Saturday, 17 January 2015 03:59
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POLITICS in Sri Lanka is taking strange turns. For too long the country did not have a strong enough Opposition to enforce adequate checks and balances on the Government. Thanks to developments this week it is again without an Opposition but under a completely different set of circumstances.
When newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena took oaths a week ago, euphoria erupted around the country. For many the impossible had been achieved. Not only had creeping authoritarianism been defeated it was done so in complete peace. The world looked at Sri Lanka and was impressed.
The pragmatic though tried to keep a balanced view. Former President Rajapaksa had decided to remain the head of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and there were legitimate concerns he would use the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) majority to create a political upset. Ever respected as an astute politician many speculated he would return to Parliament, possibly from the national list, and battle to be the head of the Opposition.
Once the 100 days are completed and Parliament dissolved, Rajapaksa could well be the head of the party that wins the most number of seats, thereby becoming the top candidate for the newly created post of empowered prime minister.
But events took another turn with a split SLFP returning to one leadership. Backdoor negotiations resulted in Rajapaksa meeting Sirisena at the Speaker’s house on Wednesday night to agree on handing over the chairmanship to the new president. Media picked up on the developments the following day and on Friday morning Rajapaksa himself released a statement confirming the handover.
Rajapaksa has insisted his decision was motivated by a desire to keep the party united. Yet in a strange twist of fate the president of the country and the Opposition leader are from the same party. The very party Sirisena heads is now tasked with questioning his every move.
Opposition leader Nimal Siripala de Silva is a staunch supporter of former President Rajapaksa but his Chairman is Sirisena. It is little wonder that many Sri Lankans are left shaking their heads in confusion bordering on bewilderment.
Does Sirisena’s appointment as leader of the SLFP mean the parliament majority is his? How does this situation play into implementation of the 100-day plan? In the next few weeks crucial steps such as an interim Budget and Right to Information Act will be presented to Parliament. How will this current situation play out then? Ultimately who stands for public interest?
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will argue the National Advisory Council takes on the watchdog role. Given that the coalition was formed to strengthen democracy and good governance in the country the current situation in Parliament makes for an unprecedented situation. Perhaps the person who might be more worried than most is Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as Sirisena no longer needs to depend on the United National Party (UNP) for a majority in Parliament.
In fact given that parliamentary elections in April will decide the next Prime Minister, Wickremesinghe possibly faces the most challenges in this topsy-turvy situation.
