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Buoyant Sajith attacks Karu at Working Committee meeting
View(s):The United National Party (UNP)’s one time deputy leader Sajith Premadasa was in a buoyant mood when the party’s Working Committee met last Thursday. Perhaps he had good reason to be in that mood. He had performed well for his party during last week’s Southern Provincial Council elections.
During the polls campaign, Mr. Premadasa told the Committee, he had received a directive from the leadership. He was asked not to involve in the party’s campaign persons who have been suspended from membership. “I will take anyone I want to make the party win. I challenge those who want persons debarred to take any action against me,” he thundered.
The persons at issue were former Provincial Councillors Shiral Laktilleke (Western Province) and Maithri Gunaratne (Southern Province). Lionel Ipalawatte, a Working Committee member from the South, said since the subject had come up for discussion, he wanted to point out that the two persons in question had urged people not to vote for the UNP. He claimed he was in possession of a leaflet to confirm his allegations. Hours after the meeting ended, however, both Mr. Laktilleke and Mr. Gunaratne had told their friends in the party that they were not associated with any campaign against the party.
Mr. Premadasa was also to refer to an upcoming presidential election. He sought to know whether national leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had made up his mind to contest. If it were so, the Hambantota District Parliamentarian said, he would campaign for him countrywide. Otherwise, he was willing to be in the forefront to face challenges encountered by the party.
All hell broke loose at the meeting thereafter when Mr. Premadasa made some veiled attacks on Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya. The latter was to hit back saying there was a “hidden hand” disrupting the UNP’s progress.
Mr. Premadasa was seated next to Thalatha Athukorale, the UNP’s Ratnapura District Parliamentarian. From facing the chair, he turned behind to charge it was Mr. Jayasuriya who was the hidden hand.The UNP’s new Media Consultant and Working Committee member Krishantha Cooray, a new appointee to the Working Committee, who was seated right behind Mr. Premadasa, retorted, “Why are you telling me. If you have something to say, you will have to tell that to him directly,” he exhorted.
“Who the hell are you? I did not tell you anything. I told Thalatha,” responded Mr. Premadasa. Mr Cooray was to insist that the remark was directed at him. That heated exchange was to see Moneragala District Parliamentarian Ranjith Madduma Bandara use some strong and unprintable words on Mr. Cooray. He ignored calls for order from Mr. Wickremesinghe who was in the chair.
There was some camaraderie though when the meeting ended. Mr. Premadasa was heard to remark that Mr. Cooray was his friend. Mr. Bandara and Ms. Athukorale were seen talking to Mr. Cooray. Mr. Premadasa’s remarks that triggered the verbal duel, no doubt, are indicative of the frictions within the party. As one senior remarked, “if we do not resolve our own issues, how can we campaign for votes at any elections to solve the country’s problems?”
UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe remarked that the room where the meeting was held was hot enough because the air conditioning had broken down. He said he had thought the meeting would therefore end early. He was compelled to adjourn it after the heated verbal exchanges.
Kabir tells Sirisena: UNP doors open
Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, who is also the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), got an unusual telephone call last week. This was after remarks he made at a public function in Seeduwa. He had said that he came from a family of United National Party (UNP) supporters. The remarks were to receive wide publicity.
The caller was UNP Chairman Kabir Hashim. “If you want to come over to the UNP, the door is always open for you.”
That seemed a contrast from remarks President Rajapaksa had made in the light of attempts by some UNP Parliamentarians to cross over. “The door is now closed,” he said.
Sajin: Defeat is not an orphan
The voting at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva had ended.
Galle District Parliamentarian and External Affairs Ministry monitoring MP Sajin de Vass Gunawardena, who was in charge of the Sri Lanka delegation was giving a pep talk to staffers at the Sri Lanka Permanent Mission.
Also present were Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunga and Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha.
Mr. de Vass Gunawardena said all staffers in the mission had performed very well during the 25th sessions of the UNHRC. Hence, he said, for one whole year no one would be transferred out.
Of course, he did not end by saying that. It was no doubt a revelation that he was more responsible for transfers than External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris. The Parliamentarian also heaped some praise on himself for the outcome of the voting.
He had either persuaded some countries to vote or abstain. A witty EAM official remarked, “If he is right, this is a case of defeat not being an orphan.” He was alluding to the saying that victory has many fathers but defeat is an orphan.
Polls boss gives voting injection to nurses’ chief
Ven. Murutettuwe Ananda Thera, leader of the Public Service United Nurses Union (PSUNU), wanted to cast his vote at the Western Provincial Council (WPC) elections last week.
However, he found there was a problem. He had misplaced his National Identity Card. The polls day was a Saturday and there was no way of getting in touch with the Department for the Registration of Persons. So he did the next best thing. He contacted the Commissioner of Elections, Mahinda Deshapriya.
The obliging polls chief hurriedly prepared a document confirming the identity of Ven. Ananda. He carried it with him and cast his vote. When it came to counting time of votes of the WPC at Royal College, Sarath Manamendra, who joined the UNP recently, had to play some hide and seek.
This was after he was spotted by supporters of Hirunika Premachandra at the counting centre. Some of them wanted to confront him. Manamendra made a hasty retreat. The men gave chase but missed him. Manamendra, eyewitnesses said, hid behind a huge mara tree. Perhaps his presence at the counting centre was not required. He did not win a seat and came among the last few.
Doctors worried about economic ills
Treasury Secretary Dr. P.B. Jayasundera who addressed the media recently revealed that when he consulted doctors for medical problems, instead of his ills, it’s the economic ills that the doctors were more interested in.
“Whenever I consult a doctor, the first thing they inquire from me is about interest rates or the safety of their deposits and then get onto asking about what ails me,” Dr. Jayasundera said. This, he said, was the down side to holding such high and influential office.
Ranil goes to MIT for four weeks
UNP National Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe left for the United States yesterday for a four-week stint at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
He told the party’s Working Committee last Thursday that the Leadership Council would run the political aspects of the party during his absence. The Council is chaired by Karu Jayasuriya, former Deputy Leader. The party’s Parlaimentary affairs will come under the charge of John Ameratunga, Chief Opposition Whip.