A FOUR-WORD CALL FROM MAITHRI TO MAHINDA YESTERDAY?

The crisis of giving nominations to Mahinda from the United People's Front Alliance and the crowd

                                                                           "Since we worked together as two groups in the past, when getting together problems crop up. We tried to find a solution for those. But if Mr. Mahinda is not being given nominations, there are alternatives for it. We're ready for it. It was when preparing to contest separately that we got together. We're ready to go for that alternative at any time. We of course it won't go wrong. We are on a stable footing. We tried hard to go ahead without splitting. That's why Mr. Mahinda also is still patient. We won't lose in our attempt. The whole country is for us. We'll even come forward separately.

Actually discussions during the past was heading forward favourably. But some who are within our Party itself brought out views against us getting together. In the same way, the UNP brought pressure upon Maithripala in a detrimental manner. What I believe is that a decision on this could be arrived at in a day or two".

In the meantime a news item of Derana Website said that Mahinda and his clan are going to contest from the symbol 'Flower-bud' of the Sri Lanka Peramuna under Wimal Geeganage, Secretary of the Party.

Though ideas were expressed until yesterday that SLFP would be contesting separately within an environment with the greatest majority of the central executive committee of the United People's Front Alliance expressing support to former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Secretary of the SLFP Anura Priyadarshana addressing the electronic media said there's no such preparation. In the process former MP Susil Premajayanth rejected the story that the Party position of Susil and Anura are to be revoked saying that even under election law such an action cannot be carried out at this time.

The next rally 'Mahinda samaga negitinna' was scheduled in Anuradhapura on July 9th which has been cancelled without a date because of the existing political complexity. After the United People's Front Alliance has expressed willingness to give nominations to former President, the Jathika Hela Urumaya Party has opted out of that Alliance and has publicized a new alliance by the name of 'Eksath Yahapalana Jathika Peramuna' and it is nevertheless a defeat sustained by the Maithri faction. What was exposed by another unconfirmed political source was that the President Mr. Maithripala Sirisena had contacted former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa over the telephone last night and had limited the call to just 4 words and then cut off the line. Those 4 words are reported as "It would be good if you don't come". It has still not been possible to confirm whether this is true or not; however when inquiring from former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa's media spokesman Rohan Weliwita, he had replied saying, "I was with Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa last night till about ten, eleven, but no such call came till that time".

After the story of giving nominations, upto now there has been no confrontation between the former President or the present President. About 15 various Parties who are waiting to join hands with the United People's Front Alliance are on the fence not knowing what action to take. If in case an obstruction is caused for the Maithri -- Mahinda harmony, the latest news is that the segment supporting Mahinda Rajapaksa would then contest under the symbol of 'Flower-bud' by joining in with other progressive powers.