Tuesday, 15 October 2013 00:00
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Rebuilding the United National Party (UNP) has gained unprecedented impetus with the latest defeat at the North Western and Central Provincial Council elections. The mediations, painful at times, have nonetheless yielded a crucial discussion today, which the country will be watching with mixed feelings of hope.
Bludgeoned by a record number of elections defeats on a trot, the UNP leadership finally yielded. Wickremesinghe’s view that he is willing to step aside should a competent replacement be found finally brought hope to party stalwarts who have been pushing reforms in vain. But it also sparked fear among a faction that watched the moves of UNP MP Sajith Premadasa and viewed them as being vengeful and lacking in political acumen.
Premadasa, who has been vying for the leadership of the main Opposition with an increasing voice, made it clear that he was not going to be the Opposition candidate for Chief Minister in the south, when elections are called. This direct bid for leadership startled party moderates who felt that Premadasa does not have the capacity to launch a competent rivalry to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, fortified with his deep resources and credibility for ending the war.
In the end a compromise was reached that allowed the day-to-day running of the UNP to be handed over to a committee headed by former Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya who was brought in from the shadows and reinstated to the Working Committee as a bridge of sorts. Tying in the old while attempting to create the new is the greatest challenge before the UNP.
Many hope that Jayasuriya will be able to create an environment for new leadership to emerge and give novel options to followers. Given the considerable star power still commanded by the President and his party, it seems to be a pragmatic move. The UNP will mould its future leader like a trump card and reveal it when a more level playing field has been sculpted from government mistakes and shrinking economic prospects.
There is reason to believe that such an event could come to pass. Analysts have pointed out that the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) managed to increase its vote tally in the North Western Province by 9% mainly because of UNP MP Dayasiri’s crossover factor. Polling in the Central Province also provided space to former General Sarath Fonseka’s party, which has been touted as the “third voice”. This is particular shows the people’s awareness of the need of an Opposition to provide a balance of power.
The UNP’s presence among the Tamil minority has also eroded from its dizzy heights during the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) days when Wickremesinghe was lauded for his peace efforts. It is essential that a fresh leadership should also appeal to moderate Tamil and Muslim people as well to prevent further polarising along ethnic lines. An Opposition that is capable of uniting these elements will truly bring together the best of aspirations for the future.
As Ranil, Karu and Sajith gather for talks, they must keep these goals in mind, for the hopes of a nation do literally ride on their decisions now.
