Who damaged the Elephant's retina?
 

Sunday Observations: The Political Column

The polls result of the Colombo Municipal Council announced this morning by the Elections Department is vital for the United National Party Leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe. The victory or the defeat of the Independent list, his party banks on will create problems for him after his month-long holiday in the United States. He returned to the country on Friday morning via London in the company of his party Chairman, Malik Samarawickreme. The UNP organisation in the City of Colombo and the district as a whole is in fragments. Former strongman, Sirisena Cooray who dreams of being the next Mayor through another's list did not get the backing of any party seniors in the district. His companions were Milinda Moragoda and Mohamed Maharoof, the two men who stand in the dock over the rejection of the nomination list. In the final days of his campaign, Cooray was a lonely man walking on the muddy pathway of the flats opposite the Sugathadasa Stadium while his colleague Maharoof was a notable absentee having an office beside the flats.

The Moragoda-Maharoof combine will be called upon to explain why they directly or indirectly had a hand in the nomination list episode. At a recent meeting at Hulftsdorp, Maharoof had reportedly claimed that he 'gave the works' to Sanghadasa, whose name was tippexed from the list to include Maharoof's Secretary, Wijepala's name. If this claim is true, then Moragoda can stand a chance to be exonerated. But, he would have the answer for the involvement of his Private Secretary, Collure who had reportedly tippexed the name at a temple while Ranil Wickremesinghe's Secretary, Naufer Rahuman called for the bottle of tippex from Prof. G. L. Peiris's security when the duo went to meet party General Secretary, N. V. K. K. Weragoda at Peiris' residence on nomination day.

As Wickremesinghe returned to the country on Friday, his Secretary, Naufer Rahuman too returned to the country from the United States with an open air ticket ready to make another trip to the US. Sources close to Moragoda's office disclosed that Collure too was preparing to visit overseas this week.

According to well informed sources, the names of Rahuman and Collure figure prominently in the report prepared by the two member committee on the probe. The contents of the report state that the nomination list had been tippexed in seventeen places. Even Weragoda's short signature besides some names have been partly tippexed. According to the probe, this had been done with the knowledge of a Colombo Central UNP politico who had hired a former employee of Moragoda's political office. This man is a confidante of Cooray for many years.

The hierarchy of the UNP were at lengthy talks on Friday night preparing to face the consequences in case the candidates on the independent list refuse to resign. Those present said they have been told that those candidates will not resign after winning from UNP votes. Once again, the Moragoda-Maharoof combine came under attack over the issue.

A senior member from Colombo said come what may the leader should make public the report and take stern action against the duo. At this point, another MP from Kesbewa pointed out that Maharoof had been openly challenging the leadership of the party claiming that Ranil can never throw him out as he(Maharoof) was the chief financier of the party.

Colombo district UNP Leader, M. H. Mohamed continues to attack the leadership of the party for Wickremesinghe's failure to penalise Moragoda and Maharoof whom he claims are responsible for the setback in the CMC polls.

In the absence of Wickremesinghe, Mohamed complained to deputy leader, Karu Jayasuriya that Sirisena Cooray was campaigning without informing him. Jayasuriya then summoned Cooray to "Siri Kotha". But that meeting ended abruptly as Cooray clashed with Ravi Karunanayake. Mohamed is expected to meet Wickremesinghe today to discuss the outcome of the CMC polls and to demand the release of the two member report, which, party sources claim have found Moragoda and Maharoof being responsible for tampering of the nomination list.

Allegations are also levelled against Moragoda and Maharoof over their reported failure to distribute Wickremesinghe's election manifesto at the last presidential election in Colombo Central, Colombo East and West. A faction opposed to the Moragoda-Maharoof combine have obtained details to this effect and are to meet Wickremesinghe shortly to explain how the two men had conspired to defeat Wickremesinghe last November. Wickremesinghe faces stiff resistance from the rank and file to act against these two members as others say that if the leader could try Mahinda Wijesekere, he should adopt the same procedure on these two men.

Victory or defeat at the CMC today will make no difference to the UNP. It will plunge into further crisis either way. Victory of the independent list means, all funds and sweat will be of waste. The independent group will claim that they won on their own popularity and not on UNP votes. The UNP will not be able to prove that the independent candidates won on their votes. Wickremesinghe will not be able to sweep the two member report on the CMC issue under the carpet from today.

His party seems to go from crisis to crisis. Senior UNPers charge that the sight of the elephant was made weak by the Moragoda-Maharoof combination to seek the aid of the spectacles. The current scenario of the UNP recalls the interesting chapters in the story book - 'Heen Seraya', during school days.