• Brand AKD takes to the districts for polls; SJB, NDF candidates ask leaders not to organise key rallies
• Funding constraints hit SJB, NDF; RW addresses meeting via online media, Sajith attends a few rallies
• Analysts predict JVP/NPP likely to get between 96-120 seats, SJB between 40-50, NDF between 15-20
• RW Govt. was canvassing with BRICS member states to ensure acceptance of Sri Lanka’s application
• South Africa told RW Govt. it would continue talks on joining; Russia, China agreed, wanted more talks
• Indian External Affairs Minister had said BRICS was not accepting members; will look at SL as partner nation
• Iranian national claims in the US about being tasked to plan Trump assassination, attack Israeli tourists in SL
• Govt. needs to raise Rs. 5,000 b for 2025, will increase to Rs. 7,000 b with proposed new measures
• AKD continues to expose perks of former presidents; special organic vegetables now to security staff
• Slashing of MR’s security seen as karma hitting back; MR had slashed CBK’s perks and security when Prez
• JVP’s tough stance against perks, privileges for VIPs mainly to ensure party’s strict code of conduct
• Lasantha hits out at Govt. on slashing retired MPs’ pension, saying the JVP continues to collect pension
• Tilvin, Lalkantha say no need of 2/3rds, only a simple majority in the House; Lalkantha warns Police in Kandy
• RW watches ‘3 Idiots’ with Sagala, calls for experienced individuals or face situation like KDU bus
• Wajira shares reason for not staying out of polls; Ruwan hints at getting disgruntled SJBers back to UNP
• RW planning to take a break overseas after polls; accepted invites to address several international fora
• Sajith re-starts attacking AKD Govt. after being pushed out of spotlight and media, says Govt. has failed
• Ajith blames SJB Media Comm. for Sajith’s defeat, seniors blame confidant; SJB pushes two campaigns
• Dilith wishes Sajith a happy retirement; claims Sarvajana Balaya members will serve without salaries
• Milinda reveals AKD’s real challenge; Namal says AKD blaming media after making false statements
• Shasheendra says SLPP ready to change name and even symbol to rebuild; speaks of leader’s role
• Controversy continues over Ranjan’s UDV; reports say Ranjan unable to enter House even if elected
• Prasanna makes more exposés against UDV and Allirajah; UDV expresses doubts on leak of Ranjan’s letter to AKD

With the country inching towards this week’s Parliamentary Elections that will decide its next government at a crucial and decisive time, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) has taken it upon himself to engage in district-level public rallies in support of his party, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), at the upcoming polls.

The reason for President AKD to personally engage in the JVP/NPP campaign is further indication that the country’s politics are now moving out of party-based politics to a more brand-based one. With AKD becoming a brand in local politics, his presence and support have become vital for JVP/NPP sustenance.

However, an interesting development is being witnessed in the campaigns of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the New Democratic Front (NDF) under the ‘gas cylinder’ alliance, where candidates under these parties have requested party leaders to engage in a separate campaign for the Parliamentary Polls without listing out district-level rallies. 

It is learnt that one of the main reasons for this is the lack of funds for the Parliamentary Election campaigns of the SJB and ‘gas cylinder’ alliance candidates as well as the belief that they can spend their time and monies on grassroot-level campaigning rather than waste money and time organising large rallies.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is heading the ‘gas cylinder’ campaign, yesterday (9) decided to address several election meetings simultaneously in several districts through online media.

It is no secret that there is disillusionment at large scale even among candidates at the election, with even election monitors noting that while over 8,000 candidates had submitted nominations to contest at the election, only around 1,000 candidates had engaged in campaigning for the polls.

The final outcome of the Parliamentary Polls will be known by Friday (15). Political analysts predict that although it was earlier believed that the JVP/NPP could secure a two-thirds majority in the House, the party will secure a minimum of around 96 seats to a maximum of around 120 seats, the SJB between 40-50 seats, and the NDF around 15-20 seats. 

Economic battle continues

Whatever the outcome at the Parliamentary Polls, the fact that Sri Lanka is at an economic crossroads holds true. The economy will continue to pose the greatest challenge to the new government that assumes office following the upcoming polls.

Economic challenges have however been a common issue faced by many countries, given that there have been around 600 debt restructuring programmes carried out by many countries since the Second World War. However, no country that has undergone such programmes has managed to accomplish the economic achievements that have been recorded by Sri Lanka within a span of two-and-a-half years.

