The UNP has over the years been reduced to a Colombo-centric pressure group, run by an elitist cabal whose members usually catch a cold if the Queen happens to sneeze in London. The UNP of yore used to be a vibrant political movement backed by the elite and the masses alike. It will have to regain its lost image and vigour if it is to gain enough political traction let alone, win elections. Ranil has his work cut out because President Rajapaksa is well versed in grassroots politics like the late President Premadasa.” – Last Thursday The Island editorial
However, there is another side to the story that might be hard to swallow. So, Let us start from London!
Margaret Thatcher came to the Conservative party leadership on February 11, 1975. Thatcher was the longest serving prime minister in more than 150 years securing three election victories in 1979, 1983 and 1987. In 1990, John Major became the party leader and served as the Prime Minister between 1990 and 1997. So, Conservatives, the UNPs UK counterpart, managed to stay in power for 18 years.
In 1973, J. R. Jayewardena became the UNP leader and was successful at the 1977 elections. He promptly changed the Constitution and became the first Executive President of Sri Lanka. Thereafter, Premadasa and D. B. Wijetunge served as successive presidents until 1994. So, the UNP managed to stay in power for 17 years like the Tories did in the UK.
Both the UNP and the Conservatives shared and practised the same political thinking, that of an open economy. Famed for their tough uncompromising style they privatised state controlled industries and curbed union power.
The UNP lost the 1994 election and the Conservatives lost the 1997 election. What happened next? Leftists came to power in both countries, but with a new political philosophy. Tony Blair came to power preaching “responsible capitalism” and Chandrika Bandaranaike came to power preaching “a human face to an open economy” (vivurththa arthikayata maanusheeya muhunuwarak deema). This was simply to satisfy the left wingers in continuing with an open economy. The collapse of the so-called socialist/Soviet style economic order was complete .
This new phenomenon had brought the left closer to the centre. One cannot see much difference between the opposition and the ruling party on the economic front. Let us see what Basil Rajapaksa said to the US. Rajapaksa said that the government has done all that the IMF has asked. (see colombotelegraph.com for the full US diplomatic cable). What did the Central Bank Governor Cabraal say to the US? He said, “GSL has done all that the IMF has asked, including, for example, introducing new tax measures and altering its monetary policy.”
Once the Conservatives lost in 1997, intra-party leadership struggles emerged as is common the world over. They changed five party leaders ; William Hague 1997 to 2001, Iain Duncan Smith 2001 to 2003, Michael Howard 2003 to 2005 and David Cameron 2005. All of them lost the general elections and were unable to form a government except David Cameron. In 2010 the election ended in a ‘hung’ parliament with the Conservatives having the most seats but being 19 seats short of an overall majority. The Conservatives managed to form a government with the Liberal Democratic Party in a coalition, in a trade off giving them high profile ministries including the deputy premiership.
But, in Sri Lanka it is Ranil Wickremasinghe who stays as the party leader regardless of defeats. I would like to raise a couple of points regarding this issue. Firstly, the Conservative Party changed five leaders since their defeat. Did they manage to win because of leadership changes? Secondly, it is a Sri Lankan tradition that party leaders remain regardless of elections defeats. Look at Sri Lanka’s oldest and perhaps the most democratic party, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party; Dr N. M. Perera served as its leader from the inception until he died. Take the Sri Lanka Freedom Party; Sirima Bandaranaike served as the leader until she died. What about the JVP? Wijeweera was the leader until he was killed. If someone proposes to change this tradition, that is another matter. Then one has to admit that losing, is a factor not confined to Ranil.
My point is Ranil is not the losing factor. Ranil is unlucky to be remembered as the author of the peace process which in fact weakened the LTTE (though I am not endorsing his peace strategy, those who are opposed to him in his party as well as other critics, who have the blessings of the Maha Sangha and pretending to be patriots – have to accept it) His achievements in areas such as media freedom and reforms and the economic policy laid part of the foundations for the steady recovery in the economy during the early part of 2000 and like all the better leaders he resisted the temptation to panic in the face of cries from the opposition, the press, and the backbenchers.
When Ranil won the election to be Prime Minister, he was good. Just after the UNP lost the 2004 April election he was subjected to smear campaigns. In May 2004 the US Ambassador to Colombo Jeffrey J. Lunstead wrote to Washington, “after the recent election defeat, UNP leader Wickremesinghe is under fire from within his party.” He wrote “Long-standing UNP members have also criticised Wickremesinghe’s election strategy, though mostly in private.
In a May 10 meeting with the DCM, for example, former Interior and Christian Affairs Minister John Amaratunga said the UNP had lost the election due in part to a lack of charisma on Wickremesinghe’s part.” “ Amaratunga related that one party member had complained to Wickremesinghe’s face that his constituents were unhappy that the former PM never smiles and they wonder why they should vote for the UNP” ( see colombotelegraph.com) If these allegations are correct how did he win the 2001 general election and became prime minister? Did the UNP win because of John’s charisma or John’s smile ?
