Maithri goes to Thirupathi keeping colleagues on the edge

BY GAGANI WEERAKOON-GAGANI WEERAKOON- APR 21 2019

The festivity of Sinhala and Tamil New Year that would otherwise be felt was missing to most of those actively engaged in politics and the media fraternity in the country, as all were expecting something ‘serious and big’ that would change the political landscape of the country.

President Maithripala Sirisena was slated to kick off these political changes by making a controversial statement along with certain political decisions he is set to take with the dawn of the News Year.

It was also said that once the investigations into the alleged plot to assassinate the President and the former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa are concluded, President Sirisena is likely to make a special statement to the country regarding the assassination conspiracy.

The inquiries into the VVIP assassination plot are currently on its final phase and sources claimed that the name of a prominent local politician has also been linked to the alleged plot.

Meanwhile, sources added that a special announcement with regard to the former CBSL Governor Arjuna Mahendran who is currently wanted over the CBSL Treasury Bonds scam is also likely to be made to the country after the New Year.

These sources further added that names of a few politicians who had maintained links with underworld kingpin Makandure Madush who is currently detained by Bur Dubai Police after being arrested at a luxury hotel on 5 February, is also likely to be revealed as part of the political changes that are set to take place in the aftermath of the Sinhala-Hindu New Year festival.

Sources stated that after the decision taken by the SLFP to seek the views of the Supreme Court (SC) regarding the precise time of the expiration of the term of office of the President these political changes could further reach a climax.

Even though, there is more time to decide the authenticity of most of these speculations, President Sirisena’s visit to Thirupathi, in Bangalore has certainly made the Presidential Election heat felt.

President Sirisena arrived in Tirumala on a private visit on Tuesday (16), to offer prayers at the hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara Swamy.

The President, accompanied by his wife Jayanthi and other family members and Sri Lankan officials landed at Renigunta Airport, 20 km from Tirumala, at noon, Press Trust of India reported.

Amid tight security, he reached the hills by road and was accorded a warm welcome by Tirumala-Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal and Tirumala Joint Executive Officer K.S. Sreenivasa Raju on his arrival at Sri Padmavathi Rest House in Tirumala.

He took part in the ‘Suprabhatha’ ritual and offered prayers to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara in the early hours of Wednesday.

Most Sri Lankan political leaders have visited Thirupathi almost like a ritual before taking crucial decisions and again to pay gratitude when they accomplish their missions.

Therefore, President Sirisena’s visit to Thirupathi at the height of a speculated political change most certainly managed to send heat waves to many.

While some tried to appear nonchalant amidst all these speculations, some quite obviously were affected.

Sajith-Ravi clash

While, many speculated President Sirisena would call a Presidential Election with the dawn of New Year, what made quite a stir in local politics was the other speculation of another political coup.

By 13 April, several senior ministers in the government appeared to be in a restless mood and they even started calling their ‘friends’ in media to see whether the journalists have received any information to the effect of President Sirisena planning to repeat what he did on 26 October 2018. They were, however, worried as the rumour was that this time it is going to be another UNP Prime Minister.

While few names were also circulating, UNP’s assistant leader Ravi Karunanayake decided to end the silence on the matter.

It appears Karunanayake was too soon to jump to a conclusion and believed the rumour that President Sirisena was actually plotting to form a new government with UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa as the Prime Minister.
  It was not a secret that Sirisena in October 2018 opted for Mahinda Rajapaksa to be appointed as the Prime Minister in a bid to get rid of PM Wickremesinghe, as both Premadasa and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya had refused repeated requests by the President to accept the Prime Ministerial portfolio.

Karunanayake speaking in Batticaloa last week said that the UNP should make decisions on those who are trying to win elections by selling their parents’ name.

