UNP plunges into deeper crisis

The country's main Opposition, the United National Party (UNP) suffered another crucial blow last week with the crossover of Kurunegala District parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera. Jayasekera resigned from the UNP on Wednesday and made a special statement in Parliament before joining the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the main constituent party of the ruling UPFA. He will contest the forthcoming North Western Provincial Council elections on the UPFA ticket.

He said that he would do his utmost to ensure a resounding victory for the Government in the North Western Province. Jayasekera's exit will not only aggravate the UNP's problems in the Kurunegala District but also islandwide.

As an Opposition parliamentarian who has been in close touch with the rural masses, Jayasekera gained immense popularity in recent times. Most UNP supporters regarded Jayasekera as a national figure who could attract more supporters. Hence, losing Jayasekera at this juncture would be detrimental to the UNP.

Jayasekera's fellow UNP Kurunegala District Member of Parliament Johnston Fernando, who joined the Government a few years ago, now holds an important portfolio as Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade. Fernando and Jayasekera had been UNP stalwarts in the North Western Province. Now that both of them are in the UPFA fold, one wonders whether there would be any worthwhile UNP leadership in the North Western Province which could attract public support.

The crossover of Jayasekera and several other UNP regional leaders from Wayamba on the eve of nominations for the Provincial Council elections in the North Western, Northern and Central Provinces deals a severe blow to the UNP which has lost many of its senior and popular leaders during the past seven years.

Undoubtedly, Jayasekera has been the most popular UNP parliamentarian in recent times. Nevertheless, its vintage leaders could not bear Jayasekera's immense popularity and did everything under the sun to undermine his stature. Along with former deputy leader Sajith Premadasa and a few others who worked sincerely to revitalise the UNP, Jayasekera made an unsuccessful bid to introduce reforms in the UNP.

However, the Opposition Leader and some ageing UNP seniors did not favour Jayasekera's ever-increasing popularity. They thwarted every move of his and took disciplinary action against him for the most trivial reason. Jayasekera, along with several other reformist group members in the party, spared no pains to resurrect the UNP, but Wickremesinghe and his henchmen put a spoke in the wheel.

Although the UNP leader shouts himself hoarse about five-star democracy, even parliamentarians such as Jayasekera were never given an opportunity to express their views openly to revive the party. Wickremesinghe scorned the views of Jayasekera and the emerging team within the UNP. On the other hand, Wickremesinghe continues to run or rather ruin the UNP according to the whims and fancies of his inner circle which has no public support.

It is evident that Jayasekera felt that enough is enough and that there was no earthly use in hanging on to the moribund UNP. He was convinced that the future was bleak for him and others who hold views that are diametrically opposed to that of Wickremesinghe and his coterie. Jayasekera had taken a firm decision to join the Government as its leader accommodates the views of each and every member of the ruling coalition. There are many constituent parties in the ruling UPFA. There are party leaders who hold divergent views on crucial matters. But the UPFA permits them to articulate their views under President Mahinda Rajapaksa who takes the best decision in the interest of the country and its people. As a leader who has reposed implicit faith in democracy, the President has not only held elections ahead of schedule, but also feels the pulse of the people and gives an opportunity to parliamentarians in the UPFA to air their views freely.

This has been the hallmark of President Rajapaksa's resounding success. He has not only stressed the importance of democracy, but has amply demonstrated it by his actions in no uncertain terms.

At a time Wickremesinghe is unable to keep the few UNP parliamentarians within the party, the manner in which President Rajapaksa has retained over 160 parliamentarians holding divergent political views, from various parties under one umbrella is commendable. UNP's Western Provincial Council member Shiral Laktillake recently called upon his party leader Wickremesinghe to take President Rajapaksa as an example for respecting different shades of political opinion.

Laktillake, the Eksath Jathika Paura President has said that Ranil should take the President as a shining example in dealing with people holding divergent views in a political party. He said a democratic party should afford an opportunity to members to air their views since internal party democracy is a sine quo non and added that leaders such as Wickremesinghe could learn a political lesson from the President.

Over the years, many popular and dynamic UNP parliamentarians, impressed by President Rajapaksa's political sagacity and unmatched leadership qualities, crossed over to the UPFA and extended unbridled support to the President.

The strength of the UNP's parliamentary group dwindled at every election and crossovers became the order of the day. More than half the number of UNP parliamentarians elected at the last two general elections has joined the UPFA.

The UNP has lost 27 successive elections under Wickremesinghe's tottering leadership. This includes three Presidential elections and an equal number of general elections. The UNP's fate at the forthcoming Provincial Council election is now crystal clear. No force on earth could stop the further erosion in the UNP vote base.

The UNP has not played the role expected of a responsible Opposition. Instead, it has made shameful attempts to capture power via shortcuts by dancing to the tune of certain organisations with vested interests in the international community.

It is still fresh in people's minds how the UNP undermined Sri Lanka's sovereignty and territorial integrity by signing the controversial Ceasefire Agreement with LTTE terrorists at the behest of Norway. It not only undermined the role of the Security Forces, but also gave LTTE terrorists global recognition and brought them on par with the legitimate army after Wickremesinghe officially accepted certain areas under LTTE territory.

Had President Rajapaksa not been elected the First Citizen in November 2005, the LTTE would have fortified its grip as Wickremesinghe was solely interested in hanging on to power by even handing over a part of the country to Velupillai Prabhakaran.

But the scenario changed dramatically under President Rajapaksa's leadership as the LTTE was eventually crushed in the Security Forces' relentless battle against terrorism.

It goes without saying that President Rajapaksa has not only united the country under the lion flag and ushered in peace, but has also brought together many political parties including leaders of political parties, different ethnicities and faiths under the UPFA wing.

Jayasekera is one of the many Opposition politicians who have been impressed by the President's exemplary leadership. President Rajapaksa has scored many milestones in Sri Lanka's history which no other leader has achieved. His vision for the country has been the hallmark of his success and has won encomiums from the masses from far- flung areas in the country.

Hence, it's quite natural that popular Opposition politicians such as Jayasekera would take decisive political decisions to support the President. It won't come as a surprise if more UNP parliamentarians cross over to the Government during the run-up to the Provincial Council elections.

Sri Lanka is heading in the right direction in every respect. The Mahinda Chinthana has helped Sri Lanka to make steady progress with the end of LTTE terrorism.

President Rajapaksa will take over the Commonwealth leadership at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here in November. His charisma and illustrious leadership have enabled Sri Lanka to win more friends in the international arena.

Hence, it is not too late for the Opposition to learn a lesson or two at least from Jayasekera's crossover and put a full stop in its attempt to gain petty political mileage. Inveterate Opposition politicians such as Mangala Samaraweera are making irresponsible statements to sully the country's image internationally. The UNP will definitely continue to lose more stalwarts if Samaraweera continues this trend.

Jayasekera's exit is a good eye-opener for the UNP which is now controlled by a few inner circle men from Fifth Lane. If the UNP is to retrieve its lost glory, it should keep bankrupt politicians such as Samaraweera in check and moreover, act as a responsible Opposition.