Columns

• Opposition’s show of strength seen after arrest of Wickremesinghe last month appears diminished
• Conspicuously absent: SJB leader Sajith, SLPP leaders Namal and Mahinda; Sajith and Namal send good wishes
• UNP-SJB reunion seems shaky despite Grand Old Party’s move to lift suspension on ‘rebels’
• Ranil and opposition stalwarts call for unity to defeat NPP’s ‘constitutional dictatorship’
• Govt.’s new development drive overshadowed by Minister Samarasinghe’s multimillion-rupee assets declaration

By our Political Desk

As President Anura Kumara Dissanayake prepares to celebrate his first year in office next week, he is facing some serious challenges from different fronts.

First among these challenges seems to be a renewed push by opposition parties to form a unified front to oppose his National People’s Power (NPP) government. A demonstration of this unity was seen prominently yesterday during the 79th anniversary celebration of the United National Party (UNP) held at the Monarch Imperial Hotel in Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. The anniversary of the grand old party in Sri Lankan politics bore special significance this year owing to the saga surrounding party leader and former president Ranil Wickremesinghe, as he made his first public statement at the convention since his arrest on August 22 on charges of misusing public funds for a private visit to the UK in 2023 when he was still president.

Mr Wickremesinghe had been arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on charges of misusing over Rs. 16 million for the visit. The arrest drew swift condemnation from most opposition parties, which viewed it as a targeted attempt at political revenge. In the aftermath of the arrest, opposition parties rallied under the slogan “Let’s defeat the constitutional dictatorship.” Even prominent politicians and parties that had clear political differences with the UNP leader offered him their support.

UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe appeals for opposition efforts to defeat what it calls the consitutional dictatorship of the NPP

A different kind of UNP anniversary

The fact that the UNP’s 79th anniversary celebration was held yesterday was also down to the effects of the arrest of Mr Wickremesinghe, whose health had deteriorated rapidly while he was in remand custody, resulting in him first being admitted to the Prison Hospital before being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Colombo National Hospital. Though he was released on bail on August 26 and left hospital on August 29, he was kept under strict medical supervision, with doctors advising him to rest at home. As such, organisers of the anniversary celebration, originally scheduled for September 6, had no choice but to push it back to September 20 on the advice of Mr Wickremesinghe’s doctors.

The UNP leader has sought to capitalise on the unity exhibited by the opposition regarding his arrest and has been actively planning for the party’s 79th annual convention to be a show of this newfound unity. He had pointed out to party officials that when the UNP was founded by the late D.S. Senanayake in 1946, it had the backing of many of the major political parties of the day. When Mr Senanayake was appointed the first Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1947, he had the blessings of the other parties. As such, Mr Wickremesinghe had instructed organisers of the event to invite leaders of all political parties in the opposition to attend yesterday’s convention as a reminder to all of the unity displayed at the formation of the UNP. The task of inviting leaders of these parties fell to UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena, who personally called party leaders to invite them to attend the convention.

About 40 registered political parties were invited to the anniversary celebration. They included every political party represented in the current Parliament except for the ruling NPP. Some invitees, such as former Presidents Chandrika Kumaratunga and Maithripala Sirisena, while expressing regret at not being able to attend, had sent their best wishes. Opposition and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa was absent as well, but the party was represented by several senior members, including SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara, National Organiser Tissa Attanayake and MP Kabir Hashim. During his address to the gathering, Mr Madduma Bandara read out SJB leader Premadasa’s message of best wishes to the UNP on its anniversary.

Opposition stalwarts are with UNP leader at yesterday's convention. Pix by M. A. Pushpa Kumara

Leaders from several parties aligned with the SJB were also in attendance. They included Rauff Hakeem from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Rishad Bathiudeen from the All Ceylon Makkal Congress, Mano Ganesan from the Tamil Progressive Alliance and Palani Digambaram from the National Union of Workers. Neither former President Mahinda Rajapaksa nor his son and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa was present. The party, however, was represented by its General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam. Other party leaders and senior officials in attendance included former Prime Minister and Mahajana Eksath Peramuna Leader Dinesh Gunawardena, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Chairman Nimal Siripala De Silva, Tamil United Liberation Front Leader V. Anandasangaree, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya Leader Udaya Gammanpila, United Republic Front Leader Patali Champika Ranawaka and Sarvajana Balaya General Secretary Ranjan Seneviratne. Former ministers Bandula Gunawardana, Tiran Alles, G.L. Peiris, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Susil Premajayantha and Vadivel Suresh were also among the attendees.

