Opposition hit by high-profile defections to Govt

by Ranil WIJAYAPALA

With the nominations date for the forthcoming Presidential Elections becoming closer, political bigwigs and parties are now deciding who they are going to back at the elections.

The political arena heated up last week with a number of political crossovers taking place, mostly in the favour of the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Nandimithra Ekanayake	Justin Galappatti

UNP bigwig and one time SLFP General Secretary S.B. Dissanayake returned to his old camp on Monday dealing a huge blow to the United National Alliance led by Ranil Wickremesinghe. Not only did he switch his allegiance to the President but he also resigned from all positions in the United National Party.

He announced his resignation from the position of National Organizer of the UNP, the Opposition Leader's position in the Central Provincial Council and all other positions he held as a member of the United National Party.

This move came as a big shock for the UNA which announced its support for Sarath Fonseka at the forthcoming Presidential election.

S.B. Dissanayake, one of the prime movers behind the formation of the People's Alliance Government in 1994 and a powerful Minister of the Chandrika Kumaratunga government, made his first political crossover in 2001 after the PA Government came into the power for the second time in October 2000.

S. B. Dissanayake was among the five Ministers including G. L. Peiris, Lakhsman Kiriella, Mahinda Wijesekera and Nandimithra Ekanayake to cross over to United National Party leading to the collapse of the People's Alliance government and enabling the United National Front led by Wickremesinghe to win the General Elections of December 2001.

His cross over to his old camp was only one big move in his political career, which sailed through stormy waters. According to him it was a move made in search of democracy within a political party and democratic political leadership. It was a long awaited move which would definitely strengthen the President's hands not only at the forthcoming Presidential elections but also at the General Elections.

It was not merely a move of an individual but a move which can make a big change in the voting pattern in the hill country which is already in favour of President Rajapaksa with the firm support declared by the Ceylon Workers Congress for his re-election.

The United National Party and the UNA which is already facing a severe shortage of leaders in support of their candidate will face a challenging task in the campaign leading to the Presidential polls as they have lost one of the most powerful orators who can entertain supporters at any political rally.It was an unexpected move for the UNP as they hoped to see only the crossover of three rebels Johnston Fernando, Azath Salley and Indika Bandaranayake who opposed the UNP's Working Committee decision to extend the party's support to Fonseka.

Parallel to this move by S.B. Dissanayake, MP for the Matale District Nandimithra Ekanayake who sat with the Opposition also crossed the floor of the House, on Tuesday making the camp of President Mahinda Rajapaksa a stronger one against the Opposition's main candidate.

Therefore, the hill country, one time stronghold of the UNP is deviating from its old voting pattern in favour of the UPFA.

According to Government sources, crossovers are also taking place at the grass roots level in support of the President.As of this week Pradeshiya Sabha members, 10 from the Central Province, 24 from Kalutara District and 25 from Gampaha District have switched their allegiance from the UNP to unite with the ruling SLFP led by the President.

UNP also lost their Matara District Organiser Justin Galappatti due to a crossover to the Government side.Even one time UNP stalwart Sirisena Cooray along with a few other supporters also extended support to President Rajapaksa after meeting him at Temple Trees along with Justice Minister Milinda Moragoda.

Compared to the crossover of political big wigs from the Opposition to the Government, there was only a poor response in support of the Opposition's candidate.

The move of Wijedasa Rajapaksha, the National List MP from the UPFA who quit the SLFP and joined the UNP made a little change in favour of the Opposition camp.

But it was not a surprise move as he was sitting in the Opposition from last year.Many are of the view that more political crossovers are to take place prior and after the nominations date and many more political parties and individual politicians who had not decided about their support at the forthcoming Presidential elections would make their decisions very soon.