“There Will Be An Executive Prime Minister And Ceremonial President”

Lakshman Kiriella

By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema

In the event the UNF wins the next presidential election UNP Media Unit Head and Parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella insists the Executive Presidency will be abolished and Sri Lanka will revert to an Executive Prime Minister with the President merely serving a ceremonial role.  According to Kiriella, with General Sarath Fonseka as the common candidate supported by the UNF and other opposition political parties has created a golden opportunity for the country to defeat the present Rajapaksa administration.
Excerpts:

Q: Is General Sarath Fonseka to be the common candidate at the next presidential election?

A: All the parties of the Alliance are seriously discussing the situation. The progress so far is very satisfactory. In all probability he would be the common candidate at the next presidential election.

Q: How does the UNF plan to campaign for General Fonseka at the election?

A: The UNF is a group of parties belonging to all communities. This is the spirit of the UNF. The main party of the UNF, the UNP, belongs to all communities. The main aim is to bring reconciliation to Sri Lanka. Although terrorism was crushed, it is only a political solution that could address the issue of separatism. So far there has been no political solution that would enable all communities to live freely. The Tamils have lived in this country for thousands of years and the Muslims and Burghers have lived for hundreds of years. All these communities have the right to live freely in this country with dignity. A Sri Lankan identity needs to be built. The country could prosper only in such a backdrop. The role of Mahinda Rajapaksa in the country is clearly over as Sri Lanka now needs to focus on reconciliation, reconstruction and economic development.

Q: Have the minority parties agreed to support the candidature of General Fonseka as the common candidate?

A: Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe recently in an interview with a Tamil newspaper said that a discussion would have to be held with the TNA. A discussion also needs to be initiated to discuss priority issues like lifting the state of emergency and resettling the IDPs. There are no great obstacles. All parties in the UNF agree that the minority grievances have not been resolved by respective governments since 1948. Therefore, the UNF is ideal to take off and resolve these issues. The JVP is now poised to support a common candidate. The JVP too has realised that reconciliation is important.

Q: How does the UNF plan to garner the support of the minorities if General Fonseka contests as the common candidate given the extremist and racial sentiments expressed by him during and after the war?

A: In my opinion, his role is  now different. It was the government that declared war, not the army. The army carried out the orders to wage a war. General Fonseka is no longer in the army. It is now a peacetime role and he has the support of the UNF.

Q: Will Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe also run in the event a presidential election is declared?

A: Such a decision would have to be taken collectively. It is not only up to the Alliance, but it has to be discussed with the JVP as well.

Q: What role if any would former Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva play at the next election?

A: I really don’t know. I have not had any dealings with him.

Q: In the event the UNF wins the next election what position will be assigned to General Sarath Fonseka? And what position will Ranil Wickremesinghe hold?

A: Ranil Wickremesinghe has clearly stated that he would not object to General  Fonseka contesting as the presidential candidate. He has also stated that he would be appointed as the prime minister of the caretaker government that would be appointed subsequent to the presidential poll. I feel that is the proper method and there is no confusion about it.

Q: Is General Sarath Fonseka committed to abolishing the Executive Presidency?

A: Candidates  may have their personal views when they come in. However, he then has to reach a consensus with the parties supporting him. We have to agree on a programme. When a candidate is politically supported by parties with diverse views, he has to reach middle ground. All parties have now agreed to the need to abolish the Executive Presidency. The UNP, which introduced the Executive Presidency, is for abolishing the post. Abolishing the Executive Presidency has been a key battle for the JVP for years. They even signed an agreement with Mahinda Rajapaksa to abolish it. Therefore, everyone is now supportive of abolishing the Executive Presidency.

Q: If indeed that happens what exactly will be the General’s position in a parliamentary system of government?

A: There will be an Executive Prime Minister and  the Presidency will revert to a ceremonial role. However, things have to be worked out. Everyone will have to compromise as no single individual can have everything.

Q: How convinced are you that the UNP has indeed acted in the best interest of the country in putting forward General Sarath Fonseka as its candidate for an upcoming presidential election?

A: It is  always the situation in the country that creates a leader. A lot of people want to topple the government and they want a change. People have understood that this government cannot improve the economy. Even a lot of SLFPers are disgruntled with the current family bandyism. It has in fact created a lot of ripples in the SLFP. Although many leaders have got their family members involved in their official work it has never been like at present. No leader has ever brought in family members into government like the present administration.

Q: How confident are you that the UNP together with its other alliance partners if elected to office can work together and constructively towards the betterment of this nation with Sarath Fonseka at its helm?

A: It is a team effort. General Sarath Fonseka has the support of the Sinhala Buddhists and Ranil Wickremesinghe has the support of the Western countries. Everyone has strong and weak points and we have to work together for the betterment of the country. The strength of the UNP has been its ability to bring in economic stability simply with its ability to work with the international community. Given the strengths of everyone, the country is definitely in for good times with the strength of all opposition parties.

Q: Does not the fact that General Sarath Fonseka was chosen as the common candidate project how bankrupt the UNP and its alliance partners are for leaders who could dislodge the Rajapaksas?

A: All this is the result of disunity in the party for the past four to five years. We are responsible for the present situation. If there had been unity within the party since 2005, we could have portrayed a strong image. Disunity has been the main obstacle for the UNP. I always said if everyone spent time fighting against Mahinda instead of each other, things would have been far different. If there was unity things could have been different.

Q: The policies spelt out thus far by General Fonseka in solving some of the complex issues facing Sri Lanka today lack clarity, whether they be of the economy, unemployment, protection of human and democratic rights, bribery and corruption, abolishing the executive presidency etc.  Despite the alleged support for his candidature by many parties, any discussion or clarification on any of these issues is yet to see the light of day.

A: The UNF has released a policy document and everything will be based on this document. There maybe some modifications along the way, but the basic policies would remain the same as stated by the UNF.