Monday, 1 December 2014 02:02
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Another political crossover ends a slight lull in the Opposition’s mammoth task to prevent the incumbent from winning a third term in power. In a move that undoubtedly has much symbolic power Navin Dissanayake, who is the son of late UNP Leader Gamini Dissanayake, will rejoin the United National Party (UNP) at its Sirikotha headquarters in Pita Kotte today.
The MP has announced he will be supporting Maithripala Sirisena’s candidacy in the presidential election scheduled for 8 January. Dissanayake’s defection brings the total number of MPs the ruling UPFA coalition has lost since the announcement of Sirisena’s candidature up to 11.
Dissanayake, 45, joined the UPFA Government in 2007 with 17 others from the UNP, to help President Rajapaksa’s war effort and will be the first member with a strong UNP legacy to return. Yet it is unclear whether his return will significantly bump up votes for Sirisena or encourage more dissatisfied crossovers from the Government ranks.
In a letter addressed to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Dissanayake thanked the President for concluding the war, but noted that the situation with regard to corruption and fraud within his Government was “no longer tolerable”.
Dated 29 November, Dissanayake’s letter alludes to preferential treatment of ministers, large-scale fraud and irregularities and broken promises by the Rajapaksa Government on abolishing the executive presidency. His removal from Government ranks will push home once again the need to introduce reforms but is unlikely to be heard by Rajapaksa.
Meanwhile, the Bar Association of Sri Lanka in a progressive move has offered legal assistance to public workers coerced into campaigning for the President. Weekend newspapers carried reports of how an estimated 1000 workers have been drafted for campaign work just from the Colombo port. While officials denied such efforts, the public long used to shady measures by the Government, will see signs of abuse of public assets.
‘Api Mahindata’ (We are for Mahinda), ‘Ape Janapati’ (Our President), ‘Api Hambantota’ (We are Hambantota) – the thousands of banners and life-sized cut-outs of President Mahinda Rajapaksa across villages, cities and expressways will soon be joined by thousands more, just by public demand, according to the Government.
There are almost 1800 election cut-outs of the President in Greater Colombo alone, some cemented to the ground, Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) Director Keethi Tennakoon said.
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya says he is unable to remove the banners and cut-outs. He can only act after 8 December, when nominations for the presidential election must be handed in. Yet monitors insist they can be removed by the environmental police as dues to local authorities and municipalities have not been paid.
As the battle for a free and fair election wages on, the Opposition will be readying for their biggest show of power at the first Sirisena election rally. Fittingly beginning in Polonnaruwa they will be hoping for a show of force that will build momentum around the country.
A crucial factor in this will be the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to be signed between the common candidate and the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU). The Opposition will have to ensure it will provide a groundswell of support without alienating possible links with minority parties. With so many loyalties to balance, both sides will find the coming week challenging.
