The week leading to the Sinhala-Hindu New Year proved a bloody one with the festive air being severely marred by the brutal assassination of Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle in Weliweriya on Sunday morn (6).

It brought home the truth that if the nation is to feel safe, there needs to be an end to the conflict, a point the American Embassy was quick to make in the aftermath of Fernandopulle’s assassination. Condemning the assassination as an unforgivable act of terrorism, the US Embassy in Colombo emphasised the need for a political dialogue to end the conflict.

As much as Fernandopulle’s shocking death that made the country mourn, the fragmentation of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) made waves as the splintered party’s inner crisis surfaced with Party Spokesman and Parliamentary Group Leader Wimal Weerawansa going public with the fact that there was a move to oust him by May 10.

This fact, first published in a website was quickly picked up by the rest of the media only to meet with stoic rejections by the JVP hierarchy. But opening a can of worms was Wimal Weerawansa himself on Tuesday, claiming that his youth was sacrificed for a party that now conspired to oust him alleging that the JVP politburo on March 21 had decided to expel him.

For over an hour he listed out his many ‘sacrifices’ and bemoaned the fact that despite a decision being taken, it was not communicated to him still. In an impassioned speech, he laid bare not only his heart but also the deep fragmentation of a party that often takes the high moral ground and evidently lacks inner democracy alleging that the party appeared to be conspiring together with imperialist forces who wanted him politically assassinated.

Weerawansa played to the gallery as he appealed to JVP supporters to understand his predicament and to put the party on a correction course. As a first move and as a show of strength, he called for a press conference at the JVP’s regular venue, Hotel Nippon in Slave Island but was a conspicuous absentee. Alas however the conference turned out to be a disaster for the defectors as security was called in and pandemonium broke out with one defector double defecting back to the main party.

With the JVP now split into two identifiable camps, it was JVP Parliamentarian Piyasiri Wijenayake who conducted the press conference together with a group of 10 others. He was flanked by Jayantha Samaraweera, Achala Jagoda, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Sujatha Alahakoon, Padma Udayashantha, Mohomad Musammil, Deepal Gunasekera, Nimal Premawansha, Udayashantha Gunasekera and Somasiri Herath.

All of them, Wijenayake said understood that there was a conspiracy to destroy the JVP from within and expressed confidence in Weerawansa. "His contributions for 20 years should not be forgotten. He is a valued member," Wijenayake said.

One of the JVP legislators at the press meet, Anuradhapura District MP Ranaweera Pathirana performed a double defection, much to the surprise of all.

Pathirana who seemingly supported Weerawansa suddenly took up the position that it was the Weerawansa group that was conspiring to destroy the Marxist party and suddenly, there was pandemonium and high drama at the JVP defectors’ press conference.

Pathirana accused Weerawansa of having made a statement that ‘tarnished the good image of the party.’

"The party does not endorse Weerawansa’s statement in parliament. If he had an issue he should have raised it with the party leader without going public. Party Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe would have given him a chance to explain himself, if he requested," Pathirana defended.

The drama got worse, with Wijenayake interrupting Pathirana. Wijenayake sought to speak on Pathirana’s behalf claiming that although Pathirana harboured different views on the issue, he certainly did not approve of the decisions taken by the party high command.

Importantly, Wijenayake declared that the defectors did not have any intention either to join the UPFA or UNP but would take steps to solve the party’s internal problems to make JVP the strongest political force in the country.

Wijenayake explained the idea behind meeting the press was to draw attention to the fact that certain JVP members were working hand in glove with parties desirous of splitting the JVP and making it a ‘mere spec’ in local politics. "This fight is against that. Some of our party leaders have fallen into their trap," he claimed.

But the media meet turned ugly showing further fragmentation within a party that keeps dissenting voices well sealed and a special police team arrived there to provide security to JVP Parliamentarian Ranaweera Pathirana, as the situation grew tense.

Pathirana received police escort and transport to the JVP headquarters in Pelawatte as some said he was in danger of being assaulted by JVP supporters sympathetic to the defectors. The lone member was seen firing a telephone call to senior JVP Parliamentarian K. D. Lalkantha requesting that he be picked up.

A riot squad and police teams were present outside Hotel Nippon ready for any crisis.

