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The Oldest English Newspaper in South Asia
Founded 4.2.1834
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Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.
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Opposition jitters

The PA is now in Opposition, and since it could not transcend the culture of violent politics while it was in power, the Alliance is nervous that it is to receive in turn what it gave the UNP. The post-electoral revenge attacks on PA supporters, although clearly not endorsed by the UNP leadership, have not helped ease the PA’s fears. 

The PA’s biggest worry, however, is that the UNP, while talking of a ‘national government’, is only manoeuvring to win over as many PA parliamentarians as is required for a parliamentary majority adequate to overturn the PA-controlled Presidency and thereby attain complete political dominance. 

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasingha, however, has so far not spoken of any such objective of total hegemony but instead has embraced the well-known popular desire by most citizens that both major national parties should share in the burden of overcoming the critical national problems. Mr. Wickremasingha, while in Opposition, made history by being the first Opposition Leader to closely co-operate with the Government on the most critical national issue - the ethnic conflict. 

In the last general election too, Mr. Wickremasingha made it clear that he sought long-term political collaboration between political parties. His first post-election moves have also indicated a similar desire. 

Nevertheless, given the PA’s jitters, it may be sometime before the Alliance is ready to go as far as actually join in the Government. It is more important that, whether in Opposition or not, the PA extends its genuine co-operation with the UNP regime on all major national issues rather than slide back into the rut of hostile politicking. This attitude could mean a readiness to further share executive presidential power with the UNP Government.

It is equally important that the UNP demonstrates that its promise of a ‘national government’ is genuinely not an attempt to completely overturn the current equilibrium of State power between the two major national parties.

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