'Stick to policies, in victory or defeat'

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka

Former Prime Minister and SLFP veteran Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka said, all SLFPers should iron out differences and join the party's 65 th anniversary. In an interview with the Sunday Observer, the former Prime Minister said, the rank and file in the SLFP should get together under one umbrella and ensure that there is only one SLFP. The party should take collective decisions and enforce them accordingly. First and foremost, all the SLFPers should maintain their composure and help take collective decisions. The SLFP, from its inception weathered all storms which arose time and again, and marched forward to fulfil the aspirations of the downtrodden.

Q: How do you look back and visualize the SLFP's 65 year mission in Sri Lankan politics?

A: It has been a challenging task. I have a strong feeling that the SLFP will wriggle out from all difficult situations, eventually. During its longstanding political history, the party made vast strides in the social development and cultural renaissance of the country.

Q: After a 17 year UNP rule, the SLFP rose from its ashes in 1994. Will there be a similar success for the party in the future?

A: Surely, millions of party supporters will never let down the SLFP, though none can predict the future politics. Anything can happen.

Q: Were there crises in the SLFP similar to what we have today, and if so how were they reconciled and unity consolidated?

A: We had the breakaway of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, which was fairly serious. However, we overcame it. Therefore, anything is possible in the SLFP, it is the nature of politics.

Q: What made you a party loyalist throughout without compromising your policies and faulting the leadership?

A: This is one of the main principles that will guide anyone to glory and victory in the SLFP. Generally, one should not compromise one's policies, but stick to it whether in defeat or victory. Problems with leadership, if any, should be amicably settled.

Q: Don't you think all SLFPers should iron out differences and join the party's 65 th anniversary?

A: It should be so. The rank and file in the SLFP should get together under one umbrella. There should only be one SLFP. The party should take collective decisions and implement them without subjecting them to personal prejudices.

Q: The SLFP has a remarkable past, so that there is no justification for dissidents to form a new party. Your comments?

A: Nobody is talking about forming a new party. Merely because a group of SLFP MPs are in the Joint Opposition, (JO) it doesn't mean they are going to form a new party. That is what I believe.

Q: In the past, Illangaratnes, Maithripala Senanayakes, Sooriyarachchis and the like who left the SLFP ended up in a political wilderness. Will this happen to the JO too if it continues the present battle?

A: You never know. Anything is possible in the SLFP as it is. Always there is uncertainty in politics and forces might emerge time and again which will decide the future of the political parties.

Q: If the JO forms a new political party, will it not split the SLFP votes in favour of the UNP? Do you think so?

A: How can we forecast like that? I think no SLFPer wants to create divisions within the party and bring victory to the UNP.

Q: The SLFP MPs in the JO have said they would depend on the Bala Mandala decision to attend the 65 th anniversary or not ? Do you see this as a right decision taken by the SLFP MPs in the JO?

A: Perhaps it might create another crisis, but it is highly speculative. It is not a question of being right or wrong. It is the party which has to seriously look into this matter. It is incumbent on all SLFPers to consolidate the party without paving the path for splits.

Q: What are your views on taking disciplinary action on SLFPers who violate the party constitution?

A: Discipline should be strictly maintained within the party, that is number one. That should be the first priority for any party if it is to survive in politics.

Q: What is your advice to SLFPers, both, in the Government and the Joint Opposition?

A: This is the moment for all to be calm and maintain sanity. Let them take collective decisions in the larger interests of the SLFP which is one of the two major parties in the country.

Q: What is your advice to the rising youth politicians of today?

A: My advice is, the rising youth politicians should always be cautious in arriving at decisions. They should be able to justify the merits of their decisions.