{"id":35857,"date":"2014-12-07T00:29:02","date_gmt":"2014-12-07T05:29:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=35857"},"modified":"2014-12-07T00:29:02","modified_gmt":"2014-12-07T05:29:02","slug":"too-many-joint-opposition-frontcooks-spoiling-the-common-presidential-candidate-sirisena-soup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=35857","title":{"rendered":"Too Many Joint Opposition Front”Cooks” Spoiling the Common Presidential Candidate Sirisena “Soup”"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

Rasika Jayakody<\/strong><\/p>\n

The presidential election is expected to enter into a crucial stage after tomorrow (08), with its two main candidates – President Mahinda Rajapaksa and common candidate Maithripala Sirisena – planning to accelerate their election campaigns following the final date of nominations. Although the common candidate held his first election rally in Polonnaruwa last weekend, his election symbol was not finalized at that time and it made some impact on the final outcome of the rally. <\/p>\n

However, Sirisena is yet to conduct his first rally with the election symbol- \u201cswan\u201d \u2013 which was also the symbol of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka when he contested the presidential election in 2010.<\/p>\n

Last week we revealed as to how the common opposition took lead in the headline-making game in the mainstream media, outsmarting the propaganda mechanism of the government. This week too, it maintained its success to a certain level, especially with the cross over of former Minister Navin Dissanayake and the revelations he made about alleged cash offers and corruption charges against the government. <\/p>\n

Although the common opposition made headway in the battle that takes place in front of the eyes of the media, it is yet to overcome challenges that are still rampant at ground level.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

A stalwart of the common opposition met an advertising expert a few days ago to discuss about future strategies and the path the campaign of the common candidate has to take. According to the stalwart, the opposition is still behind the government\u2019s campaign and the President has a 60 percent chance to win the election. Probably, the opposition stalwart brought out that calculation to demonstrate his advertising expert the amount work that needs to be done. But, the crux of the matter is that the common opposition and common candidate Maithripala Sirisena has a lot of \u2018homework\u2019 to do if they are serious about defeating a formidable opponent like President Mahinda Rajapaksa.<\/p>\n

The main reason behind the present issue is the absence of a comprehensive and a coherent plan where the future of the election campaign is concerned. So many cooks are already involved in the process of making the \u2018campaign soup\u2019, but the entire exercise is characterized with a lot of \u201cfire-fighting\u201d and not with carefully crafted strategic planning.<\/p>\n

It is important to realize what the key strengths of the common opposition are. Firstly, the United National Party, the largest stakeholder of the common opposition, has the country\u2019s biggest party machinery and the ground level organizations to support its activities. The UNP is often dubbed as the largest \u2018individual\u2019 political party in the country which has formed governments alone on several occasions, starting 1947.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Maithripala Sirisena represents the old guard of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party which is at the core of the present UPFA government. Alongside him, stands Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former President and the former leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party who was at the helm of the party for over 11 years. Whether one likes it or not, she is the sole representative of the \u2018Bandaranaike legacy\u2019 in the country\u2019s political sphere at this particular moment. Although the former President\u2019s track-record and the way she governed the country from 1994 to 2005 may look like a \u201cbaggage\u201d to some, there are many who believe that she is still appealing to the old guard of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. That is why she is still playing a role in the political campaign of the common opposition even though she is not pleasing to the eyes of some powerful members in the common opposition camp.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, there is Patali Champika Ranawaka, a key strategist of the Mahinda Rajapaksa government especially during the height of war and in the aftermath. He was instrumental in formulating the \u2018Mahinda Chinthana\u2019 election manifesto at the last presidential election and he is the type of politician whom any political party would like to have onboard, particularly in the run up to an important national level election. In addition to his role as a strategist, Ranawaka can play an important role in the identity-building process of the common candidate vis-\u00e0-vis allegations pertaining to \u201cdiaspora projects\u201d and \u201cNGO funds\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera is a fiery orator who can certainly be appealing to the grassroots level. He played a significant role behind forming the common opposition alliance and guided the Jathika Hela Urumaya in the direction of supporting the opposition\u2019s common candidate. At the outset, it was expected that Ven. Rathana Thera would play an important role in the campaign of Maithripala Sirisena as a key orator on his stage. What adds more value to characters like Ranawaka and Ven. Rathana Thera is the unblemished nature of their past track-records. No bribery and corruption allegations have been leveled against them and no question can be raised over their loyalty to the country as they played an important role to push the UPFA government towards the final phase of war.<\/p>\n

