Recent ‘disturbances’ within the Green Walls:

Storm in a tea cup - Tissa Attanayake

The UNP was in a turmoil during the course of the week with a barrage of criticisms from its own stalwarts who were attacking UNP Leader and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe for his poor performance in the recent hustings.

While the party’s ‘young blood’ holding critical views about the leadership, the senior UNP politicians endorsed Wickremesinghe as still the ideal person for leadership as the UNP was facing a dearth of politicians who can win the confidence of the majority and the international community.

While many UNP politicians were tightlipped this week, over the party rift, the UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake echoing the ‘official version’ of the whole drama to oust the UNP leader, tried to make amends by simplifying it as ‘just proposals for the betterment of the party’s future’. “This is sinister propaganda by the state media”, he explained.

Agreeing that there are of course several lapses in party policies he said the need of the hour was to keep the internal crisis behind ‘closed doors’ as the party has a more important duty - to ‘save’ people from the unbearable economic burden and their security under the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.

Excerpts:

Q: It was reported that another split is brewing with some urging for a change in the party leadership. What is a latest situation?

A: At first I want to say that there was no such crisis in the UNP. From the leader to the ordinary supporter, all want to have a clear process to come to power. Now there is a proposal to speed up our organising campaigns to defeat this government. The fact is that there are different views and opinions expressed by our members and it is a positive sign.

Q: It means that you agree there were plans to oust the UNP Leader?

A: No. There was no such move. Nothing was suggested at the recent meeting and what they had pointed was the need of taking certain new measures to win the future elections.

When considering the present situation of the economy and the security, people say they need a change soon. So, the talk was how to accelerate the process to victory and the changes that could bring about to achieve the target.

Q: Are you confident that he would be able to remain as the UNP leader in the future?

A: Yes. Why have doubts. He is the party leader and it will remain unchanged. On the other hand, there are ways mentioned in the UNP constitution on how to change the leadership. That cannot be done by bringing proposals and it should be done according to the party Constitution. But, no one has challenged the leadership yet.

Q: You said that according to the Party constitution the leader can not be changed in an adhoc manner. So, it is obvious that the leader remains not because of the faith of majority UNPers but due to the clauses of the Constitution?

A: How do you say that Mr. Wickremesinghe does not have the confidence of majority of the Party. He is still the most suitable person to lead the UNP towards victory. And majority of our members do not intend to have a change.

Q: But it was reported that some senior UNP politicians have urged to change the leadership to save the party. Isn’t it?

A: No. I refute that claim. Even I read some of these news reports in papers. It is a known fact that all the facts reported in media are not 100 percent accurate. Some media have distorted the facts raised in the Committee.

Q: Are you covering up the present rift against the UNP leadership?

A: No. I am talking on real facts. To talk about a rift there should be a revolt against Mr. Wickremesinghe. But there is nothing of that sort. But there are few people whose ideas were expressed for the betterment of the party. Everybody cannot hole the same view. There are diverse views. What is happening is, our rivals try to take political mileage by spreading these rumours, especially the state media.

Q: Was there a proposal to cut down the responsibilities held by the UNP leader and to devolve them among the senior politicians of the party?

A: No but there are proposals. I agree that there are lots of people in the party who neglect their responsibilities. I also agree that we should have a new system of sharing responsibilities.

Each one should be given responsibility of leading the party to victory. Meantime, those who can work hard should be given a chance to rise. Then not only the UNP leadership but also each and every one assigned to the task should take the responsibility.

Q: The UNP leader has lost over 16 elections and don’t you think that he is now fast losing his credibility and the party needs a swift change of leadership to take the party to victory?

A: I think it is not easy to find a leader like Ranil Wickremesinghe. From the Chandrika Kumaratunge era upto now there are attempts to change the leadership. Why are they scared of him? One is, due to his wide experience in politics and the other is the local and international recognition that he has gained so far. We strongly believe that there is no need for a change in the UNP leadership.

Q: What are the main obstacles for the UNP, which have suffered continues election defeats, to win polls?

A: We are also facing the common problems faced by all other political parties. That is rigging of votes. As in the East the government is trying to win the future elections fraudulently.

People should organise to win their right to vote. It is high time to establish an Independent Elections Commission and a Police Commission. Until then we cannot have hopes for a free and fair election as the Elections Commissioner says he does not have powers to take action against rigging of votes.

