President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and his Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Government seem to be continuing their tightrope walk in balancing the country’s economic recovery path and the promised relief to the general public while also trying to ensure it has everything, especially national security given the increase in incidents of shooting in the country, under control.
The fact that the JVP/NPP Government has adopted the hard path to economic recovery over populist politics is evident by the statement by International Monetary Fund (IMF) Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka Peter Breuer where he commended Sri Lanka’s recovery, stating that increased economic opportunities would boost income and reduce poverty, making the country more attractive for residents to stay.
He highlighted that Sri Lanka had regained 40% of its lost income since 2023 with a recent 5.5% growth rate and that economic stability could encourage emigrants to return as opportunities improved.
Meanwhile, Labour Minister and Deputy Minister of Economic Development Anil Jayantha Fernando has said that the JVP/NPP Government had successfully garnered the trust of the IMF, assuring that they have adhered to all conditions laid by the international lender without any violations.
It is in such a backdrop that President AKD yesterday (8) held a discussion online with IMF Executive Director Kristalina Georgieva. The discussion took place as Sri Lanka reached the halfway mark in the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme that commenced in March 2023.
Georgieva, while commending Sri Lanka’s achievements thus far, underlined the importance of strengthening macroeconomic fundamentals with good governance frameworks, especially in the wake of high global uncertainties, slowing global growth, and rising global debt levels.
President AKD meanwhile has reaffirmed his commitment to move forward with the IMF programme while ensuring that the agreed-upon targets would be met. However, the President has also noted that the Government would work towards balancing key economic indicators along with the strengthening of social welfare expenditures and State sector reforms while working to meet the targets under the IMF programme.
Adopting policy
The Opposition meanwhile has called on the Government to implement the JVP/NPP manifesto that was presented during the elections rather than continuing to blame former governments and the so-called 76-year curse.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Member of Parliament (MP) S.M. Marikkar claimed that the JVP/NPP had engaged in a psychological game to get people to vote for it at the elections last year by continuously talking of corruption, wastage, and the high cost of living on social media platforms and at public meetings.
However, taking a step further from working to implement the policies promised by the JVP/NPP, the Cabinet of Ministers had last week granted approval to adopt the JVP/NPP’s policy statement ‘A Rich Country – A Beautiful Life’ as the Government’s national policy framework.
The policy statement has been presented with the aim of achieving sustainable economic growth and development through a strong manufacturing economy with a target of a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $ 120 billion by 2030.
FSP criticism
However, a splinter group of the JVP, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), has become one of the key critics of the JVP/NPP Government. FSP Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda along with several senior FSPers like Duminda Nagamuwa have started to hold weekly briefings to criticise and express concerns over the incumbent Government’s policies.
The FSP last week in a letter sent to all MPs expressed concerns over the Government’s proposed tax policy. The letter stated: “We urge you not to approve this unfair tax policy and not to use your power as a Member of Parliament to take hostile steps against the interests of the people who elected you to Parliament. Such unjust taxes are being imposed on Sri Lankan society, which is already suffering from the economic crisis, the crisis of income loss, and the crisis of hyperinflation, which is in line with the IMF’s strategy of economic contraction. Let us remind you that the people will reject parliamentary representatives who approve this policy. We also emphasise that steps should be taken to immediately revise this tax policy in the 2025 Budget.”
The FSP has pointed out in the letter that this year’s Budget has imposed an enormous tax burden on the people while cutting taxes on the super-rich and monopolistic corporations. “According to a report issued by the Parliament’s Ways and Means Committee in March 2024, the total amount of tax evaded by large companies is Rs. 1,068 billion, while the tax concessions provided to local and foreign corporations are Rs. 978 billion. The fact that the increase in direct taxes between last year and this year is limited to only Rs. 141 billion in this year’s Budget indicates that the Government does not intend to collect outstanding taxes or cut tax concessions extended to large companies this year either.”
