The Island -
April 22, 2018
Civil society group Yuthukama convenor Gevundu Cumaratunga yesterday questioned the rationale behind the UNP’s readiness to continue with the controversial yahapalana arrangement with President Maithripala Sirisena as the SLFP leader had personally requested PM Wickremesinghe to resign immediately after the humiliating defeat the coalition partners suffered at the Feb. 10 local government polls.
Addressing the media at Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Mandiraya, Cumaratunga pointed out the absurdity in the UNP’s position that those 16 SLFPers who had voted for the No Confidence Motion (NCM) couldn’t be accommodated in the cabinet under any circumstances when President Sirisena, having supervised the abortive operation remained at the helm of the cabinet. President Sirisena admitted his role when he addressed the media at the President’s House on April 6, Cumaratunga pointed out.
Cumaratunga said that the UNP certainly owed an explanation to those who had exercised their franchise for the party at the last parliamentary post in August 2015 whether UPFA parliamentary group leader and Transport and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was acceptable to hold ministerial portfolios after having requested PM Wickremesinghe to quit. Yuthukama spokesperson pointed out that of the four UPFA members who had signed the NCM against Wickremesinghe, two skipped the April 4 vote.
The people would like to know whether those who had abstained after endorsing the petition against Wickremesinghe were acceptable to the UNP, Cumaratunga asked. The undeniable truth is that none of the UPFA parliamentary group comprising 41 and President Sirisena had faith in PM Wickremesinghe and the UNP, Cumaratunga said, urging all political parties to examine their post-NCM positions without further delay.
Responding to a query by The Island, Cumaratunga said that the people had completely lost faith in political parties and the system due to their response to treasury bond scams of 2015 and 2016. The civil society activist said the four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) vote against the NCM proved that the people couldn’t depend on TNA leader R. Sampanthan, MP, to represent their interests.
Referring to a statement made by UNPer Dr. Harsha de Silva, Cumaratunga challenged the Colombo District MP to explain how could Sampanthan be accepted as the Opposition Leader after 16-member TNA parliamentary group stood by Wickremesinghe.
Had members of parliament decided on NCM only on the basis of allegations directed at PM Wickremesinghe without taking into consideration various other factors, the parliament would have voted overwhelmingly for the JO move, Cumaratunga said.
Cumaratunga chided the UNP and the SLFP for conveniently forgetting President Sirisena’s campaign for the Feb. 10 local government polls. President Sirisena unhesitatingly attacked Wickremesinghe and the UNP in the run up to polls and caused heavy damage to the main party in the government, Cumaratunga said.
Cumaratunga said that fresh parliamentary polls were required to restore stability.
How could parliament continued for full five year term in such a chaotic state, Cumaratunga asked.
Responding to another query, Cumaratunga pointed out that President Sirisena, most probably in consultation with the UNP had to prorogue parliament to explore ways and means to lessen the impact of losing 16 of his 41 group. With the number of UPFA members of the Opposition reaching 71, the TNA’s 16 member group would surely find it difficult to play the role of the ‘appointed’ Opposition, Cumaratunga said.
"Parliament is in unprecedented turmoil. Sri Lanka never experienced such crisis," Cumaratunga said, adding that there was no way out of the political mess.
Cumaratunga said that the ruling coalition should have consulted other political parties regarding early general elections in the immediate aftermath of the Feb. 10 local government polls.
The SLFP, obviously, believed it could divert attention from its debacle by blaming Wickremesinghe for the defeat and the emergence of the JO/Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. Their plan backfired and now there was no way out unless fresh elections were held. Commenting on the 16 member SLFP group receiving kudos for sitting in the Opposition, Cumaratunga said that members should be asked explain what were they doing for so long in a UNP led government after having been elected thanks to a campaign led by the former President.
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April 22, 2018
Civil society group Yuthukama convenor Gevundu Cumaratunga yesterday questioned the rationale behind the UNP’s readiness to continue with the controversial yahapalana arrangement with President Maithripala Sirisena as the SLFP leader had personally requested PM Wickremesinghe to resign immediately after the humiliating defeat the coalition partners suffered at the Feb. 10 local government polls.
Addressing the media at Sri Sambuddhathwa Jayanthi Mandiraya, Cumaratunga pointed out the absurdity in the UNP’s position that those 16 SLFPers who had voted for the No Confidence Motion (NCM) couldn’t be accommodated in the cabinet under any circumstances when President Sirisena, having supervised the abortive operation remained at the helm of the cabinet. President Sirisena admitted his role when he addressed the media at the President’s House on April 6, Cumaratunga pointed out.
Cumaratunga said that the UNP certainly owed an explanation to those who had exercised their franchise for the party at the last parliamentary post in August 2015 whether UPFA parliamentary group leader and Transport and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva was acceptable to hold ministerial portfolios after having requested PM Wickremesinghe to quit. Yuthukama spokesperson pointed out that of the four UPFA members who had signed the NCM against Wickremesinghe, two skipped the April 4 vote.
The people would like to know whether those who had abstained after endorsing the petition against Wickremesinghe were acceptable to the UNP, Cumaratunga asked. The undeniable truth is that none of the UPFA parliamentary group comprising 41 and President Sirisena had faith in PM Wickremesinghe and the UNP, Cumaratunga said, urging all political parties to examine their post-NCM positions without further delay.
Responding to a query by The Island, Cumaratunga said that the people had completely lost faith in political parties and the system due to their response to treasury bond scams of 2015 and 2016. The civil society activist said the four-party Tamil National Alliance (TNA) vote against the NCM proved that the people couldn’t depend on TNA leader R. Sampanthan, MP, to represent their interests.
Referring to a statement made by UNPer Dr. Harsha de Silva, Cumaratunga challenged the Colombo District MP to explain how could Sampanthan be accepted as the Opposition Leader after 16-member TNA parliamentary group stood by Wickremesinghe.
Had members of parliament decided on NCM only on the basis of allegations directed at PM Wickremesinghe without taking into consideration various other factors, the parliament would have voted overwhelmingly for the JO move, Cumaratunga said.
Cumaratunga chided the UNP and the SLFP for conveniently forgetting President Sirisena’s campaign for the Feb. 10 local government polls. President Sirisena unhesitatingly attacked Wickremesinghe and the UNP in the run up to polls and caused heavy damage to the main party in the government, Cumaratunga said.
Cumaratunga said that fresh parliamentary polls were required to restore stability.
How could parliament continued for full five year term in such a chaotic state, Cumaratunga asked.
Responding to another query, Cumaratunga pointed out that President Sirisena, most probably in consultation with the UNP had to prorogue parliament to explore ways and means to lessen the impact of losing 16 of his 41 group. With the number of UPFA members of the Opposition reaching 71, the TNA’s 16 member group would surely find it difficult to play the role of the ‘appointed’ Opposition, Cumaratunga said.
"Parliament is in unprecedented turmoil. Sri Lanka never experienced such crisis," Cumaratunga said, adding that there was no way out of the political mess.
Cumaratunga said that the ruling coalition should have consulted other political parties regarding early general elections in the immediate aftermath of the Feb. 10 local government polls.
The SLFP, obviously, believed it could divert attention from its debacle by blaming Wickremesinghe for the defeat and the emergence of the JO/Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. Their plan backfired and now there was no way out unless fresh elections were held. Commenting on the 16 member SLFP group receiving kudos for sitting in the Opposition, Cumaratunga said that members should be asked explain what were they doing for so long in a UNP led government after having been elected thanks to a campaign led by the former President.
යුතුකම සංවාද කවය
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