• EC urged to hold PC polls by political parties  
• Govt. commences critical progress review 
• Ravi-Navin campaign for reforms backfires 

The one-time largest political party in the country, the United National Party (UNP) was once again in the limelight last week after the party led by Ranil Wickremesinghe was decimated at the last general election held in August 2020.  Despite the much-touted announcement by the UNP leadership of his decision to step down from the party leadership, making way for a young leader to take charge and carry out the much-needed party reforms, Wickremesinghe continues to lead the party. Wickremesinghe claimed last year, after the general election, that the new leadership would take over the party reigns in the New Year after he steps down from the leadership on 31 December. However, since Wickremesinghe refrained from stating whether it was in fact 31 December of 2020 or any other year in the future, he technically holds the right to continue as Party Leader.  The only change that happened last year in a bid to provide some impetus to the UNP members after the party’s humiliating defeat was the appointment of Ruwan Wijewardene as the UNP Deputy Leader.  It is in this backdrop that the appointment of office bearers for 2021 took place at last week’s Working Committee (WC) meeting.  The UNP's WC meeting was held on Wednesday (13) at the party headquarters, Sirikotha, and it was the first meeting of the WC for the year.  While the WC meeting was scheduled to be held at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, it was delayed due to the slow arrival of members for the meeting. Another reason for the delay in the meeting was a discussion that took place between Wickremesinghe, Ravi Karunanayake, Navin Dissanayake, Arjuna Ranatunga, and Lakshman Wijemanne.  The discussion, it is learnt, was focused on the appointment of new office bearers as well as the issue of the party leadership.  However, during the discussion, Karunanayake learnt of the move to axe him from the party’s Assistant Leader post. It was then that Karunanayake had criticised the actions of the party leadership, claiming that the UNP was going to be further pushed in to the doldrums due to the failure of addressing the real issues that need to be dealt with.  Wickremesinghe had then stated that Dissanayake would retain his position as the party’s National Organiser while Ranatunga would be appointed as a Senior Vice Chairman.  Karunanayake at this point has walked out of Wickremesinghe’s office claiming there was no point in continuing the discussion and that he would not be attending the WC meeting.  Dissanayake had tried to prevent the situation, but after Karunanayake staged a walkout, had said that everyone needed time to think further on the new appointments.  Dissanayake was also absent from the WC meeting while Ranatunga attended the meeting but left soon afterwards.  Karunanayake, after leaving, had stated to several party members that he had explained to the UNP Leader the call by party members for a change in leadership as well as the growing dissention among party supporters due to the delay.  He had noted that since the Party Leader had opposed the request for a change in the list of office bearers including the leadership, he did not attend the WC meeting.  “Appointments have been given to a group of individuals who have continuously protected the party leadership at the WC. Sajith Premadasa fought to bring about a change in the party leadership. We also fought to change the party leadership following requests made by party members. But we were not given that chance,” Karunanayake had said.  However, despite Karunanayake’s and Dissanayake’s absence, the WC meeting proceeded and appointments went ahead with unanimous approval of those present at the meeting. During the meeting, Wickremesinghe had explained that Sirikotha would be transformed into a campaign headquarters which would oversee the transformation of the party.   Stating that the Government had failed and lost the confidence of the public, he had explained that it was essential that the party first restructure its grassroots organisations before beginning its campaign to win back the confidence of the public.   Speaking about the new appointments, Wickremesinghe had explained that new faces had been appointed with the intention that they would bring new ideas to the party and its plans moving forward. 

New appointments 

Accordingly, the WC approved the appointment of Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Palitha Range Bandara, Wajira Abeywardena, and A.S.M. Misbah as new office bearers.  Kariyawasam was appointed as the Assistant Leader while Range Bandara was appointed General Secretary. Abeywardena was appointed as the Chairman of the party and A.S.M. Misbah as the Treasurer.  D.M. Swaminathan and Arjuna Ranatunga were appointed as Senior Vice Chairmen. Sagala Ratnayake, Daya Gamage, and Sunethra Ranasinghe were appointed as Vice Chairpersons.   Nalaka Colonne was appointed Deputy General Secretary. The post of Assistant Secretary was assigned to Anoma Gamage.  Karunasena Kodituwakku was appointed as the party’s Political Strategy and Research Committee Chair and Sandith Samarasinghe was appointed as the Head of the International Relations and Local Government Committee.  Ananda Kularatne was appointed Head of the Finance Committee. Shamal Senarath was re-appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sirikotha. 

