With election fever hitting the nation like a storm, all parties are engaged in an intense battle, with the 2019 presidential election to be held in almost a month’s time. While the United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) are all engaged in campaigning, the results of the Elpitiya local government election held on Friday (11) has sent several political messages. The SLPP won the Elpitiya local government body sending 17 members to the council after polling 56.5% of the votes. The UNP polled 24.3% of the votes winning seven seats in the council while the SLFP-led United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) secured three seats after polling 12.7% of the votes. It is interesting to note that the SLPP that expected to poll over 70% of the votes as claimed by senior members of the party in the run-up to the election, managed to poll 56.5% of the votes albeit winning the local government body. The surprise however was the 12.7% of the votes polled by the SLFP, which was considered to be the underdog at the election. Given the recent alliance struck between the SLFP and SLPP, it was expected that the SLPP vote bank would see an increase at the Elpitiya elections since SLFP votes would also be polled in favour of the SLPP candidates or erode the party’s vote base in the area, resulting in the SLFP not winning any seats. However, the SLFP members in Elpitiya have voted for their party-led alliance to secure three seats in the council. The UNP’s performance in Elpitiya was disappointing to many UNP seniors who expected the results to be better than what finally came out although the party’s defeat at the respective election was predicted some time back. It is also interesting to note that the strong vibe that was felt by the UNP membership following the candidacy of Sajith Premadasa was not witnessed in Elpitiya. It seemed that the UNP had abandoned expectations for the Elpitiya election, especially during the power struggle that existed within the party in finalising the presidential candidate. Although the issue of the Elpitiya local government election was figured during discussions on the UNP’s presidential candidate, the party seemed to have decided to abandon the poll since all attention was focused on the presidential election campaign and Premadasa’s inaugural rally in Colombo. However, UNP Organiser for Elpitiya Minister Gayantha Karunatileka will have to take responsibility for the party’s bitter defeat. Some UNP members claim that Karunatileka seemed to have abandoned his electorate long before issues related to the presidential election surfaced in the party. It is evident that the UNP vote base secured by Karunatileka’s father, Rupa Karunathilake, had eroded under his son’s watch. Given the current situation, the UNP has to be thankful to its remaining loyal vote base in Elpitiya for helping the party secure at least seven seats in the local council. Be that as it may, as pointed out by the JVP Propaganda Secretary MP Vijitha Herath the result of the Elpitiya local government election cannot be used to correlate the outcome of the presidential election. He observed that although some claimed the outcome of the presidential election is predictable, the results of a national election like a presidential election and that of a local council election can never be viewed at the same level. Campaigns kick off Meanwhile, the three main contenders at the upcoming presidential election – Democratic National Front (DNF) candidate Sajith Premadasa, SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and National People’s Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake launched their election campaigns last week. The first to kick off the campaign was Dissanayake, who held his inaugural election rally in his hometown in Thambuththegama in the Anuradhapura District. The well-attended rally with a host of professionals and intellectuals on stage saw the NPP candidate pledge to change the existing systems in the country, which he blamed for having prevented the country from reaching the desired development goals during the past few decades. The next candidate to hold an inaugural rally was SLPP candidate, Rajapaksa. The rally was held at the Salgado Ground in Anuradhapura on Wednesday (9). After pledging to set up a disciplined country, he said the burdens on the general public would be removed under his rule. However, the largest participation among the election rallies held last week was witnessed at the DNF rally held in Galle Face, Colombo on Thursday (10). Thousands of people were seen thronging into Galle Face Green where Premadasa kicked off his election campaign. The rally also saw many political party leaders express their views on the upcoming election and the challenges faced by the country. The ruling United National Front (UNF) was jubilant after witnessing the massive turnout at the rally. However, it would be pertinent to note that while the attendance of large crowds at election rallies might be an indication on how the final vote would swing at the presidential election, one should not lose focus on the large crowds that gathered at former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s election rallies at the 2015 presidential election that finally resulted in his defeat. After the initial hype that follows the maiden election rallies, the campaigns of the three main contenders are now settling in with