Race gets on the road

first time in the history of the UNP that it has made such a sacrifice by choosing the General Secretary of the SLFP.

"In 2006, during the time of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, we signed an agreement. I signed it on behalf of the SLFP and Malik Samarawickrema on behalf of the UNP. Today in a different manner, we have come together for the future of the country. S.W.R.D .Bandaranaike and his contemporaries such as Sri Nissanka and T.B.Illangaratne, Badiuddin Mahmood and others all got together and formed the SLFP with a vision and a policy. He implemented those polices and brought about great awakening in the country.

"It was the first time since independence that people got real freedom. Ms. Sirimavo Bandaranaike took leadership after her husband's demise and with much commitment took the party forward. With their non-aligned policies they brought great recognition to the country in foreign nations. After Ms. Bandaranaike lost in 1977, her civic rights were removed. Till 1994 when we were returned to power, she stayed in the back and shed tears to hold the party together. I am someone who had seen her tears flow from her eyes. Even without her civic rights she held the party together.

"Then Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga came to power after forming the People's Alliance. She made the necessary changes and worked to defeat the LTTE and also built necessary international relationships. She suffered in a terrorist attack. We worked with the JVP in 1994 and formed the PA. We worked tirelessly to form the UPFA and also to take power. In 2005, Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President. Under him our forces fought valiantly and defeated the LTTE. However, after end of the war, our government began to travel in a direction we did not anticipate. The 18th Amendment to the Constitution (allowing a president to contest any number of times) is a serious mistake. It has taken away the freedom, the democratic rights of the people as well as the powers of Parliament. It made the executive presidency of the 1978 even stronger.

"In the past few years the country has been heading towards a veiled dictatorship. Relief packages are given, development projects are being carried out, elections are being held with smiling faces but there are many things that cannot be approved by us and the people. Corruption, fraud and injustice are rampant. The supremacy of the judiciary is crumbling. The Police have been undermined. They're unable to deal with wrongdoers. In this way, the country is under a veiled dictatorship with members of one family running the economy and the administration.

"Because of this, with me, a vast number who will join us soon thought, that we need to find a solution to all this. We spoke to other parties and we came to an agreement. As the General Secretary of the SLFP, I never thought that I would be chosen as the common candidate. As the Health Minister for the past four years, my experience has been disheartening.

"The move to put the pictorial warning on cigarette packets was delayed; the national drug policy was delayed. Who was behind it? I went to Hulftsdorp and sat on a bench on behalf of the people but I was not able to get it implemented. We are all going to die someday but before that we have to do something for the people. For that I will give up all positions and privileges. Today the SLFPers have been abandoned. We have to give them leadership. We have come to a decision to abolish the executive presidency.

"I urge the people of this country to support me so as to abolish this executive presidency which has brought much misfortune to the people and the country. I will abolish it within 100 days of being elected. Give me the power to do that. There are many poor people in the country. Public servants are in the doldrums these days. The living standards of all people must be raised. The economic status of the farmers in the place I come from must be strengthened. The Police and the public servants must be allowed to function independently without political interference. This will be guaranteed under the new government we want to create. I also appeal to the members of the armed forces as well as the IGP to ensure that a free and fair election is held.

"I think you all are aware of the media freedom in the country. You are aware of the pressures that were heaped on the media to distort news and to hide the truth. Under a new government, there will be real media freedom. Journalists will be able to speak and write freely.

"This corrupt election system will be abolished. I will reactivate the 17th Amendment and the 18th Amendment will be abolished. I will appoint UNP leader as the Prime Minister in the new government. And we will take our journey forward. I wish to thank President Kumaratunga who worked with much commitment, Venerable Aturaliye Ratana Thera as well as the Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera. In the days ahead we will reveal all our plans. I will place my faith in the people of this country. I must thank my wife and children who told me whatever decision I take they will stand by me."

Former Minister Senaratne warned that the country's image was being ruined internationally. "Shouting hoarse against them (international community) or using strong epithets is not patriotism or bravado," he exhorted and warned that "matters would come to a head soon." Hardly had he finished did he declare, watched on Tv by tens of thousands, that he had just received a message to return his official car. Sirisena, Senaratne and Kumaratunga all voiced fears for their safety. If Kumaratunga said there would be "white van" reprisals, Sirisena declared that he was willing to even sacrifice his life to achieve their goal of abolishing the executive presidency. Tears welled into the eyes of the duo during moments of their speeches.

The news conference was still under way when the Working Committee of the UNP met at Siri Kotha. Wickremesinghe followed the same routine proposing to participants that they support Maithripala Sirisena as the presidential candidate. Unlike his brief endorsement at the meeting of UNP parliamentarians that Friday morning, Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa declared that he was not against the wishes of the party. He said efforts should be made to ensure that at the end of it all, a UNP Government, is in place. It should not be allowed to be hijacked by others, he said. Others who spoke in favour were Rosie Senanayake, Daya Gamage and Ravi Karunanayake.

