President Ranil Wickremesinghe spent the weekend away from Colombo. The President, who participated in several Jayagamu Sri Lanka programs in Kurunegala, went to Kadawatha in the evening to join the “Together we win” (Ekwa Jayagamu Api) Gampaha public rally. President Wickremesinghe, who was suffering from a cold, joined the public rally. A significant number of people from Gampaha district attended the public rally to learn about the Government’s program and future plans. They warmly welcomed the President, expressing their support for the Government’s initiatives.
The majority of MPs of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) representing the Gampaha district were present and over 300 Pradeshiya Sabha members of the Gampaha district were also present. Minister Prasanna Ranatunga moved the resolution that President Ranil Wickremesinghe should contest the upcoming Presidential Election. The Ministers, MPs and the crowd participating in the rally unanimously endorsed the Minister’s resolution by raising their hands.
“Sir, now you can’t escape and you will have to contest the Presidential Election.”
President Wickremesinghe smiled when Minister Prasanna said so.
“A resolution was passed at the rally requesting me to contest the upcoming Presidential Election. I will respond to it at the appropriate time,” the President said.
Following the rally, they went to MP Sahan Pradeep’s residence for tea. It was during the tea party that it came to light that MP Pradeep had brought the most number of people. Then Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and Prof. Ashu Marasinghe recalled bringing more people. President Wickremesinghe told the group that he had never seen such a crowd in Gampaha even during the 1977 election.
After the tea party, the President, who had previously planned to go to the Kataragama procession, decided not to participate due to his illness. He called his Chief of Staff, Sagala Ratnayaka, who had already gone to Kataragama, and instructed him to participate in the activities on his behalf.
Following those instructions, Ratnayaka stayed there from the opening of the Golden Gate until the time of placing the Sacred Relic casket in the evening procession.
Many meetings called on Monday were cancelled due to the President being ill. But, he joined the Government parliamentary group meeting and the Cabinet meeting that evening because they were unavoidable.
After discussing the parliamentary program of the week, the discussion on the Presidential Election came up. President Wickremesinghe said that since the money had been allocated for the Presidential Election, it will definitely be held.
Money not allocated for another election
He said that no money has been allocated for another election when the crowd asked about a General Election.
On Tuesday too, the President did not participate in any public meetings except attending several meetings related to the upcoming elections.
Ministers representing the Government and Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, Deputy Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Chairman Wajira Abeywardena met in the political office and prepared plans for the upcoming Presidential Election. The group discussed and prepared plans for the election campaigns as well as the alliance being formed and presented them to the President.
More Indian investments
Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka met the heads of Indian businesses that had invested in the country on Wednesday. It was said that more Indian investments will come to Sri Lanka in the future as the debt restructuring process is successful.
The Indian business leaders told Sagala that the green light has been given to restart the stalled Japanese projects. For two years, they met Chief of Staff Sagala Ratnayaka, every six weeks in lieu of the President and discussed the problems they faced.
The President went to Bandaranayake College, Gampaha to participate in its 106th anniversary celebrations.
After the ceremony at Bandaranayake College, when the President arrived at the Presidential Secretariat, for a special Cabinet meeting to approve several Bills, and the disparity in pensions, he met Director General of Government Information Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne in the portico. He spoke about the Supreme Court decision regarding the Inspector General of Police. “They should know that I will also be ready when they take time to give their verdict.”
Having said that, the President went into the office. “I have not received a copy of the judgment yet. After looking at that, I will talk about this at the Cabinet meeting in the evening. After that I will give the details to the media,” the President told Dinith Chinthaka.
The special Cabinet meeting was held at 4 pm and since copies of the Court decision had already been received, many Ministers pointed out the problematic areas in it.
President Wickremesinghe said that we will leave it to the lawyers to study the verdict in-depth.
“This needs to be studied in depth. It will take about two days. Then let’s give our response,” he said.
Allowance for pensioners
After that, the Cabinet also approved the proposal to pay an allowance of Rs.3,000 to pensioners.
The President went to his political office at Flower Road on Thursday morning and had discussions on the upcoming Presidential Election.
He also met several leaders of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) which included its founder Basil Rajapaksa. The green light was given at the discussions. After returning to the Presidential Secretariat, a group of Ministers were there to meet the President. They wished to inquire about the Court decision given on the Inspector General of Police.
“The only party that took this up was Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). No other party was involved in this,” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said.
“Lawyers are asking about the role of the President and asked whether the Court could give orders to the President,” MP Premnath C. Dolawatte said joining the conversation.
