More crossovers likely after Dayasiri saga

The UNP, after the shock exit of Kurunegala District parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera, is heading towards further crisis with several other parliamentarians who have been at the receiving end for expressing views that were contrary to that of the party leadership, raring to join the Government.

There had been a widespread rumour in political circles for several weeks that Dayasairi would join the Government to become the UPFA's chief ministerial candidate for the North Western Provincial Council elections.

But Dayasiri and the parties in the Government who had been discussing the matter kept it a secret. Many thought that Dayasiri was on the fence. Some UNP seniors loyal to Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe spread another rumour that Dayasiri had approached UPFA leaders who had turned down the offer. But Dayasiri's Provincial Council election campaign had already been given to a leading advertising company which has been working closely with the Government.

Hence, former UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa got a clue that Dayasiri had almost completed negotiations with the Government. He immediately discussed this with his fellow reformist parliamentarians in the UNP and requested Dayasiri not to make a harsh move at this point.

Even at the last UNP Working Committee meeting at Sirikotha, Sajith made a strong voice on behalf of his reformist group colleague and told Ranil that the party should give more responsibilities and make use of Dayasiri's skills.

Amidst speculation that Dayasiri is gearing for a crossover, moderate UNP parliamentarians made every effort to iron out differences with Dayasiri and Ranil. But the UNP leader was adamant that he will not negotiate anything with Dayasiri or plead with the MP to remain in the UNP. "I am not going to beg from him. If he wants, let him join the Government," Ranil told the UNP seniors who had approached him for a peaceful settlement of the Dayasiri issue.

However, Ranil became much flexible after immense pressure from moderate UNP leaders and had a 40-minute discussion with Dayasiri. This was after the UNP Working Committee decided to withdraw the ongoing disciplinary proceedings against Dayasiri and Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirna.

Ranil also got his confidant and Kurunegala District MP Akila Virak Kariyawasam to second the withdrawal of disciplinary action against Dayasiri at the UNP Working Committee meeting.

But Ranil made sure that he attached strings to that decision so that he could keep the rebel MPs in check. The withdrawal of disciplinary action against Dayasiri and Buddhika were subjected to a probationary period that gave Ranil a free hand, if they duo criticise the party leader again.

However, the UNP's most popular parliamentarian had taken a firm decision by then as he could no longer tolerate the step motherly treatment that was meted out to him. Hence, Dayasiri took a firm decision that enough is enough. He broke the most shocking news to the UNP through Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake. But Ranil deliberately avoided speaking to Dayasiri as the UNP leader was bent on getting rid of all who were not willing to dance to his melody.

Ranil's forecast on the battle against terrorism

Following a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Dayasiri went to Parliament on Wednesday afternoon to make a 40-minute special statement, shocking the UNP parliamentary group.

He said how Ranil was day dreaming of gaining power through short cuts. "He once told a meeting of UNP parliamentarians and said the Government would never win the battle against terrorism. He said the monsoon rain would make things worse for the Security Forces and they will have to withdraw. He said the Security Forces would definitely lose the battle against the LTTE and as a result the economy would collapse. He said that would pave the way for the UNP to capture power," said Dayasiri, adding that he and a few patriotic MPs opposed such views at the UNP parliamentary group meetings.

"Ministers Johnston Fernando, Lakshman Seneviratne would reveal the truth. We stood against those malicious moves. The UNP taught its members such condemnable qualities that went against the country", he said.

Dayasiri said that the government would continue to win all elections for more than 10 years without any challenge. UNP members have no freedom of thought and its leader is in a process of ridding the party of all the members who are loved by party supporters. Jayasekara said that a large number of popular members of the UNP have been removed from their electorates.

He said that the government would gain a historic victory at the forthcoming Provincial Council elections. He also stated the Opposition's dream is to regain power in 2022 and he stated that it would only remain a dream. "The UNP trade union strength which was 72,000 in 1994 has now reduced to 9,000. The trade union of the UNP has become a 'walking skeleton' under the present UNP leadership," he said.

