Lawyer turned politician Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is almost certain to be Sri Lanka's next prime minister, is known more for uncanny manoeuvring than for charisma.
Wickremesinghe, 52, may lack the charm of his main opponent, President Chandrika Kumaratunga. But he more than makes up for that with the subtle tactics that propelled him to power at a time when no-one wanted an election.

Soon after his defeat in the 1999 presidential vote he offered to cooperate in drawing up a new statute and effectively locked Kumaratunga into negotiations, preventing the government from building on her presidential victory. Kumaratunga was criticised by her own party members for not calling snap elections in early 2000. She continued instead until October 2000 leading what became a minority government that lasted only a year.
"I don't give this government the life of a full term," Wickremesinghe said in October last year. He has since worked to bring down the administration by engineering defections from within government ranks.

Wickremesinghe, a grand nephew of Sri Lanka's first executive president Junius Jayewardene, would have been reporting the political crisis in the country if not for the takeover of his family newspaper by the government of Kumaratunga's mother Sirima Bandaranaike in 1973. Wickremesinghe, who was trained in law at Colombo University, faced a formidable propaganda campaign against him by the very same newspaper company, Lake House, after it was nationalised.

Having joined politics, he rose to be prime minister in May 1993 when a suicide bomber assassinated president Ranasinghe Premadasa.
Wickremesinghe replaced premier Dingiri Banda Wijetunga who was elevated to the presidency. Wijetunga retired 15 months later. But Wickremesinghe remained in the United National Party (UNP) as it was pushed into opposition, battling an internal revolt and managing to hold it largely intact.

Although a suicide bomb attack propelled him to power, he has also been a victim of circumstances. It was a similar bombing that arguably took the presidency away from him in December 1999. His main rival, Kumaratunga, was wounded in a suicide bomb attack just three days before the presidential election and went on to win amid a wave of sympathy.
Nursing an eye injury, Kumaratunga brought the nation to tears and Wickremesinghe lost an election many thought he would win, judging by a slick campaign which evoked mass support just before the blast.
Sri Lanka's business community are hoping Wickremesinghe will be able to revive the island's tottering economy, which is set to record its worst performance this year.

"This is our last chance to deliver the country from this mess," he told an election rally as he wrapped up his month-long campaign.
It was when Wickremesinghe was effectively managing the economy that the country's stock exchange peaked in 1994. The all-share price index hit 1,300 points in early 1994. It has plummeted to 400 under the outgoing regime. But news of the Kumaratunga's government's collapse in October helped the market pick up. The blue-chip weighted Milanka index recorded a 46-percent rise over the space of just two weeks.

Wickremesinghe, married to Maithree, an English lecturer, had been a minister for 17 years until the UNP's reign was ended by Kumaratunga's PA at the August 1994 elections.

He is advocating internationally mediated peace talks to end the country's long drawn-out Tamil separatist conflict which has claimed more than 60,000 lives. The talk-with-Tigers approach has left him open to accusations by the ruling party of having a secret pact with Tamil Tiger rebels who the government says are working to return the UNP to power.
He has denied any pact with the Tigers and in turn accused the government of inefficient managing both the economy and the war against the Tamil Tigers.

Wickremesinghe would have to serve at the same time as Kumaratunga, who will remain executive head of state. Kumaratunga has said she would not like to work with Wickremesinghe. But neither would have a choice.
 ( AFP)


 

Ranil Wickremesinghe - The New Leader ( Source UNP)

The Present Leader of the United National Party, Mr. Ranil wickremesinghe is its seventh leader. He was elected Leader of the Party in November 1994.

Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe is the first leader of the United National Party born after Independence.

He commenced re-building the party, which had been defected at three consecutive elections, within his first week as Party Leader.

When he assumed leadership, the United National Party was in the doldrums. Apart from the electoral losses, it had also lost many of its leaders. Finances and party morale were at an all time low.

He re-fashioned the party policies to reflect aspirations of a new society- "A New Path for a New Generation." He has commenced the process of restructuring the party to take Sri lanka into the 21st century.