focus shifting towards the rural vote base. The three candidates are to also launch their official election manifestos shortly. Premadasa is to launch his policy statement next Sunday (20) while the other two candidates are yet to announce when they would release their election manifestos. SLFP crisis unfolds Amidst all the election campaigning, the woes of the SLFP are far from over. Since the holding of the crucial SLFP Central Committee (CC) meeting that met last Saturday (5) night, the internal crises in the SLFP have further compounded. The SLFP’s indecisiveness in reaching a final decision on the presidential election until the day before the SLPP’s inaugural election rally in Anuradhapura resulted in the ongoing crisis within the party organisers. Prior to the SLFP CC meeting last Saturday night, the President invited SLFP National Organiser MP Duminda Dissanayake to participate in a meeting. The meeting was attended by SLPP Leader and Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, SLPP National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa, and SLPP presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. During the discussion, Sirisena had agreed for the SLFP to extend its support to the SLPP candidate at next month’s election and arrangements were accordingly made to sign the relevant memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday (9) prior to Gotabaya’s rally in Anuradhapura. Afterwards, the President made his way to the SLFP CC meeting. Members of the CC discussed the need for the SLFP to make a final decision on the party stance and discussed the option of supporting Rajapaksa. The President had then pointed out that since a majority of the electoral organisers had voiced their displeasure at extending the party’s support to the SLPP candidate, there were doubts as to whether the party mechanism would be fully employed to Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s campaign. The CC finally decided that the President as the Party Leader should make the final call on the SLFP’s stance. Sirisena then asked Party Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara to make arrangements to hold a press conference on Sunday (6) to announce the party stance. However, on Sunday morning, the President directed Jayasekara to cancel the news conference and asked him along with several other SLFP seniors to attend a meeting at his residence. The meeting held at the President’s residence on Sunday night was attended by MPs Jayasekara, Mahinda Amaraweera, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Duminda Dissanayake, and Weerakumara Dissanayake. During the discussion, the President had once again highlighted that the party needed to be very careful in reaching the final decision as it would otherwise result in a split in the SLFP. The two Dissanayakes had said the SLFP should respect the opinions of a majority of the party organisers. The President had also agreed. However, Jayasekara, Amaraweera, and Alagiyawanna, who also formed the three-member SLFP committee that held negotiations with the SLPP on forming a political alliance, had said it was too late to change the party stance since an agreement had already been reached with the SLPP. Sirisena at this point had explained that it was difficult for him to stand in support of the Rajapaksas since they had worked to split the SLFP using his (the President’s) democratic decision to allow the Rajapaksa loyalists to sit as a separate group in Parliament. Jayasekara had then asked as to why the President had appointed a Rajapaksa as Prime Minister in October last year. “It was a political move at the time, but now it is different. We are talking about an election and it is a decisive one at that,” Sirisena had said. However, the President had requested the five MPs to discuss with the rest of the group before reaching a final decision. The SLFP parliamentary group met on Monday (7), which was also nominations day. The group, after much debate, were still undecided on who to support. They were worried that while the SLFP membership might not condone a decision to ally with the UNP, a move to ally with the SLPP would also see equal objections. On Monday night, MPs Jayasekara, Amaraweera, Alagiyawanna, the two Dissanayakes, and Faiszer Musthapha met with the President to further discuss the party decision. The President found it difficult to make a final decision since the group of MPs was split in their views, representing a split in the party’s parliamentary group as well. Once again, the meeting ended without reaching a decision. The President asked the group to return for a discussion the following day (8). However, after concluding the President’s meeting, the six MPs met the rest of the parliamentary group at Amaraweera’s residence on Mahagama Sekera Mawatha. Final decision The Monday night meeting of the parliamentary group ended with the decision to extend the SLFP’s support to the SLPP. On Tuesday morning, a meeting was once again convened with the President and the senior SLFP MPs. After explaining the final decision of the party’s parliamentary group, they also asked the President if he would prefer to convene an emergency meeting of the SLFP’s Executive Council and the All-island Council to get a final opinion as well. However, the President was not too keen, stating that since the parliamentary group had reached a decision, it was better to go ahead. Meanwhile, the