May Day success emboldens JO to go it alone at polls GL: Rapprochement unlikely
Posted on May 2nd, 2017


The Joint Opposition yesterday declared that it would go it alone at whatever the next election, under the leadership of war winning former President and Kurunegala District MP Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Local government polls are two years overdue while provincial council polls are scheduled in Sabaragamuwa, North Central and Eastern Provinces in September, 2017.

Declaring that JO’s May Day rally at Galle Face had given a clear signal to the country and the world as to which way the wind was blowing, Chairman of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna former External Affairs Minister Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday said that the new party would go ahead with planned project.

Prof. Peiris was addressing the media at Dr N.M. Perera Centre, Cotta road, Borella. “We are committed to form a new government under former President Rajapaksa’s leadership”, he said.

article_image

 

 

 

Prof. Peiris asserted that massive public participation at the JO May Day rally reflected the growing resentment towards the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe government with the former blindly following UNP policies severely inimical to the country.

“Give the electorate an early opportunity to exercise their franchise at long overdue local government polls,” Prof. Peiris said. The former law professor said that President Maithripala and his group within the UNP led administration weren’t acceptable to genuine SLFPers.

JO heavyweights Dallas Alahapperuma (Matara District MP) and National Freedom Front leader Wimal Weerawansa (Colombo District MP) warned yahapalana rulers of dire consequences unless they heeded public demand for local government polls.

MP Alahapperuma admitted that even they had been nervous when the JO accepted the daunting task to organise the May Day rally at Galle Face. But former President Rajapaksa had always accepted overwhelming challenges, Alahapperuma said, adding that securing local government polls was their priority now.

Underscoring that the JO May Day rally had attracted much more people than the SLFP (Getambe), UNP (Campbell Park) and JVP (BRC grounds) rallies combined, Alahapperuma warned that the government could not indefinitely put off LG polls. The MP said the JO would surround all those responsible for the present situation. Alahapperuma urged the National Election Commission (NEC) to take meaningful measures to hold LG polls and Western diplomatic missions to examine post-May Day situation.

MP Weerawansa estimated the number of people attracted by the JO at 2 mn, surely the largest ever gathering at any event in Sri Lanka’s post-independence history.

Weerawansa said the next time those called to Colombo wouldn’t leave. The firebrand politician said that the Sirisena-Wickremesinghe couldn’t survive political mine field by having what he called an artificial two-thirds majority in parliament.

The NFF Leader urged Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to accept the ground reality. Urging Speaker Jayasuriya to watch some serial video footage of the Galle Face crowds, MP Weerawansa urged the senior UNPer to give due recognition to the JO.

Reiterating that twice President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been a victim of political conspiracy also involving Western powers, Weerawansa explained US strategy here and ongoing efforts to explore ways and means of using Sri Lanka as a US military base as well as a major listening post. The MP alleged that former UK High Commission complex that adjoins the American embassy in Colombo had been taken over by the US to set up an intelligence post and the yahapalana government was fully cooperating with the super power.

Asked by The Island whether the JO accepted the yahapalana government’s shortsighted and wrong policies contributed to public resentment hence the large crowds at Galle Face rather than due to their organizing capabilities, JO members Alahapperuma and Keheliya Rambukwella explained ill fated decisions taken by yahapalana rulers. They explained how yahapalana rulers had earned the wrath of the electorate by taking decisions inimical to the country and the public. A smiling MP Rambukwella said that there had been several meetings at Sirikotha where so called experts decided that the JO could not under any circumstances bring in crowds required to fill Galle Face.

9 Responses to “May Day success emboldens JO to go it alone at polls GL: Rapprochement unlikely”

  1. vyasan Says:

    I strongly believe that if the JO goes alone contesting the elections it would have a better chance of winning the elections or at least getting more seats than that of SLFP under Maithri.

  2. Lorenzo Says:

    NOT WISE.

    JO should go with the SLFP. Otherwise UNP wins OR UNP and SLFP joins together and OUTNUMBER the JO.

    SLFP leadership should be TAKEN from Sirisena by whatever means.

  3. Dilrook Says:

    Good move. JO must go it alone. SLFP support for Sirisena is misleading. He appointed 14 national list MPs and all of them support Sirisena. When discounted, 51 out of 76 UPFA MPs (CWC is a different party) equals 67%. Even in August 2015, Mahinda had 67% of the UPFA vote. Now it has gone up to probably 85%. This is also supported by higher estimates of the JO and the SLFP (obviously exaggerated) of 2 million and 300,000 attendees respectively giving the JO an 85% share.

    This means if the UNP vote has reduced to 35% (a reasonable estimate), the JO equals UNP+SLFP vote. Even if the UNP vote is 39%, the JO can beat the UNP as the single largest party and claim bonus seats.

    I agree with Wimal’s math that the JO can win most number of seats contesting alone. Further, the JO must come into strategic election understandings with the UNP to worsen the number of seats of the SLFP. Giving away seats to the UNP that may otherwise go to SLFP is a good plan. JO leaders must realize their main rival is the SLFP, not the UNP. When the SLFP is sufficiently weakened, its members will rebel against the impotent leader Sirisena. This was how Chandrika took over the SLFP in 1994.

    I can see parallels between 1994 Chandrika and 2017 Mahinda in terms of aggression, boldness in criticising the regime and fearlessly taking the side of the people. He should vote against Sirisena’s budget which he avoided two years and vote in support of any no confidence motion brought against Sirisena’s ministers (he avoided these too) and participate in parliamentary debates of national importance (not the useless ones).