Nevertheless, Sri Lanka’s economic situation is still precarious as the Government needs to generate revenue of Rs. 5,000 billion next year. However, expenditure will see an increase, up to around Rs. 7,000 billion, if the AKD Government proceeds with the proposed welfare schemes and reduction in taxes. This amount is excluding the monies the Government will have to spend on State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) if the SOE reforms programme is reversed.

In relation to the Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) tax, it is learnt that the AKD Government will be able to increase the threshold from the current Rs. 100,000 to around Rs. 150,000-200,000 given that the previous Wickremesinghe Government had reached an understanding with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the matter.

Meanwhile, there’s also much focus on several key financial legislations that require to be passed in Parliament prior to the IMF’s disbursement of the next tranche of around $ 337 million. These actions are also required for the AKD Government to unlock around $ 760 million in budgetary support from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The Finance Ministry, in its Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report for 2024, has noted that Sri Lanka’s external debt had reached $ 37.5 billion by the end of June and that from January 1 to 30 June, total debt service payments had amounted to $ 503 million, with $ 275.1 million allocated for principal repayments and $ 227.9 million covering interest payments.

Consequently, as of June, unpaid debt service has accumulated to $ 5.67 billion in principal and $ 2.53 billion in interest.

Asking ‘seeya’

Former President Wickremesinghe meanwhile claimed last week that despite the IMF’s projection of Sri Lanka’s growth to be moderate in 2024-’25, at around 3%, it was at 4.4% at present.

He further claimed that Sri Lanka’s growth had the potential to reach 5% next year and that the former Government had developed the nation before handing over power.

“If only these people knew this. They should work to achieve this target. If you don’t know, then ask ‘seeya’ (grandfather),” Wickremesinghe said jovially. ‘Seeya’ is a reference that was mainly made public on social media by the JVP/NPP in the run-up to the Presidential Election, claiming that the country should not be given to a grandfather.

BRICS drama

Be that as it may, the AKD Government’s foreign policy continues to be put to the test. 

Following the US move to impose a travel advisory on Arugam Bay, which was followed by several other countries with expanded versions, the rejection of Sri Lanka’s application to the BRICS organisation (which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates) raised several questions on why a request had been made to join the organisation when Sri Lanka was still in the stage of canvassing for support from among member countries for the country’s application.

Sri Lanka’s application was submitted by Foreign Secretary Aruni Wijewardane when she had attended the BRICS summit in Russia last month.

Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Vijitha Herath last week stated that while BRICS had rejected Sri Lanka’s application to become a member, the request to become a member of BRICS’ New Development Bank (NDB) had been accepted. According to Herath, BRICS has decided not to accept new members to its fold at present.

‘The Black Box’ however learns that the previous Government of President Wickremesinghe was in the process of laying the groundwork to muster support for Sri Lanka’s application. The former Government, it is learnt, had communicated in this regard with the South African Government. South Africa had not agreed to support Sri Lanka’s application but had agreed to continue with the discussion. It is also learnt that Russia and China had expressed that they would not oppose Sri Lanka’s application.

While the Wickremesinghe Government had not initiated a discussion on support for BRICS membership with India, the AKD Government had discussed the matter with the Indians.

‘The Black Box’ learns that India’s External Affairs Minister had informed the Sri Lankan Government earlier this year when the then Government had informed of Sri Lanka’s intention to join BRICS that the organisation would not be accepting new memberships for a while due to the large number of membership applications already received. Around 50 applications had been received from countries seeking BRICS membership at the time.

However, Sri Lanka had been informed at the time that BRICS could look at getting Sri Lanka as a partner nation of the organisation.

It was then that the Wickremesinghe Government had decided to lay the groundwork by canvassing member countries to gain full membership of BRICS.

Given this scenario, some members of the diplomatic corps were wondering why Sri Lanka had submitted the application in what seemed to be a ‘hurry’ during the term of an interim government.

Shakeri on Sri Lanka

Meanwhile, a press release by the Public Affairs Office of the US Department of Justice has stated that one Iranian asset, Farhad Shakeri, had stated to the US law enforcement that he had been tasked with planning an assassination attempt on US President-elect Donald J. Trump as well as targeting Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka.

