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Ranil, Sajith make peace but political war in Uva

By Our Political Editor-Sunday, September 07,


2014
UNP leader takes brave decision to appoint Premadasa as deputy leader
despite strong opposition from some party seniors - Blatant abuse of public
ofcers and state resources while attacks on opposition ofces and rallies
continue - Police look on helplessly while UNP !"P take their cases to the
#uman $ights %ommission - &head of presidential election $a'apaksa launches
mega pro'ects with massive loans from %hina
After weeks of hemming and hawing, Sajith Premadasa will now become the Deputy eader of
the main opposition United !ational Party "U!P#$
%heir leader Ranil &ickremesinghe told a largely attended '(rd anniversary rally of the party in
Passara that he would give prominence to Sajith Premadasa when appointing a Deputy eader$
)e said that he had yesterday united the party with so many prominent leaders present on the
stage$ Among them were *eneral Secretary %issa Attanayake, Premadasa and +aru ,ayasuriya,
a one time Deputy eader$
Premadasa who spoke last after making a
re-uest to do so declared this was a
repetition of history$ %he late ,$R$
,ayewardene had invited his father to unite
to replace the then *overnment$ Similarly,
he will heed the call of national leader
&ickremesinghe to unite the pary to
democratically topple this *overnment$
As Premadasa rose to speak, Ravi
+arunayake, a strong opponent of moves to
elevate Premadasa to the number two slot in
the U!P walked away from the meeting$
.arlier on /riday, &ickremesinghe resisted
protests against the move from party
stalwarts who asked him not to go ahead
with Premadasa0s appointment$ )e told
them he had already made a decision$
&hatever the conse-uences, he said he was
willing to face them$ &ickremesinghe had
originally decided not to make references at yesterday0s rally but made a last minute decision
on /riday night$ Among the reasons for the change of heart, he told confidants, was a re-uest
by the party0s Uva 1hief 2inisterial candidate )arin /ernando facing an uphill task to secure a
game changing victory for the main 3pposition party$
Premadasa will be formally 4elected0 at the ne5t meeting of the &orking 1ommittee, the party0s
main policy making body$ 6t will be summoned soon after the Uva Provincial 1ouncil election
on September 78 is concluded$ !o firm date has yet been fi5ed$
Paving the way for the e5ercise was a meeting U!P national leader &ickremesinghe held with
Premadasa a week ago$ %he duo had reached understanding on several matters$ 1onse-uently,
Premadasa has agreed to take part in the U!P polls campaign in Uva and has given dates to
party *eneral Secretary %issa Attanayake when he will appear, some together with
&ickremesinghe$
%hough Premadasa had placed a number of demands through interlocutors, before his one9on9
one with &ickremesinghe, the Sunday %imes learnt that no agreement has been reached on
them$ %hese demands included the abolition of the eadership 1ouncil "chaired by former
Deputy eader +aru ,ayasuriya# and the inclusion of ten of Premadasa0s nominees as members
of the &orking 1ommittee$
)owever, a significant step would still be the appointment of a twenty9member 1ommittee that
will work parallel to the eadership 1ouncil$ %hat body will formulate plans for the party0s
campaign during the upcoming presidential election where &ickremesinghe e5pects to be the
party0s candidate$ %he 1ommittee will, among other matters, formulate the party0s manifesto,
map out strategy and media operations$ Some members of the eadership 1ouncil and
parliamentarians including Premadasa nominees will be among those in this 1ommittee$
A high ranking U!P source said, :%he party will put up a new team together for the
establishment of an alternative *overnment$ &e are coming out with new concepts$; %hose not
in favour of the appointment of Premadasa as Deputy eader, the source said, would be able
under the party constitution to make a signed re-uest for fresh elections$ /or this purpose a
third of the membership of the &orking 1ommittee would have to place their signatures$
