I suffered the most mud-slinging - PM

Signifying yet another milestone in the annals of parliamentary history, Parliament was reconvened on Tuesday for the first time under the new national unity government of President Maithripala Sirisena. The outcome of the Presidential election paved the way to make overall changes in the composition of Parliament and also to create divisions within the ruling UPFA which eventually became the main Opposition in Parliament.

The UPFA's setback in Parliament helped the main Opposition UNP to form a Government after a lapse of many years. Following the changes in the composition of Parliament the key positions of both Government and Opposition ranks including the posts of Chief Government Whip, Leader of the House, Chief Opposition Whip and the Opposition Leader also changed. Media Minister Gayantha Karunatilake was the new Chief Government Whip while Plantation Minister Lakshman Kiriella was appointed Leader of the House. UPFA parliamentarian Nimal Siripala de Silva appointed Opposition Leader and UPFA Parliamentarian W.D.J. Senewiratne, the new Chief Opposition Whip. Ranil Wickremesinghe who played the Opposition Leader's role addressed the opening day of the new Parliament as Prime Minister. However, Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa and the Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody remained in their posts when the new Parliament was reconvened on Tuesday.

The SLFP, the main constituent of the UPFA coalition which had 128 seats was split during the Presidential election. SLFP parliamentarians who support President Maithripala Sirisena including the Ministers Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Duminda Dissanayake, M.K.A.D.S. Gunawardena, Nandimithra Ekanayake and Faizer Musthapha and the members of several minority parties were seen among the Government ranks while the other SLFP members led by Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva were seated in the Opposition.

The Party Leaders who congratulated the new Government expressed their willingness to make the Government's 100-day program a success. During their congratulatory speeches, some Party Leaders also expressed their views on the present composition in Parliament. The Party Leaders stressed the importance of bringing a lasting solution to the national problem in collaboration with all parties represented in Parliament. Premier Wickremesinghe who first addressed the House called for the support of all Members of Parliament to make the new Government's programs to rebuild the country within 100 days, a success.

The most important attribute of the Premier's speech who that he described the present Parliament as special in Sri Lankan history since a number of political entities including two main parties have united themselves for a common program. He described it as a joint exercise for a better future. The Prime Minister also pledged to bring about radical reforms to the Constitution seeking a solution to the national problem within the first 100 days of the new Government.

Premier Wickremesinghe also told the House the Government's keenness to introduce the 19th Amendment to the Constitution in repealing the 18th Amendment so as to set up an Independent Commissions. Ignoring the fact whether one is a Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim or Burgher there is the need to find a solution to the national problem, the Premier said. Condemning a statement made by NFF Leader MP Wimal Weerawansa, he told Weerawansa that it is he was who destroyed former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and asked him not to indulge in it any more. He told the House to abhor racism and find ways and means to settle this problem. MP Weerawansa who sat in a front row seat in the Opposition listened to the Premier's remark without his usual interruption. However, during his speech, Weerawansa said that if he ever destroyed former President Rajapaksa, he could have been a friend of the Prime Minister.

Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva said that the Prime Minister's speech reflected the Government's stand of creating a new political culture in the country. He elucidated made clear the stance taken by the SLFP Central committee and the Executive Committee to extend support to the Government's 100-day program. The Opposition Leader said that they will bring to the notice of the Government still the problems and grievances of the people and hope the Government would to solve them.

TNA Parliamentary Group Leader R. Sampanthan highlighted the importance of addressing the Tamil problem to evolve a permanent and durable solution within the framework of a united and undivided Sri Lanka. Sampanthan was said that the Tamil problem needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency and they would extend their fullest support to realise that goal. JVP Leader MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake was highly critical of certain wrongdoings of the previous Government. The MP said that the people gave a clear verdict against corruption and nepotism. The country had been heading towards a dictatorship and the people defeated that move. There was fraud, corruption and abuse of power from the top to the bottom of the previous regime, he said.

Referring to the present composition of Parliament Dissanayake told the House that they do not need to have a Parliament where the majority is with the Government. The MP said that one half of the SLFP is in the Government while the others are in the Opposition. He said that this has been designed as to secure the Opposition Leader's position. Dissanayake so demanded the SLFP to clearly outline its position to Parliament as to where it stands today. Dissanayake categorically said that the JVP is not a part of the Government but represents the Opposition and that they would not accept any Cabinet portfolios. However, he said that the JVP would extend its active support to the 100-day program for its progressive measures.

Communist Party Leader MP D.E.W. Gunasekara commenting on the alleged conspiracy told the House that no such conspiracy ever took place. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa left his office in the true sprit of democracy. We in fact told him several times that we should not go for an election at this juncture, Gunasekera said.

MEP Leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena in his hard-hitting speech said that Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has entered into a 'weird marriage' with several parties to form a strange government and the Opposition would remain vigilant to see how that relationship would work out during its first 100 days. Seizing the opportunity given for the Party Leaders to congratulate the new government Gunawardene described this as an unprecedented situation. He tried to convince the House that a new Government and a new Prime Minister are in power without winning a general election.

MP Gunawardena also reminded the House of the victories achieved by the former President. He said when he assumed Office in 2005, the country was on the verge of division. But the former President united the country and brought it under one flag. Gunawardene said that there is a sinister campaign to discredit the leaders who freed the country from terrorism and the media is being used to sling mud at them. The Premier responding to the allegation said that the Government hoped to hold a debate on these issues. However, Mud-slinging is not something new. Person more than me would have experienced such mud slinging in the country Prime Minister Wickremesinghe said.