To be or not to be with the UNP

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UNP stalwart Dharmadasa Banda claims that the UNP cannot abrogate the MoU signed by the UNP and SLFP just because some UNP MPs are likely to accept ministerial portfolios. UNP MP Vajira Abeywardane warns that the UNP will abrogate the MoU the day reformist group members become Ministers.

Q: What were the reasons for the UNP and SLFP to strike a Memorandum of Understanding?

D.B.: It did not occur suddenly. It is a result of a long process. Striking a deal between two major parties to solve national questions mooted since J.R. period. It again emerged in 1995. It was discussed in 2000. Even our leader talked about it in 2005 election. Finally Ranil-Mahinda signed the historic pact to address many vital national issues. People were very happy about the move and even the international community commended the effort of the two leaders.

V.A.: We signed the MoU with the SLFP to resolve much delayed national issues which are a hindrance to the progress of the country. Before signing the MoU we have reached some understanding through the Liam Fox agreement. We realised that the country cannot have a future if we continue to grapple with these key issues. That is why we signed it in good faith.

Q: But why could people not see any progress after the implementation of the MoU?

D.B.: Yes, three months have gone but nothing has happened so far. President Mahinda Rajapaksa said that the two parties can share the power to work for the country and he would offer 20 ministerial portfolios to the UNP. But our leader is still silent over it though he promised the President that he will inform about it later.

V.A.: We have taken many steps to implement the MoU. Even in the past we introduced various solutions to the national question such as District Development Council, Provincial Council system and reaching an agreement through Norway. So while being in the Opposition, we signed the UNP-SLFP MoU thinking of the future of the country even deviating from the traditional role of the Opposition.

Q: Why is Ranil Wickremesinghe silent over the power sharing in the Government?

D.B.: That is the puzzle to us. He can not stay silent because to resolve national problems the country needs a powerful Government. Since he is silent over the issue, we as the responsible UNP MPs can not let the MoU be abandoned. We saw that the UNPers can not allow one person to take decisions for the party like some dictators. Therefore, the reformist group in the UNP decided to support the Government in order to implement the MoU on the invitation of the President.

V.A.: President Mahinda Rajapaksa officially never offered us any portfolios. The most important thing is to solve national questions.We do not need portfolios. We pledged our fullest support for the Government to resolve national issues by singing the MoU. If we cooperate with the Government for such endeavour, I don't see as to why we should accept portfolios. The reality is that the Government forces us to accept portfolios for the survival of their administration only.

Q: Will the reformist's stay in the party if the UNP leader names a team of MPs to accept portfolios?

D.B.: Yes, why not. We don't have any inclination to accept portfolios. Ranil can name a team of his men like Vajira Abeywardane and send that list to the President. We accepted the invitation from the President because our leader is silent over the issue. What we want is to implement it as a principle. If we don't go, the MoU will collapse and we have to go for elections. This country is unable to afford to go for election every year. We had elections in 2004, 2005 and can't let it happen in 2007.

V.A.: I doubt because some of the reformists are greedy for perks. They cannot stay in the opposition and play opposition MPs role. Otherwise, they don't have any reason to plot for a crossover.

Q: Will the UNP leadership lose their Opposition leader post once the reformists join the Government? Because if 23 UNP MPs defect, the number of UNP MPs reduce from 61 to 38 and the JVP can claim the Opposition Leader post.

D.B.: UNP, SLMC and CWC coalition had 82 MPs. Out of that UNP alone had 68 MPs. Seven MPs joined the Government individually due to various reasons. But we are not joining the Government as SLFPers. We will continue to be UNPers and we will operate as a separate UNP group in the Government. We told the Government about our position. So we will not let the JVP play games though they have 39 MPs. We will work for the party policy while supporting the Government's commitment for the people from the MoU.

V.A.: Though they claim that they have numbers, I don't think that they have enough members to crossover. Some of the members are now in two minds. Nothing will happen to the Opposition leader's post. Our leader will be the Opposition leader till the next General Election.

Q: Do you need Portfolios to work for the MoU and the crossover has not been barred by the MoU?

