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by Kumara Kaluarachchi
(June 30, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) He the president has dissolved the North-central (NCP) and Sabaragamuwa provincial councils. First (knee-jerk) reaction of the UNP is to go to courts to annul the dissolution. It failed big time. Next is to find candidates to contest. That is the time where some interesting scenarios took place.
UNP managed to bring in Major General Janaka Perera as the CM candidate for NCP. With number of victories over the LTTE under his belt, Janaka Perera seems to be an ideal candidate for the governing UPFA, who is waging a bitter war against LTTE at the moment. Quite interestingly, the UNP is against the war and represents ONLY a negotiated settlement. Is there a room for a battle hardened General who claims that defeating LTTE is a possible task in the UNP? Or the very same General who told us that defeating LTTE is his ambition and duty will shift his ideology to suit his leader???
Whatever it is, one can’t discount the unexpected political developments brought about by the entry of Janaka Perera. I wish to list the possible outcomes of the forthcoming elections, with regard to the presence of Janaka Perera in the scene.
1. UNP win both NCP and Sabaragamuwa provinces, starting an avalanche effect, forcing a general election. Ranil will form a government, Janaka Perera will be the defense minister. Everything is hunky- dory!
2. UNP win NCP and UPFA win Sabaragamuwa. Janaka Perera stuck as the Chief Minister of NCP (an equal to Mr Chanthrakanthan, AKA Pilliayn!!).
3. UNP loose both NCP and Sabaragamuwa and Janaka Perera will be the leader of the opposition of NCP (just like Mr Rauf Hakeem in the Eastern province).
4. UNP loose both NCP and Sabaragamuwa and some unknown chap from Anuradhapura scores more votes than Janaka Perera making a mockery of him in the eyes of general public.
As for my thinking, above four scenarios are the possible outcomes of the forthcoming elections, ONLY if LTTE does not do another “Lucky Algama” saga and bump off their old enemy, Janaka Perera, and making chaos in the country, thus killing two birds in one stone.
President Mahinda Rajapakse will not worry too much if Janaka Perera defeats the UPFA in NCP. The CM candidate, former private secretary of Mr Jinadasa, SLFP MP for Kekirawa, Berty Premalal Dissanayake is a known CBK loyalist. His son Duminda got married to the daughter of Di Mu, another CBK loyalist of the SLPF. President will enjoy the downfall of CBK loyalists and strengthen his grip in SLFP!
Coming back to the running mates of Janaka Perera, he must be very happy to contest the election under the UNP ticket where the CM candidate of Sabaragamuwa is going to be “one shot” Ranjan Ramanayake. Folks, I do not have to say anything about one shot Ranjan. Just do your own Google search to find out that he has at least One rape case, one child molesting case filed by the Child and woman protection bureau of Sri Lanka and several other cases for non-settling of bills against him, one time or another, during past few years.
Knowing Sri Lankan electorate, I am sure Ranjan will score more votes than Janaka Perera. Perhaps (if there is a chance for him to form a new government) Ranil will appoint Ranjan as the Minister of defense, bypassing Janaka Perera!
(The writer is a editor of the Lanka Journal web site)
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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