Archives

Demand for soft stance against Fowzie, Pathirana

by Rodney Martinesz and Jayantha Sri Nissanka

A powerful lobby has emerged within the SLFP demanding a soft stance against PA stalwarts Richard Pathirana and A. H.M.Fowzie who yesterday officially forwarded their letters of explanation to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga on charges of allegedly violating party discipline.

The duo were hauled over the coals by the party for expressing views in support of the UNP calls for a National Government and on the conscience vote.

Fowzie in a detailed response to the show cause letter issued to him by President Kumaratunga has described her act of signing the letter herself instead of the Party General Secretary as a futile attempt to take cover under article 35 of the Constitution.

Article 35 provides the President with immunity from prosecution in a court of law.

Fowzie also stated that there had been no decision and /or policy of the SLFP to the effect that there should not be a National Government. Conversely it was she (President) who openly advocated the formation of a National Government towards the middle of 2001.

"You initiated discussions with the UNP for the formation of a National Government and in fact discussed among other things the allocation of portfolios," he told the President.

"We feel that their seniority and service to the party should be considered together with the context in which their views were made," senior SLFPer and MP for Ratnapura district W.D.J.Seneviratne told the Daily News.

"It is important to take into account their motives given that both are veteran parliamentarians."

"If it is their contention that a national government should be formed to find a solution to the present problem considering their seniority and experience, I don't see why we should discard their views," Seneviratne said.

The Daily News learns that around 35 SLFP MPs including Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapakse and PA General Secretary D.M.Jayaratne has strongly opposed action against the duo while another group led by Mangala Samaraweera and Anura Bandaranaike are in support of their ouster.

Speaking to the Daily News, Fowzie said his court action was not against the party or President Kumaratunga but as a security to safeguard his own membership within the party for which he had worked and slaved for over three decades.

"I was compelled to take this action since Anura Bandaranaike has threatened to oust me from the party."

Minister Fowzie's letter to the President adds: "You consented to Ranil Wickremesinghe being the Prime Minister. However the formation of the National Government fell through at that time principally because of your avowed opposition to having G.L.Pieris and S.B.Dissanayake in the Cabinet, based on a matter of personal prejudice/dislike, and not as a matter of policy".

Thus to say the SLFP is opposed to the formation of a National Government is far from the truth.

The MP also said that the President should not even attempt act in terms of section 14 (viii) of the Party Constitution because of the personal animosity she bore against him on this matter and that she cannot be the prosecutor and the judge in the same case.

"It is strange that the letter under reference has been signed by you and not by the General Secretary as is the practice of the Party. This seems a futile attempt to take cover under article 35 of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka which in this instance in any event is not applicable".

Mr.Fowzie said in the circumstances had told the President: (a)There is no policy of the SLFP against the formation of a "National Government". (b)You have failed to specify when the alleged statements were made by me, as well as to which public gathering and to which media. (c)You have no power in the circumstances of this case to act under Section 14 (viii) of the Party Constitution. (d) In any event since you have personal animus against me in this matter you should not in any event and cannot act under Section 14 (viii).

Mr.Fowzie in conclusion stated that he had always acted in the interest of the Party and Country and its people and will never sacrifice his principles for political expediency.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager