Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Part I Kingdom and Colony: The Mythology of Race (Pre-history to 1948)
- Part II Dominion to Republic: The Politics of Language (1948–1977)
- Part III The New Monarch: Jayewardene in Control (1977–1983)
- Part IV The New Dominion: India in the Driving Seat (1983–1987)
- Part V Changing the Guard: Premadasa's Emergence (1987–1989)
- Part VI Using the Executive Presidency: Premadasa in Action (1989–1993)
- Chapter 12 Controlling the Country
- Chapter 13 Reform and Reaction
- Chapter 14 Restoring the Balance
- Part VII Using the Spoon: Wijetunge as President (1993–1994)
- Part VIII The Procrastination of a Princess: Kumaratunga in charge (1994–2001)
- Part IX The Baby without the Bathwater: Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister (2001–2004)
- Part X Guarding the Change: Rajapakse's Emergence (2004–2006)
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 13 - Reform and Reaction
from Part VI - Using the Executive Presidency: Premadasa in Action (1989–1993)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 November 2011
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Part I Kingdom and Colony: The Mythology of Race (Pre-history to 1948)
- Part II Dominion to Republic: The Politics of Language (1948–1977)
- Part III The New Monarch: Jayewardene in Control (1977–1983)
- Part IV The New Dominion: India in the Driving Seat (1983–1987)
- Part V Changing the Guard: Premadasa's Emergence (1987–1989)
- Part VI Using the Executive Presidency: Premadasa in Action (1989–1993)
- Chapter 12 Controlling the Country
- Chapter 13 Reform and Reaction
- Chapter 14 Restoring the Balance
- Part VII Using the Spoon: Wijetunge as President (1993–1994)
- Part VIII The Procrastination of a Princess: Kumaratunga in charge (1994–2001)
- Part IX The Baby without the Bathwater: Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister (2001–2004)
- Part X Guarding the Change: Rajapakse's Emergence (2004–2006)
- Select Bibliography
- Index
Summary
The new Cabinet
It took Premadasa a little over a year to take control of the country, since he had first to quell the JVP insurrection in the south and ensure the departure of the Indians. Thus he had just about three years to carry out whatever programmes he intended. That period can be divided into two sections, distinguishable through a change in the structure of Sri Lankan politics.
The monolithic structure of the UNP broke up along with the overwhelming power of its leader, which Jayewardene had built up and which Premadasa had unashamedly used. This occurred because Dissanayake and Athulathmudali led a revolt against Premadasa from within the UNP. This did not receive as much support as they had expected but it made quite clear the resentment against Premadasa's one-man show.
The charge was to a great extent true, as he had sidelined the two most distinguished and effective members of his parliamentary group. The process began with the 1990 cabinet reshuffle, which took place in March, less than a month after de Zoysa's murder. When he appointed Wijetunge as Prime Minister in 1989 Premadasa had claimed it was only for a year. A year later, with his position secure, Premadasa could now make his real views about the other claimants clear. Dissanayake was dropped from the cabinet, a startling innovation in Sri Lankan politics where reshuffles rarely involved anyone being removed.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Declining Sri LankaTerrorism and Ethnic Conlict, the Legacy of J. R. Jayewardene, pp. 176 - 186Publisher: Foundation BooksPrint publication year: 2007