Cosmetic Changes At UNP
- Sajith Premadasa to be Deputy Leader
- Ravi Karunanayaka’s appointment stirs controversy
By Faraz Shauketaly
The United National Party’s Leadership crisis and Reforms appears to have been resolved. After 4 days of intense meetings the Seniors at the UNP have come up with a consensus on how best to move forward. The latest proposals which will be confirmed early next week, will see beleaguered UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe retain his post as party leader and Leader of the Opposition, Karu Jayasuriya is promoted to Senior Deputy Leader and Sajith Premadasa has been offered the position of Deputy Party Leader. Tissa Attanayaka retains his position as General Secretary.
The post of National Organiser has been offered to Ravi Karunanayake but that has immediately set off a howl of protests from supporters of Lakshman Seneviratne, Ranjith Madduma Bandara and Dayasiri Jayasekera.
All three claim that the position of National Organiser should be given to them as they are the most senior of the frontline members.
Sources from the party headquarters, Sri Kotha said that the offer of a position has been made to Sajith Premadasa who has promised to respond by Monday. Previously Mr Premadasa has been on record saying he would only be interested in a position if it was the subject of an election. Mr Premadasa was said to have had three one-to-one meetings with his party leader, whilst others including Ravi Karunanayake, Tissa Attanayaka, Gamini Jayawickrama Perera and Karu Jayasuriya were kept waiting in the Chairman’s office. A friend of Mr Premadasa who had asked him if he would accept such a position had been told that there was no way he would accept – saying that this was not what the reforms process had envisaged. Mr Premadasa had said that he was unwilling to be a partner in a process that was at odds at what the people wanted: real reform and not cosmetic change, with the ultimate aim being to rebuild the electability of the UNP and to ensure that the UNP would again start winning elections.
Sajith has to be careful. The public don’t always appreciate pushy wannabe leaders.Look what is happenning in Australia! The woman shoved the Rudd guy out and the people don’t quite like it. In Britain, Gordon Brown kicked Blair out but the people kicked him out. Even Gamini Dissanaike perhaps the master of this this kind of tactics, wasn’t appreciated by everybody.
You have no idea about UK.It was not only Brown who kicked Blair out.The whole country was fed up with Blair and Brown.As for a temporary change Brown took power without an election but people were waiting for one and then kicked the Labor Party out.
Pal, You are funny. Not that I am interested in a debate on UK politics , a lot of folk here knows these things but just writing a line because you seem to be seriously misunderstood or confused. You either are an amateur to politics like Paba or just dropping words. If the ‘whole country’ (That’s what you said!) was fed up with Blair and Brown, why did the Labour win that many seats? They lost the control of only 98 seats that they held in the previous parliament. Many disgruntled Labour supporters openly criticised Brown but still say, Labour would have won had they contested under a Blair leadership. Blair is such a charismatic leader, who won the election emphatically in 2005, despite the Iraq issue was so fresh and the protests were at its peak. Since the end of the 2001 election, Brown caused havoc within the party, almost openly demanding Blair to go, as the pair apparently had reached a ‘deal’ pre-1997. This was reported even in Sri Lankan newspapers, ask Faraz!. In the end Brown succeeded only in 2007, but half of Labour didn’t like the way he pushed Blair out. In the 2010 election, the immigration issue and the recession also cost Labour but the public never forgave Brown for what he did to Blair. In fact there was rumour that Blair was going to be back to lead the party again after Brown resigned recently, which wasn’t the case but such is the Labour support for Blair. During his three years as the Labour leader, Brown never had a good sleep, he was always under pressure to call a leadership election as the Blairite David Miliband kept constantly knocking on his door. That momentum meant, DM still is the front runner in the leadership battle of the Labour party. Despite his mistakes such as Iraq, Blair still is a very popular figure within Labour like John Smith.
Sajith…will be short lived in the UNP hierarchy. This guys ego will be his biggest obstacle. Also he has to go back to school and learn how to talk.
To be fair, he is one good speaker in Parliament. He speaks impressively fluent Sinhala unlike most others. (Not to underestimate his English, he went to school in UK and graduated from the prestigious London school of Economics as well). He hardly speak garbage unlike his Medawachchi-Kilinochchi colleagues. But he is floating on the shoulders of the anti-Ranil camp, which is dangerous. When the President opens up more cabinet posts, most of these anti-Ranil group will end up in the government , dropping Sajith on the floor. MOre importantly, people don’t always appreciate this kind of pushy politics. They like people with such patience like JR and MR, the guys who waited for the right time. Once they reached the top, didn’t they both (JR and MR) make most of it? Mainly because through their patience, they minimise the size of the opposing camp within their own party.
