Economic-political-social crisis takes a turn for the worse

A solution to Sri Lanka’s deepening economic, political and social problems is not in sight. Political parties, represented in Parliament, are still struggling to cope up with the situation, with all pursuing agendas for their benefit. They seemed to be blind to the growing economic difficulties caused by four decades of waste, corruption, irregularities and mismanagement of the national economy.

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Lawmaker Dullas Alahapperuma’s call for the resignation of the entire Cabinet of Ministers, including Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, quite surprised the electorate. The Matara District lawmaker made the declaration in a letter, dated April 21, addressed to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

This was in response to President Rajapaksa’s ill-advised decision to accommodate nearly 10 new faces in a Cabinet that included Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Lawmaker Alahapperuma warned that the worst ever political and economic crisis couldn’t be addressed through such measures. The former minister urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take whatever tangible measures required to restore economic and political stability while safeguarding the public and the democratic form of government.

Perhaps Alahapperuma should have taken a clear stand much earlier. Had the amicable lawmaker taken such a stand soon after the inner-Cabinet Ministers perpetrated the fraudulent Yugadanavi power station deal on the night of September 17, 2021, the crisis could have been averted. While he was literally a victim of that despicable deal, as he was conveniently removed from the Power portfolio, in the run up to it, but, Alahapperuma took a middle-of- the-road stand while his Cabinet colleagues, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Udaya Gammanpila declared war and openly challenged the hasty seal, concluded at midnight.

To facilitate the Yugadanavi deal, Alahapperuma was unceremoniously stripped of his energy portfolio and replaced with Gamini Lokuge, on August 16, 2021. Alahapperuma, one-time journalist, received the media portfolio instead.

In line with the overall strategy, pertaining to the Yugadanavi deal with the US-based New Fortress Energy, Basil Rajapaksa re-entered Parliament in the second week of July 2021, whereas M.C. Ferdinando, who was once the Power and Energy Ministry Secretary was brought back from his retirement in Australia as Chairman of the CEB. Ferdinando replaced Engineer Vijitha Herath. Alahapperuma couldn’t have been unaware of the way the path was cleared for an utterly corrupt deal. As the Media Minister and the Chief Cabinet spokesperson Alahapperuma had no option but to defend the transaction, dutifully towing the collective responsibility line.

M.C. Ferdinando defended the Yugadanavi betrayal, at a media briefing arranged by the President’s Media Division. On hand was Kingsley Ratnayake, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s spokesperson. But, finally, Alahapperuma, in his capacity as the Media Minister, in mid-January, this year strongly criticized the government’s much-touted Rs 229 bn relief package. However, both the print and electronic media largely ignored lawmaker Alapapperuma’s criticism. In other words, his statement didn’t receive the coverage it deserved.

Matara District lawmaker Alahapperuma is the first SLPP Cabinet Minister to do so. The then Media Minister didn’t mince his words when he declared that Basil Rajapaksa’s package failed to address the grievances of the population at large, though it provided relief to the public sector, pensioners and Samurdhi beneficiaries. Alapapperuma delivered the blunt attack while addressing a gathering at the Thihagoda Divisional Secretariat.

The lawmaker emphasised the failure on the part of the government to take the public into confidence and the responsibility of the Cabinet members and the officials to speak the truth. Emphasising the pathetic response of politicians, ministers and members of Parliament in the face of unprecedented and daunting challenges, lawmaker Alahapperuma issued a dire warning. Unless those who had been elected by the people made a genuine effort by making much needed sacrifices, the public would simply dismiss politicians as a set of crazy individuals, the MP declared.

Pointing out that public servants were a fraction of the population, lawmaker Alahapperuma questioned the suitability of the financial package announced by Basil Rajapaksa, in his capacity as the Finance Minister. MP Alahapperuma reminded that the vast majority of people, struggling to make ends meet, wouldn’t receive any relief. Therefore, the whole purpose of the financial package, announced at a time when the country was experiencing severe economic pressure, didn’t address overall public concerns.

The Media Minister also referred to Power Minister Gamini Lokuge’s declaration that there wouldn’t be power cuts, whereas the General Manager, CEB, quite clearly indicated the real situation. Referring to social media, Alahapperuma, who had held important portfolios in the Cabinets of Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Mahinda Rajapaksa, underscored the responsibility on their part to tell the truth as the media couldn’t be suppressed.

