If the stock market is an accurate barometer, then Sri Lanka is at last headed in the right direction towards peace. The market reacted last week to comforting headlines that the UNP – SLFP talks were going nicely and, mirabile dictu, that parallel talks between the greens and the JVP too were to begin. These, it appeared, had been initiated by MP T. Maheswaran who, according to reports, had been given the go ahead by Ranil Wickremesinghe. There were even uncontradicted newspaper reports that Maheswaran, Bandula Gunawardene, Gamini Jaywickrema Perera and Vajira Abeywardene will represent the UNP at the proposed talks.

This development, according to a senior UNPer, ``bewildered’’ party people. Telephones began ringing and there was a great deal of discussion among individual party members. It turned out that Wickremesinghe had told Maheswaran to wait three weeks to pursue to the idea, presumably to give time to the UNP – SLFP talks to come to a conclusion. But Maheswaran had plunged headlong into the deep end. Adding to the confusion were reports that Gunawardene and Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, the UNP’s Kurunegala strong man, were most unenthusiastic about the project and did not see any purpose in participating. That made it look as though the whole thing was doomed even before it got off the ground.

The week ended with some considerable watering down of the original proposal with the UNP saying that they would like to talk to all parties about a national consensus once the talks with the SLFP are concluded. The JVP too went on record saying that they await a formal notification from the UNP about talks before they decide whether they are open to the overture. As Prof. G.L. Peiris put it, ``whatever system we put in place should be all inclusive, like what happened in South Africa between 1993 and 96 under Mandela.’’ It is freely conceded that there is much common ground between the UNP and SLFP and this should be utilized for the good of the nation. That has been the spirit in which the talks between the two parties have been going on up to now and participants are confident that at this week’s meeting of the plenary, the proposals that are being made by the various sub-committees will be endorsed.

The JVP, predictably, is unhappy about the SLFP and UNP cosying up to each other and is closely watching developments. This comes out clearly in an interview we run today with Somawansa Amarasinghe. Analysts note that the JVP has been crushed by both the SLFP (and its then allies of the old left) in 1971 and then by the UNP in 1988-89 when it (JVP) embarked on two misguided adventures. It is fairly well known that the JVP, smarting under what was done in 1971, did what it could to ensure the defeat of the United Front coalition which swept to office in 1970, but had disintegrated five years later, in 1977 with Mrs. B ejecting the LSSP. The SLFP was reduced to less than a rump and, almost unbelievably, the LSSP and CP could not win a single seat! There was tacit acknowledgement of JVP support for the UNP when its jailed leaders were freed by the J.R. Jayewardene administration on the understanding that they would convert from an underground movement to a mainstream political party.

Older readers might remember JRJ, asked what he would do if the JVP reverted to an insurgent role, famously said, ``in that case, ask them to first find a place to hide.’’ The JVP did not go into hiding then and the party’s founder/leader Rohana Wijeweera ran against Jayewardene at the presidential election at which he sought a second term. But that changed in the late eighties when it launched a second insurrection, much bloodier than the first, even as the LTTE insurgency was raging in the north. This was even more brutally suppressed by President Premadasa who succeeded Jayewardene in an election the JVP tried to wreck.

Many analysts believe that the JVP, as freely acknowledged by President Rajapaksa, which assisted substantially in getting him elected, believes it is at greater risk in the hands of a UNP administration than one of the SLFP. ``They will not risk being crushed by anybody if they stay within the democratic mainstream,’’ an analyst noted. Somawansa Amarasinghe is on record saying his party has learnt its lessons and has changed accordingly. It is not currently expected even by its worst enemies to return to violence.

``What is being sought now is a national agenda,’’ a participant of the UNP – SLFP talks said. ``The JVP, JHU and even the TNA must participate in its implementation.’’ That, of course must follow the ongoing talks between the country’s two biggest political parties.