It has further noted: “Moreover, Section 1.9 of the technical section of the Budget document, which has been released only in English and not in Sinhala and Tamil, states that if the unpaid taxes for the period up to the financial year 2022-2023 are paid within six months, 24 provisions for charging special late fees and interest on arrears of taxes as mentioned in the Inland Revenue Act No.24 of 2017 and the Taxation Act No.14 of 2022 are not applicable. As stated in Sections 157 and 159 of the Inland Revenue Act No.24 of 2017, if the due tax is not paid and is delayed, an interest of 1.5% or 18% annual interest must be paid for each month of delay. The abolition of interest in this year’s Budget is a very unfair favour to the wealthy who have evaded taxes. If Parliament approves this decision, the Government will lose a considerable amount of money. In short, the rich and corporations have been exempted from taxes, and an unaffordable tax burden has been imposed on most of the population.”
Waiting for Modi
Meanwhile, news of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka once again did the rounds last week, with sources being quoted in the media as saying that the Indian Premier is likely to visit in April.
Sources have been quoted as saying that the discussion is ongoing and that it could happen around 5 April. President AKD extended an invitation for Modi to visit Sri Lanka when he undertook his first official tour to India last December.
‘The Black Box’ learns that dates for Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka are yet to be finalised by both sides.
The focus of Modi’s visit is expected to be on several areas including connectivity and economic ties.
Bimal’s request
However, with Modi’s impending visit to Sri Lanka, the JVP/NPP Government last week extended a request to the Indian Government.
Leader of the House, Minister Bimal Rathnayake told Parliament last week that the Central Government of India and the State Government of Tamil Nadu should enforce the law on its fishermen who were destroying the livelihood of Sri Lankan fishermen in the north.
“The best assistance India should provide the fishermen of northern Sri Lanka is to enforce its laws and prevent its fishermen from destroying the livelihood of Sri Lankan fishermen,” Rathnayake said, adding: “India’s ingenuity could be exhibited only through stopping its fishermen from infiltrating Sri Lankan waters.”
RW on Indo-Lanka ties
While there have been reports of Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka and the possibility of launching the proposed 120 MW solar power plant in Sampur with Indian funding during the Indian Premier’s visit, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe recently weighed in on Indo-Lanka relations during his recent visit to India.
In a brief interview with the Indian media following an event he had participated in in New Delhi, Wickremesinghe has said he was waiting to see how the incumbent Government in Sri Lanka moved forward with a mutually-beneficial relationship with neighbouring India.
“Sri Lanka getting out of bankruptcy was not sufficient; we also have a deficit in our foreign exchange earnings, so how do we (Sri Lanka and India) work together? So, Prime Minister Modi and I spoke and we put all our projects together. I was trying to give 25 gigawatts or even 50 GW (if we could do it) of renewable energy so that both our economies would have benefitted.
“Secondly was to make Trincomalee the regional logistic hub with the pipeline coming in from Nagapattinam and us putting up a refinery there and developing it. So we were thinking in terms of developing that cluster and then I was looking at how we can develop this corridor which could have linked Madurai in the south of Tamil Nadu up to Trincomalee. So, these are the issues that are there. Unfortunately, we seem to be having some problems with the first project we had – the wind power project, but I think that should go through,” Wickremesinghe was quoted as saying in NewsX.
“So, let’s see what the Government works out. I think I want to take the matter up with the Government and say don’t look at these as individual projects but look at it as one big programme which can send us into a trillion-dollar economy,” he had added.
Focus on US-China clash
Meanwhile, the Government is faced with a fresh geopolitical development in the form of the growing clash between the US and China. Given that both the US and China are identified as global leaders in trade boasting high GDP rates, the Asian and African regions are expected to feel the impact of the trade war the most.
However, it is yet unclear whether the laws being implemented under the trade war initiated by the US’s Donald Trump administration to counter China’s economic growth and future global impact could have repercussions on Sri Lanka’s trade on the global platform, especially with the US and China. With the US being a key donor and exporter and China being a key lender and importer of Sri Lanka, there is much concern about the overall impact on Sri Lanka.