This year’s anniversary celebration was different in that rather than honour the UNP’s leaders and showcase the party’s achievements, the event sought to build on the theme of unity among parties, as the organisers honoured not just UNP leaders but those from other parties as well. Accordingly, aside from UNP stalwarts such as D.S. Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, John Kotelawala, J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa, Gamini Dissanayake, and Lalith Athulathmudali, the event also honoured leaders from other parties, including former prime ministers S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, as well as eminent politicians of yesteryear Pieter Keuneman, D.A. Rajapaksa, N.M. Perera, Colvin R. De Silva, G.G. Ponnambalam, S.J.V. Chelvanayakam, Savumiamoorthy Thondaman, and R. Sampanthan.

Speakers highlight unity theme

The theme of unity was also reflected in the list of speakers who addressed the gathering, with a number of leaders from other parties in the opposition invited to speak. Mano Ganesan, Rauff Hakeem, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Sagara Kariyawasam, Udaya Gammanpila and Dayasiri Jayasekara were among the speakers. All those who spoke highlighted the importance of opposition parties remaining united in the face of what they decried as a “constitutional dictatorship” slowly taking shape under the watch of President Dissanayake and the NPP.

“The reason this anniversary is held today in this fashion is mainly owing to one thing—my arrest,” Mr Wickremesinghe told the gathering. In his first public comments after a short video clip since the arrest, the former president gave his side of the story behind the visit in question and reiterated his innocence over the charges made against him. He noted that both his political friends and adversaries came to his support following his arrest and said one reason why the event was held in this manner was to offer them his thanks.

“Rather than talking about the party today, what we need to do is to work together to defeat the constitutional dictatorship that is taking shape in this country,” Mr Wickremesinghe asserted. He ended his speech with a renewed call-to-arms for opposition parties to “Unite, Unite, Unite!”

Since their leader’s arrest, the UNP had been attempting to build on that support on two fronts. On the one hand, there have been talks with the SJB aimed at bringing about an eventual reunification between the two parties. With the aim of further facilitating these talks, the UNP Working Committee, which met on Tuesday, voted to lift all disciplinary orders and suspensions imposed on party members for joining the SJB. The move provides further space for the two parties to work together without legal obstacles. SJB sources, however, noted that the lifting of the suspensions carried no real weight for them, as they were now members of the SJB, a recognised political party.

Meanwhile, parallel talks with several other parties, including the UNP, SJB and the SLFP, aimed at forming a broader anti-government front are ongoing. All parties concerned have stressed the proposed alliance is to oppose “anti-democratic” actions of the government and is not a wider electoral alliance.

No sign yet of a broad alliance

The SLPP has been pointedly absent from these talks. Before he attended yesterday’s UNP anniversary celebration, SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariawasam said his party was attending the UNP convention to extend its support to the joint opposition efforts to oppose the growing threat to democracy under the NPP. “There is a crackdown on dissent by the government, which is tampering with all state institutions, including the judiciary. This is dangerous,” he said.

“We have no political agreement with the UNP, as our policies are different, and the SLPP will forge its own path, but in the fight to safeguard democracy, we will stand together,” Mr Kariyawasam added.

Though he was not present at yesterday’s event, SLPP National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa took to his X social media account to congratulate the UNP on its anniversary. “Today commemorates the 79th anniversary of the United National Party (UNP), the first political movement to assume power in independent Sri Lanka. Its contribution to the country’s journey toward self-governance is both historic and honourable. We continue to respect the visionary ideals embodied by the charismatic leadership of its founder, His Excellency D.S. Senanayake. I have always valued a political environment where sincere opponents uphold the principles of democracy. It is my sincere hope that the UNP continues to pursue a path that benefits the nation and its people,” said Mr Rajapaksa.

Before yesterday’s event, SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said that there was no political agreement between the UNP and the SJB, “but we will support efforts to stop the autocratic path of this government.” In his speech at the anniversary convention yesterday, Mr Madduma Bandara pledged that his party, as the main opposition party in the country, would lend its fullest support to efforts for opposition parties to fight on behalf of the country. It is clear that the SJB continues to see itself as a separate entity from the UNP now, and as such, the road to any possible reunification is still some way off.

