By

Gajaba

Government backbenchers, meanwhile, are intensifying their efforts to ensure that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) architect, Basil Rajapaksa, enters Parliament. Spearheading the campaign are mainly first-time MPs. They met last Sunday evening at MP Pramitha Bandara Tennakoon’s residence at Anderson Road in Dehiwala for what was termed as a decisive discussion on the matter.

When a group of these MPs had met the previous day to draw up plans for the meeting, some had pushed for the meeting to be held at the SLPP head office while others wanted it to be held at the residence of one of their own. It was then that Mr Tennakoon had offered his residence for the meeting.

He then informed government backbenchers by phone to arrive at his residence at 3.00pm the following day. However, since it was the weekend and Parliament was not in session, some who were unaware of the meeting had already gone back to their respective districts.

Nevertheless, a large group of MPs turned up on Sunday at Mr Tennakoon’s residence. Those who could not make it had sent messages that they would abide by whatever decision was taken by the majority. In the end, 33 MPs took part in the discussion.

While the meeting was supposed to remain secret, word had got out several hours before they met and a large number of media personnel had already gathered outside Mr. Tennakoon’s residence.

Welcoming the assembled MPs, Mr. Tennakoon described the situation as a critical point for the government. He pointed out that it was their belief that Basil Rajapaksa needed to be in Parliament. “We must take this decision collectively and invite Basil Rajapaksa to enter Parliament,” he told the MPs.

SLPP MP Sanjeewa Edirimanna endorsed Mr. Tennakoon’s comments. He said he had spoken to Basil Rajapaksa that morning and added the matters should be handled delicately so that the Rajapaksas’ image does not suffer as he enters Parliament.

MPs Nipuna Ranawaka and Jagath Kumara also voiced agreement, stating that Basil Rajapaksa was entering Parliament to strengthen the hands of the President and the Prime Minister.

Talk then turned to speculation that the Opposition might react when Basil Rajapaksa enters Parliament. MPs agreed that they should come up with a programme to counter the allegations that were already being levelled by the opposition against Basil Rajapaksa.

Those at the meeting also discussed how best to invite Basil Rajapaksa to accept a parliamentary seat. Some suggested drafting a letter, to be signed by all MPs and handed over officially. Others said such a letter would only take up more time and insisted that they should, as a group, simply convey the message to him.

In the end, it was decided to urgently convey the invitation from the SLPP backbenchers to Basil Rajapaksa inviting him to enter Parliament. Mr Tennakoon and his wife Gayani treated the assembled MPs to tea after the meeting.

Many MPs were swamped by media personnel as they left the Tennakoon residence. They were asked why a group of SLPP MPs were holding ‘secret talks’. MPs who spoke to the media responded it was not a secret meeting, but acknowledged it was held to discuss how to bring Basil Rajapaksa to Parliament.

Courtesy”Sunday Times