IMPACT ON RANIL’s ASCENDANCY
Posted on August 8th, 2012

By Gomin Dayasri

In a masterly maneuver, endorsement was extracted without cracking bones or spilling blood with a passing burp that lost its wind before the belch ceased. UNPsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ hierarchical structure reached near unanimity in selecting Ranil Wickemasinghe for leadership giving a carte blanche for another six years ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” after 17 years in office, of it fourteen spent in the wilderness, exiled by popular vote.

Dissidents feared to surface at a conclave where their masterƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s voice ruled the airwaves on the Sirikotha wi-fi. A pincer movement trapped opponents and made to observe the silence of lambs on being taken to slaughter. Silence is eerie when the proverbial ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”medicalƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ is urged as the excuse for absence. If UNP is deemed weak, rebels are weaker. Weaker, may go places by joining a government with an inferiority complex that feels good having UNPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ers in their backpack; making true blue supporters suspicious. UNP, without much choice, has to back Ranil to heaven or hell in an election season.

Ranil Wickremasinghe, serial loser, after forfeiting his right in the fear of defeat at the last outing: cannot afford to throw the towel, giving vent to quixotic thought Sarath Fonseka may entertain. Ranil made a strategic ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”sacrificeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ in his ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”self ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”interestƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢, to ensure next time around, hopefully, in a more favorable playing field, his candidature is secure.

So a determined Ranil made sure the slot is surely his, killing two birds with one stone leaving Fonseka and the rebels on the option rack ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” (i) follow the leader tamely or (ii) join the government or (iii) get lost. To Ranil – in earthy slang or hard talk- itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s good riddance of bad rubbish, having an open field to operate.

Rajapakse visualizes he sits in comfort with Ranil at the helm. Not so, if the West and India seek a regime change at the next Presidential elections. (Sri Lanka can convince distant US with valid reason unlike India with regional cravings). To them Ranil is less than great but better than nothing in a land of limited choice. Foreign Powers prefer a replica to a trophy, mildly put. Ranil will carry their agenda that is close to his heart with a few reservations that can be accommodated with a cosmetic touch as he once irked with the CFA. He can take TNA/SLMC on board on a distant relationship- carrying two provinces with the minority vote.

These may prove his undoing. International community and TNA are RajapakseƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s straw ducks with a pop gun, to gain ground with the silent majority especially as Ranil does not have a nationalistic agenda – his preference carries vulnerability. J.R. Jayewardene short-circuited the process in ousting Sirima Bandaranaike by promising a mock ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”dharmista societyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ but then Ranil is no such fake and had to carry supposed knaves, few said to have crossed over, unlike JRJƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”clean-as-they- cameƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ whiz kids of 1977. Incredibly, Ranil Wickremasinghe has a canny knack of making Mahinda Rajapakse stronger by his words and deeds.

After leading the party to consecutive defeats, at a mere asking UNP hierarchy called for three cheers on his behalf. What is the magic touch Ranil has that Sajith lacks? Blue-blooded Ranil in a lineage conscious ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”Grand Old PartyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ has no other jumbo around within striking distance to encounter. Young Premadasa showed promise but never daring to make an effective challenge at the crucial moment for his segment to mount a confrontation. Does it reflect a lack of confidence in his followers or in self?

Ranil has virtues that appeals to his followers: A democrat beyond his party territory, liberal child of free market enterprise, honest to boot with impeccable integrity, bows to western values and carries a broad-spectrum agenda without any sectarian bias and acquired worldly wisdom of the company he associates. That concoction goes well with the UNP caucus, appointed for their Alsatian-like loyalty by the leader. They may give the V-sign but it could repel thinking voters? ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Are UNP card-carriers, signal posts manually operated to raise hands, on a tap? Do they blindly follow the Colombo Man? Think Tanks of Colombo often misled the UNP, as do MahindaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s dumb handlers. ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

Terrorist JVP and LTTE combine annihilated UNPƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s emerging leadership from tiers one and two. Ranil is last of JRƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s prestigious pedigreed pups: stoutly faithful in an erratic litter. In his peer group within the UNP there is no contender. Team Ranil, knew they are doomed, if SajithƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s sycophants took over the party- head chop was inevitable. It had to be done before the final stretch, disregarding a jerk, for self-preservation.

Hilarious to ludicrous anecdotes are attached to make Ranil look boorish but none that smacks of any financial indiscipline; the rumor factory is closed since he is not associated with muck. Not born to cheat, he is disciplined and stands straight but some around him indulged in ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”dealsƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ distant from his gaze. Advantage accrued to Ranil in becoming Mr. Clean. Others imprudently frolicked in the mud.

Consequences of the impeachment motion against President Premadasa for tight control with an iron fist made its impact – ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Premadasa estopped ministers from mischief; diverting from it damaged Prime Minister Wickremasinghe, fatally; as are the doings of wild men around Rajapakse. President knows that others can cause his downfallƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  due to scatterbrains and red tape, graft and sleaze. Those who were beside him in the difficult days in his run up to Presidency in 2005 are prominent at the barricades. To his disadvantage, MahindaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s mafia presently holds public office unlike RanilƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s cronies. Gratitude for eliminating terrorism remains marginally diminished, if the gap closes, other extraneous factors may reckon. Personal popularity polls show the President is comfortably up and away.

These political tremors have a tsunami effect on the home of the JVP, where cracks could develop with a drift to both the major forces. In provincial elections ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…”more than winning or losing- it is the majorities that will matter for a reading on Presidential Elections.

 

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ 

5 Responses to “IMPACT ON RANIL’s ASCENDANCY”

  1. douglas Says:

    You speak of Ranil’s “Ascendency”. But we common and garden folks, who matter most in electing our governemnt and handing over the reins of administering the country on our behalf, are compelled to live with the “Best of the Worst of Acendency”. This has been our legacy.

  2. Kit Athul Says:

    Gomin, you fully well know how Pramadase avoied the impeachment. how much money he gave to the MPs and some were thretened with death. How much money the speaker Mohammed got. If you included this your article would have lots of spice.

  3. Dham Says:

    This Joker is very good. We MUST keep him as opposition leader for all FOOLs to vote for him. This is very important. GoSl must give him special security.

    Joker recently said,
    “Government is killing education system like it killed LTTE”
    fantastic satement. He likes LTTE same as he like Education. Or, he dislikes both the same way.

  4. Lorenzo Says:

    “Government is killing education system like it killed LTTE”

    FANTASTIC STATEMENT! Only Run-NIL can make such stupid statements.

    Run-NIL was the education minister sometime back. His HUSBAND GONAWALA SUNIL was the education ministry secretary.

    Good that some people have short memories (and other things!!). So that people with LONG memories and jacks have a place in the society. :))

  5. Lorenzo Says:

    Ranil, Mr. Clean?

    Spelling error.

    MR BEAN!!

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