UNP at dead end: Karu cajoled to challenge Ranil

• Globe-trotting Wickremesinghe under heavy fire as the party faces the fate of LSSP and CP
• Premadasa group now suspicious of Jayasuriya after his statement and talks with Ranil

There was a grossly bizarre aspect to the latest crisis to engulf the country's tottering main opposition United National Party (UNP) this week. Either wittingly or unwittingly, its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe triggered off another battle for his position as party leader. The stranger-than-fiction sequence of events came when he telephoned from the comfort of a five-star hotel in London to ask acting UNP leader Karu Jayasuriya and communications head Mangala Samaraweera to hold a news conference. It was to counter accusations made in a media statement by Colombo District MP Rosy Senanayake.

Sajith Premadasa group at a press conference held at Renuka Hotel in Colombo on Thursday.Pic by Gemunu Wellage

A former Mrs. World, Senanayake, was inducted to politics by Wickremesinghe. She was given the 'safe seat' of Colombo West, one held by none other than one-time UNP Leader Junius Richard Jayewardene for several years until he became the President of the Republic. However, in a previous leadership struggle which started last year, she had backed Sajith Premadasa for the party leadership against Wickremesinghe, having also been a close friend of the Premadasa family. After the putsch to oust Wickremesinghe failed in March this year, the UNP leader unceremoniously dropped her from the new Working Committee, the party's main policy making body. In the wake of the humiliating defeat at the July 23 polls to 65 local councils where the UNP won none, she fired a fresh salvo from the sidelines blaming Wickremesinghe for the defeat.

Her statement said "…..At a time when incompetent and corrupt practices of the government such as hedging deals, blatant corruption and disregard to essential safety in selling contaminated fuel are damaging the country - and at a time the cost of living keeps escalating, it would have been a fine time to see a positive benefit for the main opposition party, the UNP. However, it is puzzling that the performance of our party had deteriorated further………. The 'wait and see' attitude and the indecisive and ill-thought out policies of the leader have played a significant role -- and as such, it is time for the buck to stop…… It is clear to all within the party mainstream that the resolve of those who voted for that party for generations has collapsed and that they say in one voice that the leadership must produce results -- or at least some gains-- in an indicative election of this nature. They are also clear when they say that successive failure calls for change -- and immediate change ….."

Wickremesinghe, now in London to take part in the annual sessions of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) was angered by the criticism. On the other hand, even without that statement, a wider section of the UNP was angered by his actions. He had chosen, as usual, to remain a prolific jet setter when the party's interests demanded his presence in Sri Lanka, they lamented. They say that anyone from the UNP could have represented the party at this event in London. This was whilst President Mahinda Rajapaksa had put off a weekly cabinet meeting and spent three-days at a stretch in the North conducting the polls campaign together with some 40 ministers and deputies in what it conceded was an uphill battle to wrest any councils in the North for the government.

When the news conference was lined up for Wednesday at the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition at Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Acting UNP Leader, Jayasuriya found he had a private engagement to attend and skipped it. In his absence, Samaraweera sought the presence of UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake, who had arrived in Colombo. He obliged. Samaraweera gave two reasons for the UNP defeat at local polls. One was the fact that people had "mistrusted the elections under the Rajapaksa administration." Even the President, he said, had misused the powers. "The little trust people had in the Elections Department and the Police has been lost after the President took over the powers. Therefore lots of people lost the trust," he added.

The second reason, he said, were problems within the party. He said, "Some are trying to create divisions like the Anura-Sirima clashes. Internal problems are spoken of in the open. Instead of criticizing the government, some criticize the party. Instead of speaking of the problems of corruption in the government, seminars were held to discuss problems in the party. Even in Akuressa this took place. The UNP has won when the UPFA was in power. This time we could not get more than 5,000 votes. Instead of blaming the party leadership we have to look inwards and check our own conscience to see whether we performed our duties. Did we carry out a campaign according to the instructions, have we re-organized our party? Has the youth front been developed and has the Lakvanitha (UNP's womens league) organization been revamped at the village level? These are the issues which we should look at. The message given by the voters is clear that we should unite.…….. Do not point fingers at persons. The UNP has a talented group, we have better resources, and we don't have corrupt politicians. We should get together……"

Samaraweera's remarks to defend Wickremesinghe and point the finger at others in the UNP over the polls fiasco turned out to be a thorn in the flesh for a group headed by now Co-Deputy Leader, Sajith Premadasa. The group, made up of members who backed Premadasa in his abortive bid to become UNP leader, had been licking their wounds since then, some blaming Premadasa for capitulating in the face of a vote. They met at Premadasa's residence within hours of the Samaraweera news conference. They discussed the need for a leadership change in the UNP. They were also bitterly critical of Samaraweera for what they claimed were attempts to place the blame on them for the polls debacle. The group decided that they should call upon Karu Jayasuriya to take over the leadership.

