Influences disasters

were immediately available. However, a source at the Presidential Secretariat said Rajapaksa explained that in any solution to Sri Lanka's national question, he would have to carry the views of the majority Sinhala community. A presidential election was possible and the ruling party has to expect its support. Those factors too needed to be weighed in and the President appealed to South Africa to be conscious of it, the source said. That makes clear that forward movement, if any, will not be before a presidential poll.

During talks with the TNA delegation led by Sampanthan, Ramaphosa posed a question -- whether the TNA was prepared for bilateral talks with the Government with assistance from South Africa. The TNA leader declared that they were in favour of such a move. Sampanthan told the Sunday Times, "Our talks were candid and cordial. They conveyed to us what happened at discussions with the Government including the President. They told us they were committed to a serious role. They inquired from us what our position would be on the resumption of bilateral talks with South Africa's help. This is based on their own experience and knowledge in their country. Our answer was positive. We are committed to a reasonable, workable and durable solution."

Sampanthan also rejected accusations against the TNA by saying, "We did not abandon the talks. It was abandoned by the Government in January 2012." His delegation explained to Ramaphosa why his alliance did not take part in the PSC. "It has no representation from any party in the opposition," Sampanthan said he told Ramaphosa. He added that he had also told the delegation that ministers and leaders who were ruling alliance partners were publicly making statements to diminish the powers contained in the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

It is thus clear that the essence of the South African dialogue this week in Colombo ended only in sounding the Government and the TNA on whether they are ready for bilateral talks under South Africa's aegis. Rajapaksa has said he would think about it and Sampanthan has given a positive "yes." This is in the midst of the official Sri Lanka Government position set out in Parliament by acting External Affairs Neomal Perera which speaks of only President Zuma assigning Ramaphosa for "sharing views on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in order to explore the possibility of Sri Lanka adopting such a mechanism…" It is evident even to the dumbest that the process that has gone on so far lacked transparency, is misleading, will cause acute embarrassment and further dent the UPFA Government's credibility. Once more, Sri Lankans and the outside world are made to believe one story whilst the reality is another.

High Commissioner Doidge also spoke to United National Party (UNP) leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe. He invited a delegation to meet Ramaphosa. The latter asked whether any political party other than the TNA was meeting him. When the answer was a "no," Wickremesinghe said he would only see Ramaphosa in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition. The South African leader went to Wickremesinghe's residence at Fifth Lane, Kollupitiya. Wickremesinghe told Ramaphosa to ensure that the Government does not utilise the South African initiative to side track the Geneva process. He was alluding to the international investigation into alleged war crimes and related issues that are now under way. Wickremesinghe also wanted Ramaphosa to be conscious of the role India has continued to play. The South African delegation flew to Jaffna for a first-hand look. Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran was also to request Ramaphosa "to keep in mind" India's role in "whatever situation." He also spoke at great length on militarisation of the peninsula and on land issues.

Another unrelated development has pitted the UPFA Government and the TNA on a collision course casting serious doubts over any future political dialogue between them. That is the extension of the term of office of the Northern Province Governor, retired Major General G.A. Chandrasiri. After the September 2013 Northern Provincial Council elections, Wigneswaran, who was sworn in as Chief Minister by Rajapaksa at 'Temple Trees' in Colombo, was told that the former Army officer's term would not be extended. This was after the TNA alleged that the NPC, where it held an overwhelming majority, could not function since the Governor was placing obstacles. On the other hand, Governor Chandrasiri defended his position by saying he was acting in accordance with the law. An incensed TNA is expected to respond to Rajapaksa's move. Some of the NPC members are pressuring the Chief Minister to resign. The move is also expected to cause concern for the Modi Government in New Delhi. India was on the frontlines of countries that pressured the Rajapaksa administration to hold NPC elections, an exercise under Indian-brokered 13th Amendment.

Ramaphosa arrived in Colombo from Paris where he was on an official visit. There he participated in the re-internment of the mortal remains of a South African soldier and attended the commemoration of the 98th anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood during World War I. If the official spokesperson of the Government of Sri Lanka (Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella) was to describe him as a tourist, on July 6 Ramaphosa had posted a different statement in the South African President's website. He said "…..As you will recall, the President appointed me as his Special Envoy to help with the consolidation of peace in Sri Lanka. So I will be travelling with a number of our colleagues who will be part of this delegation…

"What we are going to do there, we are going to listen to the Sri Lankans. We have already met them a few times in South Africa, but this time around we are going to go to Colombo and meet the Government, the President of Sri Lanka and a number of other government ministers….

