“The Reform Process Is Not Finished Yet…”

The Island Politics Thursday 26th March, 2009 5

the party. I have never done that and I leadership? may be. This is a view that I have prop- with Wedaarachchi for making such will never ever do that. I refer to yester- A. Reform entails reform of the party agated ever since I have been in the a proposal without consulting you? day’s headline story in The Island, and I structure, the party machinery, the UNP and especially in 2004 in the after- A. Yes I did. After an arduous six am sorry to say that the story that I grassroots level organization, the out- math of the parliamentary election hour working committee session when struck a deal with the leadership is a look, the image, and most importantly, defeat. The lead story in yesterday’s there was a compromise - that there total falsehood. It’s a subtle attempt to policy substance. Reforms do not entail Island, specifically states that I negoti- will be a limited devolution of powers malign my political character which I doing one single thing. It’s an integrated ated for a position that was going to be to the working committee, the political have attempted to keep clean through- programme. In terms of what tran- created within the party structure. affairs committee and the deputy out my political career. There are some spired at previous meetings of the work- How can I negotiate with anyone when leader - there was a consensus and I mischievous forces who are trying to ing committee, I think there is progress. I have been saying that such positions thought we would all get the chance to interpret whatever that took place But if you ask me whether I am happy have to be filled through a democratic go home. Then suddenly there was this before, after, and during the various par- with the level of progress, of course I procedure of internal elections? If you mighty fracas with my name being sug- liamentary group and working commit- am not. There has been some progress. are to do deals, you have to have the gested for the post of senior assistant tee meetings that took place. Let me tell Some power has been devolved, but I assurance that you will be selected. I leader and I was absolutely flabbergast- you that I am, have been and will be, a think something much more substantial have always been a strong proponent of ed. I had no part to play in any of that. person who is absolutely has to take place if our party is to cham- the argument that whatever positions I can say that I do believe that the reform process should go on, I do believe that new positions have to be established, so that the capable people in the UNP get a chance to perform. I firmly believe that such “The reform process positions must be filled through an elective process. Q. Are you for the creation of a senior leader’s post to which Ranil Wickremesinghe should be re-assigned? is not finished yet…” A. The party chairman Gamini Jayawickrema Perera and general secretary Tissa Attanayake met - Sajith Premadasa with the parliamentary group and they were instrumental in setting up that eight member committee of Following Monday’s stormy UNP working committee pion the cause of the common people of are created, those who hold those posi- which I was a member. The report of our country. My main focus in party tions should be elected and not select- that eight member committee was meeting, the story circulated that the UNP’s reform move- reforms has been in promoting democ- ed. So how can I do deals? unanimous. But that was only a set of ment which had been gathering momentum was stymied ratization. I am a very firm believer of Q. How would you explain Dilip recommendations. That set of recom- the view that within the party structure, Wedaarachchi’s proposal that was mendations were forwarded to the by an alliance between Wickremesinghe and Sajith the party machinery has to be con- brought at Monday’s working com- leader and deputy leader and they dis- Premadasa. Sajith Premadasa took strong exception to structed in a transparent manner where mittee meeting, that you be made cussed the matter between them and those who are talented are given the senior assistant leader? they informed us of their opinion. The such reports. He made the following comments in an chance to perform. There are many A. Dilip Wedaarachchi is my politi- members of the working committee interview with C.A.Chandraprema yesterday. such people within the party. Now how cal colleague, but I was not a party to were happy that they had come to a cer- do we go about choosing these people? I that proposal that was brought up sud- tain arrangement and the whole affair think the best procedure to get these denly at the end of the working com- ended up with the slight changes that Q. There is this belief that you and firmly committed to promote con- people who are popular, capable, and mittee meeting. I have never signed any took place on that day. But I have to tell struck a deal with your party leader structive progressive reforms within determined to reinvigorate our party is of the documents that were being taken you that this event is not an end. There Ranil Wickremesinghe and scuttled the UNP, with a view to making our to have internal elections within the around. I don’t believe in the taking of will be a continuous reform process. the attempt to have him moved out of party politically victorious. I have been working committee. We have to elect signatures. Yesterday’s headline story There are more changes that have to the leader’s position… a vociferous, vocal proponent of such rather than select the office bearers. in your newspaper goes totally against take place, and those will take place A. Never in my political life have I reforms and I will continue to be that in Q. Including the party leader? everything that I believe in. and I think positions have to be created ever negotiated with anyone in the UNP the future as well. A. Yes. Not just the leader, but the Q. Dilip Wedaarachchi’s proposal within the party, so that the talented, hierarchy to sacrifice my beliefs and Q. Do these reforms that you deputy leader, the assistant leader and would have been the main basis of the capable, the popular figures have a principles in return for positions within envisage also include reforms in the whatever other office bearers there that article. Did you take up issue chance of contributing. Drunk cops assault Disaster UNP Kaduwela campaign office attacked Minister’s Media Secy.

