- GR turns heat on UNF Govt. with PCoIs
- UNP gears for crucial vote on leadership
- CBK faces wrath of SLFP organisers
It has been some time since Sri Lankan politics had taken the look of a celluloid world unfolding in real life. However, it has never been more real than last week. The events that unfolded through the week were nothing short of something out of an action-packed movie.
The week started with audio clips of telephone conversations between United National Party (UNP) MP Ranjan Ramanayake and many individuals ranging from senior members of the judiciary to senior investigators in the Police, senior politicians, politicians’ wives, actresses, and models, being leaked to the public via social media. The audio clips have so far incriminated many reputed individuals in the country.
The next was the climax in the UNP’s leadership battle. The UNP indeed is going through a bad period with its internal squabbles and a party member being implicated in many wrongdoings including the alleged intimidation of investigators and members of the judiciary.
Amidst the unfolding chaos in the UNP, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa decided to appoint two presidential commissions of inquiry. One commission is tasked with probing alleged political victimisation that had taken place from 2015 to 2019.
The President was undoubtedly compelled to appoint the commission after hearing some of the much publicised leaked audio clips of telephone conversations Ramanayake had with senior members of the judiciary.
In fact, Ramanayake’s recorded conversations have even resulted in the Police probing an alleged attempt to assassinate Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage.
However, the Presidential Commission appointed to look into the alleged political victimisation during the previous Government is chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge Upali Abeyratne and includes retired Court of Appeal Judge Daya Chandrasiri Jayatilleka and retired IGP Chandra Fernando.
The Commission has been mandated to look into alleged political revenge on government officials, employees of state corporations, and members of the armed forces and the Police during the period from 8 January 2015 to 16 November 2019.
The other presidential commission is tasked with probing the alleged financial irregularities of Edirisinghe Trust Investment (ETI) Holdings.
This Commission is chaired by retired Supreme Court Judge K.T. Chithrasiri and the other members are retired Solicitor General Suhada Gamlath and Senior Banking Officer D.M. Gunasekara.
The Commission has been mandated to look into ETI Finance Ltd.’s alleged misconduct when the Central Bank intervened to settle the funds of the depositors by selling assets and ETI’s decision to sell a media company to several foreign companies in violation of domestic laws.
According to an extraordinary gazette notification, ETI’s assets include Swarnamahal Financial Services, EAP Broadcasting, EAP Films and Theatres Ltd., Hotel Sapphire, Swarnamahal Jewellers, and ETI Finance.
The heat is gradually being turned on the UNP and members of the previous Government headed by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Given the current status of the UNP, the main Opposition is not on the best footing to face any probe on actions taken during the previous Government. It is now imperative that the UNP settle its internal squabble and stand united or perish in the face of the growing public dissention over its past actions.
Gearing for fireworks
Last week saw a decisive meeting of the UNP parliamentary group taking place to resolve the party’s leadership crisis.
Prior to the meeting held on Thursday (9), the Premadasa faction met at the Opposition Leader’s office in the parliamentary complex. The meeting commenced around 12 noon at Premadasa’s office and close to 30 UNP MPs had attended the meeting. A majority of the members who attended the meeting were openly supportive of making Premadasa the leader of the party.
At the outset of the meeting, Premadasa had said that there needs to be a common understanding that a final solution to the party’s leadership issue should be in line with the wishes of the majority of the group.
“The party needs to give priority to rebuilding its Sinhala-Buddhist vote base before the next parliamentary election. We need to unite as a party to carry out all this work and we must stand together before the next general election. Otherwise, we won’t be able to prevent our numbers from reducing in the House after the election,” MP Lakshman Kiriella had said.
“We agree. We cannot move forward in this manner. There’s no need for a leadership council; Sajith Premadasa should be appointed as the Party Leader,” MP Thalatha Atukorale had responded.
Almost every UNP MP at the meeting had stood in unison claiming that the party’s leadership crisis and other issues should be resolved that day.