Meanwhile, the JVP drama took a new turn with Party Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe choosing to bare it all at a subsequent press conference of his own where he openly scoffed at Weerawansa’s claims. Amarasinghe said Weerawansa was right in saying there was a conspiracy but the question is by whom.

The JVP Leader said Weerawansa was a law unto himself and often breached party stances on a number of issues but was not taken to task for those for a long time.

He explained that Weerawansa had not been stripped of any of his positions and inferred that Weerawansa himself split the party and spearheaded the real conspiracy.

"If you think the JVP is now over, you are mistaken. This party is bigger than individuals. We create individuals and build them up. Likewise, when they prove false, we have the courage to act against them," he said.

To substantiate his claims, Amarasinghe cited examples when Weerawansa had not lived up to the party’s expectations. One such instance was as party spokesman, when he refused to make a statement in parliament against the eviction of Tamils from Colombo lodges. He noted that there would have been some LTTE suspects but all evictees were not LTTE sympathisers. "He failed the party that day. Eventually, the statement was made by Anura Dissanayake."

Interestingly enough, Somawansa drew attention to the arson attack on the Leader Publications Press and said the JVP Spokesman did not wish to condemn it. "Who could have carried out that attack but government groups? Others would not have had access to a location within a high security zone," he said.

Meanwhile, JVP inside sources confirm that despite Weerawansa’s claim that he was not informed of the allegations or given an opportunity to respond, it is learned that the JVP leadership allowed him the opportunity only to find Weerawansa refusing to offer an explanation with regard to certain allegations.

While the JVP political drama dominated the news headlines, a thoroughly upset President Mahinda Rajapakse has called for a full probe report on the assassination of Chief Government Whip and Highways Minister, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle.

Fernandopulle who became an easy victim of an assassination attempt in Weliweriya last Sunday (6) brought to the fore the glaring breaches in the security apparatus and the abysmal failure of the MSD to protect a VIP who was third in line to the post of prime minister at the time of his demise. This despite a massive defence budget and when entire areas are cordoned off and roads closed for lesser mortals in government.

It now transpires that there could have been some problem with regard to the event not being coordinated at the time of Minister Fernandopulle’s arrival at the Kanthi Stadium in Weliweriya where the "Sri Lak Dahasgav" marathon was to commence. He had to return an hour later, only to make a brief speech comparing life to a marathon, to be blown off a few minutes later, ending his own life marathon.

Along with him died 15 others including Sri Lanka’s National Athletics Coach, Lakshman Alwis and Sri Lanka’s onetime marathon champion and SAF Gold Medallist, K. Karunaratne.

The personal security officer (PSO) of Fernandopulle had been interdicted, but that alone does not answer as to why there was such an opening created for an assassin to get anywhere near a minister who was a prime LTTE target according to military intelligence and was ranked amongst the top 10 on the LTTE hit list.

Further, the defence establishment believed that the claymore that killed Nation Building Minister, D.M. Dassanayake actually targeted Fernandopulle following which Fernandopulle left for England.

Also, top sources confirm that Fernandopulle was issued regular warnings by the IGP that he was under constant threat. Besides, a Tamil couple, posing off as party sympathisers had allegedly joined the Katana SLFP organisation recently, only to be apprehended by the vigilant authorities for their alleged links to the LTTE.

If that was the level of risk Fernandopulle ran, it becomes incumbent upon the defence establishment to explain as to why the Minister was allowed to walk into an unprotected venue where no security checks had been carried when allowing athletes and spectators free entry.

The response of the police has been shocking to say the least. They stated that no security checks were conducted as it was a ‘public event.’ In a country where roads get closed for hours to simply accommodate VIP vehicular movements, it is inexplicable that such glaring breaches were allowed to take place costing 15 lives, thanks to lightheartedness with which the security was handled on April 6. Fernandopulle was laid to rest on Thursday (10) amidst a large gathering in his hometown, Katana.

Meanwhile, the UNP was busy greasing its grassroot organisations in preparation for the upcoming Eastern Provincial Council poll.

The UNP working committee last week assigned legislators to support district campaigns and each were given a townships to handle. Three seniors have been assigned the task of coordinating the campaign in the three districts. Gamini Jayawickrema Perera will coordinate Trincomalee while Lakshman Seneviratne and Johnston Fernando will coordinate Digamadulla and Batticaloa respectively.

