Opposition in dire need of better leadership

While the NPP Government finds itself in an embarrassing situation regarding the academic qualifications of Speaker Asoka Ranwala, the Opposition is in a bigger disarray with both the Samagi Jana Balwegaya (SJB) and the New Democratic Front (NDF), unable to make a clear pick of who should be their National List nominees to enter Parliament.

The NDF under which former SLPP and UNP members contested the General election with the blessings of former president Ranil Wickremesinghe won two National List seats, one of which was taken by Ravi Karunanayake under dubious circumstances while Faizer Mustapha was named to the remaining seat this week. Both the names have left many in the NDF disgruntled as there are worthy and credible members who should’ve been appointed instead.

After Karunanayake’s name was gazetted by the Election Commission as the NDF NL nominee, Wickremesinghe appointed a committee to investigate how it happened, but committees, as anyone knows, are only meant to hoodwink the people. The second appointment of Mustapha has also raised eyebrows with displeasure among many, especially those who worked hard on the election campaign on behalf of the NDF.

The SJB on its part has done no better in selecting members to parliament from the NL. Soon after the election, the party’s General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara was named to one of the five NL seats the SJB won. Since then there have been many discussions, outbursts, comments from various members of the SJB as to who is most suitable to fill the renaming seats. One former SJB MP Thushara Indunil Amarasena even threatened to take his own life if he was not named while Hirunika Premachandra who contested from the Colombo district and lost too staked a claim and was backed by several party seniors.

On Thursday the SJB announced the other four picks to fill its remaining NL seats, and they are Mano Ganesan, Nizam Kariapper, Sujeewa Senasinghe and Mohamed Ismail. This has left many unhappy given there are questions about the suitability of some of the names in this list.

The Government is in early days and is grappling with numerous issues, some expected and some unexpected. The unfolding fiasco around the Speaker is a big distraction and is one the Government could have done without. An early resolution would be best for them.

But all this in no way leaves the main Opposition SJB or the NDF looking better. The Opposition is numerically weak given the massive mandate the NPP got but the Opposition is also weak in leadership. Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa has seen better days while any political group that once backed Wickremesinghe needs to start looking for more suitable leadership if they want a future in Lankan politics.

Even though Wickremesinghe did not contest the General election, he pulled strings behind the scenes and proved to be a failure. The SJB under Premadasa’s leadership too has been a failure losing successive elections and hence there is justification in calling for fresh leadership.

Both parties have able, young leaders and it is up to them to take matters into their hands and start building strong leadership so that in five years’ time they would be well placed to take power.

In Sri Lanka political parties have bounced back from the lowest ebb and become formidable forces under strong, committed leaders. What the Opposition lacks at the moment is that. It’s up to those in Opposition ranks, many of whom have proven their capabilities in the past decade or so as MPs to take charge and rebuild an Opposition that can take on a Government that enjoys a massive mandate and needs to be kept in check.