As UNP crisis deepens JRJ perturbed in land of no return

Sunday Obervations: The political Column

With discipline and decorum fast deteriorating and cracks becoming visible in the United National Party(UNP) above the grain, visibly concerned UNP leaders now in the land of no return hurried themselves for a meeting last week to discuss the future of their beloved party. The UNP group comprised men and women of the party who entered 'glory' after 1977. The earlier group from 1952 led by D. S. Senanayake had retired providing the leadership to the wily Junius Richard Jayewardene who is scheduled to celebrate his centenary birthday this year in that land. D. S. and his stalwarts are now resting in the VIP lounge area of that land."Do not disturb" signs are displayed at that location possibly to prevent the Jayewardene batch from sneaking in.

JRJ presided with his deputy R. Premadasa on his right while the pint sized A. C. S. Hameed took the seat on the left. Looking at Premadasa, JRJ said that there was turmoil in the party with his nephew Ranil taking wing abroad whenever there was a crisis. "Sir, it now looks an early Esala Perahera in the UNP with young elephants crossing over", chipped in Premadasa. "Some more are to go", interjected Hameed pulling a paper out from a file which had the list of names. JRJ looking at G. V. Punchinilame seated in the back row asked why his son, Susantha crossed over. "Sir, unlike your days, Punchi... Nilames' have no place in the party because your nephew thinks they are too small", responded senior Punchinilame. Then Hameed sought permission to read out the list of young elephants ready to cross over. Whereupon JRJ and Premadasa were not satisfied with the list of names faxed to them by Sirisena Cooray whose address and telephone numbers were not made available for verification.

"I don't know what's wrong with Ranil and I am told now he doesn't even dream of me", lamented JRJ. Gamini Dissanayake seated opposite JRJ recalled that he left a book on 'Discipline and Decorum' in the drawer in Parliament when he was Opposition Leader before his sudden entry to the JRJ group and urged JRJ to instruct Ranil to read it. "How can I contact him when he had not even sited Ward Place for along time to see Elena", replied JRJ as teardrops rolled down his cheeks."Sir, the CMC was the heart of our party. Ranil's leadership has damaged it beyond a bypass", quipped, Anandatissa De Alwis who continues to be JRJ's spokesman there.

A disturbed Premadasa added that he was searching for Cooray following the CMC elections but was unable to trace him. "He is back in the political wilderness", cracked Lalith Athulathmudali with a mischievous smile that annoyed Premadasa.

Hameed, the peace negotiator of Premadasa blamed Ranil for withdrawing support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on peace moves. Gamini Dissanayake backed him saying that Ranil had no consistent policy on party and national issues. "Gamini, is your son, Naveen also going to cross over", asked JRJ. "Sir, what happened to me in the UNP once, now seem to happen to him. But Naveen is yet to make up his mind", Gamini replied. Continuing Hameed said that Ranil should have participated in the All Party Conference which would have helped the country to put more pressure on the LTTE. "Yes.. he should have done so", stressed former Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Vincent Perera who added that Ranil was still a 'mischievous naughty' fellow who lived in a world of his own.

Ranjan Wijeratne broke silence to complain that there was no organisational party activity at grassroots level. His predecessors, Harsha Abeywardene, Nandalal Fernando and Dr. Gamini Wijesekere endorsed Ranjan's view. JRJ claimed that Ranil had messed up by appointing Weragoda and Tissa Attanayake. "Oh, my God, don't talk about that brat Tissa. He does not know the two sides of a coin, leave alone national issues", Kandy lion, E. L. Senanayake chipped in. Premadasa entered the fray to complain about the pathetic situation in Colombo Central, a bastion he built with hard work. He was ably backed by Jabir A. Cader who was also his partner in Colombo Central. Premadasa assured JRJ that he would locate Cooray to bring him back to Colombo Central. "I will tell Ranil that if the UNP wants to win Colombo he should stick with Cooray in the future', asserted JRJ.

JRJ who listened to all views asked what was the real problem in the UNP. The "Gamini-Lalith" group backed by Hameed responded immediately to say the real problem was Ranil. JRJ in defence of his nephew asked who was the next best man to lead the party. Gamini's choice was Karu Jayasuriya. But, Premadasa in his usual style chose to challenge Gamini. As trouble sparked off, JRJ put off the meeting for another day. They all retired into their "six by three" rooms to rest, in peace or otherwise.

(PG)