Although many people think that the Presidential Election will be postponed, the power to call a Presidential Election is vested in the Election Commission. They will announce the date of nomination and the date of the election later this month.
The Opposition tried to popularise the opinion, by saying in Parliament and at main rallies, that President Ranil Wickremesinghe will postpone the polls, but it failed.
President Wickremesinghe spent the weekend outside Colombo. He went to Anuradhapura to join the ceremony to launch a 150-kilowatt solar power system at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhiya premises, Anuradhapura. Then the President went to Tambuththegama to present the Urumaya deeds, following which he met a group of UNP activists.
The President went to Deegavapiya last Sunday to deposit the Sacred Relics in the Relics Chamber of the historical Deegavapi Stupa, which is being restored, and then came to Mahiyangana to present Urumaya deeds. Chief of the Adhivasi community Uruwarige Wannila Aththo was also present.
The President went to Kandy in the evening to join the Ekwa Jayagamu public rally to inform the people about the Government’s program. The rally was held on the ground in front of Kandy Public Market Complex.
The United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) had brought the people to this rally. The President ended the rally by leaving a message for Sajith Premadasa and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). The President went to the political office on Monday morning and took part in several meetings.
That evening, the Cabinet meeting was held and the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution and the Cabinet paper to pay an allowance of Rs.10,000 to those who worked during the strike and several other matters were approved. Following Cabinet approval, the Constitutional amendment to fix the tenure of the President as five years, will be submitted to Parliament in the future.
President meets a group of lawyers
President Wickremesinghe met a group of lawyers to talk about the current situation in the country. After the main discussion, the President did not fail to mingle with the lawyers. A lawyer asked, “Sir, two candidates are running for the Presidential Election now. Sir, when will you join this race?”
“No. Two candidates and a President are running in the race.” When the President said it, everyone laughed.
“MP Harsha de Silva had said that before the Opposition Leader went to take over the premiership, you had taken it. Is this true?” asked lawyer Dinesh Vidanapathirana.
“I was invited because the Opposition Leader said he could not accept it. I took it because everyone said, “No”. Usually, when the Prime Minister resigns, the Opposition Leader takes over because he is the Shadow Prime Minister. But he hid himself. A country’s Opposition Leader is not a bus driver.” The crowd could not stop laughing when the President said so.
Half an hour after that meeting, a group of UNP lawyers met the President. The next day, the President met a group of students of Jayasooriya Maha Vidyalaya, Anamaduwa when they visited the Presidential Secretariat (the old Parliament building). President Wickremesinghe exchanged pleasantries with the children after completing his work and intervened to solve problems at the school. The children took selfies with the President.
Four ladies
That afternoon, President Wickremesinghe met UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay at the President’s House. She came to Sri Lanka on the occasion of Sri Lanka’s 75th anniversary of becoming a member of UNESCO.
The President served lunch to her and during the friendly meeting, she expressed her pleasure that the country overcame the economic crisis so quickly. “Three ladies intervened to save Sri Lanka from the economic crisis. One is US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. The other is IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and the third is Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Without these three ladies, we would not have been able to overcome the crisis,” the President said with emotion.
Then the President’s Secretary said, “Sir, there is a fourth.” Which took everyone by surprise.
“USAID Administrator Samantha Power gave us free fertiliser, so the yield increased.” Everyone nodded when President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake said so.
A Bhikkhu Coordination Unit was set up at the Presidential Secretariat on the instructions of President’s Secretary Saman Ekanayake.
President Wickremesinghe went to the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium that evening to attend the Randora Urumaya national ceremony of awarding freehold deeds to low-income families residing in flats in Colombo.
There, the President pointed out that socialism is working correctly under the current Government. That is, the program of giving the right to land to the people is being implemented by the Government and everyone applauded.
The President met Government and Opposition Tamil Parliamentarians who represent upcountry areas to discuss providing home ownership to the estate people. There, the President pointed out that villages should be built for them to give them separate housing ownership instead of estate line rooms.
He said he is trying to set up such villages and build new houses and implement a program that gives the housing right to those people. Although no one objected to it, the Tamil MPs of the ruling party who came there began saying that the Opposition group was scared about it.
President Wickremesinghe joined many programs on Thursday. That evening, the President met members of several three-wheeler associations and discussed their shortcomings and pledged to resolve them.
President Wickremesinghe visited Galle on Friday.
Sakwala program
Last week, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa launched the Sakwala program focusing on Mannar, Polonnaruwa and the Kalutara districts.
