MR’s UPFA Becomes A Simmering Pot
Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
The governing UPFA, which has been a formidable force to reckon with in the local political scene in recent times, is now showing signs of cracks with die hard SLFPers threatening to rebel.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Co., after creating frictions in the opposition political parties since assuming office first in 2005, is now facing similar issues closer to home. By initiating defections in opposition political parties, the governing UPFA built its strength.
The cracks in the governing party that were simmering within for some time are now coming out in the open in various forms.
From internal protests, to strong worded statements by senior SLFPers and acting against the dictates of the party seniors, the governing party is showing signs of an internal rebellion.
The SLFP, which forms the main constituent party of the UPFA, has been rife with issues since the ascension of the Rajapaksas.
The first step by Rajapaksa was to sideline former President and SLFP President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge in 2006 by taking over the party leadership and limiting Kumaratunge’s power to that of an advisor to the party. Kumaratunge was eventually completely sidelined from party matters.
The rest of the SLFP seniors were also sidelined in the years that followed and the process continues.
The associations affiliated to the SLFP like the youth wing and trade unions have also been hit with the Rajapaksas trying to create their own fiefdoms within these bodies.
Young MP Namal Rajapaksa was the first to step in and demobilize the SLFP youth wing by forming his own Nil Balakaya (Blue Force).
A disgruntled senior SLFPer said last week, “In the event the UPFA falls some day, there would not be an SLFP thanks to the Rajapaksas.” When inquired as to the reason for such a strong worded statement, the SLFPer said that all affiliated organizations of the party are now defunct and replaced by various movements initiated by members of the Rajapaksa family.
“All these bodies are based on individuals and are functioning on their glory, not at a party,” the SLFPer explained.
Given this explanation it is no surprise that the SLFP seniors are now running out of patience.
Powers and privileges in the governing party are now limited to few chosen people of the Rajapaksas, who are mostly defectors from opposition parties or persons accused of various nefarious activities.
The irony however, is that at a time when a joint opposition movement has launched a campaign under the slogan, “enough is enough!” (Ivasuwa ethi!), it is the governing party members who are in fact starting to rebel against the system.
