Top UN advisor’s one-party rule remarks anger Basil

These are days when different United Nations agencies have focused considerable attention on Sri Lanka.

Even UNDP Asia Pacific regional head Neil Buhne, was in Colombo this week to make a first- hand study of developments in Sri Lanka. He was onetime UN Resident Representative in Colombo, a position now held by most affable Hanna Singer.

Mr Buhne hosted Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) a rc h i t e c t and National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa to lunch at the Shangri La Hotel this week.

They discussed political developments. That saw a long time UN advisor in Sri Lanka, one known even for deciding which journalists should see which UN official, dropping a brick or even a building. Known for her charming ways, she was to note in her own way that the country was headed towards a one- party state. This is on the premise that there was crisis in both the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

The remarks did not slip past Basil Rajapaksa. He caught it. He promptly explained that any suggestion such a one- party system was being engineered is wrong. He quickly pointed out that the cause for such a situation was driven by internal crises the parties concerned were facing. The advisor hurriedly tried to soften her own remarks much the same way as dissolving a Punjabi sweet. Now, the story is doing the rounds in government circles.

When advisors act on wrong premises, it is the country and the people who pay for it, declared a senior SLPPer. He said this was how Sri Lanka was being trapped into many a controversy.