Shakeri, in recorded interviews with law enforcement agents, had stated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran had tasked him with carrying out other assassinations against US and Israeli citizens located in the US, apart from a plot to assassinate President-elect Trump. 

In particular, Shakeri had informed law enforcement that he had been tasked on 7 October with providing a plan to kill President-elect Trump. During the interview, Shakeri had claimed that he did not intend to propose a plan to kill Trump within the timeframe set by the IRGC. 

Shakeri had also stated he had been tasked with surveilling two Jewish American citizens residing in New York City, that he had been offered $ 500,000 by an IRGC official for the murder of either victim, and that he had also been tasked with targeting Israeli tourists in Sri Lanka.

This statement issued by the US on Friday (8) indicates that the chances of the US travel advisory on Sri Lanka as well as those issued by other countries being lifted would be minimal, which in turn no doubt adds to the complexities being faced by the AKD Government on the foreign policy front.

Scrutinising former presidents

Amidst the ongoing political and economic developments, President AKD, who has vowed a new political culture, continues to expose the special perks and privileges enjoyed by former heads of State.

AKD commenced his crackdown on perks and privileges enjoyed by former presidents by curtailing the official vehicles, security, and staff used by them, most often in excessive numbers. The new Government has directed that all former presidents be given only the perks and privileges they are entitled to according to the existing regulations, which are being reviewed to explore the possibility of doing away with them.

It is in such a backdrop that AKD last week claimed that the former presidents had not consumed the normal vegetables consumed by ordinary citizens of the country, instead consuming food prepared using specially grown organic vegetables from Nuwara Eliya. He further claimed that a load of around 60 kilos of organic vegetables grown at the President’s House in Nuwara Eliya was being sent every Friday to the Presidential Secretariat.

After denouncing this practice, the President noted that he had directed his officials to use the vegetables for food prepared for security officers and to prepare his food using vegetables consumed by any other ordinary citizen.

MR’s divine retribution

While there has been much talk about the curtailment of perks and privileges enjoyed by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) as a former President by the AKD Government and the Government’s response to the perks still enjoyed by MR, this resulted in several political analysts last week terming it ‘divine retribution’.

When MR assumed office in 2005, he had made it a point to curtail several perks and privileges offered to Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK) as a former President. MR at the time had even removed furniture from CBK’s office at her official residence as well as the staff. Some social media comments on the statements made by MR’s side on the issue had drawn some responses, claiming it was karma coming back to bite him.

However, stating that her security has been reduced from 50 personnel to 30, CBK has also questioned why she has been assigned 30 personnel while some other former presidents have been assigned 243, 200, and 109 security personnel. 

CBK last week issued a letter to Public Security Ministry Secretary Ravi Seneviratne that was publicised in the media, where she has expressed doubts as to whether there was a plot to assassinate her like her husband, Vijaya Kumaranatunga. CBK’s statement was denied by the Government, which claimed that her security had not been curtailed.

Reasoning for JVP action

All these actions of JVP/NPP Leader, President AKD can be attributed to fears by some JVP seniors that being exposed to perks and privileges of governance could corrupt JVP cadres, who are bound by a strict code of conduct, eventually resulting in the dissolution of the party’s identity.

The JVP’s code of conduct must be followed by all members, including seniors, without dispute. Any deviation from this code results in disciplinary action being initiated against the respective JVPer or even expulsion from the party.

Looking at the JVP’s history, the party faced its first most challenging split when former MP Wimal Weerawansa and a group of JVP MPs defected from the party during the first term of the MR Government. An analysis of this defection resulted in one of the key causes being identified as the exposure to external perks and privileges when the party joined the 2004 Government of then President CBK.

On the issue of the AKD Government’s move to slash pensions given to former MPs, former State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna last week stated that the JVP still continued to collect the pensions of the party’s former MPs, especially the 39 MPs who had represented the House as part of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Government of 2004.

Reality check 

Meanwhile, the splinter group of the JVP, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), has come out criticising some of the actions of President AKD.

FSP General Secretary Kumar Gunaratnam, also known as ‘Gunda,’ last week told the media that the AKD Government had appointed some of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s advisors as well as some individuals who are accused of being corrupt. He has noted that the JVP/NPP had assumed office on the anti-corruption agenda.

He has further noted that the JVP as a policy did not accept the executive presidency and that the Party Leader was now holding the post of Executive President.

