• Namal’s candidacy holds further erosion of SLPP members; SLPP split hits RW Govt., clashes continue
• Eight state ministers to support Namal; RW camp expects 15 key SLPPers to return to support Namal
• Pro-Namal group wants to sit in Opposition in House; MR refuses, says SLPPers will sit on Govt. side
• Tensions rise in RW camp over Prasanna’s daughter Archana; moves to take over RW’s diary rejected
• Dhammika withdraws from Prez Poll campaign following ailing mother’s request after spending millions
• SLPP makes frantic call to Dinesh asking to become SLPP candidate, Dinesh says no; Namal takes baton
• Yoshitha takes MR out for dinner; MR unaware of Namal’s candidacy until informed by a news head
• MR asks Namal to join for dinner, Namal arrives with Johnston; Namal asked if ready to bite the bullet
• SLPP changes location to make announcement from Nelum Pokuna Theatre to SLPP Headquarters
• Shiranthi, Yoshitha, Rohitha, Chamal, Shasheendra notable absentees; family united over Namal
• MR changes earlier plan to stay out of election campaign; Chamal, Shasheendra plan to join RW hit
• Rajika’s b’day party a political discussion; Prasanna says forming an alliance with one of three parties
• Sagara sends out letters to pro-RW SLPPers; no issue, say MPs; Sabry notes time factor in litigation
• Rohitha, Pavithra support RW; Pavithra meets MR to explain, berates State Minister Anuruddha
• SJB-led alliance launched; SLMC, TPA join; Dayasiri joins forces with Sajith after UNP time 11 years ago
• ACMC undecided, final decision on Wednesday; Patali’s URF meets to decide, majority for Sajith
• SJB hit by funding issues, Sajith speaks to organisers; filling National List slot poses dilemma for SJB
• Dilith named presidential candidate of Sarvajana Balaya; lays out vision to build a ‘happy nation’
• AKD says those in RW/Sajith camps were rejected by JVP/NPP; starts a door-to-door campaign
• Ariyanethiran named common Tamil candidate; fails to attract attention of young Tamil voters

The 2024 Presidential Election, while being a decisive one, has also become an intense battle between the key contenders – President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa, and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD).

However, the ongoing battle has now been made interesting with the newest entrant to the fray – Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) candidate Namal Rajapaksa. Although Namal’s chances of victory at the polls are very slim, his entrance has put a stop to the SLPP experiencing a further erosion of its members. After all, Namal’s target continues to be the 2029 Presidential Election.

Be that as it may, chaos has gripped the Wickremesinghe Government due to the split in the ruling SLPP, which is causing a further rift within Government ranks, with SLPP ministers and state ministers now openly attacking each other. Reports are also doing the rounds that at least eight state ministers will be openly supporting Namal and are likely to resign from the Government. They include D.V. Chanaka, Thenuka Vidanagamage, Indika Anuruddha, Prasanna Ranaweera, Ashoka Priyantha, Mohan de Silva, Siripala Gamlath, and Shasheendra Rajapaksa.

It is learnt that the Wickremesinghe camp has calculated that around 15 SLPP ministers, state ministers, and party seniors who had extended support to Wickremesinghe could withdraw their support in order to support Namal.

Also, the claim that the Wickremesinghe Government had lost its majority in Parliament following the SLPP split became quite an issue for some members of the Government. However, Chief Government Whip, SLPP dissident Minister Prasanna Ranatunga claimed that the Government would not face any difficulty in carrying out its work with a simple majority in the House.

Not in the Opposition

Meanwhile, there were also reports that the pro-Namal group of the SLPP in Parliament would decide to sit in the parliamentary Opposition following the SLPP split.

It is learnt that while several pro-Namal state ministers had discussed sitting in the Opposition, SLPP Leader, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) had dismissed the move saying that as the ruling party, all SLPPers would sit on the Government side.

When several state ministers had asked how they could sit with the SLPPers who had split the party, MR, it is learnt, had firmly maintained that all SLPPers should sit on the Government side.

Campaign chaos

Meanwhile, the Wickremesinghe campaign continues to show internal frictions, with United National Party (UNP) members and SLPP dissidents in the campaign feeling sidelined by the SLPPers in the campaign.

