By Vishvamithra

People of this island nation know as to why Ranil Wickramasinghe refused to field himself for the just concluded Presidential election and agreed to support General Sarath Fonseka instead. It is very sad but a fact that Ranil is a fatal failure as a leader, and because of him the UNP, a formidable political party in this country for so many decades, has lost so many party loyalists, some of whom were ardent supporters of the party for many decades. Simply, this man has become a political joker and the people have repeated endorsed that they are not willing to forgive this man for his unacceptable behavior; his despicable conduct, his unpatriotic attitude and his close association with the criminal elements that was established by the report published by Batalanda Commission. Ranil has made it very clear to the people that he is not someone with a vision or direction but simply a politically bankrupt figure, rejected by the people for more than 16 occasions. He knows that he has completely lost his credibility and that people have no trust in him anymore. That is why he fielded a scapegoat [Sarath Fonseka] for the just concluded Presidential election, with a hope to enter the governance through back door.

All requests directed at this man by many people to step down and to call for a leadership contest has been fell on deaf ears. It seems that Ranil Wickramasinghe thinks that the United National Party is a private property inherited from his family. Ranil Wickramasinghe so drunk for power continue to entice the people with distressing deception, and he continue to refuse to call for democratic leadership contest, giving the party members a candid opportunity to elect a fit and proper person, possibly a young dynamic leader with a proven character, to the party leadership.

It is very sad that due to irrational decisions taken by this individual, the United National Party, a formidable political party since independence, lost an opportunity to field a potential candidate from the UNP to compete against Mahinda Rajapakse at the Presidential election, a thing which has never happened before in this country.

The UNP possesses relatively young and dynamic people, with proven character, some of who have already reached the pinnacle of their respective of field of discipline. For instance people like Wijedasa Rajapakse, a learned professional and a dynamic leader is just one such person with a proven track record and who clearly deserve to be the leader of the UNP. Surely there may be many more such potential people with proven integrity and commitment to stand for leadership contest in the event any such contest is called for.

Unfortunately, RanilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s irresponsible and selfish attitude has denied the country to have the best out of these able people. His autocratic stand has completely shut the door for them, who have all attributes to inspire the party men and the Nation, and they have been forced to remain silence by this political joker who retains absolute power centered in him under the undemocratic party constitution. It is clearly detrimental not only to the progression of the UNP but also for the installing of democracy proper in this small island nation.

I believe that is the best opportunity for the general party membership and other potential leaders to break the ranks and launch a rebellion against this autocrat, if they have any sense of urgency to give back to the old party of its lost prestige. Probably, this may be the last opportunity for them to dump Ranil Wickramasinghe, utterly incompetent and uninspiring leader who is responsible for ruining the party. The party stalwarts should break the silence and should come forward demanding this man to step down straightway and to rewrite the party constitution that should pave way for a democratic and transparent leadership selection process, giving all potential candidates in the party an equal opportunity to contest the party leadership selection process.

As I rightly predicted, the General Fonseka who played into hands of deceptive elements headed by Ranil Wickramasinghe and contested at the Presidential election was clearly embarrassed and ended up in utter disgrace. For my predictions please refer to http://www.groundviews.org/2010/01/08/online-election-campaigns-in-sri-lanka-the-way-forward/

Should the party stalwarts continue to forgive Ranil for denying a decent candidate at the Presidential election and for the lost opportunity? Should they continue to do the same at the forthcoming Parliamentary election as well? Probably they may forgive Ranil for ruining for his own political career. Yet, the rebellion within the party suggests that they would not spare him for the crime he committed by denying the people, with a formidable candidate to challenge Rajapakse at the Presidential election and it is very unlikely that the party stalwarts would let Ranil to dictate terms on them any more ruining any possible chance that they would have at the forthcoming Parliamentary elections to expose the twofaced Rajapakse regime, that preach one thing to the people whilst practicing the completely opposite.