Aliraja Enters Politics from the North
UNP’s Latest Attempt to Form an Alliance Fails
Ranil Assures Anura a Five-Year Term
Anura’s Alliance Lean: China, India, or the West?
Promised Reliefs Yet to Materialize
New Alliances
In recent times, political discourse has been filled with news about new alliances forming in preparation for the upcoming general election. Notably, the alliance between the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) has sparked widespread discussion in society. There are also talks of former MPs joining Dilit Jayaweera’s ‘Motherland Janata Party.’ While the SJB, UNP, and Dilit’s party have garnered considerable attention with their alliance talks, other parties are quietly preparing for the election. Leading this quieter approach is the Compass party, headed by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
Throughout last week, the Compass party held several key meetings focused on the general election. Although the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) is the main party within this alliance, various groups have united under a new party known as ‘Malimawa.’ This shift has sparked questions, especially as several prominent JVP members have been absent from the public political sphere. With Malimawa gaining significant recognition and influence, discussions have suggested that distinguished figures from Malimawa, such as educators and scholars, should be prioritized in the general election. However, the JVP has indicated that, as the primary party with established recognition, they expect a larger share of representation. This has led to discussions around quota allocation within the Compass party.
Despite these negotiations, a key decision has been made regarding election strategy. Compass has decided not to promote individual candidates but to encourage voters to support the party by marking their preference next to the Compass symbol alone. While Malimawa is committed to this unified approach, some candidates from the party have already launched extensive media campaigns, promoting their image and brand on social networks. As it stands, it’s expected that nominations will be divided evenly, with a 50-50 split between representatives from the JVP and Malimawa.
Why Silence?
Another topic sparking curiosity is the unexpected silence of key JVP representatives after their historic victory in a presidential election—a win that brought them close to governmental power after 50 years. Figures like Tilvin, Handunnetthi, Lalkantha, Bimal, Nalinda Jayatissa, and Wasantha Samarasinghe were prominent on the public stage during the campaign, yet now there is widespread speculation about their absence.
Following the inauguration of the new president, much of the media coverage was supportive and balanced toward the administration. However, despite this media focus, whispers continue about the noticeable quietness from JVP leaders after such a significant win. Some believe the silence may be strategic, suggesting that the JVP is focusing on the general election, with a meticulously planned campaign. Yet, this explanation hasn’t quelled the growing curiosity, as many people are openly questioning this unexpected silence from the party’s prominent figures.
Motor show
On the other hand, after the presidential election, the most active figure in JVP politics was none other than its political committee member Wasantha Samarasinghe. Wasantha discussed several serious topics after the presidential election. One of the main ones was the topic of luxury cars that were said to have been left on the Galle Face. The other topic was the topic of Bar Licensing which had been distributed to the MPs by the former President Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe. Both these topics were taken up and a large media campaign was carried out after the presidential election. Wasantha said there that these super vehicles were left at the Galle Face green, and they are ready to hand over to the Criminal Investigation Department to conduct an investigation. Meanwhile, President’s Private Secretary Mr. Wijepala presented to the media a list of names of people using the vehicles parked at the Galle Face. Responding to this, former President’s Secretary Mr. Saman Ekanayake immediately issued a statement saying that the persons who used these vehicles have been handed over to the President’s Secretariat as scheduled.
At the same time, a serious attack from the opposition could be seen targeting these vehicles. The opposition said that during Chandrika’s government, in 2015 during the Yahapalana government and in 2019 during Gotabaya’s government, a big media show was held showing vehicles. It was said that there was a huge misuse of vehicles, but no one was punished.
In this way, with the criticism from the opposition, it was seen that the show of supercars that was taken from the side of the compass was collapsing. At the same time, the President’s Media Unit presented a list of the names of the people who used these vehicles, and it was shown that these vehicles have been handed over by the concerned persons. At the same time, the President’s Media Unit announced that the government had taken steps to distribute all the relevant vehicles to the original institutions that used them, so the drama of the super vehicle show that had been going on for several days was seen to have ended.