Premadasa appeals to Jayasuriya
A news conference was to be arranged at Colombo's Hotel Renuka at 2 p.m. on Thursday. With that done, Premadasa telephoned Jayasuriya to seek an appointment on Thursday morning before the news conference. He said he was coming over with a delegation to see him. The Acting Leader of the UNP said they could meet him at 11.30 a.m. Sections of the media were alerted that Premadasa would make an important announcement on Thursday. Telephones of some key members of the UNP buzzed till late Wednesday night with many guessing what the surprise announcement would be. Only a handful were aware Premadasa was going to publicly market a new UNP leader.

Almost on time, Premadasa and a group of his supporters, who had met at his residence earlier, arrived on Thursday morning at the Amerasekera Mawatha (Colombo 5) residence of Jayasuriya. The others were Rosy Senanayake, Ranjit Madduma Bandara (MP - Moneragala District), Asoka Abeysinghe (MP-Kurunegala District), Rukman Senanayake (one time UNP Chairman), Shiral Laktilleke (Provincial Councillor), Talatha Athukorale (MP - Ratnapura District), Ranjit Atapattu (one time UNP Minister of Health), Sujeeva Senasinghe (MP - Colombo District) and Upul Jayasuriya (Attorney at Law).

Over short-eats including cutlets, samosa, patties, stuffed eggs and bananas, a discussion ensued for 45 minutes. It was Premadasa who made an appeal on behalf of those present to Jayasuriya. He said he should take over the UNP leadership so he could "unite all factions." Pointing out that current leader "Ranil Wickremesinghe's dignity should be maintained," Premadasa accused the UNP leader of "working in harmony" with the government. He also blamed him for the losses suffered by the party at the July 23 local elections. Senasinghe was to criticise Samaraweera bitterly for his remarks at the news conference. An ecstatic Jayasuriya capped up the meeting, much to the applause of those present, by saying "I am prepared to abide by the party decision." In uttering those words, he had conveyed his willingness to become the leader of the UNP replacing Wickremesinghe.

Premadasa did not make clear how he and his group planned to oust Wickremesinghe, and moves to oust seemed all too familiar only to falter at crunch time, when a vote at the party's higher representation level was due. A jubilant Premadasa announced at the news conference that Jayasuriya, at his request, had agreed to take on the leadership of the United National Party. Here are extracts from a tape recording of the statement he made. "The UNP's electoral percentages have been dropping comparatively. Though in March we were able to show some improvement, there has been deterioration of the figures. We were able to show some improvement by increasing the percentage from some 27 to 34 per cent. Since the restructuring programme was not carried out properly, due to the unilateral implementation of decisions, and due to acts of revenge, we have dropped to 22 per cent in the latest elections compared to 34 per cent in March.

The position of our party has shown a drastic decline. Under this situation as persons who are responsible to protect the citizens of this country what should we do? Should we allow the party to deteriorate or should we as persons who love the party take positive steps to improve the party?
"Today some of the MPs, former MPs, and UNP activists met with Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya and requested from him that we should take some steps to prevent the party deteriorating. Therefore my team asked Karu Jayasuriya to take over the leadership from today onwards to strengthen the party. I presented that request. He gave a positive response. He said with our blessings he was willing to take that step. Mr Jayasuriya will further explain this. Instead of the party deteriorating and to prevent the country getting ruined, we are ready to give the leadership particularly focusing on the upcoming elections. As a party which has suffered setbacks, we want to make the party a winning party….."

The first disappointment for Premadasa came when the Maharaja Television Network and its radio stations, which were solidly backing Premadasa and his group, totally blacked out all coverage related to Jayasuriya, the Premadasa news conference and its aftermath on Thursday. The Sunday Times learnt it was in protest over Premadasa first speaking to the rival Ada Derana television network. On Friday night, however, MTV networks ran footage highly critical of Mangala Samaraweera.

