Sajith nerved by Champika’s actions

What is needed is not political rhetoric but a serious debate on the way out of these crises

Internecine warfare is simmering within the SJB with at least three of its leaders promoting themselves as prospective presidential candidates both overtly and covertly. None of them says it openly. But, each of them has a modus operandi implying a real motive

It is not only the SBJ but other parties such as the National People’s Power (NPP) that have undertaken work targeting the presidential elections

In a country of representative, multi-party democracy, it is conceivable that the waning of the popularity of the government is the gain of the opposition. The government no longer enjoys the kind of popularity it had previously. General disillusionment is all too obvious due to numerous issues affecting ordinary people such as the soaring cost of living and scarcity of essential items including the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cooking. In such a situation, the political field is well set for the opposition to capitalise on.   

No doubt, the opposition is joyous as a result. It is bound to believe that the current public antipathy towards the ruling side will translate into its gains whenever elections are conducted- a long way for the next presidential election though.  

The main opposition ‘Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)’ has sprung into action to capitalise on the situation to consolidate its base in view of an electoral victory. That is understandable and conceivable in a democratic context. However, internecine warfare is simmering within the SJB with at least three of its leaders promoting themselves as prospective presidential candidates both overtly and covertly. None of them says it openly. But, each of them has a modus operandi implying a real motive.   

SJB leader Sajith Premadasa is obviously the key person harbouring such ambitions and trying to galvanise the party apparatus to realise his target. He traverses the country addressing public rallies and meetings. It has become apparent that he now feels threatened in the realisation of his goal because there are others in the party, who look for the same. Mr. Premadasa who is also the opposition leader has started making swipes at them but without mentioning their names. His aim is to nip the attempts of his possible internal rivals in the bud and clear the path for him.  

In his recent public meeting in Medawachchiya, Anuradhapura, he said, “some people say we are not capable of addressing the issues at hand. That is a remark made out of political envy. I challenge those presidential aspirants to work for the people like me and deliver,”   

That is an obvious response to Colombo district MP Patali Champika Ranawaka who, once said, SJB alone could not find solutions to the current crises of the country. Mr. Ranawaka has formed his movement called ’43 Brigade’ which is viewed as his springboard to propel him to presidential candidacy in 2024. He does not make any open remarks about his real intention. When the question is directed at him by the media, he gives a guarded answer. He would say, “This is not the time to talk about the presidential elections. Now is the time to formulate a policy frame to get the country out of the current mess.”  

Nevertheless, there is wide scope for interpretation of his political actions as being aimed at presidential candidacy. He speaks about policy formulations on national issues and works hard in wooing the support of academics and professionals.  

Nervous of Mr. Ranawaka’s political actions, Mr. Premadasa is critical of him through innuendoes at public rallies. Mr. Premadasa faces yet another challenge from within. That is from former army commander cum SJB MP Sarath Fonseka.  

Mr. Fonseka even went to the extent of asking Mr. Premadasa not to live off the political legacy of his father the late Ranasinghe Premadasa. He said the Ranasinghe Premadasa political tag does not sell any longer, and therefore a novel approach is needed to revitalise the party and address the country’s burning issues.  
Mr. Premadasa is hitting back saying his father’s legacy will live on, and he will, in fact, improve on it.   

It is too early to get into any debate on the next presidential elections in 2024. In politics, even six months can be a long time. The country is grappling with issues that have no short term solutions. The foreign exchange crisis is the most serious of them, which is rippling through multiple sectors of the economy.  

What is needed is not political rhetoric but a serious debate on the way out of these crises.  

It is not only the SBJ but other parties such as the National People’s Power (NPP) that have undertaken work targeting the presidential elections. The ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will launch a series of public rallies starting from February 11 in Anuradhapura.  

Be that as it may, the government has nearly three years to complete its term. It is a long period in political terms. Politics is full of vagaries. Nobody knows what is in store in politics. There is no doubt that there is general disillusionment against the government. In which way it tilts will depend on what is to unfold in the next couple of or more years. Until such time, the political parties have started groundwork in the refurbishment of their political apparatuses.