 

SPEECHES BY RAIL WICKRAMASINGHA Leader of UNP DOORS ARE OPEN IN THE U N F FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTANCE I WILL CHANGE THIS COUNTRY TO SUIT THE 21ST CENTURY ATTACK BY J V P ON DALADA MALIGAWA 125 P .A. MEMBERS JOIN THE U.N.F. ATTEMPT TO CANCEL VOTES IN PRO U.N.P. AREAS. ABUSE OF STATE PROPERTY BY P.A. UNP LEADER MR.RANIL WICKREMASINGHE'S SPEECH IN HANGURANKETHA. PRAY AT RELIGIOUS PLACES FOR A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION -RANIL PRESIDENT CALLS FOR MURDER OF OPPONENTS YOUTH CAN LOOK FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE UNDER UNF RANIL ASSURES BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS TO THE ESTATE WORKERS I AM FACED WITH 3 CHALLENGES: REVIVING ECONOMY, ENDING WAR, BRINGING BACK RULE OF LAW - RANIL PA AND JVP HAS COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN THE YOUTH IN THEIR MANIFESTO - RANIL AT WATTEGAMA RANIL GUARANTEES NO PACT WITH LTTE DOORS ARE OPEN IN THE U N F FOR PEACEFUL CO-EXISTANCE "Grenades last night. Prabhakaran in the north is carrying out an armed struggle seeking a separate state After the .Leader of the P.A made a blood curdling speech in the south to kill the opponents Sajith's meeting was attacked with grenades. Partners of the P.A , E.P.D.P. activists attacked the T.U.L.F. members and cut and chopped them inhumanly.Somawansa Amarasinghe of the J.V.P. declared in Kalutara they are getting ready for a third armed struggle. This is the kind of political background we see around us today.We do not advocate intolerance. We follow the path of peaceful co-existence with our opponents. Our doors are open for anyone who wish to make the people live with a better quality of life" said Ranil Wickremesinghe Leader of the U.N.F . when he addressed campaign meetings at Kotikawatte and Maradana. There is no room for an armed struggle in a democracy. Democracy means not only appoint People 's representatives through a vote.It allows to respect the opinions of opponents, to act with restrain and tolerance, to safeguard the basic human rights, the freedom to express the free will of anyone. On the 5th of December please rally round me to wipe out confrontational violent politics from this country" Ranil appealed to the many thousands of voters who stood there patiently to hear him. Top I WILL CHANGE THIS COUNTRY TO SUIT THE 21ST CENTURY I will work towards the change the people of this country anticipate after gone through the misery of 7 year misrule of the P.A. I will give top priority to re-build the shattered economy and find a solution to the ethnic problem which is acceptable to every sector of society. I will change the horizons of this country and modernize it to suit the needs of the 21st century." declared Ranil Wickremesinghe Leader of the United National Front when he addressed the campaign meetings at Maharagama, Kotahena and Kirillapone last evening{ 26-11-01.} People's Alliance has destroyed this country to such an extent that it is impossible for average man to survive. In the meantime J.V.P. claims that it is ready for it's third armed rebellion. I am sure people of this country will not permit for them to repeat what they did to destroy this country in 1971 and 87-89 period. Only the U.N.F is capable in providing practical development plans suited for this country. I want to create a quick economic growth. At the same time I want to bring peace to this country. We plan to establish the Independent Commissions and through them to remove the powers centralized around the politicians. I assure you I am dedicated to achieve these changes. 27-11-2001. Top ATTACK BY J V P ON DALADA MALIGAWA Letter from Gamini Atukorala to Mahanayake s of Malwatte and Asgiriya. The Diyawadana Nilame of the Dalada Maligawa made a statement to the media about the vicious attack carried out by the J.V.P on Dalada Maligawa the most venerated religious place of the Buddhists in Sri Lanka.J.V.P responded by denying this attack. But the Mahanayake theros of Malwatte and Asgiriya have issued a statement claiming that the J.V.P is responsible for tat attack on 8th Feb. 1989 and demanded an apology from them for the crime committed upon a most venerated place of worship of the Buddhists. Even after the statement of the Mahanayake theros J.V.P's refusal to admit their guilt is an insult to the most venerable religious leaders of our country.. \ J.V.P carried out this attack when we were getting ready to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Independence. J.V.P. was responsible for taking six lives during this attack. Although they are trying to erase the cruel memory of their atrocities in 87-89 their leader Somawansa Amarasinghe has admitted that they are responsible for all the crimes committed on the innocents through their armed wing D.J.V. J.V.Pers were more dogmatic in theory than the leftists who treated the Buddhism as taboo and they introduced the killing culture to this country. Now they are seeing the Mahanayakes for their political gain. J.V.P. in their manifesto for 2001 election has refused to accept the fact that the Buddhism is the religion of the state. Even the British rulers included this clause in the " Kandyan Treaty. "There attitude on Buddhism is such it is no wonder that they could shed blood on a sacred place like Dalada Maligawa.We should question from them what right they got to seek the vote of the Buddhists We have to protect our villages and hamlets and the poor villagers from this menace. The crucial time has come to save the innocent from this