Tussle over Opposition Leader’s post: 

Then all 95 MPs should sit in the Opposition - Anura Kumara Dissanayake

By Uditha Kumarasinghe

Refuting claims by a group of UPFA MPs regarding the appointment of TNA MP R. Sampanthan as the Opposition Leader, JVP Leader and Chief Opposition Whip, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, says if the 95 UPFA MPs are true patriots, they should sit in the Opposition and demand for the Opposition Leader’s post.

In this interview with the Sunday Observer, JVP Leader says it is undemocratic to demand the Opposition Leader’s post when a large number of SLFP MPs have accepted government portfolios while another group sits in the Opposition. If this bad precedence continues, a single political party may attempt to consolidate its power within the government as well as the Opposition.

Q:What were your reasons for supporting the appointment of TNA Parliamentarian R. Sampanthan as the Opposition Leader ?

A: Six political parties, the UPFA, UNP, TNA, JVP, EPDP and SLMC are represented in Parliament. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who moved the resolution to increase the number of ministerial portfolios categorically stated their coalition government consists of the UPFA, UNP and the SLMC. At present the JVP, TNA and EPDP sit in the opposition and the TNA commands the majority of MPs. Therefore, TNA deserves the Opposition Leader’s post and they have elected R. Sampanthan. According to Parliamentary traditions and Standing Orders, the Opposition Leader’s post should be given to the TNA.

Q:How do you view the controversy over his appointment ?

A: A group of UPFA MPs is acting in a disruptive manner. They cannot exist without ministerial portfolios. They should obey the decisions taken by their party leadership. Otherwise, they should quit the SLFP. The SLFP signed a MoU with the UNP to form a National Government. If the SLFP leader wants to maintain discipline within the party, those who don’t obey his decisions should be expelled from the party. There is a small faction within the UPFA which feels they don’tt have a future without joining hands with the SLFP. If the present SLFP leadership refuses to entertain them, they may attempt to create a SLFP breakaway group for their political survival.

Q: There are those who oppose Sampanthan’s appointment on ethnicity grounds. Is it a fair stand to take ?

A: They have selected ‘racism’ to regain lost ground. They cannot seek a mandate once again to rebuild the country or stop fraud and malpractices. They are a politically bankrupt group that has been subjected to public humiliation. Therefore, they attempt to promote racism for their political survival. That is why they oppose Sampanthan’s appointment merely because of his ethnicity. If these 95 UPFA MPs are true patriots, they should sit in the opposition so that they can demand the Opposition Leader’s post.

Q: The group supporting former President and present MP Mahinda Rajapaksa in Parliament says UPFA MP Kumara Welgama should have been the Opposition Leader. What is your opinion on this ?

A: That should have been discussed within the SLFP and the UPFA. If all 95 UPFA MPs sit in the opposition, they have a right to ask for the Opposition Leader’s post. A large number of UPFA MPs who have obtained ministerial portfolios sit in the government side including SLFP Leader President Maithripala Sirisena, SLFP Senior Vice President Nimal Siripala de Silva, SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake, Former SLFP General Secretary Anura Priyadharshana Yapa and former UPFA General Secretary Susil Premajayantha. It is undemocratic to demand the Opposition Leader’s post when a large number of SLFP MPs have joined the government while another group sits in the opposition. If we allow this bad precedence to continue, a single political party may attempt to consolidate its power within the government as well as the Opposition.

Q: UPFA Parliamentarian Kumara Welgama says he is acting as an unofficial or alternative Opposition Leader, despite saying earlier that they have no objection to Sampanthan. Is there any provision for such a status in Parliament ? And how many MPs are actually in the whole opposition because there is much confusion on this issue ?

A: MP Welgama can make such statements on the political stage, but we should not seriously consider what he says. If a politician of this caliber is elected as the UPFA parliamentary group leader, we can guess what kind of politician former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is. Actually, we don’t know how many MPs are in the opposition.

Otherwise, the UPFA MPs in the opposition should clearly state in Parliament that they will quit the UPFA and act independently. The seats in the Government benches have been fully occupied and a large number of Government members also sit in the opposition side.

Q: In this situation, as Chief Opposition Whip, are there any complications that may arise in your work? Can you work without the cooperation of some opposition members ?

A: Not at all. It is the responsibility of the UPFA leader to control his Parliamentary group. Our responsibility is to handle our group of MPs while the UNP leader will control his Parliamentary group. If the UPFA leader doesn’t have the control of his Parliamentary group, that is an internal issue faced by him. It will not be an obstacle to fulfill my responsibilities in Parliament.

Q: Last week, we witnessed a group of UPFA MPs walk out of Parliament citing irregularities in the way in which financial regulations were presented. Even if what they were saying is true, shouldn’t such issues be resolved by other means? And what role can you play to defuse such a crisis?

A: During the tenure of Mahinda Rajapaksa, the legislature was under their control. They acted arbitrarily ignoring Parliamentary traditions and Standing Orders. They passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution within a day. Former Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake’s case was completed in two days and she was removed from her post. The number of hours for sitting in Parliament was changed haphazardly to suit their whims and fancies. The entire Parliament was subjected to pressure by the Rajapaksa regime especially due to the pressure exerted by Basil Rajapaksa.

Parliament should be given its due recognition. The January 8 mandate was given to change this situation in Parliament. A key responsibility has been vested with President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to put the house in order. But they have also become so adamant due to power and have ignored the traditions and Standing Orders of Parliament. The issue pertaining to financial regulations cropped up as the time frame to pass those financial regulations had lapsed.

Q:Do you think this kind of action will be seen in Parliament regularly due to the tussle over the Opposition Leader’s post ?

A: Certainly not. This is a mere reflection of a mental disorder of a group of UPFA MPs who have lost power and recognition. This will be over soon. Some of them will go before the President to seek pardon. As a means of seeking pardon, some UPFA MPs who face charges may join hands with the Prime Minister. So this small group will be scattered soon.

Q: What kind of dialogue will you initiate with all sides to ensure the smooth functioning of the Parliament?

A: We have not confined our struggle to the Parliament. We will create a close link between the Parliament and the people. Our political intention is to convert Parliament into a platform to represent the people’s voice. Whatever absurd dramas are enacted in Parliament, the JVP would become the people’s voice in and out of Parliament. The behaviour of other political parties is totally irrelevant to us and we are ready to handle the Parliament process based on our own agenda.

Q:How do you plan to contribute to the overall maintenance of discipline in the House ?

A: We don’t expect them to maintain any discipline as it is not relevant to us. It is the responsibility of the UPFA leader to maintain the discipline of his MPs. We are responsible to our Parliamentary group.