“There is only one leader in the UNP. He is Ranil Wickremesinghe. Some who can’t even win his constituency are trying to show that they can win and become leaders. They are trying to sell their parents to win elections.
It is high time the party took action against such persons. We kept quiet all this time, which does not mean that we are foolish. We kept quiet as we wanted to maintain the unity of the party,” he said.

While, Karunanayake did not mention any particular name at the time, the message had reached the relevant individuals.
This was evident when UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa launching a scathing attack on his Cabinet colleague Karunanayake, said a person who burgled a bank would never be held in high esteem in society.

Addressing an event in Hambantota, Premadasa said only a person who constructed a bank would earn respect and not those ones who burgled it.
Although Premadasa did not mention Karunanayake’s name, it was quite obvious his remarks were targeted at the latter.

Premadasa reminded those who were present of Karunanayake’s alleged links to Arjun Aloysius, who was accused in the Treasury Bonds scam.

“It’s not the birth that defines one’s character. One’s value is gauged by their deeds and actions. Some people are supposed to give light to the people’s lives; but they can only give darkness,” Premadasa said.

This made things quite obvious and people soon realised who is at the receiving end.

“Whenever they assume a role, they make a mess of it and tarnish their own image,” Premadasa emphasised.

These open verbal attacks started when internal discussions are being held on whether UNP Leader Wickremesinmghe or Deputy Leader Premadasa should contest in the Presidential Election.

The task of resolving the dispute between Minister Premadasa and Minister Karunanayake has now been handed over to Party Leader Wickremesimghe.

The party backbenchers had requested Prime Minister Wickremesinghe to intervene immediately in resolving the dispute between the two Deputy Leaders.

They had made this request when they met the Prime Minister at Temple Trees. The backbenchers had noted that the two leaders attacking each other in public would hamper the unity within the party.

According to the views of the backbenchers, the party should get the maximum support of both Karunanayake and Premadasa and therefore, the party leader needs to intervene and resolve the dispute among them.

MR in Nuwara Eliya

After visiting the Sri Muththu Mariamman Kovil at Hawa Eliya in Nuwara Eliya to attend a special sermon along with his wife and other family members, Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa said a political coup was about to happen but it died within the UNP itself.

“A political coup was about to happen but it emerged and died within the UNP. It could have been because it was revealed too soon or for some other reason. It’s not ours. We didn’t try anything. It seems it was a result of an internal rift in the UNP,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rajapaksa said the discussions between the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) were pending and added that they could win any election by obtaining more than 50% of the votes.
 “People are wise. They will make a correct decision. There is no electricity or water today. The Government has failed to even provide a proper salary to labourers,” he said.

Rajapaksa was welcomed by the Kovil’s Chairman, Non-Cabinet Minister V. Radhakrishnan.

When journalists queried as to whether he would contest the forthcoming elections, he said the SLPP is ready for any election. Rajapaksa said he will announce the Presidential candidate at the right time.

He also said Radhakrishnan remained with the current Government without a strong portfolio and that he expected Radhakrishnan to be on his side soon. Rajapaksa pointed out that the Government is still unable to get the Rs 1,000 daily wage for plantation workers, while during his tenure he was able to get many development projects going in the hill country.

Prior to his Nuwara Eliya visit, Rajapaksa said they would field a candidate who can definitely win the presidential election, after attending the oil anointing ceremony held at the Bellanwila Raja Maha Viharaya.

He said they have not yet made the final decision on the presidential candidate.
“We will make a decision with the input and consent of all allies. The one who can definitely win will be fielded as the candidate,” he said.

He said, the people are suffering from taxes today without any access to even water or electricity. “We will easily win all three elections of presidential, parliamentary and provincial councils,” he said.

When asked whether former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa - who was also present at the event - was the presidential candidate of their political camp, the Opposition Leader said, “No such decision has been taken,”

However, commenting on the lawsuits filed in the USA against his brother and the former Defence Secretary, Rajapaksa said it was likely that more cases would be filed against Gotabaya.

“Anyone can file cases and this shows how frightened some are,” he said.