United National Party

Template:Politics of Sri Lanka The United National Party (UNP, Sinhalese: Ekshat Jathika Pakshaya, Tamil: ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி) is a centre-right political party in Sri Lanka. At the last legislative elections, 2 april 2004, the party was the leading part of the United National Front that won 37.8 % of the popular vote and 82 out of 225 seats. It is currently the second largest party in Sri Lanka and the main opposition party. It had control of the parliament from December 2001 until April 2004, when it had 109 of 225 seats, and in alliance with smaller parties held a majority, which elected Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe (UNP) who shared power with the President. After the party lost 27 seats in the 2004 elections, the president was able to remove Wikremaseng from the premiership. Earlier UNP Prime Ministers include Dudley Senanayake and Junius R. Jayewardene. It had control of the parliament and premiership from 1947 to 1956, from 1966 to 1970, from 1977 to 1994 and from 2001 to 2004;Having governed Sri Lanka for 33 of 57 years of it's Independent history. The UNP also had control of the presidency from 1978 to 1994.

The UNP is generally seen as the more right-wing of the two big parties, initiating a more open economy.

History

The UNP was founded 6th September, 1946 by amalgamating three right leaning nationalist parties belonging to majority Sinhalese community and minority Tamil and Muslim communities. It was founded by D.S. Senanayake, the right wing nationalist leader, who was in the forefront in the struggle for independence from the UK. At the inception UNP represented interests of the business community and the landed gentry. However Senanayake also adopted populist policies that made UNP accepted in the grassroots level. UNP campaigned in the 1947 general election on the platform of independence from UK and protecting traditional way of life and Buddhism, followed by majority, from supposedly communist threat and won the election. After UK granted independence to Sri Lanka (Ceylon as known then) in 1948, D.S. Senanayake became the first Prime Minister. He followed a pro-west anti-Communist foreign policy much to the ire of USSR which prevented the country from joining the UN. In 1952 D.S. died from a riding accident and his son Dudley Senanayake became Prime Minister. This irked long standing UNP stalwart SWRD Bandaranaike, a Buddhist nationalist leader known for his center-left views. Bandaranaike split the party and crossed over to opposition forming his own Party nationalist left of center SLFP as a balancing force between right wing UNP and radical Marxist parties. By this time people became disaffected with UNP which favored the rich and minority ethnic and religious groups, most notably Catholics to the consternation of majority Sinhalese Buddhists. This gave Bandaranaike to win 1956 election with a landslide by invoking Sinhalese nationalism. Soon afterwards he passed the controversial Sinhala-Only Bill which led to communal clashes in 1958. In 1962 the UNP was accused of instigating the failed coup’d etat carried out by right wing elements in the army with civilian collaborators like Douglas Liyanage , though accusation were not proven. UNP again came to power in 1965 under Dudley Senanayake though defeated in 1970 by the left leaning UF coalition which included SLFP and Marxist parties, by a land slide. While in Opposition a bitter leadership battle developed between moderate Dudley Senanayake and party’s skilled organizer and ardent nationalist right winger J.R.Jayawardhana who a was strong supporter of free market policies and held pro American views, for which he was called “Yankee Dickey”. It was settled in courts with some members opting to expel JR from the party .After Dudley’s death in 1973 J.R. became leader of UNP started reorganizing party at the grass roots level. General disaffection with pseudo Marxist economic policies of UF coalition and its brutal crackdown of 1971 insurrection led by Maoist JVP, brought UNP back to power under J.R. in 1977 winning an unprecedented 5/6 of total seats in the parliament. J.R. opened up the economy and revolutionized the entire outlook of the country. In 1978 he introduced a new constitution which included a Presidency with sweeping powers and became first President himself. JRJ introduced controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act 1979 to quell the armed insurrection in the Northern province by separatist Tamil rebels. Leading UNP politicians like Gamini Dissanayake, Cyril Matthew resorted to brazen thuggery to intimidate Tamil voters during Development Council Elections 1981 in which massive vote rigging occurred. Some UNP stalwarts from Kurunegala torched the prestigious Jaffna Library, thereby causing grave harm to racial unity.

