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SLFP approve Mahinda's deals? It was not the case with the older generation. The late S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was crowned the Silver Tongue of Asia for his oratory. He said what he said what he meant, and stood by it. Pilloried as he was by the media at that time, Father Bandaranaike never said he never said something he did say. After his assassination, Mother Sirimavo emerged from the kitchen, so to say, to become an internationally respected leader. Neither was known to be an exponent of the fine art of verbal acrobatics - saying or doing one thing one day, and denying or not doing it another day. But daughter Chandrika and her brother Anura seem distinctly of a different mould. On Friday September 9, Kumaratunga gathered with her confidants - or what is left of them -- Deputy Ministers Dilan Perera and Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Presidential Advisor Mano Tittawella, and spokesman cum "unofficial envoy" for Tiger guerrilla affairs Harim Peiris and her Director General for Media, Eric Fernando. A strongly-worded letter in Sinhala addressed to Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse was drafted. Tittawella advised that it should not be released to the media. He feared it could cause embarrassment all round. He withdrew early from the discussion. Kumaratunga, who was angry, then asked that selected paragraphs be leaked. Eric Fernando did the job. In that letter she demanded Rajapakse's explanation for breaching party discipline by entering into a MoU with the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). She charged "he had unilaterally decided to reject the tsunami aid sharing structure" which had been "approved by our entire party, the Cabinet - including yourself - and presented to Parliament". Rajapakse read the letter when it arrived at Temple Trees. He showed it to his brother and Chief Campaign Manager Basil. Both spoke for a while. Rajapakse said he did not think it would be released to the media. He said they should not send a reply and precipitate a crisis, but instead, remain silent. Later the two brothers learnt Kumaratunga had got some parts of the letter leaked to the media. A disappointed Rajapakse noted that the campaign to vilify him was continuing unabated. But on Monday, ahead of her departure to New York to address the United Nations, Kumaratunga gave interviews to State television, radio and the print media. Rajapakse's concerns had reached her ears. There were suspicions that she was out to scuttle Rajapakse's candidature for the upcoming Presidential elections; she did a volte-face, and now declared she would fully back him. Early on Tuesday she flew aboard the Singapore Airlines New York Express - the 17 hour non-stop flight. The ultra luxury first class compartment in this long haul flight reduced jet lag. Before departure, her aides had also told Rajapakse that Kumaratunga had also placed a ban on Government MPs' travel abroad during the polls period. It was revealed in these columns last week that Rajapakse supporters were upset that MPs were being found slots to take part in seminars and overseas tours during the polls period. That was aimed at undermining Rajapakse's campaign. But the Presidential aides explained that Kumaratunga could not do anything about the UN delegation, some 40 of them altogether. It was too late. Barring a few officials, all others, the MPs, and government run media officials, were hand picked by Kumaratunga. Who could grudge the millions spent from state coffers when this will be her last foray into the UN as President of Sri Lanka? Even though she leaned on the private media to deliver her SOS messages, none of their representatives were on board. She gave the reason before she departed for New York. She told the government run electronic and print media in an identical interview that the private media were all loyal to Opposition and UNP leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe. The moral in the story - take the media that is loyal to you when you travel abroad. That will give you good publicity and cleverly shut out all the criticism, but use the Ranil Wickremesinghe media when you want to take a dig at your own Prime Minister. That is the Kumaratunga Doctrine of Media Culture for you. Just the day before Kumaratunga's letter arrived at Temple Trees, Premier Rajapakse's brother Basil had visited an old chum, Anura Bandaranaike at Isurupaya, the former Acland House in Kompannaveediya. He had a friendly chat and appealed for Anura's co-operation. Basil told him that even if he was not available due to his many foreign visits, they (the Rajapakses) would go ahead with the campaign. They only needed his blessings. A smiling Anura nodded in approval and Basil left with glee. But the very next day (Saturday) Anura had slammed the Rajapakses at a public meeting in Attanagalla. Though he did not name names, the speech was replete with innuendo. "We have never robbed or killed or even attacked the people. There is no blood in our hands. I never visited a Police Station due to any terror acts. That is how we have done politics," declared Anura, the Prime Minister apparent under a Mahinda Rajapakse Presidency. Having taken that swipe, the Running Mate of Mahinda Rajapakse ran to board a Qatar Airways flight to London with a stop over in Doha. He met friends in London, including High Commissioner Kshenuka Seneviratne during a brief stay. Before boarding a flight to New York, in a telephone interview with a Colombo newspaper Anura declared the party (SLFP) had been betrayed. He said he did not care about elections now. Like remarks of political leaders impacting on stock markets, campaigners for Rajapakse said the remarks activated other Prime Ministerial aspirants - Nimal Siripala de Silva, D.M. Jayaratne and Maithripala Sirisena. But that euphoria was to be short lived. In New York, Anura had changed his mind. He had met his sister and talked about developments in Colombo. He ordered his Tourism Ministry staff in Colombo to issue a statement. Anura said "My attention has been drawn to media report (sic) in Colombo that I have said I will pull out my support for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse's campaign supposedly based on something I never said." He added: "After extensive discussions with H.E. the President, I have agreed with her proposal that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party should closely examine the recent agreements entered by Mr. Rajapakse with some parties and groups. If it does accept the interest of our party and its people and if the Sri Lanka Freedom Party so decides, I will extend my full support and campaign for Mr. Rajapakse on my return." That makes it very clear that there is no support from Anura for Mahinda now. It will only come after the SLFP decides on certain issues upon his sister's return to Colombo. So,
sister Chandrika has changed her mind again. When she left for New
York, she declared to all state media, both print and electronic,
in an identical Q & A interview that she would fully support
her party candidate. Now, her brother Anura says that he had agreed
with a proposal from his sister, President Kumaratunga to examine
the recent agreements. The two leaders of the Bandaranaike family
who claim such close affinity to the SLFP than all others were changing
positions like changing clothes. In
terms of the New York Declaration, Kumaratunga, her brother, and
whoever remains as their close allies now hope to go before the
party apparatus, possibly the Parliamentary Group and the Central
Committee. They will have to endorse Rajapakse's agreements with
the JVP and the JHU if he is to remain as the official candidate.
