Opposition Leader selection:

UPFA split

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Controversy rages over the legitimacy of a SLFP Parliamentarian holding the Opposition Leader's portfolio following the decision by 26 SLFP MPs to join the newly formed National Government and secure ministerial portfolios. The volatile political situation created in the composition of Parliament has led some coalition partners of the UPFA and also the JVP to make a big hue and cry over the Opposition Leader's post. The UPFA allied parties, National Freedom Front and New Democratic Front maintain the view that MEP Leader MP Dinesh Gunawardena should be appointed as the Opposition Leader while the JVP wants to select a formidable person from the JVP or the TNA as they are the only two parties which genuinely play the legitimate role of the Opposition in Parliament. Tamil National Alliance which represents the Parliament as a coalition of Tamil parties is also eyeing the post. However, the parties which called upon Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa to seriously consider legal, constitutional and political aspects of the issue are eagerly waiting for his ruling at the next Parliamentary sittings on April 7. However, a cross section of UPFA constituent parties and the JVP which are at the forefront to oust the Opposition Leader expressed diverse views on the subject matter.

SLFP sitting on UNP lap

Mahajana Eaksath Peramuna leader Dinesh Gunawardena:

Q: What led some constituent partners of the UPFA Mahajana Eksath Peramuna, National Freedom Front and New Democratic Front to oppose the conduct of Nimal Siripala de Silva as the Opposition Leader?

A: Actually this issue is more than a certain individual. How can the SLFP which was elected to Parliament under the betel leaf to pursue its political program against the UNP while sitting on their lap. A lot of political differences have been emerged within the UPFA after some SLFP

members joined the UNP led Government and obtained ministerial portfolios.

But we should not let the supremacy of Parliament being challenged and its status being derogated.

Q: Why does a group of UPFA Parliamentarians want you to be the Opposition Leader? Is it on personal grounds or on merit?

A: There is no personal ground. This is a political issue whether we sit on the UNP's lap or respect the 5.8 million people who voted for Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential Election.

Q: In a true democracy there is a clear line separating the Government from the Opposition. How do you look at this volatile political situation in Parliament after the formation of a National Government?

A: When the UPFA was in power, some UNP MPs led by Karu Jayasuriya crossed over to the Government. Sometimes the UNP even took disciplinary actions against some UNP MPs. It is with the blessings of the SLFP leadership, a group of SLFP MPs have accepted portfolios of the UNP led Government.

It is politically opposed to the UPFA's mandate. It is up to the Speaker to give a ruling on this issue and draw a clear line separating the Government from the Opposition without letting the Parliament become a laughing stock.

Q: Could you cite any similar situation in the British experience? How would you explain its feasibility in a true democracy in safeguarding the public interest at large?

A: There are no similar experiences of this nature. This is a glaring example of Yaha Palanaya.

I don't think this is in Erskine May or in any British parliamentary conventions. A Prime Minister not elected by the people's mandate is running the Government and the Cabinet under Yaha Palanaya.

SLFPers have no right to hold portfolios

JVP Parliamentarian Vijitha Herath:

Q: What is the rational behind the argument put forward by the JVP that Opposition Leader Nimal Siripala de Silva has no right to hold the post of Opposition Leader and it should be given to any other Party Leader who does not belong to this National Government ?

A: The Opposition Leader represents the SLFP. Some SLFP MPs joined the Government and obtained ministerial portfolios following a decision taken by the SLFP Central Committee. Therefore, the SLFP has no moral right to hold ministerial portfolios and the Opposition Leader post at the same time because it would set a wrong precedence. A group of SLFP MPs have also proposed MP Dinesh Gunawardena's name to the post of Opposition Leader. But they have no ability to propose his name as he also represents the UPFA coalition and he is also an integral partner of the Government.

The incumbent Opposition Leader has no authority to fulfill the duties of his post while MP Dinesh Gunawardena cannot also be nominated to that post as he is also a constituent partner of the UPFA. At present the genuine Opposition is represented by the JVP and the TNA.

Q: There are media reports that the JVP at Tuesday's Party Leader's meeting had requested the Speaker to give Opposition Leader's post to the JVP? Is there any truth in these media speculations?