Invoking blessings 

Interestingly, the day prior to the UNP WC meeting, a group of UNPers led by Karunanayake and Dissanayake organised several religious observances in Kataragama.  The event was organised by Karunanayake, Dissanayake, Ranatunga, Wijemanne, and Mervyn Silva.  The series of religious events commenced at 9 a.m. on Tuesday (12).  The main objective of the programme was to invoke divine blessings on the country, the people, and the UNP’s restructuring programme.  After a kapruka pooja at Kiri Vehera, a special pooja was held at the Kataragama Devalaya.  The UNP seniors at the event assured those gathered that the UNP’s restructuring process would be carried out and said that all party members should support the endeavour.  They also observed that the UNPers would witness a change in the party leadership as well as the launch of a programme to make the party re-emerge victorious.  The irony of the whole programme organised by the senior UNPers in Kataragama is that almost 24 hours after, the WC approved Wickremesinghe as the party’s Leader for 2021 while Karunanayake was removed as the party’s Assistant Leader. 

Reviewing progress 

While the UNP is still struggling with its internal issues grappling to rebuild its base, the governing Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is looking at evaluating the progress achieved thus far by the Government following last year’s general election.  The move has resulted in rumours of an impending Cabinet reshuffle circulating among political circles.  The rumour was given some form of credence when a pro-government website published a story of an impending Cabinet reshuffle in the next few days.  The news report had stated that key cabinet portfolios, including Justice and Ports and Shipping, which were under intense public scrutiny recently, are to be reshuffled.  It was also reported that a draft of the reshuffled portfolios is being prepared by SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa.  Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Diana Gamage is also likely to receive a state ministry, it was reported.  Sources from the Presidential Secretariat have been quoted in the report as stating that the President is deeply concerned about the fact that only a handful of ministers have been able to record satisfactory performance over the past few months.  However, a senior government source noted that attention is being paid to review the progress achieved by state institutions and corporations under the chairpersons and board members appointed following recommendations of an independent committee. 

PC polls on the cards 

The Government is also looking at holding the delayed provincial council (PC) elections despite a visible division within the governing party over the matter.  A group of senior SLPP members along with their supporters continue to push for the holding of PC polls, while the nationalist forces in the governing party have expressed stiff resistance over moves to hold the elections.  It is in this backdrop that the general secretaries of a considerable number of political parties last week urged the Election Commission (EC) to make the necessary arrangements to hold the PC elections.  These sentiments were conveyed to the EC during a meeting held last Monday (11) between the members of the Commission and political party secretaries. It was the first meeting convened by the new commission members with political party representatives.  While representatives of about 70 political parties had attended the meeting, some Muslim parties had not sent any representatives for the meeting.  Several parties represented in the governing party as well as the main Opposition, SJB, had urged the EC to hold the PC elections. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) had refrained from making any statements on the matter.  The EC members have noted that the PCs were continuing to function under the laws governing them under the purview of officials without the participation of public representatives.  However, the Commission had noted that parliamentary intervention was required to ensure that the PC polls are held without further delay. 

