April 25 parliamentary polls despite corona pandemic

Efforts continue to unite Ranil and Sajith factions but reconciliation highly unlikely SLPP and allies finalise nominations lists, Mahinda confident of winning upto 130 seats, if not more

The backlash on Sri Lanka from the spread of novel coronavirus or Covid19, which the World Health Organisation (WHO) termed a pandemic, has dangerously spread to different continents, but has neither deterred the National Election Commission (NEC) nor major political parties on plans for April 25 parliamentary elections.

The NEC, which has been in touch with different state agencies, including health authorities, is satisfied with the stepped-up preventive measures now being taken. This is at the highest levels of the government. Hence, the NEC believes any change in the plans it has embarked on would not be necessary. The same view is shared by government leaders. On Wednesday, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa chaired a top-level meeting where a detailed assessment was carried out. Further contingency measures were formulated. It was also decided to “appeal to hotel owners for voluntary assistance” to use their premises as “quarantine centres.” Though there are no givers so far, the move is purely in the long-term in the unlikely event of a spread of the deadly virus.

In another major preventive move, visitors from Britain, France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Netherlands’ and Austria have been temporarily banned from visiting Sri Lanka.

At least one major political outfit, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) led Sri

Lanka Nidhas Podujana Sandanaya (SLNPS), is on high gear and has even finalised most of its candidates. It is different in the case of the United National Party (UNP) which formally split in two just last week. UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam told the

Sunday Times, “We have appointed a Nomination Board chaired by our leader, Ranil Wickremesinghe. Other members are Chairman Kabir Hashim, Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake, National Organiser Navin Dissanayake and Samagi Jana Balavegaya

(SJB) General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara.

Kariyawasam’s reference to Premadasa and his loyalists Hashim and Maddumabandara on the UNP Nomination Board is clearly a tactical move or a political trap. The Premadasa faction has already parted ways from the UNP, with the formation of the alliance, approved by the UNP’s Working Committee. Disciplinary action against him and allies now hinges on the SJB symbol. At a ceremony at the Water’s Edge in Battaramulla on Thursday, Premadasa formally announced that his SJB symbol would be a Telephone. The declaration came in the presence of partner leaders. In this backdrop, his participation in the UNP Nomination Board, which is not expected, would have amounted to his acceptance of the elephant symbol, something which he has now

chosen to ignore. The two feuding factions are yet to finalise their list of candidates. Believe it or not, behind the scenes consultations by the two sides, by different parties, still continue but any rapprochement is most unlikely.

One of the proposals for a ‘kiss and make up’ carried out by an interlocutor was for Wickremesinghe to step down as leader. He was to be replaced by former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. After UNP General Secretary Akila Viraj Kariyawasam steps down, it was proposed that a successor, a non-political person be brought to that office. The move, however, did not receive approval of Wickremesinghe loyalists who argued that the change of leadership “was in no way a negotiable factor.” Various other proposals have been pitched by interlocutors but “forward movement” is virtually nil, said one source familiar with the last-minute efforts.

On the other hand, should there be a “conditional agreement,” it would still take days before they work out the contours, including a possible Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). With

the acrimony already created by the divide, such a case could be studded with obstacles and suspicion. This is besides joint decisions on candidates, with an escalation in the tussle for their respective nominees.

The issue has now been exacerbated with SJB General Secretary, Maddumabandara telling the ceremony at Water’s Edge in Battaramulla where the Telephone symbol was launched, “We were deceived many a time with the promise of a common symbol. We waited for weeks in trust and hope. But this did not materialise.” The ceremony was also attended by former Kalutara District SLFP/SLPP parliamentarian Kumara Welgama. Premadasa has been cautious with words. He has held a string of news conferences but avoided making references to the internal feuding. This is much to the irritation of partner parties. One was to criticise the government over the failure to reduce fuel prices. Another was on the issue of novel coronavirus and the measures taken by the government. Whether this is still in the hope of a settlement whilst going ahead with rituals is unclear. Premadasa