However, a serious problem has emerged regarding this list of vehicles released to the media. Usually, when releasing facts to the media about such a list of names, the media does not ask for information from all those mentioned in it. The media publishes all those lists in their media. In the same way, we also took steps to publish the list of names we had received regarding those vehicles. There some accused us and said that these lists are not correct. But we also admit that there have been some omissions on our part while publishing the list of relevant names. No one can say that frauds and abuses have not occurred in the use of these super vehicles. However, with the final announcement issued by the Presidential Media Unit, this vehicle drama has ended, and it seems that it has become an invalid topic to the extent that no one is talking about it.
Passport Drama
Meanwhile, the other big topic discussed during the last two or three weeks was the passport issue. At first glance, many people thought that there has been a big fraud in this passport issue. Here, the problem had arisen about giving the electronic passport or e-passport to a certain institution. It was given to a company owned by someone very close to the former president’s family. It is said to be a company that helped the former president a lot in the past period. Also, it is an open secret in the industry that Ranil helped this company a lot after the establishment of the government in 2001 and after the establishment of the government in 2015. However, although the related tender was awarded to this company, no action was taken by this company according to the tender specs. Nevertheless, the government did not proceed to award this e-passport tender to another company either. After that, the matter that was revealed that a big crisis was created in this regard on the eve of the presidential election and a new cabinet paper was presented to provide this e-passport to the relevant company without following any tender procedures. Accordingly, the government had planned to get seven and a half lakh passports from the relevant company.
But the problem arose when the company called ‘Epic Lanka’ took legal action against this e-passport project. The old company that had accepted the passport tender said before the Court of Appeal that the e-passport project is given to a new company without calling for any tenders. Accordingly, it was further said that at first glance, this appears to be a heinous financial crime. Accordingly, the Court of Appeal took steps to suspend the relevant e-passport project and issue a restraining order.
But last week, this case was called before the Court of Appeal once again, and at that time, the minister in charge of the subject, Vijitha Herath, had held discussions with the Attorney General to find a solution to this problem. Even then, the Immigration Department had only 132,000 passports. Given the demand for passports in the country, it is not enough for even a few days. Accordingly, as a temporary solution to this problem, the Attorney General’s Department informed the Court of Appeal last week that since such a crisis has now arisen, to remove the temporary ban on e-passports and to allow the importation of 750,000 passports.
However, the government’s first cabinet press conference was already being held at the information department, and the journalists there proceeded to ask Vijitha Herath about this. Vijitha responded that a solution would be found by noon that day. As Vijitha said, the decision received in the afternoon said that the same company entrusted to supply the e-passport was entrusted to supply the e-passport. Accordingly, they had the opportunity to import the relevant 750,000 passports as a temporary measure.
Just like the car drama shown last week, this passport drama ended temporarily in the same way. However, a final decision has not yet been made regarding whether the relevant project will be handed over to this company, or whether a new tender will be called and handed over to another company following the prescribed procedure.
Bribe seekers are at large
While the passport issue was temporarily resolved through the Court of Appeal, another big controversial revelation surfaced from Anuradhapura court. There, a big revelation was made before the Anuradhapura Magistrate by Viranjith Thambugala, who was considered a controversial businessman in the past. In a special statement, he said, that some senior officials of the Criminal Investigation Department, some politicians, and some relatives of their families together demanded crores of ransom from him.
Below is how the media reported the news.
Here is a controversial statement that shakes the whole country unfolds in the Anuradhapura court
Crores paid to CID officers to stop the investigation of a millionaire businessman
The former justice minister’s son and a SJB constituency organizer have asked the ransom
A strong politician has asked for money to install cameras in Police stations
There is video evidence and audio evidence
Mr Viranjith Thambugala, Chairman of Aura Lanka Company, said that he is capable of paying off half of the country’s debt with the money and property he has legally earned in foreign countries, before Anuradhapura Additional Magistrate Ms Manodi Hevawasam that some politicians and some high-ranking officials of the Criminal Investigation Department robbed him of the wealth he had earned.