As the UNP working committee meeting ended, all party leaders and personalities in the broader Opposition front were invited for a meeting at No. 30 Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, the office of the Leader of the Opposition. One of the surprise attendees was Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera who welcomed the new front and offered to place his signature on behalf of the National Movement for Equality and Social Justice. A notable absentee at the event, however, was UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake. Among others, present on behalf of the UNP were Wickremesinghe, Premadasa, Karu Jayasuriya, Kabir Hashim, Mangala Samaraweera, Eran Wickremeratne, Ruwan Wijewardene, Ravi Karunanayake and Malik Samarawickrema. Ven. Athureliya Rathana Thera represented the JHU and Senaka de Silva the Democratic Party. Representatives of some of the smaller parties were also present.

In an emotion charged speech, Sirisena said though he had not met UNP national leader Wickremesinghe or spoken to him on the telephone, he had learnt a great deal in politics from him. This was by closely observing him conducting business in Parliament and the deep knowledge he had in politics and standing orders (rules of Parliament). "I have one request to make from those present here. Like I call Ms Kumaratunga Madam, please permit me to call Mr. Wickremesinghe 'Sir'. Even when I become President I want to address him as Sir," he said. Sirisena said that as a Cabinet Minister in the UPFA Government he had been treated so shabbily. He said he would soon reveal to the public who was behind moves to reduce drastically the size of graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. He said he would make a solemn pledge before those who had gathered at the Opposition Leader's office that he would abolish the executive presidency.

An active participant at Friday night's meeting was UNP Deputy Leader Premadasa. He said although there were good reasons to abolish the executive presidency in 100 days, this was not an issue when it came to people at the grassroots level. He said there would also have to be a 100 day package which should contain relief to the people who were affected by the mounting cost of living. "That is very correct," said Kumaratunga who added, "let us ask Sajith to undertake the grassroots level campaign." A programme is to be formulated. The unusual camaraderie between Premadasa and Mangala Samaraweera was also the talking point among some of the participants.

The discussion then centered on the all-important question: Under what symbol would Sirisena contest as presidential candidate? Ravi Karunanayake was to offer a party which was "in his possession." It is the Nawa Prajathantrawadi Peramuna or the New Democratic Front with Hansaya or Swan as its symbol. The General Secretary of this party is lawyer Sharmila Perera, once an aide of Minister Lalith Athulathmudali. Samaraweera said Sirisena could also opt for Apey Jathika Peramuna or Our National Front. Its symbol is the telephone. Its General Secretary Ruwan Ferdinandes resigned yesterday. Former General Sarath Fonseka contested the 2010 presidential elections under the Swan symbol and lost. Hence, Our National Front's telephone symbol is the most likely common symbol for now. Samaraweera and Rajitha Senaratne have been told to work out details in this regard and report back.

UNP national leader Wickremesinghe said the party's campaign would have to be launched within the next two weeks on a grand scale. A three-member committee comprising Mangala Samaraweera, Ven. Athureliye Rathana Thera and Rajitha Senaratne has been tasked with the responsibility of spearheading the campaign. The campaign office will be located at Siri Kotha. At the highest levels, both Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe will work out campaign strategies. They will also jointly name the various committees that will be tasked with different responsibilities. More importantly, those involved in the joint Opposition exercise are to now sign an agreement that will encompass their policy objectives and their commitment to abolish the executive presidency within 100 days.

Presidential candidate Sirisena's position as General Secretary of the SLFP was filled yesterday. President Rajapaksa named Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa to act until a new General Secretary is elected in due course.

The defections in the UPFA in general and the SLFP in particular, there is little doubt, would have a ripple effect when it comes to the district and electoral level. In such areas, those who have crossed over are either district or electoral organisers. Hence, the support base which was the grassroots level structure for the UPFA will be eroded considerably. That would impede to a great extent the working of the party machinery. Who would paste posters, engage in house-to-house campaigning and get the party machinery geared to move forward remains a critical question? Whether the time period available is sufficient enough to put the UPFA house in order at the district and electorate level, no doubt, is cause for worry for the leadership. On the other hand, since the outcome of the Uva Provincial Council elections, the good news for the UNP at the grassroots level is the fall of manna from heaven. The UNP will work together with some of the UPFA backers in their areas. And that makes the January 8 presidential election that much more crucial - and unpredictable.

A worrying feature, however, is fear of escalation of violence. A statement from the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) said, "United National Party (UNP) supporter Chamila Ranasinghe, a resident of Maggona, was shot at Maggona Junction around 6.30 pm today (21). Ranasinghe who was shot in the head twice is in a serious condition and has been transferred to Colombo National Hospital. Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) believes that this is linked to Ranasinghe lighting fire crackers at Beruwala after former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena declared that he is the common candidate. CaFFE has also received information that the group that shot Ranasinghe had earlier destroyed cutouts of former Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne…."

It is no secret that polls, both national and local, have often generated violence. Already the Ministry of Law and Order has in the past weeks sent out transfer orders to a number of officers in charge of police stations. More are due. Unless tougher measures are adopted, a free for all could follow marring the upcoming presidential election.