President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) was in a triumphant mode last week due to several reasons: the successful conclusion of his first State visit to India, the announcement on the country’s economic progress, proposed amendments to taxes, and the appointment of the Clean Sri Lanka Task Force, which was one of the key pledges made by him in his election campaign.

Delivering a special statement in Parliament last Wednesday (18) after Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa presented his educational qualifications to the House, President AKD announced revisions in the tax structure while also announcing the Government plan to lift the import ban on vehicles and dismissing various claims by Opposition politicians that there will once again be a situation of economic bankruptcy in 2028 when the repayment of loans commences.

On the tax front, one of the key proposals was the increase of the tax-free monthly income threshold from Rs. 100,000 to Rs. 150,000, as well as adjusting the tax brackets to offer substantial savings for taxpayers, while Withholding Tax (WHT) was increased from 5% to 10%.

AKD also claimed that it would be the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP) that would be in government in 2028 and assured that the country would not face another economic crisis under a JVP/NPP government.

Opposition parties however claimed that President AKD’s proposed revisions to several taxes could have an adverse impact on the economy if measures were not taken to address the reduction in the Government’s revenue collection as well as difficulties posed to citizens, especially senior citizens who survive on the interest on their savings like Fixed Deposits (FDs) due to the increase in WHT.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been making many statements related to governance and economic development, issued yet another statement last week. While patting himself on the back for the country’s current economic standing, Wickremesinghe called on Opposition parties to level their criticisms against the Government within the framework of the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme with Sri Lanka.

The President however has responded to the Opposition claims saying that the Government is cautiously following the country’s economic recovery path and that the increase in the WHT will only affect citizens who receive Rs. 150,000 and above as interest payments for FDs. 

The IMF meanwhile stated that it would review the new tax measures announced by the Government recently. IMF Communications Department Director Julie Kozack said: “With respect to what comes next, the Executive Board meeting is expected to take place in the coming months following the implementation by the authorities of the prior actions.” 

She added that the IMF staff would include a full assessment of the new tax measures in the staff report that would be published following approval by the Executive Board of the programme.

Sri Lanka’s upgrade

Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings said it was upgrading Sri Lanka’s foreign currency rating out of Restricted Default (RD) status to ‘CCC+’ after 98% of bondholders accepted an offer to restructure defaulted bonds, with new securities issued on 20 December.

“The upgrade of the Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) reflects Fitch’s assessment that Sri Lanka has normalised relations with a majority of creditors, after the announcement of final results of the invitation to exchange the outstanding stock of international sovereign bonds,” the rating agency stated.

Indian visit

Another key event that took place last week was President AKD’s first overseas State visit to India. The presidential delegation left for India aboard SriLankan Airlines Flight UL 195 last Sunday (15) and arrived in India at 5.30 p.m. the same evening.

AKD held several key meetings with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval on Sunday evening. 

The following day (16), President AKD was welcomed to Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi during his meeting with AKD sent out a message to the world by putting his arm around AKD while walking inside.

There were many parallels drawn between India’s Modi and Sri Lanka’s AKD. Apart from the fact that both leaders had humble beginnings in life before working their way to become heads of two states, Modi became the leader to defeat the power wielded by India’s Congress Party to bring in a new political power with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a similar manner, it was AKD who completely changed Sri Lanka’s political landscape by bringing the NPP led by the Marxist JVP into power.

Following the meeting between AKD and Modi, the two leaders held a joint press conference, where AKD spoke in Sinhala while Modi spoke in Hindi. There were some criticisms over AKD’s address to the media being delivered in Sinhala. However, it is important to note that delivering speeches or responding in Sinhala during foreign visits is nothing new. Former Presidents R. Premadasa and Mahinda Rajapaksa have addressed the UN in Sinhala. Many heads of state have spoken in their mother tongue during overseas tours and international fora and continue to do so.

Meanwhile, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal hosted President AKD for a business forum, which was witnessed by Indians as a strong message by the Indian Government on the level of confidence it had in the new Sri Lankan Government.

AKD’s change

However, during his official visit to India, President AKD veered away from a common practice of many former Sri Lankan heads of state when engaging in tours of India. Most often, many Sri Lankan presidents and VIPs have visited a popular place for Hindu religious worship in South India – Tirupati.