&ithin ten days, the &orking 1ommittee and the Parliamentary *roup would then decide on a
fresh election, the source added$
6n a &orking 1ommittee where staunch supporters of &ickremesinghe are in the majority, it is
highly unlikely Premadasa0s nomination as Deputy eader would be vetoed, now that
&ickremesinghe has given his nod of approval$ %his is not to say there is overwhelming
endorsement within the U!P hierarchy to the move$ %here are formidable sections that are
strongly opposed to it$ %hat includes those who solidly backed &ickremesinghe in his political
tussles with Premadasa in the recent past$ <et, even they will not seek solace under U!P0s
constitutional provisions to challenge Premadasa0s proposed election$ %hat is on the grounds
that such a move would be a direct confrontation with national leader &ickremesinghe$ <et, the
danger of another split in the party may become inevitable and could lead to a cold war$ Some
resignations from party seniors are also not ruled out$
The moment of truth: Up go the hands of UNP stalwarts, including leader
Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa, while jubilant members at the
part!s con"ention in Passara esterda click their camera phones to
capture a rare portrait of part unit# Pic b Romesh $anushka
!evertheless, some have already turned strong public critics$ At last &ednesday0s meeting of
the eadership 1ouncil chaired by +aru ,ayasuriya, 1olombo District parliamentarian Ravi
+arunanayake lashed out not only at Premadasa but also at those who he said were behind the
move to foist Premadasa to the number two position$ :)e wants positions$ )e is at the &ilpattu
!ational Park today and not in Uva,; +arunanayake said pointing out that the victors of this
:conspiracy; was a publisher who supported the *overnment and brokered their interests$ )e
-ueried on what basis *eneral Secretary %issa Attanayake made statements to the media that
Premadasa would soon be a Deputy eader$ +arunanayake has in many interviews in the
.nglish and Sinhala media launched bitter attacks on Premadasa$ )e also claimed former U!P
1hairman 2alik Samarawickrema, %issa Attanayake and former 2P Sagala Ratnayake were
among those who wanted Premadasa as Deputy eader$ Attanayake countered the accusations
at the meeting saying he spoke in his capacity as *eneral Secretary and did not re-uire
approval for what he said$
)e later told the Sunday %imes, :6n the weeks and months to come, our party has to face some
serious threats and challenges$ Unity in the party is very essential$ Sajith Premadasa has a very
positive role to play$ &e have discussed issues with him$ %he majority view in the party is that
he should become Deputy eader$ 6 have not taken any contract from anyone$ 6 am working
towards party unity$ %hat is the need of the hour$;
Another prominent member opposed to the move, who did not wish to be identified, said a
media professor advising U!P leaders had forwarded reports, after he was tasked, pointing out
that at all Uva polls meetings, U!P supporters had asked :where is Sajith, where is Sajith$; )e
alleged that the advisor had made up the reports since he backed the move$ %he member also
named a senior e5ecutive of a business conglomerate and an electronic media personality
turned local councillor as among the interlocutors$ :3thers ask for rewards after they perform$
)ere they are asking for rewards to perform,; he added$ %he argument was countered by a
Premadasa loyalist who said &ickremesinghe could not go on forever ignoring the )ambantota
2P in view of the grassroots level support he enjoyed among party cadres$
%he impending rapprochement between &ickremesinghe and Premadasa also has other
ramifications$ %hough he has not officially declared his candidature for the presidential
election, &ickremesinghe has made clear it would have to be a U!Per who would contest
irrespective of whether other parties put forward candidates$ &ith Premadasa, who is also
opposed to the concept of a 4common opposition0 candidate now in the leadership fold, the
prospects of a single contestant winning the support of the U!P, the largest in the 3pposition,
appear diminished$ 1ivil society groups and some professional bodies have opined that the only
