Axe falls on JVP strongman

Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Parliamentary Group Leader and Propaganda Secretary Wimal Weerawansa is to be suspended from the party after the Eastern Provincial polls on May 10. A decision to this effect was taken by the JVP at a Central Committee meeting on March 21. Until such time the suspension takes effect on May 10, the Central Committee has decided that none of its members should have any official dealings with Mr. Weerawansa except the party’s General Secretary, Tilvin Silva.

The date of suspension has been set for May 10 to allow Mr. Weerawansa to take part in the campaign for the Eastern Provincial Council elections. The JVP is fielding candidates at this election though it is opposed to the system of Provincial Councils. Thereafter he is to face disciplinary action by the party. However, even if the party decides to expel him, it would not affect his seat in Parliament. Like all other JVP parliamentarians, he contested on the UPFA (United People’s Freedom Alliance) ticket.

The JVP Central Committee decision on March 21 was the culmination of a debate by the party seniors over Mr. Weerawansa’s conduct in recent weeks and months. Two weeks before the decision was made, at another Central Committee meeting, senior members had been strongly critical of Mr. Weerawansa’s continued stance in supporting President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government. Some alleged that he was attempting to divide the party whilst others cited instances where he was leaning heavily in favour of Government policy.

Mr. Weerawansa had, however, denied the allegations at that meeting. But he was a notable absentee at the March 21 Central Committee meeting. One of the specific allegations against Mr. Weerawansa was the comment he made at a news conference of the Patriotic National Movement (PNM). He said that cadres of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) led by Pillayan (Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan) should not be disarmed lest they become prey to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The remarks contradicted statements made by JVP leader, Somawansa Amerasinghe, that the paramilitary group should be disarmed ahead of the Provincial Council elections in the East.

Mr. Weerawansa was also a notable absentee when the JVP held its annual remembrance day at Vihara Maha Devi Park yesterday to mark the 37th anniversary of the abortive (April 1971) insurgency.

Political and media circles were agog with news of Mr. Weerawansa on Friday after the web site Lankadissent run by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s Mangala Samaraweera faction posted a report that he had been suspended from party. Though some JVP leaders publicly declined comment on the issue, others said key members of the party were being briefed on a “one-on-one basis” about the action that was being taken against Mr. Weerawansa.