News
50 councils in limbo while leaders sniff political winds
Uncertainty exists over the formation of more than 50 councils around the country following last weekend’s local government elections while party leaders remain publicly silent on whether to topple the winning party by forming coalitions.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday told journalists there were bound to be particular problems with hung councils.
“We are likely to encounter issues in conducting affairs of councils where political parties have returned almost equal numbers,” Mr. Wickremesinghe said, adding that his United National Party (UNP) was awaiting the Election Commission report.
The Minister of Sustainable Development and Wildlife, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (UNP), said his party was ready to work with the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) or the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) if Mr. Wickremesinghe and SLFP Chairman, President Maithripala Sirisena, come to an understanding.
“I believe that people who are loyal to President Maithripala Sirisena must remain in his party. It’ll be good if the ones who criticise him join Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa,” he added.
He explained that at party meetings the UNP leadership had advised members to avoid criticising SLFP members and work with understanding in order to continue stable national government.
He was hopeful that a number of councils could be formed by the UNP joining hands with the SLFP.
The Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Gamini Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa (SLFP) said his party’s leadership had yet to make decisions on forming councils.
“Until the party announces decisions the organisers cannot make councils or appoint members,” he said.
“I cannot make any more comments, especially about the overall political situation. The President will come to a decision and inform the media,” he said.
In the Medirigiriya Pradeshiya Sabha in Polonnaruwa, the Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) won the council by gaining 14 seats but the UPFA and the UNP have returned nine members each and by teaming up will be able to form the council with 18 members.
In the Horowpathana Pradeshiya Sabha in Anuradhapura, the SLPP won by returning eight members but if the four UPFA members join the seven UNP members they can jointly form the council.
Hung councils include the Ratnapura Municipal Council where the SLPP returned 12 members but the UNP’s 10 members could join up with the two SLFP members.
A UPFA member of that council, Kumari Jayasundara, said she is more than ready to join with the UNP and try to form the council. Since the government is also a unified “Yahapalana government” their two parties could do well by forming a council together, she said.
“If the two parties combine we can function well with the central government since we have the same kind of partnership in a merged council,” Ms Jayasundara said.
“The government will be able to provide better support and resources for services and not run intoconflict with an SLPP council.”. She is waiting for the party’s decision.
UNP Ratnapura member Gamini Dayanada Ramanayake said his party had begun talks with UPFA party members at ground level to forming a merged council leadership but could not proceed further without a decision by party leaders.
“Both our parties can merge only if leaders of both parties come to an understanding”, he said.
Party leaders’ decisions are also being awaited at the Welimada Pradeshiya Sabha in the Badulla district where the SLPP has gained a majority with 18 seats while the UNP won 15 seats and the SLFP took five seats.
The SLFP’s chief organiser at Welimada, S.A.R. Bandusena, said that at a meeting on Thursday President Sirisena had ordered them not to join another party nor for individual members to cross over to other parties.
“Anyone who joins the other parties will be removed from the party,” he said.
Decisions are only expected after the election results are gazetted on March 6.
The UNP organiser for Welimada, Ravindra Samaraweera, who is also a state minister confirmed that party leaders had still not decided whether to support each other and form council, overturning the SLFP’s victory.
Leaders would make a common decision for all councils, he said.
“When a common decision is given we cannot form a council according to our will,” he said, adding that elected members would abide by their leaders’ decision.
Mr. Bandusena pointed out that the Welimada Pradeshiya Sabha, which he said had good revenue, would have problems when the new council is formed since the number of councillors has increased from 21 to 41.