By a Special Correspondent
Foremost among the 142 proposals embodied in the Election Manifesto released by Sihala Urumaya last week was its determination to reject in toto the Constitutional Reforms bill and preserve the integrity and unitary status of the country.

Sihala Urumaya is committed to abolish the Executive Presidency and the wasteful Provincial Councils; to crush northern terrorism by military force and bring the whole country under the rule of one law which applies to people of all races and communities. Sihala Urumaya rejects totally the devolution of power, but recognises the importance of the effective decentralisation of the administration, giving local bodies the authority to conduct their own affairs.

The Sinhala people form 75 percent of the population but they have been reduced to the status of a minority, says the manifesto. The leaderless, helpless Sinhala people will be extricated from their present sad predicament, where, for instance, the Sinhala villagers of the hill country cannot even find a bit of land for a cemetery, said Prof. A. V. De S. Indraratne, vice President of the party, while explaining the contents of the Manifesto, to the press.

This is our vision, and we do not offer ‘seeni bola katha’ (lollipops), promises which we cannot honour, he said.

Buddhism will be made the state religion and it will be given a foremost place. The national anthem will be sung in Sinhala.

The war will get the priority it deserves and its strategies will be determined by competent generals, said S. L. Gunasekera, President of the party. 40 percent of the defence budget is going into private pockets, and such persons will be brought to book when we come to power, he said. National security will be brought under a full time Defence Minister whose primary function will be the eradication of LTTE terrorism by military means, he said.

S. U. believes that the war could be ended in three years and of the Rs. 85 billion spent on the war at least Rs. 60 billion would be available for development. Add to this the Rs. 25 billion saved when the Provincial Councils are abolished, said Mr. Gunasekera.

In its endeavour to build a disciplined society based on humane values, corruption and malpractices will be eliminated. Legal proceedings will be instituted against corrupt politicians and public officials and public interest legislation (where any person can take legal action against corrupt politicians and officials) will be enacted.

Fundamental rights will be guaranteed. Electoral offences such as impersonation, should be punished with ten year jail terms, says the manifesto.

A smaller Parliament of one hundred and twenty five members will be introduced and the luxuries that MPs enjoy now will be reduced.

The manifesto was drawn up by a team of professionals which include Prof A. V. de S. Indraratne (Chairman), Dr. Neville Karunatilleke, Dr. Piyasena Dissanayake, Champika Ranawake and Dr Gamini Gunasekera.

On religion, culture and heritage, SU says that this is a Sinhala Buddhist country whose culture, value system, history and pattern of life has been based on the Buddha Dhamma, for over 2500 years. Despite this background there has been no discrimination or persecution of the people of any race, community or religion. The policy of the government will be geared to build a society based on Buddhist tenets.

Legislation will be introduced to ban unethical conversion of Buddhists to other religions. The Maha Sangha will be consulted in all national and religious matters. The use of liquor, drugs will be controlled and people will be invited to hold opinion polls to close down taverns.

The economy; Rs. 15 will be paid as a guaranteed price for a kilo of paddy, to the farmer. The indiscriminate import of rice, vegetables, potatoes, chillies onions etc will be banned. The environmental regulations will be strengthened and enforced.

Small and medium scale industrialists will be provided with credit on easy terms through an Industrial Development Bank. Charges for water, electricity, gas, telephones and postal stamps will be reduced. The current ad hoc devaluation of the rupee will be done away with.

We will honour our foreign obligations and pay back our loans in time. But international trade agreements detrimental to our national interest will be cancelled, said Mr. Gunasekera, President SU. This could include the FTA with India.

The medium of instruction will be the mother tongue and the free education system will function from year one to the university. Facilities will be made available for the study of English, science, Mathematics and computer technology throughout the country.

All medical institutions will be centrally controlled and well equipped hospitals will be established in all districts. State banks will remain state banks and the banking sector will undergo reorganisation to prevent monopolistic control.

Scientists, professionals, technologists would be consulted and they would be given a due place in the administration. A special unit will be set up in Finance Ministry to go into the grievances of pensioners and their pensions will be brought in line with the current cost of living. For the shanty dweller there is hope of a more liveable prefabricated unit.

The open economy has been a threat to local producers due to the indiscriminate import of commodities, some of them inessential. This is partly due to the fact that the wholesale trade is in the hands of traders often alien, who have no patriotic sense. It is the policy of Sihala Urumaya to take immediate steps to help the Sinhala merchants too to handle the import and wholesale trade.

Independent Police, Elections, Public Service and Bribery commissions will be established, says the manifesto.

SU also undertakes to retake and place under government control high level enterprises which were making profits and which were sold for a song to multinationals. The manifesto refers in particular to Air Lanka, Telecom, Gas etc. The President and officials involved in these deals will be subjected to inquiries and punished if found guilty.

The granting of citizenship to upcountry Tamils of recent Indian origin will be regularised. The grant of citizenship on the presentation of an affidavit will be forthwith done away with.

Tilak Karunaratne General Secretary of SU answering a question on the printing of special stickers by the Commissioner of Elections said that the Commissioner was trying to reduce malpractices and fraud. He gave it to a private printer because the Government Printer would not have been able to maintain secrecy. You must not tie his hands, Mr. Karunaratne said. He is very honourable in his intentions, but the government is obstructing him, he added.

Mr. Gunasekera explained the breakdown of talks between the SU, the MEP and the Bhoomiputra party. Dinesh Gunawardene wanted SU to contest Colombo under the MEP symbol. But we have a strong base in Colombo, why should we contest under the MEP’s symbol? he asked.

Now, he has gone on bended knees to the PA and says incredible things about the SU. We have never attacked him at this low level, ever, he said. For instance, Dinesh says that the SU knows that it will not win the election, but it is contesting to help the UNP. So, according to this argument, this must have been the reason why he contested so many elections in the past, Mr. Gunasekera said.

Even more ignoble is the question he has asked: Where is the SU going to get the money to fight this election? They must be having gold grinding stones in their kitchens! Mr. Gunasekera answered him by saying that Dinesh has never entered their kitchens even by the back door!