It is not often that Gunaratnam makes public statements and his latest appearance at a press conference is therefore believed to be an indication of the role the FSP is planning on playing in the coming months.

Majority power

However, JVP/NPP seniors continue to maintain that the party requires a majority in the House following the Parliamentary Elections and not a two-thirds majority. This was stated by JVP/NPP Executive Committee member K.D. Lalkantha.

He had explained that the country was currently being governed by presidential powers and the JVP/NPP needed to secure parliamentary power as well, and that most of the changes being anticipated by the masses could only be delivered once the required laws and regulations were passed in the House. “Be patient till then,” he had added.

It is also learnt that this meeting, where Lalkantha had made the statement on the party’s target in the next Parliament, had been packed with JVP/NPP supporters and the organisers of the meeting had had to move some of the crowd to the ground floor since the upper floor where the meeting was being held could not accommodate the attendees.

Meanwhile, the JVP/NPP organised a rally in the Kandy town area attended by President AKD, where Lalkantha had said that while many thought it was an overestimation to think 3% could be increased to 42%, “we have shown that our overestimation and madness resulted in President AKD assuming office”.

Lalkantha’s sentiment was also expressed by JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva, when he said last week that the JVP/NPP did not require a five-sixths power in Parliament to suppress the Opposition. “We need a majority power in the House to carry out governance work. A majority is required by a government to make and amend laws. We want a majority to govern,” Silva said.

Warning to Police

Lalkantha meanwhile also warned Police personnel in the Kandy District by asking them to ensure that the law was enforced without being biased and reminded them that the country was now being governed by President AKD.

He claimed that posters that had been put up by the JVP/NPP in the Kandy town area where the rally was held in a legal manner with the relevant details of the meeting had been removed by some Police officers, who had allowed illegally displayed posters of the likes of former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former State Minister Anuradha Jayaratne to remain in some areas.

“Posters put up illegally by Mahindananda and Anuradha still remain while the posters put up legally by us have been removed. It is not illegal to put posters to announce a public rally with the legally required details in the poster. Where is the law? Please ensure that the law is properly implemented. 

“President Dissanayake has asked that the law be enforced without any special treatment. The old political leaders are no more. It is now the Government of Dissanayake that is in power. It is a Government of the working masses. Keep that in mind,” Lalkantha claimed.

RW in full swing

Meanwhile, former President Wickremesinghe, who has returned to the election campaign trail, has become quite a livewire, according to United National Party (UNP) supporters as well as candidates under the ‘gas cylinder’ symbol.

Wickremesinghe has paid extra attention to the campaign of his former Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka in the Colombo District. After posing for a music video produced for Ratnayaka’s campaign, Wickremesinghe also decided to take part in a movie that was shown by Ratnayaka as part of his campaign in Colombo last week.

The movie selected for the programme was the Hindi movie ‘3 Idiots’ and following the screening, Wickremesinghe and Ratnayaka engaged in a Q&A session with the youth who had attended the event. 

When asked why the movie ‘3 Idiots’ had been chosen for the event, Wickremesinghe denied knowledge of the reason, adding that the question should be directed to the organisers. It is learnt that the movie had been selected as a swipe at the AKD’s Interim Government, which has three members.

During the discussion, Wickremesinghe urged the participants to send the likes of Ratnayaka to Parliament since it was essential to send in experienced individuals to the House. 

The former President cautioned that stability could be threatened without experienced leadership and went on to draw a comparison to the recent overturning of a Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) bus, an accident that claimed the lives of two students. Wickremesinghe explained that one needed experience to carry out the task assigned to them. “A bus driver has a licence to drive the bus, but these people (JVP/NPP) don’t have the licence to govern the country.”

“It (the country’s stability) could topple like the KDU bus,” Wickremesinghe added.

During the event, Wickremesinghe also went on to say that he had no plans to return to Parliament. When a question was posed to him asking if he would return to Parliament in the event a National List MP of the ‘gas cylinder’ alliance decided to resign and request him (Wickremesinghe) to enter Parliament, Wickremesinghe responded, “I will ask that MP if he is my enemy,” making everyone laugh. He added, “I was in Parliament for long enough. Now a new team with experience has to be sent to Parliament,” while turning to Ratnayaka.

RW’s break

Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe, it is learnt, has planned to take a holiday by travelling overseas after the conclusion of the Parliamentary Elections this week.

