I wish to refer to the recent news item “Ravi questions Milinda’s deal” of the Daily Mirror. As a citizen I am deeply disturbed, for this news item says much more then it contains. In the first instance it appears that the two ministers are at loggerheads. Dissension in the cabinet is being openly spoken about not only in the drawing room of the elite but also in other circles as well. Just recently we had Minister Amaratunga and Jayawardene clashing. Many other ministers are said to be not on talking terms with each other. It therefore, appears that the government itself is unstable and divided.

There could be many causes for the dissension. The primary cause is the electoral system and the preference vote. The other cause, of course, is competing ambitions. We the public have been given to understand that the three ministers who crossed from the PA all seek to succeed Prime Minister Wickremesinghe after he become President.

Then there are old UNPers who have stood by the party, who also entertain the ambition. If that were not enough, there are corporation chairman and certain other powerful UNP men, not holding office at present, who also aspire to be Prime Minister. We the pubic have no quarrel with that for it is perhaps quit legitimate for a politician to aspire to that high office. But that we see around us is shameful backbiting, backstabbing and throat cutting.

Dog is eating dog and the Prime Minister appears to be watching and enjoying the battle of the cardboard gladiators. This, however, is not good for the country.

To a few other issues that arise from Minister Karunanayake’s statement. First is that there dose not seem to be any cabinet secrecy.

The cabinet is leaking like a ‘Kirigotta’ (a milk strainer) and this is disgraceful, to say the very least. It also constitutes a threat to our security.

Quite naturally, as stated before the perception among outsiders is that the government is weak and unstable. A Sunday newspaper in recent weeks has been complaining that the Prime Minister is lax, vacillating and not decisive.

The Prime Minister must act and give the lie to this perception in the interest of the country.

Another issue that arises from Minister Karunanayake’s statement is the grant for the de-mining project which has come from the Norwegian government to Minister Moragoda’s institute. It is unbelievable that Minister Karunanayake is unaware that many NGOs in this country receive grants from foreign governments on the basis of project proposals. In fact, the same government which he has mentioned has given money to a LTTE NGO which is also engaged in humanitarian de- mining.

He should also be aware that yet another ministerial colleague who has a foundation has also received money for a worthy cause and it is well known that this foundation is doing excellent work also related to the peace process. Therefore, Minister Karunanayaka, singling out the grant to the Moragoda Institute, appears without doubt, to be out of spite. This is quite unbecoming of Minister Karunanayake who appears to be doing an excellent job in the Ministry of Trade.

He should not bring himself down by including in personal vendettas for we consider him, because of his background, to be a gentleman politician.