Alahappeuma’s criticism of the Rs 229 bn relief package indicated that it hadn’t been properly discussed at the Cabinet level. Had it been deliberated at Cabinet level, perhaps MP Alahapperuma and some other ministers would have expressed their concerns. However, since the Thihagoda speech, Alahapperuma has been cautious in his public statements until the dispatching of quite a devastating letter to the beleaguered President.

Issues raised by Dullas

Dullus Alahapperuma lost his media ministry portfolio, along with his Cabinet colleagues, just a couple of days after the massive and violent eruption of public anger at President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s private residence at Pengiriwatte Road, Mirihana, on the night of March 31. Incidents continued into the early hours of April 1. Of the seniors, only Prof. G.L. Peiris, Dinesh Gunawardena and Johnston Fernando received ministerial portfolios, whereas Mahinda Rajapaksa remained in his previous capacity as the Prime Minister. Subsequently, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa appointed 28 State Ministers on two separate occasions in addition to 17 Cabinet ministers. However, Johnston was later dropped from the list of Cabunet Ministers. Later, the President’s Media Division (PMD) announced two others, Lohan Ratwatte and Piyal Nishantha, would continue in portfolios they held at the time of the political upheaval.

Against the backdrop of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s efforts to restore political control, it would be pertinent to briefly discuss MP Alahapperuma’s letter. Declaring that the country is faced with its worst ever economic and political crises, Alahapperuma, in his capacity as a responsible citizen, stressed that he was not among those who abused the historic 6.9 mn vote received by Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Nov 2019 presidential election.

In the second paragraph, the MP emphasized the need to recognize the erosion of public confidence in the incumbent dispensation at a time the country is in turmoil due to the utterly irresponsible management of the national economy over the past four decades. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has contributed to the ruination of the national economy, thereby driving the vast majority of the public to despair.

In the next paragraph, MP Alahapperuma paid tribute to newly appointed Finance Minister Ali Sabry, PC, and Governor of the Central Bank Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and those who engaged in the recovery efforts, while reminding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa how a small clique of persons caused the economic devastation.

The fourth paragraph emphasized the acceptance of bankruptcy. Also in the same section, in the well- structured two-page letter, Alahapperuma stressed the responsibility on the part of the President as well as members of the government parliamentary group, and the Opposition, not to take foolish decisions.

In the fifth paragraph, Alapapperuma declared his unconditional support for the ongoing wave of protests, spearheaded by the youth. The MP asserted that the new generation was not prepared to stomach injustices caused by the political party system.

MP Alahapperuma devoted the sixth paragraph to remind President Rajapaksa how those who had really worked hard for victory at the presidential and parliamentary polls, in Nov 2019 and August 2020, respectively, were victims of what he called tribal (read family bandyism) politics.

The seventh paragraph dealt with current efforts to thwart the growing challenge to the executive, the Cabinet-of-Ministers and the majority in Parliament. The MP warned the regular and despicable political strategies, such as auctioning of lawmakers, would only make matters worse, therefore the President should desist from practicing the same.

In the next paragraph, MP Alahapperuma appreciated President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s decision to accommodate many young lawmakers in the Cabinet, but pointed out the futility in his move due to the delay in taking action. Therefore, a smaller Cabinet, representing all political parties in Parliament should be set up for a period of one year. Safeguarding Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and laying the foundation for national unity should be a priority for the proposed administration, the MP stressed, while underscoring the need for achieving those objectives, within a specified period.

In the ninth paragraph, lawmaker Alahapperuma demanded the resignation of the entire Cabinet of Ministers, including the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, to allow the formation of an all-party government to address the issues at hand.

The MP, in the tenth paragraph, dealt with the irresponsible conduct of both the government and the Opposition in the face of the daunting challenges. Alahapperuma expressed confidence that the vast majority of government and Opposition members are responsible and therefore prepared to act according to their conscience. At the end, Alapapperuma urged President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to take meaningful measures, immediately.

An opportunity for Pilleyan

Regardless of lawmaker Alahapperuma’s advice, the President and his team resorted to the same old tactics to consolidate their position. They engineered Shantha Bandara’s defection from the SLFP to accept a State Ministry. The move backfired when the SLFP declared it wouldn’t cooperate with President Rajapaksa. The SLPP also made an abortive bid to secure the support of rebel MP Asanka Navaratne in return for a State Ministry. SLPP MPs Sanjiva Edirimanne and SLPP National List MP Jayantha Ketagoda along with Chairman of Milco Renuka Perera made the unsuccessful attempt after having visited MP Navaratne at his Kurunegala residence. The move went awry. The position taken by lawmaker Alahapperuma has quite evidently challenged the silly efforts to sustain the government.