Apart from those, as a party we should also need to have some policy changes within the party. More responsibilities should be given to organisers. It is true that the UNPers today claim that we do not look after our supporters well.

There should be a new system to address these issues. The other fact is that the UNP lacks dedicated politicians, today. The reason for this may be they have lost confidence. We all should get together to lead the party to victory. Leadership is not only Mr. Wickremesinghe but leaders at all levels.

As a leader Mr. Wickremesinghe should devolve responsibilities among those who are dedicated. Powers should be devolved to the leaders at all levels and need to monitor whether they are meeting the given targets and if not actions should be taken against them.10 to 15 percent of the UNP organisers are not performing their responsibilities at all. It is of no use of keeping them without punishing.

Q: Some identified S. B. Dissanayake and MP Sajith Premadasa as the saviours of the party. Are there any moves to elevate them?

A: Everybody in the party should try to come up and as a party those who work hard should be taken into the forefront. They should be given tasks and responsibilities. One allegation against the UNP is that those who work hard will not be given a chance to rise. But this is not the truth. We can not hand pick people for the leadership.

For example former President J. R. Jayewardene took over 40 years to become the Leader of the UNP. And R. Premadasa worked hard and won the confidence of the party. No use of creating issues among people but those who want to come forward should show their talent through their work. And they should have dedication towards the party.

We do not bother who will become the leader but what we want at this juncture is to lead the party to victory. Not only S.B. and Sajith there are lots of promising politicians who can rise to the leadership.

Q: As the General Secretary, do you think that the UNP does not have a future at this moment without Mr. Wickremesinghe?

A: We should not create issues at this juncture. The UNP Leader Wickremesinghe is not only the Opposition Leader but he is a leader who has won the confidence of a majority of people of this country.

People, including minority groups, have faith in him. Instead of agitation to win people’s rights, first priority of the JVP is to sling mud on our leader. What we say is that this is not the right time to change the leadership.

Our challenge is to defeat this government, which has created havoc. So we need a leader who has the confidence locally and internationally. We can not give birth to leaders instantly.

The UNP is a party which suffered heavily due to the LTTE. Lots of UNP leaders were assassinated by the LTTE. I think Mr. Wickremesinghe is the only person who can still lead the party and if some other person tries to do that the UNP will lag behind. I don’t say that those who want a change and want to bring new proposals should deny their rights to talk.

Let’s keep the arguments internally and discuss to find a way out. I also see some lapses in the UNP. The UNP needs a shift in its policies. We need to tell the supporters clearly that we are ready to look after them. Otherwise, they will lose trust. For the last 14 years UNPers are suffering.

Q: But it was reported that there were some discussions between Mr. Wickremesinghe and Anura Kumara Dissanayake?

A: I do not know any meeting as such. In the Parliament lobby and on other occasions we meet them. I met Minister Chamal Rajapaksa last week and MP Basil Rajapaksa two weeks ago. These are the gossips reported in the media. As I mentioned earlier the main target of the UNP is to defeat this government. Apart from that the serious challenge for the UNP is that how best the UNP can contribute to resolve the national problem.

Q: Apart from criticising the moves of this government to resolve the national problem how do you think that the UNP can genuinely contribute towards finding a lasting solution?

A: We are unhappy with the present process of resolving this problem.We tried our best to be a part of this process. After President Rajapaksa came in to power, the government claimed that the national problem would be solved within three months. But, today this government is going ahead without any responsibility. War is a show off.

They have achieved victories as well as defeats. But, at this moment we should consider whether we can afford to continue the war. We lost thousands of innocent lives. The UNP is not against any move to defeat LTTE terrorism. There is no doubt we need immediate steps to stop terrorist acts by Prabhakaran. If the government moves with this same process they will find it difficult to go ahead.

Q: Are you talking about resuming peace talks?

A: We think the government should come up with a credible political solution. If they go for peace talks there should be a political package. A proposal for a political solution should be the basis for a discussion.

The UNP has a strong basis to commence peace talks. The UNP is ready to start talks on a proposal which will not divide this country. It should ensure the sovereignty of the country. Most importantly it should be accepted by the majority. The UNP will not hold peace talks with the LTTE if they still intend to divide this country.

Q: The government is ready to talk with the LTTE if they can lay down arms. But this was refused by the LTTE. How can the UNP re-start peace talks under these conditions?

