New look coalition after President’s policy

speech on May 8

By Our Political Editor-Sunday, April 29,

2018

Cabinet reshuffle at 10 am on May 1; subjects to be shared among

present ministers -- Ranil names new office bearers but Sajith, Ajith
and other members speak out; Ravi’s appointment starts a row --
Sirisena deftly handles crisis meeting of SLFP Central Committee,
ignores moves to pull out from coalition, but promises restructuring
after May 8
Preparations ahead of President Maithripala Sirisena’s May 8 policy
statement have all the trappings of a ‘new look’ coalition getting set
to run the 17 months of its remaining tenure.

The two partners – the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka
Freedom Party (SLFP) — are giving ‘face lifts’ to their parties. At least
their leadership seems to believe it would earn them more votes at
the 2020 presidential election and the parliamentary polls thereafter.
The latter could even be held earlier than scheduled.

President Maithripala Sirisena tries his hand at a game of Olinda

Keliya, when he visited the centre temple at the Dambulla Raja Maha
Vihare on Friday. Pic by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
This is if President Sirisena exercises his constitutional powers to
dissolve Parliament after March 31, 2020. The 19th Amendment to the
Constitution (Article 70) empowers him to do so after parliament
completes four years and six months. Such a provision takes effect
from “the date appointed for its first meeting.” After the August 17,
2015 parliamentary election, Parliament’s first meeting took place on
September 1 of the same year.
That months of political bickering between the two major coalition
partners has brought in its wake considerable instability and
economic uncertainty to Sri Lanka is all too well known. Hence,
Sirisena’s thrust is to spell out in his policy statement the priorities for
the coalition. In general terms, he is to touch on sustainable
development, environmental protection, secure local industries and
ensure a corruption free society. Yet, he may have little to offer the
common people reeling under the mounting burden of living costs.
Another big blow to the people came on Friday when the price of
cooking gas was increased by Rs 245 for a 12.5 kilogramme cylinder.
This is likely to shoot up the prices of food items, consumer goods and
services in most sectors. It comes at a time when the depreciation of
the US dollar vis-à-vis the Sri Lankan rupee reached a historic record
low this week. It continues amidst growing concerns. Logically
imported food items and medicinal drugs will cost more. Added to
that, an increase in fuel prices is due anytime now.

A Cabinet reshuffle will take place at 10 am on Tuesday May 1 at the

Presidential Secretariat. The new Cabinet is likely to meet the same
evening. Sirisena discussed the issue during a lengthy meeting with
Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday evening. This is where they
agreed on the date. Accompanying Wickremesinghe for these talks on
behalf of the UNP was Minister Malik Samarawickrema. Since he
resigned as chairman of the party, Samarawickrema does not hold
any official position. If the ongoing talks are an indication, the Cabinet
is not likely to be enlarged. Only the same subjects which are handled
by different ministries would be grouped together. Government
sources said it was unlikely that ministerial positions left vacant by
the resignation of four SLFP ministers would be filled with newcomers.
Instead, these subjects are to be distributed to other ministries.
However, the prospects of new faces from the UNP are not being ruled
out.

This notwithstanding, seating arrangements, where ministers meet

for their weekly sessions, have been changed. Removed are four seats
in the front row occupied by one time SLFP ministers — Susil
Premjayantha, John Seneveratne, S.B. Dissanayake and Anura
Priyadarshana Yapa. That left only three more SLFP ministers in the
front row. They are Nimal Siripala de Silva, Mahinda Samarasinghe
and Sarath Amunugama. The Cabinet room is the well of the former
Parliament and now the Presidential Secretariat overlooking the
Indian Ocean.