There will always be discontent, there will always be people who seek to stir trouble in every political party. Even before he faced his first presidential election in 1999, some sections of the UNP, such powerful party figures as Wijepala Mendis and Susil Moonasinhe, started to criticise Ranil publicly. It was in 1997 that I asked Ranil; “what is this all about? Why does this kind of criticism take place in public?” Ranil replied; “I’m not a Premadasa, let them criticise, President Premadasa never let others criticise him, and always suppressed critics, at the end he faced the consequences”. In another occasion I asked Ranil, why don’t you support Chandrika’s political proposals (Package)? He replied; “the issue is the parliamentary group and the working committee. They were nominated and appointed by Gamini Disanayake.” The answer was clear, though he was the leader of the party, the decision making body wasn’t under his control. It was his opponent the late Gamini Dissanayake who appointed them. Any leader likes to make some changes at some time, and if Ranil chooses to do that, that is entirely his prerogative as the leader of the party. The party leader has to have authority to make decisions. That is the UNP tradition.( The bad version is Sri Lanka’s oldest democratic party’s leader Minister Tissa Vitarana. He has manipulated the party annual general meeting and membership lists in order to get favourable decisions.) If the UNP dissidents need to change this tradition, there must be another way. But it should not be on the basis of Ranil being a loser, so-called sexual orientation allegations, or his smile.
What was President Rajapaksa’s motive behind introducing the18th amendment before taking oaths into his second term? He knew in the second term even though he is the president, struggles to be the next leader will start from within the party and he will not be able to control it. JR Jayewardena and Chandrika Kumaratunga both faced leadership struggles in their second terms.
Ironically, London has had struggles for leadership from grass root levels in political parties. Iain Duncan Smith was the first Conservative leader to be elected by grassroot level members rather than MPs. It was not a happy experience, however, and the self-confessed “quiet man” fell to a vote of no confidence from MPs never getting to fight an election as party leader.
Some argue that the UNP need a leader like Mahinda or Premadasa. Ranil of course is not like them. On the one hand, I don’t think the country needs another Rajapaksa or Premadasa or even a son like Premadasa. People who preach this, forget how undemocratic leaders they are and were. On the other hand if the UNP found a leader like Rajapaksa, voters will say, oh, we already have a Rajapaksa in power, so why do we need another ? He can do this better than the UNP one, because he has already served two terms and he is better than an amateur. If one needs to change the UNP leader, they should find someone who is different to both Ranil and Mahinda!
Part 2 – The UNP’s Leadership Struggle; Ranil,Sinhala-Buddhist Racism and Rosy By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya
Malcolm - Negombo / December 25, 2011
insightful , thank you Uvindu, as like you I’m not a UNP man, but your analysis helps me understand through a third eye.
/
Sudarshana G / December 26, 2011
Thank you Colombo Telegraph for this picture. look at John’s smile ? hahahahahahhaha :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) is he think its better than Ranil’s smile?? hahahahahhaahhaahhahahah baka baka baka baka LOL
/
Rupasinghe V / December 25, 2011
WTF this Sajith is??only the father’s son!
/
Lalani Basnayake / December 25, 2011
of course , we dont need another Premadasa or Mahinda. you are correct.
/
banda / December 25, 2011
YOU CAN COMPARE ANALYZE OR EVEN MAKE UP STORIES WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO PROTECT RANIL TO HOLD THE LEADERSHIP BUT THE TRUTH REMAINS THAT HE IS THE MOST INCAPABLE WORTHLESS & SHAMELESS LEADER NOT ONLY UNP BUT ANY POLITICAL PARTY IN SL EVER HAD. HE PROVED IN SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AS PM HOW POOR ADMINISTRATOR HE WAS. AS A MINISTER OF VARIOUS POWERFUL MINISTRIES UNDER STRONG UNP GOVERNMENTS HE COULDN’T MANAGE A SINGLE SIGNIFICANT WORK TO THINK OF. HE LOST TWICE & BACKED UP TWICE SO WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM HIM ? UNP GONE DOWN TO SOME WHAT 20% BECAUSE OF JOHN ? SAJITH ? KARU ?
PROTECTING THIS SHAMELEES WORTHLESS MAN RANIL IS ONLY PROTECTING THE RAJAPAKSE CLAN & NOT THE UNP. WE WISH TO HAVE ALTERNATIVE SOON & LET RANIL TO DIE WITH UNP’S DEATH.
/
Lucky / December 25, 2011
@Banda, you have to be factual, why you say;BUT THE TRUTH REMAINS THAT HE IS THE MOST INCAPABLE WORTHLESS & SHAMELESS LEADER NOT ONLY UNP BUT ANY POLITICAL PARTY IN SL EVER HAD.?
Facts please!
/
makalu / December 25, 2011
Some fraction in UNP need power quickly. They want to be ministers and also want to give jobs to their colleagues.
In fact it takes some more time for the people in Sri Lanka to be fed up with the government. RW is well accepted by all communities,races and religions in Sri Lanka. Also his reputation in international arena is very high. So everyone in UNP has to tolerate some more time till their chances arise.
