Election season in Sri Lanka heralds many changes, once powerful parties and coalitions fall-apart and new ones, often with the same old faces, are reformed, with lofty banner names, and symbols. The era of grand old parties are dying a slow and painful death. The United National Party (UNP) led by incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe was the first to face the bitter experience, as many young, under-appreciated and side-lined members, revolted against the ‘elitist’ leadership which had long constrained them. The break-up of the UNP was not graceful, it was ugly. And has left the grand old party in tatters. Today the same seems to be repeating for the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).

The SLPP was built by Basil Rajapaksa in a short period, and went on to achieve a two thirds majority in Parliament, and placed now disgraced former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on the Executive Presidency ‘throne’ at the end of 2019. Today, the once mighty and pompous SLPP that rode a nationalist wave to power, was disgraced by serious policy failures and poor governance. The SLPP leadership was broadly rejected by the public through the public protest movement which morphed into the ‘aragayala’ and the political turmoil that followed. It was political expediency and survival that led the SLPP to back Ranil Wickremesinghe as the President and work with him on a reforms agenda, which has brought the Government thus far.

However, the Presidential Election, and survival of the SLPP heavy weights at a following General Election has seen the party leadership trying to drop Wickremesinghe, and it has backfired. It was no secret that following the ‘aralagalya,’ no one from the ‘Rajapaksa’ dynasty will have it easy in politics, let alone running for the top office. The calculation of Basil and nephew Namal, has lit the fuse that has got the SLPP imploding, as it struggles to fight for political survival. With the SLPP Politburo decision to field their own candidate, the cracks have begun to widen. Yesterday (30), it is reported that ninety-two Members of Parliament of the SLPP, including Ministers and State Ministers have reportedly met with President Wickremesinghe, and had pledged their support to the President in the upcoming Presidential Election to ensure his victory. This, according to the President’s Media Division (PMD).

The support, or breakaway from the ranks of the SLPP came from the younger members who are in Parliament. Wickremesinghe has identified the younger backbenchers as eager to perform and make a name for themselves, and had appointed them state ministers and Cabinet ministers when he took over office. The young SLPP MPs, many from legacy political families, had long being in the shadows of the Rajapaka’s but were not given an opportunity to hold office, or to prove themselves, by giving them power and working with them, Wickremesinghe has created a little band of loyal MPs who have now come to his aid.  The defecting ministers and MPs had gathered at the political office of United National Party Member of Parliament Wajira Abeywardena in Flower Road, Colombo, on Monday (29) night and engaged in a discussion with President Wickremesinghe. According to the PMD the Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees of Parliament Ajith Rajapakse, Minister Kanchana Wijesekera, State Ministers Dilum Amunugama, Anupa Pasqual, Geeta Kumarasinghe, Members of Parliament Mahindananda Aluthgamage, S.B. Dissanayake, Premnath C. Dolawatte, and others had participated in this discussion and decided to support President Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election. Posting on X, what used to be Twitter, State Minister Premitha Bandara Tennakoon stated that he will continue to support the President who saved the country, regardless of the SLPP Politburo decision. “Immaterial of the decision made by the political bureau of SLPP, together with the majority of parliamentary members, I will continue to support President Ranil Wickremesinghe in the upcoming Presidential Election, who rescued the country at the most crucial time,” Tennakoon said. His views were echoed by State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe and Minister Wijesekara.

It remains to be seen whether former President Mahinda Rajapaksa can keep the SLPP from turning into another SJB like breakaway party. Nevertheless, it seems that the era of grand political parties is coming to a close. Today, many citizens are more politically aware, and are not afraid to speak their mind, nor push for the changes they want. How they (including the sizable young swing voter group) vote at the polling booth (both Presidential and General) will be indicative of the political trajectory Sri Lanka will take in the coming decade. Will the public once again seek ‘old wine in a new bottle’ or will they throw out the casks, and distil a new brew?