By Shamindra Ferdinando Courtesy The Island

Northern Province Governor Reginald Cooray, yesterday, said that the rapid deterioration of the standards of the national legislature reflected continuing uncertainty, instability and political chaos.

The abolition of the executive presidency could worsen the situation further, Cooray warned in an interview with The Island at his Lily Mawatha office, Jayanthipura, Battaramulla.

Unprecedented and sharp drop in lawmakers’ attendance at parliamentary sessions highlighted the crisis that could have catastrophic impact on the political system, the former Minister said. Cooray explained how lawmakers were no longer sure of the future of political parties or their own as once revered parliament was in dire straits.

Asked whether he backed the JVP’s 20 Amendment to the Constitution that sought to do away the remaining powers enjoyed by President Maithripala Sirisena, Cooray asserted that the presidency shouldn’t be abolished. Pointing out that the presidential powers had been diluted in the wake of the enactment of the 19 Amendment in April 2015, Cooray asserted that the executive presidency was required though further amendments could be made subjected to consensus among political parties.

Former Kalutara District MP and cabinet minister Cooray said that the SLFP wanted to retain the presidency. Cooray expressed fears that further weakening of presidency would be counterproductive. “We are in fragile state. There is no point in denying the trouble we are in today,” Cooray said. Every sector has been affected for want of cohesive strategy required to sustain the national economy.

Asked to compare the 1978 Constitution and possible return to parliamentary system of governance, the teacher turned politician explained how JR Jayewardene’s constant policies resulted in political stability over a period of time. The introduction of presidential system paved the way for the UNP to implement its policies over a period of 17 years under the leadership of JRJ, Ranasinghe Premadasa and D.B. Wijetunga, Cooray said, acknowledging there were problems.

Reference was made to the UNP crushing the second JVP-inspired insurgency launched in the wake of the Indo-Lanka accord.

Sri Lanka couldn’t afford to lose stability by blindly following personal agendas of interested parties, Cooray said. The veteran politician asserted that a developing country couldn’t follow policies that hindered progress.

Cooray explained the circumstances under which the SLFP led PA and the SLFP led UPFA governed the country from Nov 1995 (Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga) to January 2015 (Mahinda Rajapaksa) though it lost parliamentary power (2002-2004). Cooray, didn’t mince his words when he explained whatever the defects and disadvantages in the executive presidency, the current system was much better than the parliamentary system practiced here before the introduction of the 1978 Constitution.

Commenting on the situation in the Northern region, Cooray dismissed accusations that the government had weakened security by allowing extremist political elements to commemorate the fast unto death undertaken by Rasaiah Parthipan aka Thileepan in September 31 years ago. LTTE cadre Thileepan, 23, died on Sept 26, 1987 at Sri Kandasamy Kovil, Nallur. Cooray insisted that whatever Thileepan’s motives, he undertook a fast unto death on behalf of the LTTE and sacrificed his life. The LTTE couldn’t be resurrected by commemorating Thileepan, Cooray said, endorsing Army Chief Lt. Gen. Mahesh Senanayake’s recent assertion that such events didn’t pose a security threat.

The former English master insisted that nearly a decade after the successful conclusion of the conflict, the government was yet to win hearts and minds of the Northerners. Cooray said that they shouldn’t be considered under any circumstances as a defeated community though the LTTE was eradicated. The Tamil people should be assisted in every way possible to regain their confidence, Cooray said, admitting that the aspirations of the ordinary people shouldn’t be mixed up with political demands.

Cooray served President Sirisena’s 100-day government though it lasted more than that.

Asked why he didn’t contest parliamentary polls in Aug 2015, Cooray said that he lacked the wherewithal to join the fray. Cooray succeeded then Northern Province Governor former Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara in Feb 2016.

Asked whether he backed President Sirisena contesting 2019 presidential poll as repeatedly announced by SLFP General Secretary Duminda Dissanayake, Cooray pointed out that the SLFP leader nor the party Central Committee discussed the incumbent’s candidature. Therefore, it would be too early to discuss their candidature as all major political parties struggled to cope up with crises, Cooray said. The political veteran explained that the actual situation was even far worse than current reportage. Cooray pointed out those political parties had been weakened to such an extent no party today talked about fielding a candidate. Instead, all struggled to form coalitions backed by various other groupings pursuing their agendas, he said.

Cooray chided the Joint Opposition/Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna for propagating lies that twice President Mahinda Rajapaksa could contest 2019 presidential election again. That wouldn’t be possible under 19 Amendment, Cooray said, adding that those loyal to the Rajapaksas too were not sure what was really going on hence the reluctance to name their candidate.

The NP Governor said that anything was possible when The Island sought his views on the possibility of the UNP-JVP-TNA forming an alliance at the next presidential poll. Cooray acknowledged that the same grouping backed war winning Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka and General Secretary of the SLFP Maithripala Sirisena at 2010 and 2015 presidential polls, respectively, hence the possibility of them coming together again couldn’t be ruled out.

Cooray expressed surprise and disappointment that the government squandered an excellent opportunity to promote post-war national conciliation when the Tamil community of Vishvamadu in June this year publicly appreciated the services of Lt. Colonel Ratnapriya Bandu, the senior officer in charge of rehabilitation of LTTE cadres. Cooray said that he had the opportunity to visit Vishvamadu and realized the unprecedented services rendered by the officer to the community. Cooray said that the exemplary conduct of the military officer could have been used both here and overseas to improve Sri Lanka’s image. Unfortunately, the government missed that opportunity, he said.

Cooray admitted that the UNP-SLFP coalition was in crisis today because they never had a vision or strategy for yahapalana policy implementation following the last presidential election. Cooray asserted that Maithripala Sirisena, too, appeared to have not been involved in formulating strategy. Having campaigned on a platform of good governance and accountability, the UNP-led administration couldn’t have embroiled itself treasury bond scams under any circumstances, Cooray said. The SLFPer admitted that treasury bond scams perpetrated in Feb 2015 and March 2016 had devastating impact on the government and it was still struggling to cope up with it.

Commenting on 2019 presidential and 2020 general election, Cooray said that the situation was so dicey anything could happen in the run up to elections. Political parties, he said functioned sans clear objectives much to the disappointment of public seeking immediate solutions.