• Iranian President arrives one hour late in Sri Lanka; continuous delays in the scheduled programme
• Meeting with RW delayed due to Raisi’s visit to mosque; Raisi delighted by string hopper biriyani at dinner
• Sajith’s name removed from head table at State dinner due to no-show; SJB MP moved up to head table
• SLFP crisis continues to unfold with 2 Acting Leaders, 2 Acting General Secretaries; EC to continue engagement
• Wijeyadasa’s appointment in SLFP gathers fire from seniors; questions over appointing an SLPP Minister
• SLPP to initiate disciplinary action against Wijeyadasa; RW warns of losing seat and Cabinet portfolio
• Basil asks RW to announce decision to contest polls, SLPP decision afterwards; RW says announcement in June
• Namal not for supporting RW, pushes for the SLPP to contest or stay out; wants ‘flower bud’ symbol on ballot paper
• RW addresses Basil’s concerns, meets SLPP parliamentary group with MR; SLPPers to be part of development 
• Internal clash within SJB over RW’s financial support for 6 MPs; SJB leaders object, beneficiaries say no need for party permission
• SLPP dissidents led by Yapa-Lanza group to hold four more rallies islandwide next month starting in Hambantota 
• Tilvin clears JVP/NPP policies saying no great difference; debate continues over Sajith-AKD debate

Sri Lanka last week was a hive of geopolitical activity with visits from several key foreign dignitaries to the country. It was quite a test for the Ranil Wickremesinghe Government to balance these dignitaries, some representing opposing factions in the international arena.

All these geopolitical activities took place amidst preparations of all political parties to engage in pre-polls political posturing at the upcoming May Day rallies scheduled this week.

The first foreign dignitary to visit Sri Lanka was a delegation of the Chinese Communist Party headed by International Department Vice Minister Sun Haiyan on Tuesday (23). During the visit, Sun met with members of the Government and parliamentary Opposition. 

However, the meeting between Sun and the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) saw Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa offering to play the role of mediator when dealing with Indian Ocean geopolitics. It is learnt that Sun had politely indicated China’s disinterest in such a move since China believed Sri Lanka should act in its best interest at all times. The week also saw Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader Mano Ganesan seeking China’s assistance for Sri Lanka to join BRICS.

Sun also met with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)/National People’s Power (NPP), which marked the first high-level meeting between China and the JVP/NPP since the latter’s official visit to India this year.

The next visit was of Iranian President Dr. Ebrahim Raisi on Wednesday (24) to inaugurate the Uma Oya project that had been constructed with Iranian funding. Raisi’s visit to Sri Lanka took place much to the chagrin of several Western countries, which had expressed concerns to the Wickremesinghe Government over the visit.

Interestingly, soon after Raisi’s visit, the Wickremesinghe Government welcomed a dignitary representing the US Government, with US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis Taylor arriving in Sri Lanka on Friday (26).

Raisi’s visit

Raisi, who was in the country to inaugurate the Uma Oya project, created division among the Colombo-based diplomatic circles. While internationally the visit was billed as a recognition of Sri Lanka’s growing geopolitical importance, Western countries seemed to have been less impressed. Several Western-based diplomats had reportedly raised concerns with Government officials over the visit. 

Iran and Israel have been locked in an ongoing back-and-forth following the latter’s bombing of Iran’s embassy in Syria earlier this month. Iran’s response, a massive missile strike on Israel, was followed by a bombing of Iran by Israel. With the growing tensions, concerns were raised unofficially with members of the Government over whether such a visit would portray Sri Lanka as an ally of Iran. 

It was explained to those concerned that Sri Lanka had already hosted members of the Israeli Government as well and was continuing to maintain close working ties with them. 

President Raisi’s visit can definitely be chalked up as a success, with the inauguration of the Uma Oya project and the signing of five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) extending ongoing cooperation between the two countries. However, the visit did not come without its fair share of behind-the-scenes drama.

Many pressures

With pressure on the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure smooth operations and Raisi’s security, the visit got off to an inauspicious start. 

The Iranian President was due in Sri Lanka at 9.20 a.m. on Wednesday, with the plan being for him to land at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport and then travel by road to the Uma Oya inauguration. However, while enroute in his private jet, Raisi’s plane delayed landing by over an hour. Sri Lankan officials were left confused about the delay. Several social media users had pointed to online flight tracking sites, which depicted a mid-air rerouting of the plane before returning to course and finally landing in Sri Lanka at 10.30 a.m. 

