No crisis in UNP - Thalatha Athukorala MP
By Manjula FERNANDO
UNP Ratnapura district MP Thalatha Athukorala made her entry into
serious politics after the sudden demise of her elder brother, former
Minister and UNP stalwart Gamini Athukorala, in January 2002. Although
she was never a political novice per se, her only political foray then
had been helping the campaign of her brother.
The
Sunday Observer spoke to her on a range of issues including the UNP's
internal crisis, the proposed changes to the UNP constitution and party
reforms and UNP-Government talks on Constitutional amendments. The
following are excerpts:
Q: The UNP is in a crisis over the leadership issue and other
factors, after a series of electoral losses. What should the UNP do to
resurrect itself and come to power again?
A: First of all I must say there is no crisis as such within
the party.
What you see is merely a section of members raising their voices and
coming out with suggestions as to what should be done to overcome the
present situation and carry the UNP to a winning mode.
A committee headed by Joseph Michael Perera was appointed to look
into the matter and they came up with sound recommendations to reform
the party constitution. The Central body has decided to implement these
recommendations.
A sub committee of lawyers was appointed at the last working
committee meeting to look into the legal aspects, to decide upon new
clauses to be introduced and to draft the new constitution.
Q: What are the major changes in the new constitution?
A: The main feature will be holding a secret ballot to appoint
a new leader, in the absence of majority consent.
During the 1995 Party convention held in Kataragama, a resolution was
passed permitting the leader to continue till his death, unless he
resigns for some reason. This is going to be replaced with a new clause
that ..says the leader will have to seek a fresh mandate every year at
the Party convention.
The date for the next annual convention is expected to be fixed at
the next working committee meeting, in the first week of September. The
working committee meeting is generally fixed during the first week
unless under special circumstances.
Q: Are you happy with the pace the reforms process is
proceeding. The whole process seem to be dragging its feet?
A: I must frankly say that I am not at all happy. This whole
process must be expedited before the local government elections. Our
local government representatives need time to get ready for the
elections. There is no reason to drag it on. At the end of the day it
will affect our grass roots level representation. They have to face the
forthcoming election. This is the view of the majority of the village
level UNP supporters.
I would not want to say each and every UNP member holds my point of
view. The grass roots level representatives keep on inquiring from us as
to what we have done to settle the issue.
Q: Don't you think the staunch UNP supporter Algama who set
himself ablaze flashed a red light that UNP is running out of time?
A: That was such a pathetic situation to be honest. If someone
tries to take political mileage and sling mud over this issue, that will
be very unfortunate. That will not resolve the problem. You must never
let your feelings to cloud your rational thinking or let it rule you.
We must act according to our conscience. I feel sorry for this
person. I can't imagine what made him to do such a thing. There are lots
of stories surrounding his death but I don't want to believe them.
Q: President is in dialogue with the Opposition Leader over
the proposed constitutional reforms. At the last meeting with the
President, Ranil Wickremesinghe was alone. You think he will represent
the majority opinion of the UNP? Are you happy with the way the talks
are taking shape?
A: I am happy that the President is of the opinion the
Opposition should be involved and consulted in the Constitutional
reforms process. But prior to our leader's visit to the 'Temple Trees'
last time, he did not ask for our views, opinions or proposals. In fact
we got to know about it only after the meeting. He told us what was
discussed with the President, subsequently at the working committee
meeting.
Q: Two more MPs defected to the Government last week. Are you
worried that there will be more such crossovers in the near future?
Don't you think the internal strife is driving them away?
A: Those two were people from another party. They contested
under the UNF banner of course. But we have no hold on them. The
respective parties should deal with their defections. However, I think
the President should have been more cautious in welcoming them at this
decisive time.
I cannot agree with those who say they crossover to ruling party to
serve their people. That is just absurd. If people honour principles and
ethics they will stick with their parties and steer it to victory,
without resorting to the easy option. Those other parties have different
political agendas to yours. I think those who crossover are just
interested in personal gains.
Q: Had your brother been alive, do you think the present
crisis for leadership would not have arisen?
A: I have a very short reply to that. If my brother was alive,
the UNP would still be in power. None of these problems would have come
up.
The whole scenario would have been very different.
Q: Were you not involved in politics before your brother's
sudden demise?
A: I was never in politics. It was just a matter of helping by
brother's campaign. He was a Deputy Minister and a Minister for 17 years
under UNP but none of my family members were involved in politics. We
have not benefited a cent from being in politics.
My grandfather E.A.R. Athukorala was one of the founding members of
the UNP. My parent's marriage was attested by D.S. Senanayake. UNP is my
second home.
Q: Could you tell us a little about your family?
A: My father was a planter and we are in tea business. My
husband too is involved in business of his own. I don't have children of
my own but I became a mother to my brother's two children, the eldest is
the boy. They were just two and one and a half when I took charge of
them.
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