Sajith's daydreams shattered:

Ranil strengthens grip on party

It was a strenuous week for most of the Government politicians as Sri Lanka made final preparations for the Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) which starts in Colombo on Friday. In contrast, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe survived one of the toughest challenges and managed to isolate his challenger to the UNP leadership, Sajith Premadasa.

The most important achievement for the Ranil camp was the winning the heart of former Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya, thus isolating Sajith without any notable stakeholders. Karu’s reunion with Ranil and accepting the chairmanship of the UNP’s new Leadership Council was a severe blow to Sajith’s daydreams of becoming the UNP leader.

Political observers pointed out that Sajith will now have to battle without his front liners in the UNP Reformist group.

After his fellow UNP parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera crossed over to the UPFA to become the Chief Minister of the North Western Province and now Karu agreeing to fall in line with Ranil, the most affected party is undoubtedly is Sajith’s camp.

Winning Karu was a great triumph for Ranil who managed to survive yet another challenge and retain his shaky leadership.. In the guise of decentralising power and sharing enormous amount of power centered on the leader of the party by the UNP constitution with a newly proposed Leadership Council, Ranil further strengthened his grip in the country’s main Opposition party.

In addition to the posts he held as the Opposition leader and UNP leader, Ranil has now been appointed to the newly created post of the National leader of the UNP. Sajith’s loyalists claim that Ranil has now increased his leadership post from two to three on the pretext of appointing a leadership council to share the powers vested upon the UNP leader.

Ruwan’s promotion

On Monday, the Working Committee of the United National Party approved the leadership council comprising nine members with Ranil Wickremesinghe being elevated to the position of ‘national leader’ of the party. Karu Jayasuriya was appointed Chairman of the new UNP Leadership Council.

Six members were appointed to the council while three others remained ex-officio members. Karu Jayasuriya, Sajith Premadasa, Ravi Karunanayake, Lakshman Kiriella, Talatha Athukorala and Ruwan Wijewardene were appointed members of the Council.

In addition, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera (party chairman), Mangala Samaraweera (media section head) and Tissa Attanayake (General Secretary) were appointed Ex- Officio members by virtue of their positions in the party

Speaking after the landmark ‘deal’, Ranil has said that he had made a historic decision to handover powers to the leadership council.

“The party will be administered by a leadership council instead of a leader,” Ranil was quoted as saying after the working committee meeting at Sirikotha.

Ranil recalled that he once proposed a new constitution under which a council would govern the country instead of an executive President. He said an opportunity had be created to experiment it through the UNP. Though he did not fully implement the guidelines set by the pro-UNP monks, Ranil thanked the Maha Sangha and others who worked towards converting the party into a vibrant force.

He invited all those who had disagreements with him and who left the UNP in the past to re-join the party. “Let’s forget the past and join hands for the sake of the country and the party,” he said.

Sajith withdraws

But Sajith withdrew from the Leadership Council, within hours after his appointment. Sajith who was clamoring for substantial reforms refused to be in a Leadership Council claiming which does not represent wide sections of the party. Speaking to media after the crucial Working Committee meeting of the UNP, Sajith said he decided to withdraw from the Leadership Council as the party had failed to implement proposals made by the Maha Sangha. Sajith said he is not ready to serve in a council that does not represent all sections of the UNP.

However, the new chairman of the UNP Leadership Council Karu Jayasuriya denied allegations that he had betrayed party members. “People are at liberty to hold their own opinions on this appointment.

The Chairmanship of the Council was given to me like all the previous posts. I did not ask for it,” he told a news conference on Monday evening.

He said if he wanted to betray the party he would not have contested Ranil to the party leadership. The Leadership Council members said the council has been granted powers over 19 party matters including that of appointing members to the UNP working committee.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, who has also found a place in the Leadership Council, said that members to the next Working Committee would be appointed by the Leadership Council. Tissa said Ranil will become the party’s National Leader and would continue to function as the Opposition Leader. Ranil will be in charge of parliamentary affairs and have the power to negotiate with other political parties as well, according to UNP General Secretary. He said UNP front-liner Sajith Premadasa, who refused to be a member of the Council, would be brought back through negotiations. Meanwhile, the UNP has filed a complaint at the Human Rights Commission over the arrest of several of its members in connection with the Matara clash on October 5. “The Matara police have arrested some UNP members who had nothing to do with the clash. We see this as an attempt to destroy the party,” UNP General Secretary was quoted as saying. He said a soldier who was passing by at the time had also been injured and said there should be compensation to all the victims.

