• Zurich confab avoids controversial issues
• Johnston Fernando resigns from Chairman UNP Organisation , Kurunegala post
• SB does U-turn
• Tamil Common Presidential Candidate to be fielded?

A highlight of this meeting was that certain Tamil political leaders, known to have been bitter rivals and holding diametrically opposed political views for long, appeared to have buried the hatchet judging from the goodwill and cordiality that pervaded among them at the deliberations.
Among the participants were three Cabinet Ministers: Douglas Devananda, Arumugam Thondaman and P. Chandrasekeran, and Eastern province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan (Pillayan) and EP Minister M.A.L.M.Hisbullah.

The conference organised jointly by the International Working Group on Sri Lanka, Tamil Information Centre, and the Initiative on Conflict Prevention through Quiet Diplomacy, was hosted by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The leaders of 16 political parties representing Tamil and Muslim communities as well as those representing the Tamils of Indian origin in Sri Lanka, participated in the conference. Each party leader had been permitted to attend along with an advisor. However, Minister Devananda had taken along with him four advisors among whom was former Parliamentarian Thavarasa.

The proceedings of the conference were compered by Executive Director, International Working Group on Sri Lanka Peter Balling, and Director, Human Rights Centre of Essex University in London, John Parker.

Item on elections in Sri Lanka dropped
There was an item on the agenda on the elections to be held in Sri Lanka. However, CWC leader Arumugam Thondaman raised an objection to this item being taken up for discussion, pointing out that up to then no elections in Sri Lanka had been officially announced. The objection was upheld and the item was dropped from the agenda.

Participants steer clear of controversial issues
It is noteworthy that the participants as if by prior agreement, abstained from making reference to or comment on the Eelam, right to self–determination or the concept of a homeland. TULF leader Veerasingham Anandasangaree said: “Our viewpoint on the national question could be different from those held by others. However, there is the need for us to come down from our original stands to adjust our respective ideologies to suit the present circumstances.”
None of the participants made any comment on the proposed demerger of the now merged Eastern and Northern provinces either.

Most of them expressed their views on how to rebuild a society where peoples from all ethnic groups could live in amity while protecting their respective cultural identities. Minister Devananda said that this objective could be achieved through the full implementation of the 13th Amendment. He pointed out that devolution of power could be done in terms of the provisions of this Amendment. His argument was that the 13th Amendment was the answer to the demand for the devolution of power.

A political leader who participated in the Zurich conference, said that a unique feature of these deliberations was that most leaders who championed their viewpoints taking up rigid stands at the outset, later turned so malleable as to be willing to reach common ground.

Tamil leaders like Anandasangaree, R.Sampanthan, Mavai Senadhirajah and Suresh Premachandran were seen in cordial conversation with their arch rivals like Minister Devananda and Eastern province Chief Minister Pillayan at the conference. In fact, this spirit of camaraderie was evident even when the leaders were on their way to Zurich. For example, Minister Devananda was seen giving a helping hand to Anandasangaree and Sampanthan in clearing their luggage at the Dubai airport.

In fact, Anandasangaree was saying that he was meeting some Tamil leaders after more than seven years, evidently elated over the opportunity to talk about old times and renew understanding.
A joint declaration was issued at the conclusion of the conference on November 22. The participants earlier agreed to meet again for another round of discussions.

Zurich confab comes in for flak at home
Meanwhile, Jatika Hela Urumaya, Desha Hitaishi Vyaparaya and certain sections of the media here, went to town saying that Tamil leaders had gathered at Zurich to discuss plans for establishing an Eelam under the patronage of the International Political Wing of the LTTE. However, the Tamil and Muslim political party leaders who attended the Zurich conference, categorically denied that they had met in Zurich to carry out such a devious hidden agenda.

Pres. Rajapaksa signs proclamation for Presidential election
President Mahinda Rajapaksa signed the proclamation declaring his intention to seek a mandate for his second term in office at the auspicious time of 10.9 am on November 23, Monday at Temple Trees. He soon after met the leaders of the government coalition UPFA and informed them that he had signed the letter addressed to the Elections Commissioner in connection with the holding of the next Presidential election. The UPFA leaders hailed the President’s move and expressed their views on how the election campaign should be conducted.

The following day (November 24), the UPFA activists who gathered in large numbers in towns and cities across the country, launched the election campaign by exhibiting the posters and cut-outs carrying the President’s picture, distributing propaganda leaflets and firing volleys of fire crackers.
Even by this time, the UNF was still holding negotiations with the JVP and the Common Presidential Candidate General Fonseka.

