Columns

• At meeting with Mahinda, Basil and others, Wickremesinghe says another election will follow
• President hits out at SLPP General Secretary for insisting he should get party membership, says he is beyond party affiliations
• Allahapperuma joins SJB alliance after his failed attempts to join New Alliance and NPP

By Our Political Editor

A breakfast meeting by the country’s politically important foursome last Wednesday revealed the shape of things to come in the weeks ahead.

Present at what has now become the official residence of the President at Mahagam Sekera Mawatha (former Paget Road), were President Ranil Wickremesinghe, former President and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, SLPP founder Basil Rajapaksa, and the President’s Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayake.

“Are you having the presidential election?” asked Mahinda Rajapaksa from President Wickremesinghe. “Yes,” came the prompt response. He did not stop at that. The President revealed that he was also hoping to call for another election but did not disclose what it would be. Immediately thereafter, there was a passing discussion on the amendment of laws relating to elections to Provincial Councils. He said that even the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) had agreed to those amendments.

Why did not former President Rajapaksa ask President Wickremesinghe which second national election he had in mind? Is there the possibility of a parliamentary election? There were two reasons according to a source close to him. It was a prerogative of the President, and queries would have been inappropriate. He was of the view that the call for another election would have to be made after a President is re-elected. Yet, there is speculation at the highest levels of the SLPP that it could be a parliamentary election though they are unclear how this would play out.

The discussion had to be fast-tracked since Ratnayake, who is also the advisor on National Security to the President, was indisposed. This was whilst they savoured a variety of items on the menu—kiribath, string hoppers and hoppers of many kinds including plain, egg and ones with kitul treacle (or syrup) in the middle. There was katta sambol, seeni sambol, fish and chicken curry to go with.

MEETING OF RECONCILIATION – At the felicitation for Rohitha Abeygunawardena MP. From left: Basil Rajapaksa, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapaksa.

Ranil Wickremesinghe’s “independent” candidature at the upcoming presidential election also formed a subject of discussion. It was Basil Rajapaksa who pointed out to him that an independent candidate could not be replaced in case of an eventuality. He cited the instance when the United National Party’s (UNP) presidential candidate Gamini Dissanayake was killed in a suicide bomb attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in October 1994. Election laws allowed the substitution of his wife, Srima Dissanayake. Until yesterday, there had been no formal intimation from Wickremesinghe to the SLPP about his candidature. Hence, the SLPP’s Executive Committee has yet to discuss the matter. However, some major issues appear to have been ironed out in an unconventional way.

In an unrelated development, President Wickremesinghe addressed a meeting of lawyers, estimated to be around 300 on Friday at his Secretariat. The chamber of the onetime Parliament was full. Some had to be accommodated in what were benches meant for the public on the upper floor. President’s Counsel Razik Zarook proposed that Wickremesinghe be the presidential candidate. He is a member of the SLPP All Island Executive Committee. The proposal was seconded by President’s Counsel Ronald Perera, and Campaign Manager for President Wickremesinghe.

Kalutara meeting

The precursor to Wednesday’s breakfast meeting, interesting enough, was an event in Kalutara where onetime cabinet minister, Rohitha Abeygunawardena, was felicitated for his 27 years in politics. He and his family flew to London last week for their son’s graduation from a British university. On the front row of the stage were the SLPP top brass—Mahinda Rajapaksa, Basil Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. President Wickremesinghe arrived late. That platform became the forum where some outstanding issues were ironed out. It came through speeches.

President Wickremesinghe was evidently angry that the SLPP General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam, had laid down that an SLPP candidature at the presidential elections would require his party’s membership. The President told the gathering that he had arrived at the Kalutara meeting (at the Railway Grounds) after attending a UNP event in the south. “I want to make clear that since assuming the presidency, I have left party affiliations aside. That is why I am at a c in the morning and an SLPP event in in Kalutara in the evening. . Therefore, the question of my having to give up one party or the other does not arise,” he declared. If that was to enunciate President Wickremesinghe’s position, Basil Rajapaksa exhorted that they had backed him for they believed he could deliver and not because they were under any obligation. He said this should not be construed as a fear or over any loan owed (bayak ho nayak netha).