way to defeat the UP/A0s presidential candidate, 2ahinda Rajapaksa, was to have one
acceptable opponent contesting him with the support of all opposition parties$ Some U!P
stalwarts who spoke informally to the ,anatha =imukthi Peramuna ",=P# leadership favoured a
common candidate but the ,=P was unwilling to back &ickremesinghe in that slot$
Among those, U!Pers say, is worst hit by Premadasa0s advent as Deputy eader is 2angala
Samaraweera$ 6n the 2atara District which he represents, Samaraweera counts as archrival his
colleague >uddhika Pathirana, a staunch Premadasa loyalist$ 2oreover, his relationship with
Sagala Ratnayake, a former 2P in the District, has not been very cordial either$ Samaraweera0s
supporters, who came to be known as the :kurundu polu brigade; or cinnamon pole brigade for
attacking an anti9&ickremesinghe march were arrested, remanded and are now facing charges
in courts$ %he march from Devinuwara to 1olombo, calling for the resignation of
&ickremesinghe as the leader of the U!P, was allegedly attacked by Samaraweera supporters
in 2atara$ Ratnayake and Pathirana were notable absentees when the reported attacks took
place$
&ithout doubt, the debate over Premadasa being made Deputy eader of the U!P has
somewhat distracted the Uva Provincial election campaign$ 2ost seniors and those at the
leadership level have been preoccupied with meeting &ickremesinghe to air their views$
)owever, some seniors say there would be a stepped up campaign after &ickremesinghe
addressed yesterday0s '?th anniversary sessions of the party at the Pradeshiya Sabha hall in
Passara$ >oth for the UP/A and the main contender U!P, the outcome of the September 78
Uva P1 polls would be significant$ So would it be for the ,=P which has launched an intense
campaign under its leader, Anura +umara Dissanayake to increase its vote base$
%he intensity of the different campaigns is e5plained by the spike in violent incidents$ Although
the Police Department celebrated its @A?th anniversary on &ednesday shorn of a parade due to
rains and hosannas were sung of their efficient service, its role to ensure a free and fair election
has been dismally poor if not non9e5istent$ Ruling party supporters have been attacking
opposition offices, particularly those of the ,=P, and intimidating their supporters$ %he worst
hit has been the 2oneragala District$ 3f the 7?B complaints received until /riday, the !etwork
of the 6ntellectuals for )uman Rights "!.296)R# said, @CD were from that district$ 2ost
complaints were over violations of election laws$ !e5t were violent attacks on opposition party
supporters$
:%he ruling party candidates are openly violating election laws but the Police are not taking
action to stop them$ 6ronically, Police officers are assisting the ruling party supporters to paste
posters in Uva province during nights,; Dr Uditha *unasekara, 1hief .5ecutive 3fficer of the
!.296)R told the Sunday %imes$
+eerthi %ennakoon, Director of the 1ampaign for /ree and /air .lections "1a//.#, an
independent election monitoring body recognised by the 1ommissioner of .lections, said that
in all recent provincial polls intra9party rivalry "within the ruling UP/A# had been high$
)owever, in Uva, violence against opposition parties had been higher, he said and added, :&e
see an intense campaign$;
)e added that in a significant move, the )uman Rights 1ommissioner Dr$ Prathibha
2ahanamahewa, who summoned the 1ommissioner of .lections, Secretaries of the 2inistry of
Public Administration, 2inistry of .conomic Affairs, Director *eneral of Divineguma and the
Director *eneral 1ombined Services on %hursday has directed that public officials should not
be used for election propaganda work$ 6t came after the U!P and ,=P lodged complaints$
Peoples Action for /ree and /air .lections "PA//R.#, another independent monitoring group
also said the trend of violence and violation of election laws were mounting$ :&e are not happy
about the situation in the 2onaragala district,; Rohana )ettiarachchi, .5ecutive Director of
PA//R. told the Sunday %imes$ :%he ,=P0s campaign meeting in >adalkumbara "in
2onaragala district# was attacked$ %he Police Station is located within D8 metres$ >ut they