disaster and they need the guidance and advise of the venerable Maha sangha to save themselves from a bunch of people who destroyed thousands of young lives. Top 125 P .A. MEMBERS JOIN THE U.N.F. One hundred and twenty five members o f the Orugodawatte SL.F.P. branch resigned from their party and join the U.N.P. They received their membership cards from the Leader of the U.N.P. Ranil Wickremesinghe. Yesterday. Some activists from the Kolonnawa electorate too join the U.N.P. . Some members of the S.L.F.P Lawyers society also received the membership of the U.N.P. Top ATTEMPT TO CANCEL VOTES IN PRO U.N.P. AREAS. It has come to light of a government move to create trouble in polling booths favourable to the U.N.F. and thereafter cancel the polling of those centres . To implement this plan of action they have already released between 2500-5000 men from Presidential security division and Minister's Security Division to the Police service and the N.I.B.Chief Inspector of Police Jayantha Gamage is in charge of this assignment. A contingency of 90 men of the special Task Force have been allocated to the P.S.D in place of the men assigned to create pandemonium during the elections. It is believed that they will be on duty at polling booths where they will not prevent any unlawful activities , which will result in the cancellation of votes by the commissioner of Elections. Top ABUSE OF STATE PROPERTY BY P.A. P. A. candidates of the Anuradhapura district are using the state property for their election propaganda in a vast scale .Most of the vehicles belonging to the North central Provincial council. Over 50 buses belonging to N.CP. bus depots are being used by the P. A. candidates .They are also using a Printing Press of the North Central Provincial Council to Print the election posters. Top UNP LEADER MR.RANIL WICKREMASINGHE'S SPEECH IN HANGURANKETHA. United National Front government will continue to carry out the Samurdhi movement identifying the strong points of the Janasaviya and Samurdhi Programmes to improve the quality of life for the poor of the country" said the leader of the U.N.F. Ranil Wickremesinghe when he addressed an election meeting at Maligawa grounds in Hanguranketha. The meeting was attended by a large gathering. We have planned our development programmes focusing the attention on poor rural masses. We will help the adults while their children will be given a good education. We will uplift the small businesses , "Sanasa' Agromart, to improve the village economy. We will try to bring the agriculture and animal husbandry in our villages to the level of the European countries To reach this level we will provide assistance through Samurdhi movement. said the leader. Mr wickremesinghe further assured that he wants to remove politics from the Samurdhi movement and make use of the Samurdhi animators in much broader activities. Top PRAY AT RELIGIOUS PLACES FOR A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION -RANIL Leader of the United National front Ranil Wickremesinghe requests from all nationals of Sri Lanka to visit their religious places on the 1st 0f December evening and pray for an opportunity to cast their votes without any hindrance or intimidation . He requested to light lamps in those religious places and do an "Adhistana Puja", seeking a free and fair election. He also requested to the Maha sangha and other religious leaders to extend their fullest cooperation to make this "Adhistana Puja" a success. Peoples Alliance has no alternative other than resorting to use all the resources for thuggery to win the election . But all their anti- democratic forces will get defeated in the face of the strong support the United National Front is getting from the entire country. U.N.F leader Ranil expressed these sentiments when he addressed a number of election meetings in Deniyaya Akuressa, Weligama , Kamburupitiya , and Matara in Matara district. When the leader arrived in his Media bus "Janabala Sarisara" People énroute gave him a resounding welcome to their city. They waited in the sweltering heat to see the man they thought will save the country from economic disaster and uplift their lives from the present pathetic condition. The Leader assured that he will re-establish the law and order in the country and grant the opportunity to people to express their freewill at a free and fair election. Today the country is facing a severe economic crisis. We will establish a new economic order and a new political culture. I also hope to get the support of the members of the opposition to achieve this purpose. Role of the members of Parliament will not be limited deliver speeches at the well of the house. They will have to play an active role in the development process" he said. Top President calls for murder of opponents Prabhakaran who seeks a separate state in the north east is killing, Leader of the J.V.P. is calling for another armed rebellion. President of the country is calling to kill the opponents But I assure you my government which will be formed on the 6th of December will eliminate completely the politics that instigate murder , declared the Leader of the United National Front Ranil Wickremesinghe when he went round addressing election meetings in support of U.N.F candidates in Hambantota district. I will introduce a political culture to make people live instead of the killing culture which is prevailing in the country. today. The leader traveled in his well equipped media bus to address these meetings which was also a huge attraction to the people who are weary