The former SLFP ministers in question, with their colleagues

numbering 16, wrote a joint letter to Parliament Secretary General
Dhammika Dasanayake, requesting allocation of seats in the
Opposition benches. They expect these changes to be made before
May 8 — no doubt a reminder to President Sirisena that the no
confidence motion against Premier Wickremesinghe, which he
encouraged, has boomeranged dividing the SLFP further. His last
minute efforts to persuade at least a handful to stay behind did not
yield results. The pro-Sirisena SLFP which held 42 seats in Parliament
(formally under the name of UPFA plus recent cross overs) now has
only 26. This is amidst growing speculation that two more SLFPers
may end up with the UNP.
UNP reform stirs controversy

Meanwhile, nowhere has party reform generated so much

controversy than in the UNP. Just three weeks after his party backers
convincingly defeated a vote of no confidence, Premier
Wickremesinghe announced changes. It came at a meeting of the so-
called newly picked politburo which met at Temple Trees on
Wednesday. Its members are Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Navin
Dissanayake, Harin Fernando, Ranjith Maddduma Bandara, Mangala
Samaraweera, Ajith P Perera, Eran Wickramaratne, J C Alawathuwela,
Ruwan Wijewardene, Gayantha Karunatilleke, Nalin Bandara and
Asoka Priyantha.

The UNP, which identifies itself as a secular party, however, has no

members of the Tamil or Muslim community in this politburo. Nor has
the party, which has often espoused women’s causes including
amendments to local government laws to enhance women’s
representation, appointed any female member to the politburo. UNP
Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa and Assistant Leader Ravi
Karunanayake, ex officio members, too were present. Also present in
addition were former Chairman Malik Samarawickrema and former
General Secretary Kabir Hashim.
In his introductory speech, Wickremesinghe said that the party’s
General Secretary Kabir Hashim has resigned. When he was offered
the post once again, Hashim had refused to accept it. Hence he was
naming Kurunegala District parliamentarian and Minister Akila Viraj
Kariyawasam as the new General Secretary of the UNP. He praised
him for the contribution he has made to the party and declared he
was most suitable. The Premier said Kabir Hashim would be the
Chairman whilst Harsha de Silva was named as Treasurer. Named as
National Organiser was Nuwara Eliya District parliamentarian and
Minister Navin Dissanayake. The position of National Organiser was
created when onetime SLFP Minister S.B. Dissanayake crossed over to
the UNP in 2001 with eight other People’s Alliance members.

The position was thereafter held by Digamadulla District

parliamentarian and Minister Daya Gamage. Both complained during
their terms that they were not entrusted with any responsibility in
that position. Known for his caustic comments, S.B. Dissanayake then
told a party colleague “Mata kisima kehel malakwath thibun nehe” or
somewhat sarcastically “I did not have even a banana flower” when
he was National Organiser.

The UNP Chairman, General Secretary, Treasurer and National

Organiser positions, interesting enough, are all alumni of Royal
College. In the not too distant past, appointments by Premier
Wickremesinghe of those from his alma mater saw the creation of a
sobriquet – FRCS. The letters usually referred to those who qualified as
a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in Britain. However, in this
instance they stood for Former Royal College Students. On a more
serious note, the UNP, which committed itself to a new constitution
and to move towards reconciliation by addressing minority issues has
no member of the Tamil community in the leadership. Nor is there a
female, contrary to the party’s pledges of gender equality.

The only exception to the Royal College lineage was Ruwan

Wijewardene, State Minister of Defence who had his early education
at St Thomas Preparatory, Kollupitiya. Nevertheless he politely
declined the post of Deputy General Secretary. He recommended that
the post be given to Eran Wickremeratne. He said the now State
Minister for Finance has made a great contribution to the party. His
remarks came when the UNP’s Working Committee met on Thursday
morning to endorse Wickremesinghe’s recommendations which have
been accepted by the politburo. Wickremesinghe who chaired the
meeting pointed out that such an appointment to Wickremeratne
would amount to a demotion. A senior UNPer at the meeting noted
that Wijewardene’s appointment to be Deputy General Secretary too
could be viewed as a demotion of sorts by sections of the party though
the UNP leader may have not intended it to be so. This is on the basis
that he had served the six member Leadership Council of the UNP in
2014. Chaired by Karu Jayasuriya it also included Sajith Premadasa,
Ravi Karunanayake, Lakshman Kiriella and Talatha Athukorala.

