The greatest betrayal: Part three:

MEET THE TRAITOR

Even Chandrika and Anura betrayed the party founded by their father :

by K.M.H.C.B. Kulatunga

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is one of the two major political parties in Sri Lanka which has governed the country on many occasions. The country has been run by Presidents of SLFP-led coalitions for the past two decades as the other main party, the UNP failed to make any impact after the late President D.B. Wijetunge completed the remaining period of late President R. Premadasa.

The SLFP was founded by the late Prime Minister S.W.R.D Bandaranaike in 1951 and in next to no time, it gained support of the people to challenge the established UNP. It first came to power in 1956 and since then has been the predominant party in government on a number of occasions.

The SLFP has a proud history after its founder S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike became the Prime Minister in 1956. His widow Sirimavo Bandaranaike created history by becoming the world’s first woman prime minister in 1970. Unfortunately, two of their children betrayed the party and left the SLFP for reasons better known to them.

USA

First, it was the only son of the Bandaranaike family – Anura, considered as the unofficial ‘crown prince’, who betrayed the party due to differences with his mother. During the same era, another Maithripala from Rajarata – Maithreepala Senanayake betrayed the SLFP.

It was pity that two of the three children in the Bandaranaike family who took to politics in the SLFP let down the party which was formed by their great father. Their younger daughter Chandrika too left the SLFP along with her celluloid hero husband Vijaya Kumaranatunga and formed the

Sri Lanka Mahajana Party (SLMP) in late 80s.

After the assassination of Vijaya, his widow made a wow before the coffin of the popular actor turned politician. In forming the United Socialist Alliance (USA) with two other parties in 1988, Chandrika vowed to take the SLMP policies forward. But within weeks, she fled to the UK with her two children.

She returned to the country in 1993 and a few SLFP seniors pardoned her and invited Chandrika to join the SLFP. In next to no time Chandrika was lucky to reach the pinnacle of her political career – Chief Minister of the Western Provincial Council, Prime Minister and finally the President in1994.

Notorious

She held the Executive Presidency for two successive terms. But after running the country for 11 long years, she had failed to accomplish a single development project. She was notorious for not being punctual.

Many visitors who made appointments to meet her when she was the President had to wait for hours. Departures of many aircraft were often delayed during her overseas travel.

Her lust for power has not ended even after being the President for 11 long years. She was compelled to appoint the then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa as the SLFP-led UPFA’s candidate for the November 2005 Presidential election.

But ever since, she had worked in a sinister manner to defeat the Presidential candidate of her own party. Perhaps, Chandrika wouldn’t have thought even in her wildest dreams that Mahinda Rajapaksa would become the President on November 19, 2005.

But thanks to the overwhelming support extended by patriotic people and those who wanted an ‘honourable peace’ Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President.

Even in the 2010 Presidential election, Chandrika launched an unofficial malicious campaign to defeat President Rajapaksa but none listened to her vicious views as President Rajapaksa was re-elected with a thumping majority of over 1.8 million votes.

Chandrika is now back in action to beat her main enemy, this time openly with her ever-reliable confidante Mangala Samaraweera, who too had betrayed the SLFP. Hence, the Maithripala camp is now full of those who have betrayed the SLFP.

Conspiracies

Although the son and younger daughter of the SLFP founder had betrayed the SLFP, President Rajapaksa has always been faithful to his party in good times and bad.

President Rajapaksa’s late father D.A. Rajapaksa too had been a founder member of the SLFP.

Maithripala’s betrayal is not the only such incident experienced in the history of the SLFP. The SLFP has faced many conspiracies in the past.

In fact, eight of the 13 former General Secretaries of the SLFP had turned traitors in letting down the party at crucial stages and Maithripala is the latest in the list.

No matter who commits the betrayal, which is historically nothing new to Sri Lanka, the UPFA will march towards victory at the Presidential election to show the nation’s gratitude to the leader who had saved the country from the clutches of LTTE terrorism.

Betrayals are not a new thing and that even Ehelapola Nilame committed betrayal during King Rajasinghe’s era. In the end, Ehelapola Nilame had to eat prison food - the fate suffered by betrayers.

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is keen to safeguard his Opposition Leader post and found another sacrificial lamb similar to what he did with Sarath Fonseka in 2010. They are today attempting to implement the conspiracy they couldn't achieve in 2010. Nobody in the Opposition was ready to sacrifice himself and as a result, they hsbr trapped someone from the Government who was greedy for power.

Plans to topple the government have been hatched inside embassy offices and staggering sums of money are being thrown to find Government politicians who are hungry for money. But only Maithripala and five others have fallen prey to these Western conspiracies.