``The PA-UNP talks has progressed well under pressure from Karu, GL, Rukman and company,’’ said the Colombo Confidential column in the Business Standard newspaper well known to be authored by Sarath Amunugama. ``Ranil is dragging his feet trying to be both pro and anti-unity, depending on the company he meets. These talks have made the JVP very nervous and its leader, Somawansa Amarasinghe has been shooting off his mouth. This has drawn strong rebuffs from Maithripala Sirisena and Anura Bandaranaike, obviously with the support of higher echelons. However, the JVP has not given up the battle and, now chastened, wants the talks back on track.’’

There’s a lot of food for thought especially in the context of what Somawansa has said in his interview with us last week that is published in this issue of the Sunday Island.

Headline genius

If Sarath Amunugama is in the market for another job (is the finance ministry beckoning?) we are sure that the newspapers will grab him for his journalistic ability. The latest issue of the Business Standard we’ve quoted above had some super headlines which professionals would warmly applaud. Consider these - ``The lady is a tramp’’ (the quotation marks were his) dealing with Somawansa’s celebrated streetwalker remark. ``At no time in its chequered history has the SLFP been so publicly ridiculed,’’ Amunugama has commented. ``This was obviously a wrong move which played right into the hands of the `rightists’ in the SLFP who want an understanding with the UNP and not the JVP.’’ He notes: ``The SLFP Sec-Gen used the word bambuwa (balderdash) several times (actually twice but with the properly contemptuous voice inflexion to make his point) to dismiss JVP claims.

Still on headlines, Amunugama’s become better and better. ``Old man and the JVP,’’ he said (this time the quotation marks are ours) punning cleverly on Wimal Weerawansa’s celebrated gaffe. The one time Director of Information, Government Censor and Secretary to Anandatissa de Alwis’s – Ananda was also a superb journalist – Ministry of State, Amunugama latched on to the Lankadipa cartoon showing Wimal Weerawansa watching as Somawansa, the old man, drowned in the sea!

``Commentators noted that Maithripala Sirisena and Anura B. focused their attack mainly on the ageing and increasingly intemperate leader. Could it be that elements in the JVP itself signaled this line of attack to the SLFP leaders?’’ asked Amunugama.

Could it also be that elements in the government prompted the police raid on the so-called ``brothel’’ after Somawansa’s choice of idiom to describe the SLFP’s penchant to pick anybody who came along?

But we digress. The gem in Amunugama’s headline writing crown was in the middle page of his paper, devoting several columns to umpire Darrel Hair. That was a two word topper - ``Splitting Hair.’’ It was almost as good as the one the Financial Times (the original, not the local) ran about the JVP leaders being tried by a Felix Dias Bandaranaike authored Criminal Justice Commission after their 1971 insurrection. Those in the dock tried to wreck the opening day’s proceedings by shouting in racy Sinhala, ``Sinhalin kathakarapiya do`85`85mokadda rajya bhasawa?’’ when Chief Justice H.N.G. Fernando chairing the commission asked then Director of Public Prosecution (Ian Wikramananayake) ``are you ready, Mr. Attorney?’’

All hell broke loose. Khaki uniformed guards wrestled the men in the dock. Fernando and his fellow commissioners walked off the bench until order was restored and did not follow up with any retributive penalties.

The Financial Times had the story. The headline was brilliant – three words against Amunugama’s two - ``Gentlemen vs. Players’’ Manishanker Aiyar

Whoever got Manishankar Aiyar to deliver the Bandaranaike memorial oration could not have done better. Everybody in the audience were kept spellbound by the Gandhi family loyalist, previously of the Indian Foreign Service who spoke without notes and was at his scintillating best. Early morning walkers on the Galle Face promenade (the green remains closed with chain link fencing for a refurbish on which there is little evidence) would not have recognized him in a baggy green kurta and tight jodphurs but for three security men around him.

