(By Prasad Gunewardena)

The heat of the UNP crisis subsided on Thursday after a top level meeting between the UNP leader Ranil Wickremasinghe with the “Reformist Group” and a “moderate Group”. The crisis which lasted a week indicated that three groups were there in the UNP. They are the “Ranil Group”, Karu-Gamini Group” and the Moragoda Group”. The Moragoda Group worked towards broadbasing democracy within the party as the “reformist Group” members indicated to them that the party leader was acting like a dictator. These two groups had several discussion on revamping the party administration before Mr. Wickremesinghe left for Norway with Moragoda. Prior to this Norway visit, Moragoda indicated that he would summon a meeting of the moderates on return to discuss the issue. There are nearly twenty five MPs who called them moderates.

The “Reformists” who claimed there was no game plan to stab Wickremesinghe in the back had Wickremesinghe’s confidante, Malik Samarawickreme present at all meetings where they discussed the ouster of Wickremesinghe as party leader in their bid to topple the government. Samarawickreme was present at the invitation of Karu Jayasuriya, Gamini Athukorale and Dr. Rajitha Senaratne. This annoyed another MP who shows off as a confidante of the UNP leader. He contacted Speaker Anura Bandaranaike and the latter broke the news to Wickremesinghe in Oslo. When the UNP leader cut short his visit and arrived in Colombo he was perturbed over the news that the “reformists” commanded the support of nearly 60 MPs. He got in touch with Moragoda who was in Oslo. Moragoda returned on Monday to intervene in the crisis. With nearly 25 MPs in the moderate fold he threw a party at Galadari Hotel where several “reformists” were also invited.

At this party Moragoda told the “reformists” MPs that it was not the time to throw the leader out from any office but agreed that changes must be effected at top level for power sharing. This message was sent to the “Reformist” leaders through Laskhman Yapa Abeywardene. Abeywardene on the same night went on MTV news saying that there was no intention to throw out anybody but the UNP needed more internal democracy first to throw the PA out from office. On Wednesday Moragoda arranged a meeting with the “Reformists” and his “moderates” as a first step towards solving the crisis. At this meeting the “Reformists” hit hard on the attitude adopted by the leader with regard o party activity and his lethargic approach to topple the PA. They also hit hard at a MP from the Kalutara District whom they said was one of the main reasons that led to the formation of the “reformist Group”.

The conditions put forward at this meeting was to have Karu Jayasuriya as the Opposition leader while Wickremesinghe remained as leader and to establish a system of power sharing among Wickremesinghe, Jayasuriya and Gamini Athukorale. Moragoda agreed to convey the message to the leader. But Wickremesinghe rejected the proposal to step down from either office and agreed to the proposal for power sharing adding that he would make necessary amendments to the party constitution for that purpose. A luncheon meeting for some of the “Reformists” took place at Malik Samarawickreme’s residence on Wednesday afternoon with Wickremesinghe present. Three “reformists”, Rajitha Senaratne, Ravi Karunanayake and Lakshman Seneviratne who were accused by the Ranil supporters of playing a major role in the creation of the crisis too were present.

Wickremesinghe greeted them cordially at lunch and asked what their problems were. First to speak was Karunanayake who said that the move was not against the UNP but to rally round everybody to topple the government. “Sir, everyone here is not against you and don’t think that others who are not here in the party are always for you” , Karunanayake added. “ Ravi, I am not a baby and I know everyone in my party”, Wickremesinghe replied with a smile. The UNP leader then turned towards Rajitha and recalled the support given to him during the budget debate in defending him and his family when PA ministers launched that attack. The fiery young MP Lakshman Seneviratne who had a bout with President Premadasa during the impeachment crisis said, “Sir, don’t think the problem is over, what we want is speedy action from you to reform the party.”

With the luncheon meeting being a success, Moragoda moved to arrange a meeting between his leader and the “Reformist” leaders, Karu Jayasuriya, Gamini Athukorale and a few others on Thursday morning. Wickremesinghe briefed them on his plan to defeat the PA through a no-faith motion early. Jayasuriya’s team also backed it saying that the four independent commissions too should be forced upon the PA next month. Here it appeared that the Jayasuriya group had dropped the proposals to replace the leader and the Opposition leader. Instead they urged Wickremesinghe to have Athukorale as the National Organiser and a scheme for power sharing. The UNP leader agreed for power sharing and asked them to forward their proposals within two weeks for consideration. The “reformist Group” was busy yesterday planning out changes to the party constitution. They intend to get this through before the end of May. The immediate crisis ended but, the pressure looks on till the UNP constitution sees some radical changes to share power.