Mr. Viranjith Thambugala said in the open court that he has audio and video evidence to prove that some politicians and some high officials of the Criminal Investigation Department robbed him of his wealth and said that he thought of committing suicide when he recalled these happenings to him.
According to the request of Mr Tiran Alas, the minister in charge of the police, I agreed to install CCTV cameras in every police station with my own Aura Lanka Constructions company funds, but because I did not agree with Mr Tiran Alas’s request to hand over all the cost for these projects to his hands, he and the police get angry with me?
Mr. Viranjith Thambugala said this while making a statement in the open court regarding the complaint filed by the Criminal Investigation Department’s Illegal Assets Investigation Division about an alleged case of illegal acquisition of assets.
Mr. Viranjith Thambugala, the Chairman of Aura Lanka Company, made a voluntary statement under the guidance of Mr. Upali Jayamanna:
Lawyer Rakitha Rajapaksa, the son of the President’s counsel Mr. Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, and lawyer Eranga Weliange, the son-in-law of MP Palitha Range Bandara, came to see me one day and told me that the CID has started an investigation against me under the Money Laundering Act.
They told me that if the investigation was done properly, I would go to jail like Lalit Kothalala, and my assets would be frozen. They told me that to stop this investigation; they would have to pay some money to the top officials of the CID.
Former Deputy Inspector General of CID Prasad Ranasinghe and the current Director of Illegal Assets Investigation Division of CID Laksiri Gital told me that if they are to stop the investigation against me regarding the assets, they want 30 crore rupees.
Later I talked to them and reduced the ransom amount from 30 crore rupees to 12 crore rupees. After talking further, I agreed to reduce the ransom from twelve crores to five crores and gave them five crores of rupees. I gave them two crores out of the five crores that was promised. Apart from that, two and a half crore rupees were given to Chief Inspector Sampath Rajakaruna, OIC of the Illegal Assets Investigation Division of the CID. Audio and video evidence as well as many other evidence available to confirm that this money was given.
I have a large amount of financial assets. I cannot say at this time the exact amount of money. I can pay off half of the country’s debt with my current financial assets. All these assets are legally earned by me from foreign countries. I can prove it. This money is not the money I earned in this country. All of them are earned from foreign countries. Even now I am earning money legally from foreign countries.
The Criminal Investigation Department is currently pressuring and harassing me with various absurd accusations against these legal assets that I have. Even some of my bank accounts have been suspended. There are countless times when I think of committing suicide when I remember the constant and baseless harassment, influence and harassment. Mr. Tiran Alas, who was the Minister of Public Security, requested me to repair the police stations in Sri Lanka. I agreed and asked for an estimate. In addition, I promised to install one CCTV camera in each police station. I told Minister Tiran Alas that all this will be done by my own ‘Aura Lanka Constructions. But he didn’t like it. He told me to hand over all the money spent on these projects. But I didn’t agree to that.
Mr. Tiran Alas treated me with hatred. I have all the necessary evidence to confirm that the officers of the Illegal Property and Assets Investigation Division of the CID demanded an amount of Rs.30 cores and part of it was given to that and the evidence videos are there with me.
I got the support of ASP Mr. Mahanama to gather witnesses related to the cases of extortion. From the date of obtaining such assistance, the CID making false accusations against Mr. Mahanama, he is chased away. It was mentioned in the news that they are trying to take revenge on Mr. Mahanama.
SJB-UNP Matchmaking
Last week, in the Inside Politics column, we disclosed several discussions between the United National Party (UNP) and Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) following the presidential election. We shared insights about proposals to appoint Harsha de Silva as the leader of SJB after the election loss, meetings held in a Colombo temple aimed at merging the two parties, and details of SJB members striking deals with the UNP.
