On My Beat: Last Presidential election a ‘Swan song’ of Opposition unity

The political scenario in Sri Lanka is becoming more and more unpredictable as the Opposition which stood as a formidable force during the recent Presidential election has now begun to crumble.

The togetherness of the Opposition is today, withered, wobbled and shriveled and they have begun to pull apart.

The UNP which agreed Sarath Fonseka as the common Presidential candidate, had accepted the Swan symbol and worked together with Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna led by Somawansa Amarasinghe, Ruff Hakeem who led the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and with Democratic Front leader Mano Ganeshan.

Today the unity of the Opposition is no more. The last presidential election might be Swan Song of their unity. The first crack started with Ranil Wickremasinghe emphatically and sternly saying that they are not prepared to forsake their Elephant symbol and that the forthcoming Parliamentary election will be contested with the UNP symbol of the Elephant. He is trying to resurrect the Aliya (elephant) that was allowed to have a natural death in the presidential election.

This has upset the already weird and worn out Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna (JVP) which was gasping it last breath politically after it went disarrayed by leaving the UPFA coalition and presently wanted very much to have an alliance with UNP, but their political ego is not prepared to contest on the Elephant symbol which is considered a political anathema by them.

To overcome, the latest development JVP has come with a political ploy of organizing a new political Party to be called 'Democratic National Alliance' with the 'trophy' as its symbol .

It was reported that the leader of the 'Democratic National Alliance' would be Gen. Sarath Fonseka and its secretary would be the Information Secretary of the JVP Vijitha Herath. The registered office of the 'Alliance' will be the election office of Gen. Fonseka located at the Rajeeka Road, in Colombo.

In the meantime, speaking to the media, the former leader of the group of JVP Parliamentarians Anura Dissanayake said the decision of the UNP to contest under the 'elephant' symbol while Gen. Sarath Fonseka was being detained for coming against the fascist regime of Rajapakse family is “not ethical”.

It was unfortunate, a man, a green horn in politics not even with 100-day experience in politics, has been considered as the leader of the Alliance and Somawansa Amerasinghe and his men think still Sarath Fonseka might be able to draw votes with his fractured charisma.

Furthermore Mano Ganeshan, the leader of the 'Democratic National Alliance' in his latest press release has taken up cudgels against the UNP.

In a letter sent to the UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe, the Democratic Peoples Front leader Mano Ganesan has irritatingly pointed out that “It seems that UNP wants Tamil votes but not Tamil MPs in Colombo. It is a breach of understanding and trust between our two parties.

Please check this conspiracy against our party and Tamil community.”

He has further cautioned if the UNP is not going to stop nominating a Tamil businessman to contest as a UNP candidate from Colombo, “otherwise we will part ways with UNF.”

It is learnt that UNP is planning to nominate to the post of an MP, the youngest brother of the late T. Maheswaran, who was the former UNP Tamil MP from Colombo.

Mano Ganeshan speaking to Asian Tribune said that UNP has decided to nominate T. Thirukesan, a businressman who was associated with Minister Douglas Devananda for his business activities, alleges Mano Ganeshan. He is the youngest brother of Late T. Maheswaran.

He further alleged that “Certain UNP politicians in your nomination board are trying to introduce nonentity traders as UNP Tamil candidates in Colombo and destroy our party. It is a sick game plan to split Tamil preferential votes and block fair Tamil representation in the next parliament.”

Furthermore, the Deputy Leader of the United National Party Karu Jayasuriya said, that talks regarding the elections were underway with other parties of the UNF such as the SLFP (M)- wing and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

It is still not clear as to what is the latest position of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. But the TNA has said it will be cooperating with Sri Lanka Muslim Congress in the East even though they go all out to contest all alone in the coming Parliamentary elections.

It is learnt that earlier Gen. Sarath Fonseka had sent a letter to UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe inviting the UNP to contest as the common opposition under the 'swan' symbol.

Unfortunately UNP has not agreed to the proposal of Sarath Fonseka, it seems he is very upset over it.

As things have come to a crucial stage, Asian Tribune learnt that today Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa, the lawyer who was sought by Sarath Fonseka to defend him, has failed to show up at the Senior Navy Appartment, where he is being confined.

Normally from the 9th of February, the day after Sarath Fonseka was brought to the military custody Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa has been daily visiting Sarath Fonseka in the afternoons along with Anoma Fonseka.

But as Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa seems to have come forward to contest in the UNP ticket, it is said to be the reason why he has not visited Sarath Fonseka yesterday.

Furthermore, sources told that though Anoma Fonseka visits her husband twice a day, their cordiality seems to be on the wane. Most of the time they were staring at each other and the conversation is becoming less and less. It seems that recalcitrant Sarath Fonseka has begun to resign himself to his fate.

Also it is learnt that Sarath Fonseka has indicated willingness to cooperate with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) investigating his alleged involvement in what is now dubbed as the HiCorp fraud.

The CID yesterday informed the Colombo Fort Magistrate Lanka Jayaratne that investigators had recorded a statement from Fonseka regarding the approval of at least four controversial tenders whilst serving as the chairman of the tender board.

A police sources told Asian Tribune that so far they have not been able to locate the whereabouts of Dhanuna Tilakaratne.

The latest report revealed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has taken measures to remove Chairman of Ceylon Petroleum Corporation Maj. Gen. Asoka Thoradeniya who, according to the government, was in the conspiracy with Gen. Sarath Fonseka to overthrow the government.

As such, the President obtained the letter of resignation from Maj. Gen. Thoradeniya on the February 17. Maj. Gen. Thoradeniya has already left the CPC.

The Asian Tribune exclusively reported earlier that Maj. Gen. Thoradeniya was having discussions with Brig. D.C. Keppetiwalana who was arrested at Panadura on February 6.

- Asian Tribune -