/
Tiran / December 25, 2011
Of course! SLFP buggers were in the opposition for 17 years, so they dont want to lose and trying every and other way. even MR and Basil bribed LTTE to boycott elections, that is how MR came to power in 2005. one must not forget it.
/
kumara / December 25, 2011
No matter what arguments you bring Ranil is not accepted by majority of UNPers who used to vote for UNP.Just take my word ..someone do a poll countrywide to see what kind of popularity he has. I guarantee he wont get more than 30% votes.
/
Tiran / December 25, 2011
Kumara, the issue is; how could you say that? have you done a poll? you can say, ” I don’t like”.
/
Rani / December 25, 2011
Kumara, you a blind follower of SIRASA. Anyone can understand that Sirasa is not acting as a normal, respectful and impartial media institution. There is no difference between Sirasa and state owned media: they are misrepresenting the facts and taken on the role of implanting their biased political affiliation and ideas in the minds of unreasoning public. They have taken the viewers of their channel prisoners and Ranil has only suggested and requested that we be free of that prison!
/
thalapathpitiya / December 25, 2011
Very strong argument, yes as the writer says, its hard to swallow.
/
Hema / December 25, 2011
Ranil Wickramasinghe has staked the working committee with his supporters over the years and hence he and his henchman won. Dayasiri who got the second highest preferential votes in the UNP in the county lost to Ranil’s buddy because there is NO DEMOCRACY within the UNP at this time and its leadership does not reflect the will of the people because it is chosen by those selected by a leader who has held the top job for far too long. S ned party constitution should require a leader to step down after a general election defeat. Ranil shamelessly clings to power and appoints his henchman who have not base to vote him in power!
/
umesh / December 25, 2011
What ever yu say in this point…..Ranil is the last man who remains in sri lankan as a real gents.He will get a chance to be a great leader for us soon….Wait and Watch…..
/
uditha / December 25, 2011
we need a man to run the UNP & SL . watch him i don’t what is the matter with him he is like a child now . did you see the press conference after the voting the drama with the stone. if i was the cameraman i will i would have said something to him so the 20M would have seen live .
/
len / December 25, 2011
Waite and watch on that day Pigs will fly!
A grate apposition leader ha? that’s some thing Ranil should aim for the future every one should have a dream.
/
Lalith / December 25, 2011
[If one needs to change the UNP leader, they should find someone who is different to both Ranil and Mahinda!]
Of course it not Sajith……Not Karu, He was rejected. The only man on the horizon is General Sarath. The 40 day old broiler chicken political virgin is now deflowered and matured. He showed that he was born leader in the Army. Now, from Welikada prison he has shown what he is made of to handle the Leadership of Sri Lanka.
/
inayapaarathi / December 25, 2011
Lalith, it’s another disaster! read — WikiLeaks: Fonseka and IGP labelled journalists as traitors – Four journalists came to Embassy__ http://colombotelegraph.com/2011/12/24/wikileaks-fonseka-and-igp-labelled-journalists-as-traitors-four-journalists-came-to-embassy/
the level of the VIRGIN
/
Lalith / December 25, 2011
Inaya,
Must be that Laptop Hora…..
/
dinuk / December 25, 2011
Agreed! But the UNP really needs to be modernized and new folks need to bring in new ideas.
1. the problem with Ranil is that he is a shameless dictator within the UNP who has got his friends into the working committee so they vote for him. The election for the UNP party leader is a farce and there needs to be a general election since his victory clearly does not reflect the will of the larger UNP membership.
2. Any decent leader would have stepped down after so many election loses for the fact is that Ranil is NOT acceptable for ordinary Sri Lankan voters even if the UNP working committee which is a club appointed by Ranil might find him OK.
3.While Sajith is definitely a Sinhala Chauvinist who espouses the Rajapakse line, the fact is that Ranil has failed to groom second generation liberal leadership because he is so power hungry and by default Sajith is using dynastic politics to come to the fore even though as you point out he had not concept of national or international issues and debates.
4 In the context SL civil society must lead a discussion on the leadership succession of the UNP which is a national party and not he property of either Ranil or Sajith. It is time that the Left and Sri Lankan civil society lead discurssion, boycott Ranil and Sajith and seek new YOUNGER leadership because right now the Rajapkases are getting away literally with murder due to the disaster that Ranil and Sajith have made in the UNP.
5. Ranil has been the darling of SL civil society for too long and this should stop. He should be as much criticiszed as the Rajapakeses if not more so for they have actually done a few things but Ranil has done nothing and is now increasingly racist and supporting the Govt.
6. Why did the damage to Ranils care at Sri Kotha cost 4 million. Why does he need such an expensive car. He should lead by example and refuse the extravagance of the Rajapakse regime. He is in fact both overtly and tacitly supporting the Rajapakse’s in order to survive. Do not fool yourself Ranil is NOT a liberal anymore! He is a power hungry jerk without any principles at this time.
/
Ranawaka / December 25, 2011
At last through his cunning moves Sajith become deputy at the cost of Jayasuriya waiting for the right time to get the leadership. I hope the Sinhalese fools would be able to identify the fool brand politician well early before he become another
MR
/
Kanda / December 25, 2011
I agree with you!
