A group of disillusioned Betel leaf stalwarts have taken a collective vow not to face the hustings again in their lifetime, they say. 

The new and former Green party Diyawanna members met at Temple Trees for an unofficial discussion the other day and it being an informal occasion, some members spoke out their minds freely on the topical issues and developments. 

It is no secret that there is now a tussle going on for the Ministerial portfolios which is typical on the eve of the formation of any government. The most coveted and therefore the most in demand of all portfolios, according to informed sources, is

Counting of ‘manape’ votes saw much excitement and commotion marked by scuffles and arguments outside most counting centers.

The election was over and the party secretaries were called upon to hand the National Lists of their respective parties to the Elections Commissioner.

Stories about how certain candidates from both sides of the great divide had carried out game plans to promote their ‘manape’ at the expense of their party colleagues are galore these days.

A score of former Ministerial ones lost at the recent general election and they claimed that their allegiance to the new Big Boss cost them their seats in the Diyawanna House.

This one is a secretarial one of a key Ministry. He turned up at a polling station located in a city suburb. He handed his polling card to the clerk concerned and waited for the ballot paper.

His Worship called at the Campus polling booth on August 17 in the company of the Green party chief as on previous occasions to cast his vote.

Family and political intimates of the former strongman were discussing the latter’s political future at a meeting held at his residence.

We in this column had occasion to run a story about a ‘cake lady’ who secured Betel leaf party nomination on the recommendation of a religious dignitary to run in a Western province district.

In a rare situation where the electorate got sharply polarized between the two main political parties, the Flame party too fared poorly at the recent polls. 

This envoy who represented a powerful nation in our paradise isle had completed his stint here and called on the new Big Boss at his office to say his formal adieu on the eve of his departure.

This institution was established years ago with a view to providing essential goods to consumers at a fair price. 

The Flame Chief is now a disillusioned person. He said in public recently that many people who had benefitted from his political patronage had turned ungrateful.

The Green party chief had to issue a stern warning to certain  party candidates to stop fighting over the ‘manape’  and do their best to ensure the victory of the party.

The Elections Chief at a recent media briefing explained to the journos the circumstances that lead to political clashes.

A certain political party bigwig in the thick of the fray had wanted to call on a leading religious dignitary in Wayamba to obtain his blessings and of course, ...

A certain Betel leaf candidate looking after an electorate on the outskirts of Anuradhapura had a party office in the area put up by a buddy of his.

This Betel leaf politico hailing from the Kegalle area, once a close loyalist of the former strongman threw in his lot with the Maithri camp when the party was in turmoil.

The former strongman who was due to address an election rally in a remote area in the country was about to get on to the stage when a shrill voice calling him arrested his attention.

Yahapalanaya Big Boss recently left for the Maldives to attend the National Day celebrations of that country as the Chief Guest.

This veteran white collar bigwig once functioned as the secretarial one of the main office in the state sector, recently was summoned to a Police probe unit for questioning regarding a certain tender affair.

The former strongman had at his disposal helicopters to campaign around the country at the previous elections.

This Diyawanna member with dubious educational qualifications was hand-picked by the former strongman to oversee a key Ministry, which was in the charge of a learned professor.

Five close loyalists of the Yahapalanya Big Boss were suspended from their Blue party membership by the Big Boss himself for turning against the party. 

Several former Betel leaf Ministerial ones hailing from the lower reaches of Nilwala with defeat staring them in the face are said to be embroiled in a do or die battle for the preference vote.

The Dangerous Drug Control Chief told the media recently there were none on the Green party nomination lists facing heroin or ethanol-related charges. 

The new Big Boss did not attend the launching of the Betel leaf   election manifesto although he is the chair of that party.

A few Yahapalanaya bigwigs and a number of stalwarts of the previous regime are brazenly misusing their official vehicles for electioneering, they say.