UNP and challenges

Conflicts within opposition parties are nothing new in Sri Lanka, but they reached a new height on Monday during the United National Party (UNP) leadership battle between Ranil Wickremesinghe and Karu Jayasuriya.

Even though many predicted that change would not come, the violence that took place in the immediate aftermath of the elections and the way it was supported by former party stalwarts including former President Premadasa’s wife left much to be desired.

Even though there are many justified reservations regarding Wickremesinghe’s leadership, resorting to violence is unpalatable. However, it does show the desperation of the reformists and those who are tired of the leadership’s inability to lead effectively.

UNP Provincial Councillors Shiral Lakthilake and Maithri Gunaratne together with eight others were remanded on Tuesday as a result of the violence that took place on the day of the elections. Crowds stormed the UNP Headquarters, ripping down an iron fence and stoning the building, including Working Committee members, and damaged vehicles in the fracas that followed the announcement of the election results. The Nugegoda Magistrate ordered that they be remanded till 2 January 2012, making for a very bleak New Year.

Both Provincial Councillors together with those arrested were members of the reformist group and are vehemently opposed to the party leadership. The crowd that gathered in front of Sirikotha and stormed the UNP Headquarters caused damage to property estimated to be at over Rs. 2.5 million. The exhibition is disgraceful, but it has been brought about by the UNP and leadership of the opposition that has clearly failed to deliver.

Election after election has been lost on the trot since 2005 and many before, including two presidential elections and most other polls except for those in 2004. Many of the key members of the party crossed over to the Government and good governance and transparency has suffered severely within the party. All this happened after Wickremesinghe became leader thanks to a loyal set in the Working Committee. However, he faces momentous challenge before him.

Already requests to enlarge the number of people who can vote for the UNP leadership have been rejected and there are allegations that Working Committee members considered disloyal to Wickremesinghe are being removed. This is grossly contradictory to the values that should be embedded and upheld in an opposition.

The UNP has long blamed the Government for centralisation of power, lack of democracy, good governance and transparency, but what respect has it paid to these lofty ideals? Has it done any better in protecting and promoting them within its own party? Perhaps the time has come to put the UNP house in order before it attempts to fix the rest of the country.

This does not in any way undermine the importance or need of a healthy opposition in Sri Lanka. It is imperative that the UNP gets its act together to protect the interests of the people in the country’s march towards development. Promoting the rights of the poor to ensure inclusive and sustainable development is the duty of the opposition, as well as working to stamp out corruption and draconian laws that undermine economic freedom.

Disciplinary action should not become a witch hunt. The UNP leadership now needs to work together to heal its wounds if it ever hopes to constructively contribute to the country.