The Opposition Leader arranged to provide smart classrooms to a large number of schools in these districts. Despite the various criticisms of the President and the majority of the ruling party of the Sakwala program, Premadasa continues to do so for the benefit of the children. Premadasa said that if he was a Kayyanayake, there would be no blame or criticism. The Opposition Leader had said that he would get international support for the Sakwala program in the future.
The 321st Sakwala smart classrooms program was held at the Mannar Roman Catholic Tamil Maha Vidyalaya under the patronage of Opposition Leader Premadasa. MPs Rishad Bathiudeen and Selvam Adaikkalanathan were also present. Bathiudeen and Adaikkalanathan had said that the social work done by the Opposition Leader for the schools is an excellent act and he is doing many things on behalf of the children and the people which no Opposition Leader has done over the past 76 years.
Security
MP Eran Wickramaratne said, “In Sri Lanka too, some political parties had fired gunshots at election rallies when they could not achieve their goals. We should leave this kind of politics. The security of Opposition Leader Sajith Preamadasa needs to be looked at more. It is the responsibility of the Government to give him the proper protection he needs. In a democratic country, politics is not done with weapons. Politics in a democratic country is based on the will of the people and elections.”
Head of Presidential Election operations of the Samagi Jana Balewega, Sujeewa Senasinghe said “The security of Sajith Premadasa, who is going to be the next President of the country, should be strengthened. The lives of some country’s talented leaders were lost because their security was not taken care of which resulted in development activities taking a back seat. We request the Government to provide security to all the political leaders of the country.
Accordingly, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella, had requested Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to increase the security of Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. Following which the Speaker informed the Inspector General of Police Deshabandu Tennakoon.
Constitutionally, the Election Commission will have the authority to announce the date of the Presidential Election after July 17.
Senasinghe said, “The Election Commission will be authorised to announce the Presidential Election this month. It will also be possible to submit nominations for the Presidential Election in the second or third week of August. The Presidential Election will be held in late September or early October. “
MP Mayantha Dissanayake said, “In the political history of Sri Lanka, there has never been a Government that has used so many political subterfuges to postpone a Presidential Election. In the history of Sri Lanka, Presidential Elections have been held at the right time. Even when there was a civil war in the country, the Governments had worked to hold elections, which are the rights of the people, within a democratic framework.
Auspicious times
“The Election Commission has waited a long time to hold the election for the first time. It is ridiculous for the Commission to look for auspicious times. One wonders whose inauspicious time the Election Commission is interested in,” he said.
MP Tissa Attanayake said, “The SJB has started a big political program across the country. The Jana Pavura Movement was launched to build the grassroots organisation. Its main purpose is to create a political campaign to confirm victory at the polling station level. One hundred and sixty constituencies have been connected to 12,700 polling stations. The SJB has worked to build a strong network by connecting 12,700 polling stations.”
“Jana Pavura was implemented to complete the target of 51 percent of the votes in the Presidential Election and move forward. Everything has been prepared for the start of the Jana Pavura meetings next month. All the sectors of the SJB professionals, including the program of trade unions, are being integrated to make the basic preparations for the Presidential Election. I am 100 percent confident that the SJB can get over seven million votes,” he said.
Senasinghe said, “Through the Jawaya program which the SJB implements, we met the Local Government representatives of Anuradhapura and Trincomalee districts to strengthen the process of Presidential Election operations. We hope to go to other districts to inform the Local Government representatives and strengthen the mechanism of the SJB’s people’s power.
“We have already laid the foundation for the Presidential Election. Starting from July 22, Local Government candidates and organisers will meet again to cover all the districts to launch the Jawaya program. It is also hoped to inform them about the issues of how to carry out the election operations of the SJB. The SJB will also act to capture the power of the Government, Local Government bodies and Provincial Councils under its purview,” he said.
When former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa entered the Parliament complex recently, he met several MPs from the ruling party and the opposition on the ground floor lobby. Former Prime Minister Rajapaksa spoke to several MPs including Madhura Withanage, Ajith Mannaperuma and when he went to the elevator; he was approached by MP Anura Priyadarshana Yapa who is currently sitting in the Opposition.
“How are you Anura, I am going to the Chamber. Are you coming too?” asked Mahinda Rajapaksa and responding to that, Anura said, “Ok, Sir let’s go” and boarded the elevator with Mahinda Rajapaksa. “Sir, I asked you first to contest from Kurunegala,” Anura Yapa said.