"We will also meet the opposition parties and we will travel to the north where the conflict was at its fiercest. We will discuss with people in the community. We will also try to help the Sri Lankans with the Truth and Reconciliation process, their own constitutional reform and make sure Sri Lanka does indeed become a stable country where they will enjoy human rights….." Is he wittingly or otherwise saying that Sri Lanka is not a stable country and there are no human rights?

Be that as it may, who in the Government does one believe? Minister Rambukwella who says Ramaphosa is a tourist, or acting External Affairs Minister Neomal Perera who claims he is here to share with Sri Lanka the South African experience on the TRC or Cyril Ramaphosa who says a lot more? Of course, the main architect of the latest tragi-comedy on the foreign policy front, External Affairs Minister Peiris, left for India after the Ramaphosa visit. The usual media statement was thus absent.

Peiris' private visit to India did ruffle some feathers but for his luck officials in New Delhi lined up an official meeting with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj. It took place on Friday. If such a meeting was not arranged, he would have met two Chief Ministers, one in Andhra and the other in the newly created Telengana, and returned to Colombo. That in turn would have given justification for India's External Affairs Minister to travel to Jaffna to meet the NPC Chief Minister and return to New Delhi without seeing her counterpart in Colombo. One could not have protested for not following niceties for Peiris would have set a new precedent.

In New Delhi on Friday, Peiris had a two hour long meeting with Swaraj. An External Affairs Ministry spokesperson in New Delhi said they discussed the fishermen's issue at length and Peiris gave a detailed presentation on the peace and reconciliation process in Sri Lanka. He said Peiris sought a fast track process to resolve issues related to fishermen of both countries. "All substantive issues were discussed. It also covered an investment of a million dollars by a Sri Lankan firm in a project in Vishakapatnam," he said.

Though not formally announced, Swaraj, according to authoritative sources in New Delhi, also raised issue with Peiris, over a decision by the Government to allow China National Aero-Technology Import-Export Corporation (CATIC) to establish a US$ 40.3 million (over Rs. 5.15 billion) for Aircraft Base Maintenance Centre in Trincomalee. This is to service some 34 Chinese-built aircraft in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) inventory. This was revealed exclusively in these columns last week. The project which aims at producing indigenous aircraft will also provide for a large housing block in the picturesque Marble Beach to accommodate Chinese crew. The Indian contention is that the decision, taken on May 29, violates the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987. The move came on a recommendation to the cabinet of ministers by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the Minister of Defence. The same sources said Swaraj accepted Peiris' invitation to visit Sri Lanka. During the briefing on ethnic reconciliation, Peiris has told the Indian Extternal Affairs Minister that the TNA was not taking part in the PSC. He sought India's support to get the TNA to take part. She had sought to hear from the Government its own proposals before her possible visit, the sources said.

In a statement issued in Colombo, the External Affairs Ministry said "Since security and defence cooperation represents an important aspect of the bi-lateral relationship, the continuing open, transparent dialogue was appreciated. It was stated that several defence related mechanisms such as the annual Defence Secretary level dialogue, the Galle Dialogue on naval issues, the trilateral maritime security dialogue at National Security Advisor-Defence Secretary level and the provision to Sri Lanka of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) and training of military personnel have consolidated the relationship in this area…."

Weeks earlier, the cabinet of ministers gave further approval to a recommendation by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa to continue advertising in buses in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. According to Rajapaksa the bus advertising campaign has led to the increase of tourist traffic from China. Hence the Sri Lanka Tourist Promotion Bureau wants to continue the promotional campaign in 200 buses in the four principal Chinese towns. Minister Rajapaksa has said that since August last year 54,258 tourists from China have come here as a result of the campaign through an advertising agency there at a cost of Yuan 14 million (or more than Rs. 293.72 million). Hence, he sought approval to spend Yuan 6,102,000 (over Rs 128 million) to extend it until August this year.

It was just last week Minister Rajapaksa returned to Sri Lanka after a visit to China. He was accompanied by Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundera. UPFA sources say they have wrapped up attractive financing deals for high end projects and paved the way for a Free Trade Agreement. The deals are to be announced and the FTA signed when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Sri Lanka possibly in December. That no doubt would be a grand curtain raiser for a presidential election likely in March next year.

Even if the South African safari is now almost over, the international isolation of Sri Lanka continues. It is Dale Carnegie in the reverse - how to lose friends and influence disaster.