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What a come-down for the Grand Old Party!
The UNP, the Grand Old Party, with the largest votes base led by the likes of DS, Dudley, Sir John Kotalawala, JRJ, and RP has ruled this country intermittently for thirty three years - about six years more than the SLFP led coalitions. Whatever their shortcomings, all these leaders were highly respected and had won the confidence of the populace. Despite minor differences within the party they were able to keep the "flock" together, stand as one united party, and bounce back after the party had been defeated at elections. Only RP had to face an impeachment motion but he was able to circumvent it through whatever means and win back all those who had opposed him except the leaders.

However, during the tenure of the present leader Ranil Wickremesinghe the party has faced an unbroken string of electoral defeats now totalling about eighteen, a large number of former ministers and MPs, electoral organisers, PC and PS members have left the party and joined the government or the ruling party as the case may be. He has on several occasions gone down to the low level of appealing to the international community to put pressure on Sri Lanka. He has made silly promises such as giving bracelets to the youth, chewing gum to farmers and providing SMS facilities to village lasses and become the laughing stock of the people!

None of the other leaders ever fought shy of contesting elections. But today the present leader doesn’t want to contest the presidential election due to the fear of losing. Instead, a United National Alliance has been formed with the intention of putting forward a "common candidate", for the presidential election. Of the twelve parties, eight are not represented even in a PS, two are hardly recognised with only one MP each, While Ranil is the Leader of the UNA, it is seeking the help of an outsider, General Sarath Fonseka, who has never been in politics and who may not be able to resign his post in a hurry, to defeat president MR at the presidential election with the aim of abolishing the executive presidency within 180 days of the election. Ranil has now laid down a condition that if the common candidate wins, he must be made the PM. It is a case of getting SF to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for Ranil to enjoy them.

The million dollar question is whether SF will be naive enough to lose his present position, and face a barrage of criticism during the run up to the election only to cease to hold that office after a mere six months leaving Ranil on the executive PM’s chair! I doubt very much that SF will swallow the bait even if he can resign his present post.

Whatever unpleasant and embarrassing situation he may have to face, Ranil will hold onto the leadership of the party like a limpet, and the dilemma of the membership is whether there is anybody else among the party seniors with leadership qualities combined with discipline and charisma required of a leader to take over the reins. This is the unfortunate position the GOP is placed in today.

S. Abeywickrama,
Nugegoda.