UNP’s intrigues and UPFAers’ preferential vote battle

UNP rebels declare temporary ‘ceasefire’

Muslim Council members visit Temple Trees

UPFA’s CM post still open

UPFA candidates fight for preferential votes

Ranil Wickremesinghe

S.B. Dissanayake

Sajith Premadasa

Prasanna Ranatunge

It appears the United National Party (UNP) rebel group has now declared a temporary ‘ceasefire’. They have decided to cease hostilities against Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, in view of the April 25 Western Provincial Council elections.
It was decided at the recently held Working Committee Meeting that Wickremesinghe should continue to function as the UNP Leader. However, those who led the rebellion to oust him from the leadership post, such as Rukman Senanayake, Lakshman Seneviratne, Johnston Fernando, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, Thalatha Atukorale and Ravi Samaraweera were far from being satisfied with the decision.

The rebel UNPers could not agree on a replacement for Wickremesinghe. Although many were in favour of Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya taking up the reins, there were already qualms whether he would be able to measure up to even Wickremesinghe. Some members wanted S.B. Dissanayaka to be the Deputy leader. Meanwhile, Dilip Wedarachchi brought in a motion to appoint Sajith Premadasa as Deputy Leader. Thus, the members were not able to come to an agreement on this issue. Also, the report prepared by the eight-member committee appointed to propose reforms to leadership, had to be pushed to the background for the lack of support from members.
Following these hiccups, there was no choice left for the members, other than accepting the leadership of Wickremesinghe.

Those who had to face the most serious repercussions of the internal crisis of the UNP, which was doing regular rounds in the media, were the candidates vying for the WPC. They were faced with the quandary of conducting an effective election campaign while the party was undergoing a crisis that was threatening to further rupture the already ailing UNP. There were occasions when the candidates had to hide their faces in shame, being unable to answer the queries of their constituents.
In view of this problem, many candidates attending meetings at Sirikotha appealed to the rebel group to postpone their rebellion to change the leadership, until the election is over.

Therefore, the rebel group decided not to highlight the internal crisis of the party, and agreed to attend election rallies and meetings to render their support to make their party victorious.

Accordingly, Lakshman Seneviratne, Sajith Premadasa, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Thalatha Atukorale can be now seen at meetings addressing crowds and trying to garner support for the UNP. They keep saying to the public, “There is no crisis within the party; it is just a conflict of ideals. This is more than common in democratic political parties. They are intended to make the party stronger but not to weaken it.”
To the consolation of UNP supporters some rebels were seen expressing this view at meetings where Wickremesinghe himself was present.

However, at a press briefing held at the Opposition Leader’s official residence, MP Lakshman Seneviratne was heard saying that the proposal to create the post of Senior Leader, as deliberated and agreed upon by the eight-member committee appointed by Wickremesinghe himself, could not be seconded due to the opposition of several members. He termed it ‘sabotage’.

It is customary that the Working Committee accepts any proposal made by the Party Leader. That is how the decisions of the Party Leader to make Karu Jayasuriya the Deputy Leader, and Mangala Samaraweera the Prime Minister – once a UNP government comes to power, were seconded by the Working Committee. However, the creation of the Senior Leader post, proposed by the Party Leader, could not have been seconded, Seneviratne charged. To the barrage of questions levelled at him by the media, he only said he was not prepared to discuss matters deliberated at the party Working Committee.

Meanwhile, S.B. Dissanayake has told a weekend Sinhala newspaper, that the power sharing proposals of the eight-member committee, of which he was a member, could not be seconded- thanks to a treacherous few who were acting on the behest of Wickremesinghe. He has also told the newspaper, “Ranil Wickremesinghe expressed the view to the Committee that he was not against devolving the powers of the leadership. We went ahead with the proposal, because we received his consent. Although the members were divided on various lines, we finally came to an agreement, and presented our proposal to the Working Committee. We informed the Leader of what was included in the proposal word to word. He agreed to everything. It was about appointing a Senior Leader post to devolve the powers of the leadership. However, ultimately there was another proposal presenting a conflicting view, bearing the signatures of 20 members. This is a very serious conspiracy. We have learnt that even the Party Leader is behind this.Therefore, to prevent further divisions within the party, we had a discussion with the Leader and came to the present agreement.”
Despite this decision, the pro-UNP Irudina paper last week attacked the personalities of Lakshman Seneviratne, Johnston Fernando, Rukman Senanayake, S.B.Dissanayake and Ravi Samaraweera.

