Political parties that oppose the president are incapable of coordinated and unified action. Cleavages weaken the opposition and going it alone will not work.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – Rifts are emerging in the Sri Lankan government. The most evident is that between the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (Sri Lanka People's Front, SLPP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).
The latter has vowed not to run with the SLPP anymore, even if some SLFP lawmakers prefer to remain because they are worried about their election prospects.
Several anonymous lawmakers told AsiaNews that they were disappointed with the current government and wondered whether to join the opposition or remain neutral, because they cannot express their opinion against the government.
They explained that they could not visit colleges for fear of actions by the ruling party voters.
If the SLFP, the SLPP’s main partner, leaves the coalition, it will lose its majority in parliament
Udaya Gammanpila, Wimal Weerawansa and Vasudeva Nanayakkara, MPs with the Democratic Left Front (DLF) and prominent leaders of the rebel group in the government, criticised the latter in recent months, especially over its response to the energy and sovereign debt crises.
Yet, they moderated their approach more recently. For political analysts, this is designed to distract voters rather than lead any strong opposition.
Even under the administration of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, these lawmakers had expressed similar views but remained in government.
The opposition will have to take into account these developments even though many party leaders seem to have no back-up plans, and are divided into factions. This helps the government.
In 2019, even before the Rajapaksa brothers claimed election victory, the United National Party (UNP) and the SLFP went their respective ways.
The UNP’s huge defeats led to a break between Ranil Wickremesinghe (party leader) and Sajith Premadasa, current opposition leader and head of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)
When the Janatha Vikmuthi Peramuna (JVP) turned into the National People's Power (NPP), it further reduced the chances of a strong opposition. For many analysts, a struggling opposition is the government’s best hope.
The opposition basically lacks a strategy towards the government. A pragmatic opposition should be able to distinguish between innovative and regressive policies, accepting the former and criticising the latter.
Several observers have criticised the opposition for its fragmentation. For example, the JVP issues contradictory statements about the International Monetary Fund, while calling the rating agencies independent. The SJB wavers between neoliberal views and populist statements.
The SJB-led bloc is also divided between Sajith Premadasa and Patali Champika (leader of the 43rd Brigade, a civil movement). All these divisions undermine the any attempt to challenge the government.
Opposition lawmakers feed paranoia on social media, distract public opinion from important issues, and generate distrust and disinterest in rural voters.
All this delegitimises the opposition already in difficulty, and drives undecided voters towards a “cleaner” version of the Rajapaksas.
As some have pointed out, Sri Lanka needs strong opposition, whether green, red or blue, more open and more transparent than it currently is.
Going it alone will not work, while the failed strategies of the past must be replaced by new actions.