A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
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Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Thursday, June 22, 2017
NPC Crisis: Fire extinguished, but ember is aglow
2017-06-22
The
fire is extinguished, but the ember is still aglow as goes the saying.
This is how political tension in the Northern Provincial Council
persists after the move to unseat Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran
through a no confidence motion, is described in political circles.
The matter looks settled for the moment as both the Chief Minister and
the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) budged from their respective stands a
bit and struck a compromise.
According to political observers in the north, the no confidence motion,
though withdrawn after submission, widened the political chasm of the
TNA. The CM has obviously made his mark in politics as he is appealing
to Tamil nationalism in terms of his open rhetoric demanding extensive
power sharing on Federal lines in main.
The TNA is an amalgam of four Tamil political parties – Ilankai Tamil
Arachu Katchci (ITAK), Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front
(EPRLF), Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) and People’s
Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE). The ITAK, the dominant
ally, initiated the no confidence motion by collecting signatures from
its members in the Provincial Council after Mr. Wigneswaran asked two
Ministers to go on leave to facilitate further inquiries against them.
Actually, the Chief Minister appointed a Board of Inquiry first to
investigate charges framed against the board of ministers. There were
findings of guilt against two Ministers – V. Aynkaranesan and T.
Kurugularaja. No dispute arose regarding action to be taken against
them. There was no finding of guilt against the two other ministers.
Nonetheless, the CM took the position that further inquiries
should be conducted against them as witnesses could not come forward to
give evidence during the initial process. So, he asked them to go on
leave to facilitate the inquiries lest the witnesses would not be able
to make their submissions before the Board of Inquiry.
It stirred the hornet’s nest. Incensed by the decision to pursue action
against the two ministers with no finding of guilt, the ITAK resorted to
the collection of signatures for a no confidence motion. Having roped
in the support of 15 members, it handed over the motion to Northern
Province Governor Reginald Cooray. It provoked counter action from the
loyalists of Mr. Wigneswaran. There again, 15 members handed over a
letter pledging allegiance to him.
For the first time, the Northern Provincial Council, constituted in
2013, was embroiled in a crisis. It threatened the unity of the TNA. The
Chief Minister toughened his position that the two ministers should be
on leave till inquiries against them were concluded. However, TNA leader
R. Sampanthan, who belongs to the ITAK, did not accept that position.
It created a deadlock for the resolution of the crisis, and the
situation worsened by the day. The TNA unity is a matter of concern for
many players, both local and foreign. The allies of the TNA engaged in
politics oppositional to each other in the past. All of a sudden, they
all were cobbled together for the formation of the TNA ahead of the
parliamentary election conducted in the year 2000. That was when the
LTTE operated with full might. Since then, it has remained as an amalgam
despite having many a difference. They fought openly on some matters,
but united during election times to contest together.
As international players, the United States and other western countries,
and India took a keen interest in keeping the TNA allies together right
throughout. That is for the fact that Tamils can llok after themselves
in full measure for their political rights in terms of a power
devolution package as long as all the Tamil parties remain under one
banner. The NGOs, advocating power sharing to the minorities as their
sole focus, also yearn for unity among the TNA allies. All in all, these
forces would have been perturbed by the possible split over the crisis
involving the CM.
It is reported that some Embassies and High Commissions requested R.
Sampanthan, who is also the Opposition Leader to resolve this matter.
Alongside, three TNA allies - EPRLF, PLOTE and TELO - undertook the role
of mediating on this issue. TELO leader Selvam Adaikkalanathan, PLOTE
head Dharmalingam Siddharthan and EPRLF chief Suresh Premachandran held
talks with the CM. Mr. Siddharthan was used as the emissary for the
communication of the outcome to Mr. Sampanthan. They asked the CM to
soften his stand to facilitate the settlement of the matter. Also, the
interventions were made by a Hindu religious leader and Jaffna Bishop
Rt. Rev. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam.
Mr. Sampanthan finally wrote to Mr. Wigneswaran whom he addressed as ‘My
dear Wignes’. Taking a step back, he wrote, “I am also in receipt of a
letter from Srila Sri Somasundra Thesika Gnana Sambanda Paramachchariyar
Swamy and Bishop Rt. Rev. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam, which states
the three conditions on the basis of which matters should be brought to
an end.
I will communicate with the two Ministers that they should not in any way impede an independent legal inquiry.
I will communicate with the two Ministers that they should not in any way impede an independent legal inquiry.
I have just informed the Northern Province Governor by telephone that
the Motion of No - Confidence will be withdrawn. I am communicating with
the relevant persons”.
Mr. Wigneswaran replied to Mr. Sampanthan addressing him as ‘My dear
Sam’. He stated, “Yours of even date in reply to mine of 17.06.2017 to
hand. Thanks. I am also in receipt of a note given by Bishop Rt. Rev.
Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam and Srila Sri Somasundra Thesika Gnana
Sambanda Paramacbchariyar Swamy this morning. Let me first explain a few
matters in your letter.
There was no punitive action taken against the two Ministers concerned. They are entitled to draw their salaries and use their vehicles etc. It is in order to give protection to the Witnesses as it was said that they should take leave while the Inquiring Committee sat. There are new charges too against them.
There was no punitive action taken against the two Ministers concerned. They are entitled to draw their salaries and use their vehicles etc. It is in order to give protection to the Witnesses as it was said that they should take leave while the Inquiring Committee sat. There are new charges too against them.
I understand your inability to give guarantees with regard to the
conduct of the two Ministers. But I am glad you have undertaken to
advise them that they should not impede an independent legal inquiry. It
is to ensure the independent legal inquiry and to commit the two
Ministers that I designed the formula of taking leave for one month.
The NGOs, advocating power sharing to the minorities as their sole focus, also yearn for unity among the TNA allies. All in all, these forces would have been perturbed by the possible split over the crisis involving the CM
You are a Senior Member of the ITAK. You are the leader of the TNA. You
have undertaken to advise the two Ministers not to impede an independent
legal inquiry. The two Religious Dignitaries have insisted that the two
Ministers must co-operate by not interfering with the course of
justice.
Added to these Hon. Selvam Adaikalanathan, Hon. Dharmalingam Siddharthan
and Hon. Suresh Premachandran have also undertaken last night in the
best interests of the Tamils to speak to the Hon. Ministers to make sure
they will not interfere with the course of justice nor interfere with
nor threaten witnesses nor tamper with evidence etc. In the light of
these undertakings, I will not insist on the conditions relating to
leave”.
Despite such settlement of the issue for the time being, political
sources in the north said this had already created tension among Tamil
people. Two public agitations organized in favour of Mr. Wigneswaran
drew large crowds. Talks are already underway for the formation of a new
political front alienating Mr. Sampanthan’s ITAK.
President bans mobile phones during Cabinet meetings. President
Maithripala Sirisena at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, asked the Ministers
not to bring their mobile phones inside the House from next week
onwards. The President viewed it as a disturbance to the proceedings.
After the meeting, the Board of Directors of Sri Lankan Airlines was
summoned for a meeting. The Board came under scathing criticism from the
Ministers over the financial position at the national career.