The stress faced by the Sri Lankan security forces did not end there. Following Raisi’s departure from the inauguration event back to the Mattala Airport, from where he was due to fly to Colombo, the Iranian President had informed his security to stop the convoy. He proceeded to get out and speak to the lines of Sri Lankans who had gathered to watch him drive past. This left the security forces scrambling to create a security cordon, with Raisi having defied security protocols. Spending 30 minutes talking to locals along the road, the day’s programme faced a further delay. 

The biggest headache for the Sri Lankan authorities was to come in Colombo. Having informed the public that several roads leading from the airport to the Presidential Secretariat would be closed for a period of time to facilitate the movement of the VVIP, Police was forced to enact the road closures at a later time due to the delays caused by the Iranian entourage. 

This meant that main roads in and around Colombo were in fact closed right during peak hour traffic on Wednesday evening. This was further compounded by heavy rain. Angry motorists in Colombo were seen honking their horns and hooting at the Police after having to stay on the road for hours. 

With the meeting between the two Presidents already delayed, the official programme at the Presidential Secretariat was facing a tight squeeze. Following the discussions between the two leaders, President Raisi requested President Wickremesinghe to grant him a short break to visit the Kollupitiya mosque, where he was due to engage in evening prayers. This meant a further one-hour delay to the already-prolonged programme.

Highly-placed sources stated that officials of both the Foreign Ministry and Presidential Secretariat had expressed their opposition to this further delay, offering that a separate room be prepared at the secretariat for the President to pray. However, Raisi’s direct appeal to Wickremesinghe left the Sri Lankan officials with little option but to accede to the further changes. 

However, for President Wickremesinghe, the visit brought to the forefront his international acumen. During the joint press conference, the President took the opportunity to reiterate Sri Lanka’s support for the formation of a Palestinian state and once again appealed for a ceasefire in Gaza. Yet, the President did not hold back in calling on all countries in the region to exercise greater restraint and ensure that an escalation of violence was avoided. He also took the opportunity to once again place the Global South on centre stage, calling for a unified approach by all relevant nations in addressing global challenges such as debt crises and climate change. 

President Wickremesinghe took the country’s non-aligned policy to a new and evolved status. While maintaining close economic ties with Israel, the President has publicly advocated for the creation of a Palestinian state and continually supported resolutions against Israel at the UN. 

Separately, Wickremesinghe has demonstrated that Sri Lanka will no longer be on the sidelines of global initiatives. Earlier this year, the President committed the country’s naval forces to cooperate with a global maritime coalition that was patrolling the Red Sea against Houthi rebel attacks. This move, at the time, raised eyebrows, with some complaining that it was going against the Palestinian people. However, this decision was defended with the explanation that the ongoing attacks in the Red Sea were threatening shipping routes going through Sri Lanka. 

Interestingly, despite allegations that the Houthi rebels are being supported by the Iranian Government, the visit of the Iranian President to Sri Lanka shows that Wickremesinghe was able to successfully balance both sides while maintaining strong principles with regard to the international community.

Boycotting RW or Raisi

The State dinner hosted by President Wickremesinghe for Raisi saw the Iranian President being served a Middle Eastern dish with a Sri Lankan flair – string hopper biriyani. Raisi was pleasantly surprised and appreciated the delicacy.

However, Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa was conspicuously absent during President Raisi’s visit to Sri Lanka. This absence had caught the attention of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, with news spreading via social media that Premadasa had in fact not turned up for the State banquet hosted in Raisi’s honour. 

Premadasa took to X to refute allegations spreading online, stating that he did not avoid meeting the Iranian President. However, SJB MP Nalin Bandara confirmed to Parliament that, in fact, Premadasa had knowingly not attended the State banquet, claiming that Premadasa did not attend dinners hosted by President Wickremesinghe. Bandara had gone further and stated that Premadasa had in fact requested a meeting with the Iranian President but that the request had been turned down by the Iranians.

Highly-placed sources confirmed that it was only after the two Presidents arrived at the State dinner on Wednesday that Premadasa’s name had been removed from the head table due to his absence, despite earlier confirming his attendance. In an interesting move, a senior member of the SJB who was in attendance at the dinner had been promoted to the head table to ensure that due protocol was followed and the Opposition was adequately represented at this State function.

