S. Akurugoda

President Maithripala Sirisena on many occasions has vowed to form a National Government even after the next general election. When he appointed some SLFP MPs as ministers in March this year,   he told the people that he is making a national government.  As  per latest media reports, he has determined to form a national government even after the next general election too.

The formation of so-called national government was not new to Sri Lanka. The first such a government was formed in 1965 under the UNP leadership of  Dudley Senanayake. Dudley formed his national government with  the help of S.J.V Chelvanakam ‘s Federal party (FP),  Philip Gunawardane’s MEP and K.M.P Rajaratne’s JVP ( Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna).

The first task did by the 1965 national government  was to arrest the then Army Commander Richard Udugama, a relative of former Prime Minister Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike  for an alleged Army Coup, with an aim of  pleasing the  Federal Party.  Major General Richard Udugama successfully managed the security situation, in the North under Mrs Bandaranaike’s  government (1960-1965).    .

The case against Udugama was very similar to what we are seeing today under the so-called national government of President Sirisena. The Army Commander  was charged for an abortive coup to topple the elected government of Dudley Senanayake with few low ranking army soldiers and civilians like one Doadampe mudalali.  Dodampe mudalali was reported dead while he was under Police custody. All accused including General Udugama was released after several years in custody, since there was not a single evidence in support of an abortive coup.

The second task of the so-called national government  was to shoot and killed a Buddhist monk by the name of Dambarawe Rathnasara , on January 8^th of 1966,  who participated in a peaceful protest march against enacting  provisions under the language act introduced in the parliament as a part of a secret  pact signed between the party leaders of the UNP and the FP.

At the end, the so-called national government did nothing , other than politically victimising its opponents including teachers  and other government employees (from top to bottom),   somewhat similar to what is happening today.

A national government is said to be a form of  coalition government, especially one subordinating party differences to the national interest in a time of crisis. The first so-called national government, we experienced  as above, was not formed neither to achieve national interest or in a time of crisis.   The current so-called National Government said to have been formed by President Sirisena was also formed solely for the purpose of self interest  and the country was not  in a time of crisis on 8^th January this year, similar to what we experienced  for three decades up to 18^th May of 2009.

If so-called national government we have today was formed to face a crisis situating, then it is none other than the President who is responsible for dragging the country into a crisis situation since 9^th January this year.  Several ministers of his own party have already been resigned expressing their lack of confidence of the form of government  Mr Sirisena has introduced.  As per the reports there are many to follow within the next few weeks.

From the way things are happening, it is evident that the President Sirisena has chosen the path of fulfilling the  promises he made to those interested parties, groups and individuals who helped him to become the President and not the wishes of the parties, groups or individuals who opposed him including the party he is leading now.  He is well aware of his promises and how influential are those interested parties, groups and individuals to whom he made those promises for his survival.  Thus he will do his best to manipulate the SLFP as a tool to achieve his final goal of fulfilling his promises at any cost. Thus his proclamation of forming a national government means nothing other than the formation of a government led by the United National Party.   Thus it is time to save the SLFP from its current leader before it is too late.