With gas masks on the ready and wearing helmets, Police confront a group of strikers demanding a Rs 25,000 pay increase.

The naming of an SLPP presidential candidate has been the subject of considerable discussion at the highest levels of the party. An interesting discussion also centered on the events that followed the aragalaya  or protests two years ago. During the events, it was pointed out that SLPP leader Mahinda Rajapaksa was strongly in favour of Ranil Wickremesinghe taking over as Prime Minister. He had spoken to him and advised that he respond to the invitation by then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa since another person (he was identified) was rushing there. This person was in a pair of slippers since he did not have time to even wear a pair of shoes. This is neither confirmed nor denied by those at the highest levels of the SLPP.

A conciliatory approach by Mahinda Rajapaksa, with brother Basil endorsing his moves, has even thawed the mood among hardliners in the SLPP. National Organizer Namal Rajapaksa addressing an SLPP public rally in Deniyaya declared that whatever challenges came, he would not quit his party. That dismisses claims made by Udayanga Weeratunga, a nephew of Rajapaksas. He told an interviewer who posted videos on YouTube that Namal Rajapaksa would quit his party and form another one. He was introduced to the video programme as a spokesperson of the Rajapaksa family. The threat was if the SLPP named a non-member as a presidential candidate. He also claimed that the SLPP insisted on having its Lotus flower symbol on the ballot paper for the presidential election.

This is not to say that the SLPP is now on the road to kissing and making up with Wickremesinghe forgetting all the events of the past. Even if the party will now not insist on him becoming a card-carrying SLPP member, a rebuke of sorts to General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam, the SLPP will still place a set of conditions. Those are to be highlights from Mahinda Chinthana or (thoughts of Mahinda) which enunciates the principles the SLPP stands for. That would be in return for the party’s support. The SLPP is also expected to stake its claim for a prime ministerial candidate.

Basil Rajapaksa also raised issue at the Strategic Affairs Committee meeting last Monday over another matter. This was over remarks earlier at the Media Committee by both Nimal Lanza and Duminda Dissanayake that President Wickremesinghe should contest the presidential election without the involvement of any Rajapaksas. “We, as a party, are very hurt by those remarks,” he said. Gampaha district parliamentarian Lanza is now the leader of the New Alliance with an office in Rajagiriya. Together with a faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), the New Alliance will hold their next rally at Wills Park in Badulla today. Perhaps taking the cue from the New Alliance, Dullas Allahapperuma, leader of the breakaway faction of the SLPP, also wanted to support Wickremesinghe’s candidature, provided Rajapaksas are left out. The move failed. So did an attempt by the Allahapperuma faction to join the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) led National People’s Power (NPP). They did not respond to a request for a meeting. Hence, his Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) will now join the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) as an alliance partner.

These developments come at a time when, despite an information overload by a formidable segment of the government leadership, the credibility gap over the conduct of the presidential election has been galactic. Significantly, it is not only the opposition political parties that have turned skeptical. It even prompted Mahinda Rajapaksa, the principal partner in the government, to raise issue. The fact that he was also in doubt is confirmation that there is widespread confusion over whether presidential election will be held.

On Friday, Aruna Laksiri, an attorney at law, filed a fundamental rights petition before the Supreme Court praying for a halt to the presidential election claiming that the 19th Amendment to the Constitution has not been properly approved. He is seeking the conduct of a referendum. A three-judge bench of the SC will hear the case tomorrow. This is the second such petition over the presidential election. A five-judge Supreme Court bench heard a fundamental rights petition on July 8 from C.D. Lenawa. He sought an interpretation of the date of the presidential poll. The SC dismissed the application and urged him to pay a case fee of Rs 100,000. This was after the Attorney General’s Department took up the position that the term of the President is five years.