So what prevents the common opposition from cashing in on its key strengths?
\nIt is nothing but the absence of a central mechanism that channels its key strengths into a common and comprehensive plan. There is no real coordination among the key stakeholders of the common opposition and various parties are operating in silos, without a concerted effort. In the context of a game of cricket, there are some brilliant players in the common opposition team who are playing for themselves and not for the victory of the team. That was why certain confusing messages came out from press conferences addressed by stalwarts of the common opposition.<\/p>\n

Even opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe realized this when he checked the preparations for the opposition\u2019s rally in Kandy, which is scheduled to take place next week. Wickremesinghe noticed that at least the initial propaganda work has not been carried out although the rally is just a week away. While highlighting the present issues with the opposition\u2019s election campaign, Wickremesinghe told everyone to pull their socks up and work, if they did not wish to be on the losing side.<\/p>\n

Wickremesinghe has been hard on those in the party who overlook the presidential campaign over their lack of preparations for the rally, scheduled to be held in Kandy, next week.<\/p>\n

However, the organizers at the lower rung complained that they were somewhat restricted due to the absence of a central body that carries out ground level activities pertaining to the presidential campaign. Now the ball is in the leader\u2019s court as he has to now come up with a mechanism to resolve the problems of the campaign.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, to fill the void that presently exists in the campaign, Head of the UNP Media Unit and Matara District Parliamentarian Mangala Samaraweera has taken the lead in setting up a cohesive, multi-party propaganda targeting the upcoming presidential election. Samaraweera undertook the same task at the general election in 2004 and the presidential election in 2005 after forming a coalition with the JVP. With Samaraweera\u2019s coordination, the SLFP and the JVP carried out successful election campaigns and emerged victorious on both occasions. Samaraweera, who is also considered by many as a brilliant strategist in the game of politics, has now taken the responsibility to initiate a well-coordinated and cohesive propaganda campaign.<\/p>\n

This came in the wake of the rally organized at the Uyanwatte stadium in Matara which was attended by UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, UNP Leadership Council Chairman Karu Jayasuriya, Arjuna Ranatunga and Rajitha Senaratne. However, The Matara rally was successful to a great extent although it left room for some speculations.<\/p>\n

Notable absentees for the Matara rally were UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake and its Deputy Leader Hambanthota District Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa. It is an \u201copen secret\u201d that Attanayake and Samaraweera are not in the best of terms and there is a cold war between the two.<\/p>\n

The controversy involving Tiss Attanayake and Mangala Samaraweera took a new turn when the latter lashed out at a statement made by the UNP General Secretary over Ranil Wickremesinghe being the \u201cExecutive Prime Minister\u201d of the country.
\nAfter media reports, quoting Tissa Attanayake, claimed that Wickremesinghe would be appointed as the \u2018Executive Prime Minister\u2019 of the country within 24 hours after Maithripala Sirsisena\u2019s ascension to power, Samaraweera said there was no such post in the world as \u201cExecutive Prime Minister\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe post \u2018Executive Prime Minister\u2019 is non-existent in the world. It is completely wrong to say that Ranil Wickremesinghe will be appointed as the Executive Prime Minister. Those who keep saying that are doing a contract on behalf of the government,\u201d the UNP Parliamentarian said addressing a press conference in Colombo. It was clear that Samaraweera\u2019s criticism was directed at Attanayake who is the General Secretary of the party.<\/p>\n

Just a day before this controversial statement, Attanayake said the media reports claiming that he was negotiating with the government for a crossover was a clear indication of a conspiracy against him.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, the opposition\u2019s campaign is also hampered by the lack of funds \u2013 at least to conduct essential publicity campaigns such as the posters. It is quite ironic that the UNP \u2013which is identified by many as the party of the rich and the powerful \u2013 is experiencing enormous difficulties due to financial constraints. Despite the claims on foreign funds and other clandestine avenues of income, the party is struggling with serious financial issues with many potential funders turning a blind eye to the requirements of the party. According to one of the senior Parliamentarians of the UNP, the main reason for the party\u2019s financial issues is the fact that the party has been in the opposition for too long as it last fell out of power in April, 2004.<\/p>\n

Courtesy:The Nation<\/em><\/p>\n

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By Rasika Jayakody The presidential election is expected to enter into a crucial stage after tomorrow (08), with its two main candidates – President Mahinda Rajapaksa and common candidate Maithripala Sirisena – planning to accelerate their election campaigns following the final date of nominations. Although the common candidate held his first election rally in Polonnaruwa …<\/p>\n

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