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By Dr.Rangajeeva Rajakaruna

The current election campaign in Sri Lanka has unfortunately become a debate not on the conduct of the government but on the conduct of the Leader of the main Opposition party. The enemies of the country, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has become audacious enough to issue statements asking the people to vote him into power or in the failure of that face severe consequences. This is a grave situation any country could face. These are resulting from the secret discussions the UNP leader has been having with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, aided by his most trusted party ally, Dr. Jayalath Jayawardena. Since he is fast becoming a liability to his own party it has become opportune at last to remove Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe from the post of the Leader of the UNP immediately.

Our main concern is that he has been a liability to the nation. UNP in the past had produced dynamic leaders whose main objective was to protect the national interests. It is sad to note that Mr. Wickremesinghe has failed to do his duty by the nation. The duty to defend and protect national interests of a nation facing serious threats is not the responsibility ONLY of the head of the state but also that of the leader of the opposition. This is the respected tradition in the parliamentary system of government. But at each crucial moment Mr. Wickremesinghe has never shown the leadership qualities needed to defend the nation.

In the public interests, we wish to list the following anti-national activities committed under the leadership of Mr. Wickramasinghe:

1. To date he has not come out positively and consistently honouring and encouraging the efforts of our heroic soldiers who, unlike Mr. Wickramasinghe and his cohorts, are sacrificing their lives to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

2. To date he has not indicated positively and consistently that he is prepared to support the national efforts to weaken and/or defeat the LTTE with a view to restore peace, stability and normalcy.

3. On the contrary, he has gloated over every set-back of the Security Force and tried make political capital out of the mishaps which invariably give a morale boost to the Tamil Tiger terrorists.

4. At the most critical time when Britain was deciding whether to ban the LTTE or not, he did not utter a word in support of the ban. He argued that it was a matter between the two sovereign nations and that he, as Leader of the Opposition, would not interfere in their affairs. When as leader of the Opposition he refuses to stand and be counted on vital issues related to the survival of the nation how can the people have faith in him to provide leadership on any issue confronting the nation? Can he be trusted to do a competent job as the leader of the nation when he has failed in his basic duties as Leader of the Opposition?

5. Mr. Wickremesinghe and his faithful followers have not had any compunction in running to embassies and urging them to take action against the Sri Lankan government for acts of omission and commission. If he can lobby foreign governments against the Sri Lankan government why couldn't he put his weight behind the move to ban the Tamil Tiger terrorists? On what principles did he to put pressure on foreign governments to take action against the Sri Lankan government when he states categorically that he would not put pressure on Britain to take action against the Tamil Tiger terrorists? What makes him so anti-national and pro-Tamil Tiger terrorists? Does he have any secret deals with the Tamil Tiger terrorists?

6. He has engaged in anti-national activities by encouraging demonstrations in Paris at the crucial time when the aid donors were meeting to decide on the granting of aid to Sri Lanka. The aim of this demonstration was to deny the people of Sri Lanka the vital foreign aid needed for their survival. The only other demonstrations abroad, protesting against aid being given to Sri Lanka, were organized and conducted by the agents of Tamil Tiger terrorists.

7. He has had secret talks with leading agents of Tamil Tiger terrorists in Singapore and elsewhere without revealing the details to the nation. He criticizes the government for not taking him or the people into its confidence, according the Liam Fox Agreement. Isn't he guilty of the same crime when he claims that he had "friendly talks" with his old class-mate who is now a reputed shipping agent of the Tamil Tiger terrorists? When will he tell the nation of his secret discussions and deals with the agents of Tamil Tiger terrorists?

8. He has been in the habit of repeating and supporting faithfully and loyally the demands made by the Tamil Tiger terrorists. Example: When Anton Balasingham demanded that the troops be confined to barracks at the height of the crisis facing the Sri Lankan Security Forces cornered by the Tamil Tiger terrorists in Jaffna, he supported it and publicly urged that the troops be confined to barracks.

9. His constant criticism of the Sri Lankan government (we agree with most of it) is not matched by similar criticism of the Tamil Tiger terrorists.

10. He has failed to follow the example of the other leaders of the opposition in countries facing critical threats from enemies of those nations. In the best traditions of parliamentary governments, the historical tendency has been to unite behind the national efforts in times of crises, irrespective of party and personal differences. Mr. Wickremesinghe has not shown any willingness to back the national efforts either by word or deed. He has shown no initiative either to work towards such a desirable goal.

11. He has spoken emphatically about the need to send essentials like medicine and food to the Tamil people behind the enemy line in Wanni. I am not opposed to sending essentials on humanitarian grounds to anybody. But it is sad to note that he has not spoken with the same urgency and enthusiasm about the displaced and dispossessed Sinhalese and Muslims who lack basic amenities.

12. Above all, we consider Mr. Wickremesinghe to be the negative factor that frustrates not only his followers but the nation too. He is an indecisive political leader who does not have the innate capacity to take firm and bold decisions that are needed to save the nation in the crises ahead.

13. Now he has proposed an interim administration for the country's North and East, going against a cabinet decision. He was a member of the same cabinet, led by his uncle, J.R.Jayewardene that took a decision not to merge these two provinces without a referendum in the East. Furthermore, he has failed to tell the nation what are the powers granted for this proposed interim administration, highly praised by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. LTTE activists have known this Interim Administration he is speaking about now, for months, in California, ever since Ranil met his Singapore Tiger friends brother here in Los Angeles. Both brothers are engaged in sending weapons to Prabhakarn in their ships to kill the innocent in our beloved motherland.

In view of the foregoing anti-national activities we consider him to be a serious threat to the nation's security, progress and future. We question his competency to be the Leader of the main opposition party in the country. We believe that Mr. Wickremesinghe who could not keep a cohesive party like the UNP together can never hope to keep the nation united.

We believe that whatever differences there may be in domestic affairs the national leaders must unite on the critical issues that are threatening the future of the nation. If the 11 Tamil parties -- some of whom have faced the brutal attacks of the Tamil Tiger terrorists -- can unite to support Prabhakaran, a wanted criminal by the Interpol, there is no reason on earth for Mr. Wickremesinghe not to give his unreserved support to the patriotic efforts to protect and defend the national interests. If he cannot distinguish between domestic politics (e.g. bread-and-butter issues) and the national interests (e.g. issues related to the defence and protection of the territorial integrity) then it is time for the UNP to find a new leader who can understand the critical issues and take a decisive stand on the future of the nation.

I, therefore, appeal to all forward thinking and patriotic UNPers to take decisive action by removing him from office and handing it over to a leader who will protect the fundamental interests of the nation. The other decent alternative is for Mr. Wickremesinghe to sack himself and allow a more acceptable and competent leader to take over the reins of the second largest party in Sri Lanka.

California, USA

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