However, Sri Lanka could also stand to benefit from the US-China trade war if it plays its cards right. While mastering the art of balancing relations with the US and China, Sri Lanka could also look at attracting investors who could leave China and at presenting a base for foreign businesses and investors. The JVP/NPP Government should therefore make the necessary preparations to closely monitor, anticipate, and face the possible impact of the US-China clash on the country while also looking at wins for Sri Lanka.
Speaker criticised
While the JVP/NPP Government is in the process of crafting its foreign policy to face the increasing global challenges, ruling party MPs also seem to be facing the learning process.
It is in such a backdrop that Speaker of Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne is continuing to face criticism by members of the Opposition of being biased in handling parliamentary affairs.
Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa and Opposition MPs Dayasiri Jayasekara and Shanakiyan Rasamanickam have also taken up the issue on several occasions in Parliament.
Premadasa has called on the Speaker to provide the same courtesy to Opposition members that is shown to ruling party members when it comes to requesting time to make a point. Jayasekara meanwhile has called on the Speaker to not to let himself be dictated to by the likes of the Leader of the House.
Rasamanickam last week criticised the Speaker for reportedly stating that his (Rasamanickam’s) behaviour in the House was disgraceful. The MP claimed in the House after quoting the relevant news report that it was the Speaker’s actions that were disgraceful and not that of Opposition members.
He went on to explain that the Speaker had faulted him for raising certain issues in the House, but that issues were being raised in the morning hours since the individuals responsible to provide responses were in the House only during the morning and not in the evenings.
Interdicted Cabinet Minister
Meanwhile, Rasamanickam also questioned the integrity of a Cabinet Minister in Parliament last Monday (3) during the debate on the Energy Ministry budget head.
During his speech, the Opposition MP stated that an individual who had been interdicted over financial fraud during his tenure at the State Fertilizer Company was currently serving as a Minister of the Cabinet under the incumbent Government. The relevant individual had been appointed to the fertiliser company during President AKD’s tenure as Agriculture Minister (in the early 2000s).
He claimed that the relevant individual was now seated in the front row of the Chamber and that he did not want to name the person.
Rasamanickam further noted that it was normal for members of the Opposition to be concerned and suspicious if corruption was continuing given that individuals facing financial mismanagement accusations had been given important roles in the Government and were seated in Parliament.
The Opposition MP’s comments were made while expressing concerns over the issues faced by large amounts of investments for pending renewable energy projects as well as the fuel commission issue at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC).
Fuel politics
The ruling party, however, retaliated by presenting yet another list to accuse the Opposition of being involved in the clash between the CPC and fuel distributors early last week.
Deputy Minister Arun Hemachandra alleged last Monday that the Opposition was behind the fuel distribution crisis that prevailed for a few days since 28 February.
“We were wondering why the Opposition is concerned about the fuel distribution crisis and is sympathetic towards the fuel distributors. We found out that a number of Opposition politicians are associated with several key fuel distributors in the country.
“We also found out that former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, the personal security officer of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, former Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, the sister of former Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, former Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, and friends of SJB MPs Harshana Rajakaruna, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, and Gayantha Karunatilleka have been associated with filling stations,” the Deputy Minister said while reading out a list of names in his possession.
However, Opposition MPs Karunatilleka, Rajakaruna, and Kins Nelson denied getting filling stations through political influence, with Karunatilleka claiming that the fuel station listed by the Deputy Minister had belonged to his grandfather even before he had been born and that he had nothing to do with it.
Rajakaruna claimed that a fuel station owned by his family in the past had been closed down and that the one named by the Deputy Minister had no relationship to him just because the owner’s surname was Rajakaruna. “The CPC Chairman is also Rajakaruna. He is not related to me. Every Rajakaruna is not related,” he said.