Sajit will be President of Sri Lanka for 2 terms for certain. Ranil has to make way for him accept the Senior Leader position. Sajit will be a unanimous leader.
Sajith is the best hope for Sri Lanka. As for going back to school … have you heard of his interviews with BBC? He is articulate, calm, and conducts himself with dignity.
Yes,Sajith has to be careful. But not because the public don’t always appreciate pushy wannabe leaders but because his fathers ghost is following him. And the public are still aware of the life of terror and fear during his time. ……..Beneath the facade, Sajith is showing signs. We had a taste last week with the case of the damaged vehicles . Just give him more power and its going to be like father, like son all over again.
This story has been denied by Sajit. See his facebook page for details. Be a fan of his…
.http://www.facebook.com/s.premadasa?v=app_10442206389#!/s.premadasa?v=wall
The bigger picture is that the UNP is in an absolute Mess.As a result, the present govt headed by MR is having a field day doing whatever and ruining the country..Without a strong and organised opposition, the country suffers.
The root cause of a weak opposition is a weak oppostion leader.
Ranil MUST go..his use by date is well over and is a spent force…go and retire with the boys..
Ranil is too weak and has NO leadership qualities.
Look at him and will you have any confidence for him to run your company leave alone a country.
Ponnayas and panzies must retire to the background and we all must realise that enough is enough.
As long as ‘Ponna Ranil’is the leader, the UNP will be in a mess and will NEVER win any election.
Ponna Ranil must go if the UNP is to be a force to be reckoned with.
He has no leadership qualities and the UNP is in this states because he just does not want to let go..He must be noble enough and step down for the betterment of the party and the country..He just does not have what it takes to be a leader..He never did.
The sad thing is that most of these are top leaders are not Buddhist, including Ranil, Sajith and Ravi
What is a point of being a buddist. In india a shiec person a prime ministor. in america a immigirants child is the president. leaders no need to be particular religion or race if they are citizens of sri lanka and have acceptable leadership qualities with popularity.
So whats the f*** is your problem. Now youre trying to start another war
You mean they are Hindus? ……Im confused….
Altho I know that Ravi has tamil blood.
If you say so what has happen to SL being a buddiest country, with murderers , son killing father, thugs , rape ins 6 year and 12 old girls, school principles beating children with crowbars, mothers putting kids in shit pits and rivers, killing innocent animals for money, mothers maintaining brothels NADIYA DO YOU READ THE NEWS PAPER UPSIDE DOWN, WHO ARE THE MOJORITY DOING ALL THESE CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES CHRISTIAN, MUSLIMS OR HINDUS DONT TALK OF YOUR HAT IT’S ALL THIS SO CALLED GOOD BUDDIEST AND SO CALLED BUDDAHA TEACHING OF MYTHRI, KARUNA MY DAMM FOOT. —SUK A LEMON!!!!
What are you talking about? You think that only Buddhist could be good leaders. You can be a Buddhist or a Christian , it doesn’t matter. You need to be a good human being inorder to become a good leader. Honesty and sincerity are key to good leadership. Any one can have these qualities of good leadership.
There were good murderers though – SWRD Sirimavo JR RP Bandit ‘brandy ‘Queen and now MR Gota. For you Ranil & Sajith arnt buddhists? Ok tell us where the belong to then? Your fist name and the last name both sound something else too.
Race and religion does not matter. What matters is capability, honesty and love for the country.
Anyway, Sajtih is a Buddhist, but even if he was not, or his mother tongue is not Sinhala it does not matter.
We should think of our similarities and not create divisions.
the country need strong opposition to deal with political monopoly. Ranil does not understanding common man mentality. Ravi K also same as Ranil. only difference personel outlook. Colombo 7 politics never going to be suitable for UNP or any other political party in SL. I beleive Sajith having an idea what to do with gaining power in future. Dayasiri will be the best choice of National organizer. We need strong party with strong leader and populer organizers.
The result will be no change in the UNP. UNP will sit in he opposition benches. I am floating voter. I gave my vote to Ranil several times except last time. But I will never vote for him agaian. He collects the votes from olombo Little from upcountry and amils in Northa nd some from east. All other areas dont give him anything. Beside no w every body knows that he is a HOMO and in our culture that along will loose many votes for him. He made several mistaks 1. peace pact with LTTE, neglecting the majority.3. Not given ennough recognition to Buddism.