Leadership is not private property
The UNP's head of communications, Samaraweera, had been at lunch at a social club in Colombo when these events played out on Thursday afternoon. His mobile telephone began to ring. When he finished one call, another rang. He stood in disbelief when told Jayasuriya had agreed to be pitched against Wickremesinghe for the UNP leadership by Premadasa and his faction. "The leadership is not someone's private property to be doled out by any member," he told a reporter who called. A party colleague was to ask whether the reports were true. "I can't believe Karu would make such a big blunder. Maybe he shook his head for different reasons and others took it to mean he was willing to be a contender for the UNP leadership," he remarked jocularly. He telephoned Jayasuriya immediately thereafter and was told by an aide that he was at a funeral.

By late Thursday night, there was more credence to Premadasa's claim. Jayasuriya did not pointedly deny Premadasa's assertion at the news conference that "…..my team asked Karu Jayasuriya to take over the leadership from today onwards to strengthen the party. I presented that request. He gave a positive response."

Instead, Jayasuriya gave his own interpretation of what happened. He said in a statement that he was willing to accept "any challenge put before me and do whatever is in my power to accept their support to unite and take the party forward."

On Friday, Jayasuriya was off to Trichi in South India accompanied by his wife for a purely private engagement planned months earlier. He is also due to leave for New Delhi if official intimation arrives of a meeting with outgoing Indian External Affairs Ministry Secretary, Nirupama Rao, who co-incidentally was in Colombo over the weekend. She was met at the airport on late Friday night by High Commissioner Ashok Kantha, attended a farewell dinner for Indian Deputy High Commissioner Vikram Misri the same night, had a breakfast meeting with President Rajapaksa last morning and a lunch hosted by Kantha at which several politicians including Ministers G.L. Peiris, Basil Rajapaksa and Susil Premajayantha, Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Foreign Ministers Mangala Samaraweera and Rohitha Bogollagama, TNA Leader R. Sambanthan, Ms Rao, music teacher Soundari David, businessman Tilak Soyza etc. were present and then a private meeting with Mrs. Suganthie Kadirgamar at her residence where former Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated during Ms. Rao’s stint in Sri Lanka as HighCommissioner. One of her special requests during her visit was to participate in a private pirit chanting ceremony conducted by Ven. Kusaladhamma Thera which she did at Sambodhi Vihara at Gregory’s Road at 5 a.m. Saturday dressed in white casuals. She is expected to leave for New Delhi this Sunday morning.

Here is the full text of Jayasuriya's statement:
"A group of senior UNP members and parliamentarians met with me this morning to emphasise the need for a change in the party. "They informed me that at a time when Sri Lanka is facing grave challenges both locally and internationally, where corruption is dominating all branches of government, it is of critical importance that the main opposition emerges strong and free of division and intra-party conflict.

"When I entered the public service, as a member of the UNP, I vowed to always work towards the greater common good, to put the country first, party second and myself last in any equation. I have always been a firm believer in party unity and the need for a cohesive approach to governance issues that encompasses the true will of the Sri Lankan people. For these reasons, I have always maintained that I would gladly give up any positions if it were the will of the party majority and if it would benefit the UNP in the long term. Similarly, if it is the fervent wish of a significant majority, and a majority who commands significant popular support among the Sri Lankan people, I must also be willing to accept any challenge put before me and do whatever is in my power to accept their support to unite and take the party forward."

Wickremesinghe known to outsource
Anyone in his right senses would not deny that there is an abysmal failure by the UNP leader on a number of critical issues that concern the party and the country. Wickremesinghe is known to outsource most issues, if not all, to other seniors in the party. This ranges from making statements in Parliament (with a few exceptions) to taking up cudgels with the government on mounting corruption, bribery and the sale of state assets. On the other hand, he cannot be the sole spokesman for the party in Parliament, and others must throw in their weight in the parry and thrust of parliamentary debate, something only Ravi Karunanayake (MP - Colombo District) and Dayasiri Jayasekera (MP- Kurunegala District) seem to be doing.