It was also decided that due to the prevailing situation in the country, the UNP should desist from organising events that may prove harmful to the safety of people and therefore, the apex body decided to celebrate World Labour Day by holding a religious ceremony at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.

The UNP parliamentary group that met on Monday (7) in parliament, strategised how best to launch a massive protest in parliament against Dhammika Kitulgoda’s appointment as acting secretary general of parliament.

The party’s position was that the appointment was unconstitutional as there was no possibility of making temporary appointments. Party Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe explained to the group the significance of the post and impressed upon them that any attempt to devalue the post should be resisted.

Raising an important matter to the general public was MP Ravi Karunanayake. He noted that nothing devastated the people more than the spiraling cost of living that had forced them to near starvation. He noted that Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardena was visiting Myanmar with the hope of importing rice at a time when countries no longer wished to export rice.

In the meantime, Ranil Wickremesinghe was meeting his legislators informally over dinner. A group of eight MPs were invited to dinner on Monday (7) at his Fifth Lane residence. The members who attended the dinner together with their spouses were Sarathchandra Rajakaruna, Sarath Ranawaka, Renuka Herath, Earl Gunasekera, Gayantha Karunathilake, Dilip Wedaarachchi and Dunesh Gankanda.

Most of the dinner table discussion revolved around the May 10 election and the chance stood by the UNP to capture power in the multi ethnic region. A relaxed Wickremesinghe showed photographs from the family albums, some of them politically significant.

Meanwhile, three UNP legislators will soon take wing to London to attend the party’s UK branch AGM. Party General Secretary Tissa Attanayake, Spokesman Gayantha Karunathilake and MP Dunesh Gankanda will participate at the AGM scheduled for April 19.

The scheduled provincial election in the east also proved a contentious issue last week when political party representatives met the Elections Commissioner last week with most parties complaining that there was a physical threat to candidates as one group was still famously carrying weapons citing personal security.

However, Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake at the meeting ruled that parties contesting the Eastern Provincial Council election should not carry arms or use government vehicles.

The matter of personal security proved significant with UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe writing to the IGP last Saturday with regard to the withdrawal of SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem’s security, following his resignation from his parliamentary seat. Importantly, Wickremesinghe also called for the disarming of the Pillayan Group to ensure conditions conducive for conducting a fair and peaceful election.

But just minutes before the meeting got underway, Hakeem had his security restored, perhaps in a move to prevent any embarrassing questions from being raised, especially in the backdrop of a top VIP’s assassination due to a glaring security breach.

Hakeem it is learned, had raised the issue of allowing campaigns to continue after 6 p.m. The police have ruled that campaign work should not take place after 6 p.m, only to have Hakeem claiming that what was needed to be done was to strengthen the security of candidates, and not to curb campaigning.

SLMC General Secretary, Hasan Ali was perturbed by the fact that SLMC defector M. L. M. Hizbullah appeared to have security that befitted a party leader whereas SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem had nothing compared to him.

To this, UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake had responded by saying, "since the government claims the east is cleared of the LTTE, it should be safe enough for people to campaign. Does this man it is still under siege?"

The UNP delegation comprising Attanayake, Daya Pelpola and Ravi Karunanayake also called for better election monitoring.

Openly denouncing the strong arms tactics adopted by the government was JVP frontliner K. D. Lalkantha who informed the Elections Commissioner that the JVP did not pin any hopes on a free and fair poll.

"The Pillayan Group openly carries arms still and as they are in alliance with the government it had to be understood that the government groups are carrying arms, not otherwise. We don’t expect a fair poll," he said.

Meanwhile, there is no doubt that the TMVP intends taking the lion’s share from the eastern cake.

The party has announced that the government has accepted Pillayan as chief ministerial candidate, a fact opposed by some government quarters. Despite contesting under the UPFA banner, Pillayan was a conspicuous absentee at the meeting with the Elections Commissioner.

The TMVP’s explanation is that the armed cadres were barred from entering civilian areas until the elections were over. However, the party has refused to disarm stating that its security was still under threat and that it would disarm when terrorism is totally wiped out of the country.

As for the dispute over a chief ministerial candidate, the TMVP is clear. It has already announced Pillayan as their chief ministerial candidate and the campaign would be conducted on that basis, something that does not make chief ministerial aspirant and SLMC defector, M .L. M. Hizbullah happy.