One of the key issues, it is learnt, is the role being played by Minister Ranatunga’s daughter Archana as the self-assumed manager of Wickremesinghe’s campaign.

It is learnt that during last Monday’s (5) meeting, Archana had also tried to take the lead in Wickremesinge’s media campaign, when SLPP dissident and New Alliance Co-Leader Nimal Lanza had intervened and asked for the media experts in the committee to make representations on the media campaign. 

“Let the media people speak about the media campaign. That’s why they are here. These meetings are for all to speak and not to follow the ideas of one or two individuals,” Lanza had said. Archana had then stepped aside, making way for others to also present their plans.

It is also learnt that Archana had also tried to take over the President’s diary during the campaign period, but that the move had been politely turned down by the President’s Office. However, several senior members of the Wickremesinghe campaign have expressed concerns over the possible clashes that could take place within the campaign due to Archana’s actions.

Birthday meeting

During SLPP Member of Parliament (MP) Rajika Wickramasinghe’s birthday celebrations at the Waters Edge hotel in Battaramulla on Monday (5), there were many discussions about the current political developments as well.

The birthday cake was brought by senior SLPP Minister Ranatunga and everyone present had joined in singing ‘Happy Birthday’. Ranatunga, it is learnt, had called the MPs representing the Kegalle District who were at the party and gotten Rajika to feed them pieces of the birthday cake.

After eating cake, the MPs had returned to discussing politics. One of the topics that had come up had been about the discussion between President Wickremesinghe and SLPP Leader, former President MR about dividing the quota of MPs during Parliamentary Elections. 

While some media reports had stated that Wickremesinghe had not agreed to the quota presented by the SLPP, MP Mahindananda Aluthgamage had said that he, Kanchana Wijesekera, and Ranatunga had attended these meetings and that there had been no discussion on any quotas.

Another MP had said that there were news reports about discussions on a quota. “Those are planted news,” Aluthgamage had said. Ranatunga had said that the two leaders had discussed giving prominence to the SLPP and dividing the rest.

Three more parties

One of the main questions posed by several SLPPers at the party had been on their next course of action since their defection from the SLPP. SLPP Polonnaruwa District MP Jagath Samarawickrama had asked what the next step was going to be in that regard.

Ranatunga had responded saying that there was no need to worry since there were three registered political parties for them (SLPP dissidents).

Another question posed then had been whether the SLPP dissidents would be joining the UNP. Ranatunga had said that the SLPP dissidents would not be joining the UNP and that work had already begun on forming a new alliance.

SLPPers meet

Meanwhile, a special meeting of the SLPP was held last Monday (5) at SLPP Leader MR’s official residence on Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo 7.

The meeting was attended by the SLPP MPs and the discussion had focused on the changes being carried out in the party following the defection of a group of SLPPers to the Wickremesinghe camp.

The discussion had focused on the party’s Presidential Election campaign and on the fact that businessman-turned-politician Dhammika Perera was prepared to face the election. The SLPPers had also been informed that a poster campaign would be carried out the following day, Tuesday (6), as a precursor to the party’s announcement of the presidential candidate.

Family split

However, looking at the goings-on in the SLPP, it was evident that, apart from the SLPP, President Wickremesinghe has managed to create a rift within the Rajapaksa family as well.

It is learnt that several members of the Rajapaksa family, including those in MR’s family, maintain that the party should support Wickremesinghe. MR’s elder brother, former Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and his son, State Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa, it is learnt, are supportive of Wickremesinghe’s candidacy and maintain that the party should support him.

Meanwhile, MR’s second and third sons, Yoshitha and Rohitha Rajapaksa, it is learnt, are also of the view that the party should support Wickremesinghe. In fact, Yoshitha’s and Rohitha’s marketing team had been assigned some parts of the Wickremesinghe campaign as well.

However, MR’s eldest son, SLPP National Organiser Namal firmly maintained that the party should field its own candidate standing by the party’s policies since Wickremesinghe did not subscribe to these policies.

Dhammika’s reversal

It is in such a backdrop that the SLPP’s chosen candidate at the Presidential Election, Perera reversed his decision on contesting as the party’s candidate hours before the SLPP was to announce his candidacy.