Heated meeting
The parliamentary group meeting that commenced at around 3.45 p.m. on Thursday had concluded four-and-a-half hours later at around 8.15 p.m.
As the parliamentary group meeting commenced, it was evident that there was a clear divide between the MPs – a group pushing for Premadasa’s leadership and a group supporting Wickremesinghe’s proposal for a leadership council.
“The UNP has a great history and it should not be allowed to split. We need to unite and move forward,” MP John Amaratunga had said at the outset of the meeting.
Wickremesinghe had followed afterwards. “We lost the presidential election because we lost the Sinhala-Buddhist vote base. We cannot win a general election without this vote base. I discussed this matter broadly with Karu Jayasuriya, who has the backing of the Sinhala-Buddhist voters. Even the mahanayakes have asked for the appointment of Karu. We cannot have different paths; we must all tread one path. Karu Jayasuriya has agreed to extend his support to this endeavour,” the UNP Leader had said.
When Wickremesinghe proposed setting up a leadership council for the party and appointing Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as its leader with the aim of rebuilding bridges with the Sinhala-Buddhist vote bank, a group of UNP MPs extended their support towards the proposal. Among them were MPs Navin Dissanayake, Vajira Abeywardena, Daya Gamage, Dr. Ashu Marasinghe, and Palitha Range Bandara.
MP Sujeewa Senasinghe had then asked whether Wickremesinghe meant Jayasuriya would be the Party Leader.
“No, I will be the Leader, he will be the leader of the council,” Wickremesinghe had responded.
“This won’t do, you are Party Leader, then there’s another committee headed by Karu and then another person is facing the election. People in our villages say they will not vote for the party if Ranil Wickremesinghe is the Leader,” an angry MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara had said.
Despite Wickremesinghe holding the post of UNP Leader for 26 years, the party had only been able to be in power for six-and-a-half years. This fact was openly stated by MPs Ravindra Samaraweera and Madduma Bandara.
Madduma Bandara also noted that the party’s defeat at the last presidential election could not be blamed solely on Premadasa. He claimed that the Central Bank Treasury Bond Scam of 2015 was one of the determining factors of the election and that Premadasa was the victim of the wrongs committed by some party members.
Samaraweera meanwhile explained that the UNP, since assuming office in 2015, had antagonised the Buddhist clergy by even apprehending elephant calves who participated in peraheras.
He charged that the party, through such actions, eroded its Buddhist vote base.
Fire-breathing MPs
The Premadasa faction nevertheless vehemently opposed the move. They were not supportive of Wickremesinghe’s proposal of a leadership council headed by Jayasuriya.
Also, when Dissanayake tried to explain the erosion of the UNP’s vote base in the Hambantota District, Premadasa’s constituency, MPs Thalatha Atukorale and Chandrani Bandara had objected to the statement. Dissanayake had noted that his mother had polled more votes from the Hambantota District at the 1994 presidential election than Premadasa from his own district at last November’s presidential election.
Senasinghe and several other MPs had also started to lash out at Dissanayake. Some of the UNP MPs reminded Dissanayake of his defection along with Jayasuriya and 15 other UNP MPs to the Government in 2006 that first weakened the party. “Not only did you defect, you and your father-in-law returned and are now trying to destroy the party once again,” MPs Nailn Bandara and Ajith P. Perera had started to shout.
Amidst all this chaos, Gamage had stated that despite spending millions for the welfare of the UNP, the party had not shown any form of gratitude towards him. He had further noted that the UNP Government had not even considered giving him back the Sevanagala sugar factory that was acquired by the State during the previous Mahinda Rajapaksa Government.
Premadasa had also joined in at the time. “So does that mean I have been appointed as Opposition Leader for no real purpose? According to what is being said, I do not have any qualifications. Am I not a Sinhala-Buddhist? The only way to resolve this issue is to go for a vote. Let’s resolve this matter by putting it to a vote,” Premadasa had said.