However, Tirupati was not on AKD’s agenda, which was a unique feature in the tour. Even former President Wickremesinghe had visited Tirupati. Instead, President AKD visited and worshipped at Bodh Gaya.

AKD to Bodh Gaya, RW to Lumbini

While President AKD took time to worship at Bodh Gaya, where Lord Buddha had attained enlightenment, former President Wickremesinghe, who is to travel to India tomorrow (23), is expected to visit Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, during his upcoming Indian tour.

Wickremesinghe is to first travel to Ooty and then to New Delhi where he is to deliver the main speech at the seventh Atal Bihari Vajpayee Memorial Lecture on Friday (27). Afterwards, Wickremesinghe is to travel to Lumbini before returning to Sri Lanka.

The former President was in India on a private visit prior to AKD’s visit and will now be travelling to India after the incumbent President’s first State visit.

No room at present

Meanwhile, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that there was no room for Sri Lanka to be included in BRICS at the moment.

Sri Lanka had requested to be considered as a member of BRICS and an official application had also been submitted during the tenure of former President Wickremesinghe.

However, Misri told reporters last week that currently no new members were being considered by BRICS in addition to the ones that were already on the anvil since last year.

“You are aware that Sri Lanka has previously expressed interest in becoming a member of BRICS and you would also be aware that currently there are no new members being considered by BRICS in addition to the ones that were already on the anvil since last year. But as and when there is a consensus within BRICS to start looking at new members, we will certainly take into account the interest that has been expressed by Sri Lanka. This is something that was communicated by the Prime Minister to President Dissanayake,” the Indian Foreign Secretary said.

Doubts over agreements

Meanwhile, the discussions and agreements reached between President AKD and the Indian side became a focal point following claims by Opposition parties that Sri Lanka and India had reached agreements on many areas on which the JVP/NPP had held critical viewpoints prior to assuming office.

Following the official statement issued in India on the President’s visit and its outcome, there were questions in Sri Lanka as to whether the AKD Government had agreed to move ahead with the Indian projects that have been in the pipeline for some time. These include the proposed investment zone in Trincomalee, oil pipeline, and power line, among others. 

President AKD had also claimed in India with regard to the controversial Adani renewable energy project in Sri Lanka that while the decisions of other countries regarding Adani did not have an impact on the Sri Lankan project, there was an ongoing court case with regard to environmental concerns and that the environment was important to the Government. 

Another key issue was the so-called agreement reached between Sri Lanka and India on the proposed Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India. The matter was made worse by former President Wickremesinghe commending AKD for proceeding with the proposed ETCA.

The AKD Government however denied reaching any agreement with India on any of the proposed Indian projects as well as ETCA, explaining that both sides had agreed to continue with the discussion on these matters.

Members of the AKD Government spent several days last week clarifying to the Sri Lankan public that Sri Lanka had not reached agreements with India on any key issues related to Indian projects or any others.

Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath explained last week that Sri Lanka had signed only two agreements with India – one on providing training for 1,500 Sri Lankan public sector staff in India and the other on preventing double taxation.

Chinese influence

Be that as it may, the outcome of AKD’s Indian visit resulted in the President and his Government having to balance India’s geopolitical rival, China. This was evident by the fact that President AKD’s first official meeting in Colombo after returning to Sri Lanka from his Indian tour was with a Chinese delegation led by Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee Vice Chairperson Qin Boyong.

The meeting that took place on Wednesday (18) at the Parliamentary Complex saw a sensitive topic to neighbouring India being taken up for discussion – the issue of Chinese research vessels calling at Sri Lankan ports.

“Qin Boyong stated that there were plans to restart maritime research activities, which were temporarily halted for various reasons, along with initiating relevant projects,” the President’s Media Division (PMD) stated in a release issued after the meeting.

This statement caught the attention of all diplomatic circles, with diplomats left wondering what would become of the one-year moratorium on research vessels calling in Sri Lanka imposed by the former Wickremesinghe Government, stating that the moratorium would be lifted after the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on such vessels entering Sri Lanka. 

The draft SOPs were formulated by the former Wickremesinghe Government. The temporary moratorium is in place till 31 December and the AKD Government earlier in the month maintained that there was time to make a final decision.

However, following the PMD statement and questions on whether the moratorium on research vessels would be lifted, Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told the media that the Government would not be renewing the moratorium on research vessels calling in Sri Lanka and that permission would be granted on a case-by-case basis. 

