UNP: New chapter by a proven leader is the only way forward

By Vishvamithra

(April 21, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Whatever said and written or resolutions passed against RW and the undemocratic path followed by the party under RW a confirmed impotent man, who effectively destroyed the UNP, it is clear that he will not tender his resignation; probably, until he is forced out from the party leadership, this self-centred man would cling on to power.

Surely, there are new faces, dynamic and strong characters, in the party today. For instance, people like Wijedasa Rajapakse, MP, who has nothing to loose should have courage to take right initiative, in the interest of the party and the country, to take bold action to install true democracy within the party, perhaps with a revolt within the party launching against the draconian party bureaucracy and demanding to bring in a new party constitution that respect the will and opinion of the general membership of the party.
On this subject, there is a volume of information available in the public domain that would provide proper guidance to install a true Democratic Party Constitution. The constitutions adopted by the political parties in the UK, regarded as the mother of all democracy, set an example as to how to set up true democracy within a political party, which the party should adhered to if intend to move forward and not backward.

The party constitution of the Liberal Democrats [freely available in the public domain] clearly sets out as to how the party leader should be installed - Article 10 of the party constitution, which provides that the General members of the Party shall elect the party leader in accordance of the election rules made by the party. Whereas in the UNP and other major political parties in Sri Lanka, there is no such democratic process and the absolute power is devolved in the incumbent party leader, preventing evolution of true democracy in the political party system in Sri Lanka.

If there had been similar system in the party leader selection process in Sri Lanka, clearly RW would never have been able to grab the power in the party in the first place and it is extremely unlikely he would be elected to the office of the party leader by the general membership of the party. He would have been thrown out long time ago from the leadership with a vote of no confidence being passed by a majority of all elected members of the party in the Parliament - the process available in the UK political party system against an impotent leader [ref Article 10 e of the Lib Dem party constitution].

Similarly, MR who grabbed the leadership in the SLFP by force from CBK, threatening to breakaway from the party with some MPs loyal to him if not given the party leadership, would not have been the leader in the SLFP. In fact, the name of the then the then Foreign Minister Lukshman Kadirgamar was considered to be the leader and to contest the Presidential election after CBK.

In the interest of installing true democracy in the political party system in Sri Lanka, a noble and patriot should take the right initiative in the right direction on this burning issue. A man like Wijedasa Rajapakse, uncorrupted politicians popular amongst the people and the elected representative of the party, who has nothing to loose but so much to gain should have courage to put things right in the party that would have far reaching effects compelling other parties to follow the suit. All learned people and professional would undoubted would support any such move and lawyers society has already passed a clear resolution on this matter 100 for RW’s exit and only 3 against his removal from the leadership.