Sorry I will have to hive my vote to MR again.
@Wije silva
What is wrong with homosexuals? They are more human than people like you and have more compassion for their fellow beings than you. Yours is a very funny culture.
RW is a good leader, but unfortunately he had missed all the buses and its high time to pack his bags. Consider that NO BODY will vote for UNP next time, if this is going to continue. Let the smart guys come to front line, and make the party better.
Ranil missed all the buses becos Ravi Hora misleaded him. Ranil was waitin for the Pamankade bus and Ravi told him they were going to Alimankada. So Ranil got frightened and didnt climb on board..
ranil w we can understand how blunder you are in peace pact with ltte when your former defence secertery reveled the some facts .so compare this present goverment achivement I Think you all have to support for development process in sri lanka.
A LEADER is very important in any event. Mr Ranil Wickramasinghe is a good person. But some how he has got a bad image from the majority of SriLankans. The impression from the public is very important for a political leader to get votes. As a leader you should use your intelligence to win hearts of the people. In this you may have to be tactfully ant tricky as sometimes although you are doing the right thing all are not intelligent to understand (the truthfulness, honesty and good). Now as a leader RW should understand the real situation at the moment. RW cannot give the victory to UNP because the image he has got from SriLankans. So if RW step down and be the adviser to the party he will do much good to UNP. Mr Sajith Premadas is the best for party leader. He has understood the mistakes done by his father who did so much to our dear Mother land. He has the courage and interest and he is capable of turning to a very good leader.
@Wije Silva study & make a research about DNA an its affiliated parties, including the Hansard, then decide whom to vote, not to MR to be a loser.
UNP doesn’t have to loose anything anymore under Ranil. So as Dayasiri says Why fear ?, give leadership to Sajith & let him show his colors, If he fails we can talk about it then. Ranil is honest but unfortunate. Final fact is to win a election in Sri Lanka is the fortune cause any election is not free & fair.
Manike, You are spot on. Only if everyone who loves this country can
understand this. Hope RW falls in to this category of people.
MR is incredibly exhibiting his mastery in everything he is doing.It’s very hard
not to appreciate how he controlls himself and confronts his opponents come
what may. UNP is one party MR is not worried about.The reverse must be the
case.Cosmetic changes have happened before and that didn’t take UNP anywhere.That means the result is going to be same again.I feel like Ranil is
running a recruitment agency for MR! Don’t be surprised to hear that even Sajith might, in the coming weeks consider to work with MR because the party
is becoming so frustrating,if this news report is correct.
Is that Howling Lakshman Seneviratne the same Lakshman Seneviratne who joined that deserter Jonhny F to sell the poor General down the river? God save the UNP!
To Ruwan Ferdinandez – The Aussie situation was complicated. Rudd was riding a wave of popularity when things like boat people (mainly SL Tamils), super tax on mining, ETA, and the home insulation debacle hit them very badly at the same time. Julia Gellard was pushed into that role by Labor power brokers.
Of course domestic issues place leaders in their due places. Anyway look, it is always the close confidantes or the brokers who execute plans but in the end, what the people see is the main actor, in Australian case Julia Gillard , as the one who pushed the other guy out. It doesn’t record in everybody’s good books. If Gamini Dissanaike Or Lalith wanted a leadership contest against Premadasa in 1988 as speculated by the media, the public would not have supported them. Some clever guys advised them not to do so, so everybody was a winner.
I think you are blurring the political picture in Sri lanka by bringing some unecessary points about the action of politicians in Australia and the UK. There is no parallel between the politicians between corrupt, inept, thieves and others engaged in politics in truly democratic societies. What we need is honest, ethical true representatives of every Sri lankan in the political system in Sri Lanka. On the otherhand, comment abot Gamini and Lalith are partially correct. The very same UNP Colombo establishment is hell bent on denying Sajith the opportunity to lead the grand old party through undemocratic actions within this great grand old party.
Thanks lot Mr.Muzammil and Mr.Yakolis for your comments.
UNPers don’t loose focus. The objective is replacement of Ranil W, and NOT the creation of the climate for a political match between Sajith P and Ravi K. This is a Malik S tactic, masterminded to keep the imbecile Ranil W at the helm.
sajith…dont accept anything other than leaders position.kick ranil and other idiot ravi out. unp will be in power again.