I still remember that when Sajith was first elected as an MP he gave an interview to the’ Sunday Leader’ years ago that his aim is to become the President of Sri Lanka sooner than later. There is nothing wrong in having aspirations as a budding politician of becoming the ruler of the country, but wishful thinking amounting to “sophomania” (delusion that he is incredibly intelligent) and has the ability to carry it through simply because he is the son of a great man- Ranasinghe Premadasa who worked from his childhood starting from the pavements and became a President of the country against all odds and attempted social ostracization by the so called upper classes.
One of the qualities of a true leader of the people is to know his limitations and opportunities and bide his time to come to the fore. Bu in his case this obsession, no doubt egged on by his mother, (who was seen distributing lunch parcels and liquor to hooligans brought by them) has driven him to an extent of self destruction. He has now become a ‘legend’ in his own mind and try to use different strategies to be first the leader of the party and thus become the Presidential candidate since there are signs that the current regime starting to fracture. With his first failed challenge he has wisely (for once) realized that challenging Ranil is futile and if he did he would lose his Deputy Leadership too took another route. He found a most gullible person reasonably respected by people and old enough to get rid of later once Ranil was ousted in the form of Karu Jayasuriya who has been apparently cherishing secretly the idea of being the Party Leader. He thus poisoned his mind and made him a scape-goat for his experiment thus destroying the future of the poor man Karu and saving his own Deputy Leadership (for the time being). This I can assure the beginning of the end for Premadasa.
I his famous appeal to UNP supporters Karu Jayasuriya has stated that he is coming forward to contest because a record number of elections have been lost under the leadership of Ranil Wickremasinghe, least realizing that he was making a confession of his own contribution to the dismal performance of UNP. He reneged from the Party and the people who voted for him leading a pack of wolves of 17 claiming to strengthen the hands of a man who robbed the glory of a man who won the war against terrorism and put him behind bars an waving the victory like a magic wand to dupe the people and rob them left right and centre . I would hardly call it patriotism even in my dream. That is when the UNP voters became so disappointed and refrained from visiting the polling stations. He talks about the grass root level politics deteriorating under Ranil. What has he and the dreaming Sajith done to stimulate the grass-roots? Sajith has virtually made all grass root organizations in Hambantota electorate defunct in mortal fear of other leaders taking up leadership. Next election, unless he radically reforms himself will teach him a bitter lesson!!
/
Lucky / December 25, 2011
For all intentions and purposes this is the end of the premier political party of this country. The party will exist in the name only, lead by an incompetent moron whose fails to see anything beyond his nose and surrounded by a pathetic group of fools who does not appear to have any brains to think even the obvious.
Rajapaksha brothers must be in heaven. UNP lead by a loser, JVP fractured, TNA not interested on national issues other than their delusional dream of a homeland….one can not event write something like this as a story.
/
Renuka Siriwardena. / December 25, 2011
It’s good to see inner democracy in UNP, still though, sitting leader has more room to manure, access to dirty tricks etc; hence Karu may not see the light of the day, if not it will go down as a true rebellion in UNP.
So long as Ranil remains the leader, UNP will only sit in the opposition benches, & SLFP led Govt. will sail uninterupted for next 12 years at least.
/
Upasaka / December 25, 2011
To Sajith & Karu, Although you do not understand you are merely a puppet manipulated by others you are a donkey set out to destroy UNP. Even if you become leader god only knows for how long you can cling on to it. You have conspired against the leader, so shall you be ousted by the others because you have set it out. Before trying to be a leader try to respect and show solidarity towards your leader. Although pathetic people like you in the party are endlessly quarreling for leadership we are not impressed, what we want to see at the end of the day is what you are doing against this corrupt regime-there are so much issues which can be used against this rogue regime. But none of you morons are interested in taking up those issues. Your only malady and remedy seem to be the leadership! leadership! leadership! I wonder whether you all can ever have a sleep-that stupid ‘Sirasa lie 1st channel’ included!
/
labba patholaya / December 25, 2011
Karu Jayasuriya,
Don’t try to fool us man. You are the one who dealt the deathblow to UNP by defecting with 17 others. For all these years you and your henchmen who are haunted by ‘leadership decease’ have done nothing for the party or its leader but only dragged his leg whenever possible. As Mr. Kanda said there are myriads of reasons why UNP was unable to win the most conspicuous being the corrupt illegal untethered executive power coupled with the huge state mechanism exerted by this despot. Never in the history of Sri Lanka has there been such misuse of power and corruption. This was further aggravated by the nonsensical and opportunistic actions of the traitors like you in the party.
/
a Sirasa made fool / December 25, 2011
“..Last Tuesday, my resolve to contest the UNP leadership was endorsed by the Maha Nayaka Thera of the Malwatte Chapter – the Most Venerable Thibotuwawe Sri Siddharatha Sumangala Thera, the Maha Nayake of the Asgiriya Chapter – the Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddha Rakhiththa Thera, the Maha Nayake Thera of the Ramanya Nikaya – the Most Venerable Weweldeniya Medhalankara – the Maha Nayake of the Amarapura Nikaya – the Most Venerable Dauldena Gnanissara, the Bishop of Kandy – Rt. Rev. Dr. Vianney Fernando, and religious leaders of the Muslim and Hindu communities..”
