Political shadow boxing between rival factions is reaching a peak as the United National Party (UNP), the country’s main opposition, holds its annual sessions next week to adopt a new Constitution.
Barring a formal endorsement of a new Constitution, already approved by its main policy making body, the Working Committee, no contentious issues are on the agenda. However, charting a trouble free course during the sessions has become a headache for leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe and his loyalists who form the majority.
Already, Wickremesinghe loyalists are canvassing district organisers to bring delegates who are loyal to the leadership and the party for the convention. They have successfully chosen UNP headquarters in Kotte, ‘Siri Kotha’ as the venue – a move that is being resented by the ambitious leadership aspirant, Sajith Premadasa and his loyalists.
Under protest, the latter are busy canvassing for delegations to push Premadasa’s plea that voting rights be given to provincial and local councillors if elections become necessary through a secret ballot to pick the senior leadership. Such a move, if successful, could cause an impasse. Premadasa was one of those present when the Working Committee unanimously endorsed the draft Constitution when it was presented to the Working Committee by a team of lawyers whch drafted it. They recommended that the leader of the party, deputy, assistant leader, national organiser and chairman be elected by consensus. In the event of any competition for such office, the Committee said an election shall be held by secret ballot.
The continued lobbying to pressure the annual sessions to allow voting rights for local and provincial councillors to vote, if successful, has many serious connotations. Main among them is the belief among loyalists that Premadasa could be elected UNP leader. With that, a move is afoot to build a grand coalition with former General Sarath Fonseka who is now serving a jail sentence. It was only last week that Fonseka declared he would not join the UNP as long as Ranil Wickremesinghe was the leader. He made the remarks during talks with his one-time co-ordinating secretary at a discussion at the Prison Hospital.
The go-between for such a grand coalition is millionaire businessman Tiran Alles, now General Secretary of the Democratic National Front (DNA), of which the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is a member. The JVP is not in favour of such an alliance and has made clear it would function on its own.
Proof of a closer nexus between Premadasa and Alles, known to be close associates, emerged when the latter contributed a part of his Decentralised Budget vote of five million rupees for Premadasa in the Hambantota District. The move has already angered the JVP hierarchy which feels that an MP belonging to one of its umbrella organisations was helping the United National Party. A further demonstration of this new closeness came when Premadasa, though not a lawyer, participated in a demonstration in Hulftsdorp by lawyers early this week seeking the release of Fonseka. The latter’s wife Anoma, Alles and several others took part in the event.
On Wednesday, four senior UNP members in the Hambantota District held a news conference in Colombo to protest against Premadasa’s actions. They were M.K. Athula Senaratne - former Southern Provincial Council candidate and former Pradeshiya Sabha member, Munidasa Dadallage, Pradeshiya Sabha member (Ambalantota) Sarath Abeysinghe – Advisor of the UNP for the Hambantota District, Bimal Jayasiri – Secretary Promotional Activities (UNP), Hambantota district.
“When our leader Ranil Wickremesinghe accepted Mr. Sarath Fonseka as the common candidate and told us to work with the JVP for his victory, we did not have any major obstacles from the Government. However, Mr. Premadasa did not do anything to carry out a vigorous campaign. Instead of that he tried to have separate meetings and one of the buses carrying supporters were shot at, said Mr. Abeysinghe.
M.K. Athula Senaratne said “From the Decentralized Budget he uses the Rs. five million for the Jana Suwaya programme, but does not use them for other common needs of the people. We identify him as a person who does not love the party. He only speaks of his father late Ranasinghe Premadasa, but does not speak about the powerful party and the other leaders”.
“It was Mr. Premadasa’s supporters who attacked the vehicle of Mr. Ravi Karunanayaka and my vehicle few months back. We have evidence to support that,” said Bimal Jayasiri.
Mr. Abeysinghe circulated a letter which he had sent to the members of the UNP Lawyers Association on September 29, 2010.
He said “I am calling Mr. Premadasa for an open debate. If he can he should win the debate.
I am making this challenge to the lawyers who are backing Sajith. If possible organise a debate between myself and Sajith in your presence. Do not evade the issue. If you are evading this allow others to solve the problems. I will point out the dangers of handing over the responsibility. I can do this with evidence. I will also prove that the qualifications he claims to have are only a myth”.
Premadasa loyalists say they are gaining wide support among district organisations and have ‘many surprises’ in store.
Thus, upsets cannot be ruled out next Sunday at the UNP’s annual convention. |
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