Political Column

Though a few of the trusted were told, it still remained a closely -guarded secret. Ousted Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and colleague Sripathi Sooriyarachchi decided several days earlier they would join opposition ranks. The reasons were many. Main among them was the news that Government leaders were to step up the pressure on the duo as well as their close confidants. It was to come in many forms including new probes on 'wrong doings' by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

Remaining in the Government when such pressure and propaganda were heaped on them, it was felt, would isolate them. Moving out, in keeping within legal confines, on the other hand, it was felt, would help counter such pressures. It would also form the beginning of a new process that could rally the support of a number of other like-minded parliamentarians in the Government. In fact, some of them, including at least three Ministers, had expressed solidarity. Yet, the like-minded colleagues had said the time was not yet ripe for them to take precipitate action. But they wanted the duo to set in motion the process.

Thus, both Samaraweera and Sooriyarachchi not only consulted lawyers but also astrologers. The lawyers were to obtain legal advice on the measures they proposed to take. The plans were thus stitched together to counter any legal issues that may arise. The astrologers were to tell which auspicious hours were better on which day. The duo was ready for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday depending on how the opportune moment would come in Parliament. The first effort was to be made on Tuesday at the auspicious hour of 11.58 a.m.

When Parliament sittings resumed on Tuesday morning, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna's parliamentary group leader, Wimal Weerawansa was to rise to a point of order. He contended that the supplementary estimate to allow financial provision for newly-created Ministries was not in proper order. Speaker W.J.M. Lokubandara adjourned sittings to facilitate a meeting of party leaders. It was only minutes before 11 a.m. that sittings resumed. Speaker Lokubandara gave the chair to Gitanjana Gunawardena, Deputy Speaker.

Just then, Samaraweera, followed by Sooriyarachchi, rose from their Government seats to cross the aisle to Opposition benches. The campaign manager for Mahinda Rajapaksa at the November 2005 Presidential elections, Samaraweera walked in the direction of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MPs. Sooriyarachchi followed. That seemed a deliberate move. They wanted to make clear they were not misunderstood as walking into the United National Party (UNP) benches. Significant enough, there was pin drop silence from the Government benches. No hoots, no jeers. Later, several Opposition stalwarts were to accost the duo inside the chamber, and outside in the lobby to shake hands. Even more importantly, some Government parliamentarians rang their mobile phones to wish them well. At least one of them said "apita denma beha" or "we cannot (join you) right now".

The crossover came as a surprise to Government leaders. Yet, days ahead Samaraweera had told United National Party (UNP) leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe of his plans. He had also shared the secret with JVP's Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The JVP's newly emerging firebrand, a staunch critic of the Government, was told to share the secret only with his leader, Somawansa Amerasinghe until it became public. There were fears that making it known to all others would result in information leaking to the Government. The secret was well kept.

Later, Samaraweera met Speaker Lokubandara. He asked whether he chose not to preside because he was crossing over. "No, no," replied Lokubandara. He said he had an urgent engagement with Attorney General C.R. de Silva and had to rush. On Wednesday morning, Samaraweera made a statement in Parliament to give reasons why he took the decision to cross over, exactly 19 years to the day after he was made organiser for Matara by the late Sirimavo R.D. Bandaranaike.

In a special article to The Sunday Times, which appears on Page 11, Samaraweera elaborated on his decision. The speech was deeply critical of the Government over the deteriorating human rights situation, breakdown in law and order, mounting corruption and the recent eviction of Tamils from lodges in Colombo among other matters.

But the moot point in his speech was an invitation to former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. He said "…I would like to extend an invitation to former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, a woman who despite tremendous obstacles gave direction to the party and the country, to join us in our struggle to guide the party in the right direction. Though she has emphatically stated that she is out of active politics, I respectfully request that she join us in order to solely protect the party."

The invitation to Kumaratunga did not go down well in some SLFP circles where the former President's controversial tenure is only too well known. They argued that she did little or nothing to combat corruption and not one single person was indicted for involvement in million and billion rupee deals, quite apart from her own conduct in handling public funds.

Like his crossover, Samaraweera's statement in Parliament was front page headlines in most newspapers. It clearly jolted many Government leaders. Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Leader of the House, thought he was putting an end to speculation when he declared he had spoken on the telephone with Kumaratunga. She had told him she had no plans to return to politics. Fernandpulle was right when he said Kumaratunga had no plans to return to politics. But that is not all.

Quite clearly, Samaraweera's invitation was not for Kumaratunga to re-enter politics. He said in his speech that she should "join us in our struggle to guide the party in the right direction." What Fernandopulle, or for that matter the Government leaders were unaware, was another story. The Sunday Times has learnt that Kumaratunga has expressed her willingness, if invited, to help resurrect the party founded by her father. This is by playing a role similar to that of Sonia Gandhi in India. The latter is the leader of the ruling Congress Party but plays no role either in active politics or by holding office in the UPF Government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Kumaratunga is not averse to playing such a role, as one high ranking source said, to "wrest it from the Rajapaksa family and rededicate the SLFP to the ideals for which her late father set it up."