It is learnt that apart from taking a break, Wickremesinghe is also planning on attending several international fora where he has been invited to deliver speeches.

Wajira’s decision

There has been much talk and speculation about UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena not contesting the Parliamentary Elections as well as his name being left out of the National List of the ‘gas cylinder’ alliance of the UNP.

While there continues to be speculation on Abeywardena’s possible plan to enter Parliament by getting a member in the UNP National List to resign, the reason behind his decision not to contest the election was revealed by Abeywardena himself.

Abeywardena had told a confidant that there was no point in contesting the election from the Galle District. He had explained that he had spent millions of rupees in the district during the Presidential Election and that the ‘gas cylinder’ candidate, former President Wickremesinghe had polled only around 100,000 votes. 

“Given these numbers of votes after spending so much, it was evident that there was not going to be any use in spending more and contesting the Parliamentary Elections. You have to let this election go,” Abeywardena had noted.

However, the UNP Chairman is of the view that the real work for him will begin after the Parliamentary Elections. According to Abeywardena, the main focus of the UNP seniors after the Parliamentary Elections will be to rebuild the party while expanding the UNP.

Ruwan’s hint

Meanwhile, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene has also hinted at the party’s plans after the Parliamentary Elections.

Wijewardene notes that the party’s reform work will be carried out after the polls while also working with disgruntled members of the SJB to pave the way for their return to the UNP. A group of UNP seniors has already started to work on this programme with the aim of broadening and strengthening the UNP to prepare for the Local Government and Provincial Council Elections.

The UNP Deputy Leader has already stated in public that the party will contest under the ‘elephant’ symbol at future elections.

It is learnt that some members of the SJB had told several UNP seniors that one of the main reasons for them to defect and join the SJB was due to their belief that Party Leader Wickremesinghe could not win elections. However, Sajith Premadasa has demonstrated that he too is unable to win elections and some SJBers are of the view that uniting the UNP and SJB under a new leadership could result in victory at future elections.

However, it will be up to Wickremesinghe to make the final call on the matter given that he has shown he is still not ready to relinquish the UNP leadership.

Anura’s wife’s recipe

Meanwhile, Wickremesinghe, apart from supporting Ratnayaka’s campaign, is seen on the campaign trail with dissident Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) members like Susil Premajayantha, Nimal Lanza, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, and Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, attending meetings organised by them.

Wickremesinghe had also received a cookery lesson from Yapa’s wife when he had visited the Yapa residence in Kurunegala following the Pannala rally. Yapa’s wife had taken an extra effort to prepare food items to serve Wickremesinghe and the rest of the visitors to the residence and a food item prepared using chickpea flour had caught Wickremesinghe’s attention.

Sajith pushed out

SJB Leader Premadasa meanwhile has been pushed out of the limelight and the media by Wickremesinghe.

Statements made by Premadasa that he can work with the AKD Government and asking SJBers to refrain from criticising the Government over national security issues have all backfired, with Opposition voters turning away from him and paying more attention to Wickremesinghe’s swipes at the Government.

However, following the intervention of several senior SJBers engaged in media strategy, Premadasa has started to take on the Government on several issues, especially related to the economy and promises made by the JVP/NPP on the Presidential Election campaign trail.

The former Opposition Leader has pointed out the failure of the AKD Government to honour the pledges made.

While Premadasa is making a comeback, the media spotlight is now dominated by Wickremesinghe, Sarvajana Balaya Leader Dilith Jayaweera, and Udaya Gammanpila.

Ajith’s claim

Meanwhile, the SJB’s Ajith P. Perera, who is contesting the Parliamentary Elections from the Kalutara District, has claimed that one of the reasons for Premadasa to lose his popularity among the people in the run-up to the September Presidential Election is his failure to participate in political discussions and debates on television.

Perera has further blamed the Media Committee of the SJB for misdirecting the SJB leadership in the last few weeks prior to the election by asking Premadasa not to participate in live political discussions on electronic media.

Hearing Perera’s statement during a political discussion on electronic media, some senior SJBers had noted that it was not the party’s Media Committee that had prevented Premadasa from attending political discussions in the media but one of his confidants who plays a key role in SJB politics.

SJB clashes surface 

Meanwhile, the campaign period for the Parliamentary Elections had brought out the frictions within the SJB. These clashes are also being witnessed in the battle for preferential votes among candidates.

