Mixed reactions towards the General

UNP National Organizer S.B. Dissanayake had told several weekly newspaper editors on Friday (23) morning that he opposed any move to put forward General Sarath Fonseka as the common candidate at the next Presidential election with the support of the UNP. SB had said the UNP in such an eventuality would lose the support of minority parties and communities. UNP sources say that the recent statement made by DPF Leader Mano Ganesshan that he would withdraw from the opposition alliance in the event General Fonseka was put forward as the common candidate of the opposition at the next Presidential election was backed by SB.

Meanwhile, Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara addressing a paddy tilling festival in the Galle District had said the war against the LTTE was won by none other than the President himself. He had said the full credit of the military victory was with the President and that the General was merely a puppet. He had observed that the UNP leader was trying to instigate military heads in order to pave the way for an Army rule in the country. However, JVP politburo member and parliamentarian K.D. Lalkantha addressing a gathering said if there was going to be a military coup in the country, it would have taken place soon after the assassination of Prabhakaran. He said that if General Fonseka had any need to capture power, he could have ordered three Army units that were fighting in the North to surround the Presidential Secretariat, the President’s House and Temple Trees for the purpose. Lalkantha queried as to how contesting an election to be democratically elected be considered as a military coup.