Do you think these stupid monks have any validity or say now? Do you think just because they have long bizarre names they are able to do any service for the country? Do you know what these moron monks did or say when some days ago Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena requested them to sign the petition to release Gen. Fonseka? You and these stupid monks are the same, you all have no shame and dignity. Who gave these rogue monks and clergies a mandate to indulge in political dog fight that you are espousing?
/
a Sirasa made another fool / December 25, 2011
The day (if and when) Karu /Sajith elected to be the leader of UNP, two important things would happen. One is that the UNP will go so dry there will be dorught of votes the surface will crack wide.
The second is that whatever dignity and respect Karu/Sajith earned and maintained will vapourize so much there will be no need for them to wear any clothes!!
/
shanthi / December 25, 2011
“Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.” – Abraham Lincoln
Distinction between UNP and SLFP has increasingly become blurred. What difference a change of leader can make to the country without a clear distinction in the party policies. UNP must take the responsibility for introducing the presidential constitution that is exploited by demagogues like Rajapakses.
Like criminologist Emil Soundranayagam used his knowledge of criminology to advance his criminal spoils, Colvin R De Silva his constitutional expertise to rob the nation of civic rights, especially minorities particularly Tamils in 1972. Then it was UNP under the leadership of JR in 1978. The worst form of delegation of power came from NOT the constitution but signing on the blank paper which were held by JR. You were one of those who consented to the carte blanche to Late President JR.
“We the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution.” – Abraham Lincoln again.
If only we had effective opposition loyal to people giving expression to the dissent, the people will live now in a developed country with better governance and accountability. We will prioritise economy than defence. We will spend on democratising SL than repressing the ethnic nationalities. Protect civil society than militarisation of civil administration. If it is not too late come up with your political rescue for ruling party and opposition. We will decide whether to stick to complacency of Ranil or consider your alternative!
/
KND / December 25, 2011
Hello there Karu,
Now that you have learnt your lesson I hope you would give way to some retrospection on the lack of foresight and wisdom you were temporarily afflicted with. I still cannot understand how the mavericks led you to suffer this ignominy in spite of your back-ground, experience and seniority. This should not happen to anyone of your caliber especially in the evening of your life!
.
What is most annoying is not your loss or the victory of Ranil. The gang who led you there like a lamb to the slaughter have organized thugs in Mervyn style is what is annoying me. Now you would realize with whom you have chosen to gang up with. Please, I beg you, to make amends and be your natural old self. Things will come your way!
/
VJM / December 25, 2011
He has lost by a huge margin. I read another Analyst question why the Asgiriya Prelates, in their wisdom, decided to get involved in a political tussle between two Buddhist political leaderes. Once more they are humbled, he says. He also asks since Podi Hamuduruwo backed Ranil and Ranil won whether this can be interpreted as the Kandyan Sanga Nayakes gradually losing their support among the Buddhist public in the country. Worst still, if the Sangha will get split along the Uda Rata-Patha Rata divide. There was little love lost between the Kandyan Prelates and the mighty JRJ. Looks like the chemistry continues with the nephew as well.
/
Sam - UK / December 25, 2011
It is hard to analyise what was happen in sri-lanka. When Mahinda is in power he could win the war. Does not matter how strong is the oppersition, he will use the victory of the war to win. With this main bullet no one can beat him accept SF.
UNP face this hard situation and even Karu or sajith is a leader truth will be the same. But unfortunatly Ranil is the leader and everyone blame him. All unp members has to get together to take the power. For a compleate change in the country we need a person like Ranil & SF. This is the only & good combination to make country’s future better.
I ham not backing up Ranil,
/
a cook at army / December 25, 2011
Sam, If SF came to power what would have happened? Okkogema kanata Biththara appathiyala kana palay. :(
/
Malcolm-Kandana / December 25, 2011
Great Insight, If not Ranil who is going to lead the party to Victory, If Ranil is honest he will support General Fonseka to Victory and rebuild UNP to victory as a allance
/
Kalvedda _ USA / December 26, 2011
Hello Malcolm, can’t you remember your great leader Fonseka’s ” Kalavedda” speech? shit man!