The SLPP earlier announced that the party’s candidate at the Presidential Election would be announced on Wednesday (7). However, Perera on Tuesday (6) evening sent a letter to SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam informing of his decision not to contest as the SLPP’s presidential candidate due to a personal reason while wishing the party, its leaders, and members well.

It is learnt that Perera had had a change of heart on Tuesday afternoon following a request made by his mother, who had been admitted to a private hospital in Colombo that day after suffering a stroke. 

Until last Tuesday, Perera was eagerly awaiting the official announcement by the SLPP of his candidature at the Presidential Election.

Perera had even paid an artist Rs. 5 million to prepare his campaign song and monies had also been given to senior SLPPers for preparation work for the event when Perera’s name was to be announced as the SLPP candidate. 

Posters with SLPP colours had also been put up islandwide by Tuesday morning with his financial contributions. 

Perera’s campaign was estimated to cost Rs. 15 billion.

Many believed that he would think twice about contesting the Presidential Election due to the split in the SLPP and a large number of SLPP parliamentarians extending support to Wickremesinghe. However, Perera continued to maintain that he was prepared to contest at the Presidential Election despite the party’s split and that he only required MR’s blessings for it. All that was until Tuesday afternoon.

MR unaware

Perera’s last-minute announcement pushed the SLPP into a chaotic state, trying to figure out whom the party could field as the presidential candidate.

The first call was made to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and the Premier was asked if he could be the SLPP candidate at the Presidential Election. Gunawardena, it is learnt, had turned down the request saying he had already expressed support to President Wickremesinghe. The SLPP had also asked several others, including former Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe. 

Finally, with the party running out of all its options, it was the party’s National Organiser Namal who came forward saying he would contest as the SLPP candidate.

However, it is learnt that MR had been unaware of Namal’s decision to contest as the SLPP’s presidential candidate until Yoshitha had taken MR out for dinner on Tuesday night at a star-class hotel in Colombo.

Upon hearing of various talks about Perera backing out of the Presidential Election and that Namal was gearing to come forward as the SLPP candidate, MR, it is learnt, had asked Yoshitha to get a news director of a private radio station on the phone to further inquire about the controversy over the SLPP’s presidential candidate.

The news director had explained to MR what had happened since Perera had decided not to contest the Presidential Election. MR had then asked Yoshitha to call Namal and ask him to meet him (MR) immediately.

Shortly after Yoshitha’s call to Namal, the latter arrived to meet MR together with Johnston Fernando.

MR had asked Namal: “What are you going to do, Namal? Are you going to bite the bullet?” Namal had responded saying that there was no other option at the time. “I’m the one who said the party needs to field a separate candidate. Now I have to take up the challenge,” Namal had said.

After being informed of the reasons behind Namal’s decision, MR had given his blessings to him.

Event location

However, the changes that took place from Tuesday evening also resulted in the party having to change the venue where the announcement of the SLPP candidate was to be made on Wednesday.

It was initially decided to make the announcement at MR’s Wijerama Mawatha residence. However, MR had refused to hold the event at his official residence, saying that it was an official residence and it should not be used for such an event. 

After MR’s refusal, the SLPP seniors along with Perera (who was the candidate-hopeful at the time) had looked at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre premises and it was later decided to change the venue to the SLPP Headquarters at Nelum Mawatha in Battaramulla.

The reason for the change of location was the delay in confirming the Nelum Pokuna Theatre. The delay had resulted in the venue being booked for some other event and the SLPP decided to make the announcement at a lowkey event at the Party Headquarters. 

Namal’s candidacy

The SLPP finally made the much-anticipated announcement of the party’s candidate at the Presidential Election. Namal was announced as the SLPP’s candidate at the election.

However, key members of the Rajapaksa family, Shiranthi, Yoshitha, and Rohitha were notable absentees at the event, along with Chamal and Shasheendra.

Responding to this issue, Namal had said that the reason for the family members being absent from the event was the possible criticism that it was yet another event of the Rajapaksa family.

However, it is learnt that with his candidacy, all members of the Rajapaksa family have resolved that they will extend their fullest support to Namal during the campaign.

Nevertheless, it will be a tough call for Chamal and Shasheendra, given that they were prepared to join the Wickremesinghe campaign after nominations.

