The nation's future
(Sunday Observer 12 August 2001)

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga gave this interview to Business Today at a time when her Government and Parliament itself is going through a period of major instability, largely due to the three member majority the PA had in Parliament being lost, which many attribute to the peculiarities of the electoral system that exists in the country. In this interview with Lucien Rajakarunanayake President Kumaratunga explains the need for prorogation of Parliament and the calling of a referendum, as well as gives her views on the economy of the country. She also gives some insights into the political bargaining that has been going on. 
[Full Report]

Postponement of Referendum  [press release]

The Phoenix Files: Growing consensus on the need for a new constitution 
By Karunachala (Sunday Observer 5 August 2001)

Ever since the Opposition game plan led by the UNP, in league with the Tamil parties in Opposition, to defeat the motion to extend the State of Emergency on July 6, and thereby help de-proscription of the LTTE were thwarted by the President's calculated Constitutional moves, the situation vis-a-vis Parliament, more than the country, has been one of instability.  [Full Report]

Observations: Avoiding a vacuum in governance, from confrontation to collaboration
By Lakshman Gunasekera  (Sunday Observer 5 August 2001)

'As long as they meet in accord, conclude their meetings in accord, and carry out their policies in accord, .......so long may they be expected not to decline, but to flourish," the Buddha told his favourite disciple, the Venerable Ananda, referring to the contemporary political ethos of the Vajji tribal confederacy or gana sangha (Digha Nikaya 2: 72-).  [Full Report]

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