Modi under pressure 

The issue of holding PC polls in Sri Lanka and ensuring the continuation of the system has become a topic of political interest in India as well.  Tamil Nadu’s All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) general council has last week sought Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to prevent the abolition of PCs in Sri Lanka, since the Sri Lankan Government has reportedly been taking steps to scrap the councils, The New Indian Express reported.  A resolution to this effect, adopted at the meeting, said the PCs were paramount for providing autonomy rights to the Tamil-populated areas in Lanka, and it was an inevitable aspect of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord of 1987.  The Indian Government has been making efforts to implement this accord and granting financial assistance for the same.  In all, the general council meeting adopted 16 resolutions, including the 11-member steering committee’s endorsement. Sources said the steering committee’s powers have also been finalised.  A while back, DMK Parliamentary Party Leader T.R. Baalu had also sought Indian Prime Minister Modi’s intervention to stop the abolition of PCs in Sri Lanka, claiming it would destroy the self-respect of the Tamils in the country.  “The Prime Minister should warn that the move would affect the relationship between India and Sri Lanka. The abolition is part of the Sri Lankan Government’s attempt to make Tamils a secondary citizen,” he alleged in a statement.  Baalu charged that ever since the Rajapaksa brothers came to power, they have deprived Tamils of their rights, self-respect, and dignity, and it was a matter of concern that the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) Government at the centre remained a mute spectator.  “Abolition of PCs is against the 13th Amendment enacted based on the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord. It is shocking that the External Affairs Ministry and the National Security Advisor remain silent when an agreement signed with India is subjected to question,” he said. 

Focus on SL 

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is once again in the radar of the international community over issues related to rights that resurfaced following last weekend’s controversy over the demolition of a monument in the Jaffna University, erected in remembrance of persons killed during the final stages of the war in Mullivaikkal.  UK’s Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer said the current situation in Sri Lanka is of great concern to many of the Tamils.  In his Thai Pongal message last week, Starmer had said: “This is also a time for us to reflect on the ongoing struggle for peace and justice in Sri Lanka. The current situation there is of great concern to many of you.” The British MP had stated that he also would like to express gratitude for the huge contribution the Tamil community has made during the pandemic, “whether on the frontline of the NHS (National Health Service), as keyworkers in our schools and public services, or those supporting their communities in running mutual aid groups. And of course, we remember those who lost their lives over the last year”.  “This is also a time for us to reflect on the ongoing struggle for peace and justice in Sri Lanka. The current situation there is of great concern to many of you.  “I too am deeply concerned that the Sri Lankan Government has withdrawn from the 2015 UN Human Rights Council Resolution on accountability, justice, and reconciliation.  “The UK must continue to lead and be a strong voice on international accountability. And the Labour Party will continue to work with the Tamil community to call for justice and for human rights.  “Sadly, due to the restrictions, Pongal festivities will not be the same this year. But in these times of great challenge, I know your resolve will endure.  “I want to wish you all a happy, safe, and peaceful Thai Pongal. Thai Pongal Valthukkal,” he had said.  The European Union (EU) meanwhile has also expressed its position with regard to Sri Lanka’s rights situation.  The EU office in Sri Lanka had tweeted that the EU was saddened by the destruction of the monument at the Jaffna University.  “In view of this and other recent developments, the EU is ready to step up its engagement with Sri Lanka, including through an upcoming high-level meeting, to support inclusiveness, reconciliation, and fair treatment of minorities,” the EU had tweeted.  It is also learnt that the EU is now looking at raising concerns with Sri Lanka on human rights and other matters during a joint commission meeting scheduled to be held later this month.  The EU-Sri Lanka joint meeting is to take place virtually due to Covid-19.  All this attention on rights issues comes as Sri Lanka is to be taken up for discussion at the upcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva this March.  Meanwhile, former Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke had stated that flexibility, open-mindedness, and consultation across the board at the UNHRC is the recommended strategy for Sri Lanka, which should ultimately aim to seek a middle path.  Sri Lanka should not swing from one extreme to the other, he told The Morning during an interview.  Dr. Jayatilleke had expressed concerns regarding the approach adopted by the current administration with regard to the UNHRC.  “The co-sponsorship in 2015 of the UNHRC Resolution 30/1 on ‘Promoting reconciliation, accountability, and human rights in Sri Lanka’ adopted by the UNHRC in October 2015, at the Council’s 30th Session, was an example of abject capitulation from the then-Government. From that position, we have now swung to the opposite end of absolute rejectionism, by withdrawing the co-sponsorship of the said Resolution. We have to find a middle ground,” Dr. Jayatilleke had opined.  However, Dr. Jayatilleke claimed that while some administrations are capable of demarcating the middle ground, unfortunately – be it in domestic affairs or in foreign affairs – the administration led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had abandoned the middle path in favour of extremes.  “This is an unprecedented case of a government that is suspicious of the UNHRC, and a government that is taking the most extreme stance that any has taken when it comes to ethno-nationalism and militarism.”  Dr. Jayatilleke had further said that the UNHRC Session this March would be the first real test of the current Government’s ideology and how it plays out in the international arena.  He had recommended that Minister of Foreign Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, and the Foreign Ministry itself should formulate the strategy for the upcoming UNHRC Session in March, since they have much more experience regarding the matter, as opposed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the former military officials he had surrounded himself with, who lack the necessary expertise on this issue. 

