Sri Lanka Brief (4/15)

Internal Developments:

BBS’ Political Wing to Contest Elections:

1. Bodu Jana Peramuna (BJP), the political wing of the Sinhala-Buddhist organization Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has decided to contest the upcoming General Elections on August 17. Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thero, General Secretary of the BBS, said that “While we have many small parties representing the Tamils and the Muslims, we do not have anyone representing the Sinhalese.” The King Cobra (Naga) will be the BJP’s election symbol.

MR to Contest as Under UPFA Banner:

2. President Maithripala Sirisena has agreed to give nomination to former president Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest the upcoming elections as a candidate of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA). The decision was taken by President Sirisena at a meeting of the constituent parties held at the presidential secretariat on July 2, 2015. MR will be contesting from the Kurunegala District, while the Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa would be the alliance candidate from the Hambantota District.

Trade Unions say ‘No’ to MR:

3. A group of civil organisations and trade unions held protest outside the Colombo Fort Railway Station on July 3 against giving nominations to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to contest the general elections.

‘Silent Revolution’ not to be Reversed:

4. President Maithripala Sirisena has asserted that he will not allow the ‘silent revolution’ carried out on January 8, to be revoked. He added , “I will not let any party decision tarnish or harm the transformations that occurred in this country after January 8 – I will protect it”. He also maintained he would ensure the justice prevails in the country and that family rule and corruption is cast out and that good governance is preserved.

JVP Accuses President of ‘Political Betrayal’:

5. Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has charged President Maitripala Sirisena of making the ‘greatest political betrayal’ in recent political history of the country by agreeing to give nomination to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa,

Chandrika Kumarathunga Leaves for Britain:

6. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga left for Britain on June 6, amidst rising political tensions in the country. Kumarathunga, a key ally of President Maithripala Sirisena, was reportedly unhappy over the recent political developments. However, a statement issued by the office of the former President clarified that the visit was pre- arranged in order to attend an “important family event”.

Navy Chief promoted to the rank of Admiral

7. Navy Commander Jayantha Perera has been promoted to the rank of Admiral by President Maithripala Sirisena with effect from July 9, 2015.

SLMC to Contest under UNP Flag:

8. The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has decided to contest the elections on UNP ticket in the districts of Puttalam, Kalutara, Ampara,Kurunegala, Kandy, Gampaha and Trincomalee while fielding its candidates under its own banner and symbol of ‘Tree’ in the districts of Baticaloa and Vanni.

Sirisena Allies Break Ranks with SLFP

9. Disappointed at the decision to nominate former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a candidate for the upcoming polls, some political leaders who had backed President Maithripala Sirisena decided, on July 10, to quit the United People's Freedom Alliance and initiate a dialogue with the United National Party (UNP). Political figures including Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Patali Champika Ranawaka, Duminda Dissanayake and Arjuna Ranatunga had met the President and conveyed their decision.

Coalition MoU Signed

10. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form the ‘United National Good-Governance Front’ has been signed between the United National Party (UNP), Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and some other members of the breakaway faction of SLFP on July 12. JHU General Secretary Champika Ranawaka, Rajitha Senaratne, Arjuna Ranatunga and Hirunika Premachandra have signed their nomination papers for the forthcoming elections under the newly formed Front.

11. The United Left Front (ULF) formed by the breakaway groups of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the Communist Party and the Democratic Left Front, will contest the upcoming general elections with the UNP led alliance. "While maintaining its separate political identity, the United Left Front will contest the forthcoming Parliamentary elections under the umbrella of the United National Front for Good Governance in order to consolidate the victory of 08 January and prevent the re-emergence of authoritarian regime that the people of Sri Lanka defeated," the statement said.

12. The SLFP defectors, including Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, M.K.D.S. Gunawardane and Hirunika Premachandra, contesting the general elections under the banner of the UNP alliance, are likely to be suspended from the party.

Sri Lankan Press Council Re-Activated:

13. Under an executive order, President Sirisena on July 02, 2015, re-activated the Sri Lanka Press Council, providing for wide ranging punitive powers including that of imprisonment of media personnel. This has created furor among national and international media groups.

External Relations:

Sri Lanka Will Never Pose Threat to India- MR:

14. In an interview to Shri. Nitin Gokhale (Rediff.com contributor and Senior Fellow & Editor, VIF) former President said that Sri Lanka’s relationship with China would never pose a threat to the relationship it shared with India, adding that the country needed to maintain good relations with both India and China. “We have nothing to gain by helping any other country to become a threat to India”, he said.

Cairn to quit petroleum exploration in Sri Lanka:

15. The agreement between the Sri Lankan government and Cairn Lanka, an entity coming under the umbrella of Cairn India and holding license for petroleum exploration in the Mannar basin, will end by October, 2015. The pact, called Petroleum Resources Agreement, was signed in July 2008 between the government of Sri Lanka and Cairn India. The termination of the agreement has been necessitated by the “policy decision” of the Cairn India not to go ahead with further exploration, after drilling four wells, three in 2011 and one in 2013. Natural gas was discovered in two wells, which were estimated to have the recoverable volume of around 60 billion cubic meters. The Cairn Lanka had spent $ 230 million for the exploration.

India Extends Tsunami Warning System to Sri Lanka:

16. India has extended its tsunami early warning system services to Sri Lanka and the Seychelles. The warning system has been developed by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, in collaboration with RIMES, a Bangkok-based multi-governmental organisation, of which India is a member. The service has already been operationalised for Maldives.

‘Exercise- Silk Route 2015' Concludes:

17. The 2nd joint exercise between the Sri Lanka Army and People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) concluded in Sri Lanka on July 13, 2015. The exercise was organized by the Directorate of Training at the Army Headquarters and was conducted under three phases at the Commando Regiment Training School (CRTS) in Uva-Kudaoya, Commando Regiment Headquarters in Ganemulla and Special Forces Training School (SFTS) in Maduruoya.

18. Operations were focused largely on weapon handling, VVIP protection study, live firing, lane firing, sniper firing, body protection drills, backup vehicle movement and training, body protection formation, ambush drills, reconnaissance techniques, skill firing, special mission planning, combat tracking techniques, situation training exercise, jungle warfare and basic battle skills, vehicle ambush drills, aircraft and building option training, etc.
EU to ‘Observe’ Parliamentary Elections in Sri Lanka:

19. Following an invitation from the Sri Lanka authorities, the European Union has started the deployment of an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Sri Lanka to observe the Parliamentary Elections scheduled for 17 August 2015.