But a recent example in entrusting Jayasuriya to be in charge of the local polls campaign was a classic case of 'outsourcing' responsibilities. An angry anti-Wickremesinghe MP said the only exception has been his foreign travels which he fails to delegate to other seniors in the party, at least during exigencies. His detractors within the party now allege, be it true or false, that he is increasingly "leaning towards the government". So are a group of senior members in the Working Committee, they allege. Towards this end, they accuse Wickremesinghe of toning down drafts of strongly-worded UNP statements against the government or discouraging UNP members making very critical remarks of the Rajapaksa family. However, backers of the UNP leader argue "none is willing to bring up those issues before him. They only talk behind his back".

Notwithstanding the existence of a need to examine a change in leadership, which is a legitimate exercise in any democracy, some serious questions arise over Jayasuriya's own conduct. As acting leader, he cannot be faulted for meeting any group within the party, be they a disgruntled lot or those branded as conspirators. He owes them a hearing. However, his assurance to join the leadership fray, as announced by Premadasa and confirmed by his statement, makes clear he acknowledges the need to change Wickremesinghe. Furthermore, this is at a time when the party leader had placed confidence in him, asked him to function as acting leader and headed for the UK. It would therefore not be wrong for Wickremesinghe to accuse him of betrayal or trying to stab him in the back. This is notwithstanding Jayasuriya's caveat that he was willing to take over the leadership only "if the party is willing."

He had not only expressed his full consent but whilst serving as acting leader endorsed Premadasa making a public announcement at a news conference. Thus, even before the party, by majority vote or otherwise, formally discerned whether the leadership should be changed, the issue has been taken to the public domain. And this, just four months after the matter seemed settled when Premadasa accepted the Co-Deputy Leader post in return for Wickremesinghe continuing as party leader. This latest turn of events gave the country a message that the UNP was even more divided than before. Until this event, Jayasuriya has been a staunch campaigner to keep such issues within the party. How did he suddenly change position?

That Jayasuriya made those assertions purely on the basis of a decision taken by a group who met at Premadasa's residence raises important questions. Does Jayasuriya accept that the procedure adopted by Premadasa, who suffered an element of humiliation and was forced to 'surrender' in the leadership battle that culminated in March this year; is the correct mechanism for a leadership change in the UNP? Does he not believe that such an issue, as he has often argued strenuously, be resolved within the party at a meeting of its policy-making body, the Working Committee? How then could he agree to Premadasa's call and allow this failed candidate for leadership to make an announcement at a news conference that he was the UNP leader-to-be from last Thursday? If Jayasuriya did not give Premadasa that 'mandate', why did he not deny it? Besides exposing the UNP's weaknesses, wouldn't such a move embolden the UPFA? If, as he claims party matters should be resolved internally, how could he further back up Premadasa's call with the late night statement virtually endorsing what Premadasa has said?

Premadasa and his backers carried on a month-long campaign to become the leader of the UNP. When it neared the moment of election of a leader by the Working Committee in March this year, Premadasa realised that he did not have the required votes. He chickened out much to the chagrin of his supporters. In backdoor negotiations with UNP General Secretary, Tissa Attanayake, he first wanted Jayasuriya's post, the Deputy Leader. When that was not forthcoming, he opted for the post of Co-Deputy Leader which he now holds. That he had worked a secret compromise was not known to most Premadasa supporters until the matter came up before the Working Committee. And now, it is the same Premadasa who was asking Jayasuriya to take over the leadership.

Jayasuriya told the Sunday Times on Thursday afternoon soon after meeting the Premadasa faction, "I have nothing to hide. The leader (Wickremesinghe) telephoned me. I told him I have acted in good faith. I am prepared to unite the party. There are people who want unity. According to them, there is a crisis in the party. I do not want to see anyone leaving the party."

Sources close to Jayasuriya told the Sunday Times that his recent dialogue with Wickremesinghe had been strained. He has complained that Wickremesinghe did not discuss or brief him on critical issues. One case in point was his visit to the United States where Wickremesinghe met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and pleaded the Rajapaksa administration's case. Jayasuriya told a close aide, "I got to know about it only after reading the front-page of the Sunday Times. He never thought it fit to tell me what he planned to do in the US. This is despite my being his number two."

