By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Chairman, Imthiaz Bakeer Markar, has urged genuine UNPers to help prevent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s NPP from taking hold of Parliament.

Addressing the media at SJB’s Colombo Office, the former parliamentarian warned that the NPP’s victory at the parliamentary election, scheduled for 14 Nov., posed a severe threat to democracy. Recollecting the authoritarian manner the Rajapaksas behaved, following the parliamentary polls in 2010 and 2020, the one-time Media Minister declared that President Dissanayake wouldn’t be different if his party secured a commanding position in the House.

Attorney-at-Law Markar was appointed the Chairman of the SJB immediately after the presidential election. Markar succeeded Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka who quit that post in the run-up to the presidential election.

Alleging that the NPP was pushing for a 2/3 majority, the ex-parliamentarian said that President Dissanayake’s plans could be derailed if those who voted for Ranil Wickremesinghe at the recently concluded presidential election switched their allegiance to the SJB at the parliamentary election.

Wickremesinghe polled 2,299,767 votes (17.27%) at the presidential election.

Asserting that the vast majority of those who had exercised their franchise in support of Wickremesinghe were genuine UNPers, the UNP Chairman said that their amalgamation with the SJB could save democracy. Sajith Premadasa obtained 4.3 mn voted at the presidential poll.

At the onset of the media briefing, Markar emphasised that of the 17.1 mn electorate, the NPP candidate managed to secure only 42% of the valid votes. “In other words, a formidable 58% didn’t accept Dissanayake. The SJB wants to represent those who didn’t accept Dissanayake’s candidature,” the ex-parliamentarian said.

Markar alleged that UNP leader Wickremesinghe contested the presidential poll as an idependent candidate, with a view to undermine Premadasa’s bid. Declaring Wickremesinghe’s endeavour as a suicide operation, Markar asserted that the former President was still thinking on the same lines.

Wickremesinghe has fielded a combined UNP and dissident SLPP group under the New Democratic Front (NDF) label with the ‘Gas Cylinder’ as its symbol at the parliamentary election.

Markar emphasized that he was among those who valued internal democracy and stood for the rights, regardless of risks. The UNP Chairman described the formation of the SJB, in early 2020, ahead of parliamentary election, as the culmination of their struggle for internal democracy.

Declaring that the SJB had the capacity to lead Parliament and work with President Dissanayake, representing a different party, Markar accused the JJB of double talk. There couldn’t be a better example than their approach towards the IMF-led debt restructuring programme, Markar said. Having repeatedly condemned the IMF, both in and outside Parliament, the JVP-led JJB was now fully collaborating with the Washington headquartered lending body.

Markar said that the SJB never recognized the IMF as the panacea for all our ills. “We shouldn’t take extremist stand in politics and economic policy,” Markar said, pointing out how China and Vietnam pursued strategies that brought them immense benefits.

The former UNPer asked President Dissanayake not to deceive the people as such a strategy wouldn’t help him at all.

“If the SJB and the real UNP get together, the JJB can be overwhelmed, easily,” Markar said.

Markar added that those in power now sought to portray themselves as paragons of virtue. They had quite conveniently forgotten that the JVP served the interests of the Rajapaksas and Maithripala Sirisena’s Yahapalana government over the years. Although new faces, such as Dr. Harini Amarasuriya, emerged with the formation of the JJB in 2019, Markar questioned the status of internal democracy in the ruling party.

Alleging that the JJB’s promises, and the way it governed, were quite different, Markar said that over two to two and half years, the SJB developed a cohesive strategy to address the challenges faced by the country. Comparing the National Lists of different contesting parties, Markar stressed the SJB National List consisted of many professionals who contributed to the making of an overall plan to restore public faith in the system.”

Referring to catastrophic decisions to extend Parliament by two years, from 1975 to 1977, and to put off general election, scheduled for 1983 to 1989, Markar warned if the electorate bestowed President Dissanayake with unwarranted power the situation could further deteriorate. One couldn’t forget how President Gotabaya Rajapaksa responded to situations, irresponsibly and recklessly. during the two-and-a- half period, Markar said.

The top SJB official said whatever the issues, the members of the party, regardless of their standing, shouldn’t behave in a manner inimical to the party. Markar was commenting on the recent statements made by former parliamentarians Hirunika Premachandra and Ajith Mannapperuma on their Colombo and Gampaha nominations lists.

Declaring that he, too, had experienced problems, within political party system, over the years, the UNP Chairman urged all join hands to halt President Dissanayake’s march towards authoritarian rule.