Ranil Given Ultimatum
- 25 UNP MPs threaten to sit as Independents in Parliament
By Faraz Shauketaly
25 United National Party Members of Parliament including Sajith Premadasa, Thalatha Athukorala and Dayasiri Jayasekera have told the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe that they will all sit as an independent group in Parliament if proposed party reforms are not addressed immediately. Ms Athukorala told The Sunday Leader that a final decision will be taken after the UNP Parliamentary Group meeting is held.
Earlier in the week, on Tuesday (7th) 28 UNP parliamentarians signed a petition addressed to their leader demanding that he convene a special meeting of the Parliamentary Group to discuss amongst other issues, the reaction to the 18th Amendment. Wickremesinghe had rudely brushed aside the written and signed request which was presented to him by Kabir Hashim and Ms. Athukorala. A week ago at the Working Committee meeting of the party, Hashim had wanted the UNP Leader to issue a statement stating that President Rajapaksa had indeed “hoodwinked” the UNP at discussions on amendments to the constitution. Wickremesinghe had taken issue saying he disagreed with those words.
Sajith Premadasa who had been cheered on Tuesday (7th) by the relatively small crowd – of some 1,000 who had turned up to protest the 18th Amendment – speaking exclusively to The Sunday Leader said that this latest turn of events is a “direct result of inaction from the party leadership” on implementing the proposed reforms.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, twice Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, had his own rather inimitable manner in dealing with The Sunday Leader. When phoned to ask for his reaction to the news of an independent group being formed by UNP MPs, he hung up not once but nine times in succession after being told that it was The Sunday Leader on the telephone.
In the event that the 25 MPs do sit as an Independent Group, Wickremesinghe will cease to be Leader of the Opposition. Ms. Athukorala hoped that it would not amount to this and that Wickremesinghe would see and feel the frustration of party reforms not being implemented. Premadasa confirmed that if everyone else also decides to sit as a Group he too will join them. The Party’s Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya said that he was not aware of the demands made public by Dayasiri Jayasekera formally but acknowledged that proactive action on educating the public on the full ramifications of the 18 th Amendment was not done because the party had been weakened as there was a lack of unity.
RW cannot ignore certain important requests from important members in the party. Its not good for the party or himself. Collective decision must be taken and keep all members intact is important at this juncture (ones the party is strong he can weed out the weak links).
As the main opposition UNP must take all necessary actions and act firmly against the government for its unilateral motions in the name of development. At the same time if the government is doing something good UNP must support it without opposing just for the sake of opposing.
many people in the country (not the hoodwinked supporters) right now are confused and skeptical of both the Govt & as well the the Opposition as we dont know where actually we are heading towards.
Hussein, How are you pal? Ranil can not ignore but he will. The mainstream UNP will not lose support of its funders or the hardcore base and Ranil knows this well. As does all his clan. The rebels need to understand two things: one, the UNP is riding on a trough of a wave while the government having defeated bloody terror gang, is on the crest. Second is, these wave patterns don’t last. In 1956, the UNP were reduced to 8 and in 1970, to 17. But they bounced back. The rebels are not in such a great position to bargain. Most people in the rebel group will eventually join either the government or the Ranil group. Look what happened to Lalith group, despite them enjoying a majority in the impeachment against Premadasa a few months previously! MR will not rule forever either. When Bill Clinton was still popular, Al Gore couldn’t capitalise on Clinton’s popularity. Politics may be different in its shape and climate but the art of politics is the same everywhere. So the rebels..be warned, you are endangering a political future of somebody who is keen on leading the party in the name of Sajith!
Hello Ruwan, Thanks mate, I was away for few days.
Agree with your views. However much you are popular, there is an end and things can change dramatically in no time.
Good eg. Al Gore! Charismatic WJ Clinton left a huge vacuum when he left the office but Al Gore could not fill it with so the Democrates lost.
I dont know if i am right but personally I reckon that Sajith is YET not ready to lead the party, although some UNPers think otherwise.
