The UNP wants the executive presidency abolished before government devolution proposals are tabled in Parliament, while the PA contends that these two aspects are linked and must be dealt with together as part of the proposed new constitution.
The PA says the minorities have expressed the view that the political system has failed for the last fifty years and the ethnic problem could only be solved by a powerful presidency free from the shackles of a parliamentary cabinet system. The disposal of the executive presidency before a solution to the conflict, therefore, would be premature.
Mr Kotalawala has expressed his desire to meet the chief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Velupillai Prabhakaran, but believes that without agreement between the PA and the UNP on a concrete proposal, confronting the Tiger leader would be futile. Reports say that Mr Kotalawala has sent a letter to the LTTE’s International Secretariat in London seeking a meeting with Mr Prabhakaran.
The business forum hopes to achieve consensus between the two main parties before October. The PA and UNP differ on proposals relating to land, police powers, foreign investment and borrowing, the unit of devolution and whether Sri Lanka should be a unitary state or union of regions. The UNP agreed to meet the Tamil political parties and make proposals within two weeks for further cooperation. The Tamil parties have described the meeting as an "eye-wash".
The Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) began boycotting Parliament from 3 August demanding restoration of food supply to the north, establishment of proper transport to Jaffna and removal of restrictions on fishing. The other Tamil parties are also disillusioned. PLOTE leader D Sitharthan declared that his party will “never again” support the PA or the UNP at elections. But he says PLOTE will back the government’s devolution proposals if powers of the President to dissolve elected regional councils are withdrawn.
UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe said in early August that there is no change in his party’s position that peace talks should be held with the LTTE. Addressing the UN Sub Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities on 4 August, Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative, HMGS Palihakkara declared that despite a long list of atrocities, the government was open for discussions with the Tigers. But he reiterated that talks were possible only if the LTTE abandoned the struggle for Eelam or separate state and agreed to complete the talks within a specified time frame. Five days later, thousands of Tamils demonstrated before the UN in Geneva, demanding recognition of the Tamil right to self-determination.
While the Sinhalese hardline Weeravidhana and the National Movement Against Terrorism (NMAT) conducted symbolic funeral rites to the government’s peace package in Matara in mid-August, four PA members, including the Communist Party (CP) and the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) marched in Colombo, calling on the government to end the war and submit the devolution proposals for Parliamentary approval. Plan Implementation minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle called on President Chandrika Kumaratunge to talk to the Tigers with UN mediation before the peace package is tabled. Observers suspect an overall election strategy behind these curious requests from the government’s own members.
The UNP began a series of demonstrations in Colombo on 4 August demanding the revival of the defunct Bribery Commission and fulfilment of government’s election promises. On 18 August, when protesters attempted to march on the Presidential Secretariat, the police tear-gassed and attacked them.
Over 7,000 police were deployed to provide security to the PA’s rally in the capital on 21 August, celebrating the completion of five years in government. President Chandrika portrayed her vision for the new millennium and identified the challenges facing her government. Chief among these challenges are the ethnic conflict and poverty, recognized as the main problems when PA gained power in August 1994.
Sources say factions within the PA believe that it is safer to face national elections without resolution of the ethnic problem, arguing that a solution, whatever form it takes, will alienate large sections of the Sri Lankan community. Others are of the view that a lasting solution will enhance the image of the PA, depriving the UNP ammunition in an election campaign.
There is no doubt that next year’s national elections have already heightened activity. Political parties will hereafter aim at gaining more votes and analysts say that there is no evidence of real intention to solve the conflict. The PA said before elections in 1994 that only the politicians and arms dealers benefited from the Sri Lankan war. In 1999, hardly anything has changed and there is little hope for 2000 and beyond.