/
Danu putha - usa / December 26, 2011
ඒ සම්බන්ධයෙන් සරත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතා ඔහුට විරුද්ධව තීන්දු වූ ටෙන්ඩර් පටිපාටි නඩුවේ විනිශ්චයට එරෙහිව අභියාචනාධිකරණයේ ගොනුකර තිබූ පෙත්සම් සම්බන්ධයෙන් දෙන ලද තීන්දුව කියවා බැලූ පසු අපට යම් අවබෝධයක් ලබාගත හැක. මීට සති දෙකකට පමණ කලින් අභියාචනාධිකරණය දුන් තීන්දුව වූයේ ටෙන්ඩර් පටිපාටිය සම්බන්ධයෙන් ත්රිපුද්ගල යුධ අධිකරණය විසින් ෆොන්සේකා මහතාට දෙනලද තීන්දුවේ වරදක් නොමැති බවයි. එකී යුධ අධිකරණයේ සාමාජිකයන් හැටියට මේජර් ජනරාල්වරුන් වන මිලින්ද පීරිස්, ලලිත් දවුලගල හා මහින්ද හතුරුසිංහ විය. ෆොන්සේකා මහතා අභියාචනාධිකරණයට පෙත්සම ඉදිරිපත් කරමින් ඔවුන් සියලු දෙනාටත් හමුදාපති ජගත් ජයසූරිය මහතා වගඋත්තරකරුවන් ලෙස නම් කරමින් ඒ පෙත්සම ගොනුකර තිබුණි. එකී නඩුවේදී ෆොන්සේකා මහතාගේ පාර්ශ්වය විසින් ගෙනහැර දක්වන ලද ඇතැම් තර්ක පහත දැක්වෙන ආකාරයට සම්පිණ්ඩනය කළ හැක.
ෆොන්සේකා මහතා වරදකරු වූ පළමු නඩුව යුධ හමුදාවේ ටෙන්ඩර් හතරක අක්රමිකතා පිළිබඳ ප්රශ්නයක් විය. ඒ සම්බන්ධයෙන් යුධ අධිකරණය විසින් දෙනලද තීන්දුවට එරෙහිව ෆොන්සේකා පාර්ශ්වය විසින් ඉදිරිපත් කළ පළමු තර්කය වූයේ තම බෑනාට සැපයුම් කොන්ත්රාත් ලබාදුන් ටෙන්ඩර් කමිටුවේ සාමාජිකයකු හැටියට ෆොන්සේකා මහතා සිටීමෙන් කිසිදු නීතියක් උල්ලංඝනය වී නැති බවය. ධනූන තිලකරත්න මහතා තම බෑනා බව වසන් කිරීම වරදක් නොමැති බවත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතා එවැනි නෑදැ කමක් තිබේ යෑයි එලි කරීමටවත් ඒ හේතුවෙන් ටෙන්ඩර් කමිටුවෙන් ඉවත් වීමටවත් කිසිදු හේතුවක් නොතිබුණු බවයි. ඔවුන් තර්ක කළේ ටෙන්ඩර් පටිපාටිය යනු හුදෙක්ම උපදෙස් මාලාවක් මිස නීතියක් නොවන බවයි.
තවද ඔවුන් පවසා සිටියේ ෆොන්සේකා මහතා ටෙන්ඩර් කමිටුවට බලපෑම් කළ වගට සාක්ෂි නැති බවත් එකී සැපයුම් කොන්ත්රාත් වැරදි ආකාරයට ලබාදුන් බවට චෝදනා නැති බවත් කිසිවකු විසින් හෝ ඒ තුළින් අයථා ලෙස මුදල් හම්බකර ඇති බවට චෝදනා නැතිබවත් එම නිසා මේ මුළු ප්රශ්නයම සුළු තාක්ෂණික කරුණක් මත පවතින බවයි.
ෆොන්සේකා පාර්ශ්වය විසින් අභියාචනාධිකරණයේ ගෙනහැර දක්වන ලද තවත් කරුණක් වූයේ යුධ හමුදා පනතට අනුව හමුදා සේවයේ සිට ඉන් ඉවත්ව යන උදවියට හමුදාවෙන් ඉවත් වී මාස 6 ක් ගිය පසු හමුදා සේවයේ යෙදී සිටියදි කරන ලද වරදකට දඬුවම් දිය නොහැකි බවත්, මෙකී ටෙන්ඩර් ගනුදෙනුව වූයේ 2007 දී සහ 2008 දී වන නිසාත් ඒ සම්බන්ධයෙන් චෝදනා ගොනු කරන ලද්දේ 2010 දී වන නිසාත්, ඉහත කී මාස 6 සීමාව ඉක්මවා ඇති නිසා යුද අධිකරණය විසින් දෙන ලද තීන්දුව නීති විරෝධී බවයි.
ෆොන්සේකා මහතා විසින් අභියාචනාධිකරණයට පවසා සිටි තවත් තර්කයක් වූයේ තම බෑණාට සැපයුම් කොන්ත්රාත් ලබාදුන් ටෙන්ඩර් කමිටුවේ සාමාජිකයකු හැටියට ෆොන්සේකා මහතා අසුන්ගෙන සිටියත් ඉන් වැඩිම වුවොත් සිදුවූයේ සාරධර්ම කැඩීමක් පමණක් වන නිසා එවැනි වරදකට අවුරුදු 3 ක සිරදඬුවමක් දීම සාධාරණීකරණය කළ නොහැකි බවයි.