Foreign Minister Herath claimed that the Government would appoint a committee to draft a national policy on foreign research vessels entering Sri Lankan waters. Speaking of the Government’s stance on research vessels calling in Sri Lanka, Herath maintained last week that the country’s national security would be the topmost priority and that no action detrimental to national security would be taken.

Geopolitics at play

The Government’s announcement on lifting the moratorium was upsetting to the Indians, who felt that President AKD’s statement that Sri Lanka would not allow any activity that would affect the national security of India meant that Chinese research vessels would not be accommodated by Sri Lanka.

While India has expressed displeasure over Chinese research vessels entering Sri Lankan waters, China has maintained that Sri Lanka should not be pressured by external forces when making decisions as a sovereign nation.

However, given the AKD Government’s announcement on foreign research vessels, it will be a tightrope walk for the Government in 2025 when balancing geopolitical sensitivities of India and China – two key nations for Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

Creating a rift

However, the shortcomings in the AKD Government’s handling of diplomatic and geopolitical matters were prominently featured in several media recently, creating quite an embarrassment to the Government. This has resulted in Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya last week blaming the media for trying to create a rift between Sri Lanka and friendly nations, referring specifically to China.

The Premier had stated that some media linked to the Opposition had drawn attention to a recent event in which she participated and attempted to create a rift between China and Sri Lanka.

It was recently reported that Prime Minister Amarasuriya had arrived late for an event that had been organised to hand over a donation of school uniforms by China to Sri Lanka and that in her speech, the Prime Minister had thanked the ‘Republic of China’ (ROC) – the official name for Taiwan, with which China is on the verge of war.

The Prime Minister however told Parliament last Tuesday (17) that China had had no issue with what had taken place, yet the media was attempting to instigate an issue.

New Speaker

One of the main orders of business when Parliament convened last week for two days was the appointment of a new speaker. 

The JVP/NPP Government however faced much pressure over the selection of the next candidate it would propose to hold the post.

Finally, the Government decided that Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne would be appointed as the second Speaker of the 10th Parliament.

Accordingly, Prime Minister Amarasuriya proposed Wickramaratne’s name for the post of Speaker while Leader of the House Bimal Rathnayake seconded the proposal. 

Dr. Wickramaratne was unanimously appointed to the post of Speaker since there were no other names proposed by the Opposition.

From the Opposition side

Interestingly, once Wickramaratne was appointed as the new Speaker, he walked to the well from the Opposition side. 

Several people watching the session online or on television were surprised to see the new Speaker make his way from the Opposition side. While some viewers understood the reason, many others were left wondering how the Government MP was on the Opposition side. 

Given that the JVP/NPP had sent 159 Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House, not all could be accommodated on the Government side due to the limited seating capacity and some have been accommodated on the Opposition side.

SJB backtracks

While there was much focus on who would take the Speaker’s seat, the main Opposition SJB also claimed that the Opposition was looking at proposing a name for the speaker post to represent the Opposition in Parliament.

It was SJB MP Nalin Bandara who claimed that the SJB would present a name for the post of speaker with the consensus of all Opposition parties. However, there was no follow-up by the SJB afterwards on agreeing on a name for the speaker post among Opposition parties.

While some speculated that the SJB might propose the name of MP Rohini Kavirathna to the post, there was neither any discussion about such a matter within the SJB nor with other Opposition parties in Parliament.

It was later learnt, upon inquiring into the reason, that the SJB had backtracked on plans to propose a name for the post of speaker due to the inability of the Opposition led by SJB Leader Premadasa to rally all Opposition members to arrive at a consensus on the matter. 

A group of senior SJBers had then advised the party leadership that it was better for the SJB to stay out of the speaker’s race since such a move could result in polarising the Opposition side if there was no consensus on the matter.

Dilith’s proposal

However, it was Sarvajana Balaya Leader, MP Dilith Jayaweera who made a pertinent observation in the House related to educational qualifications of MPs.

He proposed that Parliament should decide on not using various titles like doctor (Dr.), professor (Prof.), etc. before names of legislators in the future in order to avoid any future controversy over educational qualifications. 

Jayaweera explained that such titles were only relevant for professional work. “The title of doctor is needed in the hospital and professor is needed in the university. These titles are not required in Parliament,” he noted.