A group of policeman from the men had arrived in a Police vehicle and According to Minister Ameer Ali, at Valachenai police, who had been under after forcibly entering the Media that point the Police officer had the influence of liquor, on Monday Secretary’s shop had asked for the assaulted the Media Secretary and night assaulted Disaster Relief national identity cards which were other policemen had attempted to join Services Minister of, M. S. S. Ameer shown to them except that of the Media in. Later, Ajward Ali had shown the Ali’s Media Secretary M. S. A. M. Secretary who had told them that he policemen his national identity card Ajward Ali. was living next door and would bring and the official identity card. The Ministry of Disaster Relief it. At that stage one Police office had He was then forcibly taken to the Services yesterday said that the Media asked for his name and Ajward Ali had Valachenai Police Station where had Secretary had been with his friends at given it with initials. Thereafter anoth- explained in detail to the OIC about the his shop adjoining the Minister’s moth- er officer had asked for his full name in incident. er’s residence watching some techni- a threatening manner at which point The Ministry said that the Media cians attending to electrical work. the Media Secretary had asked him to Secretary has been warded at the Around 10.15 p.m. a group of police- be polite and speak in a decent manner. Valachenai Hospital.

A bacterium caused Trinco MP... From page 1 John McDonnell, too, has called food poisoning for Sri Lanka’s expulsion from the A group of UNP supporters protest against the armed attack on the UNP candidate. Pic Anton Commonwealth if the Sri Lankan Fernando !School heads created the panic government continued to ignore by Dasun Edirisinghe their call for a ceasefire. Kaduwela, just after mid night on by Dasun Edirisinghe evening. They consumed some buns and Keith Simpson (Conservative) UNP candidate for the forthcoming Tuesday. The gang carrying T-56 they offered the balance to a group of fisher- said that both the Sri Lankan gov- Western Provincial Council polls weapons had opened fire at the office. At men when they returned to the beach. Six A team dispatched to Trincomalee by the ernment and the LTTE had tended Sujeewa Senasinghe said that a power- the time the attack there was a meeting hours later four persons who had consumed Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry to propose a ceasefire when they ful ruling party politician in the between Senasinghe and his supporters the buns were hospitalized with severe stom- yesterday to ascertain the cause of food poi- had perhaps been at a point of Kaduwela electorate was behind inside the office. A vehicle used for the achache and one died. soning in the Trincomalee area reported weakness and want to bring the Tuesday’s night attack on his office in campaign was severely damaged and all that it was due to bacterium formation. It “The following day (24), all principals of other side to the negotiating table. Kaduwela. posters and cutouts stockpiled near the ruled out that poisoning was caused by fer- schools in Trincomalee town informed their Simpson warned that even if Senasinghe said his popularity in office had been set ablaze. tilizer compounds used by bakers as an students about the incident and advised the LTTE was defeated on the bat- the electorate had been for a long time a “At least around 15 shots were fired alternate for yeast. them to report immediately if any of them tlefront there would be a new gen- Four fishermen were admitted to the had a stomachache after consuming bread big problem to that bankrupt politician. at the office before the gang escaped. No eration of Tamil Tigers who would hospital after consuming buns. or buns. Most of the students got panicky The Kaduwela UNP organizer said one inside the office was hurt. During One person died and 270 were hospital- and feigned stomach aches and several of wage war not only in Sri Lanka but that this was the beginning of the gov- the last