Basil’s plan

Meanwhile, SLPP theoretician Basil Rajapaksa, who blessed Namal along with MR after he was announced as the SLPP candidate, is reportedly planning on leaving for the US in a few weeks’ time, most probably after nominations.

Basil’s wife Pushpa has already travelled to the US and is waiting for Basil to join the family.

Prior to his departure, Basil is also working on several plans to get back the SLPPers who have left the party fold.

Nevertheless, the news of Basil’s planned departure makes one wonder whether he anticipates a JVP/NPP victory at the elections. 

Fallen plan

It is learnt that the SLPP dissidents in the Wickremesinghe camp had also made plans that were to be revealed on Wednesday when Perera was to be announced as the SLPP candidate.

SLPP dissidents Lanza and several other seniors had planned for more defections from the SLPP, citing objections to Perera becoming the party’s candidate at the Presidential Election.

Meanwhile, SLPP seniors like Minister Ranatunga and others had already started claiming that the pro-Namal faction in the SLPP was selling the party for money.

Ranatunga noted that the SLPP had split because the party had failed to listen to the calls of party members and supporters and the faction was instead selling the party.

State Minister Dilum Amunugama meanwhile claimed that MR was not in favour of the party fielding a separate candidate at the elections.

Amunugama observed that MR had clearly stated his opposition to fielding a separate candidate at the elections during a meeting with around 30 SLPP MPs prior to the controversial Politburo meeting that resulted in the SLPP split.

Since Namal’s announcement, it was only Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi who joined the Wickremesinghe camp with some of the SLPP Local Government members returning to the party fold following the SLPP’s announcement of its candidate.

MR’s plan

Meanwhile, SLPP Leader MR, until Namal became the SLPP candidate at the elections, was considering taking a backseat during the upcoming Presidential Election campaign. 

MR’s consideration of staying away from the campaign or sentiments similar to this effect had been communicated by MR during a wedding last Monday.

The wedding was of a relative of former Minister M.L.A.M. Hizbullah. Both MR and Shiranthi had attended the wedding while UNP National Secretary Ravi Karunanayake had attended on behalf of the President. There had been several other politicians also at the table.

One of the main topics had been the SLPP’s decision to field a separate candidate at the upcoming elections and the party’s split. MR had then indicated that the party’s current decision was pushed by both Namal and Basil and that he (MR) was contemplating staying away from the election campaign.

However, all that had to be changed with Namal coming forward to contest the Presidential Election.

Second-tier to the fore

The SLPP has meanwhile commenced an aggressive campaign to get the party’s second tier of leaders activated to carry out its election campaign. With a large number of SLPP district leaders and electoral organisers now in the Wickremesinghe camp, the party’s second tier of leaders in the districts have expressed willingness to take charge in their relevant constituencies.

The SLPP leadership has been meeting most of these second-tier leaders at the SLPP Headquarters in Battaramulla since last week while SLPP National Organiser Namal has taken over the role of visiting the districts to reorganise the party’s district committees. Namal is being supported in the endeavour by MP Nipuna Ranawaka and State Minister Anuruddha.

The Anuradhapura District was one of the first districts chosen by Namal to visit and engage in reorganisation work. The decision of the SLPP’s Anuradhapura District Leader S.M. Chandrasena and a majority of the district committee to support Wickremesinghe was a hard blow to the Rajapaksas since Chandrasena was a Basil loyalist until the latest split.

The hit was evident when Namal recently stated that they (Rajapaksas) had gotten angry with the late Berty Premalal Dissanayake, who was the Anuradhapura District Leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the SLFP-led United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) until he was sidelined by the Rajapaksas to make way for Chandrasena to take charge of the district. 

Namal further claimed that Chandrasena was also the reason for certain misunderstandings between President Wickremesinghe and Basil.

It is learnt that Namal has been assigned the role of SLPP District Leader in Anuradhapura while Ranawaka is the new Leader of the Matara District (formerly held by Minister Kanchana Wijesekera), Anuruddha is the Leader of the Gampaha District (formerly held by Minister Prasanna Ranatunga), and Mohan De Silva is the Leader of the Galle District (formerly held by Minister Ramesh Pathirana).

Sagara sends out letters

Meanwhile, SLPP General Secretary Kariyawasam has started to send out letters to pro-Wickremesinghe SLPPers informing them of the suspension of their party memberships.