Meanwhile, President Rajapaksa at a meeting with the heads of electronic and print media institutions and the editors on Tuesday morning, was explaining why he decided to go for a Presidential election two years ahead of the conclusion of his six-year tenure. “At the last Presidential election, I promised to end the North-East war. Now I have kept that promise. At the last Presidential election people in North-East did not get the chance to freely exercise their vote. I decided to hold an early Presidential election to enable the people in the North-East to cast their vote in a free atmosphere,” the President explained.

Gen. Fonseka enters the fray
General Sarath Fonseka in the meantime, hastened to make preparations for the fight ahead. He has taken on rent a large house at Rajakeeya Mawatha, Colombo 7 for use as his election office. According to informed sources, the monthly rental for this house is Rs.1 million and he has paid Rs.12 million as an advance to the landlord.

General Fonseka held the first conference in the new office on Monday afternoon. Both UNF and the JVP attended this meeting. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Mangala Samaraweera, Rauff Hakeem, Mano Ganesan and Anura Kumara Dissanayake were the participants. Incidentally, this was the first discussion the UNF and the JVP held together with General Fonseka.

Ranil Wickremesinghe on this occasion requested General Fonseka to present his manifesto at the UNP National Convention to be held in Wattala on December 5. Anura Kumara Dissanayake also announced that the party would introduce General Fonseka as their common candidate at a special convention of the party to be convened shortly. The participants decided at this meeting to appoint a Coordinating Operations Committee to direct the General’s election campaign.

SB makes a U-turn
Meanwhile, UNP National Organiser S.B.Dissanayake had called on General Fonseka along with Ven. Kiniyawela Palita Viharadhipai Thera of Nalandaramaya, Nugegoda. He had reportedly had a lengthy discussion with him. Dissanayake had later told a UNP meeting at Moratuwa that he was prepared to back any Presidential candidate fielded by the party. “We will carry General Fonseka shoulder-high round the country in our campaign to ensure his victory,” SB had reportedly remarked.

Informing a UNF and JVP group including Ranil Wickremesinghe and Anura Kumara Dissanayake who had later called on him, of S.B.Dissanayake’s visit accompanied by Ven. Palita, General Fonseka had said:”The other day S.B. Dissanayake and a bhikkhu named Palita called on me for a discussion which lasted for about 4 hours. Several other persons also called on me. I told them all that I believe in maintaining relations formally with political parties rather than with individuals at a personal level.”

Has Gen. Fonseka accepted UNF, JVP conditions?
It is not clear so far whether General Fonseka had agreed to fully abide by the conditions laid down by both UNF and the JVP, and whether he had entered into agreements with these two parties. Ranil Wickremesinghe had said that that the General had agreed to accept five of the 10 conditions presented to him. JVP’s Anura Kumara Dissanayake had said that his party decided to support the General’s candidature following reaching an understanding with him, and not after entering a pact.

Media personnel will no doubt, seek a clarification on these matters from General Fonseka at the Press conference he is due to hold today. (November 29)
The UNP leaders held talks with General Fonseka last Monday to wrap up negotiations on fielding the latter as the Common Opposition Candidate. However, even by then they had not informed the party’s Working Committee of the decision to support the General’s candidature. When Johnston Fernando queried from the party leader at the Working Committee held in the previous week, whether they had decided to field General Fonseka, Ranil in a curt rejoinder had denied having taken such a decision.

UNP Working Committee discusses Gen. Fonseka’s candidature
However, Ranil Wickremesinghe told the Working Committee which met at Sirikotha on Thursday, that the party should extend its support to General Fonseka as the latter is to be fielded as the Common Opposition Candidate. Endorsing the leader’s proposal, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said: “We should ensure his victory to turn him into another Lee Kwan Yew”.

Mahanuwara District MP Abdul Cader was the next to voice his opinion. “I am a Ranil loyalist. I am prepared to follow the leader. I will carry the candidate he nominates on my shoulder and ask the Muslim voters to vote for him.” Both Kabir Hasheem and Palitha Range Bandara opined that the General will receive the backing of the Muslim community. Party’s Treasurer D.M. Swaminathan however, said the Tamils are having reservations about the credentials of General Fonseka. ” But we will talk to Tamil people to allay their misgivings,” he assured.