මා හට මතක හැටියට අන්තර් පාර්ලිමේන්තු කමිටුවේ නිරීක්ෂකයා ලංකාවට පැමිණ නිරීක්ෂණය කළේ මෙම නඩුවයි. ඔහුට උසාවියේදී අසන්නට ලැබුණේ ඉහත කී ආකාරයේ තර්ක නම් අද ඔහු ආගිය අතක් නැතුව සිටීම ගැන කවුරුත් පුදුම විය යුතු නැත. ඉහත දක්වන ලද එක තර්කයක් වත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතා නිර්දොaෂී පුද්ගලයෙක් යෑයි කීමට ඉවහල් නොවන බව ඕනෑම කෙනකුට පෙනේ. නමුත් දොස්තර ජයලත් ජයවර්ධන මහතා අන්තර් පාර්ලිමේන්තු සංගමයේ මානව හිමිකම් කමිටුවට ෆොන්සේකා මහතාගේ ප්රශ්නය ඉදිරිපත් කරමින් පවසා ඇත්තේ ආණ්ඩුව විසින් බොරු සාක්ෂි නිර්මාණය කොට ෆොන්සේකා මහතා දේශපාලන හේතු මත සිරකරගෙන සිටින බවයි. ෆොන්සේකා මහතා සම්බන්ධයෙන් ඉදිරිපත් කරන ලද තර්කය අන්තර් පාර්ලිමේන්තු සංගමය විසින් පිළිනොගන්නා බව ඔවුන්ගේ නිහැඬියාවෙන් පෙනේ.
නීතිමය වශයෙන් ගත් කල සරත් ෆොන්සේකා මහතා සිටින්නේ ඉතාමත්ම අවාසිදායක තත්ත්වයක බව නොකිවමනාය. ඉහත දක්වන ලද අභියාචනාධිකරණ නඩුවේදී ෆොන්සේකා මහතා කළ ප්රධානම චෝදනාව වූයේ ඔහුට සිර දඬුවම් ලබාදුන් යුද අධිකරණ සාමාජිකයන් තුන්දෙනාම ඔහු විසින් හමුදාව තුළ ප්රධාන නිලතල නොදී සුළු වැදගත් කමක් ඇති නිලතල වලට පත්කළ උදවිය බවයි. එමනිසා ඔවුන් ඔහුගේ විරුද්ධවාදීන් වන බවත් ඔවුන් දුන් තීන්දුව ද්වේෂ සහගත වන බවත්ය. එපමණක්ද නොව එම යුද අධිකරණයේ සාමාජිකයකු වූ මේජර් ජෙනරාල් මහින්ද හතුරුසිංහ මහතා කොටින්ගෙන් මුදල් ලබා ඔවුන් සමඟ සම්බන්ධකම් පැවැත්වූ අයකු බවත් ඔහු චෝදනා කර සිටියේය. මේ එක චෝදනාවක්වත් ඔහුට ඔප්පු කර ගැනීමට නොහැකි විය. මහින්ද හතුරුසිංහ මහතා සම්බන්ධයෙන් ඔහුගේ නීතිඥයන් පෙන්වා දුන්නේ කොටි සංවිධානය හතුරුසිංහ මහතා ඝාතනය කිරීම සඳහා එක්තරා හමුදා මේජර්වරයකුගේ උදව් පැතූ බවත් එකී හමුදා මේජර්වරයා හතුරුසිංහ මහතාව ඝාතනය කිරීමට කොටි සංවිධානයට ඔත්තු සපයා අතටම හසුවී මරණ දණ්ඩනයටද නියම වූ බවයි. ෆොන්සේකා මහතා විසින් ඔහුට එරෙහිව සිරදඬුවම් පැමිණ වූ යුද අධිකරණයේ සාමාජිකයන්ට එරෙහිව කරන ලද චෝදනා ඔප්පු කරගත නොහැකිව අවසන් මොහොතේදී යුද අධිකරණය පක්ෂපාත බවට ඉදිරිපත් කෙරුණු තර්කය ඉල්ලා අස්කර ගැනීමටද තැත්කළේය. අභියාචනාධිකරණය ඔහුගේ පෙත්සම නිෂ්ප්රභ කිරීමට එයද එක් ප්රධාන හේතුවක් විය.
මේ අනුව නීතිමය පැත්තෙන් ෆොන්සේකා මහතා සිටින්නේ දඬුකඳේ ගැසුවාක් මෙන් සිරවෙලාය.
CA Chandraprema – Divayna
/
Ajantha Premasiri / December 26, 2011
Uvindu, I totally agree with your enlightening analysis. There is no one except Ranil for the leadership. Some argue the majority do not like Ranil because he does not smile etc. etc.
The majority opinion is not always necessarily the truth. For example people voted overwhelmingly for Chandrika but ultimately she proved the voters were wrong; people thought Mahinda was the leader they wanted because he won the war etc. but now Mahinda has proved majority opinion was wrong. Majority cast their vote in the same way they choose clothes or buy goods: according to their whims and fancies or influenced by propaganda-that is why super star gained popularity but ultimately nothing worthwhile has been contributed to the society in broader sense.
If people of Sri Lanka are to mature politically they must read analysis like Uvindu’s otherwise gallery politics will prevail as evidenced by some of the comments hereto.