The preferential votes battle among SJBers is mostly seen in the Colombo, Kandy, Matara, and Galle Districts. 

Reeling from the Presidential Election defeat, with some SJB seniors still engaged in a blame game, it is learnt that there are two campaigns being carried out within the party – one to support the original SJBers and the other to support and send new faces to the House. The latter, it is learnt, is one being carried out by those loyal to the party leadership to eliminate some SJB seniors being blamed for Premadasa’s defeat in September.

Dilith slams Sajith

Meanwhile, Sarvajana Balaya Leader Jayaweera has started to slam SJB Leader Premadasa, who was also the former Opposition Leader.

Jayaweera last week blamed Premadasa for paving the way for AKD’s victory at the Presidential Election. He pointed out that it was usually the main Opposition that secured power when a Government was voted out at an election, but that an alternative opposition party had secured power due to the failures of the former Leader of the Opposition.

“Sajith’s political life is now over and I wish him a happy retirement life,” Jayaweera has claimed.

Dilith’s pledge

Jayaweera has also pledged that members of his party who enter Parliament will not take the salaries or allowances allocated for MPs as well as perks and privileges offered to them. “We will not take any perks and privileges. We won’t even eat from the Parliament restaurant. We don’t need perks and privileges to serve the people,” he claimed, expressing the commitment of Sarvajana Balaya members.

Jayaweera also called on the people to send representatives who have worked and earned their money to Parliament to ensure true people’s service. “Otherwise, their focus will be on earning money from the time they enter Parliament,” he added.

AKD’s key challenge

Meanwhile, some Opposition parties, especially the SLPP, have come out explaining the key challenges faced by President AKD and his Government.

SLPP Colombo District candidate Milinda Rajapaksa explained an interesting point of view during a recent political debate on television. He noted that the main challenge faced by President AKD was not from the Opposition or his detractors but from himself. “The challenges and statements made by AKD during the Presidential Election have now become the main challenge faced by him and nothing else,” he said.

SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa meanwhile claimed that President AKD was now making threatening statements to the media after having uttered the highest number of lies during the Presidential Election. “President AKD was happy when the media gave publicity to the lies uttered by him on stage during campaigning and is now reprimanding the media saying the media is lying.”

Namal’s role

Meanwhile, Namal is engaged in an aggressive party campaign for the upcoming polls. 

While taking on the AKD Government, Namal has claimed that the SLPP has clearly stated what the party is able to deliver to the people and what it cannot.

The SLPP National Organiser last week focused on the statement by JVP/NPP candidate Lakshman Nipuna Arachchi, that trade unions would be dissolved in the future since there would be no reason for strikes. Namal claimed that it was the trade union movement that had pushed the country back and caused much damage to its economy. 

He also focused on the education sector. “We ask what the Government will do to uplift the education sector. It is the JVP that pushed back the education sector in the past. The Government can today bring the teacher unions and students’ unions to one table to resolve the issues faced by the education sector,” Namal added during campaign meetings.

Douglas joins AKD

Meanwhile, Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) Leader Douglas Devananda, who has for many years been affiliated to former President MR and supported former President Wickremesinghe at the last Presidential Election, has now expressed support for President AKD.

Devananda and a group of senior EPDP members had met with AKD recently and the discussion had been focused on future cooperation between the EPDP and the JVP/NPP Government, especially after the Parliamentary Elections.

It is learnt that Devananda had drawn the President’s attention to 25 stalled development programmes in the Northern Province as well as issues pertaining to the Fisheries Ministry.

Ready to change

The SLPP meanwhile is prepared to make the necessary changes to ensure its re-emergence in local politics as well as to ensure the return of the Rajapaksas in politics.

SLPP candidate in the Monaragala District and member of the Rajapaksa family, Shasheendra Rajapaksa has said recently that that party had faced many challenges and was currently facing a setback as a result. “We have used this setback as a blessing and are now reforming the party and working at strengthening our organisational side to rebuild,” he has noted.

Shasheendra has further noted that the SLPP is the only party with a young leadership and that the party is prepared to change its name or even its symbol, if needed, to rebuild. Only Shasheendra and Nipuna Ranawaka from the Matara District are contesting the upcoming elections from the Rajapaksa family.

Shasheendra’s swipe

Meanwhile, Shasheendra has also said during a public meeting in Monaragala last week that he would always stand by the people in the district and face any challenge. 