He said that the most senior UNP leaders crossed over as they did not see a future for the country with the UNP. He also said that the UNP would never win elections until the Rajapaksas were loved by the people. He pointed out that the UNP always embraced a bankrupt political strategy. He added that in 2008, the UNP discussed as to how the operations against terrorism would be defeated.

Sexual harassment

Holding a special news conference later in the day, Dayasiri made a stunning disclosure that resisting sexual harassment was one of the main reasons that forced him to leave the UNP. He alleged that the UNP hierarchy sought revenge, forcing him to join the UPFA.

"The UNP has become a decaying tree due to the despotic leadership of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe," he said.

Jayasekera who made his parliamentary debut following the 2004 General Election from the Katugampola electorate in the Kurunegala District, said that the dictatorial leadership of Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had made UNPers disillusioned and disgruntled.

He said for years, UNP reformists including himself tried to change this despotism in the party and establish democracy. But were unsuccessful. He said that the UNP leader changed the party's constitution of his own accord to remain as leader for another six years with callous regard to the party's future.

Dayasiri said that he could have got a Cabinet portfolio by crossing over to the Government in Parliament, but his wish was otherwise.

"I have a responsibility to protect the dignity of the people who voted for me at the last elections. I decided to resign from the party and seek a fresh mandate from the people to serve the people of my province and the country," he said.

Dayasiri who received the highest preferential vote next to UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the last General Election, said his decision will make the people victorious.

He said the UNP will face a crisis at the North Western Province since many UNP grassroots leaders are prepared to leave the party and join the Government.

Chandima hints at more crossovers

The UNP is heading towards further disaster as several of its rebel MPs, frustrated due to the iron fist of the party leadership which dances to the tune of a few happy and gay people, are planning to join the government within the next few weeks. "This will leave the opposition in worse straits by the next election," Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Imaduwa Rural Bank, the Deputy Speaker said, "Even though the majority of people understand and appreciate the massive development process taking place in the country, a few are unable to grasp reality and understand the process. The opposition leadership has failed to recognise the talents of its young members, hence its pitiful state".

"A true leader should listen to his party faithful. President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a good example. The President always leads from the front and is a great listener. This is why the people have such high regard for the President. Comparing the President's style of leadership with that of the UNP leader's is impossible," he said.

"The current UNP leader is even unable to protect his party MPs, which is unfortunate for the whole party", the Deputy Speaker said. He said President Rajapaksa has launched a multitude of development projects in Sri Lanka and the country is in its golden era of development. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) ratings, Sri Lanka is the fastest growing economy in the South Asian Region. Even India has a 5.8% economic growth rate in 2013, whereas Sri Lanka recorded a 6.8% growth rate," the Deputy Speaker said.

TNA in crisis over seat allocation

The woes of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) are never-ending even after it was forced to accept T. Vigneshwaran as its chief ministerial candidate for the Northern Provincial Council elections in September. The latest problem that is likely to create further divisions within the TNA's constituent parties is the allocation of seats.

The TNA was unable to arrive at a decision regarding seat allocation for the forthcoming NPC election, even at the recent co-ordinating committee meeting presided over by R. Sampanthan.

The meeting was held at hotel Vasantham at Vavuniya, with police providing maximum security and preventing outsiders entering, even newsmen. The Committee took up the issue of seat allocation for the districts of Mannar and Vavuniya for the five constituent parties.

The tug-of-war continued as usual, as EPRLF, PLOTE and TELO demanded more seat allocations for those two districts. "I have just sent two ordinary members of my party to participate in the Coordinating Committee meeting, which is supposed to decide the allocation of seats to the five constituent parties of the TNA," said TULF leader V. Anandasangaree.

"Once they finalise the seat allocations and inform me, then I will make my position clear to the Coordinating Committee," he said.

He said he is not happy with the way things are moving regarding seat allocation. The TULF leader said, "The very exercise of seat allocation amounts to making permanent divisions among the five constituent parties.

He said that the TNA should have adopted different ways and should have seen to it that the candidates nominated, call themselves TNA candidates instead of being candidates of different Tamil political parties.

Sampanthan instructed the Coordinating Committee members to meet again in Jaffna and finalise seat allocations for the two districts.

