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The changing face of dynastic politics
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A previous manthri.lk analysis revealed that 20% of Parliamentarians benefited from dynastic influence. On the flipside, how are current Parliamentarians ensuring that their dynasties continue? UNF more dynastic in the past: As a proportion of their coalition, the UNF have benefited more from dynastic influence than the UPFA. 17 of the 42 UNF MPs are direct beneficiaries of political family members (Exhibit 1).
UPFA display more dynastic tendencies: Election to Provincial Councils (PC) is often perceived as a stepping stone to Parliament, with UPFA MPs more proactive in charting this course for the future generation (Exhibit 2).
Of the 15 MPs that have a child at any level of elected political office (national, provincial or PS), 14 are from the UPFA. Except for two; Vidura Wickrmanayake, son of Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, who is an MP and Rasika Ekanayake, son of W.B. Ekanayake, who sits in the Manupa Pradeshiya Sabha, all the other children are PC members.
The Opposition only has Gamini Jayawickrama Perera (UNF), whose son Asanka Perera sits in the North Western PC.
SLFP paternal instincts strongest: Furthermore, 13 of the 14 UPFA paternal MPs are from the SLFP, the exception being Abdul Cader, a UNP crossover MP.
Do these findings illustrate a partial shift in political culture? Or are these findings symptomatic of the health of the UNP and SLFP?
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