Bandara had said he was confused by Wickremesinghe’s explanation and had once again sought clarification. “I will continue as Party Leader. A committee with new leaders will be appointed to take the party forward,” Wickremesinghe had said once again.
“Karu Jayasuriya is the best suited for the post of leader. There’s no need for a vote, let’s appoint him,” MP Dr. Ashu Marasinghe had said.
MP Harin Fernando had then unleashed a verbal barrage at Dr. Marasinghe which was joined by several other parliamentarians.
“After delaying the presidential candidacy, having secret deals with the Rajapaksas, and mistreating all of us, you are now trying to speak as if no wrong has been done,” Fernando had charged.
When Abeywardena started to emphasise the need to build the party’s Sinhala-Buddhist vote base through Jayasuriya, MP Malik Samarawickrama had dismissed Abeywardena’s statement. Samarawickrama had asked Abeywardena how he could now stand in support of Jayasuriya after saying he would in fact remove Jayasuriya’s sarong from his head at one point in time. “What are you saying now Vajira? It was you who spoke of stripping Karu Jayasuriya. Wasn’t it you who said you would remove Karu’s sarong from his head? How can you now speak in support of this?” Samarawickrama had questioned Abeywardena in jest.
MP Sarath Fonseka had also joined in and extended a challenge. “Ask these Sinhala-Buddhist leaders to contest from the Gampaha District. The people in Gampaha will teach everyone about Sinhala-Buddhist leadership.”
Madduma Bandara had then stood to speak. “People are seeking a change and without giving it to them, we cannot move forward. We are opposed to these proposed committees. Premadasa (Snr.) was appointed as Prime Minister after taking a vote in the party’s parliamentary group. There are many examples of how leaders have been appointed. It was a vote between you and the late Gamini Dissanayake that decided on the Opposition Leader at the time. Hence, let’s take a vote. Let’s appoint a leader by vote and work together afterwards,” Madduma Bandara had said.
It was Madduma Bandara who proposed that Premadasa be appointed as the UNP Leader, which was seconded by party Chairman Kabir Hashim.
“People are asking for Sajith’s leadership in the villages and it is difficult for us not to heed those calls. If we win an election after forming committees like the one that has been proposed, one will ask for the post of prime minister saying it was my contact with the international community that helped us win. Another will say it was my Sinhala-Buddhist base that brought victory. Some other will say the grassroots are with me. There will be a huge battle for the premiership,” MP Ravindra Samaraweera had explained.
Most of the Premadasa faction parliamentarians had then said that they had no intension of leaving the party.
“The Buddhist clergy were angered by our actions. We took the elephants that were used in peraheras. Even businessmen got angry with our Government due to the unbearable taxes that were imposed,” Madduma Bandara said.
“Please hold a vote on this matter. That’s all we are asking,” the MPs said.
Postponed again
“If you want, I’m going. Let’s finalise this next Thursday,” Wickremesinghe had said after listening to all the MPs had to say.
“Why wait till Thursday? Let’s do it on Monday,” Madduma Bandara said.
“No. I have to go to Singapore to attend to some work. Let’s do it on Thursday when I return,” Wickremesinghe had responded.
He then announced that he was travelling overseas for a few days and a final decision on the party leadership would be reached this Thursday (16). The UNP Leader left for Singapore soon afterwards on a private visit.
Hence, the UNP’s leadership crisis is expected to be resolved this week by a vote – a leadership council or Premadasa as leader.
“After four-hour meeting of @officialunp MPs it was decided to finalise t(he) leadership issue next Thursday. @RW_UNP proposed a leadership council @sajithpremadasa proposed a vote for one leader. I took minutes of t(he) 33 MPs who spoke; majority for a vote. Finally democracy!” UNP MP Dr. Harsha de Silva tweeted.
Quick resolution
Leaders of the United National Front (UNF) who met last week also focused on the UNP’s internal crisis. It was their common opinion that the UNP needed to resolve its internal crisis expeditiously in order to perform the role of a strong Opposition in Parliament while gearing for the 2020 general elections.