The latest move before the Supreme Court drew a response in Parliament from Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapahshe. In response to an issue raised by Dullas Allahapperuma, he said that “another person had filed a petition in courts regarding the Presidential election term. The courts should not be made a joke. Only last week a petition on the same subject was dismissed and the court ordered the petitioner to pay costs amounting to Rs 100,000. There has also been another petition claiming that his rights had been violated as the judicial promotions have not been granted. Therefore courts should not be taken as a joke.”

Added Abraham Sumanthiran of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), “Now things are becoming clearer as to who is behind this. Yesterday, we saw an announcement that the Cabinet had considered and approved the presentation of an amendment to the Constitution, specifically to amend Article 83(b). This is an exercise purely designed to create confusion in the country and delay the holding of the presidential election.”

NPP’s role in strikes

In another development, the JVP-led National People’s Power (NPP) leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, owned up that his party was behind a string of strikes. He told the Sunday Times in a Q&A (See box story), “The JVP has initiated a fresh round of trade union action due to the ongoing economic hardships faced by employees in various professions. For several years, workers have been struggling with inadequate salaries that do not keep pace with the rising cost of living, making it difficult for them to manage their household expenses. These trade union actions are a justifiable response to demand fair wages and improved working conditions, and they can arise at any time, regardless of whether it’s election season, budget time, or any other period. At present, a variety of trade unions, both affiliated with us and others, are engaging in these actions. This widespread involvement underscores the urgent need to address the economic challenges and grievances of workers across different sectors. These trade union actions represent the collective efforts of various professions to resolve their pressing issues and achieve fair treatment in their workplaces.”

Asked why the JVP/NPP cannot assure those on strike that their issues would be won after elections, he replied, “Yes, the JVP/NPP understands the critical issues faced by teachers and university non-academic staff and we recognise the urgency of addressing these concerns. We have already begun to release a detailed sector-based long-term economic plan aimed at developing the country sustainably. This plan not only addresses salary issues but also encompasses broader concerns such as healthcare, access to nutritious food, and the education of children. These policies have been unveiled to the public, demonstrating our commitment and strategic approach to solving these problems holistically.”

Champika’s analysis

According to onetime minister, Patali Champika Ranawaka, “Today, the people have started a wave of strikes demanding salary increases. Recently a Sri Jayawardenapura University student committed suicide. What has happened to our working people? It doesn’t matter if we blame it. The Department of Statistics has said that tax collection has not been properly carried out.

Ranawaka was appointed Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in Parliament by President Wickremesinghe. He told Parliament, “According to the Excise Act, no one can sell liquor without a licence. There is no possibility or opportunity for those companies. Accordingly, the Excise Department stopped those licences from November 1, 2023. Four days later, after signing the agreement, it was agreed that all these people would collect the unpaid taxes by December 31, 2023.

“Despite defaulting, their licences were not temporarily revoked in any way. Even today, that process is happening. Last April we were informed that this tax payment has not been done yet. Accordingly, we informed that by the thirtieth of this sixth month, new agreements should be entered into to collect this excise duty. Now they come and say that when the Minister of State for Finance is also present, the Excise Department has not been informed by the Ministry of Finance, to take action to recover. This is the answer of the Excise Department. But the Ministry of Finance has informed us that they have given the notification to this committee to recover this.

“What is the situation today? A statement from his office said that four companies have not paid taxes amounting to 978 million rupees. There is one major company that is responsible for 90% of that tax. Also, the amount of tax collected from 2023 is 878 million rupees. Because of that, we should not increase the salaries of government employees. Although they said that they will think about the situation of the country at this time, if the law is implemented for these alcohol producers, it will be justified from the people’s side. Otherwise, they have one rule. They can exist without paying taxes. Others must pay for its benefits. This concession has been given to the liquor manufacturers. Are they above the law? Over Parliament?