Hussein, Good to have you back! You know this politics is a funny game, you never could say whether somebody is up to a challenge or not! MR became the youngest MP in 1970, but even in 1994, he wasn’t the chosen man for even the PM post. . MR became the party leader only in 2005 when he was 60. Ranil also entred the parliament at a similar age to MR when the latter entered. But in 1994,Ranil became the party leader, when he was 45. Sajith was elected first in 2000, when he was 33. Now he is 43 and he has the best educational qualifications of all the leaders. He enjoys the respect of majority in his party and he is not as stupid as some of his colleagues in his party. HE is intelligent and loyal. He respected the party position, so kept away from criticising the war efforts of the government but inside he supported it. I am sure he is more than ready to be te leader of the party. But that is not my question, My question is, why can’t they find a better loeader who could do something different? does it have to be Sajith?
Ruwan, Lets assume that Sajith is the best choice – No one else is coming to my mind other than Sajith right now. If so with all the backing that Sajith enjoys in the party why cannot he replace RW? Either Ranil is very strong or others are too weak! Its clear that MR is protecting RW for some reason or the other. There appear to be fractions in the party so whats the remedy? With all these hassels and chaos, as there is no other threats (JVP is not so active) MR is enjoying as his path is clear may introduce more amendments, which is not healthy at all. MR will play havoc as JR did.
Hussein, In 1982, the SLFP was in total disarray. The party was divided right in the middle with the faction led by Anura B and Maithreepala the second in command in the party, were supporting JR of the UNP obviously. Sirimavo’s civic rights were suspended and she managed to give her cousin Kobbekaduwa the party nomination for the presidential election. It was never in question that JR was in for an easy run. Sirimavo never wanted to leave the party leadership (sounds familiar???), in fact it was robbed from her when CBK appeared from nowhere in 1994. The leadership for Anura B was just there, he only had to wear it; but he couldn’t with his rebellious attitude. One could say, the party would never have survived had Sirimavo not stayed as the leader. I might say, she should have given up after 1977. But you never know what would have happened in the history, politics is funny. Today the UNP and Ranil are in an identical position to the SLFP in 1980’s. Sajith and Karu J are like Anura B and Maithreepala S respectively. With JR’s economic (though chaotic) development, SLFP were a forgotten party in 1980s and similarly with MR’s war victory, UNP today is in a similar position. When parties are in the opposition, the targets get missed and the problems happen. You may call it mid life crisis. So like Anura B, Sajith might end up in oblivion if he is not careful. Although Sajith sounds much more intelligent than Anura B, they both had foreign education and they both enjoyed a massive party support.
Hi Ruwan,
Your posting has already got both the question and answer.You are
saying Sajith has manythings that a leader is demanded of.Anybody else you got in your mind? You see Ruwan,in the present climate,all you need is wide acceptance for various various reasons other than
purely politics.Look at Paba just for a sec.An artist who can not shy in
front of cameras,especially a popular one.On the stage,facing the public
she failed to produce at least a couple of her own lines and people wanted her as their rep.Win or lose,Sajith is matching MR in every aspect.
Muzammil,
Yes that’s the point. Sajith is very determined like JR and his dad and he looks like he could do something. The problem is, the party ;leadership don’t always have to go from the father to the son. I am sure there are others who could lead the party better.
Well Ruwan,
It’s like agree and disagree.I choose Sajith not because he’s the son of
Premadasa.Sajith has got what it takes.There’s a crying need for a change in the party leadership.The tactics employed by MR,includes
regionalism as a huge shield and which I believe Sajith can counter
from the birth place of the Hero.He’s got his head sharpened in a world
sought after institute for that subject.He should be given enough time to
train,test and practice before the jump.He understands where his father
slipped.We could have tried another one,if Ranil was generous long ago.Now it’s too late.No more waste of time.Bet on a winnable horse at
the right time.On the other hand,father son game is a popular tradition
in our paradise!Don’t deprive him of his turn Ruwan.Not vulnerable to
enemy charges of corruption and character damage.
It will make very little difference whether Sajith takes over or anyone else take over. Because the biggest blunder the UNP did was to ridicule the war efforts of the govt. and the armed forces. The grass root levels who sent their family members to fight the war will never forget this. The UNP during the war supported terror backers to get their votes. They were more with the Western block than with the people of Sri Lanka. If Ranil can hang on as Life Time Leader of the party , why not the President run for a third term?