Samaraweera has already broached the idea of a common alliance with a limited five point programme with opposition parties. Main among the five points is the restoration of democracy and the resultant re-imposition of the rule of law. Sources close to him say Samaraweera had broached the subject in some detail with Opposition leader Wickremesinghe, before the crossover. Similar discussions with JVP leader Amerasinghe are on the cards. "The idea is not to form a closely-knit common front which is a difficult, if not impossible task. The aim will be to unite all opposition forces to avert the rapidly deteriorating situation in the country and restore democracy. When this is done, the parties can go their own way," the source said.

Such a move will no doubt entail a great degree of participation by the UNP. Internal divisions have caused serious problems for the party in the past and have led to the crossover of 17 of its parliamentarians to the Government side.

Even thereafter, internal bickering is still a serious issue. This week some UNPers were bitterly angry their leader, Wickremesinghe had chosen to go abroad -- to attend a wedding in Chennai -- during a critical period of time when the two Government MPs were crossing over. This time he had flown to Chennai for a private wedding. The supplementary estimate was passed in Parliament with 107 voting in favour and 87 against. A large number of UNP MPs including their Leader were not present when the vote was taken. So were a few UPFA parliamentarians who were abroad. That included Anura Bandaranaike, Susil Premajayantha and Arjuna Ranatunga. Earlier, there was widespread political speculation that the Opposition planned to defeat the Government over this vote. So much so, state run media gloated on Thursday that such a move had come a cropper.

Even if Wickremesinghe chose to absent himself at the critical hour, the UNP parliamentary group had earlier taken a decision to vote against the supplementary estimate. Significantly, the group had also decided that the 17 MPs now with the Government, who were still claiming to be UNP members, should also vote against the supplementary estimate. Now that they have voted with the Government, disciplinary action by the party may lead to their expulsion. In such an event, the UNP would want to nominate successors. Issues arising out of these matters would naturally end in a Court of Law. The question is what follows if Court uphold the steps taken by the UNP. Logically, that would lead to not only a fall of the Government but may even pave the way for another parliamentary election. This is certainly not to the liking of President Rajapaksa in the light of the rapidly declining popularity of his Government.

On Friday, the President ducked attending the unveiling of the portrait of one-time Prime Minister Dr. W. Dahanayake in Parliament, though not so long ago he attended the unveiling of the portrait of the late President J.R. Jayewardene. It was surprising that Rajapaksa did not turn up for this event, given the fact that Dahanayake was the first Head of Government, however brief his tenure, from the south. UNP Leader Wickremesinghe took the opportunity to take a dig at the incumbents in office by saying that Dr. Dahanayake was not a corrupt politician and that he was best known for catching the commuter train to back home in Galle when he lost the elections.

That same evening, Wickremesinghe took part in a wel-attended party rally at Kurunegala where organisers had arranged four persons with 'Olu Bakka' masks looking like the Rajapaksa Brothers. The worst part though was when the crowd started throwing sandals and empty plastic bottles at these four persons. The previous night, Wickremesinghe had briefed a visiting delegation of foreign media observers of the press freedom climate in the country.

Meanwhile, Samaraweera also plans a visit to India. He wants to seek meetings with Indian Government leaders he had met during his brief tenure as the country's Foreign Minister, to brief them on the prevailing situation in the country and his decision to cross over. Visits to some other countries are also on the cards and their envoys in Colombo are being consulted.

To President Rajapaksa, the Samaraweera-Sooriyarachchi crossover was disturbing news after his return from Geneva. He was there to address the International Labour Organisation (ILO) annual sessions. Despite many an effort, Lankan diplomats failed to secure an appointment for Rajapaksa to call on the Swiss President. Hence, besides addressing the ILO, he was virtually confined to the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva. There, he stayed in one suite and hired another for his meetings with various dignitaries.

One was with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour. After her efforts on many an occasion to visit Sri Lanka, the Government had agreed to line up a meeting with the President whilst in Geneva. During talks, she expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Sri Lanka. The President agreed, in principle, to her request to pay a visit to Sri Lanka. The dates, however, are to be determined.

But a more important meeting was with Norway's Minister for International Development, Erik Solheim and an official delegation. It included Jon Hanssen Bauer and three officials from the Peace and Reconciliation Division in the Foreign Ministry. Assisting President Rajapaksa were Ministers Mahinda Samarasinghe, Douglas Devananda, Keheliya Rambukwella, Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona and Attorney General C.R. de Silva.

On the opposite page our Defence Correspondent, back in Sri Lanka after an overseas visit, deals with this aspect. With the peace talks in the back burner, and military offensives being stepped up in the North and East, the Rajapaksa Administration has to face a number of other issues. Politically, the Samaraweera-Sooriyarachchi combine has set in motion a new process that is a big worry for Government leaders.

The deteriorating economy has become a matter of greater concern. At last Wednesday's cabinet meeting, Rajapaksa was to turn down requests from many a Minister for financial allocations to their Ministries for various activities. He said he would have to check with the Treasury to ascertain whether funds are available. So, it is a rough journey ahead for a Government whose popularity is taking a beating as the cost of living keeps mounting amidst all other problems.

Samaraweera's switch shifts scenario