Updating details

Parliament Director of Legislative Services and Director of Communications (Acting) Jayalath Perera recently issued a statement noting that the process of re-checking and updating the information of all MPs on the Parliament’s website was currently underway.

However, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera last week stated that details of all MPs had been re-checked with the MPs themselves and updated. 

“We have already updated their information. There has been a lapse from our end with regard to Minister Harshana Nanayakkara. We have admitted it. That mistake was corrected. Others’ details were also checked, confirmed by MPs, and updated.”

Complaints to CID

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara and Energy Minister Kumara Jayakody filed complaints with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over claims being made about their educational qualifications.

Nanayakkara called for a probe into the entering of erroneous data related to his educational qualifications in the Parliament database and stated legal action would also be initiated, while Jayakody complained seeking a probe into various false statements being made by some individuals about his educational qualifications.

Jayakody however carried the original certificate he had received from the Peradeniya University when he had obtained his degree when lodging the complaint with the CID. The Minister later showed the certificate to media personnel who were outside the CID to get a comment.

According to Jayakody, details of some 30 Government MPs in the database appear to contain inaccurate information, including erroneous credentials.

It is learnt that the JVP/NPP has also decided to act against any form of mis/disinformation about the party’s MPs carried out as part of a mud-slinging campaign against the Government.

Dog and fleas

However, the ongoing drama over the publication of erroneous educational qualifications of Government MPs on the Parliament website has resulted in some Government members questioning whether there is a conspiracy at play among Parliament staff.

Several news reports stated that there were doubts over motives of some parliamentary staff given that two senior officials in the House administrative staff were affiliated to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the Opposition.

Minister Nanayakkara, after pointing out the change brought about by the JVP/NPP Government where the public was now questioning educational qualifications rather than whether an MP was in the ethanol business, made an interesting remark.

“This problem (fake news about MPs’ education qualifications) is created by some fleas. Although we have managed to chase the dog away, there are still some fleas left. Now we are looking into these fleas,” Nanayakkara claimed.

Getting it wrong

Following claims by the Justice and Energy Ministers about conspiracies and mud-slinging campaigns over the educational qualifications controversy as well as doubts being cast on parliamentary staff by some members of the JVP/NPP Government, several senior members of Parliament have stated that they are prepared to face any inquiry by law enforcement into the mistakes made in entering titles alongside the names of Government-side MPs into the Parliament members’ directory.

It is learnt that the mistake in relation to Justice Minister Nanayakkara’s name was following a letter received from the Office of the Leader of the House of Parliament.

An internal inquiry into the mistake of placing the word ‘Dr.’ before Nanayakkara’s name had revealed that the inclusion of the ‘Dr.’ title had been based on a letter by the Office of the Leader of the House. The letter sent by the Secretary of the Leader of the House, one Janakantha Silva on 5 December naming the members from the JVP/NPP to the Committee on Parliament Business, had stated: ‘The Hon. (Dr.) Harshana Nanayakkara – MP.’

Namal’s challenge

SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa was also embroiled in the whole educational qualifications drama following claims about the validity of his qualifications and a complaint being lodged before the CID calling for a probe into the manner in which he had obtained his law qualifications. 

Namal continuously claimed that he welcomed a probe into his educational qualifications as he too wanted the truth to be out.

However, the debate over Namal’s qualifications resulted in the issuing of a challenge and a counter challenge. Namal challenged that if Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe proved that he (Namal) had sat for the Law College exam on his own, he would resign from Parliament and that if the claim was not proven, then Minister Samarasinghe had to resign from his portfolio as well as his parliamentary seat.

It is however still unclear whether Samarasinghe accepted Namal’s challenge.

Clashes continue

Meanwhile, another heated verbal altercation took place between Minister Nanayakkara and SJB MP Ajith P. Perera over the use of the title of ‘advocate’ before the names of some senior members of the legal profession.

Nanayakkara claimed that the title of ‘advocate’ could not be used in place of attorney-at-law while Perera maintained that there were two types of lawyers – instructing attorneys or counsel, who are also known as advocates.

Nanayakkara dismissed Perera’s explanation while criticising his (Perera’s) use of the title of ‘advocate’ before his name. Perera in turn claimed that Nanayakkara had also used the title of ‘advocate’ before his name in a political propaganda document. 

The debate between the two MPs had to be stopped by the Chair, who called on the next speaker in line for the debate scheduled for that day.