Refering to the Political History of SriLanka during the past 10 years the UNP couldn’t win even the LEADERSHIP of MAHA BRAHMA. That was the TIME FACTOR in Politics. For an example the JVP helped MR during the 2005 Presidential Election knowing all the consequences. So Ranil is not a culprit in ths particular situation but all the TEAM PLAYERS must get the responsibility.
As long as they don’t join the government, this is the best thing that can happen to the UNP. Ranil has to go, for the sake f the UNP, for the sake of the country, and for the sake of democracy. With his greed for power, he has humbled a once powerful and proud UNP in to impotency.
I also have a vague suspicion that Ranil’s toadying up to MR could be due to an ulterior reason. We know that he has misappropriated funds that cam from abroad for the UNP. (The Sunday Leader ran a story on this a few months ago.) Could he have been bought by MR?
Sajith, if you would have not taken this decision, everyone in Sri Lanka will blame you for not taking the correct decision at the correct time as you are the only hope we have in the future, despite of the political party you represent. See how people blame Ranil now after introducing the 18th Amendment by the government as he did not do anything to prevent it.
A fool could oppose to the 18th ammendment. Please refer to the court order. MR had 2/3 majority and court approval. Then blaming Ranil is a wastage of time.MR should be blamed instead of Ranil. Otherwise Sajith’s speeches in propaganda meetings during the 2005 presidential elections broke vast amount of floating votes to the UNP. Don’t forget that the JVP, Mangala and Sripathi triangle played the major role to bring MR to the power.
Bootlickers of politicians will support or oppose for such bills on either political grounds or through misunderstanding, clearly you are in one of the groups. Every single person in SL should have opposed the 18-A, it paves the way to dictatorship, may be not with MR but decent folk get their heads screwed up with unlimited power. Idi Amin was a good example.
Don’t forget that JR changed the constitution 16 times with 50% popular vote against 30% SLFP, while Mahinda did it once so far with 60% popular vote against UNP’s 30% or so.
Yes 60% ….but only 45% of the entire nation vote for the election!!
In 1977 election 82% of the entire nation vote…..Key word is President JR
was not a corrupted person to buy votes or buy Minsters using SL peoples money!
USA is Absolutely right.
So called clear mandate was from less than 50% (Its apparent that the other 50+% were anti-MR plus the votes that oppositions got). In spite of that greedy disloyal MPs have been bought over by the govt with peoples money.
Paba screw (UNP) and we pay. What a tragidy!
Ranil’s arrogance will be his downfall. The Premadasa, Athulathmudali, Dissanayake episode cannot be equated to the present idiotic scenario.
Ranil and Premadasa episodes are just the two sides of a same coin. Premadas, prorogued the parliament, bribed MPs who impeached him, got charltons from India to bless him and the parliament and what not! He did everything possible to defeat the plan. Ranil is no different. He will do whatever it takes to stay put.
Ruwan, Lets assume that Sajith is the best choice,No one else is coming to my mind other than Sajith right now. If so with all the backing that Sajith enjoys in the party why cannot he replace RW? Either Ranil is very strong or others are too weak! Its clear that MR is protecting RW for some reason or the other. There appear to be fractions in the party so whats the remedy? With all these hassels and chaos, as there is no other threats (JVP is not so active) MR is enjoying as his path is clear may introduce more amendments, which is not healthy at all. MR would play havoc as JR did in the past.
The most important thing for the UNP is that it MUST have a change in leadership.At this frustrating and hopeless time, Ranil who has lost 16 elections should havebeen booted out many times over…
Irrespective of the new leader is to be, Sajith or otherwise,the leadership change must take place to then build from there.
If not, the UNP is heading for a crash.
RANIL…why don’t you see the clear message and step down..You have failed miserably as the UNP party leader..the party is in shambles….and unless there is a change, we don’t have a chance of providing a strong opposition to this Undemocratic and very corrupt Govt.
