But now they have become opportunists.

There is no stability in the country today. The Government offers Ministerial posts and other perks to members of the opposition to strengthen the ruling party so that they can remain in power.

At preset, there are nearly 100 Cabinet Ministers; a world record for a small country like Sri Lanka.

At the last Australian Parliamentary Elections, a large country with less than the population of Sri Lanka limited the number of Cabinet Ministers to just 40!

A Senior Minister of the Cabinet in Sri Lanka said that he was ashamed to be a member of this cabinet.

Early this year, 17 UNP MPs crossed to the Government. If these opportunists had an iota of self-respect they should have resigned.

It is very unfortunate that the J. R. Government abolished the By-Election Law from the constitution. The constitution should be amended to bring back the By-Election Law. This will no doubt enable Members of Parliament, if they wish to cross over, to resign their Parliamentary seat and seek re-election under any party he or she wishes.

This reminds me that the late J. R. Jayawardene, leader of the UNP, who asked for and got undated letters of resignation from all candidates nominated before the General Election.

We Sri Lankans have short memories and we are to be blamed for all problems prevailing in the country today due to lack of civic consciousness. The public who thought it best to confine themselves only casting their votes, thereafter were not interested in demanding that the candidates whom they elected kept their election promises and also reminded them that they were not given an open mandate by the so-called sovereign people of the country, at the 2004 General Elections, to cross over.

It appears that these politicians are not interested in taking the country forward, but are only concerned with the perks they can get, pensions after five years and also providing jobs for their kith and kin and their henchman, thereby placing square pegs in round holes.

These members who deserted the parties should not under any circumstances be re-admitted to the party and nominated at any future elections.