MoU

The manner in which Maithripala regime would treat the Maha Sanga was evident when the memorandum of understanding was signed between the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena and the leaders of other parties.

Ven Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera who masterminded the common Opposition candidate concept was not given the traditional treatment that is normally offered to Bhikkus and had been neglected in that aspect. Even the chair allocated to him was not covered with a customary white cloth.

The preferential treatment normally given to a Buddhist monk was not afforded Sobhitha Thera. Common candidate Maithripala Sirisena signed the MoU first with Ranil Wickremasinghe, then with Chandrika Kumaratunga, Rajitha Senaratna, Sarath Fonseka, Mano Ganeshan and Hemakumara Nanayakkara.

It was only after all of them had signed that Sobhitha Thera was given a chance to sign, that too standing as the monk preferred not to sit on a chair that was not covered with a white cloth. The on looking Bhikkhus showed terrible displeasure on the manner the common Opposition treated the prominent Bhikkhu.

There is no doubt that it was an indication how Buddhism would be treated in case Maithripala becomes the President. Is this the manner a real villager from Polonnaruwa treats a Bhikkhu? Perhaps, Maithripala would have been influenced by the bad company of Chandrika, Mangala and Ranil. It is still fresh in our minds how Mangala held a Buddha statute at a ceremony – from its head! Could one expect such an unpatriotic gang to show respect to a Bhikkhu.

Even the pigeon rejected Maithripala

Even the start of Maithripala’s election campaign was filled with a series of inauspicious incidents which predicts a gloomy end. At the inaugural meeting of the common Opposition candidate Maithripala, at his home town Polonnaruwa last Sunday, a very bad omen took place.

When Maithripala released a white pigeon it fell on the ground near him, instead of flying away.

All the faces of those on the stage became gloomy had looked at one another thinking it was a bad omen to the start of the presidential election campaign. But that was exactly what a traitor deserved!

Even the pigeon, which was released by Maithripala, had realised that he had not been released in good faith that it’s more honourable to get back to the bird cage he was in than flying away from the hands of a person who had betrayed the country.

Maithripala’s broken promise

UNP-backed politicians normally break their election promises after elections. But Maithrpala Sirisena did so even before he handed over his nomination for the Presidential election.

Maithripala played to the gallery and pretended to show his concern for the environment and people when he said that he would not use polythine or cutouts during his election campaign. Instead, he said those money would be used to initiate a fund for the kidney patients in his native Polonnaruwa.

Although it appeared to be an attractive slogan, he broke the pledge at his very first election campaign rally in Polonnaruwa. There were massive hoardings with Maithripala’s giant images and multi-colour polythene flag street decorations.

Since Maithripala has broken an election pledge even before handing over his nomination, one could well understand what would happen to other important promises he has made to mislead the masses.

He now sheds crocodile tears for kidney patients and get their relatives’ votes. But what did he do when he was the Health Minister? He turned a blind eye when multi-national chemical companies marketed harmful pesticides to farmers in his own area. He did precious little to protect farmers and residents in Polonnaruwa who suffered kidney failure.

All of a sudden, Maithripala has got up and shed buckets of crocodile tears and promised to form a fund for kidney patients. People in Polonnaruwa are for more intelligent than power-hungry Maithripala and could not be misled by these opportunistic statements.

Sarath Kumara sees a Judas in Maithripala

Acting Minster of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Sarath Kumara Gunaratne said in the same way Judas betrayed Jesus Christ for a mess of pottage Mithreepala Senanayake as the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, betrayed the party as well its leader, the President.

The minister said Judas who betrayed Jesus, committed suicide by hanging himself. He said by enjoying a meal of hoppers seated at the same table, and also engaging in a friendly chat, Maithripala Sirisena betrayed the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and crossed over to the opposition to execute a contract of Ranil Wickremesinghe who was then recognised as the arch enemy.

A doubt has arisen among SLFP supporters as to whether he crossed over for a mess of pottage. The voters will give Maithripala due punishiment for betraying the party. Though due to the betrayal of Judas, Jesus was crucified, Judas got himself deified through his own effort and in the same way, and the President without getting disheartened will achieve a better victory than the victory he had achieved in the last presidential election.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party is not a party that could be destroyed.

The people of this country love this party as their own lives. I make use of the Fisheries Ministry to solve the problems of the fisher folk. It is the President who is the Minister in charge of this ministry. I am the acting minister under him. Therefore, it is much easier to carry out these duties.