Kariyawasam says that the party has decided to act against all errant SLPPers regardless of their seniority or posts held by them in the party.

He has also pointed out that the party Politburo has decided to initiate disciplinary action against them.

However, the pro-Wickremesinghe SLPPers have responded saying that while some of them had not received Kariyawasam’s letters, they were prepared to face any action by the party against them since their decision was based on the best interest of the country and its people.

President’s Counsel Minister Ali Sabry has said that Kariyawasam’s letters are of no value. He has further explained that even if there is litigation over parliamentary seats, it will take time and it will be time for the next Parliamentary Elections by then.

Trouble in Gampaha

The SLPP meanwhile is engaged in several programmes as part of its showing of strength following the recent split. One such programme is to get SLPPers in Local Government level to come out against their party seniors who have split to support the President.

Minister Ranatunga was one of the first targets of the ‘hit back’ campaign when a group of former Local Government members of the SLPP held a press conference and slammed Ranatunga for his decision. “Although Prasanna has gone to help Ranil (Wickremesinghe) win, we will not be going,” a former Chairman of a Local Government body in Gampaha claimed.

The SLPPers from Gampaha further claimed that most of the parliamentarians who were currently supporting Wickremesinghe were doing so after accepting various perks and privileges. “Leaders can come and leave, but the innocent people in the villages will not leave MR,” they added.

It is in such a backdrop that the new SLPP Gampaha District Leader Anuruddha convened a meeting of SLPP organisers under the patronage of Namal and Johnston Fernando. State Minister Ranaweera had also attended the meeting.

However, the pro-Ranatunga group in Gampaha claimed that this meeting had been attended by persons who were not former Local Government members of the SLPP although Anuruddha had claimed that everyone gathered comprised former public representatives of the SLPP. It is learnt that six former heads of Local Government bodies had attended the meeting.

Pavithra slams Anuruddha

Meanwhile, Minister Wanniarachchi, who expressed support for President Wickremesinghe, had visited MR at his Wijerama Road residence prior to announcing her decision to discuss the pressure from the SLPPers in Ratnapura.

State Minister Anuruddha had also been at the residence at the time.

Wanniarachchi had explained to MR that a majority of SLPPers in Ratnapura wanted the party to support Wickremesinghe without splitting. She had also noted that a secret ballot held by her at the meeting with organisers had revealed that 90% wanted the party to support the President.

Anuruddha had then intervened to say that the SLPP needed to field a separate candidate who would stand by party policies.

It is learnt that Wanniarachchi had lost her cool and shouted at Anuruddha, accusing the likes of him of trying to split the party. None of the persons who were with MR at the time had come forward to support Anuruddha. Wanniarachchi, being a senior party member and a Rajapaksa loyalist, had shouted at Anuruddha until he had left the residence.

Mahindananda’s challenge

Senior SLPP MP Aluthgamage however challenged the Rajapaksas to try and engage in politics in the Kandy District without their (SLPP dissidents) support.

Aluthgamage made this statement after a meeting of the SLPP’s Kandy District Committee that was attended by State Ministers Amunugama, Anuradha Jayaratne, and Lohan Ratwatte. “We have made this decision because we are not afraid. Tell them to take their disciplinary action and we’ll see how they do that in Kandy without the support of the Amunugamas, Ratwattes, Jayaratnes (Anuradha), and Aluthgamages,” he claimed.

Aluthgamage further stated that the meeting was attended by public representatives representing Parliament, Local Government bodies, and Provincial Councils.

The pro-Wickremesinghe SLPP leaders in Kandy said that all SLPP MPs were in the Wickremesinghe camp along with the party’s former provincial councillors and Local Government heads.

Meanwhile, a group of SLPPers from the Kegalle District led by State Minister Kanaka Herath has also expressed support to the President following the party’s District Committee meeting.

The SLPP District Committees in the Matale and Puttalam Districts also decided to support Wickremesinghe last week.

Rohitha’s bombshell

However, the biggest surprise for the SLPPers was the decision of the party’s newly-appointed National Convenor Rohitha Abeygunawardena to support Wickremesinghe.

Abeygunawardena, until last Sunday (4) when he made the announcement, was deemed a Rajapaksa loyalist, especially someone who worshipped MR.

