Although the UNP Working Committee made a song and dance about appointing new office- bearers to the party, UNP seniors Navin Dissanayake and Arjuna Ranatunga have turned down the posts offered to them. This is a clear indication that the internal dispute within the party still remains unresolved and some party heavyweights seem to be unhappy about the new appointments made by the party hierarchy and former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s decision to continue as party leader.
Addressing reporters, UNP frontliners Dissanayake and Ranatunga expressed disappointment at the direction taken by the UNP and insisted that there needs to be proper leadership change in the party.
They outlined the reasons for their decision not to accept the party positions offered to them. The two Parliamentarians said that they will explore the possibility of forming a broad opposition alliance with the support of members of other opposition political parties.
Dissanayake and Ranatunga said that they will pick a common opposition candidate to face the next Presidential Election. Dissanayake said that the reforms within the UNP were not up to the mark. He said that the UNP must undergo necessary changes and its leadership should move in a new direction.
Former Parliamentarian Dissanayake said he would continue to serve as a member of the UNP and its Working Committee. He was offered the post of UNP’s National Organiser.
Suitable program
Ranatunga said he turned down the post of Senior Vice President. The former MP had informed UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in writing that he will not accept the post of Senior Vice President given to him by the UNP Working Committee. Ranatunga in his letter to the Party Leader had stated that the UNP has still failed to formulate a suitable program for the betterment of the country in the future.
He had stated that even after the party’s defeat at the 2020 election, he remained with the party with the hope that a suitable program would be organised to overcome the present and future challenges, but to date there does not appear to be such a positive program or organisation.
The first batch of Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield Covid-19 vaccines from India reached Sri Lanka on Thursday, January 28. A special flight charted by Air India touched down at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at around 11.45 on Thursday morning, with 500,000 vials of doses packed in tailor-made boxes for the purpose.
The first consignment of vaccines donated by the Government of India was presented to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Thursday at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) by the High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay. Marking the donation of vaccines, the Indian High Commissioner also presented a memento to the President.
The vaccine stock was donated to Sri Lanka under the Indian Government’s Vaccine Maitri (Vaccine Friendship) initiative following a request made by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The gift from India is keeping in line with India’s continued support to Sri Lanka in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
Rebuild cricket
Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa has invited former Sri Lankan world cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga to rebuild cricket in the country. “I believe he can support us to rebuild cricket with his desire and his talent.”
The Minister said so after cricketing greats including Ranatunga had lamented on the sad state of Sri Lankan cricket during a recent television program. “No one is willing to work with the current set-up because they don’t want to be mired in corruption,” former Test cricket captain Arjuna Ranatunga said.
He said that the administration must be redesigned to improve cricket in the country. Ranatunga said “We will support if an Interim Committee is appointed. However, that will be the last time in which we would do it.”
The 1996 World Cup winning Captain said, “If those in the administration are not disciplined, how can we expect the players to be so.” Minister Namal Rajapaksa said that he had heeded most of Ranatunga’s advice during the recently held Lanka Premier League tournament.
Independence Day
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the Government has made arrangements to hold the 73 Independence Day celebrations at the Independence Square on February 4. The Government will invite a limited number of guests due to the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic situation in the country.
Defence Secretary General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne during a recent discussion with the heads of media institutions said that all arrangements have been made to celebrate this year’s Independence Day in a dignified manner in accordance with health guidelines.
He said the Security Forces personnel participating in the Independence Day celebrations will be subjected to rapid antigen tests. Mass Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella who also presented said this year’s Independence Day celebrations will be held with minimum participation.
Arrangements have been made to conduct Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic and Islamic religious services on February 4 at the various venues and the Independence Day rehearsals will be held from February 1-3.
“Will not create rift”
Former Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake had told the media that he has no intention whatsoever of creating a rift within the UNP and affirmed that his only aim is to further strengthen the party and its supporters.
He said that despite obstacles that have been placed on his path, his sincere intention is to overcome them all and steer the party to political victory in the future.
Karunanayake said, “During my political career when I have been striving hard to resuscitate the party, certain elements from within while holding onto portfolios are attempting to further politically destabilise the UNP. During my 30-year stint in party politics here I had never strived for posts, perks or any other privileges.
“It has to be pointed out that despite various political schemes that had been hatched to derail my political journey I had faced them all, manly and bravely and the people of my district could vouch for that fact.
“I had also undertaken this task on behalf of both the party in general and its supporters throughout the country. In my efforts to safeguard the good name of this party there had also been occasions when my image had also been tarnished in the eyes of the public through conspiracies hatched by those who resent my political success and my forward march,” he said.
Five political parties to meet
The National Freedom Front (NFF) on Friday, January 29 in a media release stated that Minister Wimal Weerawansa has extended an invitation to five political parties to take a strong decision if a Cabinet paper is taken up at Monday’s Cabinet meeting on the sale of the East Container Terminal. According to the release, Weerawansa had phoned the leaders of five political parties affiliated to the SLPP-led Sri Lanka Nidahas Podujana Sandanaya.
A discussion on the matter was expected to take place at Wimal Weeerawansa’s official residence in Colombo yesterday, January 30. Leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Udaya Gammanpila, General Secretary of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Prof. Tissa Vitharana, General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Communist Party, Dr. G. Weerasinghe, Leader of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party, Asanka Nawaratne and leader of the Eksath Mahajana Party, Tiran Alles had been invited for the meeting.
Ranjan taken to Angunakolapelessa
SJB Parliamentarian Ranjan Ramanayake who was recently sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court after being convicted over the charge of contempt of court, was transferred to the Angunakolapelessa Prison on January 26 after having undergone a 14-day quarantine at the Correctional Centre for Youthful Offenders at Pallansena.
The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test conducted on Ramanayake subsequent to the completion of the 14-day of quarantine period, had been negative. Steps have been taken to detain Ramanayake in Ward E at the Angunakolapelessa Prison under special security.
The Supreme Court sentenced MP Ranjan Ramanayake to four years of rigorous imprisonment for Contempt of Court on January 12. A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court ruled that Ramanayake had committed Contempt of Court when he commented to the media that the majority of judges and lawyers in the country were corrupt on August 21, 2017.
Former Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka obtained the membership of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) a couple of days ago. Party spokesman MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara told the media that the SJB Working Committee had already decided to grant membership to MP Ranawaka.
MP Bandara said MP Ranawaka attended the SJB’s inaugural Working Committee meeting as an invitee. He said MP Ranawaka will join the SJB’s Working Committee meeting scheduled for next week as a member of the party. Prior to receiving the SJB membership, MP Ranawaka served as the JHU General Secretary and stepped down from the position in December last year.
State Minister discharged
State Minister Piyal Nishantha has been discharged from medical care upon recovering from Covid-19. He was tested positive for Covid-19 in a rapid antigen test carried out and had since been receiving treatment for virus infection at a quarantine centre in Koggala. Following his discharge, the State Minister appealed to the public to adhere to instructions given by health authorities.
State Minister Arundika Fernando who tested positive for Covid-19 on January 27 has been admitted to a private hospital in Colombo for treatment. He was the seventh Member of Parliament to be diagnosed with coronavirus. Meanwhile, the media had reported that Health Pavithra Wanniarachchi, who is also under medical care for the novel coronavirus, is gradually recovering. Earlier, State Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera, MP Rauff Hakeem and Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara and MP Wasantha Yapa Bandara also tested positive for Covid-19. State Minister Jayasekera, Minister Nanayakkara and MP Hakeem have returned home after recovering from the virus.