The alliance includes the Tamil Congress, TULF, DWC, CWC alternate group which is a part of the UNP, CNWC whose leader, M. S. Sellasamy is a UNP parliamentarian, Aziz DWC, EPRLF led by Suresh Premachandran, PLOTE, UPF and TELO. Varatharaja Perumal who claims to be in the EPRLF still was not present as he supports the Kumaratunga government.

These Tamil parties have joined hands to pressurise the government on the ceasefire. The LTTE declared the unilateral ceasefire on Christmas eve for a one month period. TELO leader N. Sri Kantha believes that if the government responds, his new alliance would pressurise both sides to work towards a peaceful solution. He claimed that since violence broke out in 1995 following the abrupt end the peace moves then, this was the first time the LTTE had offered a ceasefire and added that the ball was in the government’s court. He lamented the government was ignoring the issue. The TELO leader who charged the government of playing with the issue did not speak of the violation by the LTTE of its own ceasefire when on December 26, it fired mortars at a military bunker killing two soldiers and wounding eight others.

Sri Kantha’s TELO, a strong sympathiser of the LTTE, detailing the alliance’s plan at a press conference held in the city said he was neither holding a brief for the LTTE nor defending. But TELO’s conduct over the years strongly suggests they sympathise or support the LTTE actions and acts whenever the Tigers are weak. Government troops during the past few weeks have overpowered the LTTE in several strategic points in the peninsula and may take back Elephant Pass in the next few days.

Troops have successfully launched operations and killed a number of prominent LTTE leaders during those attacks. The LTTE clandestine radio have confirmed that top Tigers in their mortar unit have been killed by the troops. By mid December the LTTE leader aware that his militant power was declining following troops attacking them with sophisticated weaponry announced a unilateral ceasefire which was seen as a move to buy time for another build up.

The TELO leader claimed that both sides should not pin hopes on a military victory. The government has a right to expect such a victory as it has directed its lawful troops to crush an enemy who has taken up arms against a legally elected government. The LTTE is a terrorist organisation committing heinous crimes over the years which in the attempt to recapture Jaffna came almost close to the objective. But determined government troops pushed them away towards Elephant Pass and may drive them further away in the next few days. Sri Kantha was in fact speaking on behalf of the LTTE at the press conference when he said that weakening the LTTE was a far fetched proposition.

"As long as the ethnic crisis dragged on the LTTE had enough recruits", he pointed out. This was clear that Sri Kantha knew the future of the LTTE and its fighting power. He was confident of what he said and it indicated that TELO had information of LTTE’s inner developments and plans. Despite Sri Kantha’s belief in LTTE’s power troops have many times defeated them and in 1996 pushed them out of the peninsula and brought it under government control. However, due to lapse in strategies it almost fell back into the hands of the LTTE with several important camps like Elephant Pass loss. Now the forces are heading towards the recapture of Elephant Pass, proving that the LTTE is weak and that the so-called ceasefire is a time buying exercise.

Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake who unofficially held the portfolio of deputy minister of defence till Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte was brought back after a six week interval from October 10, continues to speak on behalf of the troops. He was invited to be the chief guest at many ceremonies organised by the armed forces. On every such occasion he has confidently said that the troops were superior and could crush the enemy adding that the LTTE was weak and that was why ceasefires are offered. Wickremenayake’s presence at these ceremonies and statements has boosted the morale of the troops since the PA took power a second time in October followed by many successes in the war front.

While the Tamil parties rallied UNP in Colombo to pressurise the government on the LTTE ceasefire issue, the United National Party expressed more concern about the spiralling cost of living and jacking up of prices overnight. The bus fares would also be increased today by fifteen per cent placing more burdens on the working class and the poor. At a meeting held in Colombo this week where several senior UNPers gathered Gamini Lokuge said the party must come out in the open to fight against the rising cost of living as the people may charge that the UNP was sleeping. Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and Dr. Karunasena Kodituwakku pointed out that the party should divert its attention from the Kataragama Devale election to the cost of living issue that needed priority.

"We must explain to the people that the fiscal policies of the government was in a total mess and it was trying to mislead the people about the economic crisis taking cover under the war", said Mano Wijeratne. They discussed organising protests against the rising cost of living and John Amaratunga proposed that such protests and demonstrations should be held on the first day parliament meets when all MPs could participate.

Gamini Lokuge changed the topic to talk about the crisis in the Western Provincial Council. "They won’t allow Dixon Perera to sit as chairman and the chief minister has threatened to dissolve the council", Lokuge charged. "If they dissolve the WPC it will give us a good chance to win if an election is held".

Amaratunga supported his view point. Though they discussed the situation and planned many moves, Amaratunga, the senior member, said they should await the return of party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe from India.