“If the 19th Amendment and the 21st Amendment did not transfer the powers of the President to the Constitutional Council, the judiciary cannot even talk about this. Even though the SJB boasts, it was the President who gave this freedom to the judiciary,” MP Wajira Abeywardena said.
“In any case, the Speaker now has a major role due to this issue because the decision of the Constitutional Council has also been challenged. It is the Parliament that has to take a decision on this matter,” MP Dolawatte said again.
“Not the President. The Speaker and Parliament should take a decision on this matter,” said Prof. Ashu Marasinghe. The President nodded, but said nothing.
There has been much talk among the MPs that the Government is going to hold a General Election without holding the Presidential Election, and there was also a discussion among the MPs that the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution will be brought as an attempt to postpone the Presidential Election. A group of MPs who met at the Opposition Leader’s office exchanged views on this and said that all the anti-democratic policies of the President should be revealed to the country.
MP Prof. G.L. Peiris said, “President Ranil Wickremesinghe is a leader who is disliked by the people. Therefore, the President’s intention is to hang on to power by using various tactics against the will of the people.” The UNP Chairman said that a President should be given 10 years to govern the country.
The UNP General Secretary said that the term of office of the President is six years. But in the end, all the efforts made to remain in office by suggesting constitutional amendments, referendums and various tricks were futile.
General Elections after September
MP Chandima Weerakkody said, “President Ranil Wickremesinghe is scaring MPs by saying that he will dissolve Parliament. Anyhow, after September, we have to face a Parliamentary Election.”
MP Mujibur Rahuman said, “Now the President is trying to implement a program that will create hatred between the people of the North and the South.”
The story of a Common Tamil candidate for the Presidential Election is being implemented with the blessings of the President. It was MP C.V. Wigneswaran who first brought the proposal and said that the term of office of the President should be six years. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has won the will of the minorities no matter what racist conspiracies are going on.’’
MP Kavinda Jayawardena said, “The decision of the Cabinet to apologise to the Muslim community for the cremation of the Muslim people who died due to the Covid-19 pandemic is another political gimmick. The rulers who took such decisions should be punished without resorting to such gimmicks.
If so, the Government should also apologise to the people for not being able to prevent the Easter Sunday attacks. Innocent people were allowed to die when the Army, Police, intelligence agencies and Government officials had prior information. The Easter Sunday attacks cannot be allowed to be politicised, like the cremation of Muslims.
MP Nalin Bandara said, “It has been confirmed that the appointment of Deshabandu Tennakoon as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), who did not act on the Easter Sunday attacks, is illegal. By suspending his post of the IGP, the position taken by Samagi Jana Balawegaya is clear. This decision is a good lesson for the President and the Speaker. The Speaker made a strange rule by using a postal vote when deciding on the appointment of the IGP by the Constitutional Council. These are grave mistakes.”
Vigamanika Harasara
MP Thushara Idunil said, “The Supreme Court has issued an interim order preventing the implementation of the circular issued by the President’s Secretary to set up Community Advisory Committees. The President and the Government tried to do politics by distributing millions of rupees by appointing former Pradeshiya Sabha Chairmen to the Advisory Committees.
“In the recent past, the Cabinet has been continuously granting approval for such work through Cabinet papers. Minister Manusha Nanayakkara has set aside a lot of money to make a program called Vigamanika Harasara aimed at the Presidential Election by psychologically bribing expatriate workers.
“Minister Harin Fernando has also set aside money to hold a series of musical shows called ‘Smart Youth’. The President has also allocated a lot of money for women’s empowerment. It is a big crime to act like this when the country is economically bankrupt. We have to do something about this,’’ he said.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said, “Let’s submit a complaint to the Election Commission about all these matters.” Accordingly, a number of letters containing information were prepared and handed over to the Election Commission by the General Secretary along with MP Chandima Weerakkody, Mujibur Rahuman and others.
Violation of election laws
The party also appointed a team of lawyers to investigate the ongoing cases of violation of election laws.
General Secretary Madduma Bandara said, “Arrangements have been made to commence Sri Lanka’s biggest political alliance on August 8, targeting the upcoming Presidential Election. All discussions about it are over. It has been decided to hold a discussion between the party leaders involved with Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Thursday, August 1.”
Over 30 SLPP Ministers and MPs representing the Government met former President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament on Thursday. “Sir, what are you doing about the Presidential Election?” they asked.
