This is a passionate request from concerned, decent citizens who are loyal to the UNP – people who have upheld our democratic rights, condemned injustice and violence, and believe in law and order. Today’s UNP supporters are miserable and helpless in that they are unable to speak out on the rights of the party and the future of the party.
Before we address the country’s shortcomings, especially those of the Constitution, we should address the UNP constitution and make sure that no single person is allowed to hold the party and the MPs to ransom. Clean up the party before cleaning up the country.
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| Ranil Wickremesinghe |
If the UNP Working Committee is not allowing Mr. Wickremesinghe to leave the party, as Mr. Wickremesinghe claims it is doing, then the members of the Working Committee should resign, because UNP supporters do not think the way they do. We think otherwise.
If party members cannot freely express their views, then there is no democracy within the party.
There is a big difference between a politician and an administrator. Mr. Wickremesinghe is a brilliant administrator, but he does not have the ability to play politics.
If you lack political acumen, then use someone who has it.
For an administrator to administer the country, he or she must first win elections and win the people’s confidence. If you can’t win the people’s confidence, get someone who can do it for you.
J. R. Jayewardene was not a brilliant speaker who could attract crowds. He used Ranasinghe Premadasa to speak at rallies and get the support of the people.
In every field of activity, especially in sports, when a captain fails or the team performs poorly, heads roll. Even in mature democracies, politicians resign over failures. This, however, is not the case with the UNP.
Sajith Premadasa has won many elections, with major success in Hambantota, the power base of the Rajapaksas. It would be an instructive exercise to see why he is so successful.
The reason is Sajith Premadasa is with the people all the time, carrying out small projects for the people.
Does Mr. Wickremesinghe ever visit the villages to look at the problems faced by the average villager? Does he know what difficulties the farmers undergo? Does he know what is happening in rural schools, rural hospitals, factories? Does he ever stand at a bus stand to know what the bus-travelling people experience?
You do not win elections by sitting inside air-conditioned rooms and air-conditioned cars, and addressing election rallies at election time.
For the sake of the country, please amend the UNP constitution. Let democracy prevail.
The UNP Working Committee has a crucial role to play by arranging for Mr. Wickremesinghe to make an honourable exit with the commitment of making him the Prime Minister in the event of a UNP win.
Stephen Fernando,
Moratuwa |
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