“That is why I contested from Kurunegala and won. Now you all can come to our side,” replied Rajapaksa. Anura Yapa responded with a smile to Mahinda Rajapaksa’s invitation.
SLPP Divulapitiya Convention
The Divulapitiya electoral convention of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was held last Sunday. It was headed by the party’s National Organiser, MP Namal Rajapaksa. The special feature was that the wife of the late State Minister Sanath Nishantha, who was a controversial figure, was also present. Apart from that, MPs Johnston Fernando, Tissa Kutitiarachi and others were also present.
Namal Rajapaksa, who attended the wedding of millionaire businessman Ambani’s son, arrived in the country the day before that, Saturday night. He called Minister Prasanna Ranatunga on Sunday morning. “Brother, you are coming to Divulapitiya, right?” Namal asked.
“Yes… It’s for work in my district. Why brother,” asked Minister Prasanna.
In his speech, Minister Prasanna recalled the history of Mahinda Sulanga. “Ranil Wickremesinghe became the President according to the decision of the party. I think that in the next Presidential Election, the party will nominate the candidate by thinking about its party members,” Minister Prasanna raised his voice on the stage.
The Gampaha district Steering Committee was convened at Minister Prasanna Ranatunga’s Udugampola office last Sunday. Normally, the Steering Committee should be convened by Minister Prasanna but this time it was called by the party office at Nelum Mawatha.
A representative of Minister Prasanna had asked from the Nelum Mawatha office, “Give us the list of the invitees. We will also give the message.” Then the party official had said, “Tell the Minister to request the list from Sagara Sir.”
Minister Prasanna found out the night before that former Minister Johnston Fernando will participate in this meeting. Minister Prasanna and Johnston went to Udugampola after the Divulapitiya meeting.
“Minister, who is the candidate of our party? Is it Dhammika Perera?,” Dompe Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Piyasena Kariyapperuma asked.
“Who says so?” Has the party said such a thing?” Johnston asked.
“No. TV stations keep repeating that Dhammika is the Pohottuwa candidate,” Kariyapperuma replied.
“No. No one has been named so far. If the party has said that, show it. Then I will resign,” Johnston said angrily. “Don’t get angry. I said what I saw,” Kariyapperuma said raising his voice.
Now, not only Johnston’s but also the nearby State Minister Indika Anuruddha’s limit of patience was exceeded. “Dhammika Perera has told how he will work if he gets the candidacy,” said a person.
“Then I can also say the same things. If you give it to me, I will do this and that. Those are just stories. Don’t be fooled,” said former Minister Johnston.
Third rally of new alliance
The third rally of the new alliance led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was held at the Vincent Dias Stadium, Badulla with large participation. It was organised by SLFP Chairman Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and State Minister Chamara Sampath Dasanayake. The founder of the new alliance, MP Nimal Lanza and all its supporting Ministers and MPs were also present. Minister Nimal and State Minister Chamara had a delicate war to get people to participate in the rally. Somehow the new alliance was able to win the war.
The biggest crowd that came to Badulla was in that stadium that day and all the surrounding roads were also full. Nimal and Chamara came to the rally in two large processions. The Steering Committee of the new alliance recently met at a five-star hotel in Colombo to discuss future activities. It was first time the group met after the Badulla rally. Minister Nimal and State Minister Chamara were also present.
Meanwhile, a meeting between the editors of the national newspapers and the Operational Leader of the new alliance, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, was held at the JAIC Hilton, Colombo on Wednesday.
The founder of the new alliance, MP Nimal Lanza, Minister Nalin Fernando and MP Sudath Manjula were also present. Several editors questioned the future agenda of the new alliance and the Government.
“Why don’t you announce that the President is going to contest the election,” asked an editor.
“The President will announce it soon,” Lanza said.
“How is the work of your alliance,” an editor asked.
“We will soon form an alliance under the banner of People’s Alliance or the Chair symbol,” Lanza said.
New SJB chairman
According to sources, MP Imthiaz Bakeer Markar is to be appointed as the new Chairman of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). Those sources said that Bakeer Markar, who has been identified as a senior who is able to fulfill the responsibilities of the post of SJB Chairman, will also be nominated from the SJB National List in the next Parliamentary Elections.
Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapaksa said that the Government reduced the water and electricity rates because Parliament passed ordinances to strengthen the economy.
Attending a “Mobile Service” program at President’s College, Tissamaharama, Debarawewa recently, Deputy Speaker Rajapaksa said that some parties threatened Parliamentarians who supported the Bills to strengthen the country’s economy.