At Wednesday’s politburo meeting, after Wickremesinghe made the

surprise announcement, some members criticised the move. One was
Navin Dissanayake who was named National Organiser. He said that
the UNP General Secretary should have been a full time person and
not a Cabinet Minister. He said the system had to be changed and
there was no meaning in continuing with the existing set up. His
argument was that a full time General Secretary would be able to
devote more time at Sri Kotha, the party headquarters in Kotte, and
also visit different electorates to build grassroots level party
organisations.

Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa noted that Wickremesinghe had

made those nominations as the leader of the party. He said he was
personally worried about the repercussions it would cause on the
leader. He urged that he runs through his nominees with
backbenchers since that would only be fair. He also had a word of
praise for Kabir Hashim “who took us through some difficult times.”
He noted that he may not be too happy to continue in that post. He
said he would appeal to Wickremesinghe to re-consider his move. He
said he was of the strong view that onetime Media Minister and then
Beruwala MP Imtiaz Bakeer Markar should be named the General
Secretary of the party. “I will still say that. If the leader has still
decided it should not be so, I will fall in line with his thinking,” he
added.

Two senior citizens of the party, Ministers John Ameratunga and

Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, were to admonish Premadasa for
making those remarks which they opined amounted to criticising the
leader. Ameratunga said when the late J.R. Jayewardene was the UNP
leader, no one dared to direct any criticism at him. Perera added that
it was not acceptable. Premadasa declared in the recent past he had
not even given newspaper comments or interviews due to the fear
that they could be misinterpreted. Yet, he argued, he should not be
prevented from making his views known at a party meeting. That was
why such meetings were held.

Premadasa’s remarks also sparked a verbal duel with former minister

and Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake. He charged that the
words ‘back benchers’ were being used by Premadasa to pursue his
own ends. He claimed “they are the ones who are provoking
headlines” and leaking information to the media. Unmoved by the
remarks, Premadasa responded, “I only gave my point of view. I am
entitled to it. If the Prime Minister has taken a decision, so be it. I will
fall in line. However, I am entitled to express a view.” Wickremesinghe
hurriedly intervened to say that the matter was now closed since the
decisions had been taken. Participants agreed they would meet at Sri
Kotha on Thursday morning (next day) so the party’s Working
Committee could formally endorse the politburo decisions. In terms of
the UNP constitution, the Working Committee is the policymaking
body. The turnout at that meeting, less than half of the 100
membership, did cause some concern among senior members.
The first to raise issue at the Working Committee was onetime
Speaker Joseph Michael Perera. He objected strongly to the re-
appointment of Ravi Karunanayake as Assistant Leader. He said that
since his name had been associated with issues questioning his
integrity, he should first clear his name. The objection was overruled
by Wickremesinghe. He pointed out that in terms of the UNP
constitution, a decision made by the leader could be challenged only
by a third of the membership of the Working Committee making a
signed request to discuss such a matter. Perera declared that he
planned to speak on the issue even in the future and would therefore
resign from the Working Committee. He said that would enable him to
speak out freely.

Also protesting Karunanayake’s re-appointment was actor turned

politician Ranjan Ramanayake. Looking at Wickremesinghe, he asked
“Sir, why don’t you wait till his name (Karunanayake’s) is cleared?”
The UNP leader retorted “are you for or against?” At that stage
Kalutara District parliamentarian and State Minister Ajith Perera
intervened to say “Sir, instead of asking ‘are you for or against’, why
don’t you ask whether they like the appointments?” There was
silence.