Nelson meanwhile claimed that he did not have any affiliation to a fuel station and that the Speaker (who also hailed from Nelson’s Polonnaruwa District) knew very well that he did not own a fuel station in Polonnaruwa.
Opposition lists
However, with the Government releasing list after list exposing various vices of members of former governments, Opposition parties have also decided to present lists pointing out the promises made by the JVP/NPP Government.
One of the lists discussed by the SJB is on the vehicles being used by Government members after claiming that they would not use luxury vehicles that consumed high amounts of fuel and accrued high maintenance costs.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara reminded the Government of another list – the list of journalists who had been assaulted or murdered during previous governments in need of justice.
“Since the Government has started to produce various lists, we feel that the Opposition should also release lists related to the Government,” the SJB General Secretary said in Parliament while reading out a list of journalists who had been assaulted and killed through the years.
It is in the midst of this debate that the ruling party last Friday (7) released yet another list – the list of former MPs who had received houses in the Viyathpura housing complex at lower than the selling rates over and above the compensation payments obtained by them from the former Wickremesinghe Government for their houses burnt on 9 May 2022.
It will therefore be interesting to see how these new revelations by the Government and Opposition will unfold, given that it could also help in maintaining checks and balances between the two sides.
Increasing representation
Meanwhile, the JVP/NPP Government has agreed to increase the representation of Opposition MPs in parliamentary committees following a request by the Opposition for increased representation. However, the Government has not agreed to change the representation in the Committee on Parliamentary Business.
“It was not as favourable as we hoped, but representation in certain committees has been increased. We are currently in the process of nominating MPs to these committees,” Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilleka said, adding that the Parliamentary Business Committee remained the most in-demand committee and that the Government had stated that no changes could be made to its representation.
The Opposition meanwhile has also sought the lead in the seven Sectoral Oversight Committees (SOCs).
Karunatilleka noted that although the Government had decided to grant the Opposition the chairpersonship of three of the seven parliamentary SOCs, the Opposition’s request was for the Chairpersonship of all seven SOCs. The number of SOCs had been reduced to seven based on a report prepared by a committee appointed to examine the matter.
“Since Ministerial Consultative Committees are chaired by the respective ministers, we requested that the chairpersonships of all SOCs be granted to us. However, the Government has chosen this approach. Therefore, we will discuss and decide on who will be appointed as the chairpersons of the said three SOCs,” the Chief Opposition Whip added.
Missing Deshabandu
Be that as it may, the Government seems to have a lot on its plate, especially in relation to law enforcement, with the Police yet being unable to locate controversial Inspector General of Police (IGP) Deshabandu Tennakoon, who is under a warrant for arrest.
Several Police teams have been deployed to locate Tennakoon, and so far, none of the teams have managed to achieve their set target after having searched many places and premises belonging to or associated with the Police top gun.
It has been quite an embarrassment for the Police to call for public assistance last week to locate its IGP, who has been out of office due to a pending court case. While the court issued a foreign travel ban on Tennakoon a few days after the Police could not locate him, the authorities have suspended the facilities provided to Tennakoon as the IGP.
There have however been several theories about Tennakoon’s whereabouts, including suspicions that he is hiding in a house of a VIP and that he is hiding in a place of religious worship. However, despite the theories, the Police has so far failed to locate the elusive Tennakoon.
Eastern threat
Amidst the Tennakoon saga, the Government last week claimed that intelligence agencies were monitoring the actions of an extremist group operating in the Eastern Province. This was first revealed by President AKD during his speech during the Defence Ministry budget head debate.
AKD claimed that the authorities were aware of five areas where organised crime gangs had intensified work and that the Northern and Eastern Provinces had also been identified as areas that could witness criminal activities.
Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa last week claimed that defence agencies were staying vigilant over intelligence information of an extremist group operating from the east.