Sajith’s certificates

Opposition Leader Premadasa meanwhile accepted a challenge posed by Chief Government Whip, Minister Jayatissa to present his educational qualifications to Parliament.

The following day Premadasa presented all certificates related to his educational qualifications, including his birth certificate.

However, the Government side later claimed that although Premadasa had presented the certificates in the Chamber, they had not been tabled by sending them to the Hansard Department of Parliament. The certificates had not been received by the Hansard Department even by Wednesday (18) evening.

However, it is learnt that Premadasa had handed his certificates to the Hansard Department on Thursday (19).

Cases against MPs

Meanwhile, at least two cases have been initiated before court against two MPs – one from the Opposition side and the other from the Government side – that challenge their eligibility to hold parliamentary seats.

Both cases have been filed by public interest activist Oshala Herath and the two MPs are independent MP Dr. Ramanathan Archchuna, who has caused quite a bit of controversy in Parliament, and JVP/NPP MP Upali Pannilage, who is also the Minister of Rural Development, Social Security, and Community Empowerment.

Accordingly, two quo warranto applications have been filed before court claiming that both these MPs were acting as representatives in Parliament while being in active public service. It has been pointed out that the Constitution bars individuals who hold any interest in public contracts from election as an MP.

Sajith between NPPers

Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa recently spent quite some time with two senior members of the JVP/NPP Government.

This interaction had taken place during a recent event organised by the Embassy of Kuwait in Sri Lanka. Premadasa had attended the event in Colombo while the Government was represented by Ministers Bimal Rathnayake and Sunil Handunneththi.

When the VIPs had taken their seats at a table assigned to them, Premadasa had been seated between Rathnayake and Handunneththi. The trio were seen engaged in conversation, making everyone around wonder what they were talking about. 

Issuing targets

Meanwhile, Premadasa had recently made a secret visit to the Opposition Leader’s Office in Parliament. He had visited his office in Parliament without any prior notice during the previous week when there was no Parliament session to find first-hand whether the allegations being levelled against the staff in the office were true.

There have been allegations that the staff at the Opposition Leader’s Office spend a lot of time idling and fall short of performing their due tasks. However, Premadasa’s surprise visit had resulted in the Opposition Leader assigning tasks to each staff member as well as explaining to them how they should carry out research work and support Opposition MPs.

UNP-SJB alliance talk

The ongoing political developments have re-opened talks between many members and organisers of the United National Party (UNP) and SJB to explore the possibility of reuniting. Members and organisers of both parties have cited the need for a formidable Opposition inside and outside Parliament to ensure checks and balances on the AKD Government.

There have already been several rounds of unofficial discussions between several senior members of the UNP and SJB to explore the possibilities of reuniting. The SLPP led by National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa, SLPP dissidents, and Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) members who were defeated at the Parliamentary Polls are also engaged in discussions to explore a joint force.

However, it is learnt that all these parties have agreed to pursue the discussions in a more organised and formal fashion from January 2025.

Lack of confidence

Several senior SJBers including the party leadership however are wary of the UNP leadership’s sincerity in uniting the two parties. 

Loyalists of Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa believe that Wickremesinghe’s only intention is to divide the SJB and ensure Premadasa’s defeat rather than focus on reuniting the two parties and moving to form a broad opposition alliance.

This has resulted in a division among the SJB seniors, with one group pushing for the two parties to reunite while the other group, consisting mostly of Premadasa loyalists, has expressed caution, stating there had to be a proper mechanism followed in any form of discussion to unite the UNP and SJB.

RW’s secret move

Among the main factors the Premadasa loyalists are citing as proof of Wickremesinghe’s lack of interest in forming an alliance with the SJB are the amendments Wickremesinghe had surreptitiously moved into the UNP Constitution at the party convention held at the Sugathadasa Stadium during his tenure as President.

It is learnt that Wickremesinghe had moved to amend the party Constitution without the knowledge of many members or organisers. At the time Wickremesinghe was moving to secretly amend the party Constitution, he had already started to sideline UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara.

Wickremesinghe had therefore assigned the task of getting the amendments passed at the UNP convention to former Minister Harin Fernando.

According to the new amendments to the party Constitution, Wickremesinghe will remain as the Leader of the UNP for another six years, meaning till 2030. Wickremesinghe will therefore hold the UNP leadership at least until he is 82 years old.

