US embassy cable - 05COLOMBO807

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000807 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/28/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PINR, PHUM, PTER, CE, Political Parties 
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: WESTERN PROVINCIAL COUNCIL SHOWDOWN 
PRESAGES DIFFICULT SUMMER FOR PRESIDENT KUMARATUNGA 
 
 
Classified By: CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES A.I. JAMES F. ENTWISTLE. REASON: 1.4 
(B,D) 
 
 1.  (C)  Summary: A growing controversy over the future of 
the Chief Minister of the Western Province has exacerbated 
already-strained tensions within the United People,s Freedom 
Alliance (UPFA) and has breathed new life into the 
long-dormant opposition United National Party (UNP).  At the 
same time, it serves as yet another example of the Janatha 
Vimukthi Peramuna,s (JVP) political muscle in the current 
political arena.  The flap*which centers on a UNP-sponsored 
no-confidence motion against the reportedly corrupt Chief 
Minister Reginald Cooray, a senior SLFP leader*could be a 
big embarrassment for President Kumaratunga and comes at a 
time when her government,s standing among the electorate is 
already precarious as a result of her handling of 
post-tsunami reconstruction.  With the JVP becoming an 
increasingly more hostile coalition partner, Kumaratunga will 
face a difficult summer as she will have to fend off 
competition from both sides of the political aisle.  End 
summary. 
 
Provincial Council Latest Venue for Political Great Game 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
2.  (C)  Political drama in Colombo kicked into high gear on 
April 25 when UNP members of the Western Provincial 
Council*Sri Lanka,s largest and most important regional 
council that includes the affluent and densely populated 
Colombo region, where the three main parties all compete for 
votes*initiated a motion for a no-confidence vote in the 
SLFP Chief Minister, Reginald Cooray.  The UNP accused 
Cooray*a senior SFLP leader, former Minister of Media, and 
close friend of President Kumaratunga*of accepting bribes 
for bus route permits from private operators and nepotism in 
awarding civil service positions in the province.  The 
no-confidence measure gained momentum later that same day 
when the JVP, the SLFP,s junior partner in the ruling UPFA 
alliance, announced its 23 council members would abstain from 
voting on the issue, thereby permitting the UNP and its 
allies*which hold 39 and 6 seats respectively in the 
104-seat council*to overcome opposition from the SLFP, which 
has only 36 seats.  The JVP cited its determination to combat 
political corruption for the decision. 
 
3.  (SBU)  Acting through her appointed provincial governor, 
Kumaratunga inserted herself into the middle of the 
controversy by using her executive powers to postpone the 
sitting of the council until May 17 in an attempt to prevent 
the council from voting on the motion.  The opposition has 
challenged the legality of the governor's move, labeling it 
as unconstitutional, and pledged to revive the motion when 
the council reconvenes if new council elections are not 
called.  Kumaratunga has attempted to mitigate the blowback 
by setting up an independent commission to investigate 
corruption charges against Cooray and calling on him to 
resign if the commission rules against him.  For his part, 
Cooray*whose corruption is extensive, according to various 
embassy contacts*maintains that the charges are baseless and 
stated that he was prepared to face the inquiry and would 
resign if his detractors could prove their accusations. 
 
Provincial Showdown: The Start of More Aggressive UNP 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
4.   (C)  In a recent conversation with poloff and pol FSN, 
Mahinda Haradasa and Nimal Weeraratne (protect)*two lawyers 
who serve as a UNP political advisor and party treasurer 
respectively*reported that after a period of internal 
reorganization and soul searching, the UNP was set to embark 
upon a more aggressive and visible campaign to take on the 
government and tout its pro-market, pro-peace platform over 
the next few months.  The party plans to hold an internal 
rally on May 10 to unveil its new campaign and would then 
initiate public rallies and a door-to-door campaign in the 
voting districts, according to Haradasa and Weeraratne.  They 
reveled in the UNP,s success in exploiting the Cooray 
controversy and opined that morale in the party was high. 
While admitting that tensions existed within the various 
factions of the party shortly after their defeat in last 
year,s parliamentary election, they indicated that the party 
was once again united behind the leadership of Ranil 
Wickremesinghe. 
 
5.  (C)  In a separate conversation with poloff, Dr. Jehan 
Perera of the National Peace Council reiterated the belief 
that the UNP was once again united behind Wickremesinghe, but 
he opined that the party,s recent low-profile might be part 
of a plan that minimizes risk and plays into the SLFP,s own 
overstretch.  Given the unrealistic campaign promises and the 
increasing tensions between the SLFP and the JVP being played 
out in the media, the UNP realizes it benefits from lying low 
and allowing the government,s increasing dysfunction to 
swing voter sympathies its way, Perera suggested. 
 
The SLFP-JVP Alliance: The Tail Wagging the Dog? 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
6.  (C)  The provincial council showdown also provides more 
evidence that, in addition to the UNP, Kumaratunga will have 
to continue to combat criticism from the JVP, which has 
proven particularly problematic and critical in the past two 
weeks, especially over the SLFP,s push for a joint mechanism 
for tsunami relief.  Despite their intransigence in the 
Cooray affair, JVP officials have been quick to note that the 
party remains committed to their alliance with the SLFP, but 
emphasized the alliance was based on policies and not 
individuals.  Local press report that the President held a 
private meeting with the JVP to work out some compromise 
between the two parties but was unable to win their support. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
7.  (C)  President Kumaratunga,s political maneuverability 
is increasingly constrained by a vociferous JVP and 
emboldened UNP, and what little political capital she did 
receive for her initial post-tsunami response and camera time 
with various world leaders has now disappeared.  The Western 
Provincial Council controversy appears to be a lose-lose 
situation for Kumaratunga*either she suffers the 
embarrassment of having to force a prominent SLFP official to 
resign or faces the prospect of having it forced upon her by 
a no-confidence motion*and taints the party's reputation 
with reports of corruption. 
 
8.  (C)  For their parts, the UNP and JVP see in the Cooray 
affair an opportunity to hit the SLFP at a crucial time.  The 
JVP,s actions support its claim that it is a incorruptible 
party that can be trusted to run the government efficiently 
and provides it a boost in the more important fight over the 
joint mechanism.  The conflict over the provincial council 
may also be what the UNP needs to pull itself out of a long 
period of torpor and indecision. 
ENTWISTLE