Meanwhile at a meeting in Colombo leaders of the National Patriotic Front repeatedly praised the ‘’patriotic work’’ of the Sunday Times and Sunday Island newspapers in “exposing the World Bank representative in Sri Lanka, and his activities here which are subversive of national sovereignty.’’

Mr Gunadasa Amarasekera, the author of Jathika Chinthanaya, and novelist who has several books such as ‘Gandhura Mediyama Arunalu dutuwemu’ written under his name, were among the speakers. Wimal Weerawansa the JVP propaganda Secretary also repeatedly praised the efforts of the Sunday Times and The Island in exposing Peter Haorld’s designs. Peter Harold last week denied that he said the LTTE ran an “unofficial state’’ in the country but the Sunday Times played the recoding of the interview with him on its Website which seemed to indicate that Harold indeed said what he denied saying. Published: Sat Mar 19 04:00:13 EST 2005

Dhanapala has already apprised the Norwegian Foreign Minister that the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) is not in agreement with some of the Tiger provisions which do not reflect the reality on the ground.

The LTTE wants 40 per cent of tsunami relief funds for the North East and 60 per cent for the other provinces. Dhanapala was locked in discussions with the President to find ways to overcome disagreement over this provision, for instance, while not jeopardizing the entire idea of the joint mechanism. The government is doing a fine balancing act in one sense when the National Patriotic Front which is JVP backed, is castigating ‘’foreign elements’’ which were claiming that the “LTTE is a legitimate stakeholder in the aid process.’’ Jayantha Dhanapala cannot let the Joint Mechanism proposals go – nor can he hold onto them – certainly not as they are. Published: Sat Mar 19 04:00:11 EST 2005

However, asked whether she can decide to go for a non binding referendum on the question whether the Executive Presidency should be abolished, and convene a constituent assembly thereafter to change the constitution if she wins that referendum, he said “using the persuasive power of a non biding referendum as a rationale to convene a constituent assembly is illegal -- as it will interfere with the rights of franchise of the people.’’

“Any act done under powers of a constitution enacted in this way will not have the force of law,’’ he said. However, asked what the opposition can do if things come to such a pass he added “their only recourse will be the courts of law.’’ Asked further whether the courts of law in his opinion will be favourable to the opposition in any judgment that is returned in such an eventuality, he said “on that, you can only consult an astrologer.’’

No amendment to the constitution can be made under article 82 without a 2/3rds majority in Parliament – and a 2/3rds majority and a referendum in certain instances. Therefore any attempt to abolish the Executive Presidency without such a vote in parliament, will contravene the rights of franchise (…for election a President) granted in article 30, and in article 3 of the constitution read with article 4(e) which says that people shall exercise the right of franchise for election of the President of the Republic of Sri Lanka. Asked also whether two questions can be asked in one referendum he said that this can only be done if they are two separate questions for which the people can answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ separately. Sources say that one possible plan of the government is to have two questions tied together in one referendum to be posed as one question such as ‘’Are you in favour of the abolition of the Executive Presidency and a Federal solution to the North East conflict?’’ According to Mr Choksy such a question will be illegal – unless it is broken into two parts for which the people can separately answer ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ Published: Fri Mar 18 01:34:52 EST 2005