UNP makes steady progress despite crossovers - Gamini Jayawickrema Perera

By Jaliya Wijeyekoon

Political somersaults, crossovers and shifting allegiances had been recorded in all main political parties in the country. The first person to do so was none other than S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in 1951. Since then and until July 24, 2013 with Dayasiri Jayasekera's crossing over there had been a surge of political somersaults for reasons best known only to the persons themselves.

However, during the past few years, a large number of United National Party stalwarts had deserted the party and joined the SLFP, claiming that there is no future for the UNP under the present leadership. Speculation and rumours are rife that all of them left the UNP, not on principle, but to enjoy various perks, privileges and monetary windfalls.

The United National Party, which had been a formidable and vibrant political force in the past, had been reduced to a poor state in its performance at all elections since the 2004 general election.

The Sunday Observer had an exclusive interview with the Chairman of the United National Party, the most senior parliamentarian representing the Kurunegala district and former cabinet minister and one time Chief Minister of the Wayamba Province, Gamini Jayawickrema Perera to ascertain the present position, the future course of action and the party's propaganda activities regarding the forthcoming Provincial Council elections.

Excerpts of the interview

Q: Your party had been a formidable political force since its inception upto about 2004. Since then, its performance had gradually deteriorated at successive elections. What is the reason for this gradual deterioration?

A: The UNP Government was dissolved by Chandrika Kumarathunga on no-justifiable reasons in 2004 due to the pressure exerted on her by the JVP and some opportunistic political elements and we lost the elections marginally.

We lost the 2005 Presidential election by a wafer-thin majority since Prabhakaran didn't allow Tamils to cast their vote as Ranil Wickremesinghe had tightened his noose through the Ceasefire Agreement.

We had done a great deal of work during the Ceasefire Agreement to weaken the LTTE's fighting units. Karuna Amman and Pilleyan broke away from the movement as a result of the CFA.

However, at the next Presidential election in 2010, Mahinda Rajapaksa had a resounding victory as he managed to eradicate the long drawn terrorism which was a morale booster for every citizen in the country irrespective of differences.

At the subsequent General Election too, we suffered badly due to the victorious atmosphere which prevailed in the country after the eradication of terrorism.

If you analyse the results of the Local Government and Provincial Council elections held later on a staggered basis, although we have not captured power, our vote base has increased across the country as against the 2010 Presidential and general elections. The socio-economic situation in the country has drastically changed over the last two years and we are quite confident that we will regain the lost glory of our party at a future election.

Q: The Party Chairmanship also wields substantial powers with regard to the promotional activities and the mechanism of the party with regard to its forward march. Don't you think that you are also responsible as chairman for the present plight of the party?

A: My main duty is to maintain unity and consolidate the membership. I have been constantly in touch with all stakeholders of the party and provide whatever assistance needed to officials. However, I must tell you that there are certain youngsters who are over-ambitious and make statements overestimating themselves.

Patience and tolerance are extremely important when you are engaged in party politics. There were occasions when we were compelled to take stern action against some of them to maintain discipline in the party. Some have realised their follies and we have pardoned them.

Q: Have you fully resolved the internal conflicts of the party with regard to its high positions?

A: We do not have any conflict in the party at present. We have amicably settled all our minor differences and now everybody accepts Ranil Wickremesinghe as our leader and all are working with determination to form a UNP government in the near future.

Q: There are allegations that disciplinary inquiries in the UNP have suppressed the aspirations of young, energetic parliamentarians. Your views?

A: As I told you earlier, discipline is very important, not only to run a major political party such as the UNP, but even to run a death donation society in a village. To maintain discipline, team work is absolutely essential. If anybody goes against the collective decisions of the party, the Executive Committee is empowered to initiate disciplinery inquiries according to our party constitution. It doesn't mean we have suppressed the aspirations of young and energetic members.

Q: What is the progress of the re organisational activities your party launched early this year?

A: We have successfully completed about 90 percent of the reorganisational activities, covering almost all districts of the country, except for two districts in the North and the East. We hope to finish this drive by the end of the year.

The response we receive from all parts of the country is very encouraging.

We have taken measures to strengthen the grass roots level membership by forming local organisations, Youth Leagues and Lak Wanitha Units covering all Grama Niladhari Divisions in all electorates.

We conduct regular meetings for all electoral organisers at the party headquarters and they in turn carry the message to the grass roots level membership through local organisations in their electorates.

Q: What action have you taken to win the support of the disintegrated factions of your party?