Perera was critical of Wickremesinghe. He surprised those present by

insisting that the UNP leader should step down and make way for
another. He asked whether these were the reforms the party leader
had promised. He also charged that it was not proper only to appoint
Wickremesinghe’s schoolmates at Royal College to top positions and
ignore the interests of the party. An unidentified voice accused Perera
of criticising the party leadership. He denied the accusations.

Sajith Premadasa made a case for the top level leadership of the party
being elected. I am happy even if my position is challenged. I would
like to be elected.

Echoing Premadasa’s sentiments were Navin Dissanayake. He recalled

an instance where his father (late Gamini Dissanayake) “had played a
game against” Wickremesinghe and won. He did not elaborate but
said on another occasion, however, he had also lost. He proposed that
the top level leadership of the party should be elected by secret ballot.
“I would like to be elected than being selected,” he said. However,
Wickremesinghe reminded him that there was no provision in the
party constitution for that purpose.

The call for reforms in the UNP has echoed in the political firmament
for years now. Not surprisingly when what is sought and what is
carried out are at great variance. It assumed greater significance after
a pro-Sirisena SLFP group backed by the ‘Joint Opposition’ moved a
vote of no confidence in Parliament against Premier Wickremesinghe
on April 4. In the weeks before, Wickremesinghe came under heavy
pressure from his party members to re-organise the UNP by making
structural changes that would lead to strengthening of their support
base countrywide. Three weeks after the motion was defeated, the
question is whether the new appointments will achieve this goal.
More so, with a 17-moth time frame after which two major elections,
presidential and parliamentary, are due. Going by what transpired at
the Working Committee, it seems highly unlikely. Opinion in the party
is sharply divided. On the one side are Wickremesinghe loyalists whilst
on the other are those who do not favour the recent appointment of a
General Secretary.

It only portends more problems for the UNP. No new positions have
been created at the top level except the inclusion of four names —
Kabir Hashim as Chairman, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam as General
Secretary, Navin Dissanayake as National Organiser and Harsha de
Silva as Treasurer. At the next tier, Ajith Perera has been placed in
charge of trade unions whilst Minister Harin Fernando has been
tasked to be responsible for communications. In other words, a group
of UNP ministers and ministers of state have taken over new positions
at their headquarters. There is no other action plan or a programme
that extends beyond Colombo. How that change becomes a re-
structuring of the party is one issue. Another, which is even more
important, is over who benefits most from the exercise, the United
National Party (UNP) or its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe?
Ranil consolidates his position

One is not wrong in concluding that it consolidates Wickremesinghe’s

position at a newer level with limited benefits for the party, if at all.
Firstly, he sailed through the no-confidence vote. If that was a setback
for President Sirisena, who was keen to remove him as Prime Minister,
Wickremesinghe became unassailable. In a tongue in cheek remark, a
senior UNPer says “we should thank Sirisena for this. He has
strengthened our leader.” The other is the appointment of Akila Viraj
Kariyawasam as the General Secretary – the most powerful position in
any recognised political party. It is this office that the National
Elections Commission (NEC) recognises on the appointment of elected
candidates as Members of Parliament, local authorities and Provincial
Councils or their dismissals. It is no secret that Kariyawasam, also a
coconut planter now, was introduced to national politics and groomed
by Wickremesinghe.

He was one of his closest confidants and is considered to be a member

of the inner circle. Indications that he was in for a top slot emerged
when he voiced the views of his leader for days, after the defeat of the
no-confidence motion. Even if a formidable section of the UNP is
opposed to Kariyawasam’s appointment, there is no gainsaying that
Wickremesinghe now has one of his most trusted lieutenants in that
post. That way, he has strengthened himself further in the party
making it difficult for his detractors to oust him easily.
SLFP reorganisation

Hard on the heels of the UNP’s so-called re-organisation, the SLFP too
appears to have taken the cue. Of course, the reasons are somewhat
different from that of the UNP. The thrust appears to be the
unhappiness of the membership over the SLFP General Secretary
Duminda Dissanayake and UPFA General Secretary Mahinda
Amaraweera. It heightened after the duo took part in meetings to
support the no-confidence vote but later absented themselves in
Parliament at voting time. Their votes were marked as abstentions.