Ranil..Pls step down..Please
Well here’s the outcome:
1.RW convenes his stooges and tells them that he still wants to be the Leader of the UNP at any cost.
2. He releases a statement saying new reforms will be implemented.
3. Appoints a committee comprising of his stooges
4. Procrastinates and offers crumbs to the agitators like Sajith to keep them quiet.
5. RW returns to his shell and waits for the next uprising.
6. Meanwhile MR buys a few more UNPers and keeps laughing
Not only Ranil, but also the old guard of the UNP & Colombo elite including the Sunday Leader who protected Ranil’s weak and unpatriotic leadership are responsible for the present crisis. This unfortunate situation has resulted a in a weak opposition and given a free hand to the government to do as they wish resulting in episodes such as the Mervyn Silva’s antics.
All these people should all resign from the UNP in shame and allow genuine members to appoint a charismatic people friendly leader.
Sure, this man RW has bricks in his head. When the party members (other than his humbug stooges) and the vast majority of UNPeers dont want to see his face anymore and after losing around 20 elections if this man does not get the message that he is not wanted anymore, he has to be an absolute moron and hellbend on power & greed. For heavens sake please leave and leave now, and let others resurrect the party as you have been an absolute failure. We dont need anymore reforms and commitees, the writing is on the wall, resign gracefully like other cultured people do. But please do not let Karu J take over the leadership as he has been a monkey – jumping from side to side, and who at a crucial time helped MR to be what he is today.
I am a die hard UNP er. Finally sanity has prevailed in the party. This bloody serial losser , the buffoon , should be kicked out with immediate effect if this party were to be any sort of formidable opposition leave alone coming to power. This buffoon not only performed badly under the Rajapakse regime but so did he under CBK’s regime. UNP won the general elections in early 2000′s only because of CBK’s madness and able bodied people in the then UNP like SB, Rajitha, Sajith and others who worked very hard for that victory, Whenever the buffoon came on TV or ever opened his mouth in public it was a few steps backwards for the then UNP campaign but the other party seniors had to cover up for this buffoons utterances. Lets get rid of this serial looser who has been one of the worst UNP leaders since its inception.To make things worse this idiot has no insight into his incompetence and impotence. The present UNP as an opposition is worse than Sirimavo’s SLFP which had only 8 seats in parliment when they lost in 1977. He is what Anura B was once to the SLFP.
“you have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go![4]” – Leo amery MP To Neville chamberlain
Hi Mr.Ranil Wickramasinghe
You know what is happening around the world now.You can get a very good example from Australia.Kevin Rudd was removed from the position overnight due to his unpopularity.But he is a very capable person.You are also a capable person but unpopular
Please let the members to select their leader.That will be the win win situation
Other vice you will loose
Good luck to you and UNP
Lambert
Ranil, every body say that u a gentleman. Pl step down to prove it. U r afaraid only of Chandrika. She took away u PM post and u went home like a coward. Now u show that u r a very tough guy. Whole of Sri Lanka got to know taht u r a homo. Do u think our village crowd would cast thier vote.
The brand name “Ranil” has been irrecoverably damaged in political sense and by association it damages the “UNP” brand name too. Ranil and his close associates hang on to the leadership at any cost due to their own selfish reasons. If Ranil hangs on to power as there is no other person good enough to pass the batton, then Ranil should take the responsibility for that too as he has not developed any succession plan. After loosing so many elections he cannot keep telling that elections wereall rigged.
Ranil, the entire country(except few) wants you to step down. Please do that if you love our country. if not you will go down in the histry as the worst politicien we ever had. I hope you do not want that title as you are better than that.
Oh I see the chap who screams around hambantota like a drunken sailer wants the job? May god save Lanka, like the father like the son.
Psycho, you paranoid about Sajith, arnt you mate?
One should not insult former Aussie PM Kevin Rudd by comparing him with a looser like Ranil. Kevin Rudd led Australia through the GFC when other developed countries were reeling from it. Australia emerged virtually unscathed with impressive growth rates in the following years. Rudd was kicked out because the Labor Party lost faith in him after just 3 mess ups; The ETA, Home Insulation Fires and the Super Tax on the Mining Industry. (The Aussie mining Industry is a Trillion Dollar industry with a powerful lobby in Canberra)
Ranil on the other hand is a born looser. He has messed up the UNP ever since he took over the Party. Ranil’s second name is LOOSER. He thinks like a looser and acts like one.