“We have only received information about an extremist group operating in the Eastern Province. The relevant agencies are in the process of verifying and investigating the matter. What we can confirm right now is that the security forces are closely monitoring the situation,” Jayatissa said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. (Retd) Aruna Jayasekara had told the media that the security agencies were currently verifying the information. When questioned as to whether any special security arrangements had been made in the Eastern Province, he had said: “There is certain information which we cannot divulge to the media. However, we are taking appropriate measures.”
Shanakiyan’s revelation
Meanwhile, Opposition MP Rasamanickam made a startling revelation in the House that Tennakoon, who is currently evading arrest, had attended a meeting at a business centre owned by a former Minister two days prior to the court order to arrest him (Tennakoon).
Rasamanickam claimed that this meeting had also been attended by former Director of Military Intelligence (DMI) Chula Kodithuwakku and one ASP Neville formerly of the Colombo Crimes Division (CCD).
He further noted that Pillayan (former MP Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan) had also been invited to this meeting, but since he had been unable to attend, his representative Iniya Bharathi had attended it.
According to Rasamanickam, Iniya Bharathi had stayed at the Hilton Colombo and travelled in a vehicle driven by one Sudha. “Iniya Bharathi is a person known to be involved in several past crimes, including murders. There are also details about Pillayan,” the Opposition MP added, while expressing concerns over what seemed a conspiracy in play.
RW-Al Jazeera clash
Amidst all these goings-on in the political scene, former President Wickremesinghe became a newsmaker following the telecast of his interview on ‘Head to Head’ on Al Jazeera.
‘The Black Box’ last month revealed in this column the disasters that had taken place during the Al Jazeera interview that was shot in the UK. Wickremesinghe loyalists were nervous after the interview given that he (Wickremesinghe) had lost his cool on several occasions during the interview and that it was scheduled to be telecast nearly a month after its recording.
Once the interview was telecast last week, Wickremesinghe, his responses, and conduct were subject to much scrutiny. Many comments on social media about the interview noted that Wickremesinghe had been exposed for his hand in protecting the Rajapaksas continuously despite calls for justice by many.
Wickremesinghe however has expressed dissatisfaction with the Al Jazeera interview, raising concerns over the integrity of the panellists involved.
The former President, speaking to the media after the interview was telecast, claimed that two of the three panellists who joined host Mehdi Hasan had pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) affiliations.
“When I speak to local media, it is broadcast live, so everything – both good and bad – comes out. Al Jazeera, however, interviewed me for two hours but released only a one-hour segment, editing out most of it,” he had said.
Batalanda ghost
Meanwhile, the ghosts of the Batalanda torture chamber during the 1987-’89 insurrection also returned to haunt Wickremesinghe, with former BBC Sri Lanka correspondent Frances Harrison, who was a panellist in the controversial Al Jazeera interview with Wickremesinghe, resharing the Batalanda Commission Report, an old document that Wickremesinghe had denied the existence of during the discussion, on social media.
During the interview, Wickremesinghe had rejected allegations made by a Government commission that he was aware of illegal detention, torture, and killings at the Batalanda housing complex.
“I deny all those allegations,” he had said when confronted with the Government inquiry that had named him as a “main architect” in securing the housing complex and alleged that he, “to say the least, knew” about the violations that had taken place there.
Following this revelation, former JVP member and FSP senior Duminda Nagamuwa called on the Government to probe the allegations against Wickremesinghe in the Batalanda Commission Report and to suspend his civic rights for the alleged crimes committed.
Sabry’s defence
However, former Foreign Minister Ali Sabry had come forward to defend Wickremesinghe following the Al Jazeera interview, calling it a “premeditated attack disguised as journalism”.
In a strongly-worded statement posted on social media, Sabry has accused the interviewer of conducting an outright interrogation rather than a fair discussion. “This wasn’t about getting answers. It wasn’t about journalism. It was about pushing an agenda,” he has said, criticising host Hasan’s approach as hostile and biased.
Sabry has alleged that the audience had been carefully selected to create a hostile environment for Wickremesinghe. “A hostile anti-Sri Lankan audience was deliberately picked to make the guest feel like he was in enemy territory. That shows how well-choreographed the event was,” he has added.
