By Kesara Abeywardena
A pow-wow by letter writing between Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and JVP Parliamentary group leader Wimal Weerawansa began on Monday following a letter from Weerawansa to the UNP leader accusing the UNP for trying to scuttle moves to establish the four independent commissions.

Opposition Leader Wickremesinghe replying yesterday charged the JVP for resorting to the propaganda theories of ‘Goebbles,’ according to him so far used by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the PA administrative machinery, without engaging in a broad debate on the amendments suggested by the PA which can be harmful to the independence of the four commissions.

The main allegation of Weerawansa was a statement that was reported to have been said by the UNP Leader at a public meeting in Bibile. Weerawansa had quoted Wickremesinghe as supposed to have said that the four commissions would not provide solutions to the problem of living faced by the people of the country about which the UNP is concerned. He was quoted to have said: "The people will not get anything by establishing the four commissions, the main problem of the people is about how to make a living. All proposals agreed by the government including the establishment of the four commissions does not provide answers to the question of how to make a living. There is a difference between the UNP and the JVP. The objective of the UNP is to provide a conducive atmosphere.

Wickremesinghe had answered back that what was quoted by Weerawansa was a distortion of what he had actually said and broadcast over the state owned "Lakhanda" radio station. Wickremesinghe has requested Weerawansa to look at a live video recording of the speech and verify the truth before sending forth baseless allegations. According to Wickremesinghe what he had said was: "Establishing democracy is an important problem in the country. But we wanted to change the government because the most pressing problem in the country is providing the people necessary means to live. Commissions are a need and other steps to establish democracy should also be taken. But those steps will not provide means for people to make a living."

Opposition Leader Wickremesinghe further states: "I take this opportunity to remind you that it was the UNP which took the preliminary steps to create a dialogue within the society on the four commissions and invite proposals on them. When we convened an open discussion in this regard at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute none of the political parties in the country thought positively about them. But we took forward the idea along with the Maha Sangha, other religious dignitaries and civil society organisations that gathered at the occasion and prepared the first report through a citizens committee. The basis for the present commissions is that report. The four commissions were an important part in the Presidential and General election manifesto’s of the UNP.

"It was firmly held by those who mooted the four commissions that wide consensus should be reached among all sections on the four commissions. Therefore all of us in the opposition were able to produce a draft in agreement with various political parties and civil society organisations after discussions that spanned a few years.

"I would also like to remind you that discussions in this regard between the UNP and the PA took place last year as well as this year and talks between the JVP and the PA took place this year.

"Finally we were glad that the PA had pledged to implement the commissions agreed by the opposition, through the probationary government arrangement reached between you and the PA. We worked closely with each other to make that process a reality. You are fully aware of the contribution made by Mr. Jayampathy Wickremeratne on behalf of the government and Messrs. Tyronne Fernando and K. N. Choksy on behalf of the UNP in this regard.

"The government has now proposed fresh amendments to the draft prepared by the Legal Draftsman’s Department last week on the consensus reached between the PA, the UNP and the JVP.

"We can agree to amendments that would not harm the independence of the commissions and their work.

"But we feel that if these amendments are outside the frame of the broad agreement reached with the civil society organisations, religious leaders and political parties, we have to seek their approval afresh.

"Since this is an important national problem I have instructed MPs Tyronne Fernando and W. J. M. Lokubandara to organise a meeting of the opposition party leaders meeting on the 18th at 3.00 pm. If you have a problem regarding the time we could arrange it to suit your convenience.

"I would also like to inform you that our Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya is making arrangements, if you all of us want to further discuss with the civil society organisations.

"I would emphatically state here that the attitude and the conduct of the UNP regarding the 17th amendment and the four independent commissions has not changed at any moment.

"Let us all in the opposition including your party join hands to protect the concept of independence of the commissions."