In another statement, Ranawaka said the Ways and Means Committee “expressed its strong displeasure over the lack of adequate steps to collect 1.1 billion rupees from the concerned liquor manufacturers on or before 30.06.2024 as per the recommendations given by the committee on 24.04.2024.

There, the Excise Department mentioned the contradictions between the recommendations given by the Committee and the agreements for the collection of excise duty in previous years and the steps to be taken in this regard by a letter dated 05.02.2024, but the Ministry did not receive a reply.

This was discussed on 10.07.2024 when the Parliament’s Committee on Ways and Means met at the Parliament premises under the chairmanship of Patali Champika Ranawaka.

Here it was pointed out the total arrears of taxes and charges to be collected is 1.8 billion rupees–W. M. Mendis Company Rs. 1659 millions, Higurana Distilleries Rs. 102 million, Synergy Company Rs. 37 million, Northwest Distilleries Rs. 79 million–from 2023 to 2024.06.15,.

The committee also emphasised that despite its recommendation to collect the arrears in full, the Excise Department has failed to do so and it will inform Parliament and the public about the dereliction of duty.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the payment agreements made by the Excise Department with companies other than W.M. Mendis have now become inactive. The chairman pointed out that the Commissioner General of Excise has failed to take proper action in this regard. Despite this, the Commissioner is avoiding the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Excise Department is ignoring the recommendations of the Committee, which is disrespectful to Parliament and the Committee.

If the government, as pointed out by him earlier, acts in all these fields in the same way, they will be able to create some kind of justice and ease the pain of the public employees and address the disruption of school education and higher education.”

The government must contend with two main issues in the coming weeks. One is to make most sceptics, who doubt there will be a presidential election, to be convinced there indeed will be one. Quite clearly the information overdrive has not paid any dividend and the credibility of those responsible remains a critical question. The other is to ensure there are no strikes which could inevitably lead to delays in elections. In the case of the latter, at least, the government is acting tough.

