Former UPFA members assured of nomination:

Star wars at PC polls

There had been wide range of ideas among the public and politicians after several popular actresses, former beauty queens and female singers announced their plans to contest the forthcoming Western and Southern Provincial Council elections.

Though there have been negative responses from the public and seasoned politicians, popular figures who take the political world by storm have always won elections polling a massive number of votes. In the past, it was the artists - actors and actresses, who demonstrated saying that there should not be any politics in arts. It appears to have changed the other way now with some of the politicians saying that there should not be any artists in politics overnight.

But the masses have always received the entrance of popular figures in cinema, television and sports to politics with overwhelming response. When popular teledrama actresses Upeksha Swarnamali, better known by Paba after her character in a mega series, contested the last general election from Gampaha District on the UNP ticket she polled a staggering number of votes beating all UNP heavyweights in the district.

Celebrated former Sri Lanka cricket captains Arjuna Ranatunga and Sanath Jayasuriya too made it to Parliament due to their immense popularity.

Similarly another former Sri Lanka captain Hashan Tillakaratne secured a seat in the Western Provincial Council at the last election. But he will not seek re-election as he is now serving as a full time selector in the national cricket selection committee.

The UPFA's interview last week to select its prospective candidates for the forthcoming elections was a star studded affair with several actresses, models, singers and close relatives of popular politicians in the fray.

Maithri says beauty alone won't help

But SLFP General Secretary, Minister Maithripala Sirisena has said that beauty alone will not be a factor when selecting UPFA candidates for the Western and Southern Provincial Council elections.

He said there was no certainty that actress, models and singers who appeared before the two nomination boards would get UPFA nominations.

Minister Sirisena told a media conference at the SLFP headquarters at T. B. Jayah Mawatha, (Darley Road) last week that the only qualification the nomination boards were focusing on was whether the applicants had violated any law of the country or had been prosecuted in a court of law.

Focus will definitely be on good looks, voter appeal, personality and education when the UPFA Central Committee selects candidates who were interviewed last Monday, according to the SLFP General Secretary.

He said all 302 applicants from the Western and Southern Provinces appeared before the interview boards who have sent the lists of suitable candidates to the UPFA Central Committee headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

However, Minister Sirisena had assured that all former UPFA members of the Western and Southern Provincial Councils would be given nominations.

Accordingly, popular actress and former Miss Sri Lanka, Anarkalli Aakarsha who has served as a member of the recently dissolved Southern Provincial Council is guaranteed UPFA nomination to seek re-election.

Anarkalli confident of re-election

Anarkalli has said that it has been amazing and that she feels blessed to have been the youngest female to be elected to the Southern Provincial Council.

"During my tenure, I received the support of all the fellow councillors and as a former Provincial Councillor, the experiences I gained have reshaped who I am and made me grow in many forms," she was quoted as saying.

She will be contesting to the Southern PC from the Matara District. Anarkalli said that her achievements in politics have made her a role model for the other actresses who aspire to enter politics.

"I am over the moon about being able to reach a position that realised an dream I have had since my childhood.

"I always wished to become an inspiration for others and I have now become an encouragement for many fellow actresses to enter politics," she said.

Asked about her views on the present trend of local celebrities entering the political fray, the former Southern Provincial Council member said that it is easy to believe that it is a trend essential to bag more votes, but popularity alone will not sustain anyone.

"I believe it is unnecessary for a political party that has done phenomenally well and won the hearts of the masses to resort to the level of fielding candidates based on their fame or outer appearances," said Anarkalli.

UNP seeks Nadeesha's support for survival

Besides a seasoned campaigner such as Anarkalli, several star actresses have sought nominations from the UPFA. In the wake of the popular trend, the UNP has sought the popularity of actress Nadeesha Hemamali for the party's survival.

Nadeesha will be contesting the Southern PC from Ambalangoda electorate. "I thought it's time for me to get involved more in political work.

My priority is to serve the country. I have always been involved with social services and humanitarian work.

Those acts should help to convince the voters that I want to serve them," she was quoted as saying in a media interview.

Asked about the other UNP politicians in the area and their response, Nadeesha said that they have all been supportive and friendly. "I believe, as a party we can make a huge difference in the country's political atmosphere."