Mukherjee on China 

Meanwhile, a former senior Indian government official has expressed concerns over the growing Chinese presence in Sri Lanka.  Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee had said that “there is no doubt that the massive Chinese presence in the name of infrastructure development in Sri Lanka can cause a serious problem to India’s security concerns,” The Hindu reported, quoting Mukherjee’s autobiography.  He had also advocated greater support of India to Sri Lanka for developmental needs so that Colombo “cannot use the lack of adequate (sic) developmental help from India as an excuse to depend on another country that can pose problems for us”.  In the final volume of his autobiography, The Presidential Years 2012-2017, Mukherjee had stated that bilateral ties had been “greatly influenced by Tamil politics in India, particularly with the emergence of a strong Dravidian party in Tamil Nadu since the mid-60s”.  By the term “Dravidian party”, he meant the DMK, which came to power in 1967.  On the concept of Tamil Eelam, the former President, who served as External Affairs Minister in two spells (1995-1996 and 2006-2009), had observed that it was raised by “the Tamil population residing on both sides of the Palk Strait that the northern part of Sri Lanka and the southern part of India, having a common cultural and ethnic identity, be brought under the so-called Tamil Eelam.”  However, the concept, as defined in the May 1976 Vaddukoddai Resolution of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), referred only to a separate state in Sri Lanka, consisting of people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.  The resolution also stated that “full and equal rights of citizenship” of Tamil Eelam would be ensured to “all Tamil-speaking people living in any part of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and to Tamils of Eelam origin living in any part of the world who may opt” for the citizenship.  Pointing out that organisations including the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had the “tacit support” of local governments in Tamil Nadu, Mukherjee, in his book, had stated that after the DMK and the AIADMK became the principal parties in the State, “the coastal areas of the State became a safe haven for Tamil terrorists”. At the same time, he had recalled how the Indian Government also had supported the terrorists “tacitly by overlooking the involvement of Tamil politicians in Sri Lanka’s internal matter”. 

US increases engagement 

A recently declassified US Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific said that the US has proposed to strengthen the capacity of emerging partners in South Asia including the Maldives, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to contribute to a free and open order.  The framework also proposed a number of actions to achieve this objective including support to create a maritime information “fusion centre” in the Indian Ocean.  The other actions include establishing a new initiative with South Asian partners modelled on the maritime security initiative in Southeast Asia to improve maritime domain awareness, interoperability, and data sharing with the US, establishing a regional forum to promote common principles and standards, and establishing and gain broad consensus on a statement of principles on acceptable maritime behaviour, to include a commitment to regional co-operation in line with shared security objectives.  The White House last week published the declassified US Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific.  In a statement, National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien said this framework has provided overarching strategic guidance for implementing the 2017 National Security Strategy within the world’s most populous and economically dynamic region.  The declassified document also outlined action to accelerate India’s rise and capacity to serve as a net provider of security and major defence partner; solidify an enduring strategic partnership with India underpinned by a strong Indian military able to effectively collaborate with the US and partners in the region to address shared interests.  It also said action should be taken to prevent China’s industrial policies and unfair trading practices from distorting global markets and harming US competitiveness.  “Equip US allies and partners to co-operate with the US in operating against China and countering China’s clandestine activities in their countries,” it said.  Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Sri Lanka said the declassified version of the US Framework for the Indo-Pacific places emphasis on a shared commitment with its sovereign partners on the principles of freedom of international waters, democratic values, inclusive prosperity, and good governance resilient to malign influence.  “The US understands these principles to be enduring ones that countries and citizens across the Indo-Pacific aspire to secure alongside the US,” it said.