UNP’s daydreams of 2014 elections

President Mahinda Rajapaksa recently told a senior level UPFA meeting that the UNP is daydreaming of coming into power and that they anticipate a general election or a presidential election next year. This statement was misquoted in several media reports which said that the President had told party seniors that either a Presidential election or a General election would be held in 2014.

But an unconfirmed media report last week said that the Government plans to seek an interpretation on the 18th Amendment to the Constitution from the Supreme Court regarding the time period during which a Presidential Election could be held during the second term of office of the incumbent.

The report further said that the Government could seek a direction from the Supreme Court due to the fact that the 18th amendment to the Constitution which removed the two-term bar of a President, does not contain clauses which state the period during which a Presidential election could be called for during the second term in office.

Prior to the passing of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution the incumbent President could call for a Presidential election for the second term after concluding four years in office. However, the 18th amendment does not specify the time period after which an election could be called for.

Neither there has been any confirmation nor denial from the Government. Informed sources said no final decision has been taken whether the presidential election will be held before the general election. The next presidential election is due in November 2016 and the general election by April 2010. The last presidential election was held in January 2010 and the General election in April the same year.

British minister in talks with Nonis

The Lankan expatriates in the United Kingdom were shocked after the recent murder of Sri Lankan student Thavisha Lakindu Peiris in Sheffield.

UK’s Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hugo Swire has held talks with Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in London, Dr. Chris Nonis last Wednesday on the recent murder of the Sri Lankan student.

“I am sure the whole House will join me in expressing condolences to the family of Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, a Sri Lankan national who was murdered in Sheffield last Sunday. Two people have been remanded in custody on suspicion of murder. I have discussed this case and travel arrangements for the family, with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner this afternoon,” he told the British Parliament on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday that he will demand that Sri Lanka investigates allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses. Defending his decision to attend the CHOGM 2013 in Colombo, Cameron said he would have a better chance of securing changes if he pressed ahead with his visit.

But the UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said that the UK does no good for the situation in Sri Lanka by sitting on the sidelines and said that he was among the first to want to see the change in Sri Lanka.

Divergent views by TNA leaders

The Tamil National Alliance, which secured power at the Northern Provincial Council recently, said that it is not opposed to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Sri Lanka, especially if it includes a trip to Jaffna.

TNA leader R. Sampanthan urged New Delhi to consider Tamil Nadu’s opinion, while parliamentarian M.A. Sumanthiran earlier defended Canada’s decision to boycott the summit. Their media spokesman Suresh Premachandran said the TNA itself would boycott the meeting.

However, some TNA seniors said they would welcome the Indian leader if Dr. Singh undertakes to tour Sri Lanka. “Dr. Singh’s visit may be helpful and give India more leverage, but we just cannot antagonise Tamil Nadu. As a member put it, it was a case of being caught between Tamil Nadu’s rhetoric and New Delhi’s dilemma,” a TNA stalwart said.

Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran, in a letter to Dr. Singh, invited Dr. Singh to visit Jaffna if he attends CHOGM 2013. But a certain sections within the TNA is opposed to Dr. Singh’s visit argued that his presence could only be an endorsement of the Government’s program.

Meanwhile, Colombo Additional Magistrate Nirosha Fernando on Wednesday discharged TNA Parliamentarian S. Sridharan’s private secretary and two others.

They had been arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Department for allegedly possessing explosives and pornographic material at the TNA Kilinochchi office eleven months ago.

The Magistrate discharged the suspects Arunachalam Vimalanathan, Balasundharam Jeyamadhan and Ponnampalam Lectumikanthan from the case and fixed the case against two other suspects Premarajah Vasanthan and Premdas Rajasekeran for November 12. She discharged the suspects, consequent to a request made by the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) to discharge them.

