POLITICS

How the UNP derailed the SLFP

Wickremesinghe - Sitting pretty	Kumaratunga - Devastated
Karunanayake - Draws first blood	Sigamani - Rocks the SlFP boat

By Suranimala

People's Alliance plans to oust Prime Minister Ranil Wickreme-singhe's government by December suffered two devastating body blows last week and sent President Chandrika Kumaratunga scurrying back to the drawing boards in a bid to salvage a hopeless situation.

Supremely confident she can send Prime Minister Wickremesinghe packing home to his Fifth Lane residence in time for Christmas, the President and her loyalists made it public the previous week, the launch of a public agitational campaign on Friday, October 24, will culminate on December 16, the eve of the third reading of the budget.

Not only did the PA through former Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera make this announcement but the party went so far as to claim several UNPers would join the final rally on December 16 prior to the President moving to take control of government with their support.

It thus appeared, the PA already had firm pledges of support from a group of UNP MPs that made it supremely confident the ouster of Premier Wickremesinghe was not long in coming.

At least that was the public perception created and the President too said as much when she addressed the party organisers the previous week, egging them on to bring a million people for the demonstrations, which she said would pave the way for the formation of a PA dominated government.

All out blast

And it was not idle talk either because the President knew only too well, having pitched her campaign at the level she has, there will be no second chance. It was going to be an all out blast.

For, with time running out for her presidency, a failed attempt in December was going to set the People's Alliance back by months if not years with not a snowball's chance in hell of recovering before the February Wayamba Provincial Council polls. From thereon, as Gampaha District MP, Anura Bandaranaike himself said, it was going to be the domino effect and the decimation of the PA, if victory was not assured.

Furthermore, motivating the people and bringing them on to the streets in the thousands with no immediate prospect of changing a government is almost impossible and prohibitive, costwise too. That is why December was going to be decisive for the PA and the only motivation for the people to take to the streets was the prospect of the formation of a government, not four years from now, but immediately.

Having thrown the gauntlet and made her party's intentions clear, it was going to be an all or nothing battle for the President and her loyalists with failure bound to also cause deep divisions in a party already at odds over an alliance with the JVP.

The President in going for Premier Wickremesinghe's jugular at a time the peace process was also set to restart would not have not taken into account the finger pointing the likes of Anura Bandaranaike and his loyalists would indulge in furiously for failure to link up with the JVP if her strategy of ousting Wickremesinghe with a group of UNPers failed.

And given Prime Minister Wickremesinghe's laid back style of governance even in the face of a hostile President, he would have neither found any sympathy nor support from his members and party loyalists if no counter strategy was employed to counter the President's threat and fully conscious of this reality, Wickremesinghe too moved into action.

This he did by detailing several ministers and Party Chairman Malik Samarawickrema to tap potential PA members who were disenchanted and woo them for a counter strike, and that this team set about doing speedily no sooner they got the starting orders from the Premier.

The Prime Minister told his ministers, having secured full international backing for the peace process and economic revival of the country, which is already showing positive results, he will not allow a few power hungry individuals to drag the country back into chaos.

Wickremesinghe also told his members that the government was providing for a handsome salary increment for the public servants as well in the forthcoming budget, which plans he said would all be derailed if the PA is allowed to disrupt the smooth workings of the government through a constitutional manoeuvre.

With that said the members assigned the task moved into action and the likes of Ministers G.L. Peiris, John Amaratunga, Ravi Karuna-nayake, S.B. Dissanayake, Rajitha Senaratne, Mahinda Samarasinghe and UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema made immediate contact with identified members of the PA and got them to stand by for a crossover if the need arose.

The UNP had as a buffer at least 12 PA MPs who had agreed to cross over during the 19th Amendment debate and it was to those members the party once again turned and received firm assurances of support.

But that alone was not going to be enough and the PA had to be sent a decisive signal, they were only pipe dreaming if any hopes were entertained of wooing a crossover from the UNP and the signal was for the party to draw first blood and call the PA's bluff.