With these Royalists like Ranil, Ravi …. and now Mangala, the final nail to the UNP’s coffin has been driven.
SAJIT PLEASE WAIT UNTIL INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF YOURSELF YOU ARE A GOOD ORGANISER AND A POPULAR PERSONALITY NATIONALY AND NOT TO LEAD THE PARTY NOW WE KNOW RANIL IS WEAK NATIONALY SO HOW WE CAN SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?
Once again, Sajith is denied the opportunity to re-build the party destroyed by Ranil and his cohorts. The negative comments made in this forum about Sajith are ok, but they are driven by ill informed bunch of Ranil supporters in Colombo. No basis for their arguments, they need to go outside Colombo and meet the grass-root level UNP supporters. Hear what they say about the current leadership. The time has come for the UNP Hierarchy to make real changes, of course democratic, to the party leadership, if they want to defeat the Rajapaksa dynasty.
sp will lead sri lanka he will ascend to the highest office in approx 7 yars time he will be the youngest ever leader of this country and when he goes after 2 terms that is the prediction of a thai soothsayer watch this space! when sp gets to be lader of unp ravi k will join the government just in time to save his neck on the exchange control fraud so that means he will be free like he is so far on the roton vander fraud, the rajaratnam 3 million dollars, laliths wealth, kosalas 300,000 dollars and the list is so endless its simply is true..
This guy should be given a prominence place in the party. Premadasa lineage still lives in this country for some extent.
It sure still lives in the country…… remember the knock on the door at midnight?
You are talking about the JVP.
How long the UNP Hierarchy can deny the opportunity to Sajith. Every time they conduct the sort of undemocratic party actions, current leaders are putting a nail on the coffin of “DEAD UNP”. We need an effective opposition now in Sri Lanka to keep the excessess committed by the ruling party under check and control. The present UNP leadership has failed miserably, those who advocate and promote Ranil and his limited supporters have to think about the national interest and rally around a leader who can defeat the present undemocratic elements in the country.
Before I thought it is too early for you to take over the party leadership.But now I think it is somewhat ok to go ahead with your agenda.But as another website said, if you are having hidden agenda with MR to achive your goal ,definetely I would like to tell you onething,Ranil is better than you for the leadership.Dont be a traitor in one hand and you cannot be a hero in the otherhand.I still believe that you are the best bet for UNP leadership but you still have longway to go!
Mun okkoma horu! Man hitha gena hitiye Ranil Awankai kiyala.
Ranil Awanka Mai Habaee Oowa Rawatanney Alimankada-Pamnakada Kaarayamai.
Please God, dont give us another Premadasa … never ever. Not even in the opposition.
Hey guys, you may say anything about Ranil. That he is arrogant, authoritarive, weak, limp, asexual, bisexual, silly, foolish, lacks leadership qualities….. anything. anything. But one thing is certain. You can NEVER EVER say he is a corrupt Hora like the other politicians, past and present including the Bandit Queen whose only aim to be in power is to rob the country and suck it dry. At least that way, Ranil is clean. Absolutely clean.
This is not the right time for Sajith to be the leader. Why is that?
Strengths
• Sajith has the capacity to attract village voters.
Weaknesses
• Not mature enough to be the leader. There are lot of senior UNP figures are there.
• Sajith should get a MBA or another professional qualification.(this is to avoid Ravi K.critism). This will enable Sajith to get attract professional people in other parties.
Opportunities
• Very educated, attract, cleaned political figures are in the UNP ranks. These resources should manage carefully to gain maximum benefits.
Wijedasa Rajapaksha (PC), Srinath Perera (PC), Srilal Lakthilaka (Lawyer), Buddika Pathirana, Ranjan Ramanayake, Dayasiri Jayasekara, Dr. Harsha Perera, Ravi Karunanayake, Gayantha Karunathileke
Paba, Harin…..should not doing national politics. They must used to attract village voters.
Threats
• MR is the biggest threat for Sajith or any one. Therefore appropriate plan to counter attack MR should be used. If MR is in the presidential seat is better Sajith is not coming as opposition leader or UNP leader. If Sajith comes he will ruin his political career because of MR…….
• How extent Sajith can get support from Maha sangha in sri lanka. This is the reality in anywhere in the world. If somebody wants to be the leader of any country he should get support directly or indirectly from their main religion heads of the country. Can Buddhist or Muslim person can be the PM of USA, UK…
Ravi K as national organizer. That’s a good one. Only winner would be the Leader.