What the Rajapaksas and Bandaranaikes can do – the Gammanpilas can do too

An Independent group consisting of candidates all having the surname Gammanpila was the focus of much speculation this week after the matter came to light through the candidate lists published by the Election Commission.

All 22 candidates from Independent Group 16, which had handed in nominations to contest the 2020 Parliamentary Election from the Colombo district, are Gammanpilas. It has also been reported that all the candidates are relatives.

The big question is whether the 22 Gammanpilas are related to Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila, who is contesting the district from the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

Mr Gammanpila was coy about the matter when contacted, neither confirming nor denying whether he had been behind the move to field a list of his relatives. “If the Rajapaksas and Bandaranaikes can do politics, there is no reason why the Gammanpilas can’t do so either,” he pointed out. Asked what his motive was if he was indeed behind the move as reports claim, he simply said, “Let’s wait and see.”

Election watchdogs say such actions are not unheard of as it’s part of a backup strategy in case a candidate’s name is rejected. They would then campaign for such an independent group they fielded and ask their voters to vote for one such candidate from the group. If such a person does get elected, then they can ask the entire group to resign, paving the way for an outsider of their choice to be nominated to fill the vacancy. Even if that were not to happen, the person who is elected could still function as an MP in name only, while the person who fielded them could function as the real power behind the scenes.

This is what is called “Politricks”.