When UNP faces a demoralizing defeat in the recently concluded presidential election, there is a propensity for internal conflicts to occur within the party.
Making matters better or worse for UNP, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe resigned, bringing his government to an end clearing the way for new President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to appoint Mahinda Rajapaksa and a new cabinet on Thursday 21.
Everybody now makes hue and cry on ‘ousting Ranil’ and bringing Sajith as the leader of the grand old party. Is this really going to work?
Will Mr. Wickremasinghe’s prospective successor overcome the prevailing internal crisis and turn the UNP into a victorious party?
Those were the million dollar questions before the UNP hierarchy and its working committee to evolve solutions soon to resurrect the collapsing party machinery, political analysts said.
Therefore, UNP needs to take a pragmatic stance towards settling this problem for the benefit of the party, country and the citizenry.
Party reforms and changes should not be based on jealousy and hatred but it should strengthen the unity among the leaders, members and supporters of the UNP.
For the UNP, this is not the time to make experiments because if they backfire it will only put the party in jeopardy, they added.
Therefore the UNP should follow the example set by former president J.R Jayawardena who led the UNP to make a surprise come back since its 1970 humiliation similar to current set back.
Therefore, in order to avoid rifts, UNP should make major reforms and changes according responsibilities and leadership while enlisting new faces and dynamic intelligent and qualified young and old so that they can strengthen the party mechanism to regain power.
(LI)