Wikremesinghe overshadowed by Sirisena in Modi trip
Posted on March 15th, 2015
Courtesy ANI News
Colombo, Mar.14 (ANI): Prime Minister Ranil Wikremesinghe has had to take a back seat to President Maithripala Sirisena during the crucial and high profile trip of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the country.
Today, while President Sirisena was with the Indian Prime Minister during his visit to the sacred city of Anuradhapura, standing next to Mr. Modi was President Sirisena when the Buddhist monks chanted hymns at the sacred Maha Bodhi tree.
Mr. Modi’s counterpart, Ranil Wickremesinghe, was meanwhile, sitting with his pals and watching a schoolboy’s cricket match at the Sinhalese Cricket Club. He also did not go to Jaffna. He stayed away from the Indian media covering the Indian Prime Ministerial visit, quite aware that his controversial interview to an Indian TV channel had almost jeopardized Prime Minister Modi’s visit.
It may be recalled that PM Modi dropped the Maldives leg of his five-day Indian Ocean nations’ tour because of the political events in that country.
The Sri Lanka visit was top on Mr. Modi’s priority list and Wickremesinghe almost sabotaged that.
In the interview, he shockingly mocked the reporter when he said that if Indian fishermen strayed into Lankan waters, they were liable to be shot.
While the words were shocking enough, the blase manner of the Prime Minister was also off-putting. It was as if he couldn’t care less that he was talking about human lives, whether Indian or Sri Lankan.
What makes Wickremesinghe so cheeky? Perhaps his annoyance with the Indian leadership that chose to back Maithripala Sirisena instead of him who was more experienced to head the coalition. He was in India in August when he met with the BJP leadership as well as Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Wickremesinghe is at loggerheads with the chief minister of the Northern Province, C.M. Vigneswaran. That was also probably one of the reasons why the Sri Lankan Prime Minister did not accompany the Indian Prime Minister to Jaffna.
Wickremesinghe is not comfortable staying out of the limelight. He has had to do that because the new coalition led by President Sirisena, of which he is a crucial part, is still in its honeymoon period and has the support of India and Sri Lanka.
The coalition has representation from all communities and is taking bold foreign policy steps. He is very much a part of those decisions. Having an over arching ambition or making any moves to destabilize the coalition would not benefit him in any manner. In fact, it would help former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is waiting and watching to make his next move.
Wickremesinghe and Sirisena together could thwart Rajapaksa’s return via the parliamentary election route that could take place in April-June this year. But if they split up, then not only is their political future in jeopardy, they also risk destabilizing India– Sri Lanka relations. By Smita Prakash (ANI)
March 15th, 2015 at 8:15 am
Sri Maha Bodhiya is no place for a catholic. What do you expect?
Nobody is surprised!
Still a lot of traitor Sinhalese support this catholic and mussie run party.
Wear a national dress, these traitor idiots worship him.
Lucky man.
March 15th, 2015 at 10:21 am
After reading this article it sounds like Wikcremesinghe is quite assured of his position with a nation of Singhalese SHEEP. BA A HH BA AH. That is all the Singhalese Nationalists have come to: strongly worded letters carefully tucked into the LW. why would Wckremesinghe even bother with the symbolic nature of Anuradhapura? If he watches a cricket game during Modis’ visit the best most terrible consequences to his action is an article complaining of this in the LW.
Does anyone see the Singhalese people (nationalists or not) giving a hoot? I do not outside of these articles. If this goes on Elam can be created Singhalese wiped out of the Constitution with only Tamil and English and China can take a long walk on a short peer and the Singhalese Nationalists will be busy writing whiny articles in the LW then go home to watch a game of cricket.
Way to go guys, real Singhalese patriotism on display here. I can see it now. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe shivering in their boots over such articles (holding back the laughter). And again why would Rajapakse even attempt at returning to power? why bother when the length and breath of Singhalese ‘wrath” is in whiny articles.
March 15th, 2015 at 7:58 pm
If you have watched the TV interview that Ranil gave to an Indian TV one must have much admiration. He spoke very elegantly and forcefully and we need people like him to safeguard our island. He will be the best bet against the international pressures on our past leaders and likes of Gota and MR should appreciate for their own good.Ranil may be the only leader that would play the same type of games of the western countries that eventually use to defend our country. In return the past leaders of all political persuasions must bring back the monies that was looted and stashed abroad that could be used to reduce the debt burden.