He was about 45 minutes late for the All Party Conference to which he gave an educative briefing as a result of Anura B. calling on him at his hotel just before he was to leave for his engagement. Those who are not hot on AB have placed an uncharitable interpretation on that visit ignoring the fact that Aiyar could well have politely excused himself in the circumsances.

High Commissioner Nirupama Rao hosted a luncheon at India House for politicians of all hues with the guests including Messers Dew Gunasekera of the Communist Party, G.L. Pieris, Arumugam Thondaman, Ravi Karunanayake, Somawansa Amarasinghe, Basil Rajapaksa, President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunge and Suganthi Kadirgamar, a friend of Rao known to have facilitated a fence mending meeting when lady diplomat recently faced some unfair flak.

Ever the perfect diplomat, Rao recently accepted a dinner invitation from Anura Bandaranaike to the surprise of many. Insider sources say that even President Rajapaksa was surprised that the high commissioner going for Anura’s dinner telling intimates ``I wouldn’t have gone.’’ However that be, the poor lady is still done down if not by the Bandaranaike clan on their territory. Political tongues are wagging about the gaffe made by an MC at the Bandaranaike Samadhi ceremony who called Rao ``the former high commissioner for India.’’

Excuse us, please. She’s still India’s high commissioner here and will be until she relinquishes office to go to Beijing as ambassador.

But back to the India House luncheon. Looking around the VIP guests, Aiyar made the point that the substantial difference between a functioning democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy, major political parties have the capability to sink their differences and work together at a time of acute national need. That’s exactly where we are placed and hopefully those who lunched sumptuously on the Indian hospitality did not miss the point.

Incidentally, did somebody make a gaffe by inviting Dr. Karan Singh to make the oration Aiyar delivered?

Misreading Europe?

Several senior serving and retired military officers including the Army Commander were at Westminster House, the British High Commissioner’s Colombo residence, on Tuesday evening for a reception he threw in honour of a team from the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS)visiting Sri Lanka.

In a few prepared remarks, High Commissioner Dominick Chilcotts made the point that the aim of RCDS visits to a country like Sri Lanka was to examine from a strategic perspective what makes that country tick – in all its complexity and richness – and to make an assessment of the future prospects for that country’s stability, security and prosperity.

Those who believe that the European Community (which includes Britain) is becoming pessimistic about Sri Lanka’s peace prospects will be heartened by Chilcotts’ confidence that "a peaceful settlement will eventually be achieved in Sri Lanka."

"But I see no reason to wait another year or more, let alone another generation, to get there. Let’s not delay any longer, with all the cost to Sri Lankan lives and livelihoods that that entails," he said. "In line with the president’s wish, we should spare no effort to bring about the conditions in which a peaceful settlement can be secured now."

The High Commissioner flagged two points made in a recent speech made by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera: that two things had to happen to secure the strategic success of a lasting peace – a new constitutional dispensation for Sri Lanka that would earn the loyalty of all reasonable citizens of this country; and the transformation of the LTTE from a ruthless terrorist organization, intolerant of dissenting views, to a mainstream political organization ready to play by the rules of democracy within that new dispensation."

President faulted by LSSP union

The pro-LSSP Ceylon Federation of Labour (CFL) has faulted President Mahinda Rajapaksa for enacting ``draconian’’ anti-trade union regulations under the emergency and congratulated his withdrawing them after wiser counsel prevailed. CFL said it was at a loss to understand why this was done in the first place.

"We surmise that President Rajapaksa may have been provoked to act in this manner due to the erratic behaviour of some unions in the public service but the cure he had chosen to say the least, is worse than the disease," CFL said. "There is no denying the fact tht the public sector in our country lack a proper dispute settlement mechanism to sort-out issues that are raised by trade unions from time to time. The highly politicized egocentric interventions by ministers only exacerbate problems."

The statement signed by CFL General Secretary S. Siriwardene had the stamp of a Batty Weerakoon draft, analysts noted.