Youthful thoughts on UNP

Sri Lanka's main opposition - the United National Party is still recovering from the shock of losing 18 of its front liners who decided to extend support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his Government. We spoke to two youthful UNP Parliamentarians - Minister Naveen Dissanayake and former Minister Johnston Fernando to share their thoughts on matters relating to the UNP, its role and the future.

Q: What role should the United National Party, as the main opposition, play at this stage?

N: What we have said and what the majority of fair thinking people of the UNP have not taken in to consideration. What the party should do is determined by a small group of people who have hijacked the party.

The decisions taken are put to the Working Committee and that ends there. UNP should play a greater role in the development process. What is happening is a knee jerk reaction of 18 people joining the Government. But the question is where the UNP is going to end up.

J: To rescue people who are suffering. The cost of living is high and there are allegations on human rights violations. How long could we go on like this? We would take all steps to protect people of this country.

Q: Do you think the UNP is extending its sincere support to the Government on matters connected to national security? If not, why?

N: I don't think that the UNP would do it under the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe. Most of the security matters that should not be revealed to the public are coming out in pro-UNP media.

There is a vicious campaign to undermine work of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, whom I think is doing an excellent job. Sripathi and Mangala, in co-ordination with Ranil and certain UNP media groups are planning to discredit the government and our gallant forces. I know how UNP worked to undermine the heroic efforts of our brave security forces.

J: UNP honestly supported the President who vowed to usher in peace. But now we see only fighting in the North and East. We extended our sincere support even at emergency in Parliament. But the government is using that to intimidate media.

We genuinely supported the government on matters relating to security during the last few months. We did that in good faith.

Q: Some NGOs and individuals seem to be engaged in an organised campaign to tarnish Sri Lanka's image under the guise of human rights. Even murders and abductions which had taken place due to personal disputes have been conveniently credited to the Government's account.

Do you think it is ethical at a time the Government is giving top priority to national security?

N: In a democratic society, there are laws and regulations to follow. If certain NGOs or other groups engage in matters to harm national security, it's up to the authorities to stop such acts. So many unethical things are happening.

There should be a strong monitoring arm at the Defence Ministry to monitor any suspicious behaviour of NGOs.

J: Mangala and Sripathi don't belong to NGOs, but are people who have helped the party immensely. They attacked our leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at the last Presidential election. Some traders are being abducted.

People who voice opinion against these are being remanded. If NGOs are violating the laws of our country, they should be punished. The international community has questioned both the government and the LTTE on abductions. The LTTE is a terrorist organisation.

Hence we could expect them to violate human rights. People should be able to live without fear.

Q: An attempt to block a resolution supporting the proposed Select Committee to probe corruption at State institutions was defeated at the recent UNP Parliamentary group meeting. Who brought it and why was it defeated?

N: We have nothing to hide regarding the COPE report. If there are any wrongdoings, COPE itself has a mechanism to investigate. This is only a preliminary report.

But COPE could appoint its own committee to investigate. Hence we feel it's not necessary to have a special committee. UNP is trying to sling mud on Ministers Karu Jayasuriya and Milinda Moragoda. On the other hand, then UNP Government including former Prime Minister, is collectively held responsible for such conduct.

J: The COPE report has questioned deals both during the UNP as well as the PA governments. Karu Jayasuriya came on television and said there should be an investigation.

UNP proposed to have a select committee. But Karu voted against that move. We feel that they have something to cover. A big question mark now hangs against their cleanliness.

Q: There were media reports that six more UNP MPs are planning to join UNP reformists and support 'Mahinda Chinthanaya' . Will there be any more crossovers?

N: Ranil Wickremesinghe has said he is going to topple the Government in April. We have to wait and see until the end of next month what's going to happen? who is crossing over from which side to which.

J: Those who left the UNP have no future or self respect. They merely try to defend their decisions. There are no more fools in the UNP to join the Government. They destroyed our party and now do the same against the President's party.

Q: There is a general feeling amongst party supporters that the UNP does not have a vision to come into power, or at least to bounce back as a strong opposition after losing 14 successive elections at various levels?

N: The UNP leader and his team expected the people to get fed up and vote for the UNP. But that's not going to happen. A party that expects to come to power should have a vision and qualities for the people to trust. Majority of the people in the party do not feel that Ranil Wickremesinghe could deliver the goods.

J: We could not take right decisions due to this team. We narrowly lost the last Presidential Election but 15 months after that these 18 MPs mortgaged our party. Karu tried to oust party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Milinda wanted to be the deputy, Naveen to promote his father-in-law, Rajitha to be the PM and Hemakumara to be the UNP Secretary General. They could not succeed and masterminded a plot. We got rid of that cancer and those political tourists.

People have no regard for them. At the beginning people thought the President would bat for 12 years. But after they joined, there is a general feeling that would be reduced.

Q: What progress has the UNP made in introducing reforms to the party?

N: The proposals we brought forward last year have been introduced in a very diluted form. People close to Ranil Wickremesinghe would say they have introduced reforms and the party is going to win the next election. But in actual terms, nothing really has happened except offering some posts to a few individuals. That's not going to help the party.

J: We have successfully introduced new reforms to the party with more powers to the executive body. We have entrusted responsibilities to capable people. Ranil Wickremesinghe has kept his promises. He will make the party stronger than ever before.

Q: At a time almost all political parties in the Parliament are backing the leadership of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, don't you think the UNP has a broader role to play?

N: We suggested that before the MoU was signed for greater national co-operation. President Mahinda Rajapaksa invited Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to join his Government, to have a power sharing mechanism. But for reasons best known to the UNP leader, he did not accept the invitation extended by the President.

J: The UNP wanted to do that. On the invitation of the President, we came forward and signed an MOU to which even most of our rural members were against. Without accepting any positions, we extended our support to the government initially on a two-year period to find a solution to North east problem. We kept to our promises but not the Government. They tried to break democratic parties in an irresponsible manner.

Q: What steps have the UNP taken to find the winning formula at future elections?

N: We have to market the UNP in a new way. I don't think the present individuals at UNP could be marketed to form a winning team. People are tired of UNP leaders losing successive elections. UNP is a strong party but we have not looked after the interests of our party supporters. It's highly unlikely that the UNP could make a comeback under the present leadership.

J: We lost the last Presidential Election narrowly. If not for the election boycott of the LTTE in North and East, we would have won that. We have a mechanism to work from rural level. With increased cost of living, corruption and battles in the North, it's difficult for the Government to face an election. We are ready to bounce back and win.

Q: Do you think the UNP has a charismatic leadership with a dynamic vision and ability to take the party forward?

N: That was self evident on what has happened during the past 12 years, losing two successive Presidential elections, two general elections, two local Government elections etc.

J: We have a leader who loves the country. He has a vision and a goal. Ranil is an honest leader who could work tirelessly for the country.

When he was the Prime Minister, he did not entertain any relatives, but was clean and honest. Nobody could challenge that leadership. Smile and appearance does not mean a good leader. Ranil could make this another Singapore or Malaysia.