If he wins that move, it would come as a severe blow to Kumaratunga's
prestige. If they do not, does that mean the end of Rajapakse's
candidature? His campaign staff is worried. They complain that their
leader is yet to overcome the many obstacles placed in his way and
this had begun to affect his campaign. It was only two days before he left for New York that Anura wrote a strongly-worded letter to Deputy Minister Sripathi Sooriyaratchchi blaming him for organising a public rally in Kiribathgoda for Rajapakse without his concurrence. Yet, members of Attanagalla Pradeshiya Sabha had told Rajapakse they were willing to plunge into his campaign despite Anura's reluctance, but he told them to wait. Rajapakse also spoke to Deputy Transport Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna who also represents the same district. Similarly Rajapakse's campaign staff is also finding it difficult in the Kandy district. There were complaints that co-operation of Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama was not forthcoming. Amunugama in the meantime denied reports that he was planning to cross over back to the United National Party in view of his discomfort with Rajapakse and his deal with the JVP and the JHU. But Amunugama told close friends he would remain neutral and will not quit. Early
this week Rajapakse talked to JVP leaders about this situation.
He also discussed criticism over his agreements. In the wake of
criticism over the ethnic issue, Rajapakse sounded out the JVP.
He wanted to know whether he could make reference to an offer of
maximum devolution of power. JVPers pointed him to the provisions
of the 13th amendment to the Constitution and the parameters within
which it could be done. Rajapakse then declared he would not make
any such references. ence,
he argued, there was a need for a change in approach. Rajapakse conveyed this to Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera who asked whether the Premier would like to postpone the public ceremony in Kandy. "No, we will do it. Like that, I cannot put off the Presidential Elections too," replied Rajapakse who was in an upbeat mood. But there was embarrassing moments too for Rajapakse when the ceremonies began in Kandy. Ven. Ellawala Medananda Thero dropped a bombshell during his speech. He
said President Kumaratunga was surreptitiously joining hands with
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to cut a grave for Rajapakse.
He said this should be resisted at any cost. Rajapakse pleaded and
successfully persuaded the print and electronic media from making
any reportage of these remarks. Then came another embarrassing moment. ibbottuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera, the Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter. The prelate noted that Premier Rajapakse had agreed to several conditions and declared that the country could not be governed on conditions alone. He expressed the need for flexibility. Ven. Omalpe Sobitha of the JHU was evidently embarrassed and prepared to leave. By then, the meeting came to an end. Kumaratunga had another meeting with Rajapakse besides the one during the 54th anniversary of the SLFP. This was at the Janadipathi Mandiraya at the Sarasaviya Ulela where awards were made to cinema personalities. Rajapakse sat next to Kumaratunga. It was Rajapakse who began on a lighter vein cracking one joke after another. Kumaratunga joined. After his speech, the Prime Minister was invited to speak but he declined. As a Rajapakse loyalist points out, despite the obstacles placed by Kumaratunga, luck has been with him. He became candidate only after S.B. Dissanayake left the party to join the UNP. Anura Bandaranaike's stint with the UNP not only lessened his claims to be the Presidential candidate but helped Rajapakse. Similarly, though Anura was responsible for the formation of the Sandanaya (alliance) with the JVP, he was unable to win its support. Rajapakse was able to become Leader of the Opposition at one time. Now, he has won the backing of the JVP and the JHU. He says, Rajapakse's biggest hurdle still remains not Ranil Wickremesinghe but Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and her brother Anura. He now waits to cross that one final hurdle. In the meantime, the UNP watches and waits. Promising to go hell for leather once nominations date is announced, the party machinery is still oiling itself. One stalwart used the old local idiom which translated means "why wear the loin-cloth when the sea is a mile away". Others ask whether the UNP has forgotten that the elections are in 2005, and not 2006. |
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