-By A Staff Writer
(Lanka-e-News -29.May.2024, 9.0025 PM) In a surprising political maneuver, the United National Party (UNP), under the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, has proposed holding a referendum to extend the terms of the President and Parliament by two more years. This move comes amid a backdrop of significant political and social discontent, raising questions about the motivations behind this suggestion.
According to sources, President Wickremesinghe was influenced by a recent survey conducted by a U.S. organization predicting that Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the National People's Power (NPP), would win the upcoming 2024 Presidential election with a commanding 61% of the vote. This forecast has reportedly prompted President Wickremesinghe to seek ways to postpone the elections under the pretext of needing more time to stabilize the economy.
The UNP’s proposal appears to be a strategic response to widespread dissatisfaction across various demographic groups in Sri Lanka:
Tamil Community Discontent: The Tamil population has expressed strong opposition to President Wickremesinghe's continued collaboration with the Rajapaksa family, who are seen as adversaries. The Tamils are also displeased with the lack of an international mechanism to investigate the end of the Tamil insurgency, the burning of the Jaffna library, and the inclusion of former LTTE leader Karuna in the UNP, all of which diminish the likelihood of Tamil support in upcoming elections.
Muslim Community Frustrations: The Muslim community is discontented with the President's reluctance to appoint a commission to investigate the forced cremations implemented by the previous SLPP government, a policy supported by Foreign Minister Ali Sabry, who remains in Wickremesinghe’s cabinet. Additionally, the President's stance on homosexuality has also been a point of contention among Muslim voters.
Christian and Catholic Dissatisfaction: Christians and Catholics have shown dissatisfaction with Wickremesinghe's perceived associations with individuals responsible for the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks and his failure to ensure justice for the victims by streamlining investigations.
Buddhist Majority Concerns: The majority Buddhist population remains skeptical of President Wickremesinghe’s views on power devolution, which they believe could lead to national disharmony.
Economic Woes: The Sri Lankan economy continues to struggle, with millions of citizens seeking employment abroad, resulting in significant remittances but also highlighting the country’s ongoing financial instability and bankruptcy.
Inexperienced Appointments: The President has faced criticism for appointing individuals with limited expertise to key positions. National Security Advisor Sagala Ratnayaka’s background and controversial personal incident, and Climate Change Advisor Ruwan Wijewardene’s lack of relevant qualifications, have both been points of criticism. Allegations of misleading the public with efforts to bolster Wickremesinghe's image, such as arranging meetings with Elon Musk, have further fueled dissatisfaction.
Opposition Dynamics: The main opposition, led by Sajith Premadasa, reportedly holds only 16% of the voting share according to the U.S. survey. Premadasa is perceived as an attention-seeker without practical governance ideas, which leaves the NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake as a more favorable choice for many voters.
Given these factors, the proposed referendum by the UNP seems to be an attempt to delay an electoral outcome that might not favor the current administration. Whether this referendum will gain traction or face resistance from the public and political opposition remains to be seen.
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by (2024-05-29 15:59:07)
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