Abeygunawardena, it is learnt, had on several occasions tried to convince MR and Namal to support President Wickremesinghe instead of fielding a separate candidate and the decision to support the President had been taken after all these attempts had failed.

It is interesting that Basil had appointed Abeygunawardena in charge of the Kandy District after Aluthgamage’s defection to the Wickremesinghe camp. Abeygunawardena’s bombshell had been dropped after this appointment.

Nevertheless, Abeygunawardena’s change in allegiances was first witnessed at the event organised by him in Kalutara to mark his 27 years in politics. ‘The Black Box’ at the time reported that while President Wickremesinghe was the Chief Guest at the event, Abeygunawardena had also told several of his confidants and supporters after the event that the SLPP should support Wickremesinghe’s candidacy.

After announcing his decision on Sunday, Abeygunawardena together with a group of his supporters had gone around his constituency, starting from Wadiyamankada to Kalutara North, in high-powered, unregistered motorbikes. 

‘Told you,’ says Lanza

New Alliance Co-Leader Lanza meanwhile has told President Wickremesinghe “I told you so,” in relation to the SLPP’s decision to not support him and field a separate candidate at the elections.

Lanza had pointed out that Basil’s plan of not supporting the President at the election was evident by his speech in Kalutara where he told Wickremesinghe that the “SLPP is not afraid or in debt to you, Mr. President”.

“However, I kept quiet because you (Wickremesinghe) asked me not to say anything,” Lanza has noted.

New Alliance Co-Leader Anura Priyadarshana Yapa has observed that the Rajapaksas deciding not to support Wickremesinghe was a blessing in disguise.

Members of the New Alliance, including several members of the SLFP who are also in the alliance, have said that Opposition Leader Premadasa is now seen as supporting the Rajapaksas.

A close look at the pro-Premadasa news outlets will show that since of late, these outlets have taken over part of the Rajapaksa campaign to attack the dissident SLPPers.

Ravi-Kokila settlement

Meanwhile, the alliance between the UNP and SLPPers has created interesting friendships as well.

This was witnessed when a court case filed by UNP National Secretary Karunanayake against pro-Wickremesinghe SLPP MP Kokila Gunawardhana over a defamatory statement made by the latter against the former was withdrawn last Tuesday.

Gunawardhana had extended an unconditional apology to Karunanayake in court and Karunanayake withdrew the case where he had demanded Rs. 2 billion in damages from Gunawardhana.

Outside the courtroom, Gunawardhana said that she had decided to apologise and settle the case after realising that the statement she had made was not accurate while denying that the decision was due to her recent allegiance to President Wickremesinghe. Karunanayake meanwhile said that the settlement of the case was indicative of the development of a new political culture.  

SLMC conditions

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) meanwhile put forward several conditions to Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa to support him at the upcoming elections.

Following a meeting of the SLMC Supreme Council last Sunday (4), SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem stated that the party had decided to extend conditional support to Premadasa and that the conditions put forward by the party would be discussed with him prior to the formation of the SJB-led alliance.

Hakeem also claimed that the SLMC was not inclined to support any other political party either.

The party finally decided to support Premadasa.

SJB alliance

The alliance led by the main Opposition SJB was finally launched last Thursday (8) at the Sugathadasa Stadium.

Several political parties and alliances, including the SJB, the SLFP faction led by Dayasiri Jayasekara, Opposition MP Mano Ganesan’s Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) which represents the upcountry community, the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, the SLMC led by Hakeem, the Nidahas Janatha Sabhawa co-led by SLPP dissidents Dullas Alahapperuma and Prof. G.L. Peiris, former MP Arjuna Ranatunga’s Purawesi Handa, National Union of Workers Leader MP Palani Thigambaram, Up-Country People’s Front Leader MP V. Radhakrishnan, former Army Commander General (Retd) Mahesh Senanayake, Government Midwifery Services Association President Devika Kodithuwakku, and several other political parties have reached an agreement to form an alliance known as the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya. 

It was interesting to see Jayasekara rejoining forces with Premadasa after about 11 years. While in the UNP, Premadasa and Jayasekara worked as allies until the latter left the party to join the SLFP. 

Jayasekara also took steps to hold a separate event the day prior to the launch of the alliance to announce his support of Premadasa.

