Colombo, October 3, 2024 – Udaya Gammanpila, the leader of Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, confidently declared that the ruling coalition, known as Malimawa, has the potential to secure around 120 seats in the upcoming parliamentary elections if the current government avoids major missteps. He shared these insights during a press conference held at the party headquarters.
During the conference, Gammanpila stated, “If the government does not make a serious political mistake, we can easily reach 120 seats in Parliament. The history of our elections shows that the party that wins the presidential election has a significant advantage in the subsequent parliamentary elections.”
He elaborated on this pattern, saying, “Historically, we’ve seen this happen time and again. The parliamentary elections have been held within nine months of the presidential elections on four occasions: 1989, 2010, 2015, and 2020. Each time, the victorious presidential party has emerged successful in the parliamentary elections as well.”
Addressing the dynamics of the current political landscape, Gammanpila emphasized the impact of the opposition’s morale. “The main opposition parties are currently demoralized after their defeat in the presidential election. Based on previous elections, we can expect a significant drop in their vote share. In 1989, the losing party’s votes decreased by 22%; in 2010, it dropped by 33%; 18% in 2015; and a staggering 42% in 2020. We can reasonably assume that both defeated parties will experience a decline of about 25% this time around.”
When asked about how these changes might affect the elections, he explained, “While our votes may remain stable or decrease by only a small percentage, the reduction in opposition votes could amplify our advantage. This is why I am confident that Malimawa can secure a substantial number of seats.”
Gammanpila underscored the necessity of a parliamentary majority to fulfill the promises made during the presidential campaign. “Without a solid parliamentary base, it will be difficult to implement the President’s program. If the President and Prime Minister belong to opposing parties, we will face the same instability that has plagued our politics in the past,” he warned.
He further addressed the calls from some Malimawa leaders for a two-thirds majority in Parliament. “Some are pushing for two-thirds power, but they fail to recognize the historical repercussions of such power. History has shown us that governments with two-thirds majorities often face dire consequences. Mrs. Bandaranaike’s government lost drastically after her two-thirds majority in 1970, and J.R. Jayawardena faced similar fallout after 1977. Even Mahinda Rajapaksa, despite his accomplishments, lost significant ground after obtaining two-thirds power in 2010,” Gammanpila recounted.
Concluding his argument, he asserted, “No one should hold too much power. We must learn from history to avoid repeating past mistakes.”
Gammanpila then pivoted to the role of the opposition, stating, “We need a strong, constructive opposition. The role of the opposition is not just to oppose but to critique constructively and offer support when necessary. We should be an alternative to the government, not just a dissenting voice.”
Addressing a question regarding remarks made by opposition leader Patali Champika Ranawaka, who claimed Sajith Premadasa was the only viable candidate for leadership, Gammanpila replied, “Mr. Premadasa has positioned himself as the prime ministerial candidate, but that role should rightly belong to someone from Malimawa. If President Anura is also the Prime Minister, it could lead to conflict, as we’ve seen with past leaders like Chandrika Kumaratunga and Ranil Wickramasinghe. This kind of division only leads to instability.”
Gammanpila concluded with a call for unity and understanding within the political landscape. “If we want to progress, we need to ensure that our parliamentary power aligns with the presidency. I am confident that Malimawa will prevail in the upcoming elections, and together, we can create a government that truly serves the people.”
