The dawn of 2021 officially ended an annus horribilis with hopes of new beginnings for all sectors in the country. It is now a year that would most likely see the successful control of the global Covid-19 pandemic and in the local political scenario, 2021 would be a decisive one for the provincial council system as well as reconciling differences between the governing coalition of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).  The SLPP-SLFP alliance has been on a rather rocky road during the past month with the SLFP complaining of mistreatment in the hands of the SLPP.  The SLFP hierarchy last week decided to discuss its issues with the SLPP as well as the party’s stance on the holding of provincial council elections. The SLFP Central Committee met on Wednesday (30 December) to discuss the current political climate in the country as well as the impending provincial council elections.  Prior to the Central Committee meeting, the SLFP politburo met to discuss the issues faced by the Government before the public as well as the need to resolve the issues faced by the party within the governing party coalition.  During the politburo discussion, SLFP General Secretary Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara and former General Secretary Rohana Lakshman Piyadasa both raised concerns over the growing public dissent over certain actions of the Government.  The discussion focused on the stance the SLFP had to adopt as a party as well as a member of the ruling coalition.  While a few members had noted the need for the party to align itself with the public and stand for the concerns expressed by the electorate, others feared that doing so would be dangerous and imprudent since the SLFP is part of the Government and could face retaliation if it angered the SLPP.  “If we start taking on the Government while being a member of the Government, it will not bode well for the party politically. The SLFP will have to decide its stance based on whether it is going to be a member of the Government or not,” a senior SLFP member suggested.   The party’s larger Central Committee met after the politburo meeting and the discussion on the provincial council elections continued.  The Central Committee, after hours of deliberations on the holding of provincial council elections and the growing objections to the provincial council structure among the Buddhist clergy, decided to propose to the Government to reactivate the provincial councils that were last operational until the provincial council elections are held.  Jayasekara, speaking to reporters, said the party proposed to request the Government to create an environment where provincial councillors can serve in their respective councils until an election is called.  He explained that the present scenario at the provincial councils has created an environment where the officials in the councils operate without any public representation. “This is not a good situation since there has to be public representation in the provincial council system. Therefore, the former councillors could reform the councils until a final decision is made about the provincial council system,” Jayasekara said.  However, the Government has noted that the SLFP’s proposal to reactivate the already expired provincial councils is not practical and that there are no such provisions in the law.  Local Government and Provincial Councils Ministry Secretary J.J. Rathnasiri last week told The Morning that there are no provisions whatsoever allowing an extension of an already expired council.  When asked whether the SLFP’s request was discussed, Rathnasiri said that nothing has been discussed regarding the provincial council elections. 

Sirisena’s denial 

The SLFP Central Committee meeting also took place in the backdrop of Party Leader Maithripala Sirisena last week publicly stating that the SLFP would be forced to contest separately at the impending provincial council elections if the ruling SLPP fails to honour its agreement with the SLFP on the number of candidates allotted to the party in the nominations list.  However, when members of the SLFP’s politburo and Central Committee questioned Sirisena about his statement to the media, he denied making such a claim.  Sirisena told the gathering that his comments had been misinterpreted and that he had already spoken to the relevant media institution to rectify the situation.  However, whether there was any official clarification remains unknown at the time of writing.  In the recorded interview, Sirisena had clearly said the party will be forced to contest separately in such a scenario, if the SLFP nominations were not accommodated.  The former President highlighted the injustices faced by his party members during the last general election as the reason for the SLFP deciding to take a firm stand against any move by the SLPP to dishonour its agreements with the SLFP.  It was Jayasekara who, last month, first came out with the issues faced by the SLFP in its alliance with the governing SLPP.  He pointed out the injustices faced by the SLFPers at the grassroots level and the sidelining of thousands of SLFP members in government authorities by the SLPP in the development programmes.  It seems Sirisena did not want to be left out, as Jayasekara took on the mantle of the SLFP’s crusader.  However, the SLFP Leader had also said that while his party remained committed to functioning as an alliance with the SLPP, there would be no option but to part ways at the next election if the ruling party fails to address the SLFP’s issues.   During the last general election, there was a clash between the SLFP and SLPP over the number of candidates in the nomination lists.  The SLPP initially denied the request by the SLFP to accommodate between two to three of its candidates per district in the nomination lists.  For instance, the SLFP received only one slot in the Gampaha District nominations list.  The SLFP believes that the party could have secured close to 25 seats in Parliament had its original nomination lists for the districts been accommodated by the SLPP.   However, the SLFP managed to secure 14 seats in Parliament following the August 2020 general election. 