Loud and clear message to the PA

Having got at least eight PA MPs to stand by, it was thus decided a loud and clear message would be sent to the PA and possible UNP defectors that the ouster of Wickremesinghe was not just on by making a show of one sample in parliament on the eve of the SLFP's campaign launch scheduled for Friday, October 24.

And Commerce Minister Ravi Karunanayake took upon himself the task of ensuring a PA parliamentarian would accordingly do the needful and deal a devastating blow to Kumaratunga's campaign and send the SLFP off the rails.

Having so decided, Karunanayake zeroed in on PA national list MP, V. Puththrasigamani, a hand-picked nominee of Kumaratunga, who during the previous parliament was an elected UNP MP from the Nuwara Eliya District. Karunanayake had a close rapport with Puththrasigamani over several years, the latter's son having worked in Karunanayake's private sector firm.

Thus, after making some initial soundings through a mutual friend and receiving positive signals, Karunanayake arranged for them to meet on the night of Tuesday, October 21, at the five star Trans Asia Hotel night club, The Library.

The location was selected to ensure no suspicions will be aroused even if they were observed together and with the venue fixed, Karunanayake invited his wife Mela who the previous day celebrated her birthday to go dancing with him that Tuesday night to The Library.

Waiting in the dining room at the Library at the time Karunanayake arrived were Puththrasigamani and the mutual friend, identified as Mr. K.

Cards on the table

Not long after his arrival, with the lights dimmed and Disc Jockey Steven belting sound tracks from the material girl Madonna, Minister Karunanayake slipped into the dining room and after some small talk about Puththrasigamani's son laid his cards on the table.

Said Karunanayake - "Siga, we go back a long way and I am happy you are prepared to consider supporting the government in this crucial period. You have played a pivotal role for the UNP in the Nuwara Eliya District and in the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers' Union in the past and the good work you have done should not go to waste."

Continuing, Karunanayake pointed out the government only the previous session introduced legislation to grant citizenship to the outstanding stateless persons and was well on the way to solving the ethnic issue as well.

"The economy is also taking off and salary increments are in store for the people. Tourism is booming and we have ensured a continued tea market in Iraq. The PA and the JVP are out to sabotage all this work and plunge the country back to war. They are calling the people on to the streets on Deepavali Day to oppose the peace process. As a Tamil, can you with any dignity continue as a PA MP?" Karunanayake asked.

After listening to the Minister for a few more minutes, Puththra-sigamani said he was deeply embarrassed to be among racists at a time Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and the UNF government were doing their utmost to bring peace to the country.

"I feel deeply offended the SLFP has decided to oppose the peace process on Deepavali Day. It is a day we as Hindus should feel free to engage in religious activities and enjoy our festival without fear. I have decided to extend my fullest support to the Prime Minister and his government. The time has come to strengthen his hand to bring peace for all our people," Puththrasigamani said in a voice filled with emotion.

The Minister and MP continued to discuss the current political situation and the role the MP can play in the future and the duo parted with Karunanayake informing Puththra-sigamani he would speak with the Prime Minister and revert to him.

The following morning, Wednesday, October 22, Karunanayake met the Prime Minister at parliament and briefed him of Puththrasigamani's decision, which Wickremesinghe welcomed.

Said the Prime Minister: "I am also surprised the SLFP decided to pick of all days Deepavali Day to launch their anti-peace campaign to oust the government. I have no problem meeting with Siga."

Even as Karunanayake was speaking to the Prime Minister, the PA MP called on the Minister's cellular and Wickremesinghe agreed to meet with him at Karunanayake's residence near parliament at the end of the day's session. And by the time Prime Minister Wickremesinghe arrived at Karunanayake's residence, UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema, Puththrasigamani and Mr. K. were already in attendance.

At the outset, Karunanayake explained to the Prime Minister once again the reasons behind the PA MP's decision to quit the alliance and called on the member to voice his concerns directly to Wickremesinghe.