Jeevan stands by RW
Meanwhile, former Minister Jeevan Thondaman also stood by Wickremesinghe last week by demanding an apology for Wickremesinghe from Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara over a recent statement made by the latter in Parliament regarding Wickremesinghe.
Thondaman had alluded in Parliament to the Justice Minister’s statement referring to the former President as a thief and a beggar. “Today all of you have been voted in and are sitting in your seats because people wanted a change. People wanted a change not just in terms of administration, but also in terms of political culture,” the Opposition MP had said.
Thondaman had noted that it was irrational to call someone who had saved the nation a thief and a beggar and had condemned the Justice Minister’s statement, saying he must issue an apology.
He had also noted that the Government was only disclosing lists with names related to corruption instead of taking action. “If something has been done illegally, then take action. If it is not illegal, then what is the point of showing a list and just parading it around?” Thondaman had questioned.
Mervyn’s acting
Meanwhile, former Minister Mervyn Silva’s arrest surprised many in political circles, given that he had held a news conference a few days prior to his arrest as a representative of the Fathers’ Organisation, where he made statements against the LGBTQIA+ community and warned the Government not to pass any legislation supporting them.
However, it is learnt that Silva had been acting in a movie when he was arrested by the authorities over a fraudulent land transaction.
Silva had been acting in a role in the movie ‘Thangamale Diaries,’ directed by Upul Shantha Sannasgala, and had just returned home after concluding shooting for the day when he had been taken into custody.
Apart from Silva, popular actor Mahendra Perera is also acting in the film.
Opposition Leader Premadasa and several other politicians had also watched the shooting of some scenes of the movie.
The Director and Producer of the movie are now facing a conundrum in continuing with the shooting of the movie and meeting the deadlines given that Silva has been remanded till next week.
Sajith meets NPPers
Meanwhile, it is also learnt that Opposition Leader Premadasa had met with several JVP/NPP ministers and MPs during the muhurath ceremony (launch) of the ‘Thangamale Diaries’ at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. The event was held last Tuesday (4).
Following the launch of the movie, Premadasa had been seen in conversation with the JVP/NPP members who had attended the event.
Political games
Meanwhile, many political discussions were witnessed at a recent wedding. The wedding was of MP Mano Ganesan’s son, which was held at the Kathiresan Hall in Colombo.
Former Presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Maithripala Sirisena, as well as Wickremesinghe, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Minister Sunil Handunnetti, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Kabir Hashim, Kavinda Jayawardana, Harshana Rajakaruna, Dilith Jayaweera, P. Digambaram, V. Radhakrishnan, Senthil Thondaman, Tissa Attanayake, Wajira Abeywardena, Dullas Alahapperuma, Sujith Sanjaya Perera, J.C. Alawathuwala, and many other politicians attended the wedding.
Wickremesinghe had laughed and told Ganesan that he had managed to do the impossible – to get many Government and Opposition members under one roof.
Threat over divisions
Given the large number of politicians at the event, the main line of discussion had been on the country’s political situation and the need to form a broad Opposition alliance.
Wickremesinghe had said at his table that the Opposition needed to unite given that the Government’s popularity was slowly being affected and that a united Opposition could record political wins.
The former President, it is learnt, had turned to several SJBers including Attanayake and said that they had a key role to play in getting the Opposition together.
Sirisena stays aside
However, former President Sirisena had remained quiet at the event and had not participated in any discussions about the current political situation or the future path of the Opposition.
Sirisena, it is learnt, had sat silently listening to what the others were saying and had smiled.
SJB under ‘telephone’
Meanwhile, the SJB, it is leant, has decided to contest the upcoming Local Government (LG) Elections under the party’s ‘telephone’ symbol.
The SJB’s decision has been made as the United National Party (UNP) was waiting for a response from the SJB on forming an alliance between the two parties.
