President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was felicitated for her decade long service to the country by the Ministry of Finance at the BMICH yesterday. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama, Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera and Presidential Secretary W.J.S. Karunaratne were also present on this occasion.  

Here Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama hands over a memento to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga felicitating her decade long service to the country. 

I gave the country the best I could

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in an emotionally charged address told a gathering at the BMICH yesterday that she did what she had to do to the best of her ability during her 11 year tenure at the helm.

"I took blows but I did not wilt for I did what was good for my country" the President said at the function to pay tribute to her service to the nation.

She said she safeguarded media freedom to the extent of allowing certain media to repeatedly abuse her, since she was a firm believer media freedom and recalled the times when media personnel were thrown to the seas.

President Kumaratunga expressed the hope that her successor carries forward her legacy of standing steadfastly for a negotiated solution to the ethnic question since her battle was now half won being able to convince a recaltricant opposition that the solution put forward by her represented the way ahead.

President Kumaratunga said the immense trust placed in her by the ordinary people and most of her cabinet colleagues spurred her on to tread the path which she chose vis a visa the ethnic question, which first originated during her 1993 Southern Province Election campaign. "From there onwards I believed we found the way and from August 1995 onwards we presented these proposals to the country.

There was war but we went ahead with our proposals for a negotiated settlement", President Kumaratunga added. She said she took upon this responsibility squarely on her shoulder with some Ministers of her Cabinet backing her to the hilt while some less so, and this gave her the strength and courage to go all the way.

"If you are a leader you have to take radical decisions and the final decision lies fairly and squarely at your door". the President observed.

In this endeavour she was ready to take the slurs and insults of the private media and even some 'religious people".

"I am happy that I did not sway in my conviction on this issue", President Kumaratunga added. She said she still believe they had the solution but they should have the courage to say it loud and clear that would see an end to the calamitous conflict that has bedeviled the nation for the last 57 years. President Kumaratunga said the foundation for this process began under her Government and she hoped and wished those who follow her would continue the process without the trials and tribulations she had to undergo.

"Even though I have thought of devolution and a negotiated settlement I achieved nothing. To persuade over 65 per cent people now, when it was at 23 and to persuade the second major party in the country to openly accept the solution I proposed 11 years ago, that is devolution, is a huge success", the President claimed.

She added that the leader of this party is now talking much about devolution than her. "I think this is more than the half the battle won. Now, it is left for those who take over from me to take this forward or to take this backward" the President said adding that she hoped the latter would not happen.

She also said that she was telling all these not just to say how much she had done but just to see that people of this country must be fully aware of this legacy.

"It is up to the people the ensure that their leaders take this legacy forward whatever problems that may arise", the President remarked.

"Now both parties agree on this situation and the fact that the leader of the second major party is talking more about devolution than even herself was testimony to the huge success achieved by her in this respect.

"I go with great satisfaction and pride because I know I did not wilt against my conscience.I go with clean hands with no blood.But I go with my head held high ,I hope with some dignity.

She said she doubted if there was any leader in the world who had been abused as had been her lot at the hands of the private media during her entire term in office.Yet it was her firm belief to protect this right of expression even if she personally suffered by it.

According to JVP-Mahinda concept Chandrika is also a traitor —

According to Mahinda Rajapakse- JVP theory, even President Kumaratunga and parties in the UPFA who accept federalism, should be treated as traitors of the country, said UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe, addressing a campaign rally in Weligama.

Wickremesinghe said that Rajapakse, Somawansa Amerasinghe and Wimal Weerawansa were branding those who support federalism as traitors. "If that is the case, President Kumaratunga and other parties in the UPFA who have faith in a federal solution to the ethnic issue were also traitors.

"I wish to query Mr. Rajapakse, whether he would call President Kumaratunga who appointed him as the Prime Minister, also a traitor, with his new concept".

The federal solution to the ethnic crisis was first proposed by Chandrika Kumaratunga and both the PA and UPFA, the SLFP lead alliances that included Mahinda Rajapakse, contested the 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2004, elections on a federal platform, Wickremasinghe added.

"Then Mr. Rajapakse spoke in favour of a federal framework that would not divide the country and the southern people voted for it. Now, he is made to dance to the JVP‘s tune and calling everyone who speak of a federal solution as traitors. A person who is unable to stick to a consistent policy on national issues is certainly not fit to lead the nation" he insisted.

He said that Rajapakse who advocated the Indian federal system as a model for Sri Lanka, when he visited India.

He said that he would never divide the country and any solution to the ethnic issue would have the approval of the people and political parties that matter.

Presidential Election; A test for the SLMC’s bargaining power - Hakeem

We are conducting these campaign rallies not only to secure victory for the UNP presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesainghe but also to protect and strengthen the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, said SLMC leader Rauff Hakeem, when he addressed a rally held in support of Ranil Wickremasinghe at Akkaraichenai, in Muthur, Friday, October 28.

"SLMC has identified economic and development needs of Muslims living in villages and areas across the island and has entered into an agreement with the UNP to improve those", he said.

Hakeem also said that without the support of the SLMC no person could enter Parliament from Trincomalee.

He said that he was aware of the valuable contributions of the people of Muthur for the party, and those would be honoured and respected in the right way. Those who just raise their voice on the security situation had no explanation on the discriminations cast on the community in P-TOMS, he added.

The JVP will come before you claiming that they had cleaned and repaired your houses, in order to convince you to vote for their candidate. The JVP has plans to totally curtail the bargaining power of our party. This presidential election is a test for the bargaining powers our party which we have had right through. Muslims must decide as to who should determine the outcome of this presidential election? The Muslims, Tamils or the JVP, Hakeem added.

You must also decide whether to give in the powers of this movement which you have fostered to its traitors and the JVP, he said.

We have requested Ranil Wickremasinghe to find immediate solutions to the discrimination cast on the Muslim fishermen of Muthur by the security personnel.

"Mahinda Rajapakse was the Minister of Fisheries for six years, was he able to provide a single Multi-day Boat to the fishermen in Muthur? Not even single ordinary boat was given to these fishermen", he said.

‘Mahinda, who failed to do any thing so far for the Muslim fishing community in the East, What he will do for the betterment of the Muslims after he becomes the President?' He queried.

Tiger deserter shot dead

Munza Mushtaq in Colombo, November 2, 2005, 10.20 p.m.. A Tiger cadre who deserted the LTTE organisation was shot dead in Valachchenai at around 1.00 p.m. today. Army reports claimed that the deserter was shot at by LTTE cadres.

Investigations also revealed that, the deceased who was identified as Sellathambi Punyamoorthi had also been under repeated LTTE death threats because of the desertion of his ranks with Tamil Tigers. He was living a 'normal life' in a Government controlled area, prior to his death, army reports said.

A previous police complaint lodged by the victim about one and half months back further claimed that his motorbike was also robbed by Tamil Tigers in revenge of his desertion.