Chaos unleashed

On the local political front, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) continues to generate entertainment for the public in the form of a chaotic political drama that continues to unfold on a daily basis.

Following his recent visit to Thailand, deposed Leader of the SLFP, former President Maithripala Sirisena unleashed some new chaos within the party.

It started with the pro-Sirisena SLFP Acting General Secretary (at the time) Dushmantha Mithrapala convening a meeting of the pro-Sirisena Politburo on 20 April to discuss the ongoing clashes within the party and to appoint an acting party leader by the pro-Sirisena faction. Following this meeting, Mithrapala convened a meeting of the SLFP Executive Committee (the pro-Sirisena group) the next day, Sunday (21), where it was decided to appoint Justice Minister Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as the Acting Leader of the SLFP.

By this time, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva had been appointed as the SLFP’s Acting Leader by the party’s Politburo (prior to 30 March) after 4 April saw the Colombo District Court issuing an enjoining order preventing Sirisena from functioning as the SLFP Leader.

Maithri-Wijeyadasa suspended

However, a permanent injunction order was issued last week by the Colombo District Court against Sirisena, preventing him from holding the leadership of the SLFP. The permanent injunction will be effective until the conclusion of the trial. The court order was issued over a case filed by former member of the SLFP Executive Committee Montague Sarathchandra.

Meanwhile, the Colombo District Court also issued an enjoining order against Justice Minister Rajapakshe. The directive, which was issued last Wednesday, suspended Rajapakshe and Mithrapala from holding the posts of Acting Leader and Acting General Secretary of the SLFP, respectively, until 8 May. These orders were issued after considering a plaint submitted by Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna, and MP Duminda Dissanayake.

Opening ‘mahagedara’

However, following the permanent enjoining order issued against Sirisena and the two other enjoining orders issued against Rajapakshe and Mithrapala, Acting General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake called on all SLFPers to return to the party (the ‘mahagedara’), saying the doors were open once again and everyone should unite to steer the SLFP forward together with Acting Party Leader de Silva.

A meeting was also convened by the new SLFP office bearers with party seniors and organisers to discuss the way forward for the party.

Selling the SLFP

The pro-de Silva faction meanwhile claimed that Sirisena had taken steps to ‘sell off’ the party in order to save himself from the many cases against him currently before court. Several pro-de Silva SLFPers had even put up posts on their social media stating that their beloved party, the SLFP, would be sold off on 21 April.

Following Rajapakshe’s appointment as Acting Party Leader by the pro-Sirisena faction, questions were posed by the pro-de Silva faction on how a member of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and a Government Minister had been appointed as Acting Leader of the SLFP. The pro-de Silva faction also questioned the rationale behind the pro-Sirisena group’s appointment of Rajapakshe, a minister of the Wickremesinghe Government, as an Acting Party Leader when Sirisena himself had called for the suspension of the likes of Amaraweera, Alagiyawanna, and Dissanayake for supporting the same Government and accepting portfolios. It was interesting to see two Cabinet Ministers of the Wickremesinghe Government holding the post of Acting Leader of the SLFP.

Rajapakshe’s appointment therefore was criticised by former General Secretary of the SLFP Dayasiri Jayasekara during a television programme last week, stating that there was confusion over Rajapakshe’s appointment as Acting Party Leader after Sirisena had gone to great lengths to act against the SLFPers who had supported the Government. “Wijeyadasa [Rajapakshe] is a Government Minister and so is Nimal Siripala [de Silva]. However, if you take the two, Nimal Siripala is more suited to hold the party leadership given his seniority in the party,” Jayasekara had added.

Questioning legality

Dissanayake meanwhile claimed publicly that Rajapakshe’s appointment as the Acting Leader of the SLFP was illegal since the Executive Committee meeting at which Rajapakshe had been appointed was illegitimate according to the party’s Constitution. 

He pointed out that neither he nor incumbent Acting Chairperson of the SLFP Minister de Silva, nor the party’s Treasurer State Minister Alagiyawanna, had been invited to the meeting in question. He stated that according to the party’s Constitution, the Executive Committee could only be summoned by de Silva as the Acting Leader and that no one else could do so.

Meanwhile, United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) General Secretary Thilanga Sumathipala, issuing a press release, stated that Rajapakshe’s appointment had been carried out illegally. 

