The Shangri-La Green, which used to be a place of struggle turned into a place of celebration last Saturday. It was because of the ‘Wasath Siriya’ Sinhala New Year festival organised by Government institutions including the Presidential Secretariat.
This year’s festival was held giving priority to longstanding cultural traditions. The Shangri-La Green turned into a place full of traditional folk games and the wonders of the village.
Foreign Ambassadors, High Commissioners and staff members also participate in the New Year celebrations. The Ambassadors of the United States of America, China, India, Thailand, Pakistan, Netherlands, Palestine, Bangladesh, Cuba, Myanmar, Kuwait, South Korea and Vietnam were present.
All of them participated in the folk games with great interest. President Ranil Wickremesinghe also visited the festival grounds and enjoyed the traditional New Year celebrations. On one occasion, he went with some Ambassadors and took an oil cake from the cakes that were being cooked in the village house that was built there and shared it with those present.
The President met the diplomats engaged in folk games and asked them about the New Year festival, they responded by saying, “We like this festival very much.”
“We would like to have a New Year festival almost every month. You have done a good job. A year ago, this was a campsite of protestors. Exactly one year later today, it has turned into a carnival ground.” When the Ambassadors spoke, the President nodded and smiled and said nothing.
Chinese Embassy officials won the highest number of prizes in the competitions for foreign mission officials. When the President was watching the pillow fighting event, the journalists who were there came forward with cameras to get a comment from him.
Immediately the President turned to Director General of Presidential Media Division Dhanushka Ramanayake and said, “Don’t you have a good game to give them, Dhanushka?”
Dhanushka smiled and replied “No Sir”.
“Why can’t you put them in the pillow fight. Then they can have a pillow fight without attacking me,” the President said.
Everyone couldn’t stop laughing when the President said that. The President who went near the giant wheel wanted to ask the people there about its origin. Ministers were also present at the New Year festival site, Chief of Staff and National Security Adviser Sagala Ratnayaka and Public Security Minister Tiran Alles were riding the giant wheel while the President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake also joked with them along with an officer nearby. “Now we have nothing to fear about security. While going up the wheel, both of them can see the ground.”
The President also participated in a New Year festival at Suduwella, Maradana on Sunday.
There was a discussion at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday about the higher ordination of the Ramanya Sect.
The President attended the centenary celebration of Matara Rahula College on Tuesday morning and chaired the United National Party (UNP) Management Committee that evening. There was an extensive discussion about May Day and party reorganisation.
On Wednesday morning, the President went to the Parliament Complex to make a statement to Parliament before the debate on the Extended fund Facility from the International Monetary Fund commenced.
When the President answered the question of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and came out after his speech, the MPs surrounded him in the lobby of the ruling party and started asking him about the joke he cracked at the Opposition Leader.
“Sir, the members of the SJB who were in the Opposition also laughed when they heard what was done to the Opposition Leader.”
State Minister Chamara Sampath said with a smile,”University teachers say that they will scrutinise the A/L answer papers after discussions with the President. People would be happy if this turned into an Essential Service.”
MP Madura Vithanage also joined in the conversation. “The President spoke to the university teachers at one point and explained to them the true situation in the country. They boycotted it without listening and now they are asking for negotiations.”
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said, “Any person in this country can request the opportunity to meet the President. But he is the one who decides whether to give that opportunity or not.”
President Wickremesinghe nodded and smiled and walked towards his office in Parliament when MP Wajira Abeywardena said that a group of Government and Opposition MPs were waiting at the President’s office in Parliament.
National Government
“Prof. G.L. Peiris and others say ‘helicopter’ is against the IMF agreement,” MP Sahan Pradeep said.
“It was the Government G.L Peiris and the group of Ministers who were there who first went to the IMF. All I’m doing is carrying forward what they started. How can they oppose what they approved then,” the President replied.
“Will a National Government be formed?” The question was raised by the President’s Parliamentary Adviser Prof. Ashu Marasinghe.
The President gave a long reply. “I am saying that the whole Parliament should act as a Government. It should make and implement policies and also make laws and implement them. That is why the Sectoral Oversight Committees were formed so that the ruling party and the Opposition can work together.”