A: They did not lay down arms when they came for peace talks with the UNP and also with the Mahinda Rajapaksa government. When there are conditions the chances for talks are remote.

The main factor is to develop trust between the two parties. Then Pillaiyan was allowed to contest with arms and still his group is armed. If the LTTE say that they need arms for their security.

Q: You are talking about two different situations. Pillaiyan group is still under LTTE threats. Who are the rivals of the LTTE to carry arms in self defence?

A: Who says so? We do not know the rivals of the LTTE. And I do not want to talk on behalf of Prabhakaran. We cannot say that the LTTE does not have threats.

Q: Will these brewing internal issues end up with another split, like earlier when the UNP’s senior politicians crossed over to the government?

A: There is no bar from expressing their views to improve the present situation of the party. Those who crossed over claimed that they joined the government because of the country. But they did that for ministerial portfolios.

They are additional burdens on the people of this country. If they really intended to work for the betterment of the country they could help the government while being MPs. I do not think that there is such a group within the UNP who plans to step in to the government. All those who bring various proposals want to accelerate our march to victory.

Who is Attanayake Mudiyanselage Kudabanda Tissa Attanayake

It wasn’t an easy journey for a young man from a remote village to climb up the ladder of the country’s second powerful political party the United National Party (UNP). The young politician brimming with hopes and desires to reach the top one day, gradually became the main pillar of the Colombo based party power house.

He was a ‘threat’ to them always and believe it even now, he says, they are sharpening their knives to put him down. “Still they are still at it. If I do not hold the rudder firmly I will get thrown over board. It is really a mafia”, the General Secretary of the UNP Tissa Attanayake says with his usual charming smile.

The life was not a bed full of roses for the small scale village businessman, Muthubanda who had bring up five boys. Whether it was rain or shine the Attanayake boys walked over two miles every day to Morayaya Sangahabodhi Vidyalaya trudging through scenic paddy fields and small forest patches.

The studious among the lot Tissa was shifted to the Uduwela Maha Vidyalaya Katugastota when he got through his grade five scholarship examination. Later he entered the Kelaniya University, which was his gateway to politics.

Elected as the President of the Samawadi Students Union of the University, he had the privilege of indulging in politics with Gamini Dissanayake, Lalith Athulathmudali and late President R. Premadasa.

The young B. Com graduate was first employed at the Sirikotha - the UNP headquarters- for a monthly salary of Rs. 1750, he started off as the Personnel Assistant to the then UNP General Secretary Harsha Abeywardena, and later to Ranjan Wijeratne.

“The most difficult time was during Ranjan Wijeratne’s time. He rattled off too many instructions and speaks very fast, difficult to jot down so I turned to use the tape recorder”, Attanayake recalls.

He got his first job in the State sector as an executive at the Ceylon Fishery Harbours Corporation for a monthly salary of Rs. 3000 and had the rare privilege of travelling in his own official vehicle.

Became the Ududumbara UNP Organiser in 1988 and won the election for the first time in 1989 and held various ministerial portfolios, Attanayake eventually became the General Secretary of the UNP in 2006.

Attanayake who is proud to call him as a politician who never ‘stole’ a cent from the government says that his brothers - small scale businessmen in their home village are better off than him.

“I am poor compared to them because I am in politics, but I am so happy that I bought my own house in Colombo from the money got after selling the land which my father gave”, he says.

Still remorse over the fact that he was remanded for a month ‘unnecessarily’ thus denying his rights to cast his vote, he says that aim in his life is to reach the top in politics gradually.

The biggest worry now in his life is his inability to find a breathing space for his routine exercises. “I pleaded with the UNP leader to release me from 5 am to 7 am daily, so that I can continue with this”, he chuckles.

The 47-year-old UNP General Secretary who is so busy at any given moment complains about lack of sleep. “If I have a nap during the daytime there will be over 50 missed calls”.

The politician that he respects the most is the late President Premadasa.”His ability to judge people and solving problems were excellent. He will solve a problem within 5 to ten minutes. Decision making is so quick and he looked after the UNP supporters well”, he says.

* No crisis in the UNP.

* No doubt UNP Leader will remain.

* As the leader Ranil Wickremesinghe should devolve more responsibilities among those who are dedicated to the party.

* UNP today lacks dedicated politicians.

* It is true and fair to say that the UNP does not look after its supporters much.

* Not only S.B. and Sajith, there are lots of promising politicians who can rise to the leadership within the UNP.