The next amendment was to conclude the term of all office bearers of the party, excluding the party leadership, by 31 December this year. The UNP will therefore have to appoint new office bearers during the first week of January 2025. Wickremesinghe had also managed to ensure that the power to appoint the new office bearers for the party has been vested in him as the Party Leader.

Wickremesinghe will accordingly appoint new office bearers to the UNP during the first week of January 2025. It is believed that some office bearers in the party like UNP Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, who has openly called for the UNP and SJB to reunite, could face the axe when the new office bearers are appointed.

It is also learnt that the appointment of the next general secretary of the UNP will pose a problem, with several party members vying for the post. However, many UNP seniors have proposed the name of former MP Thalatha Atukorale for the post.

SLFP’s new path

The SLFP meanwhile witnessed a positive development last week that could resolve the long-drawn battle for the party leadership with former SLFP Leader, former President Maithripala Sirisena informing court that he had no intention of becoming the party leader again and that he also had no objections to the incumbent Leader and General Secretary of the SLFP.

The SLFP leadership crisis started early this year, after months of cold war between Sirisena and Nimal Siripala de Silva and his group over joining the then Wickremesinghe Government, with a group led by incumbent SLFP Leader de Silva staking a claim for the party leadership, resulting in a court battle. De Silva took over the party leadership while Duminda Dissanayake was appointed as the General Secretary of the SLFP.

No money for Maithri

Meanwhile, Sirisena has claimed that he has no money left with him since he had used all of his funds to pay compensation for the victims of the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks following a court directive.

Sirisena made this observation when a group of media personnel had posed a question to him after the premiere of the ‘Gautama Buddha Matha’ movie that was held recently in Colombo. 

The media had then asked the former President if he had enjoyed the movie and Sirisena had said that he had. The next question had been whether he would be interested in making a similar movie. Sirisena had laughed and said that he did not have such money since all that he had had been paid as compensation for the Easter Sunday attacks victims.

Sirisena this August completed the compensation payment of Rs. 100 million that was directed by court.

Alliance talks 

The SLFP, which has claimed that the party will contest elections under the People’s Alliance (PA) and ‘chair’ symbol in the future, last week held a discussion with several parties to discuss the possibilities of forming a broad alliance.

A meeting was accordingly organised at the SLFP Headquarters at Darley Road, Colombo and was attended by the SLFP, PA, and members of the New Alliance which was formed by a group of SLPP dissidents in the run-up to the Presidential Election.

Former MP Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, who attended this meeting, had noted that it was essential for Opposition political parties to unite and form an alliance. He further noted that the meeting had also discussed how to expand the alliance further and whom the parties should initiate a discussion with on the matter.

Namal meets SLPPers

Meanwhile, SLPP National Organiser Namal had last week met with the SLPP MPs as well as former SLPP MPs who were still with the party.

The discussion, it is learnt, had been focused on discussing the SLPP’s next course of action. Several former SLPPers had opined that Namal should speak with several SLPP dissidents who had joined Premadasa and Wickremesinghe to see if they wanted to return to the SLPP fold.

Namal had agreed but noted that it needed to be done cautiously since the SLPP dissidents had betrayed the party and there had to be an assurance that they would not do the same again.

SLPP dissidents lost

Many SLPP dissidents however are currently disgruntled due to the uncertainty over their future under the leaderships of both Premadasa and Wickremesinghe.

It is learnt that a majority of the SLPP dissidents who had joined Wickremesinghe and supported as well as contested under the New Democratic Front (NDF) under the ‘gas cylinder’ symbol are disgruntled over Wickremesinghe’s actions as well as failures as the head of the ‘gas cylinder’ alliance. 

Most of them have expressed displeasure over the manner in which Wickremesinghe had handled – or failed to handle – the appointments to the two National List slots secured by the alliance at the last Parliamentary Elections.

It is learnt that some of these SLPP dissidents are considering staying away from politics for a while, even as some others are looking at the SJB and initiating discussions with the SJB leadership.

Rohitha replaced

Meanwhile, the SLPP Executive Committee and Politburo met at SLPP Leader, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s official residence in Colombo last week and discussed the party’s reforms programme.

It was decided at the meeting to appoint MP D.V. Chanaka as the party’s National Convenor. The post was earlier held by Rohitha Abeygunawardena.

It was also decided to assign former MP Johnston Fernando the task of appointing new grassroot and district-level leaders.