SLPP’s Basil Rajapaksa on Tuesday (8) met with President Sirisena and several SLFP seniors for a last-minute discussion to secure the SLFP’s support for the SLPP’s candidate. The meeting took place in the afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat. Agreeing to the conditions put forward by the SLFP in order to extend the party’s support to the SLPP candidate, Basil had asked the President whether the relevant MoU could be signed on Wednesday (9), at Gotabaya’s maiden election rally in Anuradhapura. It was after the meeting with Basil that the SLFP decided to extend its support to the SLPP candidate and attended his maiden rally at the Salgado Ground in Anuradhapura on the 9th. President Sirisena then informed the senior SLFPers that he would temporarily step down from the SLFP leadership and appoint Prof. Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa as the temporary Party Leader till the end of the presidential election. The controversy surrounding the SLFP’s stance at the upcoming presidential election resulted in the President deciding to temporarily step down from the party leadership. Party sources said the growing controversy surrounding the issue of whom the SLFP should support at the presidential election had pushed the President to take a backseat. The President has on several occasions maintained that he was not agreeable to the party supporting the Rajapaksa-led SLPP. The President had then appointed a 15-member politburo that consists of SLFP MPs and Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa was appointed as acting Leader of the SLFP to extend its support to the SLPP and its candidate. The MoU between the SLFP and SLPP was signed on Thursday (10) morning at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) in Colombo. CBK’s message to Dayasiri Soon after hearing the SLFP’s decision to back the SLPP and its candidate at the election, former President and Leader of the SLFP Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga had sent a message to Party Secretary MP Dayasiri Jayasekara questioning as to why he had decided to ignore the stance of 90% of the SLFP members when making a final decision on the party’s support at the upcoming presidential election. Kumaratunga had called on Jayasekara not to destroy the much-loved SLFP for his personal interests. Following is the message sent by CBK to Jayasekara over the phone: “Dear Dayasiri, “How can you decide to support Gota, when over 90% of our organisers have stated they are against it? This is a total betrayal of the SLFP. “If Maithri has said he wishes to give up the presidency of the party, we will support you to take up the presidency and start to rebuild (the) party. “Our party was weakened not because we joined the alliance with UNP and other parties, but because our leader didn’t have the strength and the vision to lead the coalition, and also got fooled by the Rajapaksa conspiracy and destroyed the good and messed up the party. “If Maithri had the skill to use the power of the Government and built the SLFP and let the law function properly and took action against the Rajapaksa’s for their murders and robbery, the country and SLFP would be very strong by now. “So I appeal to you, as the person who loves and knows the SLFP the best, not to think only of your personal interest and allow our precious party to be destroyed. CBK.” Dayasiri’s response Jayasekara responded to Kumaratunga’s message by posting his response on his Facebook page. Following is the message posted by Jayasekara: “Dear Madam, “Sorry for the delay in my response. I have been extremely busy with the present developments. I saw on social media and through other sources regarding the message that you have communicated. “I am extremely saddened by the WhatsApp message that was communicated to me personally, which later appeared on a number of social media platforms. Therefore, with all due respect I decided to draft this message explaining a number of factors. The intention of drafting this letter was to clarify the position (the) SLFP, (of) which I am the Secretary General, and also highlight my opinion as a great loyalist of the party. I sincerely hope that you will understand our intention and position in regards to the decision our party arrived on the 9th of October 2019. “Primarily, our intention in arriving at this decision to support Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa for the upcoming presidential election on the 16th of November 2019 was based on upholding the values, integrity of the SLFP; under no circumstances have we compromised the very party founded by your late father Hon. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. The SLFP was founded on the premise of progressive socioeconomic policy to which I am bounded from the bottom of my heart and as the General Secretary of the party. “Therefore, madam, in light of the policy framework and the founding principles of the party, we are not in a position to support the UNP. The policies and framework of the UNP is contrary to our party policy. We cannot support a party that promotes the views and policies that are based on neoliberalism. In order to add (sic) the present downfall of the SLFP was due to a coalition arrangement with the UNP. As a result, today our party, which was once the number one force in the country has downgraded to the third in a span of five years. “The prerequisite for our support to SLPP candidate Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa was based on policy and value compatibility. Although, the SLPP was founded by the team led by the Former President Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa. Therefore, as the two progressive democratic parties, we decided that the best and the most suitable option is to partner with (the) SLPP. I would like to mention that the Central Committee of the SLFP decided on the above decision to which I acted as the General Secretary of the party. It is my honour and duty to respect the decision of the Central Committee as clearly stipulated in the constitution of a party to that I uphold my oath. “Furthermore, madam I cannot embark on a decision based on personal views, we represent a party and the very ethics of a progressive and remarkable Sri Lanka. It is our responsibility to the people of Sri Lanka irrespective of party and personal politics to see a country prosper. “We saw the serious, unprecedented problems, struggles and vengeance shown during the five years of the ‘Yahapalanaya’ Government. We all witnessed it! The people witnessed it! Although former President Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa was instrumental in splitting the SLFP, we struggled to see any progress with the ‘Yahapalanaya’ Government due to the policy framework of the UNP. Hence, the reason that we walked out over 15 months prior. With all honesty and sincerity, the decision of the SLFP was in progressing and setting the foundation for a greater Sri Lanka without any personal bias. “The SLFP on the 10th of February 2018 lost the local government election. This was the first time for a sitting Government. Also, during this time madamm you were the sitting Advisor of the SLFP. History has shown us instances where we had to unite for purposes of the country foregoing personal issues. “For instance, the very Founder of the SLFP late Hon. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was murdered by a Buddhist monk. However, our party is based on five foundations of Sangha, Weda, Guru, Govi, (and) Kamkaru to which we still uphold our principles. Therefore, despite the cold-blooded murder of your late father, we including your late mother Hon. Sirimavo Bandaranaike continued to seek the blessings of the ‘maha sanga’. The blessings of the maha sanga are pivotal in our existence. “As for your late husband Mr. Vijaya Kumaratunga, the humanitarian, was suspected to be murdered by the JVP. Nonetheless, in 2000 we formed the interim government with the JVP and also formed the coalition government in 2004 in the interest of the country. Moreover, you personally drew the symbol of the ‘bulath kole’ on a paper to form the coalition with the JVP. In history we embarked on bold decisions to progress our country, leaving aside personal differences uniting and progressing a country. This is the utmost we can do as a human being. “Personally in 1994 as an extremely active youth activist of the SLFP youth front, we work(ed) tirelessly against (the) corrupt government to make you win the presidential election. “My heart filled with emotion together with justice, loyalty, and humbleness; I am a SLFPer and I will together with the members of the SLFP rebuild, strength(en), and flourish the party. Thank you, Dayasiri.” However, Kumaratunga, who is currently overseas, is expected to return to the country today (13) to give leadership to the growing alternative force within the SLFP. More woes for SLFP Meanwhile, the issues faced by SLFP members who had extended their support to the SLPP started to make the rounds on social media. First was the report on UPFA MP Chandima Weerakkody seeking the intervention of the leadership of the SLPP to resolve the internal strife brewing within the party. A pro-SLPP website last Monday (7) reported that Weerakkody had complained of double standards within the party. He had said that he had already requested the party leadership to resolve the issue. He had further observed that he was opposed to the double standards adopted when dealing with members of the SLPP. However, Weerakkody had added that despite the issues faced in the SLPP, he would not join the UNP. According to Weerakkody, he had notified the SLPP leadership of all these issues. Meanwhile, SLFP National Organiser MP Duminda Dissanayake faced an embarrassing situation when Rajapaksa loyalists at the SLPP Anuradhapura rally on Wednesday (9) hooted at him during his speech. The SLPP loyalists who started to jeer Dissanayake continued until he concluded the speech on the SLFP extending its support to the SLPP candidate. However, many SLFP members who had joined the SLPP since last year had not been received well by the members of the SLPP, who had served as members of the “Joint Opposition” (JO) in Parliament. A “JO” parliamentarian and senior SLPP member said that most of the defectors from the SLFP had joined the SLPP purely with the aim of gaining an entry point to Parliament at the next general election. Organisers cry foul It is in this backdrop that several SLFP organisers decided to make public their outrage against the party decision to back the SLPP presidential candidate under the SLPP’s “pohottuwa” symbol. Attorney at Law, Rajika Kodituwakku, who is leading the group of SLFP organisers, said that a majority of the organisers were against the SLFP decision to back the SLPP and its candidate at the