“Yes, the President is saying that the entire Parliament should work as one team in making national policies. But he says that if something the Government is doing is wrong, it can also be opposed,” Minister Bandula Gunawardena said joining the conversation.
The President left, saying that he had to attend to some other work.
The President came to the Ministry of Finance on Thursday morning to discuss the economic situation. Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe had made arrangements to present the 2022 Central Bank Report to the President.
A group of Ministers as well as a group of UNP representatives met the President that day. The release of Wimal Weerawansa’s book on struggles and the statement made at the book launch were discussed there.
“After July 9, which was the peak day of the struggle, he says that two letters were sent from Colombo to the Maldives, a letter of resignation from the former President and a letter of removal from you who was the Prime Minister at that time,” State Minister Shehan Semasinghe said. “Many people say that this story is true.”
MP Premanath Dolawatta also said the same thing.
“The US Ambassador has denied the facts mentioned about her. The Ministry of Defence has said that what was said about Shavendra Silva is a lie,” said the President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka.
“I also want to read the book,” the President said. He also talked about the ‘X-Press Pearl’ ship and also the revelation made by Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe in Parliament about the connection of MP Nalaka Godahewa.
Many people also asked the President who Chamara Gunasekara was and he said that it will be revealed during the investigations. It was also discussed that if a National Government is formed, the number of Ministers will have to be increased and there is no public mood for that.
No answers
President Wickremesinghe, Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka and others inspected the Colombo North Port Development Plan and when the President asked about the damage to the Kelani Ganga, the officials who prepared the plans had no answers. The President advised them to prepare a report after considering all that.
UNP National Organiser Sagala Ratnayake participated in a ceremony to pay tribute to a group of retiring officials of the National Railway Employees Union and Chief of Staff was informed about the problems of railway workers as well as making the railway service more efficient.
A meeting of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Parliamentary group and the Executive Committee was held recently. The current political situation was discussed at length. In particular, the manner of conducting the May rally and the repressive program of the Government were discussed.
“At a time when there are so many problems in the country, the Government is hatching political conspiracies. Their biggest enemy is the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. That is why news reports are planted saying that people from our party will join them,” said MP Sujith Sanjaya Perera.
“I have confidence in my group of MPs. Let’s see if it will be from there to here or from here to there.” That was the only answer Sajith Premadasa gave. “It is very clear that the Government is taking this country to a very undemocratic place. I trust my group of MPs. If someone wants to, he can go to the Government. But don’t forget that a lot of people will come to the Opposition.”
“Some people say that I don’t take tough decisions. I am not a dictator. Unlike other political parties, the SJB has not created henchmen for its survival. But when I need to make a decision, I make the right decision.” Premadasa said.
“Only a person suffering from a mental illness would wish to join such a Government. I don’t think such people are in our party,” Tissa Attanayake said.
“When some people get very old, they get headaches one after another. Then sometimes you can tell a story like you want to join the Government,” Thushara Indunil said. “We will not go to a corrupt Government that has been rejected by the people. That’s for sure. We will not stand in a Government that is going to be built with thieves as a National Government
Some of us are now saying that they are going. It doesn’t matter if the thieves here go to the Government” Party Chairman Sarath Fonseka Fonseka said.
“While spreading false propaganda that we are going there, the Government is passing Bills that undermine democracy. So please don’t get caught in the double game of the Government,” Sajith Premadasa told the Working Committee.
Meanwhile, Premadasa took another decision together with the Working Committee. That is to appoint Upul Jayasuriya, PC to the SJB Disciplinary Committee. The Leader of the Opposition informed that henceforth no Member of Parliament can express opinions outside the party’s opinion and that disciplinary action will be taken against the people who make such statements regardless of their rank.
One force
However, the pro-government Goebbels-style media campaign did not end there. While the process of the Government was going on like that, Opposition Leader Premadasa was quietly launching a new program with his team. That is to bring the entire Opposition under one powerful force. Sajith discussed this at length with the leaders of his party. Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Tissa Attanayake, Gayantha Karunathilake, Imtiaz Bakir Marker and others regularly participated in those discussions.
“We need to understand the double game the Government is playing. Look, even the Mahanayaka Theras have also issued a statement on the Anti-Terrorism Bill. I think that we should create a massive force that brings the Opposition together,” Sajith said.