The UNF leaders had met with Wickremesinghe last Monday (6) and the discussion had focused on several alternatives.
One of the alternatives discussed at the meeting was the formation of a grand alliance for the upcoming general election under the leadership of Opposition Leader Premadasa while allowing incumbent UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to remain at the top slot of the party.
However, the UNF leaders had also discussed the need to re-evaluate the performance of the candidate backed by the alliance at the last presidential election and address the shortcomings in order to win back the confidence of the voters.
The UNF leaders had also discussed the recently formed Democratic National Front (DNF) and the structure of the alliance that would contest at this year’s general election.
Member of the UNF, Leader of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) MP Mano Ganesan had recently criticised the conduct of the UNP during the last UNF Government.
“The main constituent party of the UNF is the UNP. There was no real democracy within the party. Although we set up a government based on this party and set up a Cabinet, there was a kitchen Cabinet consisting several government members. They were the ones who took decisions,” Ganesan had said in an interview with a Sinhala weekly newspaper.
“I was not included in this group. When we formed the Government it was decided that the President, Prime Minister, and ministers would meet often to discuss and decide on the way forward. This happened initially, but this situation changed with time. A few surrounding UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe created a separate group. Another group was formed around President Maithripala Sirisena and these two groups started to clash,” Ganesan had added.
CBK’s predicament
Apart from Wickremesinghe, another senior politician was faced with a difficult situation; it was none other than former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.
A meeting of district and electoral organisers of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was organised at the party headquarters last Tuesday (7) morning.
The meeting that was scheduled at 9 a.m. was to be held under the patronage of Party Leader former President Maithripala Sirisena. SLFP General Secretary Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara and United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Minister Mahinda Amaraweera had arrived at the party headquarters early in order to engage in some friendly tête-à-tête with the party organisers.
While organisers had taken their seats waiting for the meeting to commence, an unexpected visitor had entered the party headquarters.
The visitor was none other than Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. She was accompanied by several party organisers who had supported her decision to support the UNP’s candidate Premadasa at the last presidential election.
She had walked straight into the hall where the organisers’ meeting was to be held. She had arrived without receiving an invitation.
Seeing Kumaratunga making her way into the meeting hall, some party organisers had started to jeer and express their objections at her arrival.
However, ignoring the objections being raised by party organisers, Kumaratunga had made her way to a front row seat in the hall.
Some organisers had started to shout: “Are you hear to destroy us after extending support to Sajith and being defeated?”
Kumaratunga had responded saying he had arrived at the meeting since she is the SLFP Organiser for Attanagalle. She had said that although an invitation was not received by her for the meeting, she decided to attend the meeting after reading about it in the newspapers.
Interestingly, Kumaratunga, who is well known for her tardiness, had arrived at the SLFP organisers’ meeting quite early.
Despite continuous objections being raised by some organisers, Kumaratunga did not pay any attention to them. Although Jayasekara, Amaraweera, and Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa were informed of Kumaratunga’s arrival at the meeting, none of them had made their way to the meeting hall to greet her. Meanwhile, Jayasekara and Amaraweera had informed Sirisena, who at the time was at his residence on Mahagama Sekara Mawatha, of Kumaratunga’s arrival at the meeting. “She will wait for a while and leave,” Sirisena had said.
Sirisena had then said that he would not arrive at the party headquarters for the meeting and had asked that several party organisers be sent to his (Sirisena’s) official residence in Colombo. Accordingly, Prof. Dissanayake took over the task of informing some organisers to make their way to Sirisena’s residence.
Jayasekara and Amaraweera meanwhile had left the party headquarters saying they had to attend the party leaders’ meeting in Parliament.
However, after waiting at the meeting hall for about an hour, Kumaratunga had left the party headquarters.
The following day, Wednesday (8), marked the 121st birth anniversary of the late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. Kumaratunga and her sister Sunethra Bandaranaike had visited the Bandaranaike statue at Galle Face early that morning – before the official commemorative event commenced – and paid floral tributes to their father and Founder of the SLFP.