/
Sunny / December 26, 2011
Only God (or whoever is above) could help Sri Lanka if someone like Ranil becomes the all powerful President of Sri Lanka. Look at the manner in which he is clinging on to the leadership of the UNP after so many defeats at successive elections without any shame, using every dirty trick in the book and behaving as a typical dictator!
I am not a supporter of any political party or leader, but is a patriotic Sri Lankan and wants to live in this country in dignity and freedom. If Ranil becomes the President (hope he never will), we will end up as a colony of the West, with a subservient, Yankee-worshiping leadership, that will allow this country to be broken into pieces and for the western powers – like the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and the EU – to make Sri Lanka their playing field and plunder or resources.
So far I have not heard either Ranil or any of the other power hungry idiots who are clamoring for the leadership of the UNP, come out with what exact they are going to do to make Sri Lanka “a corruption-free, democratic, highly developed country, with 100 percent media freedom and equality for all”. I am waiting for these paragons of virtue representing the UNP to come out with their plan for the future of this country.
/
Ajantha Premasiri / December 27, 2011
SUNNY, a donkey in a sunny afternoon began braying at the sun while a dog began barking at the high rising mountain. Leave up to you to complete the sense.
Whom are you proposing for the leadership? Your father?
Who is, has been and will be selling the country to the world piece by piece, block by block, islet by islet, tank after tank, forest after forest, farm land after farmland, oil reserve after oil reserve? Who sold the scarce resource sand pumped to land from deep see at a huge cost to Maldives for land filling?
Who is destroying the country’s meager resources and wealth by way of completely unsuccessful massive projects like Hambanthota harbour, Norochcholai coal power station, sub-standard expressways? Who is draining out and wasting limited monetary wealth we have mostly comprising loans obtained on black-market rates by way of adulterated fuel and cement imports, sub-standard and expiring medicines, rotten coconuts?
Who has subjected Sri Lanka to a power struggle among India, China, US, Russia? Who has sold North to India and South to China? Who is responsible for Indians’ building railway lines at massive cost while Sri Lankan technicians and labourers are idling in Railway Department which according to COPE is a loss making institution?
You are a moronic bundle of incongruous contradictions. You claim you are apolitical and patriotic but criticize Ranil to your best ability, say nothing about Rajapakshas or his rogue regime and lay out paragons for UNP to follow! Don’t you see how funny you sound? Only god knows what happens to Sri Lanka if people like you begin dictating terms governance, politics and democracy! Look at his last para, it is a farce!! “..a corruption-free, democratic, highly developed..with 100% media freedom and equality for all…” Why don’t you ask this question from your Mahinda Rajapaksha or the political somersaulters who frog-leaped to government from UNP saying they are going to fortify the polio-infested hands of the king, which are the total responsibility and duty of the government?
Finally we implore you to remain the apolitical way you are, be as patriotic as you can but do not try to dump your junk ideas to a respectful political stream like UNP. If you have any problem of understanding read the main article by Uvindu several times with the English dictionary being referred because you seem to have bungled the etymology. The paragons you love have been set forth in the election manifestos of Ranil and during his short period of governance he has embodied those principles and will continue to do so after he regains power next year!!
After all in a functioning democracy it is not the leader that is most important but it is the system of democracy itself functioning independently and democratically with the participation of all concerned including the executive, legislature and judiciary with its ancillary arms of governance extending to grass-root levels that is of importance. A true patriot’s concern should be raising voice for democracy and against dictatorship, not domo-crazy in the name of democracy and causing a political mockery! You got that SUNNY buddy?
/
chris silva / December 29, 2011
Ranil is not wanted by everybody except his small crowd coz he 1.Does not pat backs,harbours grudges
2.He never returns a political favour 3.Never helps a UNP member and we are not talking underhand just normal stuff.
4.Always Ranil is ready to do deals,allow his small crowd to do so 5.Ranil always promotes his boys (dodangoda,ratnayake,kuliyapitiya boy to name a few)
5.Ranil is aloof and thinks he is superior!…hello ranil which planet did ya come from??
6.Does not build political capital within and with party
7.We know Ranils hands and underwear are not clean
This is just a little of why your boy ranna is not wanted.He is the Kim Jong fik of Lanka’s UNP
/
musa / December 30, 2011
Unfortunately people under estimate the capablity of Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe.
He will have his chance one day. All his opponenets will come around him that day
Your article is very informative.
/
Pingback: The UNP’s Leadership Struggle; Ranil,Sinhala-Buddhist Racism and Rosy « Colombo Telegraph / January 1, 2012
/
Pingback: Ranil Really Is Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Best Friend | Colombo Telegraph / July 27, 2012
/
Pingback: The UNP’s Leadership Struggle; Ranil,Sinhala-Buddhist Racism and Rosy | Colombo Telegraph / July 27, 2012
/
rednaxela / September 3, 2012
Do we need this Sajith Premadasa??? It will be the typical case of putting the serpent inside your garment and then shouting that it is biting! He is able to survive because of his father’s name and father’s henchmen. What has he achieved on his own???
/
Pingback: That Man Ranil | Colombo Telegraph / July 25, 2013
/