A: With the re organisational activities, we have approached all former UNP members who were not in the political limelight and we have formed an Ex-MPs Association.

All of them have agreed to render their assistance and support to the party at a future election. Similarly, we tapped most of our former supporters who left us with the hope of getting some relief from the Government in respect of employment for their children, Samurdhi benefits or some welfare measures.

They have been let down by the present area members and they are back with us and will go flat out, at the next general election, to form a UNP government. The present rulers have failed to provide any assistance to the poor masses in rural areas instead, they are heavily burdened by the roaring cost of living.

Q: Compared to the JRJ and R. Premadasa regimes, today's UNP propaganda machinery is not that formidable to win an election. Your views?

A: You have to understand the different situations in the country. When J.R. Jayewardene was the Leader of the Opposition, the country was riddled with a number of problems due to the closed door economic policies of the Sirima Bandaranaike government and JR had a field day, marshalling the support of people who were deprived of their basic needs.

R. Premadasa had no problem in garnering the support of the people as he was already in power as the Prime Minister. Today, the situation is different.

We have to launch our propaganda machinery against a ruling party which has a majority in the house, yet will leave no stone unturned in mobilising our strength and realising the set targets even at great risk.

Q: What is happening with the forthcoming Provincial Council elections? Have you already finalised the nomination lists for the three councils? What are your chances of winning any of them?

A: We have already completed the nomination lists and right now we are adding the final touches and hope to submit our papers within the next three days.

We have selected prominent personalities from the respective areas in addition to the sitting members who could pose a challenge to the Government at the election. We are quite confident that we could warn the Government with their people unfriendly attitude with the results of the Provincial Council elections.

Q: Will there be a great impact in the Kurunegala District for the UNP over the Dayasiri Saga?

A: This particular issue was simmering under the carpet for a long time and I advised him not to take a foolish political decision. But he crossed over for reasons best known to himself. His departure will not make a notable impact on the UNP vote base in the Kurunegala district. But I am sure there will be conflicts and tremors among the UPFA front-runners in the Kurunegala District and Dayasiri will have to regret his short-sighted political move in the future.

Q: The next General Election is scheduled for 2016. How can your party stalwarts say that you would form a government in 2014?

A: It's true that the next general election is scheduled for 2016. But the government is caught in a huge debt trap owing to its short-sighted fiscal policy. They have drawn huge loans from foreign banks on very high interest rates some of which have to be repaid within short periods.If an economy to collapses government cannot continue. As a responsible Opposition, we shall not allow burdening the poor masses any longer and drive the country to an economic abyss where nobody would be able to resurrect the country, however talented and efficient they are.

Q: The latest COPE report is an eye-opener regarding the mismanagement of public resources by inefficient managers or administrators. How would you look at this scenario?

A: Hats off to D.E.W. Gunesekera for a job well done and calling a spade a spade. All these problems are the results of the unavailability of independent commissions for which we have been clamouring for years. The COPE report has clearly stated that corruption, mismanagement and inefficiency on the part of decision-makers are the principal causes of the huge losses incurred.

Q: What made the UNP draft a new Constitution when the existing constitution was drafted by your most respected leader J.R. Jayewardene as a panacea for all ills?

A: Well, J.R. Jayewardene was the greatest visionary we have had and he wanted to make drastic changes in the socio-economic fabric of the country which had been reduced to abysmal levels with the closed door economic policy of Sirimavo Bandaranaike from 1970-1977.

He introduced the new Constitution and completely revolutionised the socio-economic standard of the country while guarantee the freedom of its citizens. He never misused the constitutional provisions to promote his personal image or to gain personal benefits.

However, subsequently, the pattern changed and the UNP has now felt the necessity of a new Constitution to avoid misusing the powers vested in the present constitution.

We have formulated the draft, safeguarding the rights of every citizen and removing the possibility of misusing the constitution for personal gain by any incumbent leader. We have presented the draft to all political parties and organisations, pressure groups and to the Maha Sangha and all other clergy to seek their opinions. This will not be a UNP constitution, but a National Constitution fathered by the UNP.

Q: What will be your main theme on the political platform to garner the support of the public at the forthcoming Provincial Council Elections?

A: We have enough and more things to tell the public in respect of the cost of living, and other vital segments. The education sector is in a mess. The Health sector is no better. Agriculture is riddled with a number of conflicts while power and energy is also a mess. The cost of living has sky-rocketed; not only the poor man and monthly salary earners, even the middle class and upper middle class people find it difficult to balance their budget at the end of the month due to the very high cost of living. There is also no law and order in the country.