Political crossovers, the display of posters of the two main candidates – President Mahinda Rajapaksa and General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka and news conferences from both sides dominated the past week.
On Monday, the former UNP’s National Organiser, S.B. Dissanayaka, who has a track record of political somersaults announced his resignation from the party and the decision to support President Rajapaksa.
He said, he was resigning from all positions he held in the UNP including the post of Central Provincial council opposition leader saying, “On principle I do not agree to be elected from one party and work for another”.
He made his announcement at a news conference at the Taj Samudra hotel.
Ministerial Security body guards frisked journalists entering the venue. In the background of the head table was a banner with the UNP symbol elephant with the wordings “United National Party”, indicating that he still did not want to sever his ties with the party.
Using a booklet titled ‘My Responsibility’ which was later distributed to the media, Mr. Dissanayaka went on to elaborate the reasons why he quit the party. The main target was Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe whom he blamed for almost all the faults of the party. But others including former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, SLFP (M) leader Mangala Samaraweera, the JVP were also among those he accused for what he called the ‘down fall’ of the country.
Mr. Dissanayaka who had once made his ambition clear saying he was ‘fit to contest the presidential election’, was asked whether he still harboured the same ambition or at least that of becoming the Prime Minister, he said, “No I have given up all those ambitions. I have put a wall and stopped these ideas”.
But, instead he said, he was extending ‘unconditional’ support for President Rajapaksa’s campaign and would ensure his victory at the Presidential election.
When he was asked about the reports of “Batahira Balawega’ (Western forces) backing General (retd) Sarath Fonseka’s campaign, he responded, “Do not worry, because they are not going to vote, it is the locals who are going to vote”.
On the following day, Kurunegala District UNP MP, Johnston Fernando addressing a news conference in Colombo said, he would announce his decision on December 17 – the day of the nominations.
“Our call is that we should contest the Presidential election under our own party symbol. Until the 17th I will campaign for that,” Mr. Fernando who has been critical of the UNP leader and other senior members said.
He said that the UNP leadership had failed to prevent members leaving the party at regular intervals and the latest example was S.B.Dissanayaka where no attempts were made to prevent him from leaving the party.
“No one can talk against the leadership in the party as they are threatened that they would not be given nominations. As a result no one can voice their opinions,” he charged.
JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, addressing a news briefing on the same day said, the government without proof had made allegations in Parliament against Gen. Fonseka regarding arms purchases, but they were false and the JVP will soon expose the truth about arms purchases and MiG deals.
“We have all the documents regarding these purchases. We will be presenting them in Parliament soon,” he said. |
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