16 February 2018 02:00 am
People have overwhelmingly rejected the programme of work we carried out during the last three years. This is a warning for us. We have to change our polices and the programmes of work. A new programme has to be implemented.
The UNP lost votes mainly in Sinhala majority areas. We have to understand why both Sinhala Buddhists and Sinhala Christians abandoned us in great numbers. We have to evaluate as to why it happened. The outlook of the UNP should change now. Political complexion of the party must be transformed. We must undergo transformation in our policies.
I see four other reasons for our failure. One is the delay in taking action against those involved in corruption and fraud. Secondly, we have been levelled with allegations against Bond trading by the Central Bank. Thirdly, we antagonised the media. Finally, the fertilizer crisis and Samurdi issue contributed to our failure at LG polls.
In global economic affairs, I do not find any fault with what they refer to as ‘alienation of national assets.’ As far as I know, people were not bothered about it when casting their votes this time. It is a slogan only. If anyone has done anything wrong, be it related or not to a war hero, there should be punishment. We have not taken specific action targeting war heroes.
The party should undergo a major transformation in its policies. The party hierarchy should change. It should be replaced with those having public confidence.
The party should be controlled by those elected by people only.
Yes
Actually, they were calling the shots in party affairs.
It is a separate matter. We should not mix it up with the internal affairs of the party. As a party, the UNP has taken a decision that the incumbent Prime Minister should continue to serve for the remaining period of time. It should not be changed. The present leadership received a mandate in 2015. No other party has received a mandate for it.
"PM should serve his full term
Party needs far-reaching reforms
People rejected government’s programme of work for last three years
Unless reforms take place, party politicians will take alternative steps
Party should be entrusted in the hands of those elected by people
SLFPers who criticized govt. should not be given further responsibilities "
That is why the UNP has been unable to establish a firm government for the last 20 years. It is because the UNP only worked out ad hoc, patchwork solutions to problems that arose from time to time. Even when we are in power today, we suffered a humiliating defeat at the local authorities’ elections. The top notch slots of the party should be occupied by those elected and loved by ordinary party people.
If it fails this time, the party’s politicians will have to take alternative steps except joining other parties.
There were public upsurges against the government’s work every now and then. People got the chance to vent their rage at the elections. We have to reconsider them. The UNP should not be blamed for this as it could not take decisions single-handedly on certain occasions.
There were instances where the government’s decisions were turned down by the executive. We could not take collective decisions. The ministers representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) criticised certain actions of the government while being in it. This is the problem we faced. Those SLFP ministers should not be accommodated in the government hereafter.
It is an arduous task for us. We did it against all odds. It is also a reason for our defeat this time. Our people and politicians are not used to it. Certain government activities were criticised by the SLFP. They tried to gain political mileage. Today, the SLFP has been relegated to a lower level than us.
At that time, we should have taken that decision. The individual, chosen as the common candidate, should have been more considerate about the UNP. He should bear in mind that it is the UNP that brought him to presidency.
It is not realistic for the SLFP to form a government. The UNP runs short of only seven seats to get a simple majority. But, the SLFP or the UPFA needs 17 more seats. They cannot get the support of the Tamil National Alliance. Also, the JVP will not join them. I am certain that anyone from the UNP will also not join. Therefore, it is not realistic.