Four years in office now, President Maithripala Sirisena still hopes he will be the joint candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at the presidential election expected within the next seven months. This is notwithstanding growing uncertainty. Yet, signs that he would not back out and retain [...]

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Presidential poll: Sirisena still hopeful

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Four years in office now, President Maithripala Sirisena still hopes he will be the joint candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) at the presidential election expected within the next seven months.

This is notwithstanding growing uncertainty. Yet, signs that he would not back out and retain his option, at least, as an SLFP candidate, emerged this week. He has already named SLFP electoral organisers in seven districts and is busy picking others. Some party stalwarts, including General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekera, are drawing up plans for a grassroots level campaign amidst dissension among a formidable section.

What would be Sirisena’s rallying point for victory? He has stepped up his campaign against the use of drugs. Like tailwind for an airborne aircraft, a stronger push came after reports from Dubai that Makundure Madush (real name Samaratunga Aratchchige Madush Lakshitha) had been arrested.  That was good news for two reasons – it coincided with his anti-drugs campaign. More importantly, Madush is also linked to the alleged assassination attempts on President Sirisena and former Defence SecretaryGotabaya Rajapaksa.

On hearing the news of the arrest of Madush, a source close to the Presidency said, President Sirisena promptly telephoned Ahamed Ali Ibrahim al Mulla, the Ambassador for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Sri Lanka, to inquire about the arrest. It turned out that he was then in Abu Dhabi, their capital.

The veteran diplomat, the source said, called back to say he had spoken to his Foreign Ministry. They had said that a detailed Police investigation was under way and a formal statement would be issued when they are completed. Those accused, he had said, would be tried in their courts. President Sirisena has learnt that these investigations have now extended to the drug trade in other countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh — countries with which Sri Lankan drug kings had connections.

Last Tuesday, President Sirisena extended his campaign to illicit liquor. “I have told the Police that the Kasippu (illicit local brew) menace should be ended in three months. Hardly a day after his announcement, the Police dedicated four different hotlines — 011-3024820, 011-3024848, 011-3024850 and 011-2472752 — for public complaints on illicit liquor dealers. The anti-illicit liquor campaign comes weeks ahead of the national new year season where there is an increased demand for such brew in poorer sections.

President Sirisena has made a national event of his efforts. On April 3, he said, there would be a “Bak Maha Divurma” or (swearing in) schoolchildren during their assembly, government officials and political parties will pledge their support. He said there would also be an authority to rehabilitate drug addicts.

President Sirisena said he had proposed separate courts to try drug offenders. He said he would enforce the death sentence on convicted drug barons but declined to say when.

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