Unprecedented support for CHOGM

Despite various attempts by the LTTE rump and a couple of Western countries, there has been an unprecedented support for the CHOGM 2013 which begins in Colombo on Friday. The visiting delegates and Heads of Governments have started arriving as the capital is being given a new look to greet the visiting world leaders.

The participation at CHOGM 2013 will be no different from any other previously held summit. Over 3,000 foreign delegates have confirmed participation and several of them have already arrived. The city is being given a new look and almost all development and reconstruction work have been completed as Colombo is ready to host the biggest ever international summit in 37 years.

The biggest such event in local history was in 1976 when Sri Lanka hosted the Non-Aligned Summit under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

President pays last respects to ex-AG

The funeral of former Attorney General and the Chairman of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission C. R. De Silva PC took place at the General Cemetery, Borella yesterday, amidst a distinguish gathering.

Present and past students and teachers of Royal College, Colombo were present at the cemetery to pay their last respects to this outstanding legal luminary who made an indelible imprint in the annals of the school's history. President Mahinda Rajapaksa paid his last respects to the late C.R. de Silva, better known as Bulla among his schoolmates.

The President also opened the new administrative complex named Sayurupaya at the Magam Ruhunupura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port (MRMRP) on the same day morning.

The Sayurupaya has been constructed bordering the idyllic southern beach opposite the MRMRP at a cost of Rs. one billion. The building has 14 stories and is over 100,000 sq feet and 200 feet high. With the opening of the new administrative building all the port related activities will be conducted through this complex. Besides, all port customers at the MRMRP will be able to fulfill all customer requirements at this one stop centre.

The administrative complex which facilitates the administrative and engineering divisions of the Hambantota Port overlooks the Hambantota coastline and is situated inside the port premises, within 500 metres from the docks.The construction of the MRMRP commenced on January 15, 2008 under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

There are no environmental issues relating to the MRMRP since it has been developed as an environmentally friendly port. The Garden Port concept, which many countries have followed creates a good mental status for employees while protecting the environment. Having completing the first phase of the construction of MRMRP, the sea water filling ceremony called Karadiyawara Mangalya took place on August 15, 2010.

Kamalesh Sharma arrives

The Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Kamalesh Sharma arrived in Colombo yesterday, ahead of the Commonwealth summit. Sharma and a delegation from the Commonwealth Secretariat arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport last afternoon in a British Airways flight.

He is expected to attend the Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF) which will be held for five days from tomorrow. The 9th Commonwealth Youth Forum (CYF9) will be ceremoniously inaugurated at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Hambantota today under the patronage of President Rajapaksa.

The CYF is one of the three main parallel events of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2013. It will be held under the theme ‘Inclusive Development: Stronger Together'.

One hundred and six young delegates from 53 countries, 20 observers, five representatives of the Youth Led Task Force and 25 youth representatives from Sri Lanka will participate in this event.

Britain wants Manmohan here

The Indian Government, under immense pressure from Tamil parties, has decided that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh won’t attend the CHOGM. Indian media reported that the latest decision will be formally communicated to Sri Lanka today.

An announcement of the decision is likely after the IndianPrime Minister calls the CCPA meet on Sunday or Monday, CNN-IBN reported.

A crucial meeting of the Congress core group saw the PM’s visit being opposed. The opposition of senior members of the core committee like finance minister P Chidambaram is a setback to efforts to facilitate Singh’s visit to Colombo, considered to be necessary for strategic and foreign policy considerations. Though there was no formal announcement, the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Sri Lanka seems almost ruled out, Times of India reported.

But British High Commissioner in India James Bevan has said that his country wants India to participate in the CHOGM 2013 as it is an important player in the Commonwealth.

Asked whether Britain at any point rethought the idea of holding CHOGM in Sri Lanka, he stated that the British government decided several months back that the Prime Minister will represent the country at the CHOGM for two reasons: “firstly we are strong believers in Commonwealth and want to show a support for it and secondly we do have concerns about those developments in Sri Lanka.”

Bevan further said that India is a hugely important player in the Commonwealth and Britain very much value its participation in these meetings and that the decision is one that the Indian Prime Minister has to make.

“I am sure that David Cameron will very much welcome if Prime Minister Singh joins him in Sri Lanka but that is a matter for the Indian government,” he was quoted as saying.