A vibrant Opposition, the need of the hour

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

Investment Promotion Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said the concept of vibrant opposition has been debilitated by the UNP itself and this is a most unfortunate situation faced by the UNP.

Whatever the infighting in the UNP, the importance of a viable opposition needs no emphasis.

However, the concept of a vibrant opposition has faced a serious threat due to the present lethargy and lack of cohesion in the UNP. This is a very sad state of affairs as far as democracy is concerned the Minister told the Sunday Observer yesterday.

The Minister said politicians like him maintain the view that there should be a vibrant opposition to highlight the Government's shortcomings.

It would help the Government to rectify mistakes and face the challenges more effectively. It is regretable that there is no such strong opposition in the country today.

The power struggle has become the main issue in the UNP and they don't give thought to the party's future. There is infighting within the UNP to retain power by the incumbent leadership while another faction is attempting to oust him and gain party leadership. If this trend continues further, the UNP would become a minor political party soon. At present the vote base of the UNP has reduced to a deplorable level.

"UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe feels this Government would collapse and one day he would be able to gain power.

This type of politics is not practised anywhere in the world. A political party should have a good organisational structure to pose a challenge to the incumbent Government.

If there is a dictator ruling the UNP, it would never come out from its crisis," the Minister said.