Wickremesinghe returned to Colombo on Tuesday night. Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene was assigned to greet Wickremesinghe on his return. The UNP leader relaxed in the VIP lounge in the arrival terminal and was informed that Minister Mahinda Wijesekere was in the adjoining room awaiting a flight to Malaysia. Wijesekere was quoted on state TV a few days before accusing Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene of being responsible for stalling aid to the country during Jayawardene’s recent visit to Paris. Dr. Jayawardene who knew that Wijesekere was also at the VIP lounge wished him for the new year and asked why he made such an accusation without any basis. "So you mean that I am more powerful than your President and the cabinet", Dr. Jayawardene quipped in a lighter vein. "Don’t you know doctor, this is a part of the game", cracked Wijesekere. Later Wijesekere accepted Dr. Jayawardene’s invitation to visit the UNP leader at the VIP lounge to wish the latter for the new year.

SLFP

The SLFP Central Committee was scheduled to meet last Tuesday with President Chandrika Kumaratunga in the chair. As the President was indisposed, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremenayake chaired the meeting with party general secretary S. B. Dissanayake in charge of the agenda. Former Speaker, K. B. Ratnayake was also seen in the gathering after a lapse of many years. At the outset Dissanayake said the restructuring of party activities would have to be completed by March this year as local elections were due in April. Therefore, it was decided to hold the annual convention of the party on March 3. Dissanayake informed the central committee that many delegates from other countries too would be invited for the convention and therefore, the BMICH would be the venue. "We can extend the convention for two days if the necessity arise", Dissanayake said.

The Central Committee then dealt with the Western Provincial Council problem. Chief Minister Reginald Cooray said, "There is no crisis as such and we will accommodate any other person but not Dixon Perera". "Yes he defected from our party and we cannot endorse his appointment as the chairman", said S. B. Dissanayake who backed the argument. Cooray stated that he has proposed to the UNP to replace Perera with another but they had not complied. He stressed that if the crisis continued he would recommend the dissolution of the council as the president has been informed of that move. However, Maithripala Sirisena who contested S. B. Dissanayake for the post of general secretary wanted the problem resolved instead of dissolving the council.

The issue of local government elections due in April was taken up and several present suggested that the polls should be held under the ward system that existed earlier but regretted that a committee appointed under the chairmanship of Local Government Minister, Nandimithra Ekanayake has not met as yet to discuss the matter. Others present said the preferential voting system may lead to problems between party candidates and the government should try to avoid such a situation by reverting to the earlier system with the help of the UNP. "There’s hardly any time to finalise any changes and we will have to go by the present system", another commented.

While the majority opposed any postponement the local polls, a few seniors said it must be done in order to find time to change the system. Minister Ekanayake was not present as he is ill and the central committee decided to ask the minister to submit a report whether the election could be held under the present system or whether any changes could be done by March.

The chief ministers present at the meeting stayed back with the Prime Minister to discuss issues pertaining to provincial council administration. President Kumaratunga despite her illness sent an aide to say that she too would be present as she wanted to meet the chief ministers. The problem of release of funds to the councils was resolved along with the crisis of the appointment of a health minister to the North Western Province. Once again the WPC crisis surfaced and Reginald Cooray explained that he had proposed to the UNP to change Dixon Perera but the party was adamant.

S. B. Dissanayake reiterated saying, "Madam, if they are adamant we must not give in". "Then let us go for another election for the chairman’s post as we have more members", the President said. "Madam, how ever much we tell our members to be present at the meetings they do not heed the advice and I face a many problems", the chief minister lamented. "I know that you cannot do it alone so we’ll get Minister G. L. Peiris to help you", said the President. When Minister Peiris who was present agreed to help, the President said she would also get the assistance of former Trade Minister and present Presidential Advisor on International Trade, Kingsley Wickremeratne to help Cooray.

Come what may the UNP is not prepared to give into the demand of the PA and this was clear from a meeting held on Wednesday at Cambridge Terrace where UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, Assistant Leader Gamini Athukorale and Kitsiri Kahatapitiya were present to discuss the issue. Dixon Perera who was present said that if the party wanted to resolve the issue he was prepared to make way. "Why should you", asked Wickremesinghe. "If we are to ask Dixon to move out, the President must remove the deputy defence minister", Wickremesinghe told those present.

"We cannot find a man like Dixon who works according to his conscience", Karu Jayasuriya backed his leader. " Let us force the government to dissolve it and we must take the next step to go to courts", said Assistant Leader Gamini Athukorale. Wickremesinghe directed Athukorale to provide all assistance Perera and Kahatapitiya to go to court. Legal experts in the party were busy on Wednesday and Thursday on the WPC crisis and the matter was reportedly taken to court on Friday. Meanwhile, the UNP parliamentary group will meet tomorrow to discuss measures to hold a series of demonstrations and protests against the rising cost of living and other connected problems of the people.