Accommodation of Sirisena’s son causes dissension

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Gevindu Cumaratunga is one of the former SLPP MPs who have decided against contesting the upcoming parliametnary election. He said that he had quit Sarvajana Balaya for want of a consensus on a sensible political strategy in the wake of the setback suffered at the presidential election.

Leader of the Yuthukama civil society group, Cumaratunga said so when The Island asked him yesterday (09) whether he would contest or seek re-entry through the National List of the Sarvajana Balaya.

Cumaratunga said that he felt quite disheartened when Sarvajana Balaya accommodated former President Maithripala Sirisena’s son, Daham, along with several other ex-parliamentarians.

Responding to another query, Cumaratunga said that he expressed concerns over recent developments to party leader Dilith Jayaweera. Unfortunately, the situation couldn’t be reversed to pave the way for remedial measures in the run-up to nominations for the parliamentary election, scheduled for Nov. 14.

Nominations close tomorrow (11). Cumaratunga emphasised that the recently concluded presidential election proved that old tactics, such as members switching allegiance, wouldn’t make an impact at all. The former SLPP National List MP pointed out that heavy defeats suffered by independent candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe and SJB leader Sajith Premadasa underscored the uselessness of that strategy.

Cumaratunga said that Daham Sirisena’s declaration that he joined Sarvajana Balaya, with his father’s blessings, caused irreparable damage to their party. “I do not have to repeat former President Sirisena’s current status. Taking Daham was nothing but a grave mistake on the part of the newly registered party,” Cumaratunga stressed.

The SLPP appointed Cumaratunga to Parliament on its National List (NL), following the August 2020 general election. Of the 29 NL slots, the SLPP won 17, the SJB seven and five other political parties one slot each.

Cumaratunga announced his exit from Sarvajana Balaya close on the heels of former Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara quitting the party. Veteran leftist Nanayakkara backed Sarvajana Balaya leader Dilith Jayaweera who contested the presidential election on the Communist Party ticket.

Cumaratunga said that during his term as an MP (Aug. 2020-Sept. 2024) he took up issues, regardless of consequences. Recalling what he called combined efforts to push President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to introduce a Constitution that reflected the post-war ground situation, Cumaratunga said that the increasing of the interest of EPF from 09% to 13% during Ranil Wickremesinghe tenure as the President, made his decision to move court worthwhile.

The group of SLPP parliamentarians who backed Sarvajana Balaya at the presidential election included Wimal Weerawansa (National Freedom Front), Udaya Gammanpila (Pivithuru Hela Urumaya), Weerasumana Weerasinghe (Communist Party), Gamini Waleboda (National Freedom Front) and Gevindu Cumaratunga (Yuthukama).

Among those who joined Sarvajana Balaya, after the presidential election, are Dilum Amunugama, failed presidential candidate Roshan Ranasinghe and Milan Jayatilake – all ex-SLPP members.

Cumaratunga said that Sarvajana Balaya had deviated so much from its original plans thereby causing damage that he wouldn’t want to continue under the same banner. “Better to quit now than be sorry later”, Cumaratunga said, declaring his intention to campaign against moves to fully implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that India forced on Sri Lanka in the ’80s.

Referring to Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar’s recent meeting with President Dissanayake, Cumaratunga said that though the government was somewhat silent, a statement issued by the Indian High Commission revealed pressure exerted on the President.

With regard to the ethnic issue and the reconciliation process, Dr. Jaishankar repeated India’s support for the aspirations of all communities, including Tamils, for equality, justice, dignity, peace while maintaining the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. The full and effective implementation of the controversial 13th Amendment to the Constitution, forced on Sri Lanka by New Delhi, and the early holding of Provincial Council elections would facilitate these objectives, the statement quoted Dr. Jaishankar as having told President Dissanayake.

Former parliamentarian Gammanpila, who is contesting the forthcoming election on the Sarvajana Balaya ticket, recently told a media briefing that Jathika Jana Balawegaya could win as many as 120 seats at the election.