PC polls under fire 

However, the holding of provincial council (PC) elections this year is still in limbo given the objections raised by some sections of the governing party’s allies.  It is in this backdrop that the President convened an emergency party leaders meeting last Monday (28 December) evening to discuss the issue of holding provincial council elections as well as the growing controversy over the cremation of those who have succumbed to Covid-19.  The President informed the Cabinet last month that the final decision on the holding of provincial council elections would be reached after discussing the matter with the party leaders.  President Gotabaya Rajapaksa made this observation when several cabinet ministers raised objections to the cabinet paper submitted by Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Janaka Bandara Tennakoon calling for the holding of provincial council elections.  However, in a recent interview with The Sunday Morning, Tennakoon noted that the holding of provincial council elections was very much on the cards.  The Government has decided to postpone the provincial council election only until the Covid-19 pandemic is subdued, he said, echoing comments made last month by Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.  The decision was made at a meeting of party leaders of the ruling coalition held under the patronage of President Rajapaksa at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (28).  It is reported that party leaders Dinesh Gunawardena, Wimal Weerawansa, and Udaya Gammanpila had opposed the move to conduct the provincial council elections.  Several leaders of the Maha Sangha have pointed out that the provincial councils are moving towards a “natural death” and need not be kept on life support.  Senior Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said the party leaders had decided to postpone the provincial council elections, considering the request made by the Maha Sangha as well as due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Meanwhile, Minister S.M. Chandrasena said that the provincial council elections had been postponed only as a temporary measure in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.  According to SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, the party leaders have decided to educate the people and obtain their feedback before holding an election, as there is vehement opposition from the public to an election at this juncture.  President Rajapaksa has come under intense pressure from the Chief Prelates of the three sects, urging him to refrain from conducting the provincial council elections until a new constitution is introduced as promised, internal government sources revealed.  The sources said that the Chief Prelates will take action against the Government if they decide to conduct the provincial council elections under mounting pressure from Basil Rajapaksa.  Ven. Medagoda Abhayatissa Thera last week noted that in a scenario where the provincial council system has died a natural death, the Government should not try to hold the polls and resurrect the system.  The Thera said at a press conference in Colombo that if the Government tries to resurrect the dying provincial council system, it would be a violation of the mandate received by the SLPP Government and an act of political hara-kiri.  According to Ven. Abhayatissa Thera, the only people trying to re-establish the provincial council system are those who are trying to enjoy perks and privileges at public expense and not in any way that’s for the greater good of society. Meanwhile, a letter signed by Ven. Medagama Dhammananda Thera, Ven. Keppeitiyagoda Sirinmala Thera, Ven. Kamburugamuwa Vajira Thera, Ven. Bengamuwe Nalaka Thera, Ven. Elle Gunawansa Thera, Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, Ven. Induragare Dhammarathana Thera, Ven. Malwane Chandarathana Thera, Ven. Kapugollewe Anandakiththi Thera, Ven. Abhayatissa Thera, Ven. Iththademaliye Indrasara Thera, and Ven. Maduruoya Dhammissara Thera was handed over to the President against the holding of provincial council elections. The Thero had requested the President not to destroy the ongoing process to formulate a new constitution by holding provincial council elections.  The letter had noted four points: 1. The ability to carry out provincial administrative work without a provincial council, 2. Provincial councils have become a tool to achieve political and ulterior motives, 3. Provincial councils are a white elephant, and 4. Provincial councils will pose an obstacle to the process to formulate a new constitution.    Meanwhile, several SLPP sources noted that the Prime Minister, and the party’s National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa were not opposed to holding provincial council elections and saw it as a means of reinforcing the popularity of the ruling party and dealing another political gut punch to a disarrayed and incoherent set of Opposition parties.  However, the governing party leaders have neither decided to hold the election nor to cancel the provincial council system. 

Indian intervention 

DMK Parliamentary Party Leader T.R. Baalu had last Thursday (31 December) sought Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to stop the abolition of provincial councils in Sri Lanka, claiming it would destroy the self-respect of the Tamils in the country, Indian media reports stated.  “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 had reportedly said in a statement.  Baalu had charged that ever since the Rajapaksa brothers came to power, they had 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 had remained a mute spectator, according to The Hindu.  “Abolition of provincial councils 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 had stated.  

Shehan targets Duminda 

While the Government debated the fate of holding the provincial council elections, SLPP Minister Shehan Semasinghe targeted SLFP Minister Duminda Dissanayake.  Semasinghe tried to paint Dissanayake as a truant in the Government by recalling the stance taken by the latter during the 2015 presidential election.  “It seems like the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is conspiring against the Government while being a coalition partner,” Semasinghe charged.  He also said that he had doubts about the SLFP members and wondered whether they would act against the Government at a critical juncture as they did in 2015.  A group of residents in Ranpathwila, Anuradhapura staged a protest on 25 December urging the Government to repair the road from Ranpathwila Junction to Katukeliyawa.  Attending an event in Anuradhapura the following day, Semasinghe alleged that the protest was led by an SLFP politician from the Anuradhapura District, despite all arrangements being made to repair the road.  However, the Minister stressed that such conspirators would not be allowed to topple this Government.  It was later learnt that Semasinghe had in fact reacted angrily at Dissanayake over the road repairs.  The villagers had protested against the Government’s failure to renovate the road that is located in Semasinghe’s electorate. The villagers had then contacted Dissanayake, who also represents the Anuradhapura District, and requested his intervention.  Dissanayake had then said that he would include the road renovation in his list of work for the District if it had not been already included in any other list.  Hearing of Dissanayake’s intervention had angered Semasinghe, resulting in him slamming Dissanayake. 