two weeks supporters of ruling ized due to food poisoning on Tuesday (24). them got admitted to Hospital. About 250 worldwide on a scale that they had- ernment unleashing violence in the run party politicians had destroyed all my Among those admitted to Hospital were 202 were released soon after examination. Only n’t seen so far. “They will escalate up to the forthcoming WPC elections cutouts and banners displayed within children from all schools in the Trincomalee 12 are still warded. Only three persons, that on a scale that will be quite and it was an indication that the gov- the Kaduwela electorate. This time they town area. The deceased was identified as including the deceased, had shown symp- frightening.” ernment was getting ready to rob the targeted me and fortunately we Sivaraja Naresingham (60) of King’s Street, toms of food poisoning,” Dr. Palihawadane The member acknowledged WPC polls. escaped,” Senasinghe said. Trincomalee. All bakeries in Trincomalee said. that in the next two or three weeks An unidentified armed gang Athurugiriya Police said they were town had been closed following the incident. She said that there are several types of the Sri Lankan government would attacked Senasinghe’s election office, still to arrest a suspect but investiga- bacterium that cause food poisoning. The Chief Epidemiologist of the Ministry Dr. undoubtedly militarily defeat the situated between Malabe and tions were continuing. Paba Palihawadane told The Island that two samples taken from dead person and others LTTE by capturing the final strong- fishermen purchased fish and egg buns still warded have been forwarded to the holds of the LTTE. before they went to the sea on Monday (23). Medical Research Institute (MRI) and the Minister of State, Foreign and They purchased the buns on Sunday (22) Government Analyst’s Department. Commonwealth Office Bill ‘Fourth-step’ retreat Indian PM’s Secy due Rammell said that one of the blunt Indian Prime invited to visit Sri realities was that they couldn’t just at St. Peter’s College Minister Manmohan Lanka by President I believe... From page 1 mandate actions on behalf of a A ‘fourth-step’ retreat Singh’s principal secre- Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government in a different country. by S. B. Dissanayake, who also says he MP, proposed the name of Premadasa for tary T. K. A. Nair was Secretary Lalith Siobhain McDonagh (Labour) will be held on March 28th wants to be Head of State. the post of Additional Deputy Leader. This and 29th at the main hall of expected to arrive in Weeratunga, the Informed sources said that both was objected to by Ravi Karunanayake MP, accused the Sri Lankan High Colombo late yesterday. Presidential Media Commission in London of abusing St. Peters College. Organised Premadasa and Dissanayake had been who wanted Dissanayake to be given the by the Community of Risen The main purpose Unit said. offered the post of Additional Deputy position. Vajira Abeywardena MP,opposed and insulting members including of his visit is to It said the visiting Lord, the first day’s pro- Leader by the Wickremesinghe camp, both proposals and said that the most suit- Andrew Dismore (Labour). She exchange views on the Indian official would gramme will start at 1.30 while at the same time being told that the ed person would be Speaker W. J. M. said that the High Commission had development in the address senior govern- p.m. and at 9 a.m. on the fol- other would be appointed to the proposed Lokubandara. suggested that Dismore has a drug field of public adminis- ment officials tomor- position of Additional Assistant Leader. The Working Committee resolved that problem. Dismore urged the lowing day. It will conclude tration between the row on ‘Governance in At Monday’s stormy UNP Working creation of the proposed positions, be dis- Minister of State to bring pressure with the Holy Mass on two countries. India - Overview and Committee meeting, Dilip Wedarachchi cussed at its next session. on the HC to stop attacks on them. Sunday. Nair had been Challenges’.