Kiriella: ‘Who wants to switch allegiance to one-man parliamentary group?’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa says an increasingly unpopular Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) is making a desperate attempt to divert attention from its growing woes.

A near two-thirds majority for the SLPP in parliament does not reflect the actual ground situation, Colombo District MP Premadasa, who is also the Opposition Leader says.

“Let me tell you. The government cannot overcome challenges by causing turmoil in the main Opposition. The SLPP seems to have conveniently forgotten how such despicable strategies failed in the past,” lawmaker Premadasa told The Island. The SJB leader said so when The Island raised the challenge he was facing with UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s forthcoming re-entry into parliament as declared by the ruling party.

In spite of UNP Chairman Vajira Abeywardena declaring that Wickremesinghe would be nominated through its only National List slot, the party is yet to submit his name to the Secretary General of Parliament.

Noting the statements made by Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and State Minister of Samurdhi, Household Economy, Micro Finance, Self-Employment, Business Development Shehan Semasinghe in parliament on June 8, SJB leader emphasized the government was hell bent on diverting public attention. 

Lawmaker Premadasa responded to The Island from hospital, where he along with wife, Jalani are receiving treatment for  Covid-19.

Former Deputy UNP leader Premadasa said that the SJB absolutely had no issue with the UNP filling its National List slot. Pointing out that that vacancy hadn’t been filled for 10 months much to the disappointment of those who exercised their franchise for the party at the last parliamentary election in August 2020, the SJB leader emphasized the importance of the UNP being represented in parliament.

The UNP secured one National List slot at the 2020 general election, whereas the SJB secured 54 seats, including seven National List slots. One of its National List members, Dayana Gamage has already switched her allegiance to the SLPP.

Lawmaker Premadasa recalled how the SLPP boasted the passage of the 20th Amendment in Oct 2020 would restore political stability. The same lot repeatedly assured the enactment of the Bill on Colombo Port City Economic Commission (CPCECB) would be the panacea for the troubled economy.

SJB Leader Premadasa also pointed out the pathetic handling of what he called X-Press Pearl incident. Lawmaker Premadasa pointed out that the UNP missed an opportunity to take a stand on the dictatorial 20th Amendment and the CPCEC.

He warned the government that it couldn’t overcome challenges by propaganda efforts against the Chief Opposition party. Of course, some short-term political advantage could be achieved through such efforts, including social media offensives but contentious issues wouldn’t go away, the SJB leader said.

Having failed to fulfill aspirations at least of those who voted for the SLPP at 2019 presidential and 2020 parliamentary polls, a desperate government was now looking for excuses. For the SLPP leadership, the Covid-19 seemed to be the panacea for its failure to address problems, Premadasa said.

The SJB leader questioned the rationale in having an online investment forum in the wake of the country’s worst ecological disaster triggered by mishandling of X-Press Pearl incident several nautical miles away from the Colombo Port City. The amateurish handling of the container carrier exposed the SLPP in spite of big boasts of professionalism, the lawmaker said.

The Opposition Leader urged the SLPP parliamentary group to mind its own business. “Why should they worry about the SJB? Have they forgotten the recent trouble among its ranks in the wake of a constituent party seeking a role for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the SLPP?” MP Premadasa asked.

The SJB leader queried whether the SLPP successfully addressed at least one contentious issue, instead creating additional problems for itself. There couldn’t be a better example than the unprecedented ongoing countrywide fertilizer shortage experienced by farmers, the SJB leader said.

MP Premadasa said: “What is of paramount importance is to ensure the wellbeing of the people. There is absolute policy paralysis that has taken place in the government structure. Absolute incompetence has become the order of the day, economic distress, loss of employment and livelihoods, environmental and  fertilizer issues bungling of the inoculation process, lack of government focus, and  governance by default. These are the real issues and SJB will represent the interests of those struggling to make ends meet as well as other sectors affected by bungling SLPP.”

The SJB leader said that the Opposition wouldn’t be distracted by SLPP strategies. The lawmaker said that it would be a grave mistake on the part of the government to believe it was a victim of social media. The media couldn’t be suppressed today because the public always took advantage of the social media platforms to express their views, the SJB leader said, urging the SLPP administration to review its policies or prepare to face the consequences.

Responding to what he called a fresh SLPP propaganda drive, both in and out of parliament, Chief Opposition Whip Lakshman Kiriella alleged that the government was in such a desperate situation it would do anything to distract public attention. “We were quite amused to see a Minister and a State Minister taking up the issues related to the SJB when the government is in turmoil over Covid crisis. The Shangri-La mess exposed so called much touted One Country one Law,” Kandy District lawmaker said. MP Kiriella denied there being a crisis within the party over Wickremesinghe’s possible reentry into parliament.

Ongoing social media campaign backed by some print media coverage was nothing but a ruse to cause trouble, lawmaker Kiriella said. Responding to another question, the MP asked who would switch allegiance to a party with one National List MP and no realistic hope of staging a comeback. “The UNP group in the last parliament comprised 106 members. Now the once mighty party with a 5/6 majority is down to just oner MP and we have no doubt it will remain so,” Kiriella said.

Both Messrs. Premadasa and Kiriella said that the public could ascertain the situation for themselves once the UNP filled its National List slot.