Racist outlook

Said Sigamani: "Sir, it is with great difficulty I waited in the alliance. Their whole outlook is racist and the last straw was the decision to take to the streets against the peace process on Deepavali Day. I was astonished the SLFP even considered a pact with the JVP. The JVP is not only racist, they are even trying to divide the Sinhalese on religious lines. You would have seen Sir Wimal Weerawansa's reference to the President as Dona Catherina and the Christian influence within the PA. How can I wait in a party that deals with such people?"

Having listened to the MP, the Prime Minister gave a lesson in history, with regard to the role of Dona Catherina and the Portuguese and said whatever the political deferences, it was unbecoming of any member to refer to the President on those terms.

Thereafter the Prime Minister asked Puththrasigamani how he plans to show his opposition to the PA and the MP explained his position.

"I will support you to see the peace process to a successful conclusion but I intend sitting with the Tamil MPs in parliament. I will be making a statement in parliament of my decision to move out from the PA benches. So they will be one member short. It will be a signal to all MPs. For me, it is a matter of conscience, particularly because I feel my religious rights are being violated," he said.

UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema who is coordinating the crossers over for the party said he was the leader of the pack with several more to follow if the President persists in destabilising the government.

With that said, the Prime Minister shook hands with the PA MP and departed.

That very night, Prime Minister Wickremesinghe briefed party elders, Karu Jayasuriya and Tilak Marapone and other cabinet members the following day.

While there was general euphoria at the development, a note of caution was struck by Muslim Congress Leader Rauf Hakeem who told the Prime Minister a PA MP decamping at this stage would upset the cohabitation between the government and the President and force her to act irrationally, a view that was rejected by other ministers, particularly S.B. Dissanayake, Rajitha Senaratne and Ravi Karunanayake.

The Ministers said it was a joke to talk of cohabitation when the President has publicly pledged to oust the government during the third reading of the budget.

Said Senaratne: "They are taking to the streets tomorrow and has said some UNPers will join the SLFP on December 16 to defeat the government on the 17th. There will be some parties that will be in every government. But we as UNPers must ensure our government is strengthened. Are we going to wait till she defeats us in the foolish belief cohabitation is going to work with her?"

However Hakeem was not satisfied and said a crossover at this stage would trigger off a dissolution of parliament, which suggestion was also pooh-poohed by the ministers.

Strategy

Said Karunanayake, "What dissolution? Let her try it. She will be routed at an election. The PA is in disarray and she will be in no position to dissolve following a crossover. In any event, if she is going to dissolve she will do it anyway. For once shall we act on our strategy, without waiting for her to cut the grass under our feet and then react? After all it is the UNP that will then be left holding the baby while other parties will happily join a new government."

It was also pointed out that there would be no need for any crossover if the Muslim Congress was in a position to ensure the support of all the party's MPs to the government, which it was unable to do given the internal divisions.

Therefore, Hakeem was told it was not reasonable to stop the government from taking necessary action to ensure its stability by making provision for the uncertainty of the numbers from the SLMC.

At this point, Chief Government Whip, Mahinda Samarasinghe also said there was no question of turning back and Puththrasigamani would have to make an exit as decided.

Hakeem too at this stage agreed it was in the overall context a prudent step and word was sent for the PA MP to make his entrance.

What followed had the PA and JVP MPs in parliament completely stumped and dumbfounded as Puththrasigamani made his statement and crossed over from the PA benches to the TNA and took his seat.

And no sooner the parliamentary session ended, Puththrasigamani went to Karunanayake's house for tea with Minister Senaratne and hardly had he sat, his wife called him on the mobile.

Puththrasigamani's wife said PA Kandy District MP, Mahindananda Aluthgamage had called and was quite agitated at the turn of events.

"He said you have let the entire side down and that 11 UNPers including Karu Jayasuriya and Navin Dissanayake were waiting to crossover after the SLFP demonstrations and your crossover has derailed all their plans," Puththrasigamani's wife had said.

Having calmed his wife down and explained what transpired in parliament, Puththrasigamani repeated to Senaratne his wife's comments.

Said Senaratne: "They may have used Karu Jayasuriya's name just to mislead us but obviously they are devastated. This is the only language Chandrika understands. She tried to destabilise us and paid the price for it. Now we will bring out at least eight other MPs in stages if she continues to undermine us."