Uniquely, none of the details we reported appeared in other newspapers or political columns across Sri Lanka, as the meeting’s contents were known only to a select few. Our report covered not only the inside information but also the individuals present at these discussions, where a primary topic was the call for Ranil Wickremesinghe to step down as UNP leader to facilitate the alliance.
This sentiment was so strong it stirred significant dissent, even within Ranil’s inner circle. Former close allies like Akila, Ruwan, and Navin Dissanayake expressed that it was time for Ranil to step down. Only Sagala, Vajira, and Manusha continued to support him. To counter this, Vajira and Manusha organized small UNP delegations in Galle to pass resolutions urging Ranil to remain as party leader, hoping this would inspire similar resolutions across the country. However, outside Galle, no other UNP delegations voiced support for Ranil’s continued leadership.
Last week, Akila, Ruwan, and Navin Dissanayake, leveraging their popularity within the UNP, met privately with Ranil, urging him to consider stepping down. This meeting followed consultations with other senior members via phone. Amidst this mounting pressure for Ranil’s resignation, only Vajira and Sagala maintained their support for his leadership.
Ranil phoned Harsha
Meanwhile, Ranil was not idle. From time to time, he spoke to several SJB seniors and presented various ideas. One of them was none other than Harsha de Silva. But unlike in the past, Harsha was more careful in dealing with Ranil this time. According to the news we have, it is said that this time, Harsha has informed the party about what he said to Ranil. In the meantime, we have received information about the ‘Mawrata’ newspaper and the speeches made by Harsha at certain places. Accordingly, this time too, we are ready to make another special disclosure through the ‘Inside Politics’ column regarding a discussion that took place at a certain place about our ‘Mawrata’.
In a revelation we made last week, it was said that on this side, Harsha and the Eran blamed ‘Mawrata’, while from Ranil’s side; Vajira blamed the ‘Mawrata’. In this way, in the same way that ‘Mawrata’ was discussed within SJB and the UNP, this week also there was some discussion about ‘Mawrata’ within the UNP. It was during a discussion chaired by Ranil. Here Vajira had brought a big secret and told Ranil that a big conflict had arisen within SJB. Vajira had informed Ranil that this had been revealed through the ‘Inside politics’ column and that Harsha and Eran had been seriously attacked by the ‘Mawrata’, and that they were also preparing to revolt within the country. Accordingly, Vajira informed Ranil that he had spoken to all of them personally.
It was special when Vajira was telling Ranil the information that was in the ‘Mawrata’ ‘Inside politics’ column in this manner, but Ranil did not mention a word about it. Instead, Ranil kept his hand on his cheek as usual and listened to Vajira’s stories.
All these people have something special to say. What we are doing here is only reporting the events happening within the respective parties in the same way and analyzing those events. That is our media role. We fulfil that responsibility. Accordingly, we do not care if anyone starts any rebellion based on the disclosures we make. Something should also be said about our media. According to our policies, we also engage in media by supporting certain parties or certain individuals. It is common to the SJB as well as the compass. Not only us, but even the media of all other countries publicly announce the party or person or policy they support during elections. It is done through their editorial. People in certain parties who wear tie coats and white series don’t know it, but there is nothing we can do about it. It is a common situation whether we take the situation of India, take the situation of America or take any other country that respects democracy. Therefore, it is a great achievement for us to be discussed within the political parties based on the facts we report. We are humbled by that. It should be mentioned here that anyone can change leaders and do anything else through the information we publish. It does not concern us.