What do you mean by looser? Last time i checked the word loose was associated with tightness. Or did you meant loser? Which is about not winning…
The good work will be appreciated by the people. MR should prepare an Economic Action Plan with the Economists of the country. The wastages should be eliminated(such as Provincial Councils) and find finantial resources from the savings. The MEGA projects should be funded through these savings. The tax burdon of the population must be eliminated. If he could do those things honestly and transparently he will be selected to the office of the president once again through free and fare elections.
So blaming Ranil and his leadership in the UNP is a useless thing(my personal view) at this moment. If MR is doing wrong the Natural Forces(subjective factors) will take command to eliminate any kind of tyrany. the political history of the world has enough examples on this topic.
Collin i dont think Australia was saved due to Kevin Rudds management. The Australian economy was quite strong to start with and the GFC lasted only 18 months or so. Any measures put forward by Kevin would not have had sufficient time to be effective because the GFC was so fleeting. However a serial looser like Ranil W cannot be compared to a dork like Kevin Rudd.
A strong opposition is a must to a vibrant democracy to keep the government of the day accountable. That is part and parcel of democracy. That’s why it is very important to have a good leader who can articulate well to the common man at the helm of the biggest opposition party, UNP. Ranil is a seriel looser who lost the confidence of people of Srilanka and also many of UNPs parlimentarians. UNP cannot go lower than this and any other UNP leader can do better than him. I cannot understand on what grounds he hangs on to this “leadership”. If he thinks that there is no better person to pass the batton he should get the blame for not developing a succession plan in spite of so many electoral disasters. Can UNP fans still support this man?
For the sake of mother lanka and UNP please step down Ranil. Otherwise history will judge you as one of the worst traitors of the country for supporting to erode the democracy of the country.
/
BLAMING RANIL WILL NOT DO. ALL THOSE UNP’ERS WHO CROSSED OVER ARE TRAITORS.
IF THEY HAVE A DAMN CONSCIENCE (I DOUBT THEY HAVE),THEY SHOULD RESIGN AND CONTEST ON THE MAHINDA CHINTHANAYA.
THESE BUGGERS ALL HAVE CROSSED OVER FOR THE MILLIONS GIVEN TO THEM TO CROSS OVER, AND OF COURSE THE MILLIONS THAY CAN MAKE.
THE LATEST ARE THE SLMC AND THE OLD CROOK ABDUL CADER.
Of all those who comment here, only SL3D has a valid sense of reality.
UNP is like a sinking ship because the captain has not heeded the storm warnings. Some of his crew are rowing in one direction while the others are rowing in the opposite direction. Some have abandoned ship and escaped in the life rafts to the opposite side where it is safer. Now the captain just wants to sit and relax and listen to the band playing the last waltz. Bon voyage ss “UNP”!
This selfish dog Ranil should be skinned. For the past 16 years this joker has destoyed the party. But he still wants to continue this joke. Ranil is really working for MR. Anyone who supports this “kalakaniya” is doing a contract for MR and his family.
I think they got you duped. Like someone else quoted’ either Ranil is stronger than the others or everyone else is weak”. I think MR would be happy to see ranil go. You sound jealous and angry but you don’t seem to understand whats going.
Ranil today is like what Anura B was once to the SLFP,,a LIABILITY!!!at least CBK was able to get rid of him when he joined his one time school mate in the UNP,, this baffoon Ranil,, this paved the way for the SLFP under CBK to come back to power end the 18 yr UNP rule,,, we have a very similar situation in the UNP,,,,the difference this time is I guess no political party with a sound mind would want to take this Kalanniya, the serial looser!!!
Poda Ranil- Poda ………………….(RW)
It is about this man Ranil stepped down with dignity. He is a wimp and no match to the likes of the president who will be in office for as long as the people vote for him The. opposition needs a man with a proper family of his own and children for posterity. He has none so how can he possibly care about the future if this country.