Rishad undecided

However, the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) led by former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen was a notable absentee when the SJB signed the agreements with its coalition partners to form the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya.

Bathiudeen, it is learnt, had informed the SJB that the party was yet to make a final decision on its stance at the upcoming Presidential Election and that this decision would be announced on Wednesday (14), the day prior to the end of handing in nominations for the Presidential Polls.

It is learnt that Premadasa’s right-hand man Lakshman Fonseka had met with Bathiudeen on several occasions to discuss the ACMC’s support for the SJB-led alliance.

However, Bathiudeen had noted that he as well as his party members had faced a lot of harassment and issues during the past few years and therefore decisions had to be made in unison as a party and that he could not make a unilateral decision.

Champika’s decision

Meanwhile, dissident SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka’s party, the United Republic Front (URF) convened meetings of the party’s National Council (108 members) and the Central Committee (85 members) yesterday (10) to make a final decision on the upcoming Presidential Election.

It is learnt that a majority of the URF Politburo are of the view that the party should support Premadasa. Politburo members Bandula Chandrasekara, Karu Paranawithana, Ajith Amarasinghe, Sumedha Ratnayake, Sankalpa Marasinghe, and Theekshana Gammanpila are in support of Premadasa.

Also, Ven. Hedigalle Wimalatissa Thera and Priyadarshani Ariyaratne hold a moderate line of thinking while Harsha Gamage is supportive of Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) and Shiral Lakthilaka is opposed to supporting Premadasa. 

However, Ranawaka’s URF today (11) will announce the decision reached yesterday.

SJB dilemma

Meanwhile, the SJB is currently facing a dilemma in filling one of the vacancies created in Parliament due to the loss of parliamentary seats by former Ministers Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara following a Supreme Court directive.

While SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara announced that Bandula Lal Bandarigoda would fill Nanayakkara’s vacant seat in the House as the next SJBer in line in the Galle District list, the SJB is facing a dilemma in filling the National List slot that has fallen vacant due to Fernando’s exit from Parliament.

It is learnt that several names have been proposed by party members to fill the slot. The key names being proposed are those of former MPs Sujeewa Senasinghe and Hirunika Premachandra as well as President’s Counsel Upul Jayasuriya. Some SJBers have claimed that the vacant slot should be given to a female party member.

However, it is also learnt that Premachandra’s name has gathered objections from a key supporter of the SJB at present who provides media coverage for the party.

Madduma Bandara last Friday (9) said that the SJB Executive Committee would decide on the nomination to fill the National List slot.

Nevertheless, a group of SJB seniors had discussed with the party leadership about looking at filling the vacant National List slot following the conclusion of the Presidential Election.

Funding issues

Amidst the Presidential Polls campaign, some SJBers have started working on their individual preferential votes at the next Parliamentary Elections.

It is learnt that some SJBers who have collected funds supposedly for the party’s Presidential Election campaign have decided to hold on to such funds in order to utilise them for their individual campaigns during the next Parliamentary Elections.

It is also learnt that the SJB leadership had also learnt of this issue and had convened a meeting of SJB MPs and organisers to discuss the party’s funding programme for the Presidential Election campaign.

Premadasa had told the meeting that he would look at the work done by each SJB MP and organiser at the upcoming Presidential Election when deciding on giving nominations from the party at the Parliamentary Elections. The SJB Leader had further claimed that he would only give prominence to the SJBers who had worked for the party’s victory at the Presidential Election and carried out their assigned duties. 

The SJB, it is learnt, was faced with a funding crisis recently due to the short supply of monies collected for the ongoing election campaign that has resulted in the cutting down of the SJB’s media advertising budgets.

Ajith’s secret meet

Meanwhile, the much-anticipated defections from the SJB to the Wickremesinghe camp resurfaced recently, with news of an SJB MP from the Gampaha District holding a secret discussion with his organisers about joining Wickremesinghe.

SJB MP Ajith Mannapperuma had held a secret meeting recently with a group of former Local Government leaders of the SJB in his constituency. Mahipala, Wijeratne, Roy Weerasinghe, Solangarachchi, and Manel Jayamaha had been among the SJB Local Government members who had attended the meeting.

