…hints at partnership with SJB

Text and pic by Shamindra Ferdinando

UNP Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene yesterday (28) said that the party would be fully overhauled following the forthcoming General Election.

Acknowledging that the National People’s Party (NPP) had a clear edge over Opposition parties in the fray at the Nov. 14 contest, the former parliamentarian emphasised the need for restructuring the party to prepare for the next General Election in five years.

The New Democratic Front (NFF) Gampaha District candidate Wijewardene also explained the circumstances a new leader could be chosen soon after the conclusion of the election.

One-time Deputy Defence Minister Wijewardene said so responding to queries at a media briefing held at former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s Flower Road political office.

Asked whether Wickremesinghe delayed the handing over of leadership to his deputy because he lacked the required experience, a smiling Wijewardene pointed out he had served as a parliamentarian for about 20 years.

Wijewardene said that the next leader wouldn’t be decided solely on the basis of him being a kinsman of the party leader.

Responding to another query, Wijewardene admitted that major political parties had suffered due to change of symbols to facilitate formation of coalitions to contest national elections. The ex-MP said that he hoped the ‘elephant’ symbol would be back in the future to pave the way for them to contest on the UNP ticket under that symbol the party was known for across the length and breadth of the country from its inception.

Having discussed the proposed restructuring of the party, Wijewardene said that he was confident that the UNP could reach a consensus with the breakaway faction, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to form a broader Opposition alliance in Parliament.

Wijewardene deeply regretted the failure on the part of the UNP and the SJB to form an alliance to contest the Sept. 21 Presidential Election.

Pointing out that Wickremesinghe, who contested as an independent candidate, and SJB leader polled 2.2 mn and 4.3 mn votes, respectively, Wijewardena said that the NPP could have been defeated. The NPP candidate polled 5.7 mn votes, approximately 600,000 votes less than the UNP and SJB combined.

Wijewardene said that talks collapsed as both parties declined to drop some key conditions. Pressed for a clearer response, the ex-MP said that the SJB insisted on fielding Sajith Premadasa as the presidential candidate under their ‘telephone’ symbol and offered the premiership to Wickremesinghe. “We wanted the SJB to back Wickremesinghe’s presidential candidature under the ‘elephant’ symbol,” Wijewardene said.

Wijewardene alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake was already struggling to cope up with political, economic and social challenges.

The ex-MP found fault with the way the new government handled the unexpected security crisis caused by the recent US travel advisory that warned of possible terrorist threat on Arugam Bay and subsequent warnings issued by Israel, the UK, Russia et al.

The one-time Deputy Defence Minister said that the government’s claim that security authorities had been aware of the threat before the issuance of external warnings couldn’t be accepted.

Asserting that the NPP seemed to be struggling on the economic front, Wijewardene said that the people could ask for the former President’s return as the executive president.

The UNP Deputy Leader said that the electorate had hardly heard of the vast majority of NPP candidates though there were a few experienced persons such as Minister Vijitha Herath. Wijewardene also appreciated the emergence of Dr. Harini Amarasuriya as the Prime Minister regardless of not having a political background.

Commenting on President Dissanayake’s repeated declarations that the Parliament should be filled by NPP candidates, the former parliamentarian emphasized that stance couldn’t be accepted under any circumstances. There should be a strong Opposition in Parliament capable of meeting any challenge and the government couldn’t expect a House full of lawmakers representing just one political party to the detriment of the country.

Wijewardene urged the electorate to be cautious at the parliamentary election. “Vote for people who have the capacity to serve as parliamentarians,” Wijewardene said, adding that the NPP nomination list seemed to be full of inexperienced people.

Wijewardene said that in spite of promising the much-touted system change in the run-up to the Presidential Election, President Dissanayake was basically following Wickremesinghe’s economic policy. Although, the new government recently declared that the national carrier SriLankan Airlines wouldn’t be privatized, its stand on other policy decisions announced by the previous government remained.

Wijewardene predicted that going by the NPP’s performance the ruling party was unlikely to improve its performance at the parliamentary election.

The UNPer dismissed NPP allegations regarding the misuse of vehicles during Wickremesinghe’s Presidency. The UNP Deputy Leader alleged that some of those vehicles described as super luxury couldn’t be used for obvious reasons.

Referring to the ongoing controversy over Wickremesinghe playing politics with Easter Sunday reports, Wijewardene said if the former President sought political advantage he could have released them in the run-up to the Presidential Election.

Wijewardene said that all seemed to be hell-bent on taking advantage of the 2019 Easter Sunday carnage for their benefit.