As the heat of the Presidential Election hots up, the postal votes have given a decisive signal.
While the police and the Army personnel were moving towards President Ranil Wickremesinghe, the teachers and others in the crowd were seen mingling with Anura Kumara Dissanayake. It is now becoming increasingly clear that the Presidential race is between two candidates.
While President Ranil Wickremesinghe spent most of his time on meetings last week, other candidates were also seen rushing to their meetings. While the President addressed five public rallies last Saturday, the fact that the other candidates could not go to so many meetings was also discussed in the political arena. The President addressed four meetings on Sunday.
SLFP Convention
Although the President did not attend any meetings on Monday, he went to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Convention on the invitation of that party.
President Wickremesinghe, who went to Bandarawela on Saturday morning, participated in a very successful public rally. Thereafter, he joined public rallies in Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, Kattankudy and Sammanthurai and when he attended the public meeting in Sammanthurai it was around 10 pm. It was noteworthy that the people stayed in the stadium until the President arrived.
The President addressed five rallies on that day and the following day he went to public rallies in Vavuniya, Kekirawa, Chilaw and Dompe.
Despite the absence of public rallies on Monday, President Wickremesinghe attended the SLFP Convention and a youth meeting. Throughout last week, the President was at public gatherings with the people in the evenings.
Cancelled
A number of Presidential Election rallies was cancelled as expenditure limits had been imposed due to the rules of the Election Commission.
In the meantime, the President received a complaint that the photographs of the Bandarawela rally in which he participated were shown on social media as those who came for Anura Kumara’s Welimada rally.
MP Wajira Abeywardene said, “This compass wave is only a media show like an inflated balloon, empty inside. They portray lies in the media because they have money,” he said,
Debate
Although the President invited the other Presidential candidates for a debate on the IMF program, Sajith and Anura ran away without participating.
Even though the President has challenged them on his political platform, they are running away without responding to them.
President Wickremesinghe said in Mahiyangana that the vote given to Sajith is the same as giving the vote to Anura.
But Ashu Marasinghe said, “The people believe that the President is a leader who does what he says. Because he was the only leader who increased the salary of public servants throughout history,” he said.
“It is very good that the Cabinet cancelled the Local Government nominations because those who gave nominations were not able to work in the Presidential Election campaign.
On the other hand, there is a clear difference between the economic program presented by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) called “Blueprint” and Sajith’s policy statement,” Shehan Semasinghe who came to the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday morning.
“Yes, the Blueprint economic program was drafted by the three people, namely Harsha, Eran and Kabir. The policy statement was drafted by Dullas, GL, Godaheva and Patali. The policies of the two documents are different.” MP Preamnath C. Dolawatte said.
“It is stated in the Blueprint that the public service will be curtailed. There are even soldiers among them. Why is no one talking about this,” President Wickremesinghe asked.
“Yes, even though there are 39 Presidential candidates, no one is saying anything. Let’s talk about this too,” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said.
“Yes, youth policies in the policy statements of Sajith and Anura are contradictory. Economic and social policies are also contradictory. Some of them are the same policies presented by the President. They have been given different names. Shame on these people,” Manusha Nanayakkara said.
“I don’t know what Prof. G. L. Peiris is saying about Sajith’s two manifestos. Because he drafted one,” Harin Fernando said.
State Ministers removed
President Wickremesinghe instructed Secretary Saman Ekanayake to remove the portfolios of several State Ministers in the evening. The ministerial positions of Indika Anuruddha, Premalal Jayasekara, Mohan Priyadarshana de Silva and Siripala Gamlath were removed on Thursday evening.
Last week, Chief Incumbent of Mihintale Raja Maha Vihara Ven. Walawahangunawawe Dhammarathana Thera, had said that Sajith Premadasa, a leader who listens to people’s discourses, should be elected as the next President.
SJB Presidential candidate, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa, called on the Chief Incumbent of the Ruwanweli Maha Seya, Ven. Ethalawetunawewe Gnanathilaka Thera and invoked blessings.
Later, Premadasa went to Ruwanweli Seya and engaged in religious observances. Opposition Leader Premadasa also visited the Mihintale Raja Maha Vihara and met Ven. Walawahangunawawe Dhammarathana Thera and invoked blessings and engaged in a friendly conversation.
Ven. Dhammarathana Thera said, “There are no people who have affection and love for the Buddha Sasana. Most are superstitious and this country cannot move forward with superstitious people and when we criticise these shortcomings, we become traitors. Now most behave like those in walawwas. As soon as we call them traitors, they get angry with us. No one called a Buddhist spoke about the injustice being done to Buddhist religious places. Only Sajith Premadasa spoke about it in Parliament.
