A major effort has been launched by President Maithripala Sirisena to place the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) on a virtual ‘war footing’.This time, the objectives are multi-pronged. Among the more important one is to gear the party for next year’s local government and provincial elections. Adding a sense of urgency in this regard is the need to counter the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the new political party associated with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Another is to consolidate the party’s clout so it would be in a more unassailable position in dealing with its partner in governance, the United National Party (UNP), on issues that arise from time to time.

This, in essence, is the message he delivered to some 168 SLFP organisers during a dinner meeting on Friday, November 11, at the Janadipathi Mandiriya. The number included serving ministers and parliamentarians.

President Sirisena said that the organisers should strive to increase the SLFP membership to five million, a tall task. This was his response to claims last week by SLPP convenor and former minister Basil Rajapaksa that the new party has launched a countrywide drive for one million members. The SLPP has also begun appointing organisers at the electoral level.

“Mamath inney pakshaya hadanakang. Balamuko (I am also waiting till the new party is organised. Let us see),” he asserted. Sirisena then declared that while travelling towards the right, he could also signal and turn left – whether he knew this was an old cliché that former Yugoslav President Marshal Josip Broz Tito used to describe the Non Aligned Movement. The Sirisena remark became the talking point both in SLFP and UNP circles in the past week with questions raised on what he meant. Was it in jest or were there any undertones in it?

President Sirisena in Parliament yesterday for the Committee Stage of the Budget debate, where the allocations for his office were taken up. He is seen having a lively chat with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Sirisena told the SLFP organisers that ‘Joint Opposition’ members should be invited to join their party, viz., the SLFP. It will not only bring more unity but make it stronger. He urged the organisers to spend more time in their electorates, see to the needs of the people and address their shortcomings.

Initial preparations for the local polls are now under way. Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha wants to ensure polls to the Pudukudyiruppu and Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabhas (in the Mullaituvu District) are held together with all others. Polls to these two bodies, were to be held on March 17, 2011, but had to be put off time and again due to the need for the removal of land mines and the non-completion of resettlement of displaced people. Musthapha has noted that notifications published calling for nominations remain valid and have not been cancelled. A necessity has arisen, he says, to change it due to the death of prospective candidates and those who came within the Under 35 years category, but have now exceeded that age.

Musthapha wants the Legal Draftsman’s Department to formulate a draft Bill to incorporate provisions to cancel the existing nominations, refund the deposits they placed (with a legally prescribed interest) and enable the conduct of fresh nominations. He wants these elections to be held “under mixed system of elections based on ward systems.” In his memorandum to ministerial colleagues, he has, however, not explained what this mixed system is.

Courtesy:Sunday Times