The Lands Minister earlier in parliament also challenged the PA to produce a single UNPer if they can as threatened, since the government has already drawn first blood.

Interestingly, it was just the previous day in cabinet, Karunanayake had a running battle with the President with a flurry of exchanges that saw Kumaratunga shouting out words like "bullshit," "rubbish" and "gal pelana boru."

The stage for battle was laid after the President initially proposed the grant of duty free vehicles for provincial councillors to which both Finance Minister K.N. Choksy and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe objected stating it was against government policy.

For Karunanayake a straight forward "no" did not suffice and saw it fit to needle the President over the issue stating it was she who in 1994 made a big issue over duty free vehicles and the purchase of luxury Benz cars and BMWs, though indulging in greater frenzy the purchase of such luxury vehicles while in office.

Abuse of power

"Now you want duty fee vehicles for provincial councillors. That makes no sense because there are only four more months for the elections. It is a vulgar abuse of power to do so. The people are against it. The government is against it. If necessary, we can consider a salary increase but not duty free vehicles," Karuna-nayake said.

Obviously realising she was on weak ground the President shifted gear and asked Minister Choksy what type of salary increments he was contemplating in the budget and the response received shocked Kumaratunga.

The Finance Minister said the economy was ticking over quite nicely and salary increments as high as 50 percent were contemplated in some sectors.

Asked the President: "As high as that?"

Deadpanned Choksy "We are working towards that."

It is in this backdrop, the cabinet paper over the President's Fund and Karunanayake's observations thereto came up for discussion with Kumaratunga disputing the Commerce Minister's claim of 50 percent for Mahapola.

The President said while Mahapola has no legal claim over the President's Fund monies, the shortfall for Mahapola scholarships was because the Minister had used the funds to put up a building.

Shot back Karunanayake: "If you study the document, you will learn that Mahapola is a 50 percent stakeholder of the President's Fund. As for the shortfall of funds, you are perfectly right, putting up a building has contributed to it. But what you must know is that it was you and your then Trade Minister Kingsley Wickremaratne who were responsible for using Mahapola monies to put up the building and not me."

Karunanayake went on to say the President's Fund spent more than its income in the year 2000 and deprived the students of their scholarship funds.

Thundered the President, "All lies, all lies."

Retorted Karunanayake: "Well, why don't you read the report of the Auditor General and find out for yourself. I will make a copy available to you."

Hit back Kumaratunga, "Bullshit, I ran it properly."

Replied Karunanayake, "You ran it so well, there was a Rs. 21 million loss and the auditors have queried the expenditure."

Anger

In a voice shrill with anger, the President said the allegations levelled were similar to those made against her with regard to the purchase of luxury vehicles and the Rubber Manufacturing Corporation.

"At that time you accused me of robbing," the President said.

Hit back the Minister, "I still say it. Why don't you call for the inquiry report and read it. This is the price we have to pay for cohabitation."

Shot back Kumaratunga, "You accused me of giving land to Ronnie Pieris in Kotte and you have now given it to Sumal Perera who withdrew the cabinet paper on it."

Responded Karunanayake, "I restate the same position. Why don't you read your own secretary's report on it and see who has done this deal."

Cornered, the President put up her hands in resignation and said, "I don't want to discuss this anymore."

But Karunanayake had not finished and advised the President to act in keeping with the dignity of her office without attempting to bulldoze her way in the face of difficulty.

Finally, the Prime Minister moved in and said the issue can be settled by Karunanayake producing the auditors' report at the next meeting, which the Minister agreed to do.

It was the following day, Thursday, that Karunanayake extracted his pound of flesh from the President by ensuring the exit of Puththra-sigamani and derailing the SLFP campaign.

To make matters worse, the Prime Minister had cornered the President on the foreign policy as well with the release of a far reaching joint statement with Indian Premier, Atal Behari Vajpayee (see Editorial).

All in all, it was a terrible week for the President and the SLFP and it was gonna be back to the drawing boards even as the sands of time are fast running out.

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