In any case, it became apparent over the past few weeks that despite their early rhetoric, the momentum generated among opposition parties in the immediate aftermath of Mr Wickremesinghe’s arrest had been lost. The challenge for the UNP and like-minded groups in the opposition now will be to use the boost received from yesterday’s anniversary celebration to move forward towards forming some sort of common front. The absence of Mr Premadasa is clearly an indicator that despite pressure from the rank and file of both parties, the leadership is at odds on how to set about unity.

President focuses on development as his own anniversary approaches

In the midst of attacks by the opposition that his government was moving towards a “constitutional dictatorship”, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake this week presided over the launch of several construction and renovation projects, some of which had stalled since the country’s economic crisis. The launch of the projects is part of the government’s plan to seize the narrative and drive home the point that, contrary to its detractors, it is delivering on its promises to move forward with large-scale projects that will bring benefits to the people.

On Monday, President Dissanayake launched the Colombo Central Bus Terminal Renovation Project in Pettah. The project is part of the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ programme with an allocation of Rs. 425 million. The project is being implemented with the direct labour contribution of the Sri Lanka Air Force, together with the support and collaboration of the Colombo Municipal Council, the Ceylon Electricity Board, the National Water Supply and Drainage Board, the Road Development Authority and the Urban Development Authority. The renovation is scheduled to be completed by April 2026, ahead of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

On Wednesday, President Dissanayake attended the ceremony held to resume the construction work on the Kadawatha–Mirigama section of the Central Expressway. Construction on this section of the expressway had been halted midway following the economic crisis. It is estimated that the 37-km Kadawatha–Mirigama section would cost Rs. 229.532 billion. This will be financed through both domestic funds and a concessional loan from China, the President’s Media Division said. The project is scheduled for completion by mid-2028.

That same day, the President took part in a ceremony to construct six additional oil storage tanks at the Kolonnawa Petroleum Storage Complex. Once completed, the new facility will include three tanks with a capacity of 15,000 cubic metres each, two 7,000 cubic metre tanks and one 5,000 cubic metre tank.

SLPP tries to capitalise on Mahinda at Carlton House

For the SLPP, the eviction of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa from his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 07, following the passage of the President’s Entitlements Repeal Bill has helped galvanise its support base. The former president returned to his private residence at Carlton House in Tangalle last week amid much fanfare and subsequently released a withering statement where he slammed the NPP government over its “political terrorism”.

Mr Rajapaksa has always been able to use his rapport with the common people to his advantage, and his Facebook page this week has been filled with images of him meeting with people who have come from all over the country to Carlton House to pay their respects. The SLPP’s media unit has also repeatedly released videos and images of the former president meeting with ordinary people as well as religious leaders, politicians and other dignitaries.

With the former president returning to Tangalle, reports are emerging that the SLPP intends to capitalise on the renewed attention focused on Mr Rajapaksa to boost the party’s standing and increase its popularity with the combination of Mahinda and Namal Rajapaksa in the coming weeks. The party has officially been non-committal, though some sources say the new initiative, titled “Mahinda Sulagin Namal Suwanda”, is to be launched soon. The programme will be similar to the “Mahinda Sulanga” programme launched in 2015 to bring back former president Mahinda Rajapaksa into the political fold after he retired to his home following his defeat at the 2015 presidential election.

NPP Govt. under cloud over Minister Samarasinghe’s assets

The NPP government got cracking with its pledge to fight bribery and corruption soon after it took office a year ago, and by now, scores of former ministers, MPs and officials have been arrested over various allegations of misappropriation of state funds, abuse of power and other illegal activities. However, this week has proved to be more challenging than others for the government after the assets and liabilities declaration filed by Trade Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) went public. The declaration showed that the NPP minister’s assets exceed Rs 270 million. This was followed by more details of assets of all MPs being made public online by the CIABOC. While the people were aware that politicians of other parties had considerable wealth, whether legitimate or ill-gotten, the declared assets of those in the NPP have raised more than a few eyebrows.

The reason for this has to do with the public persona that has been showcased by members of the JVP in particular: that they live off party funds and have no time to pursue a business or other forms of employment as they are full-time party cadres. Minister Samarasinghe is one such person who has made no qualms about admitting that he is fed, clothed and maintained by party cadres who generously donate money and clothes, while his vehicle is run on petrol pumped using the money given by party supporters.