Probe on Wimal 

Meanwhile, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has reportedly commenced an inquiry into comments made by National Freedom Front (NFF) Leader Minister Wimal Weerawansa and State Minister Jayantha Samaraweera about the recent clash in the Mahara Prison.  The Wattala Magistrate had ordered the CID to record statements on the comments made by Weerawansa and Samaraweera to the effect that the clash in the prison was part of a greater international conspiracy.  The Magistrate had made the directive following a request made from court by the counsel appearing for the aggrieved party.  The CID has hence commenced an inquiry into the comments made by the two ministers.  

SJB office bearers 

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, is now in the process of picking out its office bearers after the party’s Constitution was unanimously approved by the interim Working Committee last month.  The post of party leader will be held by Premadasa with many members pointing out that the party should work under the assumption that Premadasa would be the SJB’s next presidential candidate. Meanwhile, the senior party members have unanimously opposed the appointment of a deputy leader or any similar post, stating that it would lead to unwanted issues in the future.  “There needs to be clarity on who leads the party and will be the party’s presidential candidate,” a senior SJB member said.  The leader of the party will be appointed by the Executive Committee each year, according to the SJB Constitution.  A post of chairman has also been established and former Minister and Kegalle District MP Kabir Hashim is tipped to be appointed.   There will also be six senior vice president positions and five vice president positions.  Reports reaching The Black Box stated that MPs Kumara Welgama, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Champika Ranawaka, Thalatha Athukorala, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, and Sarath Fonseka have been nominated as senior vice presidents.  Former Ministers Ravindra Samaraweera, Sujeewa Senasinghe, Ajith P. Perera, Chandrani Bandara, and Ranjith Aluwihare have been nominated as vice presidents.  Ranjith Madduma Bandara is tipped to be reappointed as the party’s General Secretary while MP Ashoka Abeysinghe is likely to be appointed as the Deputy Secretary.  It is reported that there is also a possibility of appointing former MP Sujeewa Senasinghe as the SJB’s Deputy Secretary.  Tissa Attanayake has been nominated as the National Organiser of the party while MP Dr. Harsha de Silva has been nominated as the Treasurer.  Party heavyweights have moved in recent days to block and tackle any suggestion of alternate candidates coming forward against the Government. Last week, Attanayake stated publicly that Premadasa would be the only viable candidate to contest in 2024. Meanwhile, a former Rajapaksa supporter turned close Premadasa confidant and veteran diplomat has authored a series of newspaper columns over the last week, attacking former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya and stating that he has no clout in civil society and must play no role in any grand coalition to take on the Government.  

Overlooked? 

In the same vein, key SJB figures who have expressed openness to alternate candidates such as Champika Ranawaka are seeing themselves sidelined by Premadasa supporters from the party hierarchy. For example, former Governors Keerthi Tennakoon and Azath Salley along with Attorney-at-Law Shiral Lakthilaka have all been overlooked for official posts by the SJB.  According to them, the reason for omitting Salley was due to his continuous criticisms and insults directed towards the party leadership after he failed to secure a National List seat. Salley was included as a member of the SJB's National List in the past general election.  Attorney-at-Law Lakthilaka and former Governor Tennakoon have been left out, as they have been trying to create a second-tier leadership within the party and due to their attempts to create factions, a Premadasa loyalist said.  Lakthilaka, who spearheaded a political campaign in 2019 to replace Ranil Wickremesinghe as the United National Party (UNP) Leader with Premadasa in his place, is considered to have played a major role in crippling the UNP and building the SJB as a force for Premadasa to lead.  Furthermore, Tennakoon too played a major role after the formation of the SJB, as one of the heads of its media unit. However, some believe that the two have been left out from top positions in the party, as they've been identified as leading members of a new political movement that has been launched with a view to fielding a common candidate at the 2024 presidential election that could prove a threat to Premadasa’s leadership.  This is also a reason that led to Lakthilaka being excluded from the SJB's constitution drafting committee.  There are fears among the SJB that Premadasa’s moves to consolidate power and sideline those who disagree with him are reminiscent of the way the then 45-year-old Wickremesinghe began purging the party of dissenting voices after he took over the UNP leadership in 1994. After taking over 25 years to rid themselves of Wickremesinghe as a political entity, these SJB members fear that entrenching too much power in one individual could lead to a repeat scenario under a now 53-year-old Premadasa.  Premadasa’s advocates however say it is too soon to judge the new leader, who cannot be held responsible for the conduct of the Yahapalanaya regime over five years, which made it virtually impossible for any candidate to defeat the Rajapaksa juggernaut in 2019 or in 2020.