Come September Ranil will remember

Sunday Observations: The Political Column

The UNP convention in September will be historic. For the first time in the history of the party, the decisions of the leader will be challenged. The theatre for this exciting drama was put into shape during the week when Ranil Wickremesinghe was in New Delhi on an official invitation by the Indian government. There are many players to this drama that will come on stage during the convention. The players are in groups as the UNP is now in several splits. But, the key group is led by S. B. Dissanayake.

During the past few days, these groups met in Colombo at the private residences of the group leaders to plan out strategies to take on Wickremesinghe. If they do, Ranil will be the first UNP leader to be challenged in the history of the party.

The question that was asked by many in those groups was the role Karu Jayasuriya would play at the convention when Ranil confronts the challenge. Jayasuriya who was in Colombo during the week acting for the leader has been aware of the meetings by these groups. Wickremesinghe in New Delhi, according to sources in Colombo, had been briefed well about the emerging situation. Who briefed him is another question. Only a few are aware of that secret. Therefore, many in the UNP are of the view that Jayasuriya will play a silent role without even a nod at the September convention when Ranil will be under fire. At what point will Ranil come under fire at the convention? Yes.... the drama will begin when he announces new appointments to key positions. If Malik Samarawickreme is re-appointed, it is likely that pandemonium may break out. The situation will aggravate when he announces the name to succeed, N. V. K. K. Weragoda as General Secretary.

S. B. Dissanayake, according to party sources will be the man to lead the challenge against Ranil. He has been entrusted the duty to challenge the appointments of the new office-bearers. These groups within the UNP have their own choices for the posts of party chairman and general secretary. Those who vie for the chairmanship are M. H. Mohamed, Milinda Moragoda, Dharmadasa Banda and John Amaratunga. Others in the fray to compete for the post of general secretary are Tissa Attanayake, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, Ravi Karunanayake and Lakshman Seneviratne. Malik Samarawickreme who made it known that he would step down after the defeat at the presidential election continues to occupy the office of UNP chairman. It is unlikely that Ranil would decide to change Malik given the friendship, trust and the understanding from their childhood days at Royal College, Colombo.

Weragoda has opted to move out. He had already informed Ranil of this plan. Therefore, Ranil is compelled to find a successor. Who is the likely choice of Ranil? Now it is known that it is Tissa Attanayake. But, if Ranil announces that name, the majority are prepared to challenge that appointment. They claim that Attanayake is the most unpopular man within the party. But, Attanayake continues to be the confidante of the UNP leader. Ranil who is due to return today has many a problem before him. The pressure to introduce party reforms is not yet over though he tried a fast one at the Political Affairs Committee before his departure to India. He tabled the reforms. But not in its entirety. While some district leaders and organisers were appointed, he put off appointments to key areas which are likely to be controversial.

The UNP leader moved for the appointment of a committee headed by Karu Jayasuriya with, Malik Samarawickreme, Weragoda and S.B. Dissanayake to interview other organisers and leaders. Partymen say that it is the style of Ranil to play for time through such committees. They do not trust and believe such committees and findings following the fate of the two-member committee that probed the CMC episode that involved the rejection of UNP nominations and the subsequent detection of having the list tippexed. The initial report exonerated both Mohamed, Maharoof and Milinda Moragoda. Though Moragoda was not involved in the inclusion of an underaged youth, he too was accused for the lapse. The committee stated in its report that Maharoof had included an underaged youth at the eleventh hour and it was unintentional.

Meanwhile, the CMC controversy that has the UNP in the centre is not yet over. This followed a battle between Moragoda and M. H. Mohamed with Sirisena Cooray joining the fray to defend Moragoda. Milinda in a letter to Ranil slammed the latter stating there was no unity in the party and certain people were trying to vilify him. Mohamed chose to take on Milinda in his reply to Ranil accusing Milinda for many setbacks in the party. Sirisena Cooray chose to defend Milinda and wrote to Ranil recalling the shameful days of the impeachment on President Premadasa. Mohamed instantly replied Cooray on Thursday explaining the circumstances that led to that ugly impeachment story and warned Cooray to recall the role played by Cooray at that time. Now it is known that Cooray was used as a 'mediator' by Premadasa on that impeachment to have it aborted. It was an open secret that Mohamed was under threat after he entertained that motion. Mohamed is of the view that Cooray was aware how the 'nature' of that threat. Mohamed who turns 88 this year may unfold that story if Cooray continues to blame him for the impeachment on Premadasa.

Adding more trouble to Ranil,the 'spectacle' group in the CMC is now in two factions. The Deputy Mayor, Rajendran has taken on Mayor, Mohamed Imtiyaz. Rajendran calls the Mayor a 'puppet' of Maharoof who has the remote control in his hand. Rajendran has the backing of another 'group' in the UNP and he is very supportive of the opposition led by Vasudeva Nanayakkara. Rajendran is keen to join hands with the opposition to form an effective administration in the CMC. Aware of this plan that would topple the Mayor, those backing the Mayor, this week urged him to go before court against Rajendran. Another plan is under way. That is for Sirisena Cooray to challenge Rajendran in court for breach of the agreement reached before the CMC poll that provided for the resignation of 'spectacle' members elected to bring the UNPers into the Council.

This agreement was reached between two parties at political level. The Local Government statute does not provide for such agreements. The amended Act specifically states that members of another political party cannot be accommodated into a list that belongs to another party or a group. Rajendran is not prepared to give into the dictate and terms of Cooray. Last week he met the UNP leader at the latter's office at Cambridge Terrace and told him that as long as Maharoof played games behind the back, he (Rajendran) would not support the UNP. He also hinted that if President Mahinda Rajapaksa seeks his support ,he would not hesitate to help the President to form a new administration in the CMC. At present, Rajendran plays a leading role in the current CMC crisis within the 'spectacle' group. All indications are that a new administration is likely on the cards in the near future. If it so happens, will the Mayor, Imtiyaz Mohamed, resign and revert to his three wheeler now parked opposite his Modera home?