When asked to comment on many actresses and other popular figures seeking nominations to contest the elections, Nadeesha has said that all of them have a right to contest the elections. "They could make a huge difference, a positive change if they work with a vision, practice good policies and make wise decisions. They should be allowed to proceed with their work, and time will tell whether they are suitable to be in politics or not," said Nadeesha.

Ginger, Gayesha before nomination board

Singer Judith White, better known as Ginger, faced the SLFP Nomination Board and is getting active in the election campaign. Ginger said that her entry to politics was not a sudden decision.

"I have been in every nook and corner of the city of Colombo and I have been working with MP Duminda Silva from 2004. Everything needs to happen at the correct time and I think this is the right time for me. People will always want to vote for someone who is accessible when they are helpless. I am there for them," says Ginger who has gained immense popularity as a singer.

Former Miss Sri Lanka and model Gayesha Perera who faced the SLFP Nomination Board last week, said she wanted to serve people as she is a person who had not born in a bed of roses.

"I know what ordinary people go through, their struggle in life. My mother had to struggle with poverty in bringing me up.

Hence, I could read the pulse of the people who needs a helping hand," said Gayesha.

Malsha to follow Jeevan's footsteps

Family passion in politics is nothing new and is not confined to a particular party, be it in the Government or Opposition. Malsha Kumaratunga, daughter of Minister Jeevan Kumaratunga faced the SLFP Nomination Board to seek nominations for the Western PC elections.

Malsha said it was a well thought out move after completing her higher studies.

"I returned to Sri Lanka after my graduation expecting to lay the foundation for my political career," she said.

Following her return from UK, Malsha had been working as the personal assistant to her minister father for nearly two years. "Later I continued to assist him because I believed on-the-job training opens chances to meet people," she said.

Malsha claims that her father - Minister Jeevan, never influenced before she came before the nomination board.

"Even during the Nominations Board interview on Monday, it was repeatedly mentioned by the members of the nomination board that my father had not even mentioned my appearance before the Board, at least through a casual telephone call.

I wished to make an impression, make my own case. My father too agreed that I should convince the Board on my own," said Malsha.

Gayantha dismisses crossover allegations

There have been media reports that UNP Galle District parliamentarian Gayantha Karunathillake is planning to crossover to the Government during the Southern Provincial Council election campaign. But Gayantha has denied all such reports which seems to have been an inside job.

Gayantha said that there is no truth whatsoever in the allegations and that he would never quit the UNP.

"My party is the UNP and I have no intention of joining any other political party," he said.

When asked to comment on Deputy Speaker, Chandima Weerakkody's statement that he intended to leave the UNP due to problems with its leader, Gayantha said he was unaware of such a statement.

"To my knowledge there isn't any reason for him to say something to that effect. The crossover reports are only rumours and there is no truth in them," Gayantha said.

Asked whether the UNP has any chance of winning the Southern Provincial Council elections, Gayantha has said the UNP will contest all elections with the hope of winning. "As soon as the nominations are finalised, our election campaign will begin.

But we have a challenge we will have to work hard if we are to show any impact. But we will respect the people's decision which is the final at the end," he was quoted as saying.

Gayantha appeared to be positive of actress Nadeesha's entry to support the UNP.

"I believe she will do her best. She will be able to secure votes of the youth in the area as she is a popular actress. But it will be the people who will finally decide whether she is fit to represent them. But I will support her and all the other UNP candidates wholeheartedly," Gayantha said.

UNP's internal conflict in Galle

The differences between two of UNP stalwarts in Galle District - Parliamentarian and media spokesman Gayantha Karunatillake and former MP Vajira Abeywardene has widened. It was clearly evident at the UNP Galle District Bala Mandala meeting at which Gayantha, the only UNP parliamentarian in the district, was a notable absentee.

The meeting was held at Vajira's residence in Uluvitake under the patronage of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Party sources said it was none other than Vajira, who failed to secure his seat at the last parliamentary election, who had masterminded the story of Gayantha's crossover to strengthen his vote base.