SL could be made a country of milk and honey, if we are honest with our selves and work hard and get rid of the utterly stupid religious and cultural constrains. Follow the Western democracies and life styles that every person wants to escape and practice. China is doing it and Japan and Korea had done it to their benefit. I hope the no nonsense JVP will see my point and support him. Please see that video if one could find it in the U tube. How well he explained in a firm and a professional manner.
March 15th, 2015 at 9:23 pm
Nice try RAW.
RAW losers are trying to show Run-nil as ANTI-ENDIAN because he made a stupid statement, didn’t join Moda Modi in his tour and other PETTY reasons! What a joke. Only NAIVE FOOLS would believe that.
Run-nil is the BIGGEST RAW agent in the country!! He is trying to penetrate into UNSUSPECTING people’s mind as an anti-Endian assited by stupid Endian media.
SL should seek assistance of ISI to get rid of these RAW agents.
March 15th, 2015 at 9:44 pm
Think about If Ranil Wickramasinghe was with Modi…. Journalists would had had a field day because of what Ranil said.
That would be embarrassing to both Ranil and to Modi.
That is why Susma Swaraj came early to meet Ranil and cleared every thing up.
March 15th, 2015 at 11:33 pm
Only time I liked Ranil was when he gave an interview to Indian news regarding the Fisherman issue. He bluntly told the reporter that our Navy heroes have the right to shoot if any outsider cross the line.That was great I never expected such a straight forward talk by this Gay Boy at anytime. I think he was imitating MR at that moment. Although he is 50/50 man he has the ability and the knowledge than MY3 the novice to Govern atlest a municipality not a country. These Yahaplana stupid and Idiots should be sent home in the next General elections if we need to live as free citizens. Just work hard to accomplish our goal. SEND THE TRAITORS HOME FOR GOOD.
March 16th, 2015 at 10:10 am
Navy heroes have the right to shoot -ok agreed but can they shoot any Indian Now ???
To whom our illegal PM is fooling !!!
March 16th, 2015 at 11:19 am
All your article writers and comment writers: Ask your self this question: Whom did Prime Minister Mody of India invite to INDIAN HIGH COMMISSION For consultation? MR only! When asked by the media, the spokes person said, it will not be published. Why, average Sri Lankan can answer this. Prime Minister Mody gave kick to OBAMA, does any one understand this? The answer is the invitation of MR to the High commission. Under MODY, India is a different country. Why didn’t Mody, invite Ranil, Srisena president, CBK or Pramadasa’s (Gahni, oops sorry).wife to travel in the train? He told the Sri Lankan IGP NOT TO ALLOW ANY TAMILS LIVING IN OTHER COUNTRIES who have come after the election, any where near the stations that he will be travelling.
Bernard Wijeyasinghe, These three, Election Commissioner, Ranil, and CBK will not last if SINHALA living in America recite this curse every morning first thing before even going to the toilet as I do. SUNIYAM DEVATHA WAHNSE, LANKWA BERAGANNA MAE THUNG DENA HATE HENAGAHALA MARADAMANNE. BW you can do this. Give me your thoughts.
March 16th, 2015 at 1:45 pm
Ranil anad Kumar are either Tamil agents, lovers or both. So NOW SRI LANKA MUST MONKEY THE WEST? I LIVE IN THE WEST AND THE US IS NOT A SHINING EXAMPLE FOR SRI LANKA \
SELAN AS THE SINGHALESE CALLED IT DID WELL UNDER BUDDHIST RULE. THE WESTERN WAY SO FAR
IN THE US ON JUST THE IMMIGRATION ISSUE IS LETTING IN MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
IN EUROPE THE MULTICULTURALISM HAS LED TO MILLIONS OF MUSLIMS POURING IN.
Ranil and Kumar have wormed their way in here to SHOVE THIS MODEL SO THOUSAND MAYBE EVEN MILLIONS OF TAMILS CAN COME TO SRI LANKA.
WILL NOT WORK YOU TRAITORS.
March 16th, 2015 at 4:51 pm
LANKAPUTHRA
I translated that. You are disgusting. That is vile. Recite this every morning please. ‘Lankaputhra is a curse and a vile abomination. My mother cursed me the moment I was born. that is why I am a foul mouthed git”
HEY YOU!!! WATCH YOUR MOUTH. YOU WANT TO BE A LAB DOG OF MODI FINE WITH ME BUT DO NOT INVITE ME INTO THAT GUTTER WITH YOU.