Sri Lanka sees celestial hand in political chaos

By Amal Jayasinghe

COLOMBO (AFP): The fate of Sri Lanka's shaky ruling coalition may depend more on stars and planets rather than politicians, according to astrologers who play a key role in guiding the destiny of the nation.

Even to the uninitiated, the sacking of a Muslim minister from President Kumaratunga's cabinet on Wednesday appeared a bad omen for the government. But seers see a sinister celestial hand behind the sacking.

President Kumaratunga calculated that the dismissal of the Muslim ally from the cabinet will isolate him and strengthen her coalition, but the gamble backfired.

The shaky ruling coalition immediately went from a four-seat majority government to a four-seat minority.

The main opposition tried to press home the advantage by submitting a no-trust resolution against Kumaratunga's People's Alliance (PA). The document was handed in at an astrologically auspicious time on Friday.

"We submitted the no-confidence motion at a very good nekatha (auspicious time)," said opposition United National Party (UNP) legislator, W.J.M. Lokubandara, who is also a part-time astrologer.

The professional seers agree that the current political turmoil is due to a planetary change last week. They note that Jupiter's entry to the constellation of Gemini was causing political havoc in the country.

But, predictably, the astrologers disagree on the outcome of the present crisis which they see as the work of the planetary influence.

However, the astrologers are divided on whether they should read the country's horoscope which is based on the time at which independence was granted by Britain in February 1948 or take President Kumaratunga's own horoscope.

"The accepted standard for the country is that its zodiac sign is Aquarius," said prominent astrologer Ariyaratne Hewapathirana. "When Jupiter enters Gemini, it is malefic for Aquarius."

He noted that there was a 12-year cycle of Jupiter entering Gemini that saw the collapse of governments and drastic changes in the country since 1953 and on that basis, a shift in political power is predicted this year.

However, another astrologer, K.A.S. Piyaratne, disagrees.

He believes President Kumaratunga, whose star sign is Cancer, has a powerful horoscope. She will emerge stronger from the present crisis, which on the face of it, threatens the collapse of her government, Piyaratne said.

"There may be a few problems here and there for the president, but she will manage to overcome them," Piyaratne said.

But there are others who see Thursday's solar eclipse which began in Angola, and swept eastward across the African continent before drowning in the Indian Ocean, as bringing bad luck to tropical Sri Lanka.

Astrology plays a key role in virtually every sector of Sri Lankan society. Most politicians have more than one seer to guide them through turbulent times. Astrologers are even more powerful than some senior aides.

Sri Lanka's first census in 20 years scheduled for next month had to be advanced by a day because of the stars.

In this case, the census department had unknowingly chosen the most auspicious day of the year, July 18, for the nationwide head count but given the good effects of the day, many marriages were also scheduled for that day.

Fearing that enumerators and other officials will be attending wedding receptions, the census chief A. G. Nanayakkara re- scheduled the census for July 17.

The main opposition tried to topple Kumaratunga's government at a crucial budget vote on April 11, but the plan was aborted at the 11th hour. Insiders say the delay was due to astrological advice that April was a bad time.

July is said to be a better month for the opposition.

Even as analysts try to work out the complicated numbers game in parliament before the crucial no-trust, possibly on July 18, the most auspicious day of the year, astrologers are busy making personal predictions for politicians.

Ten years ago, when President Ranasinghe Premadasa faced an impeachment threat, he sought help from shamans to battle "evil spirits" in the national parliament. Charmed sand was dropped across the island from helicopters.

However, he fell victim to a suicide bombing in May 1993, even after having shaved his eyebrows in a bid to ward off evil, reportedly on the advice of sorcerers from neighboring India.