The unprecedented crisis also gave an opportunity for one-time LTTE terrorist Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pilleyan to receive a State Ministry. Pilleyan, the leader of the TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal) received his letter of appointment as the State Minister for Rural Road Development.

In September 2020, Pilleyan received the appointment as the Co-Chairman of the Batticaloa District Coordinating Committee in keeping with an understanding between his party and the SLPP. At that time, Pilleyan received his letter of appointment from Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament. Eastern Province Governor Anuradha Yahampath serves as the Co-Chairperson of the Batticaloa District Coordinating Committee.

One-time deputy to LTTE field commander Karuna Amman, following the 2003 split in the organisation, Pilleyan had been remanded at the Batticaloa prison since 2015 over his alleged involvement in the Dec 2005 assassination of TNA lawmaker Joseph Pararajasingham. In January 2021, Batticaloa High Court judge S. Susaidasan acquitted and released the five suspects, including Batticaloa District lawmaker Pillayan, who were charged with the murder of former Batticaloa District MP Joseph Pararajasingham.

Batticaloa High Court Judge S. Susaidasan ordered the dismissal of the case filed against Pillayan who had earlier been released on bail after languishing in remand for about five years. This was after the Senior State Counsel appearing for the Attorney General informed the court that there was no need to file evidence in the case and proceed further.

The CID arrested Pillayan on October 11, 2015 when he arrived at the CID office in Colombo to give a statement over the killing of Joseph Pararajasingham. He had been in remand custody until the Batticaloa High Court Judge T. Wigneswaran released the suspects on bail on 24 November 2020. Susaidasan has succeeded Wigneswaran subsequently.

TNA lawmaker Pararajasingham was killed by unidentified gunmen when he was attending Christmas midnight mass at St Mary’s Church in Batticaloa on December 25, 2005.

Karuna, who formed the TMVP later, quit the party he founded to receive a National List slot, courtesy the UPFA. Later Karuna received appointment as a Deputy Minister. The former LTTE Eastern Commander contested Digamadulla district from the SLPP at the last general election. He was unsuccessful.

The TMVP backed the SLPP at the 2019 presidential and 2020 general elections after the two parties reached an agreement in the run up to the presidential poll. Pilleyan voted for the 20th Amendment to the Constitution enacted in Oct 2020. The TMVP is among nine political parties which won one seat each at the recently concluded general election.

Prof Nalin on Alahapperuma’s move

Prof. Nalin de Silva, who had served as Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Myanmar (Sept 2020-Sept 2021) under the current dispensation recently strongly criticized Alahapperuma’s move, warning President Gotabaya Rajapaksa he may lose the presidency as a result of the former minister receiving the premiership at the expense of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The outspoken academic intensely argued against the move to bring in Alahapperuma as the Premier in response to the current political challenges. Acknowledging the need for the incumbent Premier to be replaced, the former Ambassador justified his position on the basis of his desire to see the back of Basil Rajapaksa and Mahinda Rajapaksa’s sons, Namal, Yoshitha and Rohitha. Declaring Alahapperuma is being mentioned as the leading candidate for the position of Premier, Prof. de Silva emphasized Mahinda as being thousand times better than Dullas.

Prof. de Silva propagated the view that Mahinda Rajapaksa should make way for only a genuine Buddhist in case those seeking his ouster come up with a suitable replacement. According to Prof. de Silva, that replacement should never be Dullas Alahapperuma for obvious reasons. The controversial academic asked whether the move to replace Mahinda Rajapaksa with Dullas Alahapperuma was part of the ‘Go Gota Home’ project.

The academic also questioned the conduct of Dr. Wijeyadasa Rajapakse, PC, in relation to the ongoing efforts to secure the required backing for an interim/caretaker administration. According to him, there is no provision in the Constitution for the setting up of an interim/caretaker administration. Prof. de Silva’s assertion can’t be ignored. The primary basis for his argument is that the Parliament is unable to perform responsibilities and duties beyond what were assigned to the Parliament. Prof. de Silva asked whether lawmaker Wijeyadasa Rajapakse is pursuing an anti-constitutional agenda. The academic alleged all interested parties were exploiting the current political crisis to achieve their agendas.