Induction of Sarath Fonseka Into UNF Enhances Nationalist Credentials of UNP Govt in Combatting Rajapaksa Challenge

Posted by on

By P.K.Balachandran

The entry of Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka’s Democratic Party (DP) into the United National Party (UNP)-led United National Front (UNF) on Wednesday, coupled with the distinct possibility of his being nominated to Parliament later this week, will add to the nationalistic credentials of the UNP ahead of the crucial local body elections in June.

Field Marshal Fonseka is an acclaimed war hero, having led the Lankan army to victory against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in a no-holds-barred fight in the 2006-2009 Eelam War IV. His entry into the UNF as an ally of the UNP, will help the latter blunt the Rajapaksa group’s criticism that the UNP-led government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is not nationalistic and is dancing to the tune of the Western powers, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and India. It also helps divert attention from the Rajapaksa group’s taunt that Wickremesinghe had said that the war against the LTTE was unwinnable.

Fonseka’s joining UNF and the government side in parliament, will boost the prospects of President Maithripala Sirisena also, because the latter is in alliance with the UNP. To Sirisena’s credit, it is he who made Fonseka a Field Marshal after Rajapaksa had stripped him off his rank and medals when he was in power.

Playing the nationalist card has become important in the run up to the local body elections because the Rajapaksa group (located both within the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party and in the opposition) has been playing the card to the hilt. It has described the Joint US-Lanka UNHRC resolution on Lanka as a sellout.

Rajapaksa has also denounced a move to allow the singing of the Lankan national anthem in Tamil as a “measure to please India”. A member of his group, Udaya Gammanpila, has said that an impeachment motion will be moved against President Sirisena if he allows the Tamil version to be sung on Independence Day.

The UNP and Fonseka had worked together earlier in 2010 when Fonseka was the Joint Opposition Candidate in the 2010 Presidential election against incumbent Rajapaksa. Fonseka lost, but got 40.1 percent of the votes polled.

Courtesy:New Indian Express