Wickremesinghe too backs move to keep flock together

COLOMBO, JANUARY 20: In a desperate gamble to keep the United National Party UNP and his leadership of it intact, Opposition leader Rani...

COLOMBO, JANUARY 20: In a desperate gamble to keep the United National Party UNP and his leadership of it intact, Opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has unexpectedly announced the party8217;s support to the Government8217;s peace package after opposing it for five years.

In a letter to President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Wednesday, Wickremesinghe said that despite reservations, his party would extend parliamentary support to the constitutional reforms that include controversial measures for devolution of power to the embattled north-east.

Wickremesinghe8217;s overtly conciliatory offer came amidst reports that the government was planning to introduce a bill that would enable Opposition members to cross over to the Government without losing their seats in Parliament.

Chandrika Kumaratunga is pushing the 8220;cross-over8221; bill so that her Government can muster the mandatory two-thirds support required to pass the constitutional reforms through Parliament.

It was being speculated that a number of UNP members wereready to switch allegiance to the ruling People8217;s Alliance PA for a variety of inducements, but could not as they would lose their seats in Parliament under existing provisions.

By extending UNP support to the package, Wickremesinghe is trying to blunt the rationale for a proposed legislation that will splinter his party and threaten his leadership of it.

It is now to be seen if Kumaratunga will call Wickremesinghe8217;s bluff or steam on ahead with the cross-over bill.

Story continues below this ad

The fate of four UNP parliamentarians who crossed over to the PA before the December Presidential elections and were expelled by the party hangs on the success of the bill.

At a meeting of the PA chaired by Kumaratunga today to discuss the constitutional reforms package, Wickremesinghe8217;s peace offer was discussed. 8220;The President was surprised by it. But we will take it up, and give an appropriate reply,8221; said a senior parliamentarian from the coalition.

So apparent is the motive behind Wickremesinghe8217;s offer of support that it haselicited only a lukewarm response from the Tamil political parties, who have long grown cynical of the manouverings of their Sinhalese counterparts.

8220;We have to judge him not by his words, but by his deeds,8221; said R Sampanthan, senior Parliamentarian of the Tamil United Liberation Front TULF.

Story continues below this ad

Wickremesinghe has stated in the letter that the UNP was prepared to support the package even though the proposed concept of Sri Lanka as a 8220;union of regions8221; was unacceptable8217; to it.

Another Tamil Parliamentarian who did not want to be named said if the cross-over bill was shelved and Wickremesinghe perceived no immediate danger to the UNP, there was nothing to stop him from withdrawing support to the package citing the same reservation.