The secret of surviving after losing
However, Ranil knew from the beginning that with the defeat of the presidential election, there was a possibility of a rebellion against his leadership as usual. Even after losing more than 50 elections over 30 years, staying in leadership through various vicissitudes is not something new for Ranil. To that extent, the fact of losing the election and the fact of protecting the leadership are now well known to Ranil. Accordingly, last week, Ranil called the party’s working committee to Sirikotha, knowing full well that there would be a problem regarding the leadership once again. It was witnessed here a large number of people including Ashu Marasinghe, Akila, and Navin Dissanayake, who are considered to be Ranil’s closest, directly informed Ranil to step down from the leadership. On the other side, there was a loud noise from the crowd, saying ‘Don’t destroy UNP further. At least this time let’s contest with the elephant symbol.’ It was very notable that no one came forward to comment on Ranil’s behalf.
However, Ranil presented a big political picture to the group and said that Aliya couldn’t run for the election this year and that everyone should come together and run for the election with a common symbol. Also, Ranil said that as far as he can see, Anura will be in power for the next 5 years and after the lapse of those 5 years, he should take steps to get the power of the government.
Anura knew the story
There is another hidden story behind Ranil’s speech that Anura will rule for 5 years in the working committee meeting. That is a story that Ranil personally told to all those who came to meet him after losing the presidential election. Ranil had told them that it would be very difficult for Anura to lead the government up to next March and the government will have to face many serious crises. Then Ranil told the people that everyone would need him. But the thing is that Anura has also heard this story that Ranil told very privately only to a few people close to him. Later, Ranil also got to know that Anura had heard the story he told. The ‘inside politics’ column also has the information about how Ranil’s story got to Anura. However, Ranil immediately got scared when he found out that his story had been reported to Anura’s side. In the working committee meeting, Ranil made a public statement that Anura will continue the government for another 5 years because of the fear. However, when Ranil told this story, the gathered people looked face to face because Ranil would be 83 years old in another 5 years.
However, because the working committee meeting was not conducted in a friendly manner, Ranil came out after the meeting very angry. Even when he got into his car, Ranil’s anger had not subsided. It was confirmed that ‘everyone here is coming to fight. But there is no one to do any work.’ Ranil got into his car saying this.
At that time, from the side of SJB, its Secretary General Ranjith Madduma Bandara had said in a press conference that the talks of alliance with UNP had ended and the reason for this was Ranil’s unwillingness to leave the party leadership. Maddumabandara further stated that apart from two or three front line members of the UNP, many people have already expressed their agreement to join SJB.
No big difference?
Although Anura took office as the new president, he had not made any serious changes in the economy within the past two weeks. Even though it is not as promised to the people, although minor decisions affecting the economy such as reducing the fuel price and providing fertilizer subsidy were made, Anura did not take any serious decisions beyond that, due to the agreement that the government has made with the International Monetary Fund. Also, due to the fact that a group of representatives of the Financial Fund had already arrived in Sri Lanka, the compass had decided not to make any questionable changes. However, before the representatives of the financial fund arrived in Sri Lanka, a special decision had been announced by Malimawa that SriLankan Airlines would not be sold.
In addition to this, ‘Malimawa’ said during the election platform that the amount of salary subject to income tax will be increased from one lakh to two lakhs. That the VAT imposed on essential food items will be removed. In this regard, during the initial discussions held with the financial fund, they informed the government that the method of finding the lost income should be explained.
Also, during the initial discussions regarding SriLankan Airlines, the government had informed that instead of selling the airline, it was ready to hand over its management to another party. But it is still unclear about the method of finding the amount lost through it. In addition, in the policy of selling loss-making institutions, ‘Malimawa’ has a policy of competitively inviting tenders and giving them to the highest bidder. It is said that the government has planned to announce the relief package that will be given to the people if they agree to the demands of the compass during the discussion with the financial fund. If so, this will be an additional advantage for the government in the upcoming elections.
Anura’s foreign policy?