“Dullas’ team visited the Mahanayaka Theras and educated them about the Anti-Terrorism Bill. It is very good work,” General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said.
“Many people from the Opposition are talking to me. Let’s get together with the non-racist, non-corrupt people. Let’s talk with the Dullas group as well,” Sajith said.
“Is it true that some MPs from Pohottuwa had discussions with you,” asked Gayanta Karunathileka.
“A few people talked. A few others asked for an appointment to meet. However, I did not give an appointment to some people. I will not give them an appointment.” When Sajith said that, everyone looked at each other.
“Some corrupt political elements also asked for an appointment. We do not accept such people for any reason whatsoever. But let’s join hands with good people who believe that this country needs to be rebuilt,” he said. Everyone approved Sajith’s story.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa advised Ranjith Madduma Bandara to invite the Opposition groups to work together as a massive force against the anti-democratic activities of the Government.
Common program
Accordingly, many groups of the Opposition led by the Samagi Jana Balawega came together in Parliament on April 24 to form a common program against the arbitrary program implemented by the Government in the face of the current political, economic and social issues. It is headed by Opposition Leader Premadasa.
“We invited you to work together against this arbitrary program of the Government. Let’s move forward with this alliance more strongly.” That is how Sajith Premadasa took the initiative.
He said that many of the Bills, including the Anti-Terrorism Bill to be brought by the Government, violate the human rights and democratic rights of the country and therefore, the Opposition should take all possible measures against them.
Dullas Alahapperuma said,”Yes, the Government is trying to push the country into a serious crisis. The Government is doing it wonderfully through Bills such as the Anti-Terrorism Bill. We even informed the Mahanayake Theras.”
“Yes. After that, the Mahanayake Theras had issued a statement,” Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella said.
Sajith Premadasa said that an alternative program should be prepared instead of PTA and ATA, to which a group of MPs including Prof. G.L. Peiris, Rauf Hakeem, Mano Ganesan, Lakshman Kiriella, Imtiaz Bakir Marker, Chandima Weerakkodi, Nalaka Godahewa, Udaya Gammanpila, Weerasumana Weerasinghe, Gajendra Ponnambalam, Dayasiri Jayasekara and Gevidu Kumaratunga should be appointed.
Dullas Alahapperuma said that action should be taken regarding this situation in four ways: legal, national, social and international.
The proposal to be submitted to Parliament regarding the International Monetary Fund and the Anti-Terrorism Bill were the primary focus of the meeting.
Prof. G. L. Peiris said that if the Anti-Terrorism Act is implemented, there may be a serious danger internationally and even the European Commission will oppose it at this critical moment.
Lakshman Kiriella said that these Bills are drafted by private lawyers rather than the Attorney General’s Department.
Mano Ganesan said that the Anti-Terrorism Bill is the result of an effort to make the President a legitimate dictator.
Dayasiri Jayasekara said that everyone should unite and that they will work together with all the opposition parties to defeat the Bill. Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam said that it is extremely important to prepare a specific time frame to oppose this Bill.
Rauf Hakeem said that there should be an effective discussion about the Bill at the meeting of the Sectoral Oversight committees.
Chandima Weerakkodi said that the Opposition to this bill should not be to keep the Anti-terrorism Bill, but to abolish both these Acts and implement an Anti-terrorism Bill as in developed countries.
MP Gevindu Kumaratunga said that there should be pressure to withdraw this bill completely.
Udaya Gammanpila said that it is clear that everyone is against this Bill, and now it is necessary to reach an agreement on the measures to be taken against it.
“As the Opposition, this is a very positive situation. Let’s do all the work we can do together, especially for our country. Without dealing with the international community, a country cannot move forward by sitting on the concept of frog in the well.
What we need to do is to win the best through a dialogue with the international community,” Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said.
With the agreement of Sajith Premadasa and other Opposition Party Leaders, Imthiaz Bakeer Marker was appointed as the Convener of the opposition political party alliance in Parliament to continue the related general agreement work.
When Sajith Premadasa said, “Actually, we all accept Imtiaz Bakir Marker, one of the reputed politicians in the country, as the main Convener of this matter,” all the other representatives unanimously approved it. Lakshman Kiriella was appointed as the Parliamentary Affairs Coordinator of this union.