UNP: Finally waking up to smell the coffee?

-Handing over PC poll organisation to SB, Sajith marks serious UNP policy shift
-4JVP says no to alliance with Govt. at elections
-Western PC, General Election on the cards?

By Our Political Correspondent
With the dissolution of the Sabaragamuwa and North Central Provincial Councils (PC) the political realm heated up again last week. The UNP and the JVP are incensed at the decision to dissolve the Councils, with the Reds claiming that it was criminal to spend so much money on another election, because of a Government whim, especially, given the ongoing economic crisis and soaring prices of essential items in the country.

Basil rebuffed
So, when Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa called up the JVP Leadership last week to request them to come on board with the Government, to contest the Council polls, he was met with a stinging response.
As a party, we oppose this dissolution. Kindly refrain from holding this election now, the JVP strongman is reported to have responded. However, Rajapaksa refused to budge, saying the wheels had already been set in motion at party level to commence organising for the elections.

Is it really necessary?
Even Government representatives have been heard saying that it was a crime to spend millions on an election at this time. Some SLFPers are concerned that the Government would not get a good showing at the PC elections, especially, since people in the Sabaragamuwa Province in particular, are thoroughly cheesed off with the administration, for its lack of action in relation to the flood situation and the spread of mosquito borne diseases such as Chikungunya' class=black>Chikungunya and Dengue Fever.

The Government, insiders claim, had decided to dissolve these Councils, quite some time ago, hot on the heels of its victory in the eastern election. According to informed sources, the Government is also planning to hold Western PC elections, which will then prove the litmus test for a general election it feels is necessary in the very near future.

The UNP, meanwhile, has resorted to legal action to oppose the Government`s ad hoc decision to dissolve the Councils of Sabaragamuwa and the North-Central Province. The UNP filed its petition on Friday, claiming the dissolution and poll was illegal, and politically motivated for UPFA gain. It is likely that the Supreme Court will move on the petition soon, but it is uncertain in whose favour the decision will go.

SB, Sajith PC polls organisers
Despite its attempts to get the dissolution declared null and void and the election cancelled, the UNP has not neglected to get its (crumbling) party machinery in gear and made some uncharacteristic moves in the process.
Last week, the UNP Leadership, once again facing serious challenges from the party`s senior members, decided that, UNP National Organiser and Hanguranketha politician S.B. Dissanayake and Hambantota MP Sajith Premadasa would oversee the party`s organisation for the PC elections. The decision came after a `survey` conducted by retired public servants, who are UNP loyalists, revealed that serious grassroots mobilisation was required, if the UNP was to reverse its election losing streak.

Dissanayake, despite his lack of civic rights, commands significant support in many rural areas including Hanguranketha and has the kind of mass appeal that could motivate and inspire the party rank and file. The UNP is reported to be looking into ways to have Dissanayake`s civic rights restored, to make him a chief ministerial candidate for one of the provinces, if possible.

Premadasa, meanwhile, is also a good choice, given his philanthropic work with Hambantota`s poor and, his increasing popularity as a politician with a common man`s touch so rare in Sri Lankan politics today.

Despite rumblings about his disgruntlement with the inner workings of the UNP, Premadasa held out, bided his time and refused to cross over with the group of reformists, deciding to stick with the party. His sticking it out has carved for Premadasa a unique niche, with the party, more or less singling him out as the next best option for the UNP.

However, what remains to be seen is whether the likes of Premadasa and Dissanayake will be allowed to reach their full potential, given the tendency in the UNP to strike down anyone who might carry hopes of becoming part of the party`s second tier leadership.

Rumours abounded meanwhile that, Dissanayake was preparing to embark on the great crossing over to Government ranks in the near future. However, amidst Dissanayake`s own vehement denials of the claim, UNP seniors also opined that this was unlikely.
Following the UNP`s Political Affairs Committee meeting that turned stormy, week before last, several senior party members visited Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for discussions over the course of last week. Dissanayake, although he did not attend the political affairs committee meeting, nevertheless, met Wickremesinghe to air out concerns.

Dissanayake and the others are, naturally, concerned of what seems like the UNP`s unbreakable losing streak and the UNP`s inability to grasp the crux of key issues affecting Sri Lankans and run with it. These senior party men are seriously discouraged by the fact that, they are not consulted when crucial decisions are being made that affect the party`s day to day running and its performance at key polls.

In any event, the UNP`s Working Committee meeting has been scheduled for Monday and, while most party members are not expecting fireworks at that meeting, they are hoping that key issues raised about the manner in which the party functions, will be addressed and recommendations made to rectify the situation.

UNP`s Chief Ministerial candidates
The UNP is also seriously considering making former Chief of Defence Staff Maj. Gen. Janaka Perera chief ministerial candidate for the North Central Province. The party has requested his close associates to find out whether Perera would be interested in such a position.

The former military man, resident in Australia at present, is expected to respond to the overture over the next few days. The UNP is also planning to ask former DIG Sirisena Herath to contest for a seat in the North Central PC