Crossover crosscurrents!

By Dharisha Bastians- November 24, 2014

No more defections from SLFP, vows Pavithra

Vidura Wickremanayake, Nimal Siripala vow to remain with SLFP
Opposition promises more defections during Budget vote today
UPFA says Opposition alliance is Ranil-CBK-foreign powers-LTTE nexus
Maithripala is a pawn to make electorally unsuccessful Ranil PM, says
Govt.
Maithripala says no foreign conspiracy behind decision to challenge
President

Maithripala Sirisena (C) stands near UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu
Jayasuriya (L) and Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thero as he arrives for a
meeting at Kotte Naga Viharaya Buddhist temple yesterday
Reuters/Dinuka Liyanawatte
The political week is poised to start with a bang, with a buoyant Opposition
promising more defections from the ruling UPFA coalition, while the
Government vowed yesterday that it had put measures in place to stop the
bleed.
Crossover and counter-crossover speculation is rife, with several

Government MPs expected to cross the chamber

symbolically tomorrow during the Third Reading of the Budget.
Budget is unlikely to be defeated, with the Government in command of a
161 majority in the 225 seat Parliament.
With the series of SLFP defections so far and the JHUs withdrawal of
support, the Government numbers could be down from 161 seats to 152,
dangerously close to losing its two-thirds majority in the House that it has
enjoyed since 2010.
I give you my assurance as a Minister of Cabinet and I say this with
responsibility. There will be no more conspirators and no more defections to
the Opposition, Power and Energy Minister Pavitra Wanniarachchi told the
daily UPFA press conference at the SLFP Headquarters in Colombo
yesterday.
The Government had been engaged in a major operation overnight on
Saturday, the Minister told journalists.
Wanniarachchi said Maithripala Sirisena, who announced his candidacy as
the main Opposition challenger to President Mahinda Rajapaksa on
Friday (21), had engaged in a great betrayal.
Several potential pole-vaulters within the Government extended their
support to the President over the weekend, indicating that hectic
negotiations had been underway to stem the flow of defectors after the
announcement of the Sirisena candidacy.
UPFA MP Vidura Wickremanayake announced he and his father, former
Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, would remain with the SLFP and
support President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the election.
If we want to talk about personal grievances, we have many,
Wickremanayake told a meeting yesterday. But sometimes you have to
think about the country. So my father and I have made a decision to stay,
he said.
Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva vowed in Badulla yesterday that he would
not cross over to the Opposition. Even if Mahinda leaves the SLFP, I wont
leave, De Silva told reporters at a press briefing in his electorate. Amid
speculation that he may be offered the premiership, the Leader of the
House noted that he was not after portfolios.
Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage who also addressed the press
briefing acknowledged that the series of defections on Friday had sent

ripples through the Government camp.

There is no need to lie, the Minister said, even our hearts started to
thump a little faster.
However, Aluthgamage said that it was now clear that Sirisena was only
contesting to bring UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe into power.
Tissa Attanayake says that Ranil will be executive Prime Minister within 24
hours of Sirisenas election, he said, adding that it was a shame that the
Opposition Leader who had lost so many elections was going to get
installed in high office.
Now Maithripala is only a pawn being used to being Ranil into power,
charged Minister Wanniarachchi.
The Government Ministers claimed that the opposition alliance was a
conspiracy by foreign powers interfering in Sri Lankas affairs.
This is a conspiracy between foreign forces and the Ranil-ChandrikaMaithri-LTTE nexus, Aluthgamage charged, referring to the common
alliance platform.

MR claims he has files on all defectors

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secreyary Gotbaya Rajapaksa officiate at the
ceremony to enshrine the omniscient sacred relics in the Sandahiru Seya yesterday in

Anuradhapura

President Mahinda Rajapaksa issued a thinly-veiled threat against his former ministers who
quit his Government on Friday that he had files on them all.
Seven ruling party members quit his coalition Government last week, four of them holding
ministerial portfolios. I have enough files on their activities, but I wont use them, President
Rajapaksa told crowds at the opening of the A12 Highway between Trincomalee and
Anuradhapura.
He told the audience that his door was like a saloon door. Anyone can go. Anyone can come,
President Rajapaksa noted.
He observed that many had left the SLFP and rejoined.
Even Chandrika left the SLFP to spite her mother. So many have done that, he charged.
SWRD never left the SLFP and neither did Sirimavo. And neither did Mahinda Rajapaksa,
he said.
The President all those who quit the SLFP have tenuous futures.
Those who come back are always better off, he said. (DB)

Govt. to strike back?

UNP office bearer, Kalutara District MP may join UPFA as crossover race heats up

The Government is poised to tear away at least two UNP MPs during the Third Reading of the
Budget in Parliament today, sources told the Daily FT.
Several Opposition members had been approached to decamp, UNP sources said.
In a tit-for-tat move after the defection of SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena, the
UPFA will attempt to secure the defection of a senior office bearer in the UNP, the sources
said.
Another UNP MP from Kalutara is also tipped to cross the political divide. Large sums of
money were being offered to Opposition MPs to cross over, a senior UNP member said on
condition of anonymity.
The member quipped that at least in the case of defections from the Government, there was no
question of money changing hands.
Opposition activists are predicting a few more defections from the UPFA during tomorrows
Parliament session.

Posted by Thavam