The political merry-go-round which Wickremesinghe set in motion from London, interesting enough, was ended, at least for the week, by him. He had telephoned not only Jayasuriya, but also other party seniors like John Amaratunga, Tissa Attanayake, Joseph Michael-Perera and on Friday, a day after Jayasuriya's assertions and Premadasa's news conference, he issued a statement from London. This is what it said: "UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe said that the hope of the majority of the party supporters is that various disinformation among various factions is cleared and that he had entrusted Mr Karu Jayasuriya responsibilities in this respect. Mr. Wickremesinghe was addressing inter-committee members of the UK branch of the party at Park Plaza Victoria hotel on Thursday.

"He said that Mr Jayasuriya had informed that there were some of the party members coming to discuss about the party unity and that the outcome of the discussion too had been conveyed to him. He said that while he was overseas Mr Jayasuriya as well as the General Secretary Tissa Attanayake has been keeping him informed about the party activities on a daily basis.

"He said that the UK branch activities should be expanded with the aim of achieving a common goal and petty differences should be ended. Mr Wickremesinghe said that by 2012 all UNP foreign branches will be reactivated and an international network will be established. "UNP Deputy General Secretary Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena, party Treasurer Senarath Kapukotuwa, International Affairs Secretary Sagala Ratnayake, Chairman of the UK branch Interim committee Harsha Siriwardena and Secretary Chinthaka de Silva were present."

The statement was clearly a desperate attempt at damage control. Nevertheless, it underscores a very strong point and delivers a very pertinent message. Wickemesinghe makes the point unequivocally that he is the leader of the United National Party. Jayasuriya and Attanayake, as is expected, were only keeping him informed of day-to-day activities. Even if it was not said in a statement, one would assume that to be the standard procedure. However, Wickremesinghe is silent on the most pertinent point -- that Jayasuriya consented to Premadasa's request to become a contender for the UNP leadership. This remains uncontested so far.

Yet, for Premadasa and his supporters, it was a case of the proverbial Sinhala saying Gahen Vetuna Minihata Gona Enna Vage (Like a Bull goring the man who had fallen from the tree). On Friday, they were reeling over the fact that Jayasuriya's statement offering to face challenges was not strong enough and he had avoided categorical mention about his willingness to take on the leadership. This is besides their anger that he had "run off" to India without cancelling the trip and facing the issues. Now, some of them were even entertaining far-fetched theories whether Jayasuriya, who returned to the UNP fold after a stint as a Cabinet Minister in the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, had worked a secret deal with Wickremesinghe after meeting with them. To that extent, the UNP leader's cunning ruse in issuing a statement from London has paid dividends, at least temporarily. But issues over his controversial leadership continue to linger.

Lingering doubts about loyalty
Whichever the case may be, Jayasuriya, the sometimes impulsive gentleman politician is in trouble. For Wickremesinghe, who had made no mention of Jayasuriya's willingness to be a contender for the leadership in his statement, there will be lingering doubts about his loyalty. This is not the first time he has been cajoled into challenging Wickremesinghe. It happened for the first time way back in 2001. Then, he suddenly upped and crossed over to the Rajapaksa government only to return with his image within the party somewhat tainted for what he did. For the Premadasa faction, the question is whether they can count on Jayasuriya to be a challenger as a new leader. There is little doubt Jayasuriya has paid a heavy price for a wrong move. His credibility has been damaged irreparably. That is naturally to the advantage of Wickremesinghe, who now sees no close formidable rival to replace him in a party where scores have deserted to the other side.

The latest campaign against Wickremesinghe is the result of a devastatingly dismal performance by the UNP at the July 23 local polls. Of the 65 local councils, the UPFA won 45, the Tamil National Alliance 18 and two went to the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF). In the Northern province consisting of Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts, the TNA (contesting as ITAK - Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi or Ceylon Federal Party) found the nominations of its candidates for two councils rejected. Hence it backed the TULF. The UPFA victories were in the islands off Jaffna where Douglas Devananda's Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) holds sway for quite some time now.

Despite a high pitched UPFA campaign, the TNA won more than 70 per cent of the votes in each of the councils. For the TNA, which charged that the Army was involved in the campaign and that the government had used its resources to the maximum, the victory was to dilute a claim made by the UNP. The UNP had said in a statement that the party's defeat was due to the use of state machinery. In the case of the TNA, voters were resilient enough to brave the odds and cast their votes. In the case of the UNP, it was just the opposite.