The discussion had focused on reorganising the electoral committees in the Gampaha District to extend support to President Wickremesinghe. Mannapperuma had asked the gathering about the rumour about him joining Wickremesinghe.

Around six of the nine participants at the meeting had said that Mannapperuma should support Wickremesinghe while the rest had said they would not leave the SJB.

However, Mannapperuma had said that he had not made a final decision yet.

It is, however, evident that the SJB is facing a growing internal crisis, especially with the SJB leadership being seen as making arbitrary decisions when accepting newcomers to the party fold and giving them appointments as organisers.

The sidelining of original SJBers to pave the way for newcomers to the party is fast becoming an issue that the party leadership seems to be slow in comprehending. 

Dilith to the fore

Meanwhile, the Sarvajana Balaya alliance last Sunday (4) announced that businessman-turned-politician Dilith Jayaweera would be contesting the Presidential Election as the representative of the Sinhala nationalist camp.

Speaking at a special convention at the Sugathadasa Stadium, where he was announced as the presidential candidate of the Sarvajana Balaya alliance, Jayaweera laid out his vision for the country, promising to introduce a comprehensive and practical programme to combat corruption, highlighting the alliance’s aim to create a ‘happy nation’.

He outlined his plan to introduce a programme that would issue a ‘unique identity’ number at birth to combat corruption and streamline administrative and fiscal regulations including accounts. He noted that similar programmes had been successfully implemented in other countries, including neighbouring India, to address various issues, especially corruption. 

“A six-month period is enough to introduce the system to Sri Lanka,” he said, expressing confidence in the feasibility of the initiative. He also pointed out that this programme was often hindered by politicians, bureaucracy, and the business elite who did not want corruption to be uprooted.

In his address, Jayaweera pledged to introduce a smart tax system that would be favourable to all, including entrepreneurs of all scales. He promised to foster an entrepreneur-friendly economy, stating: “We will create an entrepreneur-friendly economy that benefits everyone.” He also emphasised the importance of upgrading public services to make them more efficient and to ensure that public servants lead respectable lives. “We will upgrade the public services to a very efficient level and ensure that public servants’ lives are respectable,” he said.

Jayaweera also called upon security service employees and retired personnel to support him, urging them not to rally around parties that had not treated them well in the past.

JVP/NPP campaign

Meanwhile, the JVP-led NPP is to launch a door-to-door campaign covering every house in each electorate.

Funds for this campaign, it is learnt, have been received by migrant Sri Lankans. 

While the other main contenders at the Presidential Election are focused on publicly showing strength and are engaged in large-scale public gatherings, the JVP/NPP is engaged in a more grassroot level campaign to ensure support for its Leader AKD.

Also, the statement by AKD that the party had closed its door to many of the persons/parties currently in the Wickremesinghe and Premadasa camps in order to ensure that people responsible for the crisis in the country were not welcomed by the NPP/JVP, is aimed at attracting floating voters to its fold.

The Tamil candidate

Meanwhile, the Tamil political parties which decided to field a common candidate at the upcoming Presidential Election had two finalists to choose from.

Former MP P. Ariyanethiran from the Batticaloa District was last week named as the common Tamil candidate who will be fielded at the Presidential Election.

Speaking to reporters in Jaffna earlier last week, a group of Tamil parties said that it hoped to reach a final decision this week. The Tamil political parties, including those led by C.V. Wigneswaran and Selvam Adaikalanathan, had signed an agreement in Jaffna last month. Tamil civil society groups had also signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

According to the Tamil parties and Tamil civil society, past presidents have not met the expectations of the Tamils despite obtaining their support. As a result, it has been decided to put forward a candidate who will address the issues faced by the Tamils.

However, the main Tamil political party, the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchi (ITAK) refrained from signing the agreement with the other Tamil parties. 

Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP M.A. Sumanthiran stated that he believed the common candidate idea was a very bad one as it would weaken the Tamil cause. Taking to X, Sumanthiran said this was not an election one could use to send a message on Tamil issues. “This is not a referendum on the right of self-determination,” he further said.

Looking at Sumanthiran’s statement, it is evident that there is a clear split among Tamil voters on whether or not to support a common Tamil candidate. While Ariyanethiran might attract votes from the older generation of Tamil voters, young Tamil voters who are looking at progressive reforms are unlikely to be seen voting with the old guard.