NPP leader says party ready to take over presidency and ensure corruption-free country  The Janattha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)-led National People’s Power (NPP), Anura Kumara Dissanayake, sat down to an in-depth Q&A with the Sunday Times. He leaves for Japan on Friday on a five-day visit. Here are edited excerpts: ON THE INCREASE OF NPP SUPPORT BASE FROM THIS YEAR: Initially, there was a positive sentiment among the public. We have successfully transformed this sentiment into a robust and organized movement. At the grassroots level, we have established nearly 10,000 village-level organisations known as “Kottasa Sabha,”  (or electoral councils) ensuring that community voices are heard and represented. We have also integrated various professional groups and sectoral stakeholders into our framework through the NPP National Intellectuals Organisation (NIO). This strategic alignment has allowed us to mobilise key sectors essential for governance, ensuring that we are well-prepared to take over power. Anura Kumara Dissanayake ON ALLEGATIONS THAT THE NPP IS COLLECTING A LOT OF FUNDS OVERSEAS DURING YOUR VISITS: I have recently engaged in several overseas tours due to growing support for NPP politics among Sri Lankans abroad. These individuals can play a crucial role in our campaign through social media and by communicating our message to their families and friends back home. Many Sri Lankans overseas are professionals who bring new knowledge and perspectives, and part of my visits was to invite them to contribute to our nation’s rebuilding efforts. During these visits, I also met with high-profile Sri Lankan entrepreneurs to explore potential investments. It is important to clarify that these tours were not intended to solicit financial support. However, we do have party organisations in various countries, and any financial support they provide is transparently routed through the official banking system. We are always ready to disclose these details to the public. ON DEBT RESTRUCTURING:  The potential for Sri Lanka to embark on a debt restructuring plan with its creditors is indeed a critical step towards addressing the country’s financial challenges. However, the current measures taken under the IMF programme have significantly burdened the nation. The sudden increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT) from 8% to 18% has placed considerable strain on the people, particularly with VAT imposed on essential services such as education, food, and healthcare that were previously exempted. Additionally, the imposition of a 36% PAYE tax rate on earnings and reductions in EPF benefits for private sector employees have added to the financial hardships faced by the public. Furthermore, the sharp rise in prices for essential commodities like fuel and gas, coupled with cuts in subsidies, has exacerbated the economic difficulties experienced by the people. Regarding the debt restructuring process, there was optimism for a fair and beneficial agreement. However, it appears from the available information that Sri Lanka may not have secured as advantageous terms as other countries that have recently undergone similar debt restructuring exercises. The government’s failure to disclose comprehensive details further complicates the assessment of these developments. If the current trajectory of debt restructuring continues without necessary adjustments, there are legitimate concerns that Sri Lanka could encounter another severe financial crisis in the foreseeable future. ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS BEING A TWO- OR THREE-CORNERED BATTLE:  Many individuals or several political parties may contest in the upcoming presidential election. Although they come from various political parties, it is noticeably clear that there are only two primary camps contesting. One camp, regardless of their party colours—blue, green, brown, or yellow—represents and fosters corruption, nepotism, and cronyism. This group is accused of plundering public money for their well-being, with support from corrupt businesspeople and selected higher officials who align with these politicians to manipulate the law and facilitate corrupt practices. This corrupt political establishment positions itself above the law and operates from the highest to the lowest levels. This has become a significant menace to society as they not only harass innocent people but also deprive them of their peaceful living. The other camp is the National People’s Power (NPP), which stands firmly against corruption, nepotism, and cronyism while aiming to reset the economy towards a genuine transformation. ON HIS REMARKS THAT HE WOULD DISSOLVE PARLIAMENT IMMEDIATELY IF HE IS ELECTED PRESIDENT:  Yes, we are prepared for that scenario. In the event of my election as president, we recognise the necessity of forming a caretaker government for six to eight weeks. To ensure a smooth transition, we are considering the formation of new ministries and the establishment of a new interim cabinet. We have multiple strategies at our disposal, and we will choose the most effective solution to navigate the period between the presidential election and the general election. Additionally, we will closely consult with our legal team to ensure all actions are compliant with the law and support stable and effective governance during this transitional phase. ON GOVERNANCE ISSUES BY THOSE IN PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS:  Absolutely, accountability is non-negotiable. Regardless of their stature, they must face the consequences of their actions. Their crimes are extensive and well-documented, as you’ve seen through various exposures. We will launch immediate and relentless investigations. We will expedite all pending cases held by the Attorney General’s Office and bolster the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption. Rest assured; we will waste no time in ensuring justice is served from day one of our administration. WINNING OVER MINORITIES: this is another narrative propagated by rival political parties—that the NPP lacks support from Tamil and Muslim communities. However, we have observed a significant shift, particularly among the Muslim community, who recognise the changing political landscape in the south. Both in the South and the East, Muslims have shown increasing enthusiasm for the NPP. While we have made strides in reaching out to them, we recognise the need to further amplify our message in the North and East. Unlike the government’s approach of political appeasement, we prioritise conveying our political vision earnestly and vigorously. This ongoing effort is crucial for building trust and support across all communities. APPROACH TO THE MEDIA:  Under an NPP government, media freedom will flourish without precedent in Sri Lanka. We recognise that only those with a criminal past fear an independent press. Your bravery in exposing government crimes, exemplified tragically by the murder of Lasantha Wickramathunga, underscores why a corrupt political establishment suppresses media freedom. The NPP has nothing to hide, and we will ensure the most conducive environment for a free and fearless media—unlike any Sri Lanka has known. We will dismantle all barriers in the Online Safety Act that hinder the public’s right to information. Rest assured, our commitment to media freedom will be unwavering and transformative.