Ex-UNP MPs air their views on party’s plight

By Jaliya Wijayekoon

Sri Lanka remained under British rule for well over a century beginning in 1815 and the patriotic leaders of yesteryear felt the necessity of independence and started clamouring for freedom from the colonial masters. A number of organisations was formed by local patriotic leaders with the participation of all communities and they jointly worked to obtain autonomy.

The Ceylon National Congress was one of the foremost political forces in the country representing all communities which agitated against the British Empire for the country’s Independence. It metamorphosed in to the United National Party headed by D.S. Senanayake and the country obtained Independence in 1948 after 133 years under British bondage.

D.S. Senanayake was the greatest visionary of modern Sri Lanka who chartered the course of the future of the nation under the umbrella of the United National Party. With Independence, the United National Party became extremely powerful as it initiated a huge number of development projects in the country to enhance the socio-economic standard of its people.

Unfortunately, D.S. Senanayake had an untimely death falling off horse back while he was on his regular exercises at the Galle Face Green. His son Dudley Senanayake, a Cambridge Scholar, who was the Minister of Agriculture was unanimously elected Prime Minister by the party members. He continued the good work of his father and went for an election even before the term was completed and achieved a mammoth two-third majority victory for the party.

However, Dudley Senanayake stepped down from politics after a few years due to ill health and Sir John Kotalawala took over the leadership of the party. Sir John, though a straight-forward and honest politician, was unable to consolidate the party and continue as he was very arrogant and rigid in political and administrative affairs. He constantly had problems with his colleagues and even with the Maha Sangha.

The United National Party was defeated in 1956 by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and since then the power has been shifting between the UNP and SLFP-led coalitions at every successive election until the 1977 general election when the new leader of the UNP, J.R. Jayawardene won with five-sixth majority and consolidated power firmly with the introduction of new Constitution. From 1977 upto 1994, the United National Party won all elections held in the country. Since 1994, the UNP had been in a dismal position except at the 2001 general election where the party managed to form a government with the able support rendered by a breakaway group of the then PA government headed by its general secretary S.B. Dissanayake, and six other prominent members.

However, Ranil Wickremesinghe couldn’t consolidate the power he won and continue for long. They were swept out of power after barely completing two years. From that point onwards, the UNP suffered defeat after defeat and continued to be in a quagmire.

The Sunday Observer sought the views of some former party stalwarts to ascertain why the party has descended to such abysmal levels.

The views expressed by some of them:

Buddhika Kurukularatne, Ex Parliamentarian, Galle District:

Q: Your party had rendered a great service to the nation from its inception and had been a forceful and formidable political force in the past. However, during the last few years, it had performed very poorly and pathetically at all elections. What is the reason for this gradual downfall?

A: A number of social and political reasons may have contributed to the present dismal position of the party. However, it is an accepted fact that the present feeble leadership is the main cause for the downfall of the patty. I know Ranil Wickremesinghe from his school days. He used to visit my place and discuss political matters. I worked at ANCL with his father Esmond Wickremesinghe who was a great PR man who would put his hand around my shoulder and advise me on professional matters. I don’t believe that Ranil has inherited even one percent of the PR abilities from his father.

Ranil Wickremesinghe is not a practical politician who feels the pulse of the grass roots level membership. Moreover, he doesn’t possess intellectual advisors. A large number of former party stalwarts had left the party mainly due to his arrogant and rigid ways. He is not prepared to listen to the grievances of the party members. I have nothing personal against him and I must say that he is the only man who could pull the country out of the present mess. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the charismatic leadership to gain power by launching an aggressive campaign at a future election.

U.L.M. Farook, Ex Parliamentarian – Kegalle District, Former State Minister of Transport.

It is true that our party had been reduced to deplorable levels. The gradual deterioration of the party began with the assassination of our great leaders such as Lalith Athulathmudali, Ranasinghe Premadasa and Gamini Dissanayake. Had at least one of them survived, this unfortunate situation wouldn’t have arisen in the party.

I do not want to point an accusing finger at anybody for the downfall of the party, but we have to accept the fact that the organisational mechanism of the party do not function properly. The party hierarchy is not interested in capitalising on crucial national issues and instead is involved in meting out punishment to party stalwarts on trivial issues, demoralising the party supporters. Unlike in the past, no regular organisational activities are conducted, monitored and evaluated to ascertain the performances of the electoral organisers.

The media wing of the party has become defunct over the last few years. The party paper Siyarata is no longer in existence. People unfriendly measures taken by the Government are not adequately exposed to the public. Counter-attack on certain political matters is not upto the standard. With these drawbacks and shortcomings, it is not possible for our party to bounce back to power even at a future election. The leadership should realise that unity is of utmost importance to regain the lost glory of the party after addressing other important issues.

Karunasena Kodithuwakku – Colombo District Ex-Minister of education:

There are a number of reasons for our party’s present situation. Let me start from the recent past. We formed a government in 2001 and we were compelled to take some austerity measures to resurrect the economy from the sorry State. Hence we couldn’t provide employment during the two years, but we brought the economy to a sound footing. Chandrika Kumaratunga dissolved the Government and we lost power at the election.

The LTTE was weakened in some aspects over its divisions due to Ceasefire Agreement and it didn’t allow Tamil community to vote at the Presidential Election and Ranil Wickremesinghe was defeated marginally by Mahinda Rajapaksa. Then the Mahinda Rajapaksa Government defeated the long drawn terrorism militarily and that is the main reason for them to remain in power to date.

