LG polls: Ranil-led grouping disintegrates; MEP, too, going it alone

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) that contested the last general election under the ‘Swan’ symbol of the New Democratic Front (NDF), together with friendly allies, has fielded independent groups in Colombo and several other areas at the forthcoming Local Government elections for 336 local bodies.

Having unsuccessfully contested the presidential election as an independent candidate last September, former President and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe gave the leadership to the NDF at the parliamentary election. None of the MEP contestants, nor National List nominees, managed to enter Parliament at the Nov. election. However, the NDF secured five seats, including two NL slots.

Acceptance of nominations began on March 17 and conclude at 12 noon today (20). The last LG polls held in early February 2018 were swept by

the SLPP. For the first time in our political history then ruling party/group, the UNP-SLFP combine, led by Ranil Wickremesinghe, failed to win LG polls.

MEPer and former SLPP National List MP Yadamini Gunawardena told The Island that the MEP, together with friendly allies, would contest Colombo district, as well as other selected districts where it formerly had council members, including Central, Southern, North Western, North Central, Uva, and Eastern Provinces. The spokesman said that friendly allies included political parties, as well as new and emerging independent groups.

The MEP, over a considerable period of time, always aligned with the SLFP-led groupings before contesting the 2020 general election on the SLPP ticket.

NDF General Secretary Sharmila Perera said that the party wasn’t in the fray at the LG polls. Ms Perera said so responding to a query raised by The Island. According to her, some of those affiliated with the NDF – the party with the fourth largest representation in the current Parliament – would contest through independent groups.

The NDF parliamentary group consists of Chamara Sampath Dassanayake (ex-SLPP/Badulla), Anuradha Jayaratne (ex-SLPP/Kandy), Rohitha Abeygunawardena (ex-SLPP/Kalutara), Ravi Karunanayaka (UNP/NL) and Faizer Musthapha (SLFP/NL).

Political sources said that a coalition, consisting of the UNP, SLFP, SLPP and MEP et al that backed Wickremesinghe’s candidature at the presidential election and then contested the parliamentary election last year, had split. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, former SLPP Minister and a key member of the group that threw its weight behind Wickremesinghe at the last year’s national polls, said that some of those affiliated with them were contesting through independent groups.

Dr. Pathirana said that the SLPP in spite of heavy defeats at presidential and parliamentary polls last year, failed to take tangible measures to unite the sharply divided party.