Nomination boards of the SJB have already commenced work by interviewing SJBers interested in contesting the LG Elections.
It is also learnt that SJB MP Mujibur Rahman has once again been approached by a group of party seniors asking if he would contest as the SJB’s mayoral candidate for Colombo. Rahman however has not agreed to the proposal yet. SJB MP Nalin Bandara however told the media last week that the party would field popular figures from amongst its membership.
UNP takes the ‘elephant’
However, with the SJB planning to go solo at the LG Elections, the UNP has also started to make arrangements to contest the upcoming election under the party’s ‘elephant’ symbol.
An advertisement signed by UNP General Secretary Thalatha Atukorale requesting young leaders to come forward to contest under the UNP at the upcoming polls was posted on social media.
It is learnt that the UNP has decided to definitely contest four LG bodies – Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, and Galle – under the ‘elephant’ symbol.
The UNP remains open to the idea of forming an alliance to contest the other LG bodies either under the ‘elephant’ symbol or a common symbol.
Given that there do not seem to be any takers, UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena claimed in desperation that those who opposed forming an alliance had a “mental illness”.
Sajith making leaders
Meanwhile, Premadasa has commenced a programme in the SJB to build a second-tier consisting of a group of his loyalists who will eventually assume leadership roles in the party.
The SJB leadership, it is learnt, has launched this programme as part of its reforms process as well as to build a group of loyalists who would stand by the party and its Leader in the face of growing pressures within the party from a group of seniors demanding change.
MP Harshana Rajakaruna was first taken in by Premadasa to be groomed as a second-tier leader while the most recent appointment was of MP Prasad Siriwardana as his spokesperson. It is interesting that both Rajakaruna and Siriwardana were both elected to Parliament from the Gampaha District.
However, Premadasa’s move to groom a second tier of leaders in the SJB has resulted in the sidelining of many SJB organisers, including party seniors. The growing dissension within the SJB among several senior SJBers, it is learnt, has now intensified.
Hirunika slams leadership
Meanwhile, former SJB MP Hirunika Premachandra responded to the criticism levelled against party General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and several other seniors who had engaged in discussions with the UNP to form an alliance between the SJB and UNP saying it was the party leadership who should be blamed and not those involved in the discussion.
Premachandra made a public statement that the General Secretary and the others had been officially named by the party’s decision-making body to carry out discussions with the UNP about forming an alliance.
“There is no point in criticising and blaming the people who engaged in the discussion since they did it as an official party decision. If anyone should be blamed, it should be the party leadership,” she claimed.
Premachandra’s statement was made as a group of young SJBers has commenced a campaign to remove Attanayake as the party’s National Organiser.
119-vote gap
Meanwhile, former MP Rajitha Senaratne is now counting days as the Supreme Court has scheduled for 30 September to hear a Fundamental Rights petition filed by him, seeking a recount of preferential votes obtained by New Democratic Front (NDF) candidates in the Kalutara District during the last Parliamentary Election.
Senaratne lost the chance to return to Parliament by a 119-vote gap, with Rohitha Abeygunawardena returning to Parliament securing the seat won by the NDF in the district.
Basil’s role
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) theoretician Basil Rajapaksa, who is in the US, has spoken to several senior SLPPers about the party’s preparedness to face the upcoming LG Elections.
It is learnt that Basil continues to advise and direct the SLPP’s political path from his residence in Los Angeles. Apart from directing several senior SLPPers on the work to be carried out for the LG Elections, Basil is also looking into the nomination lists currently being prepared by the party for each of the local bodies.
Namal leads interviews
Meanwhile, SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa is leading the interviews to select candidates to contest the upcoming LG Elections under the SLPP.
The SLPP Media Unit carried out a campaign on social media platforms publishing photographs of Namal at the SLPP Headquarters surrounded by party supporters who have come forward to contest from the SLPP at the upcoming polls. With many former SLPP grassroot-level representatives defecting from the party last year during the Presidential Election, the SLPP nomination lists have many vacancies to be filled in the list of candidates for the polls.