Have you read any of the policies written by this wimp? I guess everyone prefers a loud idiot who can shout instead of a nerdy wimp. I think the biggest problem we face is due to the fact that our current president has too much family. There are lots of world leaders who don’t have children. From my experience it can really mess with your work and decisions. Your last sentence doesn’t make any sense at all. So if one has no ‘children for posterity’ there is no way he/she can possibly care about the future of the country? How does that even work? Ranil might be messing up the UNP but foolish people like you make me cry.
I don’t think any dignity left for Ranil to leave with it. It is already gone with the wind.
I wonder whether he is even wearing any cloths these days. I don’t see any need for that too. Having this problem in the party, Tissa says president’s party is fast losing popularity! Does he think that UNP is hot favourite among the voters now?
I am tickled to laugh. Some times these people really don’t know what they are talking about. I don’t know how many more people are laughing behind Tissa’a back. I an sure the entire Sri Lankans, including the UNPers! I can hear the loud laughter!
Can you hear all the loud crying and moaning behind the president’s back?
Ranil / Sajith I really cannot see either of these two uniting a deeply fractured party. I really do not think either of these two are suitable for the post of UNP leader. In my opinion the leadership should be temporarily be given to either Karu or Rukman on a caretaker basis until the issues within the party are sorted out and unity is established. After this reform proposals could be discussed within the party at all levels and a new party constitution formulated and ratified at a party convention where all stakeholders are given a chance to vote and elect members to ALL posts within the party.
This should be done in a specified time frame of not more than 6 months so there is ample time before the next major election where the party can be well
prepared to face it.
I know most of you people above would howl in protest and want to stone me to death for these suggestions but none of you are suggesting a way out of this
quagmire in the UNP which is inly making a despot stronger.
Why I say Sajith is not yet ready for a leadership role is :
1. Sajith does not confront issues but uses others to stir the pot.
2. Look at the issues brought up by Sajith in Parliament, all aer issues in his electorate at Hambantota. If he is aspiring for the leadership of a national party the his concern should be more on National issues.
3. Being the son of R. Premadasa does not give him the right to claim leadership of the UNP but it should be earned by leading with example and showing true leadership qualities.
Ranil’s record speaks for itself and I need not go into the pro’s and con’s of his leadership BUT he is an asset for the UNP to play the same role played by Sonia Ghandhi is to provide the advisory role.
Lets hope these people have the qualities to do what is best by the people of this country.
Karu jumped the ship to join hands with the government while he was the Deputy Leader. Nobody will trust him. Rukman has shown again and again he is only a grandson of a leader, not a leader himself. He formed a party and performed very badly. Ranil might find a better solution if he sticks to his guns for another while.
RW has to go, make Sajith UNP leader and make GSF opposition leader until Sajith fine tuned.
RANIL IS A REAL UNP MAN,HE NEVER CROSED TO OTHER PARTIES FOR PERSONEL BENEFITS.HE STAYED WITH UNP FOR GOOD TIMES AND FOR BAD TIMES.HELP HIM WHEN HE NEED,ENCOURAGE HIM TO SERVE LANKA AND PARTY FUTHER WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.HE IS A GOOD MAN.
GET RID OF THE JUMPERS,KARU ETC..,THEY ARE FOR PERSONEL GAINS ONLY.SUPORT ALL QUALIFIED UNP MEN AND WEMEN,RANIL,RAVI,SAJITH,ALL ARE GOOD MEN.
WILLOWS IS RIGHT————— RANIL PODA PODA PODA PODA PODA PODA POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODA POOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOODA
Ranil Wickremesinghe is a totaly people rejected leader who MUSt STEP DOWN from the UNP leadership. His absence will make the UNP BLOOM SO MR W STEP DOWN FROM THIS GLOOM AND LET THE UNP BLOOM YOUR DESTIN Y IS POLITICAL OBLIVION, AFTERALL YOU TRIED TO DO THIS TO A VIBRAN GAMANI DISSANAYAKE SO GET LOST