could not control the situation,; he charged$ Police, however, claim they have received only A(
complaints and have made @? arrests since nominations ended$
+aru ,ayasuriya, 1hairman of the U!P eadership 1ouncil, told the Sunday %imes, :)ighly
placed persons are running around escorted by armed men in Defender ,eeps$ %hey are
provoking their supporters to attack opposition supporters and destroy their offices$ %he Police
are helpless$ %hey simply look on$ Some of the officers including seniors have told us they
cannot do anything for fear of reprisals like transfers or other forms of punishment$ )ow can
we therefore blame the Police altogetherE %his is gross abuse by the *overnment$ State sector
workers are canvassing for votes$ %hey are also resorting to all forms of unethical practices$;
An angry ,=P leader Dissanayake told the Sunday %imes, :6ncidents of intimidation and
attacks on opposition party supporters in Uva by the UP/A continues unabated$ %his action has
interrupted a free discussion and campaigns$ 3ur party supporters too have been affected$ <et,
they are braving these threats$ &e cannot be suppressed$ %he Police are not playing their role$
%here was an incident where a local politician was seen walking in the town with a sword, but
no action was taken$ %here are similar incidents like this where the police have failed to take
action$ %he *overnment is also misusing state resources for its campaign despite warnings
from the .lections 1ommissioner$;
%he breakdown in law and order in the Uva Province ahead of the P1 election is a grim
warning that the ne5t poll, the upcoming presidential election, could assume a more frightening
character$ %hat is bound to leave the opposition political parties in a much more difficult
situation than what they presently face in Uva$ &ith the Police heavily politicised and their
hierarchy losing control over the chain of command to such high levels and their inability to
enforce even limited directives, it would be a battle for life in all respects from those opposition
contenders and their supporters$
6f this is an advantage to the ruling UP/A *overnment, the events that have been playing out in
the recent weeks will sure be a windfall$ *randiose deals running into billions of rupees from
1hinese loans are being approved by the 1abinet of 2inisters$ %his is ahead of the arrival in Sri
anka of 1hinese President Fi ,ingping$ )ere are details of some of themG
"@# %he :1onstruction of Roads and /lyovers in )ambantota 6nternational )ub Development
Project$; %he .5port96mport ".F62# >ank of 1hina has agreed to provide a loan of Renminbi
<uan @,DDD,CCD,7AC or nearly Rs$ (7 billion under the *overnment 1oncessional oan "*1#
facility to cover the total contract price of the project, according to President 2ahinda
Rajapaksa who is also the 2inister of /inance and Planning$ &ith a repayment period of 78
years the loan will carry an interest of two per cent per annum and a management fee of 8$7D
per cent$ A further 8$7D per cent has to be paid per annum on the undisbursed amount of the
loan$
Rajapaksa has told his ministerial colleagues that the completion of the Southern .5pressway
will be at )ambantota$ :6t will link the Southern part of the country including )ambantota Sea
Port and 2attala 2ahinda Rajapaksa 6nternational Airport with 1olombo 1ity and !orthern
Part of the country through 3uter 1ircular )ighway, 1olombo9+atunayake e5pressway and the
proposed !orthern .5pressway$
)e addsG :%he Southern .5pressway .5tension Project with a total length of C' kilometres
consists of four main sections namely Section @ "from 2atara to >eliatta9(8 +m#, Section 7
"from >eliatta to &etiya H 7' km#, Section ( "from &etiya to 2attala9 @D km# and Section A
"from 2attala to )ambantota via Andarawewa H 7D km#$ 1hina .5im >ank has agreed to
finance the above e5tension to the Southern .5pressway$
:%he construction of Roads and /lyovers in )ambantota 6nternational )ub Development
Project contains Section ( of the Southern .5pressway .5tension with Sooriyawewa H *alwela
,unction H 2oraketiya H .mbilipitiya Road "@?$7? km# and Ranna9&etiya Road "@'$@D km#$
