Operations of how Sajith grabbed Opposition leadership

Operations of how Sajith grabbed Opposition leadership

The normal crisis which flares up within the United National Party after an election defeat happened on this occasion too after the presidential election this time. In other instances where the crisis ends with Ranil Wickremasingha's faction being given the okay; on this occasion is ended up with Ranil Wickremasingha having to take a step back. He had thus to hand over leadership to the Opposition by Sajith Premadasa who came forward as a candidate at the presidential election and
retaining leadership of party leadership in his hands. However, it is still not clear to UNP member of parliament as to why Ranil Wickremasingha has kept a step back on this occasion. 

Ranil Wickremasingha who discussed matters with Mahinda Rajapaksa even before presidential elections results came forth, it is understood that arrangements to become opposition leader was informed and that was by granting the opportunity of electing the ministers according to his wishes in the instance of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa turning over to the position of president. 

Whatever it is, Sajith Premadasa becoming silent for a few weeks as the election was over and because of the hints he had made that he would be taking leave of politics even before results were announced, what Ranil believed was that he could retain party leadership as well as Opposition leadership in his hands without any crisis cropping up. But the idea of MPs of the UNP who supported Sajith Premadasa was that he should once again become active in politics.

In any case, in the face of all this the general secretary of the United National Party, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has forwarded a letter to Karu Jayasuriya informing him that Ranil Wickramasingha should be appointed to the position of Opposition leader. But MPs who were close to Sajith Premadasa at the election were not in favour of such a move. Fifty six MPs who contested from the United National Party forwarded a letter to the Speaker with their signatures requesting Sajith Premadasa be given Opposition leadership. In the meantime party leaders of other parties such as Mano Ganeshan, Rishad Badiudeen and Rauf Hakkem who gave support to the United Natio and Manusha Nanayakkara and Vijitha Wijemuni Soysa who came forward from other parties together with other MPs sent letters separately expressing their opinions about Opposition leadership. 

The Speaker then arrived at a decision by considering letters received from both factions. He then accepted the party general secretary who was a precedent in parliament in this context. Though the United Opposition assumed their seats in parliament as the Opposition, the Speaker granted the position of Opposition leader to R. Sambandan instead of Mahinda Rajapaksa because according to the letter of general secretary of United People's Freedom Alliance, Mahinda Amaraweera, the Speaker accepted MPs of the Alliance were a group of the government. However as soon as information came to be known that the Speaker on this occasion accepted the letter of Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, a political operations was commenced. This political operations was launched by Ajith P. Perera and his comrades who acted as the deputy chief organiser of the government party of parliament. He brought to attention the precedent followed when selecting an Opposition leader in parliament prior to this. Ideas were expressed about the manner in which the Opposition leader was chosen at the time Anura Bandaranaika functioned as the Speaker and copies of parliamentary hansard reports were brought forth where the manner in which the Opposition leader was chosen was carried out. 

In the meantime, the Speaker too decided not to announce his own standing and instead leave the decision of arriving at a decision about the Opposition leadership on the shoulders of the United National Party itself. It was a fortnight before that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has informed both Ranil Wickremasingha and Sajith Premadasa to be present to discuss about this matter. Though Ranil Wickremasingha turned up at the appointed time at the Speaker's official residence, Sajith was not present. Though they awaited Sajith's arrival for about half an hour, there was no message from Sajith as such. Though the Speaker spoke to some MPs close to Sajith and asked them to have Sajith connected, it was not possible to get him connected on telephone. 

In any case, Sajith gave a telephone call to the Speaker after a short while and that was by calling from former minister Imtiaz Bakeer Macar's telephone. What Sajith spoke to the Speaker directly and told him was that he would under no circumstances be present for discussions with Ranil Wickreamasingha. Though he was prepared to accept Opposition leadership as wella party leadership. that he was not ready to discuss matters with Ranil Wickremasingha. 

Whatever it is, after about a week passed by, Sajith Premadasa's adamant standing was to gradually become soft and soft. He then gave in to having a discussion with Ranil Wickremasingha after having long discussions with his political comrades. For this discussion, Sajith has arranged for a lunch for political leaders of the United National Front. He had in fact arranged for this lunch with the motive of discussing about his future political activities. It was the request of most that Ranil Wickremasingha be given the opportunity of remaining in the position of Opposition leader till next election. Even by that time as it was directly stated at a discussion between Ranil Wickremasigha and Patali Champika Ranawaka that he has no intention of getting ready for for another election, it was their standing that the opportunity of retaining of Opposition leader should be allowed. However they were of the steadfast viewpoint that responsibilities of United National Party should be handed over to Sajith Premadasa .. to which Sajith gave ear; but evaded making a comment on his decision. In any case there was no sign that Sajith has changed the standings he adopted previously after these discussions. 

