Final wish - Unity in the party

Staunch UNP supporter commits immolation

By Jaliya WIJEYEKDON

We have heard of people committing suicide for numerous reasons. But this may be the first occasion, anywhere in the world, that a man took his own life for the unity and harmony of a political party.

“Suicide” is a common word in society, not only in Sri Lanka but all over the world even in the so called ‘civilised countries’.

Suicide could be classified under three categories, as individual, cult and religious. Most of the victims of individual suicides are young people aged between 16 and 30 and the common cause is love affairs. A few suicides also take place due to other reasons such as poverty, unbearable anger, loss of hope, contraction of incurable diseases and failures at examinations.

Different types

Cult suicides are recorded in history and exist even at present in a number of countries where thousands of people have become victims due to sectarian policies followed by some groups of people on religious and ethnic differences. The most horrendous and brutal guerilla organisation, the LTTE destroyed one third of our country over a long period of nearly three decades, indoctrinated their devastating philosophy on their cadre and formed a suicide squad which executed immeasurable damaged on the entire nation.

We lost a large number of political leaders, valiant soldiers and innocent countrymen, irrespective of any differences during this period.

Shock waves

The recent suicide of Rienzie Algama sent shock waves among UNP circles as he had stated that he decided to commit suicide as there is no harmony among the UNP leaders today, resulting in the party’s downfall. It is a serious allegation from a die-hard UNPer, a prominent member in the party who had worked closely with past UNP leaders and dedicated most of his life for the development of the United National Party.

Becomes a member

Rienzie Algama had joined the United National Party in early 1960 when Dudley Senanayake was the Prime Minister. He had been an ardent supporter of the United National Party from his young days.

He was aggressively involved in all election campaigns since his young days as a vociferous commentator on election platforms, and convinced the public and promoted the images of all its leaders through his oratorical skills.

He was personally involved in the electoral successes of former Minister Montague Jayawickrema and former Provincial Minister Justin Galappathhi who later became a Member of Parliament. Although he had worked tooth and nail for the betterment of the United National Party, he had never expected anything in return.

Humanitarian

People of the Matara district loved him as a humanitarian politician who never harboured any grudges for political opponents. But he felt sorry and dejected when a large number of frontline UNP members crossed over to the government, making the UNP weaker.

Algama was of the strong belief that the party reforms suggested by various groups would lead to divisions within the party which will easily pave the way for the government to consolidate their position further, resulting in the UNP becoming weaker and weaker.

As a loyal and committed party supporter, Algama had been against reforms from the beginning and had discussed the issue with Ranil Wickremesinghe, Karu Jayasuriya and other front-liners of the party without success. He had been frustrated and demoralised with the present situation in the UNP. This ended up in Algama setting himself ablaze in front of the UNP headquarters on July 26. A few words that he had with UNP’s Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya from the hospital bed before he succumbed to his injuries amply proves the degree of love, loyalty and commitment that he had for the party.

We have heard of people committing suicide for numerous reasons. But this may be the first occasion, anywhere in the world, that a man took his own life for the unity and harmony of a political party.

The Sunday Observer spoke to a few UNP stalwarts about this incident. Excerpts are given below:

Deputy Leader of the United National Party and Gampaha district Parliamentarian Karu Jayasooriya stated that Rienzie Algama was a loyal and devoted party activist who spent most of his life for the development of the UNP.

However, during the last few months he was not happy with the developments which were taking place in the party, mainly in respect of the reforms. His firm intention was to see the petty differences among the party stalwarts settled amicably and consensually, without venturing into radical and drastic action. His untimely demise is a great loss to the party as he was a genuine supporter of the UNP; the void created by his death cannot be easily filled.

Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena with whom Rienzie Algama had a good rapport, said Algama was a rare party supporter who never expected anything in return for the services that he rendered for the party and worked with a sense of devotion and dedication. He was so attached to the party that he even neglected his family commitments often.

He was disheartened after the last general election and the subsequent developments within the party and constantly pleaded with all responsible leaders to shed their differences and establish unity and harmony with the top leadership to secure victory at a future election. He resented the proposed reforms and wanted everybody to extend unconditional support to the leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Ratnapura district Parliamentarian, Ranjan Ramanayake was a deeply moved man over the death of Rienzie Algama. He said that he came to know Algama quite intimately during the last general election when he (Algama) worked as a coordinating officer to him. His only hope in life was to see the United National Party back in power under the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe. “I feel extremely sorry about his death and for his family members. The UNP has lost a true son of the party. It would be difficult to find such people among the entire membership.

“It is shocking and surprising to see the uncouth manner in which some people try to distort the facts of this incident for cheap political gains.

I personally know the degree of affection Rienzie had for our party and its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.”

The death of Rienzie Algama is not just the death of another party supporter. This death has clearly conveyed a message to all UNP front-liners that there are people who love the United National Party more than anything else including their own lives. Therefore, it is time that all party leaders arrived at a consensus and worked as a single unit in harmony and with dedication and commitment.