Sri Lanka awaits aid as opposition to joint mechanism mounts

COLOMBO - Since the tsunami disaster, tens of thousands in Sri Lanka’s North, East and South coastal regions are still living is relief camps waiting for aid as opposition to joint mechanism mounts, reports indicate.

A key ally in the Sri Lanka’s governing coalition, the extremist Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna (JVP) party which has been staunchly opposed to the joint mechanism warned again yesterday that not only the government but all seven UPFA administered provincial councils propped up with the support of eighty members of the JVP would fall if President Kumaratunga pushes ahead with the joint mechanism.

"Our party has propped up the provincial councils for the alliance to rule so far and if the mechanism is signed we will withdraw support and even the provincial governments would fall. All our ministers will tender their resignations and we will withdraw support for the government and sit in the opposition," A JVP spokesperson was quoted as saying in reports.

The JVP has had its way with the debate on the restructuring of the Ceylon Electricity Board and the privatization of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation. It has also had its way in the move to oust Western Province Chief Minister Reginold Cooray.

The JVP spokesperson said that his party’s decision to quit the government if the president goes ahead with the joint mechanism is final.

Meanwhile, over a hundred Buddhist monks led by Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) parliamentarian Ven. Omalpe Sobhitha Thera launched a fast-unto-death protest campaign at the Sri Dalada Maligawa against the signing of the joint mechanism. 

The Thero also said, “We don’t have any other alternative, if the President goes ahead with the signing of the Joint Mechanism with the LTTE.”

Prior to the fast-unto-death protest campaign, the JHU held a protest march against the joint mechanism from Colombo to Kandy

Sri Lanka's stock market fell a provisional 1.88 percent on Monday as investors stayed away, worried about how the political spat would pan out.

As the Sri Lankan stock market took a hit on Monday over uncertain political climate in Sri Lanka, a silver lining is still visible for the people awaiting aid in the North and East.  The joint mechanism has received support from other Sri Lankan parties and international donors.

The Tamil National Alliance, Communist Party of Sri Lanka, the Ceylon Workers Congress and the Lanka Sama Samaja Party have all thrown their weight behind the joint mechanism.  The president is also believed to banking on support from the opposition United National Party as well, according to political sources.

The joint mechanism has had wide international support with donors insisting on it to bolster Sri Lanka’s faltering peace process. Recently, the United States and India issued statements backing the proposed mechanism.