Ranil-Sajith tug-of-war continues

 

1 March, 2020

The infighting within the UNP led political alliance Samagi Jana Balawegaya has not yet been resolved and the final decision of forming the political alliance is to be taken up at the UNP Working Committee meeting today, March 1.

The Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa factions have not been able to reach a final consensus on the symbol of the alliance while a tug-of-war is still going on between the two factions on the structure of the alliance.

To sort out the internal clashes within the UNP, a special Working Committee meeting was convened at Sirikotha on Friday, February 28 where a common consensus had been reached to give the chairmanship of the Nomination Board to the Alliance leader Sajith Premadasa.

However, it had since been decided to bring amendments to the constitution of the new alliance. After the Working Committee meeting, General Secretary of the new alliance MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara told the media that the approval was given for the constitution of ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya’ with some minor amendments.

He said all members agreed to contest under the new alliance and the final consensus on its symbol will be taken up at the UNP Working Committee meeting held today. UNP General Secretary MP Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said it was agreed to give 60 percent of nominations to the UNP and 40 percent to other constituent parties of the Alliance.

On February 26,Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Alliance General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara had gone to the residence of UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to invite him for the inaugural ceremony of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya at the Nelum Pokuna on March 2.
Accepting the invitation, the UNP Leader had said everything pertaining to the Alliance should be done officially. He had asked two party stalwarts whether the formation of the new alliance, its symbol and constitution are ready and added that all this has to be approved by the UNP Working Committee.

SLMC, a spent force
SLFP General Secretary State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara has said that the SLMC led by Rauff Hakeem will not be a decisive factor at all in forming governments in the future.

Hakeem has no right to manipulate governments. The SLMC has been such an important entity when the UNP was in power but the situation has completely changed after the November 16 Presidential Election, he said.

Responding to Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s request to the SLFP supporters at grassroot level to join with him, Jayasekara at a recent media briefing held at SLFP headquarters told Premadasa to first sort out the issues within his own party instead of dragging the SLFPers for their party issues.

Open battle

State Minister of Mahaweli Development Roshan Ranasinghe who has triggered an open battle against former President Maithripala Sirisena has said that the former President would definitely be defeated in Polonnaruwa. It was the SLFP Central Committee which decided on the person to be nominated to that position and not us. SLPP frontliner Ranasinghe further said that he is well aware that the SLFP doesn’t have the 1.5 million strong voter basis at present and the maximum the SLFP has only 200,000 votes.

High treason

National Freedom Front media spokesman Mohammed Muzammil has told the media that former Minister Mangala Samaraweera should be arrested for high treason. Addressing a recent press conference, Muzammil has said that the then Government’s co-sponsoring the UNHRC resolution 30/1 is an illegal act. Therefore, NFF Media Spokesman Muzammil said that Samaraweera should be arrested for high treason.

National List
Confirming media speculation, UNP Sarath Fonseka, at a recent event, said UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe will enter Parliament through the National List at the upcoming General Election.

Fonseka said it is said that Wckremesinghe will not be contesting the elections and if he does he has to contest under Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

However, if Wickremesinghe wishes, he can contest separately, Fonseka added. When the media asked whether there is a curiosity on the silence of the UNP Leader, Fonseka said it is a a problem for him.

The MP had, however, said that Ranil Wickremesinghe as the leader of the UNP should attend the launch of the new political alliance Samagi Jana Balawegaya on March 2.

Sooriyawewa incident
UPFA Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa in a twitter post had said that the Government should conduct an immediate inquiry into the incident that occurred at the Sooriyawewa Cricket Stadium on February 26 between cricket fans and the security personnel. MP Rajapaksa had tweeted: “Unfortunate incident at Sooriyawewa Cricket Stadium ticket counters. Assaulting spectators and the public is absolutely unacceptable. The Government must conduct an immediate inquiry and take action.”

 

The media had reported that there had been a rush at the ticket counters at the Sooriyawewa stadium and fans who tried to enter the stadium were attacked by the security personnel during the match between Sri Lanka and West Indies. Sports Minister Dullas Alahapperuma has instructed Sri Lanka Cricket to investigate the assault on spectators.

Southern Expressway - toll payment

The Southern Expressway stretch from Matara to Hambantota was declared open on February 23. Amidst the pirith chanting of Maha Sangha, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa who arrived at Palatuwa interchange unveiled the plaque.

After opening the stretch from Matara to Hambantota, the President and the Prime Minister came to Barawakumbuka interchange to participate in the public meeting there.

The President and the Prime Minister took the first and second expressway tickets to enter it. The President’s vehicle was driven by Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa while Minister Dullas Alahapperuma was also in it. Minister Johnston Fernando was seen in the driver seat of the Prime Minister’s vehicle and State Minister Lohan Ratwatte in the same vehicle.

When the President had attempt to pay the toll at the Barawakumbuka exit, the officer who was on duty at the counter had told the President that he issued the ticket as customary without expecting the toll. Then the President had told the officer “This is where our country has gone wrong. This system should be changed. I am also a citizen of this country. If we want to move forward as a country, you do your duty properly and we will do our job properly. Shouldn’t it be so? The President then paid the toll and made his exit.

SLPP media centre
The new media centre of the SLPP was opened at its Nelum Mawatha premises on February 27 under the patronage of SLPP Chairman Prof. G.L.Peiris, National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa and State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena. Various political topics had been discussed at the tea party held after the opening.

A party heavyweight had said “Today, the Treasury bond scam completes five years.” State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena had said that still Arjuna Mahendran couldn’t be brought down to Sri Lanka.

Then SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa had told in lighter vein as Lakshman Yapa removed Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran, he also can bring him to back Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa had also asked Yapa to explain as to how they launched the operation to remove Arjuna Mahendran. Later the first media conference was convened by Prof. G.L.Peiris and State Ministers Rohitha Abeyguwardana and Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena.

First meeting

The first executive committee meeting of the Sri Lanka Podujana Nidahas Sandanaya was held at Temple Trees recently. The executive committee meeting was first addressed by Alliance General Secretary Basil Rajapaksa.

He said there are nine registered political parties in our Alliance. Once the registration of other parties who aligned with the SLPP at the past Presidential Election is completed, they will also be included into our alliance.

Ranjan
UNP Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake was in remand custody for 44 days on the charge of interfering with judiciary was granted bail a couple of days ago. After the bail was granted, Ramanayake had gone to the MP’s housing complex at Madiwela and held a party with some of his close associates. He had told his friends it was his Tamil friend Sumanthiran who appeared lot for him.

The next day former MP Sajin Vas Gunawardana was remanded on the charge of influencing the party who gives evidence on a money laundering case. Former Minister Rajitha Senaratne also appeared before courts to give evidence on the famous “white van drama” press conference conducted prior to the Presidential Election.

Rishad Bathiudeen had announced in Vavuniya whatever the party symbol, his party would extend support to Sajith Premadasa. Bathiudeen has openly said that it is immaterial for his party whether Sajith would contest from elephant or swan symbols as his party has already decided to jointly contest with him.

Responding to a journalist’s question as to how Bathiudeen jointly contest with Sajith Premadasa when he has said that he would not join hands with him, Rishad has said that Sajith has not said such a thing to him or his party.

It is said that Rishad had sent one of his officials to meet Malwathu and Asgiri Mahanayake Theras, they had not granted permission to meet him. However, the sources said so far Rishad had not given up his idea.