There had been another meeting in Jaffna presided over by Mavai Senathirajah, who was earlier nominated to be the TNA's chief ministerial candidate. But Sampanthan was quoted as saying that they were compelled to pick Vigneshwaran due to external pressure from two countries.

Seat allocations for the districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu were finalised with Vigneswaran as the common candidate from Jaffna District with ITAK being given seven slots, EPRLF four, TELO three, TULF and PLOTE two each. In the Kilinochchi district, TNA nominations will be shared by ITAK (3) TULF (2), TELO and EPRLF one each. TNA's Mullaitivu District nomination allocation will see ITAK, TELO, EPRLF fielding two candidates each while TULF and PLOTE, a candidate each.

President felicitates new Libyan counterpart

President Mahinda Rajapaksa last week extended his congratulations to the new President of Libya, Nouri Ali Busahmin.

"Your Excellency's election as the President of Libya bears testimony to the confidence that the members of the General National Congress have placed in you in guiding the tasks during the period of transition and bringing stability to Libya." President Rajapaksa wrote.

The President stated that the two countries could be able to further strengthen bilateral ties under the new administration. President Rajapaksa also sent a message of condolence to the Chinese President Xi Jinping following the earthquake that struck in the Gansu Province in north-western China on Monday.

"On behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the families who have suffered from this disaster," President Rajapaksa said in his message. "I am confident that under your leadership, the people of China would be able to overcome the tragedy with resilience," the condolence message from the Lankan leader said.

Committee to probe disappearances

President Rajapaksa last week directed his Secretary Lalith Weeratunga to appoint a commission to look into the incidents of disappearances that took place during the 30 years of terrorism.

The decision with regard to the terms of reference and members of the commission will be taken soon, Presidential Spokesman Mohan Samaranayake said.

The Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) appointed by President Rajapaksa in May 2010 to investigate alleged human rights violations recommended the probing disappearances and alleged human rights violations during the period of terrorism.

The Commission while stressing that Sri Lanka military has not deliberately targeted civilians, recommended that the government should appoint a special commissioner to look into the alleged disappearances and provide material to the Attorney General's Department to initiate criminal proceedings as appropriate.

Ninety nine per cent of former LTTE cadres were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. They were provided vocational training and the necessary tools along with monetary assistance to start their own projects.

Over 9,000 persons whose family members were killed at the hands of the LTTE were provided compensation by the government.

GL meets ICJ judge in the Hague

External Affairs Minister Professor G.L.Peiris met Judge Hishashi Owada, Judge of the International Court of Justice and formerly President of that Court in the Hague on Wednesday.

He thanked Judge Owada for his participation, as President of the International Court of Justice, in the meeting of the Afro-Asian Legal Council in Sri Lanka last year and for his insightful presentation on a range of issues of special importance to the region.

Prof. Peiris informed Judge Owada about initiatives by Sri Lanka in several fields in recent months.

He described the role being played by Sri Lanka in the international arena, with special reference to the security of sea lanes in the Indian Ocean, climate change, promotion of alternative sources of energy, disarmament and nuclear proliferation, and the contribution by Sri Lanka to the South-South Dialogue for promoting trade and collaboration among developing countries.

The discussion included preparations for carrying forward issues involved in the Doha Round at the upcoming meeting in Bali in December this year, and Sri Lanka's strong support for many of the issues being dealt with on a priority basis by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Gota in Uganda to boost military cooperation

Sri Lanka and Uganda have agreed to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the areas of defence and military, and share military operations.

The two countries agreed to share military operations when the visiting Defence and Urban Development Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa held discussions with the Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at State House in Entebbe on Monday.

The Ugandan President and Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary discussed bilateral relations including co-operation in the areas of military and defence.

The two countries have further discussed sharing experience on disaster management and offering specialised training to the 45,000-strong Ugandan military, Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF).

The newly appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Uganda Vellupillai Kananathan was also present at the meeting.

Others at the meeting included Uganda's state minister for defence Jeje Odong and Lt Gen. Charles Angina while Air Vice Marshal K.A Gunathilaka and Major General Shavendra Silva accompanied the Defence Secretary.

Rajapaksa was on a five-day official visit during which he also met a technical team from the Ugandan Ministry of Defence.