By Shamindra Ferdinando
Minister Milinda Moragoda came under heavy fire at last week’s pre-cabinet meeting over his controversial public stance on the ongoing confrontation between the government and President Chandrika Kumaratunga over a gamut of issues including acquisition of a fleet of high security vehicles.

Moragoda who was away in Oslo to finalise the dates for the first round of formal talks with the LTTE, was accused of being publicly critical of the way his colleagues were pressing President Kumaratunga over several contentious issues, political sources said.

They pointed out that he should not be allowed to have his own agenda. They expressed the belief that Moragoda should not be permitted to make public statements detrimental to the interests of the government.

They accused Moragoda of repeatedly hinting that a group of his colleagues was responsible for unnecessarily pressing the president. One of his colleagues who first raised the issue, bitterly complained that one person should not be permitted to work according to a different agenda.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed out that Moragoda can be asked to explain his stance when he returns from Oslo. Wickremesinghe expressed the belief that the minister should be given an opportunity to reply. Deputy UNP leader Karu Jayasuriya endorsed the prime minister’s stance.

The sources expressed the belief that Wickremesinghe and Jayasuriya prevented the criticism of Moragoda getting out of hand. Over the past few months, he has become the leading government representative involved in the peace process. He has repeatedly stressed the need to put aside differences between the president and the government with a view to working towards achieving peace.

Moragoda is likely to stick to his guns, the sources said.

At least two senior ministers also targeted Dr. P.B. Jayasundere who heads PERC. One of them, expressed disbelief that former Treasury Secretary Jayasundere has been allowed to go free while the government levels a series of allegations against the previous administration for financial irregularities. He pointed out that it would be ridiculous to criticise the previous government for alleged mismanagement of the economy while retaining the services of a key official involved with the PA.

The sources said that the prime minister was likely to discuss the issue with Minister Moragoda. The sources pointed out that there would not be a pre-cabinet meeting next week as the president would be away. The minister is expected to respond to allegations made against him when he was away at the next pre-cabinet meeting.