of hardships and eagerly awaiting to see a change in the political leadership of the country. He said he wish to finish off the divisive politics of the country which has been introduced for the benefit of the bankrupt politicians Division of the people is the policies of the manor-born who want to treat the whole country as their private property. United National Front government will treat every citizen of this land as Sri Lankans , and they will get a fair treatment" Top YOUTH CAN LOOK FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE UNDER UNF United national Front government under his leadership will remove all the obstacles placed by chandrika regime to the rural youth to march forward utilizing their talents and capabilities. Declared the leader of the United National Front Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe when he addressed a row of political meetings in Ambalangoda, Ratgama, Baddegama , Akmeemana, and Galle .Leader arrived in his campaign bus to address these meetings on Friday. President Chandrika Kumaratunga has plotted to destroy the free education of this country. And carried out her plans through Tara de Mel, her secretary in the ministry of higher education. J.V.P. has fully supported her to ruin the future of the present day Youth. First of all we will provide the basic facilities and resources to the rural schools as well. We will prepare a three year school development programme gathering the ideas of parents , past pupils and teachers.At the same time we will make arrangements to give a proper training to trainee teachers.Principals also will be given a training in management., the Leader of the U.N.F. declared. Our government will take steps to provide a strong base for higher education.. Technical schools and higher Technical colleges will be established by our government. We will give the freedom to university students to choose the subjects they wish to follow, he added. Top RANIL ASSURES BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS TO THE ESTATE WORKERS " Estate workers who live as citizens of this country have not got permanent places to live. When we form our government on the 5th of December we will formulate a scheme to solve this problem" said Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe when he addressed an election meeting at Kotagala and Hatton last Sunday. He disclosed that he planned to change the present system of keeping the youth of the estate in the estate itself to follow their parent's foot steps as estate workers. We will improve the educational structure in the estates. We will carry out our programme until graduates come out of estate schools. "Today many estate workers have not got their National Identity Cards. They have no way of getting out of the estate. When they get out of the estate there is no proper identification as a result they face many obstacles and harassment from law enforcement authorities I will take steps to eliminate this situation, by providing an ID to every citizen." "We will open the door to the estate youth to reach out to the outside world, by creating employment avenues outside the estate perimeters." declared the leader of the United National Front Mr Ranil Wickremasinghe. Top I AM FACED WITH 3 CHALLENGES: REVIVING ECONOMY, ENDING WAR, BRINGING BACK RULE OF LAW - RANIL Island ,Ja-Ela Correspondent J. R. Jayewardene who got 5/6th majority had only one problem - to resurrect the economy, Ranasinghe Premadasa too who fielded resounding victory had one problem of stopping war, but I am faced with three problems - grave challenges of restoring the economy, ending the war and establishing peace and to put an undisciplined country where the rule of law has totally collapsed into the correct tract, said Ranil Wickremasinghe leader of the Opposition and UNP addressing a mass election rally at Ja-Ela in support of the candidacy of Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene who is contesting the forthcoming elections from the Gampaha district. Therefore, he urged the voters to send him and his party with a resounding majority so that he could solve all the problems facing the country today. He said that women in this country today constituted the majority and large numbers were employed. Although they were involved in a very important role in the economy and society, they were relegated to the back seat, with unequal treatment and disrespect and harassment. He said while he was a Minister he worked for the uplift of youth and this time once he became the Prime Minister he would see that women's rights were ensured and they would be given equal status in remuneration and in all other areas in society. During their government Mr. Wickremesinghe said they have signed an international convention that would ensure equal status for women, but subsequent to the signing of the convention no legislation was enacted to give effect to it. He said one of the priorities in his government would be to formulation legislation that ensures equal rights and status for woman. Mr Wickremesinghe explained the extent of the deterioration of the economy at present indicating that the export sector, tourism, foreign investment, industries, agriculture had all collapsed. He said that one reason for the collapse of export market was the exorbitant taxes imposed at the airport and the port and once they come to power these unrealistic tariffs would be reduced. He would send his ministers to foreign countries to boost and procure investments and to revive the tourism industry. He said