But when it was revealed that the same person has assets valued at over Rs 270 million, there are going to be questions raised. In his defence, the minister said that some of his assets are inherited from his family, such as land in his hometown Tambuttegama (he is one of ten children in the family) as well as other businesses and investments. This explanation comes from a man who claimed he was a full-time party cadre who had no time for anything except engaging in the work of the JVP. This is the reason that his defence has been met with more scepticism than belief and has also put the spotlight on others in the party.

The salaries and allowances of all NPP MPs are sent to a party account, while a monthly allowance is given to them for their sustenance. Money from the account is used for both party activities and for the welfare of the public, a senior JVP source said. He said that some of the party assets, such as vehicles, belong to the JVP but are held under their names. He defended the assets of their members, saying that none of them had misappropriated public funds and what assets they have are legitimate and not ill-gotten. “If at the end of five years in parliament, our assets go up considerably, then there is a case to suspect there was some wrongdoing,” he said.

Amidst the raging debate over the NPP members’ asset declarations, some have tried to put a positive spin on the details going public, stating that it was the NPP that has facilitated the asset declarations of MPs becoming public. However, this is not the case. It is done under the provisions of the Anti-Corruption Act, No. 9 of 2023, enacted by the previous government.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), which pushed for stronger anti-corruption legislation and strengthening of institutions in its Governance Diagnostic Assessment on Sri Lanka released in September 2023, said that the 2023 Act substantially improved the legal environment for addressing corruption and recommended the publication of asset declarations for senior officials (the President, the Prime Minister, and ministers) on a designated website in line with anti-corruption laws by July 2024. This process is now in place.

Govt. voices frustration over state sector employees

Meanwhile, the realisation is slowly but surely dawning on the Government that while state sector employees may back a political party at an election, getting them to work in tandem with government policy is an uphill task. This week Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake had harsh words for Railway Department officials when he warned them if they could not discharge their responsibility properly, they should leave their jobs.

Speaking at a meeting at the Kalutara District Secretariat, the minister said the Railway Department had neglected its responsibilities and failed to provide even basic facilities for commuters. He gave them one month to put things in order or else face stern action.

He is not the only one in government to feel the state sector is not keeping up with the changes that the new administration is anticipating. Speaking at the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2025–2029 in April this year, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake warned officials against resisting change and said that those who do so would be removed and replaced.

Several other ministers too have voiced their frustration in working with the state sector even though they championed their cause prior to the polls. In fact, state sector employees overwhelmingly voted for the NPP at the last two elections, but they have been slow in embracing the changes the government wants to put in place.

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) workers are the latest group to go on strike, while the education sector has been marred by strikes in the past months, along with the health sector. These are likely to intensify as the Government moves to bring about reforms in many sectors.

The Government’s growing tussle with the state sector employees is being closely watched by opposition political parties, which are, no doubt, keen to win over the vital vote base that plays a decisive role at an election.

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said they see a government attempt to purge those in the state sector, forcing them to leave and replacing them with party loyalists. “In the past two weeks, at least five senior public officials have tendered their resignation. They will be replaced by loyalists of the JVP/NPP so they can control the state apparatus. This is a very dangerous trend, and we would end up like North Korea if this continues,” he said.

The NPP isn’t the only new government to be at loggerheads with state sector employees. Most governments that win power with the support of public sector voters fall foul of them sooner rather than later. It’s a lesson most experienced politicians who have been in power are aware of, but for the NPP, which lacks experience in governance, it is a new phenomenon. When questioned about the lack of experience in governance, Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya famously said on election night last September, “We have no experience in bankrupting the country,” but the Government’s frequent run-ins with government workers show that its lack of experience in governance is making it difficult to carry out the policy changes it wants to get done.

While the President is facing several challenges on the home front, his first year in office has seen him undertake several overseas visits. His first overseas visit to India was a high-profile one where he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was followed by several other overseas visits, including to China, the Maldives, the UAE, Germany and Viet Nam.

President to leave for US

Tomorrow President Dissanayke will leave for the US to attend the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He will address the UNGA on Wednesday, September 24, and will also meet with his supporters at Staten Island, off New York City. From the US, he will head to Japan for a high-level visit. President Dissanayake’s overseas visits will give him a welcome respite from the numerous challenges that he faces on the home front. Weighing on his mind, no doubt, will be how best he can deliver on his election promises as he steps into his second year in office as well as overcome the challenges he and his government face.