According to Basil Rajapaksa MP and the Special Advisor to the President, initially the presidential elections will be held followed by the parliamentary general elections.
Basil Rajapaksa speaking to Asian Tribune said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would make an announcement tomorrow of the government’s decision of holding presidential elections first, followed by the parliamentary general elections.
He said after the announcement, it is up to the Election Commission to determine the dates of the election.
Common Candidate – a tug-a-war
Asian Tribune learnt that Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna has clearly indicated that they will not support General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka if he comes forward to contest as a United National Front candidate led by the United National Party of Ranil Wickremasinghe.
They wanted the retired General to contest on a common party or front and they have two months ago applied with the Election Commission for the registration Eksath Prajathantrawadi Peramuna (United Democratic Front) and awaiting the approval .
USA & Norway’s Manipulations
In the meantime, United States of America and Norway are surreptiously involved in the behind the scene maneuvering to win the support of the Tamils to their Don Juan - Sarath Fonseka.
They have made arrangement through Varathakumar of the Tamil Information centre, London, to hold a meeting in Zurich and invited Tamil and Muslim leaders of Sri Lanka to attend the meeting.
Zurich Meeting
Varathakumar has invited Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, the parliamentary group leader of Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Suresh Premachandran (EPRLF-S, TNA), Gajendrakumar Ponnampalam (All Ceylon Tamil Congress, TNA), Arumugam Thondaman (CWC), Muthu Sivalingam (CWC), Mano Ganesan (DPA), Anandasangaree (TULF), Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan (TMVP), D. Siddharthan (PLOTE) and Rauff Hakeem (SLMC).
Free round trip air tickets were sent to these invitees and free hotel and other arrangements are too provided freely to the participants.
Who is footing the bill for these arrangements is a mystery.
Your guess is good as that of mine said a source close to the organizers of the meeting in Zurich.
CWC & TMVP leaders left Zurich
Already Minister Arumugam Thondaman and Muthu Sivalingham of the CWC and Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal have expressed their disagreement and are on their way back to Sri Lanka.
It is learnt that Rauff Hakeem MP and the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress is spearheading the discussions to canvass the support of the Tamil National Alliance to Sarath Fonseka.
TNA might break
Sources told that TNA representatives are in a quandary to express their decision openly as they have to discuss with the other TNA Members of Parliament, before coming up with an agreement to support General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka in the Presidential election.
Asian Tribune learns in case Sampanthan, Suresh Premachandran (EPRLF-S, TNA), Gajendrakumar Ponnampalam (All Ceylon Tamil Congress), agrees to support the common presidential candidate of the United National Front , there is a danger of TNA breaking up in two to three groups.
In the aspect of supporting Fonseka, there is no unanimity in the midst of TNA parliament members. The TNA Parliament members belonging to the LTTE are vehemently opposing Sarath Fonseka for the alleged killing of the innocent Tamil civilians by troops led by Sarath Fonseka.
Also it is learnt that even in the midst of the Muslims, there is no unanimity.
Even majority of the Muslim leaders of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress opposes Rauff Hakeem for coming forward to support General Fonseka without obtaining the approval of the members.
Muslim leaders are of the opinion that it was Sarath Fonseka who opposed the resettlement of the displaced Muslims who are languishing in camps in Puttalam, when he was the Commander of Jaffna.
- Asian Tribune -
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