The President rendered a yeoman service to fishermen during his tenure as Minister of Fisheries,” he said.

JHU questions Ranil’s plans to become Premier

Jathika Hela Urumaya General Secretary Patali Champika Ranawaka has asked how UNP leader Rani Wickremesinghe will become Prime Minister in case Maithripala Sirisena becomes the President since the majority of parliamentarians are UPFA coalition members.

It was reported that the JHU had sought clarification on the post of Prime Minister before extending its support to the common opposition. Speaking at a function in Avissawella last week, Champika Ranawaka added that certain people raise questions over the participation of parties like the TNA and the SLMC in the common Opposition.

He added that the different groups are coming together to achieve a common goal stressing that the role of the JHU was uniting all forces for a common cause.

But one wonders what a party such as the JHU which gave Executive presidency as the main reason for extending support to Maithripala would do with serious differences on future plans. Mangala Samaraweera has openly said that the Executive Presidency would not be abolished even if Maithripala wins the election and only certain powers vested with the President would be transferred to the Prime Minister. Hence, the Executive Presidency would remain even if Maithripala wins. Is this the ‘change’ the JHU wanted?

Stars go against traitor

Even the stars have gone against the traitor who had not only betrayed his party and the people of Polonnaruwa but also the country in general.

Well-known astrologer Sumanadasa Abeygunawardena has said that the Opposition’s common candidate Maithripala Sirisena would lose the next Presidential election by a greater majority than Sarath Fonseka did in the previous 2010 Presidential election.

He predicted that Mahinda Rajapaksa would win comfortably and also that Maithripala Sirisena will not secure a single seat in the Polonnaruwa district including the Polonnaruwa electorate.

Opposition’s ‘dream government’

The UNP is under an illusion that it could regain power after 20 years through Maithripala, who is not even considered a national figure. Despite being a Cabinet Minister under President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Maithripala was mostly known only to the people in Polonnaruwa and was never considered a national figure, forget about aspiring to become the Head of State.

But the UNP, which had lost a record 29 elections under the tottering leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe, thinks that Maithripala could resurrect their depleted party. They expect Maithripala to perform miracles and install a UNP regime.

But none of the leaders in the so-called joint Opposition know what would happen or who would be empowered if Maithripala wins.

On the day Miathripala declared that he would be the joint Opposition candidate, he promised to introduce a new voting system and abolition of the Executive Presidency. But UNP Secretary General Tissa Attanayake contradicted that in a couple of days when he said that powers of the Executive President should be transferred to Ranil, who will be appointed Prime Minister within 24 hours.

Even a primary student would know that Ranil could not become the Prime Minister when the UPFA commands with over 150 parliamentarians. Does that mean Maithripala plans to hand over Executive powers to the incumbent Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne in case the common Opposition candidate wins? One wonders whether this is a plan within the UPFA to take the UNP and the entire Opposition for a ride.

Perhaps, Mangala Samaraweera would have smelt something fishy. That may be the reason for Mangala to have another news conference and contradict statements of Maithripala and Attanayake. Mangala had said that the Executive Presidency would never be abolished and that only certain powers of the President would be transferred to the Prime Minister.

But Mangala never explained how that could be done when the UPFA enjoys over two-thirds majority in the Parliament!

LTTE cohorts, Western missions pump in money

There is reliable information of an unprecedented volume of foreign funds being pumped in to support of the common Opposition candidate. Similar to what was done during Sarath Fonseka’s candidature at the 2010 Presidential election. At least two Western missions in Colombo and Tiger sympathisers have lavishly pumped in money for a regime change in Sri Lanka.

All what the West and the LTTE cohorts need is to install a puppet President who would dance to their tune. They are acutely aware that they would never be able to implement their sinister plans as long as President Rajapaksa holds office. Hence, they are working around the clock to glorify Maithripala who has the support of Chandrika and Ranil, who have shown an extraordinary sympathy to the LTTE and the Western peace merchants.

The government has taken all measures to investigate the exchange of US dollars and Euros sent to Sri Lanka by foreign agents. According to Public Administration and Home Affairs Minister W.D.J. Seneviratne, investigations are being carried out to find the owners of the money, the purpose behind bringing such staggering amounts to the country and the means by which money entered the country.

The total amount had been currency-changed at four intervals, each for a sum of Rs. 250 million. “We often hear that money transactions take place within the country to be used for propaganda to defeat President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Therefore, we have doubts whether this too would be a similar instance,” he added.

Minister Seneviratne said the government will not let foreign elements or individuals supportive of them to create problems within the country. He said action will be taken against individuals attempting to create problems in the country.