“When the electricity supply to the Mihintale sacred city was cut off, not a single person who was tied many pirith noolas spoke. Sajith Premadasa also raised his voice in Parliament regarding this. Actually, he did not pay my electricity bill but the electricity bill of the Mihintale Sacred City.
Mango tree
“Even though he paid the electricity bill, various people told various stories. This country should be handed over to someone who listens. Sajith Premadasa must be elected the President on September 22. I think it would be better if Sajith Premadasa takes oaths under a mango tree,” he said.
SJB Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, who visited Jaffna, went to the Nagadeepa Vihara, Jaffna and participated in religious ceremonies and invoked the blessings of the Maha Sangha. The Opposition Leader Premadasa also met the Catholic Bishop of Jaffna, Justin Gnanapragasam. He presented his manifesto to the Bishop and discussed the development of Jaffna.
International summit
Premadasa has said that an international support summit will be held to rebuild the North and the East. Opposition Leader Premadasa said so while attending a press conference at the Jaffna Media Club.
ITAK stand
The Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has decided to support SJB Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa in the upcoming Presidential Election. ITAK Media Spokesman M.A. Sumanthiran said that the party’s Central Committee had taken this decision.
Meanwhile, former MP Murugesu Chandrakumar, has decided to support Sajith Premadasa at the upcoming Presidential Election.
SJB Economic Blueprint
The unveiling of the SJB Economic Blueprint 3.0 was held last week presided over by the Presidential candidate of the Samagi Jana Sandhanaya and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
A group of economic experts, local and foreign businessmen were present.
MP Dr. Harsha de Silva said, “This is not only a plan to uplift Sri Lanka. This is a promise. This will benefit all sections of the society through future economic growth and regeneration. We believe in equality and fairness. Sajith Premadasa plays a big role. He has understood the pain and suffering of the people. We wish to create an economy that benefits everyone.’’
Clear plan
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said, “Only the SJB has a clear plan. We are a strong team. This is not another political program. We are presenting a plan that will make the goals of our economy a reality. We think honestly and rationally. We don’t have time to experiment any more. This is the right time to start a new vision.
“Our aim is to transform our nation through structural and economic reforms. I am sure that our economic growth will be achieved. The security, prosperity and future of our country all depend on the economic security of all,” he said.
A Presidential Task Force will be set up for youth development programs irrespective of caste, religion, or party, said Premadasa at a ceremony to mark the unveiling of the Youth Charter of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
Opposition Leader Premadasa said, “A Charter is to be presented for the sake of the youth, not to deceive the youth of the country or to gain power by using the youth. We are working to make the Youth Charter a reality on earth. If young people have a desire to work as entrepreneurs, we will provide the opportunity for them to progress at a reasonble cost. We are implementing all the provisions of the Youth Charter with dates. We definitely do what we say.’’
The comment by President Ranil Wickremesinghe about Anura Dissanayake at a meeting in Mahiyanganaya has been criticised by many parties.
Wickremesinghe’s comment shows that there is a deal between Anura and Ranil, it was revealed when the MPs of the SJB met recently.
S.M. Marikkar said, “Ranil Wickremesinghe is not capable of winning the Presidential Election and it can be seen from his statements. Wickremesinghe’s primary objective is to defeat Sajith Premadasa at the Presidential Election. Knowing that Ranil Wickremesinghe will lose the Presidential Election, he says to vote for Anura Dissanayake instead of voting for Sajith Premadasa. The Ranil-Anura deal is coming out through this. Ranil’s match with Anura to defeat Sajith Premadasa is disgraceful and annoying. Ranil should resign now.’’
Jagath Pushpakumara said, “Ranil Wickremesinghe has given up the Presidential race. The President says that Sajith Premadasa cannot defeat Anura Dissanayake. President Wickremesinghe is trying to deprive Sajith Premadasa of his chance to win the Presidential Election by saying so. The President is also trying to endanger the lives of the members of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Podujana Peramuna who are with him.”
Dr. Harsha de Silva said, “It seems that there is a political deal between Anura Dissanayake and Ranil Wickremesinghe. President Wickremesinghe attempts to circulate false news that Sajith Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe are going to join hands to change the mindset of UNP members who are with the SJB. Because of the President’s work, those who are with him will get lost. Wickremesinghe cannot win the Presidential Election anyway. The vote for Ranil will be wasted. Everyone should stand with Sajith at this time.’’