Sumathipala, stating that the Acting General Secretary had no power to convene such a meeting as per the provisions of the party’s Constitution, noted that such a meeting could have been convened after reaching a consensus among all the members. He stressed that the ongoing internal conflict could only be resolved through collective engagement, not by being divided into factions.

Maithripala’s bluff

Meanwhile, SLFPers in the pro-de Silva camp revealed that contrary to claims by Sirisena that Rajapakshe had obtained membership of the SLFP a month ago when he (Sirisena) had invited Rajapakshe to address a meeting of SLFP seniors on 30 March, Rajapakshe remained a member of the SLPP even during March.

Documents indicating Rajapakshe’s affidavit to the SLPP and the deductions from his monthly salary as an MP for the SLPP’s membership were posted on social media by some SLFPers, questioning why Sirisena had lied and misled party members. 

One of the documents posted on social media was signed by Chief of Staff and Deputy Secretary General of Parliament Chaminda Kularatne, listing the amounts deducted from SLPP Colombo District MPs for March. The list contains the names of eight SLPP MPs, with Rajapakshe’s name listed in the second slot, indicating a deduction of Rs. 3,000 for that month.

Tension at Darley Road

Meanwhile, a group of pro-Sirisena SLFPers including Minister Rajapakshe tried to enter the SLFP Headquarters, resulting in a standoff with the Police personnel stationed outside the building after declaring it a ‘no-entry zone’ for all factions of the party.

The SLFP Headquarters was cordoned off by the Police as a ‘no-entry zone’ following a complaint lodged by Mithrapala that some important files at the party office had gone missing after some individuals had taken over the office building earlier in the month.

The Police recently claimed that it was unable to carry out the probe since it had not been handed over the keys to the SLFP office or provided with details pertaining to the lost documents.

Wijeyadasa slams Police

Rajapakshe however slammed the Police for failing to take the necessary action to resolve the issue of the missing files and re-open the Party Headquarters. He claimed that the Police had not acted for over two weeks and alleged that the Police was being handled by a secret hand from behind the scenes.

The Justice Minister further claimed that everyone, including the Police, should be prepared to go before the Supreme Court very soon.

SLPP to act

The ruling SLPP meanwhile stated that it is looking into the action that can be taken regarding Minister Rajapakshe, who was elected to Parliament at the last General Election from the SLPP and has now assumed the post of SLFP Acting Chairperson.

The SLPP noted that it should first be ascertained if Rajapakshe had received the membership of the SLFP. However, when the media had queried as to whether he had become an SLFP member, Rajapakshe did not give a direct answer.

EC probe continues

The Election Commission (EC) meanwhile is set to engage in further discussions with both factions of the SLFP before making a determination on the legality of recent changes within the party, which include the appointment of de Silva and Rajapakshe as its Acting Leaders by two factions of the party.

EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake had told the media that further deliberations with both factions of the SLFP would precede a final decision. “One faction (the faction led by former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga) of the SLFP handed over to us documents pertaining to the recent changes. We went through them, but we did not make any final decision, nor will we be in a hurry to do so.”

However, the task before the EC has also taken a complicated turn with the receipt of three complaints from party members and the appointment of two Acting Leaders and two Acting General Secretaries by the two battling factions.

The pro-Sirisena faction had informed the commission on Monday (22) of its appointment of Rajapakshe as the Acting Leader. The message had been communicated by Mithrapala along with the decisions taken by the Executive Committee that had met the previous day.

Nevertheless, with the latest court rulings, the task before the EC is undoubtedly quite a challenge.

RW-Wijeyadasa meet

President Wickremesinghe meanwhile had met Minister Rajapakshe last week and explained that his latest moves would cause issues for the Government. The President had noted that the clash between two Government Ministers (de Silva and Rajapakshe) would not bode well for the Government.

Wickremesinghe had also pointed out to Rajapakshe that the SLPP was gearing to act against him and that there was a risk of him losing his parliamentary seat if the SLPP sacked him from the party. It is learnt that Rajapakshe had responded saying that he was prepared to face any eventuality.

Namal stands his ground

Meanwhile, the ruling SLPP continues to grapple with its own internal crisis, with a group of SLPP seniors meeting last week once again to discuss the party’s stance on the upcoming Presidential Election. 

SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa, who is engaged in an islandwide SLPP campaign, stood firm on the fact that the party should either field its own candidate or refrain from contesting the Presidential Election.