On the economic front initially free market policies created thousands of jobs from free trade zones and government undertook massive development work to promote hydro electricity and agriculture. However rising of inflation to unprecedented levels generally made public frustrated with the government, culminating in series of Opposition led strikes crushed by the police and armed members of the UNP’s trade union wing,JSS and underworld thugs. in 1982 J.R. held a referendum to extend the life of parliament in which vote rigging and voter intimidation widely occurred. Meanwhile separatist Tamil rebels in the north and eastern provinces were leading an insurgency for a separate state for Tamils. In Black July 1983 communal riots broke out in all parts of the country consequent to a rebel attack in Jaffna, which killed 13 soldiers of Rajarata Rifles and leading UNP politicians allegedly instigated these acts of violence against minority Tamils. Most prominent among them was Jayawardhane confidante, and MP for Kelaniya, Cyril Matthew. J.R. used riots as an excuse to ban several opposition parties including Marxist nationalist JVP which had an enormous power in campuses. The Tamil rebel groups were trained and armed by India, angry with JR about his courting of USA Also the JVP began an intensive attack upon government forces. JR and his successor R.Premadasa allegedly used death squads to crush the insurrection. In the due process over 40,000 civilians were “disappeared” by the armed forces and death squads and many torture chambers sprung up to interrogate JVP sympathizers. Many abducted youth were summary executed and burnt in rubber tire pyres by the roadside. The intensive offensive crushed the rebels and their leader Rohana Wijeweera was captured and later murdered by the armed forces in custody. Meanwhile JR signed Indo-Sri Lanka pact with the Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi amidst total protests from within his own party and without. R.Premadasa, a populist leader from the lower class and known for his anti Indian sentiment succeeded JR as president. He initiated many housing projects and poverty alleviation programs that made him popular among grassroots level. In 1993 R Premadasa was assassinated by separatist LTTE suicide cadre while proceeding in a May Day rally. By this time public were longing for a change due to allegations of inefficiency and corruption against the UNP government and its alleged involvement with the death squads and underworld. In 1994 election, daughter of SWRD Bandaranaike Chandrika Kumaratunga came to power defeating UNP after 17 years of unbroken rule, the longest post-independence government. While in opposition many of UNP stalwarts were killed by LTTE suicide attack during an election rally. Party leader ship passed to Ranil Wickremasinghe, a relatively young politician with pro-west views and penchant for neo-liberal economic policies, who also is the nephew of JR. He aligned UNP with other right wing parties, most notably Conservative Party of UK and US Republican Party. By 2001 country was facing the worst post Independence economic downturn and rising inflation and an acute power crisis and never ending war with LTTE rebels in North East parts of Island. Ranil Wickremasinghe came to power in 2001 election in a platform of peace with rebels and economic resurgence. Ranil Wickremasinghe became PM following election and began a cohabitation government with President Kumaratunga. His government cut many subsidies and closed down many ailing state institutions and followed a monetarist economic policy. But his ministers were accused of widespread corruption. Also he was accused by the Opposition of conceding too much to rebels at the expense security. Also critics accused him of “selling the country to the west” because of very close relationship with the USA and President Bush, to the extent of unprecedently endorsing Iraq Invasion at the UN General Meeting, to the ire of local Muslims and left wing resurgent JVP. Also hard-line Buddhist organizations ostracized his government for allegedly pandering to Western Evangelical organizations and thereby encouraging postelizing and endangering Buddhism. In 2004 General Election UNP was ousted by combined forces of center-left SLFP and radical nationalist Marxist JVP under UPFA banner. Currently Ranil Wickremasinghe is engaged in a country wide drive to reorganize the Party and to prepare or impending Presidential Election.

External link

• Party website (http://www.unpsrilanka.org/)ta:ஐக்கிய தேசியக் கட்சி