    Mahinda must lead by example against the Indian invasion through defiance and black flags. He should provide leadership to the anti-sell off campaign of Trincomalee as he did with Hambantota. People flock around fearless leaders and avoid leaders who come up with excuses. He has crossed the point of no return. Don’t turn back.

  4. Ratanapala Says:

    Patriots have heeded the call of Mahinda. What can spineless earthworm Aappaya and Ponil say now. These are ordinary people. They have not come to get a party cap or a shirt – or to get entertained with hooch and sing songs. They are ordinary people – that is the difference. Lies and slander have not yielded the wanted outcome. After two years no, nothing, zilch to show to the people. Ponil must find out how many disgruntled UNPers have now changed sides.

    JVP gets the prize for the most colourful American funded parade! Come elections they will be history!

    There is no point in holding onto faded and threadbare rag tag – the SLFP. It is time, like his father, Mahinda left the dying SLFP in the hands of the Aappaya and Choura Regina to give the final rights and bury for ever. He must lead to form the New Party so that he can get rid of all the useless backbiting vermin that he had with him earlier – Laxman Yapa, Mahinda Samarasinghe, Zoysa, Nimal Siripala, Susil Premajayantha, Jayasekara, Thilanga, Mahinda Samaraweera, Dilan Perera to name only a few.

    A new party must come out with new blood – a more educated, energetic and mature set of patriotic politicians. Vyyath Maga must attract more potential political leaders – many can come from the Armed Forces for they have proven leadership qualities. However they need to be educated on India, Asian and world politics and their relevant for Sri Lanka.

    Let us get ready with Black Flags for the Modi visit. Black flags should be island wide and clear objection for Big Bully India’s incursion into Sri Lanka’s sovereignty. Sri Lanka’s future or for that matter any of India’s neighbours do not lie with India’s ‘help’!

    India is the main reason for the South Block’s poverty and lack of progress compared to South East Asia.

  5. Lorenzo Says:

    NO DIVIDING the SLFP under ANY circumstances!

    This is UNPOPULAR but it must be said. SLFP is the only party that STOOD UP AGAINST UNP ruin. SLFP cannot fail or break.

    Most people are driven by HATE and SHORT TERM GAINS. They can’t think of the FUTURE. SLFP has survived for generations because it is doing something RIGHT.

    For the naysayers I say MR will NEVER leave the SLFP. Lets see who is right.

    I have done election work for MR in 2010, My3 in 2014 and for BOTH MR and My3 in 2015. I know how this works.

    Look at Lalith’s DUNF. Came and went.
    Look at CBK’s parties. Came and went.

    IF Sira is a BAD LEADER, replace him as SLFP leader but keep SLFP in ONE piece.

  6. Ananda-USA Says:

    The PATRIOTS of Sri Lanka are FINALLY rallying to the banner of the only leader who can save the nation, and who had saved her in the past.

    It is as I had PREDICTED …. the TSUNAMI of PATRIOTISM is rising AGAIN from the its deep reservoirs in the hearts and minds of our ordinary people ….. to SWEEP OUT the UNPATRIOTIC PARA-GATHI SELF-SERVING KALLIYA that has seized the reins of power in our motherland by monumental deceit!

    All those Sinhala Buddhists of every stripe who SWALLOWED the PARA-GATHI Yamapalanaya propaganda ……broadcast by the likes of Katussa (Lorenzo) the EELAMIST TROLL at LankaWeb ….. to OUST Mahinda, have REALIZED their TERRIBLE MISTAKE and are RETURNING to the PATRIOTIC FOLD in massive numbers!

    No matter whether they are Colombians, or ordinary rural citizens, they are FLOCKING BACK to the womb where we all belong ….. as we always do at the penultimate hour!

    This is what I have FERVENTLY PRAYED for, ever since that DAY OF INFAMY: Jan 8, 2015!

    Long live the PATRIOTS!
    Long live my RESPLENDENT Motherland!
    Long live our Deshapremi Leaders

    May the TRIVIDARATNAYA Protect and Empower them to SUCCEED BRILLIANTLY!

    JAYAWEWA!

  7. Ananda-USA Says:

    Indeed, Speaker Karunanidhi Jayasuriya would be well advised to accept the JO as the Main Opposition and a leader nominated by the JO as the Leader of the Opposition to replace the TNA and Sampanthan!

    Let the Speaker’s Parliamentary CHARADE END lest it REBOUND ON HIM in the NEAR FUTURE!

    Let Aiyoooo Sirisena also take note, TERMINATE the Yamapalanaya coalition, DISMISS Wikunanasinghe as the PM and ask the JO to join with the SLFP, remerge into the UPFA, and form a government with Mahinda Rajapaksa as PM for 2 years until the next elections in 2020!

    That is the only way Sirisena can RESCUE the nation from STAGNATION and CHAOS he himself precipitated by joining hands with the UNP when the SLFP had sufficient strength in numbers to form a government.

    AT LEAST NOW ….. ACT in the National Interest abandoning Self-Interest!

  8. Ananda-USA Says:

    Oops! Meant to say “Karu Jayasuriya”!

  9. Ananda-USA Says:

    Katussa (Lorenzo) the rattlesnake is trying hard to save himself now that he sees the writing on the wall that his best laid plans for maintaining the Yamapalanaya INTACT is FALLING FLAT on its face!

    Such are the WAGES OF SIN …. especially for EVIL EELAMIST AGITATORS!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

 

 


Copyright © 2024 LankaWeb.com. All Rights Reserved. Powered by Wordpress