CBK’S shoot to stardom and end of DUNF with Lalith’s assassination

The DUNF, of which I was Vice President, was at the height of its strength when nominations for the Provincial Council elections were called. Our meetings which were directed at criticizing the Premadasa regime were drawing large crowds. Sponsors were coming forward with invitations as well as funds and we were able to increase the number of meetings. The demand was so great that we had to split our schedule of meetings so that while Gamini concentrated on the Kandyan areas and the Mahaweli region, Lalith worked the urban areas in the key demographic triangle of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara.

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Chandrika Kumaratunga blazed like a comet in the Sri Lankan political firmament at a time when the SLFP was riven with dissent. The manipulation of the leadership of the SLFP begun by JRJ, and continued by Premadasa, was facilitated by a series of electoral setbacks faced by Mrs. B. After her civic rights were curtailed she lost her authority as best seen in the emergence of Hector Kobbekaduwa as the SLFP's presidential candidate.

The Bandaranaike family was divided over the Kobbekaduwa issue. While Chandrika and her husband Vijaya Kumaratunga virtually ran the SLFP campaign, Mrs. B and Anura did their best to sabotage Kobbekaduwa's chances. Actually Mrs. B had preferred to have the SLFP supporting Colvin R de Silva's candidature.

Anticipating her backing Colvin had thrown his hat into the ring only to find that SLFP support was not forthcoming.

On discovering that he was betrayed Colvin attacked the SLFP candidate saying that Kobbekaduwa would be unseated even if he was elected.

Coming from a legal eagle like Colvin that was a serious warning. On the other hand Anura, obviously fronting for his mother, declared that Kobbekaduwa was only "a contractor" who would turn over power to Mrs. B if he was elected. Being at the receiving end of a two pronged attack, Kobbekaduwa not only lost the Presidential election but consequently split up the SLFP into different factions making them easy prey for JRJ and Premadasa.

One direct consequence of this SLFP fiasco was the creation of the Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya (SLMP) by Vijaya Kumaratunga and Chandrika.

SLMP

The SLMP caught the imagination of the younger generation of radicals, including those who had earlier supported the JVP but had escaped the army dragnet.