The TNA victory also denied the government the opportunity to claim that the people in the area, despite the defeat of Tiger guerrillas, were supportive of the government. Such a victory was much sought after in the wake of the UN Advisory Panel's report on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka and in the aftermath of the screening of the Channel 4 video in a number of countries. Yet, the UPFA increased its number of votes in the North. The UPFA did not secure a single council in the Mullaitivu District. However, a Puravesi Peramuna (People's Front) led by Sr Ranga, one time UNP parliamentarian who crossed over to the UPFA, won two seats.

The 65 local councils were the second batch to go to polls from a total of 335 councils. Elections were held for 250 councils in March. A further 23 councils will have to face polls before December 31 whilst the terms of the others were yet to expire. Here is a comparison of how the major parties fared in the local polls of March and July this year:

March 17 Elections
UPFA won 205 councils and secured 1839 seats
UNP won 9 councils and secured 892 seats
JVP won 57 seats
TNA won 12 councils
July 23 Elections
UPFA won 45 councils and secured 512 seats
UNP secured 137 seats but did not win a council
JVP secured 13 seats but did not win a council

The UNP's rout in the North was also significant. It was during the polls campaign period that its leader Wickremesinghe met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and appealed to him to give the Rajapaksa administration more time to respond to the report by his Panel of Experts on alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka. No senior UNP leaders campaigned in the North and the party won one solitary seat each in Karainagar and Chavakacheri in the Jaffna peninsula. Here is a sampling of how the UNP fared in some of the local bodies in the south.

Akuressa Pradeshiya Sabha: in 2006, in a closely fought election the UPFA won 39.92 per cent of the votes as against the UNP's 31.41 per cent. The ruling party had six members as against three each for the UNP and the JVP. However, at the July 23 polls, the UPFA gained 73.41 per cent of the votes and secured nine seats. The UNP was down to 18.83 per cent and left with two and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) with 05.28 per cent one member.

Kesbawa Pradeshiya Sabha: In 2006, the UNP won eight seats, the UPFA five and the JVP four. In the July 23 polls, the UPFA gained 53.74 per cent of the votes and won ten seats. The UNP which secured only 36.15 per cent of the votes won six and the JVP one seat.

Homagama Pradeshiya Sabha: In 2006, the UNP won 11 seats, the UPFA seven seats and the JVP five seats. In the latest polls, the UPFA has won 19 seats and the UNP three with JVP winning just one. The UPFA obtained 78.55 per cent of the vote as against 33.44 per cent it polled in 2006.

Minuwangoda Urban Council: In 2006 the UNP received 51.28 per cent of the vote and won six seats. The UPFA won only four seats and the JVP one. In the latest polls, the UPFA polled 63.8 per cent of the votes and won eight seats. Only three seats were won by the UNP.

Attanagalla Pradeshiya Sabha: The UPFA won 51.04 per cent of the votes in 2006 winning 13 seats. However, in the latest poll, it secured 17 seats polling 72.34 per cent of the votes. The UNP which held seven seats earlier was reduced to five. The JVP which held three earlier was reduced to one.
Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha - In the 2006 local polls, the UNP won 11 seats whilst the UPFA won eight. In the latest polls the UPFA won seven, the UNP four and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress three. This was however, one council where the UPFA was unable to secure more than 50 per cent of the vote and had the benefit of the Muslim vote being split between the UNP and the Muslim Congress.

Among the lessons delivered by the July 23 polls are two important realities. One is that the premier opposition party in the country, the United National Party, is steadily losing more and more of its grassroots level support. It may be true that many UNP voters did not go to the polling booth; but that by itself is an indictment of what the party's support base thinks of the shenanigans taking place at the party's hierarchy. The party's vote base dropped to dangerously low levels this time round, and political analysts have pointed out that the traditional left parties like the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) and the Communist party (CP) dropped to these levels at the 1977 general elections never to recover ever since.

The other reality: Despite complaints of a snowballing increase in bribery, corruption, oil hedging deals, contaminated fuel, high living costs, an international campaign against Sri Lanka over war crimes and the Channel 4 alleged video, Percy Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka remains unassailable; by hook, by crook and by popular vote. He is almost sure to grow stronger as the main opposition UNP suffocates due to internal squabbling, public displeasure and nationwide disapproval. No amount of news conferences and media manipulation would help if the UNP loses public confidence every hour of the day, every day of the week and every month of the year.