UNP's Delay Frustrates Common Opposition: Signing Of Agreement Postponed Indefinitely!

November 18, 2014

 With the Jathika Hela Urumaya deciding to leave aside the ministerial portfolios, many eyes are now fixed on the signing of agreement between political parties of the opposition and other civil organizations to field the much talked about common candidate - who is still playing hide and seek. The signing of agreement, which was earlier scheduled on Monday, has now been postponed indefinitely, under "interesting" circumstances.

 

Many assume that the reason behind the delay is health issues of Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera who were hospitalized a few days ago due to a sudden increase in sugar levels. However, despite such speculations, it has now been revealed that the real reason for the delay has nothing to do with Sobhitha Thera’s health condition or any other issue involving the People's Movement for a Just Society.

The real issue, according to highly placed political sources lies with the main opposition party. The other political parties of the opposition are now waiting for the presidential candidate of the UNP to enter into an agreement on key matters of principle. But, the UNP’s delay in finding a suitable candidate has prolonged their wait- perhaps to the point of frustration.

However, the UNP doesn’t show any willingness to conclude its “search” for a presidential candidate although the President has already run half the race! The UNP Leader has made it clear that the final decision on the presidential candidate should be made by the Working Committee of the party. Bu, the seniors of the party and the members of the working Committee are not even aware of the date of the next Working Committee meeting.

Sobhitha Thera, Convener of the People’s Movement for a Just Society, had told several UNP Politicians who came to visit him over the past few days to act strong to finalize the “operation” to handpick a common candidate. With the JHU distancing itself from then government, the non-UNP political parties of the opposition are in a dire need to form a common opposition alliance to face the forthcoming presidential polls.

 

Meanwhile, UNP Parliamentarian and Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake, who visited Sobhitha thera at the private hospital where the latter is undergoing treatment, said the senior Buddhist monk will continue to support the common opposition regardless of the pressure mounted by the government. A prominent Weekend newspaper reported on Sunday that the Buddhist monk had become surprisingly silent after an under-the-radar meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the house of DNA Parliamentarian Tiran Alles.