Though the decision not to meet Ranil Wickremasingha was changed by last Friday, it was pointed out that the decision of acquiring both party leadership and Opposition leadership was however not changed. Sajith who displayed a steadfast standpoint and then switched over to a somewhat tender attitude finally came to confront Ranil Wickremasingha last Friday. In the confrontation where only Karu Jayasuriya, Ranil Wickramasingha and Sajith Premadasa were involved, Sajith most directly mentioned his standpoint. He then said that if not he would not be able to go forward anymore. 

But Ranil who did not explain his standpoint agreed to place Sajith's standpoint in front of the party. Ranil Wickremasingha who mentioned that he is ready to go with any decision taken by the party and agreed with the decision of the majority of MPs in parliament regarding Opposition leadership. Thus Ranil was in favour of arriving at a final decision by summoning a group of parliamentary group of MPs and in taking a decision about leadership of the party by summoning the executive committee of the party. 

However Ranil Wickremasingha's attention was focused on the situation Ranil's  United National Party leaders in favour of him would have to face. If all powers of the  party was to go into the hands of Sajith Premadasa, it was Ranil's steadfast view that it would not be possible to avert an uncertain political future of the group of his party who were in favour of him and therefore to maintain party leadership in his own hands and hand over only the Opposition leadership to Sajith Premadasa. 

To discuss this matter he got down some politicians supporting him. What they also said was even if Opposition leadership is given, not to give the party leadership and that problems arising about nominations being given at next general elections which then was their opinion. 

The crisis which cropped up within United National Party which incidentally was the main political party of the Opposition was actually a challenge for other political parties as well. As a consequence what they decided was to discuss this matter directly with Ranil Wickremasingha. As such, Mano Ganeshan, Rishad Badiudeen and Rauf Hakeem had a meeting together. Thus what the three of them discussed and decided was to have this discussion by each of them meeting Ranil separately.They in fact approached Ranil Wickremasingha with the motive of requesting him to hand over leadership of the party to Sajith Premadasa. 

These party leaders who met Ranil Wickremasingha however was not given a satisfactory response by him. His opinion was that since the issue about party leadership was something confined to the United National Party, it would be settled within the scope of the party itself. Whatever it is, a final decision was to be taken in parliament regarding this topic on last third. On Monday afternoon a decision with regard to the position of Opposition leader was in the offing with the parliamentary group getting together. Whatever it is, more responsibilities were being showered by the Ranil Wickremasingha faction within Navin Dissanayaka party. However, it was not possible to arrive at a decision on the third regarding Opposition leadership and that was because the parliamentary session was brought to a close suddenly by the president. 

Therefore the parliamentary group of MPs summoned Ranil Wickramasingha to parliament on Thursday about arriving at a decision regarding this extended issue. On Thursday afternoon Sajith Premadasa happened to summon the MP group who was in favour of him. Prior to that they gathered at MP Ranjit Madduma Bandara and discussed matters relating to future political affairs and also on Thursday morning they met together discussed at length whether both party leadership and Opposition leadership would be accepted or else would be satisfied with Opposition leadership alone. 

While such discussions were progressing on one side what Ranil Wickremasingha did was summon MPs cordial to him to his home and that was to inquire their opinions. Though it was the opinion of some of them for Ranil Wickremasingha to retain party leadership as well as Opposition leadership what he said on the other hand was that he is ready to dispose of Opposition leadership; but that under no circumstances he is prepared to give up his position as leader of the party which he expressed directly. He most clearly expressed that he is not ready to give up his position as the leader of his party or to hand the leadership to any other person. 

Expressing these comments he thus went before the group of MPs of his party. Sajith Premadasa had arrived in advance at the hall where executive committee meetings were conducted at Siri Kotha party headquarters. Dressed in darkish clothing he had taken his position in a rear seat. MPs including Buddhika Pathirana, Ajith P. Perera and Nalin Bandara were engaged in a conversation with him at that moment. In a short while Ranil Wickremasingha made his presence there. Before coming there he had given some instruction to party secretary, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and that was to write a letter to Speaker. 

Ranil Wickremasingha after arming himself with the letter requesting that Sajith Premadasa be appointed to the position of Opposition leader, then made his presence felt at the discussion at hand. After coming there he then proposed that Sajith Premadasa be appointed Opposition leader. But he has not explained anything relating to party leadership. 

Thus Sajith has had to be satisfied with position of Opposition leader. But there was no decision fixed for accepting duties for position of Opposition leader as such. At the moment when this decision was taken, the keys of the Opposition leader's office which was in his possession was once again handed over. Taking over duties of opposition leader's office was being delayed because an Opposition leader secretary had to be appointed. Whatever it is, parliament is to assemble again on January third and Sajith Premadasa is expected to occupy the seat of Opposition leader's chair in parliament. But before that duties could be taken over at Opposition leader's office. That date is most likely to be a date before January 3rd. Whatever it is, the Sajith faction battle does not seem to end with welcoming duties of Opposition leader as such. What they demand from Ranil is that 'pound of flesh'. Though there will be a ceasefire on a temporary basis ... the day when the great battle is to commence is actually nor far distant. 

- Sanjaya Nallaperuma -