Sunday Leader Editorial

Maithri And Ranil: Crack Your Whips

Sunday 15th November 2015

 

The National Government was formed with the lofty objective of bringing the two main political parties together to resolve national problems which have defied resolution because of the fierce interparty rivalry for supremacy. The compulsion of putting together a majority to form a government overcoming the seats won by the UPFA under Mahinda Rajapaksa was also a main factor.

Maithripala Sirisena, the triumphant common candidate having retained his post of General Secretary of the SLFP, enabled him to become the leader of the party after being elected was a decisive factor in the formation of the coalition.

Thus the Yahapalanaya government, as it is commonly known, has resulted in bringing together disparate political bedfellows and the effects are beginning to show in the three months of its existence. The controversy over the Avant Garde affaire resulted not only in clashes between the two main parties but also in intra party locking of horns.

The only redeeming feature was that Cabinet Minister Tilak Marapana, who ventured to offer an opinion, resigned from his portfolio in accordance to parliamentary traditions which have been rarely observed in recent times.

Disparate opinions that were being held before the formation of the government are being voiced overtly and covertly. All this does not augur well for this coalition that has given itself two years to achieve certain objectives and the failure to do so will lead to its voluntary dissolution.

Both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who head the two main political parties, should read the riot act to dissidents some of whom openly exhibit allegiance to the arch foe of the government, Mahinda Rajapaksa. Political alignments in the current parliament have resulted in different factions within the Opposition.

There is a faction in the government who are part of government but overtly and covertly support the Mahinda Rajapaksa who is opposed to the government. There has come to be a faction that has labeled themselves the ‘United Opposition’ bitterly opposed to the government. These are mostly not members of the SLFP, whose leader is the President, but members of the UPFA. But UNFGG members too are under the president who is the leader of the UPFA and it’s the UPFA that’s recognized by parliament.

This is a unique instance in parliamentary practice where members of a government party have officially declared themselves an Opposition and are actively opposing the government.

Differences of opinion within political parties are known and intra party dissidence is common but they are permitted only within limits of party discipline and cabinet responsibility. If tolerated it would lead to chaos within a ruling party and followed by chaos within a political coalition governing the country.

The UNP has only a single coalition partner, the JHU that contested the election under the UNP symbol of the elephant. Its leader Champika Ranawaka has not attempted to rock the boat although he has shown dissidence in certain issues. The likes of Rajitha Senaratne contested under the UNFGG while claiming to be members of the SLFP. However, ministers and deputy ministers in the government are now openly engaged in verbal mud-slinging against each other, which has left the masses with mouths wide open.

The government has indicated its plans for the future with Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe’s new economic policy as well as indications of plans for the proposed megalopolis. These proposals run in the face of traditional Third World socialism which is sacrosanct to some of those antiquated politicians and economists who seek safety in state controlled institutions – even if they run at tremendous losses – and government service with meager pensions.

The political stability, which President Sirisena sought to implement his policies of reconciliation with people of the north and east, are being vehemently opposed by some political desperadoes who made their mark through class-hatred and racism. The government’s decision to release political prisoners was recently attacked by one government member in public which was televised on some national TV channels. This was a government MP under the leadership of President Sirisena attacking his own policies.

With provincial council elections on the cards, these racists will hope to have a field day attacking their own government.

President Sirisena and Premier Wickremesinghe are committed to protect the right to freedom of speech and expression. But surely they cannot permit such attacks by those within their own government.

These are dissidents who seek shelter under the SLFP umbrella because they cannot exist on their own. They should be asked to quit the National Government to follow their own rabid policies.