Namal noted that if the party wished to back any other candidate, then the respective candidate should contest under the SLPP’s ‘flower bud’ symbol. It is evident through his statements that Namal is opposed to backing President Wickremesinghe at the upcoming election.

Namal has already claimed that the SLPP symbol will be on the ballot paper at the next Presidential Election.

SLPP split widens 

The stance adopted by Namal and his loyalists has further widened the split within the SLPP.

Leading the charge among pro-Wickremesinghe SLPPers is Minister Prasanna Ranatunga, who has claimed that people will not vote in gratitude for goods distributed by politicians since the people had already selected Wickremesinghe for the presidency as he could rescue the country from the economic crisis.

Ranatunga had told the media after an event to distribute rice to low-income families in Kelaniya that President Wickremesinghe already had the support of the people.

Meanwhile, several young SLPP state ministers as well as State Ministers such as Prasanna Ranaweera have expressed support for Wickremesinghe. Senior SLPPers such as Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi have also expressed support for the President.

RW-Basil meet

It is in such a scenario that a meeting was held last week between SLPP theoretician Basil Rajapaksa and President Wickremesinghe at the President’s official residence. It is learnt that Wickremesinghe had been accompanied by Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Ministers Prasanna Ranatunge and Harin Fernando.

During the discussion, Basil had called on Wickremesinghe to officially declare his decision to contest the Presidential Election and that the SLPP would then announce the party’s candidate. Wickremesinghe had responded by saying that he would be contesting the Presidential Election and that he would announce it around June.

The two had also discussed several issues, with the agreement that the two parties would focus on common causes to address the challenges faced by the country until an election was officially announced.

Basil had requested the President to make arrangements to get SLPP Local Government representatives involved in Government activities, especially in development work and had pointed out that SLPP MPs were displeased that they had been sidelined while some Opposition MPs had been allocated funds for projects. Wickremesinghe had said that he would look at a mechanism where former Local Government members could get involved in development work through the respective District Development Committees.

Justice Minister Rajapakshe’s move to join the SLFP and accept the post of Acting Party Leader was also discussed during the meeting. Basil had pointed out that it was up to the President to decide on removing Rajapakshe from his post. Basil had further noted that the SLPP was not prepared to allow bad precedents and had therefore initiated necessary action against Rajapakshe.

Meeting SLPP MPs

President Wickremesinghe meanwhile met with the SLPP parliamentary group on Thursday (25) evening. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister Gunawardena and SLPP Leader, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR).

The meeting between Wickremesinghe and the SLPP parliamentarians took place following the President’s meeting with Basil. Wickremesinghe, it is learnt, had decided to meet with the SLPP group in order to address the issues and concerns raised by Basil. 

Accordingly, the President had spoken of the Government’s future plans including development programmes. The SLPPers had been informed that development work would be carried out to cover each electorate and that SLPP MPs would be made part of the process.

It is also learnt that Wickremesinghe had noted the need for all parties in the Government to work together to resolve the economic challenges without divisions until elections were officially announced.

Ready for system change

Namal meanwhile has said that the SLPP was prepared to implement within it the system change slogan that had become popular during the ‘Aragalaya’.

He had made this remark at the opening of the renovated SLPP office in Kurunegala that was destroyed in an arson attack during the people’s uprising on 9 May 2022. SLPP Leader, former President MR was the Chief Guest at the event.

Namal had gone on to say that there was no point in hating those responsible for the arson attacks as he had realised that children were generally stubborn only after becoming a father.

SLPP dissidents in trouble

The SLPP Disciplinary Committee meanwhile has called on the six SLPP dissident MPs who had joined the SJB recently – Prof. G.L. Peiris, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa, Dilan Perera, Wasantha Yapabandara, Upul Galappaththi, and K.P.S. Kumarasiri – to give explanations about their decision to join the SJB.

The committee has received explicit directives from party seniors that action be initiated against SLPP dissidents who have joined other political parties in order to prevent a further erosion of party ranks.

Lanza faction rallies

Meanwhile, a group of SLPP dissident MPs led by Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Nimal Lanza is organising four public rallies next month. The group has already declared support for President Wickremesinghe.

The first one is expected to take place in Hambantota, organised by Minister Amaraweera, while the second rally is to be organised by State Minister Jagath Pushpakumara in Monaragala. Meetings in Badulla and Puttalam will be organised by State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake and MP Piyankara Jayaratne, respectively.