The rebel group met last Monday (30) to further discuss the matter. Most of the rebels boycotted Wickremesinghe’s 60th birthday bash, which was also intended to celebrate his victory at the Working Committee Meeting. However, Dayasiri Jayasekera and Ravi Samaraweera had graced the party. The fact that they too were taken to task by the Irudina paper had rather angered the two rebels. Lakshman Seneviratne charged last Monday, that Irudina being the unofficial UNP proxy paper, has now started hitting back at the party. He alleged that three of their journalists are on the payroll of a high-ranking party member, to discredit UNPers who have a promising future within the party.

Muslim Council visits Temple Trees

On the evening of March 31, a group of Sri Lanka Muslim Council representatives paid a visit to the President at Temple Trees.
Council President Al Haj N.M. Ameen presented the President with a sum of 2.6 million to provide scholarships to the children of war heroes.

“Following the successful military operations in the East, the people in the area are now free to get on with their normal lifestyles. Now the military is providing the Muslim people in the East with adequate security. We humbly donate this sum to offer scholarships to the children of those heroic soldiers, as a way of expressing our deepest gratitude,” he said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, accepting the sum said, “We want not only your money but the votes of the Muslim people too.”

He added that although the Muslim population is only 10% in the country, the Muslims have been given 27% representation in the Cabinet of Ministers. “In any of the previous governments there have not been so many Muslim ministers. Therefore, the government needs more support from Muslims,” he said. “I know that Muslims have a problem of using loudspeakers during daily prayer times. That is a Supreme Court decision. There’s nothing that the government can do about it. Even the Buddhists are affected by the ban on loudspeakers,” he added.

Referring to the Bill presented to Parliament on slaughtering cows, the President said it was not presented by the government, but a personal bill drafted by MP Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

Ministers A.H.M. Fowzi, Rishard Bathiudeen and K.N. Baiz were also present at the occasion.

UPFA’s CM candidate post still open

The United People’s Freedom Alliance has still not nominated their Chief Ministerial candidate for the WPC. This has caused several powerful members of the UPFA to publicly announce they are, in fact, the chosen ones. Some even went to the extent of criticising their apparent opponents at meetings and rallies. Colombo District candidate Duminda Silva, and Kalutara District candidate former Chief Minister Reginald Cooray, even had an open verbal battle.

Meanwhile, Gampaha District Group Leader Prasanna Ranatunga and Colombo District candidate Thilanga Sumathipala listed out their qualifications to hold the coveted post.
A fierce battle for preferential votes has erupted between UPFA candidates, and many incidents of violence have been reported from Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara Districts. President Rajapaksa received a number of complaints on alleged cases of violence.

The President invited Kalutara District Sri Lanka Freedom Party organisers, candidates and working committee members, to Temple Trees.
While discussing campaign strategies, the President declared that the Chief Minister will not be decided according to the number of preferential votes, but that it will purely be a party decision.

“Receiving the highest number of preferential votes will not guarantee the post of Chief Minister for anyone. It is not the only qualification to fill the post. It depends of the experience, seniority and efficiency. So, I expect everyone to make sure the betel leaf emerges the victor in this election, rather than going after each others’ throats,” the President said.

He also took steps to iron out the differences between senior SLFPers and the newcomers to the party in each district.

Rohitha Abeygunawardena has publicly told the constituents in the Kalutara District not to vote for the candidates supported by Minister Rajitha Senaratne. The President also said that everyone who is in the government must strive to sustain the government, and therefore, without creating divisions among their own flock, they must all work together to ensure the UPFA’s victory.

However, even after this meeting, Kalutara District Group Leader Reginald Cooray has appealed to the voters to make sure he receives 150,000 votes, that would ensure him the Chief Ministerial post for another term.

After the President declared the criteria of qualification to be the Chief Minister, neither Duminda Silva nor Thilanga Sumathipala made any further reference to the matter.
However, Gampaha District UPFA supporters have expressed the view that if the criteria of selection includes seniority and efficiency, then the post must be given to Prasanna Ranatunga. He is the son of veteran SLFPer, late Reggie Ranatunga and held posts in the past couple of WPCs. However, the final decision lies with President Rajapaksa.

Meanwhile, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has informed the party MPs and Provincial Councillors to dedicate the final two weeks in the run-up to the election to support the UNP candidates. He has also encouraged them to engage in a house to house campaign rather than just attending meetings.

Following military intelligence reports that 16 LTTE suicide cadres have entered Colombo, the President advised the Cabinet of Ministers not to attend public meetings. The President too will not be attending any public meetings but expects to address the public using satellite technology.