The SLFP

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party today marks its 59th anniversary under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is the leader of the SLFP. No doubt there will be many a reminiscence of the past and on the evolution of party to its present monolithic status. There is also bound to be some nostalgic memories among the seniors and old timers who battled to save the party in times of turmoil and upheaval that threatened to blow it away from its moorings. Today it stands proudly and can proclaim itself to be the single largest political party in the country eclipsing its arch-rival in the political arena who lay claim to this distinction not so long ago.

The SLFP came into being as the party of the common man in 1951 at a time when the country was at a crossroads. Although we were an independent nation this independence was only in name. For, the commanding heights of the country's economy was still controlled by our colonial masters while English was the dominant language.

The exit of the whites only gave way to the pukka sahib where all structures, mannerisms and the culture of our colonial masters were adopted and enthroned. In such a milieu the indigenous community continued to remain dis-empowered as ever while the white man continued to rake in the spoils of the country's resources and bounties. The birth pangs of independence was still to be kindled among the country's indigenous population in a milieu where an alien culture still dominated. This indigenous population were still seeking for their true national and cultural identity.

It is into this breach that the SLFP emerged as the champion of the indigenous community and as the torch bearer of the new national ethos and identity, when, placing the sangha, veda, guru, govi, kamkaru that formed the core of the nationalist movement, in the vanguard it swept into power in the avalanche of 1956 heralding the era of the common man.

Today the SLFP is at its zenith. In no small measure due to the leadership qualities of President Mahinda Rajapaksa that a party that was once written off and down in the dumps is today sitting on the pedestal as the predominant political force in the country. Who would have thought that a party which secured a mere nine seats at the 1952 polls would today be the number one political party in the country? The party's epitaph was also written when it was reduced to a mere eight seats at the 1977 poll. But the party emerged the stronger for the experience confounding its critics and doomsday prophets.

The achievement was stupendous considering the many vicissitudes, trials and tribulations the party had to undergo from its inception on its long journey to the top. There were assassinations of its leaders and other insidious moves to wipe off its identity from the country's political landscape by reactionary forces through various manoeuvrings such as coups and other sinister plots. There were also steps to undermine its existence through dis-empowering its leaders such as depriving former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike of her civic rights.

It survived all these sinister plots and the pre-eminent position it enjoys today is by no small means a tribute to its character and resilience. Today it is the party that has singly or in collision ruled the country for the largest phase in its post independence history. During this time as the party of the common man it introduced many ground breaking reforms such as the take over of all sterling companies, nationalisation of the port, transport, reinvesting of all foreign bases, sweeping land reforms and agriculture policies, declaring May day as a national holiday and enthroning worker rights and ownership stake and a host of pro-people legislation that ended decades of exploitation that brought it more closer to the common man.

But the most telling contribution the party has made to the Motherland without doubt is bequeathing it with a leader who succeeded in eliminating the 30-year long terrorist problem that threatened to break up the country and ushering in a new independent nation.

The party singly or in collision has being holding the reins of power unbroken for 16 long years and has already won a another term in office firmly setting it on course to preside over the conversion of this once war battered country to be the Miracle of Asia.