UNP, SLFP patch up after bruising tussle
PM-led UNP delegation meets Prez
By Shamindra Ferdinando-February 20, 2018, 11:50 pm
After over a week of simmering political turmoil in the wake of humiliating drubbing received by the two ruling parties at Feb. 10 local government polls, the UNP-SLFP coalition yesterday indicated that they were ready to continue with the yahapalana partnership.
President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday received a top level UNP ministerial delegation led
UNP, SLFP...
by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat where an agreement was reached to present an accelerated economic development plan through the National Economic Council.
The Presidential Secretariat said that they had discussed measures required to be taken immediately as well as short, medium and long term strategies. Wickremesinghe’s delegation comprised Mangala Samaraweera, Sajith Premadasa, Rauff Hakeem, Malik Samarawickrema and Naveen Dissanayake.
President Sirisena’s team included Nimal Siripala de Silva, John Seneviratne, Dr. Sarath Amunugama and Faiszer Musthapha. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Presidential Secretariat said that the economic plan would be revealed next week.
The meeting took place in line with ongoing efforts to improve relations between partners. Sources said a cabinet reshuffle was also on the cards with leaders working on arrangements.
Regional Development Minister Field Marshal Sarath Nonsense has gone abroad amidst civil society grouping that helped the present regime to come to power urging that he be put in charge of Law and Order ministry to expedite cases against Rajapaksas.
Sources close to Fonseka said that the minister was expected to be back within a week.
President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed Chief Government Whip and Lands and Parliamentary Reforms Minister Gayantha Karunatilleke to oversee Fonseka’s responsibilities.
Ven. Dambara Amila thera on behalf of civil society grouping Purawesi Balaya that campaigned for Maithripala Sirisena demanded last week that Fonseka be named Law and Order Minister. An aide to Minister Sagala Ratnayake told The Island that the Matara District MP remained Law and Order and southern development minister though he offered to give up law and order portfolios last week.
Ministerial sources told The Island yesterday that they hadn’t been told of the finalized plans yet as regards possible cabinet reshuffle. Sources declined either to confirm or deny speculation that President Sirisena was seeking to bring law and order under his purview.
However, National List MP Dr. Jayampathy Wickramaratne on Monday said the President couldn’t act unilaterally in changing ministerial portfolios. Addressing the media at Samasamaja Piyasa, Rajagiriya, Wickramaratne asserted that the status quo would remain until the two parties to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution agreed on changes.
Since the last parliamentary polls in August 2015, the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government had removed two ministers from the cabinet Ravi Karunanayake and Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse in Aug 2017. Karunanayake had to go in the face of alleged corruption charges whereas the UNP demanded Rajapakse’s removal over his public criticism of the government policy, particularly in respect of the handing over of Hambantota port on a 99-year-lease to China and its foreign policy.
Although, cabinet spokesman Health Minister Dr Rajitha Senaratne declared last Wednesday (Feb. 14) that major cabinet reshuffle was imminent, the government was yet to reach agreement on changes. Sources said that even a minor reshuffle was unlikely until the Supreme Court interpreted the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in respect of the President’s power to remove Prime Minister. However, yahapalana proponent Purawesi Balaya co convenor Saman Ratnapriya later yesterday claimed otherwise on the basis of an assurance given by a top UNP leader.
Ratnapriya told The Island that they had received an assurance from the government that President Sirisena on behalf of the SLFP wouldn’t seek the Supreme Court interpretation as regards the executive’s power in relation to the removal of the PM. He said that they were determined to thwart the SLFP from undermining what he called 2015 mandate received by President Sirisena.
Ratnapriya alleged that they also intervened to discourage President Sirisena from proroguing parliament.
Commenting on proposed cabinet reshuffle, Ratnapriya said that they urged the government to accommodate at least a few new faces in the cabinet of ministers. Ratnapriya asserted that their efforts to convince yahapalana leaders to remain committed to the 2015 mandate had been fruitful.
Dr. Wickramaratne on Monday insisted that there was absolutely no ambiguity regarding the restrictions in place in terms of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
Political sources said the UNP and the SLFP had already effected key cabinet changes to facilitate yahapalana projects. Sources cited UPFA National List MP Mahinda Samarasinghe taking over ports and shipping ministry from UNPer Arjuna Ranatunga in May last year to highlight cooperation between the two parties.
Ranatunga received Petroleum Resources Development Ministry, previously held by Chandima Gamage, who replaced Samarasinghe as Skills and Vocational Training Minister.
Government sources said the SLFP had been looking for a way out of the crisis that was caused by President Sirisena wanting to cover up his party’s own defeat at Premier Wickremesinghe’s expense.