No sharing

The main Opposition SJB meanwhile had received a proposal from a leading party to form an alliance by sharing the posts of president and prime minister.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara had told the media that the SJB would not respond to such proposals since the party had been built amid difficulties and therefore it had no intention of sharing its victories.

Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa also claimed last week that he would not engage in any form of political deals even if he was promised a kingship.

Wooing MPs

President Wickremesinghe meanwhile is continuing with his own programme of engaging with MPs of the SJB.

‘The Black Box’ last week revealed that three SJB MPs had received financial allocations from the Government with the President’s intervention to launch several projects in their respective constituencies.

However, it is now learnt that Wickremesinghe had in fact so far extended financial assistance to six SJB MPs – Kavinda Jayawardana, Ajith Mannapperuma, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Gayantha Karunatilleka, A.H.M. Fowzie, and Ishak Rahuman.

A group of SJB seniors had informed the party leadership that the current trend of some SJB MPs receiving funds for their projects while many others were yet to receive funding for similar projects could cause friction within the party while more MPs might make overtures to President Wickremesinghe to gain access to funding.

The group had also pointed out that the MPs had accepted funds without the approval of the party leadership. SJB General Secretary Madduma Bandara had told the media last week that the MPs in question had not obtained the SJB’s approval before receiving the funds, noting that the matter was to be raised at the party’s parliamentary group meeting.

However, SJB MPs who had received funds from the Government’s decentralised budget claimed that party approval was not required to obtain the funds as it has been a tradition for years to allocate funds for Opposition MPs.

Karunatilleka, whose name is also among those who had received the funds, has said that MPs did not receive the funds personally but through the Divisional Secretariats (DSs) to carry out the prospective projects submitted by each MP. “This needs no permission from the political parties. Each individual MP has the right to submit proposals, and, accordingly, they will receive funds. The funds are allocated to DSs, not individuals,” he added.

Sajith-AKD debate blues

Meanwhile, the SJB and JVP/NPP debate over a debate between Opposition and SJB Leader Premadasa and JVP/NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) took a new twist, with the SJB rejecting the dates proposed by the JVP/NPP for the debate.

The NPP officially informed the SJB on Monday (22) that it was prepared to hold the proposed debate between the Leaders of the two parties on one of the following days: 7, 9, 13, or 14 May. In a letter sent by NPP Executive Committee member Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa to SJB General Secretary Madduma Bandara, the JVP/NPP had noted that certain misunderstandings and speculation may be raised among the public regarding the debate if the setting of a date was further delayed. The letter had further said that a venue, a television channel, and the duration of the debate could be decided after settling on a specific date.

However, SJB MP Nalin Bandara Jayamaha told the media on Tuesday (23) that the SJB was not ready to hold the debate on any date proposed by the JVP/NPP as the dates had been decided without consulting the SJB. Claiming that Premadasa was ready for the debate at any time, he had noted that it must be organised by the two parties after reaching a consensus regarding the date and the venue.

Jayamaha on Wednesday (24) invited Jayatissa for a meeting at the Parliament to fix a date for the debate, while mentioning that the SJB was also looking forward to holding a debate between the two economic councils.

Meanwhile, Law Students’ Union President Navod Rathnasekara has proposed facilitating the debate between the two parties. This forum will be designed to delve into the challenges faced by Sri Lanka and to scrutinise the economic policies proposed by each party in response to them.

It was finally stated on Friday that the SJB would inform the dates available to the party.

Clarity on JVP/NPP

However, last week also saw focus being shifted to the JVP-led NPP over a statement made by JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva about the policies of the JVP and the NPP. With the growing popularity of JVP/NPP Leader AKD, there have been questions over the policies of the NPP and how they will be implemented under a government headed by the party.

Silva has said during a media interview that there were not many differences in the policies of the JVP and the NPP. He has explained that the JVP was a leftist party based on socialist fundamentals in line with the teachings of Marx and Lenin and that the NPP was a leftist, progressive movement where nationalist forces had come together.

He had also noted that there was a connection in the mission of both the JVP and NPP: “There is no big difference.”

Responding to a question on whether the JVP would implement its policies after assuming power under the NPP, Silva has said: “What’s wrong with our policies?”

“The NPP also has our [JVP] policies. There’s no difference in it. There is no truth that we are trying to use the NPP as a front and play a different game. There’s nothing like that,” Silva had added.