“No decision has been taken as yet,” said President Rajapaksa.
“We are supporting President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Because of that, don’t put someone else from the party. Let’s all reach a decision,” repeated Pohottuwa Ministers and MPs.
“The party has not taken a decision as yet,” former President Rajapaksa said.
Another chance
“Sir, this time the whole country is at a point where they want to give Ranil another chance. We want to see the public opinion of the country,” they said. “Putting someone from the party at this time means splitting the party into two,” the MPs repeated. “The other person you are trying to put, Sir, is not a person with any political experience. Such a person is not suitable at all,” said another MP.
“I also do not agree with the party breaking up. Let’s talk and resolve this,” said the former President.
According to political sources, the leaders of 12 districts of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have decided to take action against the nomination of a candidate other than the current President Ranil Wickremesinghe for the Presidential Election.
According to the sources, a discussion was held in this regard on July 22 night at the residence of a State Minister at Malalasekara Mawatha, Colombo. There they had decided to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe if the party nominates another candidate and goes against the majority opinion.
The sources also said that they have received the support of nearly 75 SLPP MPs who are currently representing the Parliament. At district level, it has been decided to carry out organisational activities to implement President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s election campaign by contacting Local Government heads and MPs of the districts.
On Tuesday, July 23, the Pohottuwa office had called the Ministers and MPs to Nelum Mawatha to talk about the upcoming elections. At the end of the discussion, MP Tissa Kuttiarachchi came out and was responding to the questions of journalists. Meanwhile, Minister Prasanna Ranatunga suddenly stood behind Tissa Kuttiarachchi. He was stunned and could not continue his speech.
“The party is divided, isn’t it, Minister?” the journalists asked Minister Prasanna.
“Not yet. But if we work against the majority opinion, it will happen,” Minister Prasanna said.
“What is your opinion?”
“I have told the country my opinion. But, I don’t know about the opinion of MP Tissa Kuttiarachchi. I am of the right opinion,” said Minister Prasanna.
Political sources said that the Cabinet and State Ministers representing the Government met 48 backbencher MPs at two places in Colombo and held a discussions on Wednesday, July 24 regarding the support for President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Accordingly, 30 Cabinet and State Ministers representing the Government had discussed the matter at an office in Flower Road, Colombo, and 18 backbencher MPs of the Government had held discussions at a hotel in Thalawathugoda.
It is also reported that both groups had discussed at length about the situation that would arise if the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna contests under the Pohottuwa symbol.
“At this time, no one else can win this match. We are working for the President” both groups had said.
“We will continue the work until the President gives the OK,” said a Cabinet Minister who participated in the discussion.
“Inevitably, the good work done by the Government should be told to the people in the villages. We will make a plan to do that work with the Local Government members who are with us,” they said.
New alliance meets
A crucial discussion about the future political affairs of the new alliance was held on Thursday, July 25 morning under the patronage of MPs Anura Priyadarshana Yapa and Nimal Lanza and with the participation of a group of people including the General Secretary of the People’s Alliance State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna.
“We need to sign this agreement as soon as possible,” Lasantha opened the conversation.
“Yes, let’s hurry, then it will be good for the newly joined parties,” said Anura Yapa.
Lanza said, “When the new parties join together, we can set up an Executive Council and appoint a Chairman.”
Meanwhile, several Ministers discussed the latest information in the parliamentary lobby on Thursday, July 25 afternoon.
Minister Nimal Siripala said with a smile, “How are people getting ready for the Presidential Election now?” “There is no need for an election. Many people have already been appointed through Facebook,” Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
“The people who say today to give them a chance to rebuild the country and that they show how to do it, ran away those days when they were asked to accept it,” State Minister Chamara Sampath said.
UNP stalwart meets Namal
A UNP stalwart went to meet MP Namal Rajapaksa last week. This meeting took place at the house of a person who knew both of them well and was extremely trustworthy.
Namal, please help the President to give nominations this time. We will give you the best Cabinet Minister post, even the premiership,” the UNP stalwart told Namal.
“I don’t really want personal gain. If the premiership is given, it should be discussed with the party and not with me,” Namal politely rejected the request.
“No, Namal, think about it,” the UNP stalwart said again.
“Let’s talk about hard facts. Let’s say that the President was made a candidate this time. We should first say where our party stands. As the Pohottuwa is the largest party as a single party, then we cannot be anyone’s tail. What place will be given to us,” Namal asked.
“We can discuss them,” the UNP stalwart said again.
