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Anura-Mahinda quarrel worsens
By Harinda Vidanage
The dispute between Anura Bandaranaike and Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapakse has intensified with Mr. Bandaranaike accusing Mr. Rajapakse of being involved in an organized effort to destabilise the position of President Chandrika Kumaratunga and himself in the party, with the support of the UNP.

Mr. Bandaranaike told The Sunday Times this was an organized effort by some SLFP members aided by some businessmen who were hostile to the President. Reacting to the comments made earlier to The Sunday Times by Mr. Rajapakse, Mr. Bandaranaike said he had joined the SLFP much before Mr. Rajapakse or Mr. Fowzie.

"I joined the SLFP long before Rajapakse and Fowzie . After joining the SLFP just nine days before nominations for the last general elections, I polled by far the highest preferential vote of all the PA candidates, nearly 160,000 more than the next candidate.

'In Hambantota Mr. Rajapakse, which he has lost twice before, came a poor second to Sajith Premadasa and barely won his own seat', Mr. Bandaranaike said. Referring to comments by Mr. Rajapakse that his allegations regarding Mr. Fowzie were baseless he said it was tantamount to calling the allegations in the letter sent by the President to Mr. Fowzie as baseless and he could be called upon to explain this comment alone.

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