{"id":147521,"date":"2015-07-15T14:15:00","date_gmt":"2015-07-15T08:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=147521"},"modified":"2015-07-24T01:14:37","modified_gmt":"2015-07-23T19:44:37","slug":"strong-unp-antidote-to-mr-challenge-role-for-ven-sobitha-thero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/strong-unp-antidote-to-mr-challenge-role-for-ven-sobitha-thero\/","title":{"rendered":"Strong UNP Antidote To MR Challenge: Role For Ven. Sobitha Thero?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Amrit Muttukumaru<\/span><\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Amrit<\/a>

Amrit Muttukumaru<\/p><\/div>\n

This analysis is written in good faith in the interest of the country and the United National Party. Its objective is to demonstrate that all the brouhaha and panic in the aftermath of the Mahinda Rajapaksa nomination is misplaced if only the UNP asserts itself to its potential. For this to materialize its response must be principled.<\/p>\n

The \u2018old fox\u2019 JRJ rightly castigated for foisting on us the monstrous executive presidency, had a lot going for him in some ways. He introduced proportional representation to shield the UNP when out of office with a critical mass of parliamentarians who would function as a powerful opposition. Obviously he did not bargain this will be ruined by the shortcomings of his prot\u00e9g\u00e9 and kinsman Ranil Wickremesinghe<\/span><\/a>. JRJ had the vision, confidence and above all fearlessness to have a credible second rung in the form of Lalith Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanayake et al. It is remarkable that the \u2018street-smart\u2019 Ranasinghe Premadasa was able to outmanoeuvre these two strong personalities. At the same time one can have nothing but admiration for the manner in which Lalith and Gamini were able to build the DUNF from almost nothing into a formidable political force.<\/p>\n

Compare this with the pathetic leadership of the UNP today. Although Wickremesinghe must bear major responsibility for this, this is not the whole story. Wasn\u2019t there even one person in the UNP who had the guts and wherewithal to challenge him on a principled basis in the greater interest of the party and country? Citing the excuse of the autocratic UNP constitution does not wash. The fact is that Wickremesinghe (for the most part) stands tall in a sea of spineless mediocrity in the UNP of today.<\/p>\n

I must stress that I only refer to the leadership skills of these personalities who had the capacity to politically challenge any opposition. I am aware of allegations of an assortment of wrongdoing by them.<\/p>\n

Countervailing Power<\/strong><\/p>\n

There is no question the Rajapaksa presidency did monumental damage to the fabric and psyche of this country. It severely undermined democratic values and the rule of law. Corruption and violence reached unprecedented heights. People had to virtually look over their shoulders before passing any adverse comment on the regime. My premise is that none of these could have happened or at the very least reached such massive proportions if only the opposition led by UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe had fulfilled its constitutional and moral responsibility. We must bear in mind that the UNP was always perceived to have the largest \u2018bloc\u2019 vote in the country. It may be so (arguably) even today. Undoubtedly the UNP even today is a powerful political force in this country. The question is what happened to this force during the 9 year Rajapaksa presidency?<\/p>\n

\"Ve.<\/a>Is it not a fact that a true leader must be a visionary, consensus builder, motivator and above all principled and fearless? How does Wickremesinghe measure up to these attributes? Did not the UNP under his \u2018leadership\u2019 (if I am permitted to be liberal with this term!) lose a huge chunk of parliamentarians to Rajapaksa ranks? The warped ruling of former CJ Sarath N Silva legitimizing crossovers and the endemic \u2018greed\u2019 of our politicians although presumably making a contribution are not the primary determining factor. After all, in any organization its members must have confidence that their leader can take them to the promised land. Clearly this was not the case in the UNP. Do the people closely identified with Wickremesinghe instill confidence among the masses?<\/p>\n

Is the perception that Wickremesinghe as opposition leader had some \u2018understanding\u2019 with Rajapaksa without any merit? Has not this perception been reinforced in his current avatar as Prime Minister in the so-called \u2018Yahapalanaya<\/em><\/span><\/a>\u2019 government? There are others too within senior UNP circles who are said to have compromised the clout of the opposition by accepting an assortment of favours from the then administration which allegedly includes air tickets and assignments to family members. What is disconcerting is that it was tolerated.<\/p>\n

Trust Deficit<\/strong><\/p>\n

The millions who voted for the peaceful 8 January \u2018revolution\u2019 for real change from the horrors that were experienced under the MR regime must be a thoroughly disillusioned and confused lot in the run-up to the 17 August General Election. This is not without reason. Empirical evidence would suggest the informal \u2018social contract\u2019 with the people leading to the \u2018rainbow coalition\u2019 of disparate political groups which promised a complete break from the past has for the most part been breached with impunity. However two major gains must be acknowledged (i) reverting to the two-term limit to the presidency (ii) the absence of fear psychosis \u2013 this no doubt is a huge plus. These are early days and we do not know what the future would have held. Memories of credible allegations of UNP excesses which include the Batalanda killings and the murder of media personality Richard De Zoysa during which period Wickremesinghe was a senior cabinet minister linger among the parents of the younger generation.<\/p>\n

There appears to be a major trust deficit the people have in the UNP hierarchy \u2013 particularly in its leader. He has done almost nothing to dispel this. On the contrary, this has been reinforced by instances such as what is said to have transpired during\/in the aftermath of his alleged visit to \u2018Temple Trees\u2019 on election night in the company of a controversial individual with links to virtually all sections of the political spectrum. This is further buttressed by his perceived pussyfooting on credible allegations of egregious corruption, extreme violence and abuse of power under the Rajapaksa administration.<\/p>\n

The stock excuse of UNP apologists for being tardy on alleged Rajapaksa excesses has been the purported adherence to the \u2018rule of law\u2019. Whom are they fooling? Surely within the \u2018rule of law\u2019 could there not have been a more assertive response when as claimed in the run-up to the presidential elections there was so much evidence staring in the face?<\/p>\n

In this connection, I cite the following categorical assertions by Dr. Harsha de Silva \u2013 Deputy Minister, Policy Planning and Economic Affairs (Wickremesinghe\u2019s Ministry):<\/p>\n

1) In the run-up to the 8 January presidential elections at a press conference on 17 December 2014 (in the presence of Eran Wickremeratne – Deputy Minister, Investment Promotion) with a slew of files in tow he inter alia stridently referred to casino, drug, ethanol mafias and alleged money laundering in locations such as St. Nevis & Kitts, Seychelles and Dubai;<\/p>\n