Apart from this, foreign embassies are also now observing the government’s foreign policy very closely. Rumors in the diplomatic field say that the government is closely watching whether it will follow a pro-China policy, a pro-India policy, or a pro-American policy. Meanwhile, a political rumor last week said that the government has already requested a loan facility of 2 billion dollars from China. Although its truth or falsity has not been confirmed so far, the government must have seen that it is waiting for more big help from China. There is a wonderful story behind this special help.
Secret China Trip
In the last two years, Anura has been on many trips abroad, but in December last year, he made a very secret trip to China, which no one knew about. Although photographs of other trips were published in the media, no information about Anura’s visit to China was published in the media. The necessary facilities for this journey were provided by a certain powerful woman of the Chinese central government. She is Sun Haiyan, Deputy Minister of the International Affairs Department of the Communist Party of China and a member of the Central Committee of that Party. In that discussion, Anura asked the Chinese authorities what kind of help they could provide from China in order to take over the government without a crisis if his party assumes power in Sri Lanka. Haiyan, who visited Sri Lanka after this discussion, came to the JVP office in Pelawatte and had a special discussion with Anura. She also took steps to meet the then President Ranil and the opposition leader Sajith during that visit.
However, during the discussion with Anura, Haiyan responded to Anura’s request in China and handed over a file with several special proposals to Anura. There was a proposal that included support for a JVP regime from China. At the forefront of it was the fact that China can help Sri Lanka in a way that no other country in the world can do for the promotion of the tourism industry. There, she said that within 2 years, one million tourists from China can be sent to Sri Lanka. She mentioned that although this can be done simultaneously, since the existing infrastructure in Sri Lanka is not sufficient, the number of Chinese tourists can be gradually increased to one million. Anura ran for the presidential election with this trump card in mind.
Accordingly, immediately after Anura was sworn in as the President, Anura had arranged to discuss this matter with the Chinese authorities. There, China has informed that as an immediate support to Sri Lanka, it will send a group of 30 lakh Chinese tourists to Sri Lanka during the tourist season starting this December. It is also known that China has agreed to increase it to 60 lakh when the next tourist season starts. Accordingly, many people believe that this trump card given by China is a very strong one that cannot be underestimated at all.
In this regard, the ‘Inside politics’ column has heard that other countries including the West have started to investigate Anura’s Chinese friendship. However, the current information says that Anura has taken the initial steps for a very careful journey balancing China, India, the West and the International Monetary Fund. It must have been clearly seen by the Chinese Foreign Minister. When looking at Mr. Jayashankar’s visit to Sri Lanka. Many say that Jayashankar came to Sri Lanka to invite Anura to come to India as his first visit. Accordingly, many people think that Anurad will choose India as his first foreign visit, just as other presidents did.
Aliraja’s sister-in-law
About 5 months ago, in an extraordinary disclosure through this column, we said that Aliraja Subhaskaran, who is considered to be a millionaire businessman in the Tamil diaspora, is preparing to start a political party in the north and contest the elections. Although Subhaskaran planned to start this party aiming at the presidential election, he was not able to complete it at that time. But now the news we are getting from the north says that Aliraja is aiming to enter politics by forming an alliance with the political parties of the north in this general election.
There, Aliraja first met Sridharan, leader of Tamil Arasu Kachchi, and took steps to discuss the matter. Accordingly, it is stated that this alliance headed by Aliraja Subhaskaran is going to be formed under the symbol of ‘Hakgediya’ associated with Aryanethran’s party who contested as the common candidate of the North or under the symbol of Tamil Viduthalai Kootani (Odhana) belonging to Anandasangari. It is also believed that MP Selvam Adeikalanathan is expected to lead the new party.
In addition, it is reported that Aliraja is planning to buy a symbol from the Election Commission. In addition, former Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran and Yezhrikhat leader Suresh Premachandran along with lawyer Vishwalingam Manivannan met Aliraja Subhaskaran.
Party, which has won many seats in the previous elections, aims to retain more seats in the next general election, and it is said that it has decided to investigate the members who acted against the party’s policies in the presidential election and to welcome more young members.