%he cost of 1onstruction of Roads and /lyovers in )ambantota 6nternational )ub Development
was estimated to be Rs$ (@,DBA,@88$88 "Remnimbi <uan @,DDD,CCD,7AC$(A# e-uivalent to USI
7D7,D(7,788$ %he relevant 1ommercial 1ontract was signed between the Road Development
Authority of Sri anka and 1hina State 1onstruction .ngineering 1orporation td$ on Bth
/ebruary 78@($ %he Scope of the works in the contract was changed on 7(rd August 78@(
keeping the same contract amount after the 1abinet of 2inisters granted their approval at the
meeting held on 77nd August 78@($;
"7# %he e5tension of :Southern .5pressway Section A H from 2attala to )ambantota via
Andarawewa$; 2inisters have given the green light to a re-uest by Rajapaksa, again as
2inister of /inance and Planning, to obtain a *overnment 1oncessional oan "*1# from the
.5im >ank of 1hina for Remnimbi <uan 7,D7?,@B@,?(A$8D or Rs$ D7,@D',@?A,C('$D7 or USI
A@7,A(7,7B8$DB$ %he loan with a grace period of five years will also carry an interest rate of
two per cent with a repayment period of 78 years$
Rajapaksa has said that :6ncorporating terms and conditions for initiating action to implement
the 1onstruction of Section A from 2attala to )ambantota via Andarawewa Project, a
2emorandum of Understanding was signed on 77nd !ovember 78@7 between Road
Development Authority of Sri anka and 1hina )arbour .ngineering 1ompany td$;
"(# A :oan /acility of USI @88 million from 1hina Development >ank 1orporation to
/inance the 6mprovement and Rehabilitation of Priority Road Project ( "Phase 66#$; %he
1abinet of 2inisters have given approval to obtain this loan from 1hina Development >ank
"1D># for this project$
According to Rajapaksa, the road sections for which the loan is to be obtained have been
selected to :ensure the connectivity among already improved road sections$; %he interest rate
of this loan is 6>3R plus 7$CD per cent per annum with a repayment period of @D years
including a grace period of three years$ Rajapaksa has said that ?D per cent of the project
concerned would be completed with the 1hinese loan whilst a balance of Rs$ 7,7C?,8C7,88C$'B
will be channelled through the consolidated fund$
"A# %he :1onstruction of the 3uter 1ircular )ighway H !orthern Section 66 "from +adawatha
to +erawalapitiya#; costing Rs$ '','?C,?(','CA$(A "USI D78,8(C,7BD$D(#$ Rajapaksa, as
2inister of /inance and Planning, has obtained the approval of the 1abinet of 2inisters to
enter into a oan Agreement with the .5im >ank of 1hina to obtain a loan of USI
ACA,8(B,A88$88 under the Preferential >uyer0s 1redit "P>1# facility$ %he loan, Rajapaksa has
said, would meet CD per cent of the project whilst the balance monies are to be obtained from
the 1onsolidated /und$ %he loan will carry an interest rate of two per cent per annum with a
repayment period of 78 years including a grace period of five years$ %he commercial contract
for the project has been signed between the Road Development Authority and the 2etallurgical
1orporation of 1hina td$
%he 3uter 1ircular )ighways with a total length of 7C$77 kilometres begins from +ottawa and
traverses through +aduwela, +adawatha and will end at +erawalapitiya$ 6t will radiate from the
1ity of 1olombo and link Southern .5pressway, 1olombo9+atunayake .5pressway, !orthern
.5pressway and other major !ational )ighways$ %his project consists of three main sections
namely +ottawa to +aduwela "@@ km#, +aduwela to +adawatha "?$C km# and +adawatha to
+erawalapitiya "C$(7 km#$
"D# %o award a USI 'C$A million plus Rs$ ',B'B,CAC,C88 contract to the 1hina !ational Aero
%echnology 6nternational 1orporation and 1hina *eo .ngineering 1orporation ,= for the
design and building of the %hambuttegama &ater Supply Scheme$ 6f the *overnment is
borrowing 1hinese funds for other mega projects, this time the ministers have re-uested that
the %reasury find the money for these two firms to undertake the task for three years$ 6n
addition to the design and build cost, they have also been told to make provision for
contingencies$
%his is by providing a sum of USI @$' million plus Rs$ 788 million with applicable =A%$
2inisters have decided that the .5ternal Resources Division in the %reasury negotiates with
