Forgery and duplicity in the UNP

Sunday Observations: The Political Column

The week gone by witnessed dramatic events in the 'green' camp of Ranil Wickremesinghe. While a Member of Parliament was accused of forgery of his birth certificate to become younger by five years, the 'duplicates' of the UNP in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) looked 'clowns' unable to kick off the maiden session of the Council. The three wheeler driver turned Mayor, Uvais Imtiyaz was caught up in the pandemonium that broke out at the inaugural session.He was at sea over the procedures of the Council. When members became hostile, without calling the Council to 'order', the excited young Mayor suspended sittings.

This drove the session into turmoil with members demanding the resumption of the session. Senior UNPers claim that the CMC is in a state of confusion today because of the Colombo district MP who is accused of forgery.The UNP list for the CMC was rejected as this MP included an underaged youth.

A two-member committee probed the ugly CMC episode of the UNP sometime ago. Though the report was said to be submitted to the UNP leader,it was not made public. However, following much pressure by party seniors,a report(some believe the original has been diluted to save the skin of those accused) will be tabled at the Working Committee meeting on Tuesday. Initially, fingers were pointed at Mohamed Maharoof and Milinda Moragoda as being responsible for issues that confused the list. T. M. Sanghadasa's name was 'tippexed' though it was approved by the UNP leader. Those accused for that action were, Naufer Rahuman (Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition, Sarath Collure (Private Secretary to Moragoda) and M. Tennekoon (a close associate of Maharoof and Sirisena Cooray). While these three men stood on the dock,Moragoda and Maharoof were accused of orchestrating the entire episode.Others in the party claimed that this trio was well 'looked after' by Maharoof who claims to be the party's chief financier.They firmly believe that Naufer Rahuman had played a key role in the 'tippexing' drama without the knowledge of his leader,Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Be that as it may,the 'diluted 'report that would surface on Tuesday,according to authoritative sources state,'Though the servants have executed this ugly job of tippexing the list,it was not fair to blame and implicate their masters'. Hence,the committee has exonerated Maharoof and Moragoda.But,Maharoof was one during the CMC election campaign who proudly claimed that he got Sanghadasa's name 'tippexed'. He also challenged the UNP leader to dare throw him out claiming he was the chief man who financed the party. Partymen say it was late President Premadasa who made Maharoof a millionaire by awarding him the Mahaweli Marine Cement contract and that Maharoof owed a lot to the UNP.

Maharoof, once a bitter critic of former UNP strongman, Sirisena Cooray, fearing that Cooray would come back to Colombo Central, this time promoted Cooray for the Mayoralty. Finally, Cooray was a dejected man as the list was rejected as Maharoof included an underaged youth. Pushed to the political wilderness again, Cooray backed by Maharoof made attempts to unseat the 'independent' members to gain entry. All this failed as the independent members now look to have more faith in the administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Now, Maharoof fears Cooray's presence in politics.He feels that the party may consider Cooray to Colombo Central at a future general election. Also, Maharoof fears that Cooray may get close to the new mayor, Uvais Imtiyaz. With these in mind,last week Maharoof moved into action.He got two of his domestic aides, Rahuman and Farook to see his Tailor-'Subash' at Grandpass. New clothes were ordered for this duo. Each were bought black shoes at a cost of Rs. 1,800 a pair.They were dressed and asked to rehearse to get use to walk with shoes.This was done along the stretch leading to his Grandpass office.

Thereafter,Maharoof informed the new Mayor that Rahuman and Farook would be the mayor's personal security at the expense of the CMC. Accordingly, the new security men of the mayor were posted to the Mayor's official residence. The motive behind this 'operation' is different.The two men have been asked to monitor Sirisena Cooray's visits to the Mayor's residence.Cooray who worked tirelessly to make his mayoral dream a reality and failed is now a silent man. His silence is feared by the very men who brought him back to the political scene.They know that Cooray is a 'sharp' operator who works in many ways. Cooray is now very much close to the UNP leader and the latter believes that Cooray is a formidable candidate for the UNP in Colombo who could prove himself. The Premadasa family which ironed out differences with Cooray are now supportive of Cooray in the event he is nominated to Colombo Central in the future. Cooray stands a good chance as Maharoof has failed from 2000. At the previous general election, Maharoof was placed eight in the list with a mere 54,000 preferences in the former multi-member constituency and the district. Cooray polled 87,000 preferences at the 1989 general election, the only one he contested.

Maharoof's chances of contesting elections in the future hangs in the balance over allegations against him on false declaration of his date of birth and the reported possession of two national identity cards bearing the year, 1956. The man is said to have been officially born in 1951 and those opposed to him are in possession of valid documents on the issue. A senior UNPer from Colombo has planned to take this issue to court this week. Declaration of false information and possession of forged documents are a criminal offence under the Penal Code and punishable. The issue becomes serious when it come to those who hold public office. Maharoof is reported to have declared to Parliament that he was born on 7.3.1956.

Meanwhile, in another turn of events, vital information seem to leak out from the office of the UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya to the office of Maharoof at Grandpass. A close aide of Jayasuriya revealed that the channel was none other than the daughter of Jayasuriya's co-ordinating officer, Jayasiri Perera.

It is believed that Perera's daughter, Anusha was the campaign manager for Sharmila Gonawala, former CMC councillor at the last CMC campaign. Sharmila and Maharoof are 'very close' friends. She contested from Colombo Central this time as Milinda Moragoda refused to give her nomination from any municipal ward in Colombo East. Hence, Maharoof, an 'intimate' friend of Sharmila did not wish to leave her in the lurch and decided to accommodate her in Colombo Central. Maharoof was the 'livewire' of her campaign.

An independent candidate today enjoys her seat in the Council as she was a 'duplicate' to the number assigned in the independent list. Her votes were cast to the name and number in that list. Maharoof's efforts to bring her back to the CMC proved futile. The one who had the last laugh was one Mrs. Maligaspe, the wife of a senior police officer opposed to Sharmila. Mrs. Maligaspe is also a 'close friend' of Maharoof.