Dissidents have their say, not their way
Former deputy city mayor Azath Sally was the next to take the floor. “The UNP is a party with a 4.7 million-strong voter base. But we are going to face the upcoming Presidential election without a candidate of our own. Sarath Fonseka is a communalist. I am not prepared even to go near him.” He continued: “Can you remember that Sarath Fonseka once declared, `This is a country of the Sinhalese. There is no place for minorities here. They may either go to Tamilnadu or Arabdom.’ We issued a statement condemning that remark on that occasion. Many of us including Tissa Attanayake, Mangala Samaraweera, and Mano Ganesan signed that statement. The very signatories to that statement are today trying to make the very same Sarath Fonseka the Executive President.”

Tracing the history of negotiations aimed at fielding General Fonseka as the common Presidential candidate, Azath Sally said:” When Lakshman Kiriella announced that talks held with the JVP were a success, Anura Kumara Dissanayake soon afterwards told the Press that they would have no truck with the UNP. Anura Kumara had said that they were negotiating only with Sarath Fonseka. Our party commanding a 4.7 million voter base is kowtowing to the JVP which can muster only 150,000 votes from the entire country! They are openly saying that they are opposed to Ranil becoming the Prime Minister of the Caretaker government to follow the victory of Sarath Fonseka. Why do you allow our party to be demeaned in this manner? It was said earlier that Sarath Fonseka would be a Lee Kwan Yew. But we are making a Hitler out of him.”
S.B. Dissanayake said that the UNP for the first time its 62-year history was going to participate in an election sans the Green colour and the Elephant symbol.

The leading UNP rebel Johnston Fernando said:” It appears that we don’t have a candidate good enough to contest the Presidential election today.” Turning to the party leader he added, “If you come forward as the party candidate, you will certainly not win. But why can’t we field someone like SB? We have abandoned the `Elephant’ symbol today. In these circumstances I will not remain any longer as the Chairman of the Kurunegala District, UNP Organisation. I am resigning. You may appoint a replacement.”

The party leader at this stage announced that the Working Committee unanimously approved General Sarath Fonseka’s candidature. Azath Sally who immediately raised his hand said: “Sir, we are against.”
Later Gamini Jayawickrama Perera moved a resolution expressing the support of the party to the Common Opposition Candidate General Sarath Fonseka at the upcoming Presidential election. The resolution he moved said:”The Working Committee, under the Article 3.3 (C) of the UNP Constitution calls on party members to extend their support to General Sarath Fonseka at the upcoming Presidential election. Kasturi Anuradhanayake seconded the resolution. The resolution was adopted with Johnston Fernando, Indika Bandaranayake and Azath Sally opposing it. The party leader then appointed Gamini Jayawickrama Perera as the acting Chairman of the Kurunegala District UNP Organisation, the office vacated earlier by Johnston Fernando. Vajira Abeywardena maintained an eloquent silence. Sajith Premadasa was conspicuous by his absence.

JVP’s grassroots ranks oppose Gen. Fonseka’s candidature
There is a growing opposition among the rank and file of the JVP to the decision taken by the party hierarchy to back the candidature of General Sarath Fonseka at the upcoming Presidential election, informed JVP sources said.

A large section of the membership at the grass roots level has expressed their strong opposition to supporting the candidature of a former military figure after conducting negotiations with the UNP. Priyangani Kotelawala, the leader of the party’s women corps and a former WPC member has resigned from the membership of the party and its Central Committee to register her protest.

Common Tamil Presidential candidate in the offing?
Meanwhile, on the initiative of TNA leader R. Sampanthan, several Tamil political parties too are holding talks with a view to fielding a common Tamil candidate at the Presidential election. The TULF, ACTC, EPRLF, PLOTE, and TELO have already participated in talks aimed at picking a suitable Tamil candidate.
Should such a common Tamil candidate come forward, DPF leader Mano Ganesan will extend his support to him, informed sources said.

Minister Arumugam Thondaman has already announced that his party, CWC will be backing President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The candidature of both President Rajapaksa and General Sarath Fonseka are now confirmed. Meanwhile, New Left Front leader Dr. Wickramabahu Karunaratne, Eksath Samajawadi party leader Siritunga Jayasuriya and Socialist Equality party leader Vijaya Dias have already announced their intention to contest. In the event of a Tamil candidate too entering the fray, there would be six candidates in the running.