whilst launching a fundraising campaign to repair it, Wickremesinghe appointed a four-member committee to probe the incidents. It was headed by Srinath Perera, President's Counsel and comprised Nissanka Nanayakkara, Rajiv Seneviratne and Upali Perera. The six point findings of the committee (in their six page report) laid the blame on the party seniors Karu Jayasuriya, Sajith Premadasa and Dayasiri Jayasekera for the incidents. They held that the trio's supporters were responsible for the attacks and the damage to the party office. However, all three flatly denied they instigated the attacks.

Of the three who were accused, Jayasekera has become the focal point of attention in the party after meetings he held both with President Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He is reported to have also met with Namal Rajapaksa at a cricket club in Colombo. The meeting with the President had taken place at the residence of a businessman who is also chairman of a state venture. UPFA cabinet ministers began to speak in whispers that Jayasekera had sought a cabinet portfolio. It had been refused but he had been offered an 'important' deputy minister post, they claimed. This was to trigger an avalanche of telephone calls and visits to Jayasekera's Colombo residence by senior UNPers. Jayasekera broke down in tears when former deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya visited him to appeal that he should not leave the party. In an unusual move, Jayasuriya took it upon himself to announce at a news conference that Jayasekera would not leave the UNP. On Friday, Jayasekera, who was preparing to campaign for the party at the upcoming PC polls, had bad news. He was told by the party hierarchy that he was not needed at the rallies planned in Kegalle and Anuradhapura. On Friday, Jayasekera scotched intense speculation in ministerial circles that he would make a statement in Parliament and sit as an independent MP. He told a confidant he would continue to watch the situation in the "next three to four months".

It is amidst all these concerns that Wickremesinghe is spearheading the UNP election campaign together with his party seniors. With donors to the party diminishing, funds for the campaign are scarce. With a fractured party, even offering help to those affected by the drought, giving employment to those who are jobless or providing new shelters to the needy have all become difficult tasks. The UNP cannot match the resources available to the UPFA. In this backdrop, questions on the future of the UNP will become relevant on the basis of its performance at the polls. The bottom line is whether the party's popularity at the grassroots level has enhanced or eroded, whether the party is prepared for a possible snap presidential poll next year and most importantly whether the party has become far too Colombo centric.

Of course, there are a multitude of issues on which the main opposition, the UNP, could have easily capitalised politically. One is the 'Z' score system of marking for GCE-A level students - most of them 18 years and over and therefore registered voters already. The issue has become a nightmare both for students and parents alike. On Thursday, 382 students were allowed leave to proceed in a fundamental rights petition filed in the Supreme Court. No opposition party has so far thought it fit to move a motion for the appointment of a parliamentary select committee and spelt out clearly the reasons why they were seeking one. At best their exhortations have been to call for government action which has not been forthcoming for months now. On the other hand, spokesperson Rambukwella, in his usual fervour, declared that "not one student will be made a victim of the 'Z' score system".

And now, President Rajapaksa wants to appoint a commission of inquiry though what other commissions found out so far has never entered the public domain. Another issue is the distribution of adulterated diesel by the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC). If the first scandal to hit the CPC was the adulteration of petrol, for which no heads rolled despite an official inquiry, the second early this year came when kerosene was found to be adulterated. No one responsible was punished.

On Thursday, Petroleum Industries Minister Susil Premajayantha called upon four members of the CPC board of directors to tender their resignation. Only three others who hold ex officio positions -- one representing trade unions, one from the Ministry of Petroleum Industries and another who is the Treasury representative -- have been allowed to remain. The four told to quit are Dayananda Vidanagamachchi (Acting