1hina Development >ank to secure the foreign component of USI B@ million$ %he project is
intended to enhance pipe borne water supply coverage and to achieve a :sustainable growth in
the safe drinking water to *rama Sevaka Divisions in %halawa, %hambuttegama and *alnewa
Divisional Secretary Divisions$;
6n addition to these, the 1olombo Port 1ity Development Project undertaken by the 1hina
)arbour .ngineering 1ompany "the holding company of 1hina 1ommunication 1onstruction
1ompany of 1hina# is to be further e5panded$ /or this purpose, the 1abinet of 2inisters have
decided that a *aJette notification issued on ,anuary 7A granting them strategic enterprise
status "giving a wide array of ta5 concessions# would be rescinded$ 6n its place, a further
notification under the Strategic Development Projects Act is to be issued$ %he e5panded
activity includes a project to construct wave protection breakwater, land reclamation, ground
improvement, revetment, canals to connect seawater, artery roads, and utilities and to
transferKlease reclaimed lands to prospective buyers$
%he ambitious 1olombo Port 1ity Development project aims at reclaiming 7(( hectares of sea
off the *alle /ace *reen at a cost of USI @,((B million$ 3f the land to be reclaimed, @B8
hectares have been classified as saleable land and the remaining e5tent for water front roads
and park for public use$ 6nvestment Promotion 2inister akshman <apa Abeywardena claims
that the project :creates "sic# new land as a new part of 1olombo which attracts highest priority
in economic development as per the development strategy of the *overnment$; )e forecasts
that :changing the landscape of the country with the creation of this new city and the
conse-uent large /oreign .5change %urnover that could be generated from the foreign tenants$;
2ore deals, UP/A *overnment sources say, are on the cards when 1hinese President Fi arrives
in 1olombo on September @' on a two9day visit$ %his will include an 2oU between the two
countries on the electricity sector as well as others$ Ahead of this visit, ,apanese Prime 2inister
ShinJo Abe will arrive today in a visit that will last some 78 hours$ %he highlights will be his
participation at a ceremony connected with the e5pansion project at the >andaranaike
6nternational Airport ">6A#, talks with President Rajapaksa and tea in Parliament with members
of the Sri anka9,apan Parliamentary /riendship Association$ Premier Abe will make a short
speech to them$ 2ost 2Ps were in Uva engaged in the polls campaign and since Parliament is
not in session during the visit, an address to the )ouse is not possible$ President Fi also will
not visit Parliament but will travel a little distance away to inspect the new defence comple5
that is under construction at Pelawatte in >attaramulla$
As previously reported, to pave the way for Premier Abe0s visit to Sri anka, the *overnment
had to heed a few suggestions from %okyo$ 3ne was a 4domestic investigation0 into alleged war
crimes$ Another, it has now come to light, is the &itness Protection >ill$ %he debate on this in
Parliament was put on hold after 2inister Douglas Devananda raised issue$ !ow, the
*overnment has decided that the >ill will be debated to a finish on %uesday$
2eanwhile, the debate over the impending presidential election, whether it would be in early
,anuary or in 2arch, continues$ &hilst most UP/A stalwarts claim that it was more likely in
,anuary, on the basis of astrological predictions, there are sections who still opine otherwise$
!evertheless, there is little doubt that the UP/A *overnment has got into presidential election
mode even before the conclusion of the Uva P1 elections$ Parliamentarians and party
organisers are busy spending the Rs$ (88 million allocations that have been made to their
respective divisional areas$ At the macro level, Rajapaksa is pouring in millions into
infrastructure development$ &ith fears of another crisis within the U!P following the elevation
of Sajith Premadasa as the party0s Deputy eader, and the prospects of a single common
candidate waning, Rajapaksa no doubt would be -uite ensconced where he is$

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