D.B.: That is why I said that Ranil can send his own team to continue the MoU. He can very well send his bootlickers like Vajira Abeywardane and assure the continuity of the MoU. We can happily stay in the party and look after the party matters. The MoU has not restricted the MPs right to movement. SLFPers can join the Opposition.

V.A.: We don't need any portfolios to resolve the national question. What is required is only an agreement to cooperate. We have already pledged it. As far as I know the President never officially offered us any portfolios. It is a pity that the President is negotiating with a disgruntled section in our party to offer portfolios. Lots of things have not been mentioned in the MoU.

Q: But UNP leaders like Ranil Wickremesinghe, Secretary Tissa Attanayake, Vajira Abeywardane claim that the UNP will withdraw from the MoU, the day reformist's join the Government. Can the UNP withdraw from the MoU for party issues forgetting national issues?

D.B.: How can you call Vajira Abeywardane a leader? He is nobody in the party. He is just an ordinary MP. Neither he nor Ranil or Tissa can abrogate the MoU like that. They can't take individual decisions to end the MoU. It was unanimously approved by the Political Affairs Committee, Working Committee and at the AGM. If anybody wants to abrogate the MoU, it has to go through the same process. Do you think that our group will just keep quiet if they bring such a proposal?

V.A.: If the President is trying to divide our party and use the MoU for political gain forgetting national issues, can anybody expect us to be with the MoU. We should stop playing politics with national issues. That is why our leader signed the MoU first time in history bringing the SLFP-UNP together. If he wants to play politics, he can play it better than anybody else in this country. But he like other leaders does not play politics with national issues.

Q: Though reformist's group boast about their strength, majority of the members are with Ranil Wickremesinghe. That was the reasons they could not bring sweeping changes as expected and remove Wickremesinghe from the leadership. So how will the reformist stop a proposal if Wickremesinghe moves to abrogate the MoU?

D.B.: You ask him to hold any secret vote in the party. It is only our group that had the courage to openly talk about his weakness and proposed changes to the party. Don't think that everyone in the party is like him. Majority of the members don't like him but they don't openly talk about it.

V.A.: It's a simple matter for us to move a proposal to end the MoU if our party is trying to divide. As others expect, it is not a big issue for us pass a resolution because the majority of MPs are with the leader.

Q: Vajira Abeywardane says that reformists are joining the Government for perks. He says if they really want to support the MoU they need not accept portfolios. Is there any truth in that?

D.B.: He is famous for making foolish statements on behalf of the leader. He is the happiest man if we go because then he can get a post in the party. There is a Sinhala proverb ideally suited for him..."Lula nathi walata Kanaya pandithaya". If he can he will even kick off Ranil from the party and try to be the leader. He tries his best to get a post which is not suitable for a man like him.

V.A.: Why should they accept portfolios when the party has pledged to extend its fullest cooperation for the MoU? They don't have any other reason to join the Government without perks.

Q: Many UNP MPs such as Keheliya, Samarasinghe, Punchinilame, Ekanayake, Bogollagama, Premasiri crossed over to the Government earlier. Do you think that Ranil Wickremesinghe signed the MoU just to stop MPs leaving his camp?

D.B.: I have to be fair by him. Ranil did not have any such intention. From such a MoU he can't stop MPs defecting from the party. But the MoU has not barred MPs to changing sides. This idea of cohabitation between the two parties emerged a long time ago. Present leaders of the two parties finally signed the pact to resolve national issues.

V.A.: Those MPs joined the Government for their own benefit. We signed the MoU with good faith to resolve some burning questions in the country. Those who want to go for perks will not be stopped because of the MoU.

Q: Will the UNP face criticism locally and internationally if they try to withdraw from the MoU since they have given priority for the party issues more than resolving national issues?

D.B.: Yes, it will happen to the UNP but not to our group because we join hands with the Government to solve national issues. Therefore, I don't think that Ranil will try to sack us from the party or withdraw from the MoU because local and international communities are keeping a watchful eye on us.

V.A.: I don't think that anybody will blame us if we withdraw from the MoU in case the Government is trying to divide our party. We can tell the world the reasons that compelled us to withdraw. Therefore, the blame will come not on us but on the Government.