At the end of last Tuesday’s weekly cabinet meeting, Sirisena spoke

with the eight remaining ministers of the SLFP. He told them that he
had summoned a meeting of the Central Committee for that evening
— wrongly construed by sections of the media that a decision was due
for SLFP to part ways from the coalition. However, Sirisena told the
SLFP ministers that the meeting was for a threefold purpose — discuss
party trade union matters, the May Day celebrations and re-
organisation of the SLFP. Thereafter, he had three separate meetings,
all with SLFPers.

The first was with the 16 MPs who voted for the no-confidence motion
and later sent in their resignations. Three of their emissaries —
Chandima Weerakody, Dilan Perera and Lakshman Wasantha Perera
— even flew to London when President Sirisena was there to attend
the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). An
eyewitness said they were seen seated in the lobby of the Park Lane
Hilton where Sirisena stayed. On one occasion, when Sirisena had
arrived, he had nodded his head at their presence and walked away.
Later, however, Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, senior deputy leader
of the SLFP, obtained for them an appointment for a meeting. This is
where Sirisena had agreed to another meeting when he returned to
Colombo.
Former State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena told the Sunday
Times,

“We had a general discussion and decided to have a further meeting

on a date between May 8 and 15. It is at this meeting we will be
taking decisions. We requested from the President to grant permission
for the 16 members to sit separately in parliament on May 8. Approval
was granted for this. Though we will be sitting separately, we will still
remain as SLFP members. We may support the ‘joint opposition’ on
certain decisions such as opposing the UNP.”
“We also discussed about the future of the SLFP-UNP Memorandum of
Understanding which lapsed last year. We queried about the future of
the MoU and in case the parties agree to continue with it, the
duration and the terms and conditions. We also questioned about the
proposed party reforms. We decided that we will complete the
discussions.”

Former Minister Susil Premjayantha, another of the 16 member group,

said yesterday, they had urged President Sirisena to quit the coalition.
He said they were supportive of the party re-organisation. During the
90-minute meeting with him, Premjayantha said they urged President
Sirisena to appoint new office bearers for the party. Thereafter the
SLFP parliamenery group met.

The Central Committee meeting on Tuesday night turned out to be

significant. Some members tried to veer away from the stated agenda
and call for a vote on the SLFP to part ways with the UNP. Sirisena
handled the issue deftly pointing out that it was no occasion to divide
the party. He declared there was no necessity to go for a vote and
cause a division.

It was former ministers S.B. Dissanayake and Susil Premjayantha who

proposed jointly that all party positions should have new appointees.
Sirisena, however, did not respond to the specific request. He said that
in re-organising the SLFP, he proposed to consult even members of the
public for their views. The first steps towards re-organisation, he said,
would begin after May 8.
Whilst the UPFA will hold its May Day rally on May 7 in Batticaloa,
there will also be some observances in Colombo on May 1. This is a
meeting at a Committee Room of the BMICH where the party will
remember its trade union leaders and the contribution they have
made. That way, even if there is no holiday on May 1, the UPFA would
have had ceremonies to mark May Day — a privilege it denied to
other parties and trade unions by shifting the holiday. Sirisena was
also critical about the media. He told SLFP members, “you should not
give headlines” (meaning provide information) to the media. He noted
that it was being used to cause instability in the country.

With some promises in store when Sirisena makes his policy

statement, for the first time since he took over the running of the
country’s economy, the coming weeks and months will remain crucial.
The biggest problems for the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe coalition are
not the grandiose plans for development. Instead, it is the reality that
a larger mass of the people will see their stomachs hurt more as living
costs keep soaring. Cosmetic changes to their parties and verbal
pledges will not even be poor comforters. Therein lies their dilemma.

Posted by Thavam