Tentative hope

This week is likely to be a decisive one for Sri Lanka as the public awaits further moves from President Maithripala Sirisena and the results of the petitions before the Supreme Court to give a glimpse of a possible resolution to the political crisis that has engulfed Sri Lanka for over five weeks.

Talks between President Maithripala Sirisena and the United National Party (UNP), supported by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), began on Friday and has given birth to tentative hopes of a solution. An unexpected olive branch was extended by the President on Thursday via MP Wijedasa Rajapakshe who delivered a speech in Parliament calling on Speaker Karu Jayasuriya to work with Sirisena to resolve the constitutional deadlock between the Executive and Parliament. Hours later, Sirisena and Jayasuriya met with the former, agreeing to meet both the TNA and UNP and its coalition parties.

At this point, one compromise being discussed is Sirisena withdrawing the Gazette dissolving Parliament and allowing for a UNP majority in Parliament to be formed with the support of the TNA. The sticking point appears to be MP Ranil Wickremesinghe with Sirisena steadfastly refusing to walk back his stance of not appointing Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister again. The UNP has so far not proposed an alternative and all eyes would be on meetings between them to understand what the next development might be.

All this manoeuvring comes as the Supreme Court readies to hear arguments on the petitions filed before it on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Since the bench has been expanded from three judges to seven, it is possible that a decision could take longer than initially anticipated with some experts suggesting it could be given early next week rather than on Friday.

However, President Sirisena appears alive to the difficulties he may face should the Supreme Court decide against upholding his Gazette, and his meetings with the UNP and TNA could be an attempt to figure out an alternative that would allow him to withdraw the Gazette. The public, who have been closely following the events since 26 October, may also fear that the President is merely employing stalling tactics. Whatever the motive, few can deny that the impasse has come to a desperate point and desperate solutions may be required. MP Wickremesinghe has already stated he is willing to resume working with President Sirisena and now the ball is firmly in Sirisena’s court.

A settlement that upholds the ideals of democracy and the Constitution would be welcomed by many at this point. Sri Lanka’s economy has taken a bashing due to the political turmoil with key plans to prepare for debt repayment in 2019 taking a hit thanks to the ratings downgrade. Sri Lanka also lacks a Budget for 2019 and the Vote on Account passed by the Sirisena-Rajapaksa Cabinet last week is unlikely to receive a majority in Parliament. Legality of decisions made by the Cabinet are also under question and access to public finances has been curtailed by Parliament, though it is unclear whether these motions would be implemented. It is time for politicians of all hues to put aside their agendas and work out a solution that is in the best interests of Sri Lanka.