President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s efforts to form an All-Party Government (APG) to ensure a speedy economic recovery have turned futile. The principal reason is the reluctance of the main opposition Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) to become a constituent. This became clear when its leader Sajith Premadasa and General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara met the President for talks on Monday.

Commenting on these talks, General Secretary Madduma Bandara told the Sunday Times, “We discussed a variety of issues. We made clear at the end that we would extend our support but will not accept portfolios in a cabinet of ministers or any other appointments.” It became clear from his remarks that the SJB position on a variety of issues, some perhaps justifiably, was at complete variance with those held by President Wickremesinghe.

One such touchy issue is the ongoing crackdown on those who protested outside Temple Trees and on the Galle Face Green. This has extended to those who unlawfully entered the Janadipathi Mandiraya (President’s House the Temple Trees, the official residence of the Prime Minister, and attacks on properties belonging to Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarians and supporters. The Police campaign has been more vigorous, and suspects have been arraigned even under the provisions of the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). If the Colombo-based western diplomatic community had rapid-fire media statements issued in the past, relatively there was stoic silence. The issue is to figure at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council sessions beginning in Geneva on September 12. Details of talks a high-level UNHRC delegation held with government leaders in Colombo appear in the later paragraphs. The SJB duo raised issue over the mass arrests. In marked contrast, there seems to be little said and done over the SLPP goon squads that carried out attacks on the protestors on May 9. True that the hybrid protests were infiltrated by extremist political groups in the later stages.

The SJB duo also appealed for early parliamentary elections. ……

That there is seething discontent within over leadership issues is known. President Wickremesinghe has assured the SLPPers, particularly first-time MPs, he would not go for an early poll. This will ensure they get their pensions. A factor that weighs in his favour is the absence of the right conditions for polls — foremost being the availability of fuel without shortages so a free and fair polls campaign by all sides could take place. Other than that, there is also a much bigger hidden advantage for him – the consolidation of his United National Party (UNP) in the long term.

President Wickremesinghe is not only disappointed that the APG is not a reality but finds himself in a paradoxical situation. As six times Prime Minister in the past, one could argue he had no untrammeled power. Even if he had a power base in the form of MPs, there was a President over him. It is different now. He has untrammeled power in terms of the constitution, but no power base so to say. Other than him, it is only one more MP (Vajira Abeywardena) in Parliament. Therefore, he had to depend on the SLPP albeit the strategic machinations of its theoretician Basil Rajapaksa. That makes clear that the SLPP, now divided into splinter groups, is extending its support selectively.

Nevertheless, President Wickremesinghe did score considerable public approval as fuel queues receded and cooking gas (LPG) stocks were made available to the needy. However, the challenge before him is to ensure its continuity. …..

President Wickremesinghe, who is formulating the list of State Ministers, is yet to finalise the total number. The appointments are expected to take place before the presentation of his interim budget. In the absence of an APG, the formation of a new cabinet of ministers has become an uneasy task. The present thinking is to go ahead with the existing cabinet of ministers and the inclusion of a few others from other parties. Such inclusion would naturally lead to an estrangement between the government and the parties concerned. On the one hand, any unpopular measures such a government, possibly identified as a “national government,” takes would nevertheless be blamed on the leader, President Wickremesinghe. …..

Moves to revive SLPP

Although the return to Colombo on September 2 of ex-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has no direct relevance, there are SLPP sections who are busy with blueprints to revive the party. Their leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has been telling visitors who call to see him at his heavily fortified residence that the time would be ripe in two or more months for the SLPP to make a revival. ……
https://www.sundaytimes.lk/220828/columns/president-unable-to-form-all-party-government-493224.html