Prez criticism of 100-day programme:Civil society sets the record straight

Wijenayake

By Shamindra Ferdinando-May 31, 2018 

General Secretary of United Left Front (ULF) Lal Wijenayake Wednesday (May 30) said that as the SLFP/UPFA had accepted UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister following 2015 presidential polls,  the yahapalana administration was confident a No Faith Motion (NFM) wouldn’t be moved against him.

Wijenayake pointed out that the SLFP/UPFA never contemplated a NFM against the PM though the UNP parliamentary group consisted of less than 50 members. Attorney-at-law Wijenayake said so when The Island sought an explanation as to why the civil society found fault with the executive presidency now after having secured the premiership for Wickremesinghe thanks to the same office which now they wanted abolished.ULF is the breakaway faction of the LSSP.

The Island raised the issue at a media briefing called by Purawesi Balaya (PB) and National Movement for a Just Society (NMJS) at the Center for Society and Religion (CSR), Maradana, a few hours before an irate President Maithripala Sirisena lambasted the UNP and its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe at a commemorative event at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute (SLFI) to mark the birth anniversary of the late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha thera, the architect of high profile campaign that brought an end to Rajapaksa administration in January 2015.

President Sirisena, who attended the event without an official invitation went to the extent of denying any knowledge of the formulation of the much touted 100-day programme that was launched immediately after presidential polls on January 8, 2015.

Wijenayake was flanked by co-convenor of PB Gamini Viyangoda and convenor of NMSJ Prof. Sarath Wijesuriya, the late Ven. Sobitha’s successor.

Wijenayaka and Viyangoda strongly justified Wickremesinghe’s appointment in place of D.M. Jayaratne as the public expected the UNP leader to be the PM.

In the wake of President Sirisena’s barrage, The Island asked Wijenayake whether the civil society was aware of the circumstances leading to the formulation of the now hotly disputed 100-day programme. Wijenayake said that the late Ven. Sobitha had insisted on a specific plan to implement a range of proposals and the 100-day programme was prepared on the advice of the late thera. The agreement on 100-day programme had been finalized before the civil society grouping publicly pledged its support to common candidate Maithripala Sirisena, Wijenayake maintained.

Wijenayake credited twice President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga for securing agreement in respect of common candidate with specific plan for implementation. Wijenayake insisted that he was involved in the overall project and knew precisely what was going on leading to the then SLFP General Secretary switching his allegiance to the Opposition and the developments thereafter.

Kumaratunga advised Wickremesinghe not to contest presidential polls and throw the full weight of the UNP behind Sirisena and there was agreement Wickremesinghe would be sworn in as the Prime Minister in the event of Sirisena’s victory.

Responding to another query, Wijenayake said that the Ven. Sobitha insisted an agreement on 100-day programme as he didn’t have faith in political parties. The LSSP rebel recalled how the late monk emphasized the pivotal importance of immediately implementing agreed proposals as he believed delay could jeopardize his initiative. The 100-day project was meant to provide short-term relief and implement long-term structural reforms.

Wijenayake said: "I was in civil society committee responsible for formulating plans. The late thera was the driving force behind the operation."

Wijenayake said that at the onset of their initiative, some proposed 180-day programme but a consensus was reached on 100-day as the late thera and several others felt that the original plan could interfere with the planned general election.

Wijenayake revealed how the then SLFP General Secretary Sirisena’s representatives met them at the Opposition Leader’s Office to discuss ways and means to overcome obstacles. Of course there was consensus that the parliament wouldn’t be dissolved immediately after presidential polls to ensure those who had entered parliament were not deprived of pension, Wijenayake said.

Responding to President Sirisena’s criticism as regards 100-day programme which the SLFP leader described as unpractical and foolish plan, Wijenayake pointed out that there had been a 20-member executive committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of the project. "We met once a week at the Presidential Secretariat though there were lapses. Among those present were President Sirisena, PM Wickremesinghe, Minister Samaraweera, former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka and JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Although, Sobitha thera never participated, there was always a chair covered with white cloth. It reminded us of the late monk’s role."

Wijenayake said that when he once inquired from the late monk why he kept away, Ven Sobitha claimed that he was never informed of the meetings.

According to him, the ULF received a National List slot for its role and the vacancy was filled by Dr. Jayampathy Wickremaratne, PC. Wickremaratne plays an important role in the ongoing constitutional making process though the incumbent administration couldn’t follow the set timetable for the enactment of the new Constitution.

Wijenayake acknowledged that the government would have been in a much stronger position today if not for alleged treasury bond scams perpetrated in Feb 2015 and March 2016.

The veteran politician blamed the current crisis mostly on the bond scams that involved primary dealer Perpetual Treasuries.

President Sirisena flayed the top UNP leadership for the bond scams.

Responding to another query, Wijenayake said that high profile project to bring what he called dictatorial Rajapaksa administration down involved Kumaratunga, the UNP, the JVP and large group of civil society activists. Today an attempt was being made to belittle civil society role with politicians making unsubstantiated allegations, Wijenayake said. Political parties couldn’t have overcome the Rajapaksas on their own and were simply struggling to cope up with the situation when the NMSJ stepped in.

Wijenayake regretted President Sirisena’s claim that he wasn’t aware of the 100-day plan. "It was the late Ven Sobitha’s idea. That is the undeniable truth," Wijenayake said claiming that, the civil society would pursue their agenda meant to bring relief to the long suffering people.

Wijenayake admitted that continuing hostilities between President Sirisena and the UNP in the wake of the Feb. 10 Local Government polls were inimical to the yahapalana partnership.