that the garment industry which provided foreign exchange for the country and a large provider of jobs survived due to the quota system and as things were now, by 2004 the quota system would be scrapped and as there were several other countries where cost, of production were lower than our garments would flood the market at cheap prices, knocking our garments out of the market that would result in the closure of a large number factories and around 400,000 people would then lose their jobs. As an urgent priority his government would send his ministers and top officials to negotiate with various agencies and State leaders in restoring the quota system. Mr Wickremesinghe categorically denied any secret pacts between his party and the LTTE but said the pact was a clear, open one to seek everyone's assistance to help solve ending the war and establishing peace so that every citizen of the country could live in peace and harmony. The latest JVP defector to the UNP - Victor Ahangama making a moving revelation said that he who toiled for the success of the JVP for the last 23 years, facing all the repressive violent forces was not betraying their revolutionary struggle, but it was his duty to unmask the JVP to its proper state saying that the present JVP leader Somawansa Arnarasinghe was the person who gave the tip to eliminate their leader Rohana Wijeweera as he had a close connection with the UNP government leaders at that time. He said that Sornawansa Amarasinghe was married to the sister of earlier Premadasa government strong man Minister Sirisena Cooray's wife. With apologies for joining a party that made him suffer in the past he said that JVP is a party that preached the atrocities of the imperialists, despising and making vociferous attacks on super powers, but the leader Somawansa Amarasinghe in England has been enjoying the facilities and protection of those imperialists the party so dubiously hate and attack. He said while their children who suffered so much for the party were sent to a village school, on the one hand the leader enjoyed a luxurious life in England and his children were sent to top schools in England and he said it was the true position of their present day leaders. Mr. Ahangama challenged JVP Propaganda Secretary, Wimal Weerawansa to declare his true position, whether, like other hardcore members of the JVP under went the stipulated process in becoming a member. He said that when they were fighting with the government in 1989 Mr. Weerawansa was nowhere in the struggle and Mr. Weerawansa's real name was Wimalasiri Gamlath. Dr. Jayalath Jayawardene said that President Kumaratunga spoke of "Ali-Koti" secret pact whenever there was an election. He said two Bishops of the Catholic Church, Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando and Bishop Raymond Peiris vouched that he (Dr. Jayawardene) was a respectable follower of their faith and if Dr. Jayawardene was involved in a trudge with the LTTE to deal in accordance with the law. He said that the Mahanayake Theros too have made the same plea to the government that if he had done any wrong to deal according to law. Several UNP stalwarts also addressed the meeting. Top PA AND JVP HAS COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN THE YOUTH IN THEIR MANIFESTO - RANIL AT WATTEGAMA P A and JV P which is seeking a mandate from the people to rule this country have forgotten the youth of this country in their election manifesto said Ranil Wickremesinghe when he addressed a row of election meetings at Dodangaslanda, Wattegama and Harispattuwa on Tuesday evening. There was a huge gathering waiting to hear from their leader. There is not a word mentioned in the agreement reached between the P A and J. V.P on the problems of the youth of this country. There is no mention of the problems of the young men and women of this country in the election manifesto of the P A. They have promised to establish cultural centers in each electorate. How can anybody solve the problems of the youth with cultural centers. United National Front considers that the problems of the youth are very grave and needs immediate solutions.. Government under my leadership will give top priority to the problems of the youth declared the leader. Top RANIL GUARANTEES NO PACT WITH LTTE UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe Yesterday guaranteed that there was no pact, agreement or memorandum of understanding with the LTTE Addressing a news briefing on his way to Mawathagama in a specially arranged bus with media personnel, he said that he was informed of a document the PA was drafting to the effect, but the UNP had no necessity to come to such an agreement. He said it was not new for the PA to cast aspersions on the UNP saying that it had signed agreements. He also said that a former minister of the PA government S.B. Dissanayake who had taken part in a press interview had said the statement was prepared by the Department of Information. Mr. Wickremesinghe further said the PA was trying to divert the attention of the massage from the burning problems, but the masses would not be duped by those stunts. The former member of parliament for Kandy dostrict Tissa Attanayake said a UNP government would be formed at the forthcoming general election. He said the president tried to prolong the term of the parliament to be in power, but she was unable to deprive the UNP from coming to office. Mr.Ranil Wickremesinghe he will take steps to activate the programme of reconstructing the country after the general election, he said. Top