Reports said that Vajira, a close confidant of Ranil, has got hold of media personalities close to him to give maximum publicity to Gayantha's crossover affair.

But Gayantha has denied any differences and covered up things.

"To my knowledge there is no conspiracy of any sort against me and I have not felt any pressure to leave the party.

I am the only UNP representative from the Galle district and I will be doing my best to support the UNP in the upcoming Southern Provincial Council elections," he said.

However, Ranil had to face an unexpected flow of questions from party supporters on Maithri Gunaratne and Shiral Laktillake who had been expelled from the party and failed to get nominations for the forthcoming PC elections.

"We known Maithri well, he is not a person who would have deals with the Government.

But straightforward people like Maithri have not been given nominations whereas MP John Amaratunga who accompanied the President to the Middle East has been given a UNP organiser post again," an angry supporter told Ranil.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake then intervened to save his leader.

"There is nothing like that. Maithriee and Shiral have been told to make an unconditional apology to the party leadership so that their membership could be reinstated," said Tissa.

But that could not silence the membership who continued to criticise the blunders made by the UNP leadership.

"We are not worried about that Mr. Secretary. What well urge is to take them back to the party and grant nominations. If u don't do that, we will not vote for UNP this time," they said in one voice.

Sagala and Mangala in cold war

UNP parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera and ex-MP Sagala Ratnayake have been close confidants of their party leader Ranil. Though the trio are old Royalists representing different eras, Mangala and Sagala have been engaged in a cold war, making things even worse for Ranil.

More than the headaches the UNP leadership gets from Galle, the Mangala-Sagala power struggle has been a great worry for the Opposition leader as both of them have been inner-circle friends of Ranil.

The UNP's appointment of electoral organisers in the South too had been questionable with former Opposition leader of Southern PC, Siri Wijewickrema being overlooked.

Wijewickrema has been a seasoned campaigner, representing the UNP continuously in the Provincial Council since 1987, winning all the PC elections held to date.

When only three UNP MPs were elected from Matara at the 1994 general election, Wijewickrema finished a close fourth. But all four UNP PC members junior to him have been appointed chief organisers. Insiders said Wijewickrema has been overlooked as the party leadership wants to give that slot to Sagala.

Similar to the UNP Bala Mandala meeting in Galle, its meeting in Matara too showed the internal differences. Sagala, along with UNP parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana, were notable absentees at the meeting held at Mangala's Matara residence.

Though the reasons for Buddhika's absence was not clear, it was said that Sagala had kept away after Mangala's men had attacked UNP's recent protest in Matara.

Indira's request to Thatcher

There was a stunning disclosure last week that former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had asked her then British counterpart Margaret Thatcher to stop helping Sri Lanka with military advice to crush the LTTE in the 1980s.

In a document relating to Sri Lanka, released by the National Archives in London under the 30-year declassification rule, a reference was apparently made to India's suspicion in 1984 that Britain's elite Special Air Service (SAS) was training the Sri Lanka military.

Gandhi told Thatcher: "We hope that you will use your influence to persuade (Sri Lanka's) President (J.R.) Jayewardene to give a positive lead by making constructive suggestions at the All Parties Conference.

Military aid and anti-insurgency assistance are not enough to overcome a political crisis which has to be faced and resolved."

According to another document, the British government under Thatcher allowed former SAS officers to train Sri Lankan security forces against the LTTE.

The new set of documents, that will intensify speculation over SAS operations in the region, suggest that in September 1984, Peter Ricketts - private secretary to foreign secretary Geoffrey Howe - wrote to David Barclay - private secretary to then Prime Minister Thatcher - about a request to allow a British company with SAS connections to work in Sri Lanka.

The Sri Lanka government under President J.R. Jayewardene, was then tackling the LTTE terrorists and other groups in the North and East.

Ricketts wrote: "The Sri Lankan government have engaged another British company (name removed) to provide training in counter-terrorist techniques.

The presence of (the company's) employees, including some ex-SAS personnel, in Sri Lanka, has aroused controversy and the Indian government have expressed concern to us about the firm's involvement."We have made it clear that this is a purely commercial matter and that HMG (Her Majesty's Government) are not involved." The firm was allowed to continue working in Sri Lanka.