Wedding
On the eve of the Presidential Election, the wedding of the daughter of SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara was held at the Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo on Thursday night. Ranjith’s daughter is a lawyer by profession and her husband, an engineer. The politicians who attended the wedding, who were personal friends, were SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa and his wife Jalani, former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya, Kabir Hashim and his wife, Imtiaz Bakir Markar and his wife, Eran Wickramaratne and his wife, Lakshman Kiriella, Gayantha Karunathilaka, Dr. Harsha de Silva, Rishad Bathiudeen, Dullas Alahapperuma, Dayasiri Jayasekara and a SJB strongman Lakshman Fonseka. Ranjith had also ensured not to forget Ananda’s friends who were with him in the same hostel room. Ranjith’s contemporaries and old Anandians, such as Sithendra Senaratne, Ranjith and Mohan Pandithage brothers, Tejan de Silva, Nimal de Silva and Lal Hevagama were also there.
New political alliance
The launch of the new political alliance, Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna formed by the representatives of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and other political parties supporting President Ranil Wickremesinghe took place at the Waters Edge Hotel, Battaramulla on Thursday (September 5) under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena.
Before the formation of this alliance, Ministers Prasanna Ranatunga, Kanchana Wijesekara, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana as well as district leaders including Rohitha Abeygunawardena held several rounds of discussions in this regard. “Our MPs are always asking what will happen to them. Therefore, speed up the formation of this alliance,” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told all those discussions. Accordingly, the political leaders decided to speed up the formation of the new alliance.
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga was tasked with suggesting a suitable name for the alliance. He named it as the Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna.
“This is the name that I suggested. There may be better names. So check out some names and also a logo for the party. Let’s do the work democratically,” said Minister Ranatunga to the group of MPs. The MPs proposed several other names including Janajaya Peramuna for the new alliance. But there were problems with many names. For some names, astrological issues were involved. Therefore, the MPs decided to retain the name as Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna as suggested by Minister Ranatunga. “I didn’t think of that name. Look at the names of the political parties that support us and do justice to them too. But in the end it also matched astrology,” said Minister Ranatunga. “Sir, we know, you are working anyway, not leaving it for someone else,” MPs laughed at what MP Kokila Gunawardena said.
The ceremony to form the Podujana Eksath Nidahas Peramuna was not shorn of political stories.
Minister Prasanna Ranatunga and other Ministers went to different places and spoke about past political stories.
“All those who were with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa since 1994 are still here,” said MP Janaka Bandara Tennakoon with a tinge of sadness.
“That’s true Sir, when you look at the people here, only Mahinda Rajapaksa is not here,” MP Nimal Lanza said.
“Mahinda Rajapaksa, who always made the right decisions, made a wrong decision this time,” Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda said.
“No, Mahinda Rajapaksa discussed with the Ministers and MPs in Parliament and took the right decision. Namal exerted various pressures on Mahinda and changed the decision,” said a backbencher MP.
Namal Rajapaksa’s meeting in Dehiwala was special as he travels around Sri Lanka. It was organised by a group of young people. There were 10,000 signatures on the signature list of the meeting in Dehiwala. It was late at night when Namal arrived in Dehiwala, but everyone was waiting anxiously for Namal’s arrival. Namal expressed his thanks to the organising committee. Yes, four of us organised this meeting together. All the four youth who organised it said that it doesn’t matter if anyone went. Namal said that talented people like you guys are brought forward because we need young people and this meeting is a good example.
Secret meeting
Last Tuesday night, a certain meeting took place in a star class hotel in Colombo. It was among Namal, Basil and those who went to strengthen the hands of Ranil.
Some State Ministers and seven MPs had come to meet Namal and Basil. They basically spoke about what will be done at the upcoming elections.
A State Minister said we have no place and they have not planned anything properly. Namal or Basil did not say anything. This 11-member group had said that in future they wish to contest from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
Namal and Basil said, “Let’s discuss it later and let’s continue like this now.” This discussion was very secretive and they were careful not to reveal the other things that were discussed and the names of those who attended the discussion.
Namal’s manifesto
SLPP Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa’s Presidential Election manifesto was unveiled at the ITC Ratnadipa, Colombo under the patronage of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other party leaders. It is named as the Namal Dekma (Namal’s vision).
Namal Rajapaksa said that he expects to double the Gross Domestic Product within the next 10 years.
He said that he would work to remove the slogan of fraud and corruption from the election platform within three years by bringing the whole economy into the banking system.
Many problems in the country can be resolved by digitising the country and tax revenue can also be increased by digitising the national identity card.
