UNP decision making in the hands of a few Bhikkhus: Senior UNP advisors threaten to resign

(Lanka-e-News-29.Oct.2013, 3.00PM) The UNP is faced with an issue since its seniors have threatened to resign if the party’s powers are to be delegated to one Bhikkhu organization. The seniors point out that the United national party (UNP) was founded by Late D S Senanayake with a view to taking decisions with the participation of all races . 

Senior UNPer and Hambantota district working committee advisor Sarath Abeysinghe had communicated in a letter addressed to the UNP gen. secretary Tissa Attanayake that he would resign from the Party if the powers to appoint a UNP committee entrusted with party powers are to be vested in 4-5 monks .

Abeysinghe had questioned , while the Executive committee comprised of 94 members should take decisions, how can that be vested in a few who are put on the pedestal by the media ? He had stated in the letter that the UNP is a party that belongs to all races , and therefore he is averse to the powers to take decisions being vested in the hands of a few bhikkhus .Consequently , he has no need to be a member of a company which abides by decisions taken by a few monks. In the letter sent to the UNP Secretary , he has stated thus :

The Hon. Leader and those responsible have agreed to the 8 point proposal of the Bhikkhu Organization .( I do not so far know whether that is true .) . Among those 8 proposals , my attention had been drawn to 2 main proposals which I oppose . In the circumstances I am thoroughly disillusioned.

Those two proposals are as follows :

The transfer of all powers of the Executive Committee to the proposed Council to be appointed which shall take all decisions.

So far two Bhikkhus have been named for this council by the Bhikkhu Organization , and the remaining members are to be appointed by them.

In other words , all the party powers are to be vested in the proposed council , and the powers to appoint the council are with the Bhikkhu organization.


The UNP was founded by D S Senanayake so that all races could be to together , and take decisions together. He was able to win freedom for the country because he united all races and completely defeated the forces for the 50-50 division. Our party should hence unite all races , Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Burgher and must take decisions in the future which serve all religions.

I am therefore informing that I do not want to be a member of a company of a few Bhikkhus that takes decisions on behalf of the UNP which is a party belonging to all races .

Ranil Tells Sirima In 1992: Leaders Who Lose Elections Must Go

October 29, 2013

UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe who is now embroiled in a bitter struggle to retain his position with the party, derided SLFP Leader and former Prime Minister Sirima Bandaranaike for refusing to quit her party leadership despite losing successive elections.

Ranil

Speaking in Parliament in 1992, Wickremesinghe said the most important thing about the Westminster system is that when a leader loses, that leader should step down and a new leader should take over.

Given the UNP’s crisis following a series of election defeats since 1994 Wickremesinghe’s words seem prophetic. It is often said that the Wickremesinghe-led opposition is the best thing the Rajapaksa Government can ask for.

“Hon Deputy Speaker, we cannot wish for a better Opposition than the Opposition there is now. This is the best Opposition we can have. We like you, we want you to stay in this place. You cannot face up to the fact that the people do not want you and that you have been thrown into the dustbin,” Wickremesinghe further said.  “I will tell you that at the next elections you will lose, the elections after that you will lose and the election after that”. He continued: “You all cannot win. You want people from other parties.”

The following excerpts from his speech are from Hansard, columns 1045-1046.

“The Government has not run away. We have said here is the forum, go to the forum and prove the case. The opportunity is available….. But you are sorry because what you all (sic) what is some mud to throw because you cannot win the election. How can you win the election? You are talking of the Westminster system. The first thing is that when a leader loses the election, that leader should step down and a new leader should take over. Without doing that  do not go and blame this on black cats, white cats and other cats, tigers and the JVP. Firstly your leader has not resigned. In this period look at the (British) Labour Party. Mr Callaghan resigned. Mr Michael Foot resigned; Mr Neil Kinnock resigned. What has happened to the SLFP? That is the First, you must face the situation. Have a new leadership. Have a new set of policies. Then if you are beaten you can go into the matter. Hon Deputy Speaker, we cannot wish for a better Opposition than the Opposition there is now. This is the Best Opposition we can have. We like you, we want you to stay in this place. You cannot face up to the fact that the people do not want you and that you have been thrown into the dustbin.”