He has further noted that it is not the trait of a leader to run away from challenges: “It is when there are challenges in politics that a leader should stand by his people. It is not the sign of a good leader to run away when faced with challenges.”

This statement has been viewed as a swipe at a senior of the SLPP, with many commenting that it was directed at Namal, who had decided not to contest the Parliamentary Elections and to enter the House through the National List.

Ranjan’s loss

While the SLPP is engaged in a transformation programme, the drama in the local political field continues.

Former SJB MP Ranjan Ramanayake has been a controversial figure since entering politics, resulting in him even being jailed for contempt of court. 

It is learnt that since Ramanayake has not received a complete presidential pardon, he will therefore not be able to enter Parliament even if he wins at the upcoming polls.

It is also learnt that the reason Ramanayake’s nomination to contest the Parliamentary Elections had not been rejected by the Election Commission was the fact that civic rights were not among the technical details looked at by the commission when accepting nominations.

The commission maintains that any person can challenge the candidacy of an individual after nominations if the respective individual faces issues related to civic rights.

However, his latest role as the figurehead in a new political party, the United Democratic Voice (UDV), has caused much controversy these days, especially over the ownership of the party.

When a petition had been filed before the Supreme Court by an individual from the Gampaha District challenging Ramanayake’s candidacy due to civic rights issues, calling therefore for his candidacy to be nullified, the court had rejected the petition, claiming only that such a case should be taken up through a writ petition and not due to a discussion on civic rights. 

Prasanna’s challenge

One UDV candidate in the Colombo District, Prasanna Adhikari, recently fired the first salvo against the party, saying that the UDV, which was originally the United Congress Party, was owned by diaspora businessman Allirajah Subaskaran. Adhikari called on Ramanayake to reveal the posts held by him and former Sri Lanka cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan in the UDV.

All these developments resulted in Ramanayake being accused of carrying out Subaskaran’s political agenda.

Adhikari meanwhile alleged that the UDV Secretary is one Jayaseelan, who is also a director of several business entities owned by Subaskaran, such as Lyca Mobile, the Lyca Gnanam Foundation, and Blue Summit Capital Management in Singapore.

Responding to allegations that the UDV had given money to its candidates, Adhikari admitted that monies had been given to all 160 candidates contesting under the party in nine districts. Each candidate has been given Rs. 1 million since election campaigns require funds, according to the former UDV candidate, who also admitted that he had accepted Rs. 1 million which he had already spent on election propaganda work.

Doubts over leak

Meanwhile, another candidate contesting under the UDV, Ravi Kumudesh has expressed doubts over the leaking of a letter sent by Ramanayake to President AKD seeking the reduction of the suspension period of his civic rights by two years.

Kumudesh noted that the President’s Office should investigate how a letter sent to the President had been leaked to other persons.

Nevertheless, the content of Ramanayake’s letter to AKD further indicates that Ramanayake’s civic rights have not been fully restored.

National List slot

Discussions in political circles about the UDV and Subaskaran’s role in local politics have focused on the possibility of using popular figures like Ramanayake, Dilshan, and Kumudesh for the party to poll sufficient votes to secure a National List slot for the UDV in the House that Subaskaran could use to send in his person of choice.

Another thought is that Subaskaran is looking at dividing the traditional Tamil political parties in the Northern Province and dissolving them in order to take full control of northern politics through his parties and proxies.

Sources from the north told ‘The Black Box’ that Subaskaran was supporting several parties and independent groups contesting in the Northern Province.

‘The Black Box’ last week reported that it was a group of individuals named by Subaskaran who had been fielded by Prabha Ganesan’s Democratic People’s Congress that is contesting under the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) under the ‘mailbox’ symbol. The DNA is led by one Mohan Perera.

Perera was accused of being the main man behind the controversial nano liquid fertiliser imports during the former Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government. Perera however has denied the allegation, saying he had no involvement in the deal.

Mohan speaks out

Amidst talk of Subaskaran extending his interest to the DNA through Ganesan, Perera last Monday (4) claimed that he would not allow federalists to take over the party. He further stated that the DNA had three Constitutions and that he had requested the Election Commission to explain which was the correct one.

Also, Perera, who had earlier claimed that he was the Leader of the DNA, clarified before the media that he was in fact the Chairman of the party while Ganesan was the Party Leader.