Ranil, Why are you running, asks JRJ

In the Land of No Return, the UNP stalwarts met to discuss the outcome of the recently concluded North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils elections, where the United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa recorded a resounding victory take all 27 electorates in the contest.

UNP stalwarts expressed concern over the defeat after defeat trend of their beloved party. The meeting was Chaired by former UNP leader, President JR Jayewardene with his successor Ranasinghe Premadasa, who continues to be the second-in-command of the UNP over there. Seniors from DS Senanayake who entered the Land of No Return prior to 1977 have given up discussing party politics and are resting in peace.

President Jayewardene prior to the commencement of the meeting had closed door talks with Premadasa who had details of all what was happening within the UNP here. Premadasa is reported to be fed through the internet on the e-mail, by his confidantes in the party where the living are.

The UNPers over there yet believe that Premadasa confidante, Sirisena Cooray was still in touch with his leader via the internet feeding information about the developments in the rank and file of the party.

Former Cabinet Secretary GVP Samarasinghe was requested to take down the minutes of this meeting to discuss the humiliating defeat at the recently concluded PC elections.

JR Jayewardene: Indeed today’s meeting will have to record the sad state of affairs of our party over there. Our party which fell to eight seats in 1970 was resurrected and revived by me and Mr. Premadasa from 1973, adopting many successful strategies to record a landslide victory in July 1977.

Till the untimely demise of Mr.Premadasa, the UNP was on a sound footing, despite certain internal problems. Though Lalith and Gamini left the party, I was happy that Mr.Premadasa was a leader who could face all odds to forge ahead.. But, today the UNP is in a pathetic state... defeat after defeat and Ranil makes no effort I could see....I think he is not capable of playing a political game in the way we did..

R. Premadasa: Yes Sir, Cooray has been sidelined for a long time. I am in touch with Cooray via the Internet. I have full details of all what’s happening within our party. Many have left him to join Mahinda.... Sir, I think you could remember Mahinda Rajapaksa, that young charismatic chap who entered Parliament during Mrs.B’s time ? He is a practical man like me..

JR Jayewardene: Yes...Yes... I know the boy, my good friend DA Rajapaksa’s son. He was a mischievous but friendly fellow at home when he was small, I remember.. that fair looking chap first entered from the old Parliament in Fort when I was Opposition Leader... I have spoken to him several times in the old Parliament building... I am glad that my friend DA’s son is now in my shoes over there.... He was a chap when the tough became tough, he became more tough....

R. Premadasa: Sir, according to the information reaching me, Ranil is more overseas as Opposition and UNP leader playing the role of “Hanuman” to set fire to Mahinda’s Government rather than reorganizing the party.

J.R Jayewardene: I thought at least he was playing a good role as the Opposition Leader!

R. Premadasa: Sir, MPs say he is not in the Chamber most of the time but, constantly seen at his Parliament Office and the Cambridge Terrace office..

J.R Jayewardene: That’s not the way an Opposition Leader should be... I was inside the Chamber all the time. Even Amirthalingam as Opposition Leader played his role in a vibrant manner to confront my Government when you were the Prime Minister, Isn’t it Mr.Premadasa?

R. Premadasa: Yes Sir, Amirthalingam fought well for his people and the TULF and the TULF was a formidable opposition under his leadership with only 18 Members...today Ranil has over 40 though 20 odd have deserted him....

J.R Jayewardene: Mr.Premadasa, what’s actually wrong with this chap Ranil?

R. Premadasa: Sir, this chap has the habit to globe trot at crisis times... Party men call him an “Outside Leader” and not an Opposition Leader... He doesn’t get in constant touch with the grassroots of the party to feel the pulse as you and I did...

J.R Jayewardene: If Cooray contacts you again, send a message to Ranil to follow what you and I did.... We were never out of the country whenever we were in the Opposition..

Mr. Premadasa, how can we breathe and rest here when our party is getting defeated 18 times in row? This is very funny.... To get defeated 18 times, you don’t need a leader? I think now its’ time to evaluate the strategy adopted between me and Dudley in the 1970s. Dudley became the party leader and I took over as Opposition Leader..... changes must take place to suit the changing trends in the interests of the party...isn’t it ?

R. Premadasa: However much his members exert pressure on him to bring in reforms, the fellow plays for time. That’s why over 20 chaps are now on Mahinda’s lap...Sir, some say he is very arrogant...

J.R Jayewardene: When people grow older they must mature and understand better...arrogance will never pay dividends...

ACS Hameed: Sir, no one can advise him on what to do in the interest of the party...I tried and he sacked me as UNP Chairman...

J.R Jayewardene: When that happened I was already here. If I was there he would never have dared to do it. Mr.Hameed, he should have remembered that it was you who proposed to me to bring him to the Cabinet when he was your Deputy Foreign Minister. Certainly, that was not the way to display gratitude.... No. I wouldn’t endorse such action though he happens to be my nephew.

Lalith Athulathmudali: Sir, President DB Wijetunga made a blunder by appointing Ranil as Prime Minister over the seniormost party man, Wijayapala Mendis... In my view Ranil was too immature for that post at that time...

J.R Jayewardene: I agree.... But I did not want to dictate to Wijetunga as I was in retirement at that time.

Gamini Dissanayake: Sir, so far we have lost 18 polls in row, a record in the annals of Sri Lankan politics.....

Anandatissa De Alwis:If this trend continues we are sure to lose more and more...

J.R Jayewardene: It means poor chap Ranil will eternally be the Opposition Leader?

R. Premadasa: It looks like.... The way things go over there...

Lalith Athulathmudali: Sir, I am more than confident that Mahinda will soon push the LTTE out of the North and hold the PC election there too....Mahinda knows how to market any product Sir...

Gamini Dissanayake: Sir, our man even cannot market the ‘chewing gum’ he once promised farmers in the remote Moneragala area.... Leave alone his bracelet talk...

Anandatissa De Alwis: Sir, being an Advertising and Marketing man, I can say that Ranil didn’t know that chewing gum was never a product that could be marketed in an agricultural area....(laughter)

Gamani Jayasuriya: Sir, somebody should have told the chap, ‘Meheta hariyanne Bulath Vita’.

J.R Jayewardene: Order Please... I can see my friend Esmond walking towards this side to meet me. Better not hurt Esmond who is having a peaceful time here having done much for the party when he was there. Let’s wind up for today till the next PC elections. GVP (Samarasinghe), get the minutes cyclostyled and distributed early... Thank You all.