Sampanthan goes South with hand of friendship - EDITORIAL

hile the national government is taking practical and concrete measures for reconciliation and the rebuilding of a sustainable peace, a significant move in this direction was also taken by the Opposition and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader Rajavarothiam Sampanthan.   
Mr. Sampanthan, emerging as a moderate and middle path leader sincerely committed to a united Sri Lanka, last Saturday made his first official visit to the South as Leader of the Opposition. He attended a Pirith ceremony at a Matara temple, was blessed by the Buddhist monks and, speaking in fluent Sinhala, Mr. Sampanthan pledged his full support for reconciliation and sustainable development to rebuild a just society in Sri Lanka. Later, accompanied by the United National Party Matara District Parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana, Mr. Sampanthan also visited a Devinuwara Kovil where he again called on people of all races and religions to work together for deep unity in diversity.   

The opposition leader’s move came about three weeks after the national government acted with determination to pass the bill for the setting up of a wide powered Office of Missing Persons (OMP). The TNA and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) supported the bill, but parliament was thrown into turmoil when the so called “joint opposition” senior members stormed into the area near the Speaker’s podium screaming that they wanted the bill put off for two weeks. When the Speaker disallowed this, the Mahinda Rajapaksa loyalists stormed out of Parliament alleging that the government was rushing through with a bill that could be dangerous to the armed forces and Sri Lanka’s security.  President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and other government leaders have refuted this charge accusing Rajapaksa loyalists of trying to create “Goni Billas” in a bid to cause turmoil in the country. The JVP protested that in the melee, some of its important amendments were not included and the government has indicated it was ready to accommodate the JVP’s wish and present an amending bill.  

 
According to our sister paper the Sunday Times, the Prime Minister last week also received Cabinet approval for an allocation of about Rs. 166 million for the Secretariat Co-ordinating the Reconciliation Mechanism (SCRM), which will function under him. Senior civil servant Mano Tittawella will be the Secretary General and A. A. Dayananda the administrative head of the SCRM which will operate for two years. It will function as the co-ordinating body of all reconciliation mechanisms and facilitate the exchange of information among policy makers and officials.   
But amid the positive moves for reconciliation, deeper interracial and interreligious unity in diversity, we also saw a serious negative feature over the weekend. SLFP dissidents including nearly 50 MPs loyal to former President Rajapaksa are to form their own party with Mr. Rajapaksa as the leader. The party will have a new name though similar to the SLFP and a new symbol while reports say its members are likely to sit separately in parliament and claimed the post of the Leader of the Opposition. Most analysts believe the Speaker is unlikely to allow this as these MPs were elected from the SLFP-led United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA). Mr. Rajapaksa addressing a meeting of dissidents in Kalutara on Sunday claimed that the group of his loyalists comprised the ‘pure SLFP’ while those in the national government were virtually functioning under the UNP.   

The mainstream SLFP, led by President Sirisena, has however responded in a positive spirit. SLFP general secretary Duminda Dissanayake says disciplinary action will not be taken against SLFP members who choose not to attend the party’s 65th Convention to be held in Kurunegala on Sunday. He says the attendance at the convention is purely voluntary and all party members will be invited to attend.   
Most analysts believe that for a vibrant democracy and sustainable, all inclusive development, Sri Lanka needs a strong UNP and a strong SLFP which could work together for at least the next five years and perhaps even further to rebuild a new Lanka where the politicians will sincerely serve the country and give their best for it instead of trying to indulge in plunder and pillage. Mr. Rajapaksa as President for more than nine years, gave effective leadership for the defeat of the LTTE terrorists and the country is grateful to him. Now he needs to face realities and bow out gracefully without giving leadership to those who want to split the SLFP and thereby damage the country’s two party foundation.