The most recent reason for this dispute is the removal of Wickremesinghe-loyalist Sujith Mangala de Silva from the newspaper, says sources at the PM’s office.

Wijaya Newspapers chairman Ranjith Wijewardena is the youngest brother of the PM’s mother, and the father of state minister Ruwan Wijewardena.

Wickremesinghe is also unhappy that ‘Lankadeepa’s is keeping daily editor Siri Ranasinghe, Sunday editor Ariyananda Dombagahawatte and Deshaya editor Ranjith Ananda Jayasinghe, who all had attacked him and were loyal to the previous Rajapkasa regime.

He has expressed his reservations known to his uncle through his state minister.

That received no favourable response, and a slander campaign ensued against editor Ranasinghe through websites.

The Wijaya Newspapers administration identified those behind the campaign as Wickremesinghe loyalists Dinith Chinthaka Karunatilake, Sujith Mangala and Asoka Jayatunga.

In the meantime, Sujith Mangala de Silva, a journalist for Lankadeepa for 14 years, received a three month extension at the request of the PM’s office.

That extension expired last week, and the management informed him his services were no longer required, even as the PM has made a request through his state minister to the chairman to grant him job permanency.

Also, it has been decided to terminate the services of Asoka Jayatunga at the end of the year.

Warning to Ruwan

Meanwhile, the PM’s decision to appoint Kavinda Jayawardena as the UNP’s Youth Front leader and Sarath Fonseka as the Kelaniya electoral organizer could be a warning to Ruwan Wijewardena who represents Gampaha, political analysts say.

Gamapaha organizers Arjuna Ranatunga, Ranjan Ramanayake and Harshana Rajakaruna are all receiving special favouratism from the PM.

Wickremesinghe had previously caused his political challenger Rukman Senanayake, the eldest brother of Ranjith Wijewardena’s wife, to leave politics for good.