report in The Sunday Times, Oct 1, 2023
A political alliance that sought to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe at an election has become shaky due to recent developments.
Triggering the unease is the outcome of a recent meeting President Wickremesinghe had with Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) founder and main strategist Basil Rajapaksa. The latter sprung a surprise offer – full support for Wickremesinghe’s candidature at a presidential election. In return, he appealed to the President to disown the proposed New Alliance. With that political masterstroke, Rajapaksa hopes the SLPP, now in the doldrums, could be revitalized as a powerful political party once again.
The man behind the New Alliance is Gampaha District parliamentarian Nimal Lanza. He successfully canvassed support from some forty parliamentarians. Operating from an office at the Presidential Secretariat, he has been canvassing MPs. As the numbers grew, he hired an office at Lake Road in Rajagiriya. Those who veered around to back his initiatives so far have been mainly SLPPers. Other than them, a segment, including some ministers, was also independently supportive of President Wickremesinghe.
The turn of events came after President Wickremesinghe invited Lanza, who met him almost every week, to brief him on his work, to join him for a meeting with Basil Rajapaksa. That was to be a potential reproachment between two old friends. Before he fell out, Lanza’s visits to meet Rajapaksa at his residence in Battaramulla were always with a hamper full of short-eats. The day’s visitors were served the short-eats and told who brought them all the way from Negombo. He was so close to him. Lanza was now unhappy at the request. He had explained that he was once a close ally of Rajapaksa and had parted ways only after he had not heeded his advice and accepted the finance portfolio. He had pointed out that he had spent most of his time and effort away from him. Hence, there was no way he was going to meet the former minister and SLPP founder though he had no personal issues with him. Other highly placed sources said Lanza had other issues with the government over a property matter in Muthurajawela. He was opposed to a state agency undertaking filling work closer to one of his properties. Lanza, however, has dismissed this accusation.
When the Basil Rajapaksa faction in the SLPP, small but influential, first learnt of Lanza’s initiatives, they were not worried. However, the growing numbers of SLPP parliamentarians who expressed support—prompting the Gampaha District parliamentarian, who had served earlier as both State and Deputy Minister, to title his group the New Alliance and find an office—began to raise concerns. The exercise was to politically marginalize the SLPP. Thereafter, he wanted the alliance to back Wickremesinghe with members who did not favour the idea of joining the United National Party (UNP). This was during a time when this SLPP faction was mulling over a presidential candidate other than Wickremesinghe. Among the names then under consideration was that of a leading businessman because of his easy financial ability. All this was a clear indication that contrary to speculation, Namal Rajapaksa MP, was not going to be the presidential candidate.
Though not regularly seen in his office at the Presidential Secretariat nowadays, Lanza has not given up the task he has been carrying out. A spokesman continues to brief the Sunday media every week about his gains. Yet, a source familiar with the goings-on said he has been at the receiving end of queries daily over the new development. Some of those who raised the issue opined that potential backing by the SLPP would bolster Wickremesinghe’s position. This is supported by UNPers, some of whom had a discussion with their SLPP colleagues at the Shangri La Hotel last Tuesday. Yet, Lanza has not stopped his campaigning for the New Alliance altogether. This week, he brought under the alliance’s fold the 40th trade union. Most of these unions were earlier with the SLPP.
There is a strong point weighing in Lanza’s favour in the crisis looming now. A sizeable number of those Lanza has won over to the New Alliance say they do not want to remain as members if there is to be any unity or merger with the SLPP where there is Basil Rajapaksa and his faction. They do not want their names revealed now due to prevailing uncertainties. Naming them, therefore, would draw formal denials. That is not all. At least two of them warned that they may preempt everything by returning to the SLPP fold early. Perhaps this factor made Lanza buoyant. He told a confidant, “I left Basil and went to support President Wickremesinghe. Why should I go back to him? He is not the most wanted in the SLPP.”
On the other hand, Basil Rajapaksa has launched a peace initiative among his brothers whilst initiating moves to strengthen the SLPP. First is among family members and ex-presidents, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Relations were soured after Gotabaya as President removed Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister. On Friday night, both brothers, former presidents, sat at the same table at a gala ceremony at Shangri La Hotel to mark the Chinese National Day. An estimated 1,000 guests were present. Interestingly, it was Mahindananda Aluthgamage MP, who was present, who received a call asking him to come to the entrance to meet him. He greeted Gotabaya Rajapaksa first and led him to the ballroom. Also at the same table was Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong. Two other former presidents who were present were Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Maithripala Sirisena.
The large turnout included armed forces commanders, cabinet ministers, diplomats, and a host of other invitees. Both Chinese and Sri Lankan schoolgirls sang the national anthems of the two countries. Two giant television screens displayed the address of Ambassador Zhenhong. He catalogued the number of projects in which China has assisted Sri Lanka and assured that China’s support would continue.
Basil Rajapaksa has been pursuing efforts to cancel the nominations that were held for the local council elections though no dates were fixed for a poll. He originally made the appeal to President Wickremesinghe during a meeting. Thereafter, the “Ministerial Consultative Committee on Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils & Local Government,” took up the matter for discussion. A news release they issued said that it had “unanimously consented to cancel the nominations submitted for the Local Government Elections given that those who have submitted nominations have faced great difficulties due to the postponement of the elections.”……………..
https://www.sundaytimes.lk/231001/columns/basil-offers-support-to-president-on-condition-he-disowns-lanzas-alliance-534299.html