However the present government has miserably failed to address issues on education, health, international relations, and in a number of crucial areas.

People are faced with lots of difficulties with the ever increasing cost of living. We are slowly and steadily organising our party for victory at a future National Election.

M.D. Premaratne, Ex Parliamentarian – Avissawella electorate and former Deputy Minister of Sports and Parliamentary Affairs

I started my political career as a VC member of Boralugoda way back in 1958 and since then I had been working closely with all UNP leaders. We had our ups and downs from time to time in the distant past, but we were never bogged down in the Opposition for more than one parliamentary term. I feel really sad at the present plight of the party. There are a lot of reasons for this debacle. The main reason is that the present leader is not a practical politician who rubs shoulders with the grass roots level membership of the party. Over the last eight to 10 years, our party had been gradually and steadily being dragged away from the masses. A large number of our party stalwarts have left the party mainly due to the manner in which the present leader handles the affairs of the party. When area organisers and one time provincial leaders desert the party and join the government, invariably the grass roots level members get demoralised. A substantial number of our district leaders who left party have been elected back to parliament under the UPFA banner. It clearly indicates the down fall of our party.

The entire party mechanism has to be revolutionised if we are to have even a glimpse of hope of a victory, which is not in the foreseeable future.

Renuka Herath – Ex-Minister – Nuwara Eliya District:

It is true that we are bogged down in the Opposition for the last number of years due to some of our shortcomings. At the same time President Mahinda Rajapaksa managed to eradicate terrorism with the able support given by the security forces. We are happy about it. We are not very much interested in the results of minor election. We know the general trend is that government in power always win minor elections. Our main focus is on the next general election for which we have already started preparing the ground work. We know a large number of people distracted from us in the past. They are gradually rallying round us back again because they know that Ranil Wickremesinghe is the only leader who can lead the country for socio-economic prosperity. People are extremely fed up with the present government and silently and impatiently waiting to see a regime change. Although some development projects are there, the dividends of them have not reached the ordinary public. Only a handful of people are benefited by their so called projects. Day to day domestic expenses have reached unprecedented heights. With the backdrop of this situation we are quite positive that we form a government at the next general election under our leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Upali Amarasiri, Ex Parliamentarian Galle, District

The main reason for the pathetic situation of the United National Party is that it had not fulfil its responsibilities as the main Opposition party during the last few years. They should realise that a good government and a vibrant Opposition are the key bodies which safeguard all the interests of the public.

I can cite enough and more examples on these things. I do not want to name the people and the positions they were appointed to which were totally illegal and unethical, but the main Opposition never raised its voice against those postings.

The shortcomings at the present administration had not been adequately exposed by the Opposition to the public. No alternate plans had been presented to the public at the last elections. Ranil Wickremesinghe has not addressed the Sinhala Buddhist majority, but is more concerned with the interests of the minority communities. The Sinhala Buddhist vote base had got distracted over these actions and utterances made by Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Vajira Abeywardene Galle District Ex-Minister:

The services rendered by the United National Party to the nation are immeasurable and invaluable. But its true that it had stagnated during the last few years in the Opposition. We have to accept the fact that the eradication of terrorism is the main factor which contributed to the present rulers to be in power continuously. Our previous leaders also tried and controlled the LTTE movement and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Peace Agreement divided the LTTE outfit and weakened them. You have to admit the fact that Karuna Amman and Pillaiyan broke away from LTTE due to the Ceasefire Agreement.

However Mahinda Rajapaksa Government look the full credit of winning the war and still remains in power.

But now the Government is becoming increasingly unpopular due to the very high cost of living and unprecedented degree of corruption and we are quite certain that we will be able to return to power under the astute and far-sighted leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe at a future election.

Daham Wimalasena, Ex Parliamentarian (One year) and former Chairman, Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.

The recent debacle in the United National Party is due to the lack of democracy in the party. There is no transparency in whatever political or financial dealings. All important activities are conducted with the approval of Working Committee Members who are appointed by the leader. If the leader is interested in maintaining democracy in the party, he should go for an election for the leader’s post, allowing all the elected UNP representatives of Parliament, Provincial Councils and all local bodies to cast their vote. Then he will realise the degree of popularity that he has in the party.

One thing is dead certain, that is, he would never be able to form a government under his leadership. He is doing irreparable damage to the party by remaining its leader.

Vincent Dias, Ex Parliamentarian, former Deputy Minister Badulla District.

The debacle of the party is fully due to its leader who has his own way. Today, he is enacting a sort of a drama with a handful of his people. At this rate, the future of the party is at stake. Although Ranil and his people say that they will form a government in 2014, the grass roots level membership is not ready for that. They are more interested in going for a referendum rather than an election to remain in parliament for a further period, enjoying all the perks.

Rankil Wickremesinghe and his near and dear are not bothered about the grass roots level members who have been undergoing untold hardships due to the sky rocketing cost of living. They don’t want to challenge the government on issues such as corruption.

In this backdrop, a victory for the UNP would be a distant dream.

Mahen Gunasekera, Gampaha District Ex Parliamentarian and former Deputy Minister

I do not want to beat about the bush. The reason for the present debacle of our party in a nut shell its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Sunday Observer contacted a few more former UNP Parliamentarians who abstained from making any comment over the present situation in the party, alleging that it’s a mere waste of time.