A: I categorically deny that media reports. What we requested the Speaker was to select a suitable person from the TNA or the JVP as the Opposition Leader.

We didn't request the Speaker to give the Opposition Leader's post to us. What is more appropriate is to elect an Opposition Leader based on the consensus reached between these two parties. If the TNA is ready to give the Opposition Leader's portfolio to the JVP, we are ready to accept it.

Q: The incumbent Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held the Opposition Leader's post nearly 11 years, but the Opposition parties didn't have any confrontation with him. What has led to this unusual atmosphere in Parliament?

A: Opposition parties didn't have big issue with the former Opposition Leader as he just performed his duties during that period. But this is an entirely new situation created after a group of SLFP MPs joined the so called National Government and obtained portfolios. Actually this is a a coalition government. A section of the coalition sits in the opposition while the other sits in the government. This is not a healthy situation for democracy. This is the first time in our political history such as volatile political situation has been created. Under these circumstances, electing the Opposition Leader has turned into a big controversy. This wrong tradition should be stopped. If not this bad precedence would pave the way for a political party to gain the Opposition Leader's post and ministerial portfolios. At present an unprecedented political situation has cropped in the House. Therefore, it cannot be compared with the situation which prevailed in Parliament over the past 11 years.

Q: The SLMC maintains the view that the Opposition Leader's post should be given to the TNA. How would you respond to this claim?

A: It is up to the Speaker to make the final decision regarding this. At present TNA musters the majority seats in the Opposition. According to mathematics, the Opposition Leader's post should go to the TNA. But the majority of people's aspirations and the genuine role of the Opposition is fulfilled by the JVP. Therefore, the genuine Opposition Leader should be JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake. If the TNA also expresses its satisfaction, Dissanayake would take up that challenge.

Q: Was a final consensus reached at Tuesday's Party Leader's meeting on the issue of Opposition Leader?

A: No final decision was reached at the Party Leader's meeting. The Speaker only obtained the views of Party Leaders and Parliamentarians on this issue. We hope the Speaker would give his ruling on the issue at the next Parliament session which will commence on April 7. What we convinced the Speaker was that JVP and TNA are the only two parties which represent the Opposition so that we hope the Speaker will appoint a suitable person to the Opposition Leader's post by seeking the views of these two parties.

Opposition Leader does not represent the Opposition

Democratic Left Front leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara:

Q:You are of the view that the Opposition Leader should quit from his post and MP Dinesh Gunawardena should be appointed as the Opposition Leader.

What made your party with few other allied parties of the UPFA reach make decision?

A: The Opposition Leader does not truly represent the Opposition. He has a close rapport with the Government while some SLFP MPs have obtained portfolios and become an integral part of the UNP led Government.

Under these circumstances, the Opposition Leader has to get instructions from the Government and plan his duties which amounts to conflict of interest. I

recommend he should quit his post and give it to an efficient person as Dinesh Gunawardena who has a long experience of Parliamentary traditions and practices.

Q: JVP and TNA say that they truly represent the Opposition and that the Opposition Leader's post should be given to them. Is there any validity of this argument put forward by them?

A: If they truly represent the Opposition, that request could be considered. But these two parties are also a supportive caucus of the Government. The JVP and the TNA are also represented in the National Executive Council.

They cannot instruct the Government and the Opposition. If we look at the conduct of these two parties over the past few months, they are also a supportive part of the UNP led Government.

Q: Don't you think the move taken by you along with NFF and MEP to oust the Opposition Leader would lead to create divisions within the UPFA?

A: The UPFA is has already divided with a group of SLFP MPs joining the UNP led Government which is our contending political opponent.

Merely because President Maithripala Sirisena is the SLFP Chairman, SLFP cannot join the Government and obtain portfolios.

Actually this decision was taken when majority of the UPFA Parliamentarians were opposed to it. The people have not given a mandate to the UPFA to join the UNP led Government and obtain portfolios.

Q: Do you think it is entirely up to the Speaker to give a ruling to sort out this issue?

A: Definitely. The Speaker should look into legal, constitutional, international practices and Commonwealth Parliamentary experiences.

Therefore, the Speaker has to go into legal, constitutional and political aspects to sort out this controversial issue.