Namal also launched the new Women’s Wing of the party, expressing confidence about the SLPP’s performance at the upcoming LG Elections.
MR’s biopic
The SLPP, it is learnt, is looking at new ways to carry out the party’s propaganda campaign and one such move is to produce a biopic on the life story of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR).
Namal last week noted that plans were underway to produce the biopic, adding that apart from the biopic, a short film and a biography on MR would also be released.
When questioned if he would be part of the biopic, Namal had said it was expected to include details from his childhood and anyone willing to act could take up the role.
‘Conch shell’ returns
Meanwhile, Tamil political parties that joined forces to present a Tamil common candidate at the last Presidential Election under the ‘conch shell’ symbol, it is learnt, are considering the fielding of candidates for the LG Elections under the same symbol.
While several rounds of discussions have been held on this move, it is learnt that a final decision will be made in the next few days.
P. Ariyanethiran contested as the Tamil common candidate backed by Suresh Premachandran, Dharmalingam Sithadthan, Selvam Adaikalanathan, and C.V. Wigneswaran as well as MP S. Shritharan at the last Presidential Election.
Hitting out at UNHRC
Meanwhile, in the international arena, Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions on Monday (3) had noted serious concerns by a number of countries on the budgetary implications of the external mechanism, particularly at a time the UN was undergoing severe budgetary constraints.
Sri Lanka has also reiterated its rejection of evidence gathering mechanisms within the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), saying it contradicted its founding principles of impartiality, objectivity, and non-selectivity.
Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations Office in Geneva Himalee Arunatilaka had stated that Sri Lanka had consistently spoken out against country-specific resolutions that did not have the concurrence of the country concerned.
“We have reiterated our rejection of Resolutions 46/1, 51/1, and 57/1 and the external evidence gathering mechanism on Sri Lanka that has been set up using these divisive and intrusive resolutions,” she had said.
She had further noted that no sovereign state could accept the superimposition of an external mechanism that ran contrary to its constitution and which pre-judged the commitment of its domestic legal processes.
According to Arunatilaka, the Government has prioritised economic growth which will take place in a manner that is inclusive, where all citizens have enhanced economic opportunities allowing the resultant benefits to be reaped fairly by all strata of society. “The rule of law, transparency, accountability, and reconciliation will prevail in order to ensure sustained economic growth and social well-being of the people,” she had added.
Core Group push
Meanwhile, the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC led by the UK, while noting the Sri Lankan Government’s stated intention to replace the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act as amended, encouraged the Government to release those who remain detained under the act.
While commending Sri Lanka’s peaceful elections and the smooth transition of power last year, the Core Group added: “As the Government seeks to make progress on human rights and corruption-related cases, we urge that any comprehensive reconciliation and accountability process carry the support of the affected communities, build on past recommendations, and meet international standards. We also encourage the Government to re-invigorate the work of domestic institutions focused on reparations and missing persons. We reaffirm our willingness to work with the Government to ensure that any future transitional justice mechanisms are independent, inclusive, meaningful, and meet the expectations of the affected communities.”
Japanese support
Meanwhile, Japan, on Monday, had said it would continue to support Sri Lanka’s own initiatives to improve its human rights.
The Japanese delegation at the UNHRC sessions had said that it welcomed the steps taken by the new Government of Sri Lanka towards national reconciliation.
Japan had noted that it also welcomed steps taken by Sri Lanka on a domestic mechanism by strengthening its truth and reconciliation framework and its active engagement to develop infrastructure and livelihoods in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.
“We also recognise the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to implement social protection measures to compensate for the cumulative impacts of the economic crisis and associated austerity measures that have affected socio-economically vulnerable communities,” Japan had said, adding that it would continue to support Sri Lanka’s own initiatives to improve its human rights situation in a concrete and tangible manner and to further promote confidence-building measures that contributed to national reconciliation.