Dr.P.A.Samaraweera, Australia

On Monday 23rd, the President had sent a proclamation to the Commissioner of Elections to seek a fresh mandate. And this was a much awaited declaration for the Opposition Front.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Then on Tuesday, there were reports that the dispute between the UNP and JVP over the condition that Ranil take over as Prime Minister in a caretaker government had been resolved. But the same day, the JVP spokesman, MP., Anura Dissanayake speaking at a press conference had said, that his party has no dealings with the UNP and the report that the JVP had come to an understanding with the UNP on the above issue is a blatant lie. According to him, talks between the UNP and JVP had collapsed on this issue.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ On the other hand, we have the General who had not openly made a statement about his intentions on the Presidential elections, except his hints here and there. May be he is hesitant because the teams in the opposition front looks at each other with suspicion, the UNP at the General, the JVP at the UNP, UNP at the JVP and so on. Then we have the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and the Mano Ganeshan team keeping their options. Therefore, the opposition front is going in circles.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ So there seems to be confusion in the opposition teams as they don’t seem to trust each other.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The grievance of the opposition was that the President had not decided on a date for the Presidential elections. But now that a date had been fixed, the problem with them seems to be that they have no candidate and therefore they are on a wild goose chase.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ In the midst of this confusion, the Asian Tribune published a Report about Gen. Fonseka and his son-in-law, Danuna Tilakeratne, allegedlyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ involved in ‘Blood Money’ from tenders to the armed services and therefore the people who elevated him to a ‘super hero’ has now lost confidence in him.