President crushed the cancer of terrorism:

Internal hiccups have no effect on UNP's forward march - Dayasiri Jayasekera MP

By Jaliya WIJEYEKOON

The United National Party, formed by its founder leader D.S. Senanayake in 1946, has rendered an invaluable service to the nation from its inception. Six UNP leaders served the country for over 31 years since independence.

The United National Party (UNP) recorded a historic five-sixth victory under the able leadership of J.R. Jayewardene in 1977. The party was well consolidated and remained in power until 1994.

The performance of the party since 1994 has been poor and pathetic at all subsequent elections except in 2001 when it was able to form a government with the support rendered by some of the dissidents from the PA camp headed by its General Secretary S.B. Dissanayake.

However, the party was swept out of office in 2004.

With repeated defeats suffered by the party at successive elections, the UNP leadership was challenged by a group of party stalwarts headed by young Parliamentarian Sajith Premadasa who advocated structural changes in the UNP Constitution to make the party more democratic and people friendly.

The Annual Convention of the party was held on December 12, 2010 and many changes were made to the Constitution in keeping with the aspirations of the reformists.

Nevertheless, the election of office-bearers was effected subsequently and Sajith Premadasa who was aspiring to be the leader, settled for co-deputy leadership of the party while Ranil Wickremesinghe remained leader.

A couple of weeks later Ravi Karunanayake was appointed National Organiser of the party amidst objections from reformist group members. However, the party membership heaved a sigh of relief with the new appointments and hoped that everybody would work together to regain the UNP's lost glory to face the Government at a future election.

To the surprise, dismay and disappointment of the loyal membership of the party, it is quite evident that the internal conflicts among the higher echelons of the party, rather than ending is brewing again, which may further jeopardise the party.

In the backdrop of these developments, the Sunday Observer had an exclusive interview with one-time vociferous member of the reformist group who has now taken a neutral stand, Dayasiri Jayasekera to ascertain the current position of the party and the politics in the country at large.

Here are excerpts of the interview:

Q: In democratic administrations, the theoretical understanding is that "Today's Opposition is Tomorrow's governing party." Contrary to this political adage, your party has been in the opposition for a very long period. What are the reasons for these constant defeats at all elections?

A: Well, the democratic political theories vary or differ based on the prevailing situations and circumstances of a country or state.

Our party's downfall started with the untimely demise of three of our most promising and charismatic leaders within a short period due to LTTE terrorism.

The party membership was badly demoralised with the assassination of President Ranasinghe Premadasa on May 1, 1993 and was further crestfallen with the assassination of our Presidential candidate Gamini Dissanayake along with a number of our top-rung leaders.

At the same time a new leader emerged in the PA camp- Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and the majority rallied round her.

Mahinda Rajapaksa had a marginal victory in 2005 and he managed to consolidate his position at the second term since he crushed LTTE terrorism which had been a cancer for over two-and-a-half decades.

All these factors contributed to the present situation of our party.

Q: Although your party resolved the leadership tussel with the last convention held on December 12, 2010 it is quite apparent that internal conflicts still exist between the two factions. Don't you think that the grassroot level membership is demoralised over these negative developments?

A: I fully agree with you. That is one of the reasons why I decided to take a neutral stand and work for the larger interest of the party. Furthermore, I have requested both Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa to shed their petty differences and work as a single unit to bring back our party to power at a future election.

No one is perfect in this world. All have shortcomings in some way or the other. We have to endure certain things for the greater good of the party.

When you are in the Opposition for a long time, problems of this nature crop up in any party. It's a common phenomenon.

When the UNP was in power for 17 years, what a lot of problems did the SLFP have? They had a number of divisions and groups in the party the Maithreepala group, the Hector Kobbekaduwa group, the Anura group, the Sirima Group and so on.

The SLFP was virtually driven to political doldrums and they even closed down their party headquarters. The UNP has not fallen to that level yet.

We have some differences of opinion on certain matters among our leaders, but everybody works for the party to regain power at a future election. Last week we had a meeting and all those concerned agreed to come to a compromise and settle matters amicably.

We are now quite confident that the time is ripe for the Opposition to regain power in the country.

Q: With internal divisions and conflicts in the party, do you think you can launch an aggressive campaign against this strong Government?

A: As I told you earlier, these minor hiccups will have no effect when we come to the winning stream. Everybody will work as a single unit to topple the government and I am sure that the day is not too far.

Q: The Government is pointing an accusing finger at the Opposition that your party is influencing international bodies to pressurise the Government on human rights violations. Is there any truth in it?

A: Human rights violations take place when the law enforcement authority do not function properly in a country.

It is true that we seek the support of international bodies to redress these grievances.

During the 1988/1989 period, Mahinda Rajapaksa, then an Opposition parliamentarian, went before the Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

President Ranasinghe Premadasa did not get angry, but appointed the Youth Unrest Committee and with the findings went before the International community and managed to secure the 200 garment factory quota to redress the grievances of unemployed youth.

The present government should diplomatically handle matters.

They accuse the Opposition for all democratic protests launched by Opposition MPs.

Q: The Darusman Report and the Channel 4 documentary seem to penalise Sri Lanka on human rights violations. How do you view this or what is your party's stand on this issue?

A: People in Sri Lanka made a mess of it from the beginning by openly attacking the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for appointing such a panel.

The Government sent a high-level delegation to apprise them of the situation by which they accepted or legalised the report. Even before the report was released they leaked the contents and antagonised the panel.

The Government didn't have a diplomatic approach to the problem and aggravated the situation. Getting support only from a few countries will not help us in the economic sphere in the long run. We will have to face serious repercussions in future.

Q: Amidst all these, the government is going ahead with its development activities and improving the infrastructure facilities everywhere in the country. Don't you think positively about its efforts?

A: Yes, the roads are being repaired and constructed in most places. But there could be corruption taking place in relation to these projects. I have brought this up even in Parliament. In certain areas, one kilometre of road has cost over Rs. 10 million.

The amount of loans they have taken from different institutions in 2010 far exceeds the total amount of loans raised during 2007 and 2008.

The government spent a huge amount of money on the Hambantota harbour project. Now they have to spend almost a similar amount to clear the access way.

Devolution of power has been discussed over the years and the Government is presently in the process of finalising matters. What is your party's stand on it?

A: The United National Party has stood for the devolution of power from the beginning. From Dudley Senanayake's era we have been in favour of Devolution of power to the Northern community. It was the SLFP that stood in the way, obstructing the devolution then.

Now the Government should take an open and transparent discussion with the TNA and other Tamil groups and arrive at a viable solution then we will make our contribution and see what the feedback is from the Tamil community.

First of all, we must win the confidence of the people to achieve the desired effects.

Q: How do you evaluate the rehabilitation and resettlement program in the North?

A: We know it's a complicated issue. The Government should first win their hearts of people living in the North and the East - confidence building is the most important aspect after a war situation in a country. I doubt whether that has taken place. Providing shelter, food and clothing and supplying infrastructure facilities are secondary.