Sans the intuitiveness of Samaraweera, President Rajapaksa is expected to depend largely on his own brother and adviser Basil Rajapaksa this time for his campaign strategies.
The move to send General Sarath Fonseka (Retd) to parliament, a prerequisite for an independent candidate, has taken an interesting turn.
Among the options that are being contemplated is one to get the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) to sacrifice one if its national list slots in the UNP to allow the star candidate to enter the parliament. Notwithstanding his right wing remarks to Canadas National Post that he strongly believed that Sri Lanka belongs to the Sinhalese the former Army Commander is reportedly having warm vibes with the SLMC leadership ever since his move to defect the Rajapaksa camp. In fairness to the General it should be reminded that he also told National Post that there are minority communities and we treat them like our people. They can live in this country with us. But they must not try to, under the pretext of being a minority, demand undue things. The only snag here is that for quite a few in Sri Lanka the SLMC still remains a synonym for undue demands.
While the platform on which the war hero would make his maiden entry to parliament is a decisive factor many have started wondering whether UNP Parliamentarian Choksys support to the Appropriation Bill move has anything to do with a failed mission by the UNP.
Whatever the setbacks, including the rejection of a JVP plan to register a new party, the opposition has closeted in for some intense talks as never before ever since Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Rauff Hakeem joined SLFP (M) leader Mangala Samaraweera as prime movers of Fonsekas candidacy. And all indications are there that they have many irons in the fire for the big game. It is indeed an irony of fate for Mangala Samaraweera the key strategist of the 2005 presidential campaign of President Rajapaksa to play the same role this time for his rival.
Sans the intuitiveness of Samaraweera, President Rajapaksa is expected to depend largely on his own brother and adviser Basil Rajapaksa this time for his campaign strategies.
A question that many in the government seem to be asking these days is whether the President would ever declare a presidential election, two years before he completes his term, if he is not sure of victory. A point to ponder, one may say.
The reading of the opposition is that it is the circumstances and over‐confidence that saw the President gravitating towards the decision. The opposition claims the anti‐incumbency sentiments, rampant corruption among government ranks and treatment meted out to General Fonseka would help the opposition to eat into the UPFA vote bank this time.
The government on the other hand sees the positive side of the incumbency factor. Its strategists are of the opinion that peoples ability to relate to the President as opposed to the untested new politician with whom they still feel a distance given his overwhelming military background, would put the president in good stead. For many its a case of known devil versus the unknown angel. The opposition in turn points out to the improved public relations of the General especially during his recent media interactions and vows to package their candidate in the most desirable way in the days to come. Some interesting days are ahead, no doubt.