elections. “The party has gone ahead ignoring the stance of 179 of the 182 SLFP electoral organisers,” he said. Accordingly, the SLFP organisers opposed to supporting the SLPP are to form a separate front – the Sri Lanka Freedom Democratic Front (SLFDF). Kodituwakku said the proposed front will provide a platform for the disgruntled SLFPers to join to defeat the SLPP and its candidate. He explained that the new front would enter into an agreement with the NDF candidate and extend its fullest support to defeat the SLPP candidate. The Kodituwakku noted that one-time “JO” strongman MP Kumara Welgama also shared the same views and that he too would support this cause. He noted that all SLFP organisers would be invited for a meeting this week to set up an alternative force that would prevent the SLFP voters from casting their votes in favour of the SLPP candidate. In addition, such an alliance would have the blessings of the former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and many senior SLFP members who had been constantly in touch with the organisation for an alternative approach. According to Kodituwakku, some of these party seniors include several SLFPers who were also present at the signing of the MoU between the SLFP and SLPP on Thursday (10). The organisation for the protection of the SLFP has also asserted that genuine SLFPers could not support the Rajapaksa family in any way since they had played a role in destroying the SLFP. Organisation to Protect the SLFP member and SLFP District Organiser for the Kegalle District Bandara Athukorale told a news briefing last week that the SLFP had reached the most critical juncture in the political history of the party and that after the presidential election on 8 January 2015, Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was defeated by 6.2 million voters in this country, began a conspiracy to dissolve the SLFP.

TNA fails to reach consensus

By Easwaran Rutnam The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) has failed to reach a consensus on the stand it will take at the upcoming presidential election. TNA Parliamentarian S. Shritharan told The Sunday Morning that the TNA parliamentary group met last week and discussed matters related to the election. However, he said that the TNA had not reached any conclusion at the meeting. Shritharan said the TNA had still not decided which candidate it would support at the election or if it would stay neutral. He said that the alliance would have more talks and also have formal discussions with the main candidates before taking a final decision. Some TNA members had already held talks in a personal capacity with United National Front (UNF) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and National People’s Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Shritharan said that both Premadasa and Rajapaksa had been giving contradictory assurances on the Tamil issue. TNA member and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) Leader Selvam Adaikalanathan said the TNA members would look at the fresh issues that have arisen involving Tamils before meeting the presidential candidates. Adaikalanathan said that formal talks would take place only after the TNA alliance members reach a consensus on the issues to be discussed with the candidates. He said that the November election would be decisive for the Tamils, so the TNA would use the opportunity to present its demands to the candidates. Adaikalanathan said that when the TNA parliamentary group met last week, it was noted that the parties in the TNA must first meet separately and take a stand on the issues concerning Tamils. He said that the parties must then come together and hold discussions as the TNA and reach a consensus on all the issues. Adaikalanathan said that the TNA was prepared to meet any candidate and consider extending support if the candidate agrees to the demands of the TNA. He said that the TNA felt it had been misled by false promises in the past and so was not prepared to be misled again. Uni students seek united stand Meanwhile, students from the University of Jaffna have sought a united stand from Tamil politicians in the North. The Jaffna University Students’ Union held several rounds of discussions with politicians in the North to formulate a common proposal on a solution for the Tamil issue. The student union hopes to submit the proposal to the main presidential candidates in the form of demands which need to be met in order to secure the support of the Tamils. So far, six Tamil political parties had agreed to sign the proposal which is to be handed over to the presidential candidates. The Tamil parties are expected to sign the agreement today (Sunday) at an event in Jaffna. Tamil politicians in the North are, at the moment, divided on the stand they need to take with regard to the presidential election. While some Tamil politicians are calling for a boycott of the elections, others are willing to back Premadasa, while few are willing to consider supporting Rajapaksa. Former Northern Provincial Council member M.K. Sivajilingam, who is contesting the presidential election as an independent candidate, has now offered to withdraw from the race if any of the main candidates give firm assurance that they will meet the demands of the Tamils. Among the demands to be put forward by the Students’ Union is to free all political prisoners and assure a political solution for the Tamils.