It is no secret that there is a crisis in the United National Party. It is also no secret that there has been meaningful dialogue within the party. Steps have been taken to ensure that views of the members are taken into consideration and significant changes are expected to follow. Sabotage and betrayal are two words that came to mind when I read a letter to the editor written by my friend Lakshman Seneviratne in the Sunday Times of July 4, 2010.
It appears that Mr. Seneviratne has forgotten that he holds a high position in the UNP, as its Deputy General Secretary, when concocting the letter in an attempt to ridicule the party leader. It is quite acceptable to have differences or grievances with the leadership, however, there is an appropriate forum to seek redress and express personal views; especially those of a high-ranking official in the party. Mr. Seneviratne points his finger at Ranil Wickremesinghe (RW) and suggests that he should take the blame for the fate that has befallen the UNP; I ask Mr. Seneviratne to take a look at his actions and then assess the damage he has caused the UNP.
Yes, the UNP constitution was amended in 1995. What Mr. Seneviratne left out in his letter was that RW couldn’t do this alone. In that case, shouldn’t everyone who helped bring about this amendment be held responsible; not only RW? As a member of the Working Committee representing the ordinary members of the party, why did Mr. Seneviratne vote in favour of these amendments which he is now finding fault with?
Mr. Seneviratne suggests that RW ridiculed the Army and provides an example about a statement made relating to Thoppigala being a jungle; which is taken totally out of context. This amused me as there is no doubt that Mr. Seneviratne knew the context in which this statement was made. RW made the ‘Thoppigala is a jungle’ statement when the government kept selling the war victories to win the Provincial Council elections. He was merely asking the government to tell the public the true story, instead of glorifying victories for electioneering purposes. After all, Thoppigala was under government control during the UNP regime in the 1990s and many are aware of the existing terrain. Questioning RW’s patriotism is a merely petty political rhetoric to gain a little mileage and is good to feed the gallery.
If he was such a traitor, why did Prabhakaran ensure that he (RW) lost the Presidential election on two occasions? Why did the LTTE brand him as the cunning fox of Asia? Are we forgetting that it was RW’s political manoeuvring that culminated in the break-up of the LTTE Eastern cadres without an ounce of blood being dropped? It is undeniable that the Eastern cadres were the strongest fighters and the breakaway was pivotal in defeating terrorism in Sri Lanka.
What was most surprising was that Mr. Seneviratne decided to attack the leader on his selection of members to be included in the national list. I am not in any way saying that it is wrong to raise objections. What I am saying is that it is quite repulsive that his objections are based on the faith of Eran Wickramaratne. Doesn’t the constitution provide the right for every person to follow his own faith? Mr. Wickramaratne was one of the most accomplished and distinguished professionals in the private sector.
It is not Mr. Wickremesinghe who has no scruples, but it is Mr. Seneviratne who is the one that lacks a conscience. He has let the party down on numerous occasions starting in 1992 with the attempt at impeaching President Ranasinghe Premadasa.
When General Sarath Fonseka was emerging as the common candidate of the opposition for the presidential election, Mr. Seneviratne went around claiming credit for bringing the General forward. He was one of the staunchest proponents during the campaign. As soon as the results were announced, he voluntarily issued a statement to the CID which was detrimental to the General. He is one of the key witnesses in the ongoing court martial proceedings.
Mr. Seneviratne, given your track record, what right do you have to question the scruples of any other?
A.J.M. Muzammil,
Colombo 3 |
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