The appointment of Ranil as PM 

We continue our serial of  B. Sirisena Cooray's book
on President Premadasa - Premadasa And I - Our Story

When I went to see Mr. Wijetunga he reiterated this. I think he wanted to make sure of my support because he knew that I could have challenged him for the presidency since the majority of the UNP parliamentarians were with me. So I told him not to worry and that I would help him. Then he offered me the prime ministership. He said: "Siri, Ranil is the leader of the house. But the constitution is very clear that the person who commands the support of the majority of the parliamentarians should be the prime minster. I know they are all with you; that you are the most popular member of parliament. So I want you to be the PM." I said: "Sir, don't create a problem here. Let Ranil be the PM." He then said: "Siri, then you be the leader of the house." I said: "Wijepala Mendis is the chief whip; he is a very senior man; offer that to him." The President then raised his hands to his head in a gesture of worship and said: "Siri if there is a man I respect, it is you."

As I was coming out of the President's office after this meeting I met Ranil. I told him: "Ranil I am backing you to be the PM." He said: "I know you are always with me Siri." That was why in his acceptance speech on SLBC and Rupavahini he thanked me: "I also would like to convey a special word of thanks to Hon. Sirisena Cooray for his magnanimity in clearing the path for my appointment to this office."

I think I did the right thing in refusing that offer. I was not ready for leadership at that time. I must be confident that I can do a job before accepting it and given my emotional condition I did not have that confidence. And because of the enormity of my loss, I had lost interest in continuing in politics. Since I was not a senior parliamentarian, I think with my refusal I also diffused the situation. 

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At the first working committee after the provincial council election of 1993 I offered my resignation as  general secretary to President Wijetunga. My argument was that since the general secretary should work very closely with the party leader, he must be someone in whom the leader can have absolute and implicit trust. Mr. Premadasa and I had worked together for a very long time. He had complete confidence in me. That was why I managed to do a successful job. I had my doubts whether this could be so under the new leadership. When I said this, everyone started saying that I must stay on. President Wijetunga said: "I have implicit trust in you. Please don't leave."

By now I had decided not to contest the next election. Mr. Premadasa was the only reason I continued in politics. After he was gone I knew I was alone. Therefore I had little interest in continuing in politics. I agree that in making that decision I may have betrayed his trust in me because I know that he wanted me to continue in politics. That was why he handed his Colombo Central electorate to me.

One of the problems was that I was unhappy about the way things were moving. For example there was that speech President Wijetunga made soon after Mr. Premadasa's death about not having blood stained hands. I was in my office in  parliament when the Editor of the Sunday Observer, H. L. D.  Mahindapala came running and told me about this. He was furious and so was I. In making this speech the President took all of us by surprise. And he also went back on a promise he himself made to me. He had told me earlier when I promised to support him: "Siri I will not do anything without consulting you, Choksy and Ranil." In fact the three of us always used to go together to meet him. But as soon as he felt stabilised he started violating that undertaking.