Crossovers and party switching part of Sri Lanka politics

As the heat builds up for the August 5 general elections despite the Covid19 pandemic, a glance at the candidates' lists shows that party or alliance switching is part and parcel of Sri Lankan politics, with several candidates having a crossover history of varying length.

In the fray are 172 candidates who are seeking reelection while contesting from a party or alliance other than the one they represented at the 2015 general election. This is mainly because those who contested from the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in 2015 are contesting this time from the newly formed SLPP and those who contested from the United National Party (UNP) are contesting from the Sajith Premadasa-led Samagi Jana Balawegaya.

Two former TNA members are also contesting under different parties.

Despite criticism that those who engage in crossover politics disregard the wishes of the voters who elected them and the policies on which they were elected, crossovers are commonplace in the country's political landscape.

Some politicians have crossed over multiple times.

Internal conflicts, leadership disputes, self-interest and perks and privileges have been some of the main reasons behind crossovers in Sri Lankan politics over the decades.

Crossovers also cause voter confusion when the candidate to whom the voters cast their ballot at the last election contests from a rival party. Adding to the confusion are alliance formations, with candidates remaining as members of well established parties while contesting from newly formed alliances.

Here are a few well-known candidates contesting the August 5 elections and their crossover history:

S.B. Dissanayake is contesting this time from the Nuwara Eliya district under the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). He first contested the 1989 general election under the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and then crossed over to the UNP in 2001 before returning to the SLFP-led United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) in 2010.

Lakshman Kiriella was elected to Parliament on the SLFP ticket in 1989. He crossed over to the United National Party (UNP) in 2001 after contesting the elections under the People's Alliance (PA). At the August 5 general election, he is contesting from the UNP offshoot Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) from the Kandy district.

Kandy District SLPP candidate Keheliya Rambukwella entered Parliament as a UNP member in 2000. He contested the 2010 elections as a UPFA candidate.

Ravi Karunanayake first entered parliament as a People’s Alliance (PA) candidate in 1994 as his party the Democratic United National Front (DUNF) was a constituent party of the PA. He joined the UNP in 2000.

Other noteworthy crossover candidates contesting the elections are Dr Rajitha Senaratne, Lakshman Senevirathne, Navin Dissanayake, Johnston Fernando, Manusha Nanayakkara, Bandula Gunawardane, VijithVijayamuni de Soyza, Kumara Welgama, Piyasena Gamage and Dunesh Gankanda.

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansawho first represented the JVP at the 2000 and 2001 Parliamentary elections contested 2004 elections on the UPFA ticket. This time he is contesting from the SLPP.

(See graphic for more details)