COLOMBO: Friday's ouster of three senior Sri Lankan Cabinet Ministers by President Mahinda Rajapaksa is bound to lead to a political crisis, say political and diplomatic observers.

The sacked Ministers — Mangala Samaraweera, Anura Bandaranaike and Sripathi Suriyarachchi — were not immediately available for comment.

With a possible revolt by influential sections from within his Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), Mr. Rajapaksa will find the going tough as an enraged opposition, United National Party (UNP) has already declared that it is "impossible" to cooperate with the Government.

The ultra-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, an electoral partner of Mr. Rajapaksa, is also cross with him on a number of issues. The political situation could pave way for a general election sooner rather than later.

Charge in Parliament

Mr. Rajapaksa struck at the dissidents the very next day of Mr. Bandaranaike's statement in Parliament that he had been receiving anonymous threatening calls, which he alleged, were planned by some elements around the President.

It became clear on Thursday morning itself that Mr. Rajapaksa was contemplating action against the dissidents when he told his party leaders that the SLFP's interests should take priority over individual interests.

"Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike strengthened the party and took it forward. As a party, our members had to face many obstacles. Some of us lost our properties. Some had to sacrifice even their lives. I myself suffered injustice in some instances. We have to keep these things in mind.

Leaving the party or revolting while remaining within the party is no solution to these problems. We have to respect party discipline. I came to this position today after going through the mill," the President said.

Death threats

Mr. Bandaranaike told Parliament that the anonymous caller threatened to hang him and Mr. Samaraweera from lamp posts in Attanagalle and Matara (their constituencies) if they conspired against the President.

"I know who is doing this. The UNP has no need to do it. Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe is a perfect gentleman whom I have known for 50 years, since my kindergarten days. I know he would never resort to such acts. I know the JVP would not do so either.

I, along with Minister Samaraweera, was instrumental in forging the UPFA [United People's Freedom Alliance] including the JVP. Those who are embracing the JVP today opposed it at the time. We had to try very hard to get them to participate in protest marches at that time," he said.

Mr. Bandaranaike said he did not suspect the LTTE as it did not kill people after warning them.

"We can never be intimidated by death threats which would only toughen us," he said. "This is a country where a person is kidnapped every five hours as mentioned by Mr. Samaraweera, and therefore it is little wonder if we too are abducted."

There were plans to oust him and the former President Chandrika Kumaratunga from the SLFP founded by his father, Mr. Bandaranaike charged.

"Mr. Samaraweera's father was also a minister in my mother's Government. My mother suffered for six years following removal of her civil rights in an arbitrary manner. My sister Chandrika lost sight in one eye. We also sacrificed 3,000 acres of land to the country during our own time. Now those who did not grow even a blade of grass are attempting to remove Chandrika and me from the SLFP."

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