WHERE THERE IS NO VISION, THERE IS NO HOPE
Posted on February 26th, 2018
By Dr. Tilak S. Fernando.
With the Municipal and Local Council elections held on 10 February 2018, introducing a new electoral system, the Lotus Bud (Pohottuwa) of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna [SLPP] supported by Mahinda Rajapaksa, blossomed with a sweeping landslide victory, thus serving a sledge hammer blow on the two leaders of the Unity Government, President Maithripala Sirisena, who campaigned vigorously punching forceful political rhetoric and promising to chastise all corrupt politicians (by sending them to ‘Hell’-his own words); regrettably everything backfired miserably. The Prime Minister, on the other hand, who went ahead separately with his own party, the UNP, lost its majority too. Many view this outcome as the result of not paying any heed to the public outcry, and particularly by getting Prime Minister’s name tarnished by the Central Bank mega fraud however much he attempted to wriggle out of it.
The SLPP victories covered the entire map of Sri Lanka, except in a few areas, which made them demand the unprecedented call for the dissolution of Parliament and a General Election immediately, which political pundits claim is not Constitutionally possible until 2020; unless with a 2/3rd majority in Parliament. The coalition partners maintain that the LG elections result has no relevance, whatsoever, for a general election until the Unity Government completes its full term. This has given rise to many speculations, while the two main players locking horns with each other to form a Government, and to replace Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Prime Minister. In the meantime, various legal luminaries interpret the Sri Lanka Constitution in many legal forms. The present chaotic situation (for the last 11 days) only goes to show the mentality of our politicians who are only interested and concentrating on a new government, who is going to be the Prime Minister and who gets new ministerial posts in a reshuffle of the Cabinet, but is least bothered in community welfare, for which they have been appointed to.
Common Presidential candidate
Voters chose Maithripala Sirisena on 8 January 2015, as the President of Sri Lanka focussing on the Rajapaksa regime as being corrupt. They promised in uncertain terms, that once in power, President Sirisena’s prime aim would be to ‘horu allanna’ (eradicate bribery and corruption). The strategy worked miraculously during the elections time, and helped Maithripala Sirisena to end up getting 6,217,172 million votes against Mahinda Rajapaksa, who managed only 5,768,090.
The political scenario in Sri Lanka is quite different and alien to other international systems. In other democracies around the world, when politicians become failures in the eyes of the populace, for whatever reasons, people have seen the accused resigning their posts honourably. Contrary to such civilized behaviour, in Sri Lanka, of course, the corrupt, alleged and the guilty get glued to their ranks and positions disgracefully, like chewing gum!
Ranil Wickremesinghe is quoted as a typical example of a senior politician in Sri Lanka, with over 40 years of experience, and 24 years as the Party Leader of the UNP, and serving as the Prime Minister several times too. However, he fails to win the hearts of the majority of the voters. He has been using all kinds of technicalities in the Constitution to remain in power; in the meanwhile legal luminaries have come out with a variation of assessments on the Constitution, which at last gone to the Supreme Court, to decide finally.
The new format of the Local Government elections held, on a single day, was purely to elect candidates who are familiar with the village and town levels, with a percentage of female candidates. Instead it categorically proved that the whole election was focussed on testing the popularity of the present Government and not what it was meant to be! Another spectacular behaviour could be sighted as Mahinda Rajapaksa’s clarion call to vote for the SLPP, not being even a member of the SLPP, which some see as a pied piper scenario, as far as the SLPP and SLFP members are concerned, as the deadlock still prevails in removing the Prime Minister and forming their own government.
Popularity and loss of faith
Whatever said and done, Mahinda Rajapaksa appears to be the pet politician of the people still; for salvaging the country from a perilous terrorist grip, and creating an atmosphere and a free society where one could walk freely with dignity. The Unity Government boasts about freedom of speech and the eradication of the white van scenario. Critics call the Pohottuwa’s land slide victory is inversely proportional to the degree to which voters were horror-struck with the ‘Yahapalanaya‘ for not living up to its true meaning, which left the frustrated voter with no choice (either way),thus creating an escape route, which strikingly, worked out to the advantage of the SLPP.
Meanwhile, voters have clearly sent a message to President Maithripala Sirisena that he appears to have lost his marbles over the last three years, and the assertions of ‘punishing the corrupt politicians was all eyewash. Many say it is too late, now, for him to get back onto the correct track within the remaining breathing space before 2020, and even if the Unity Government changes its direction, no development could be seen during their term. The present day Sri Lankan voter is intelligent, and politicians cannot hoodwink the public with pathological lies or bogus promises any more, and the voter will not be affected by political grandiloquence alone!
Patience running out
People waited patiently for three long years to see how Maithripala Sirisena, as President, performs, since 8 January 2015. People did not expect anything else, but mainly to eradicate corruption and bring those dishonest politicians to book, as he repeatedly vouched to do so. People did not go into detail about his pedigree, did not watch how he walked or cared for his cast or creed, or whether he could speak English; neither did they compare him with Mahinda Rajapaksa’s charisma and leadership qualities, or whether he was clean shaven or had a brush-type moustache to show his manhood, but they expected action, only. He promised, to catch ‘horas’ and punish them.
It is rather unfortunate when 62 per cent of the voters who had implicit faith in him in January 2015, and expected a lot out of his ‘Yahapalanaya‘, which he introduced proudly, but hopelessly failed. Alas! After occupying the hot Executive Presidential seat, and being the Head of the SLFP simultaneously, he has managed only to prove himself as the weakest President Sri Lanka ever had, by changing his decisions by stating one thing in the morning and changing it to another in the afternoon, and further in the morning after. The people became disgruntled and disappointed because the President failed even to feel the pulse of the Financial Crimes Investigation Division, which was directly accountable for carrying out investigations into serious financial fraud, misuse of State assets and funds, pertaining to Government revenue. The resignation of the Director General of the Sri Lankan Commission on Bribery and Corruption, Dilrukshi Dias Wickremesinghe, derided him further, following his public outburst against “politicization of the Commission’s working”.
Looking at the latest developments, Maithripala Sirisena appears to have completely lost the people’s confidence; the very people who propped him up to the level of Presidency in January 2015. Some might label him as an ungrateful politician, who deceived those who supported him. Yet, Maithripala Sirisena has only two more years up to 2020 to be in office. In the present scenario no one will dare to despise him, because he is still the President of the country, but many conclude that, when he retires and relaxes in his easy chair in Pollonaruwa in 2020, Maithripala Sirisena will have to feel the pain as a politician, after so many years in politics, as to what extent the people have rejected him.
tilakfernando@gmail.com
February 26th, 2018 at 4:04 am
In this Poll SLPP has got the most votes.
Most of that vote is Sinhala SLFP vote. UNP JVP and Indian block vote did not change much.
Part of the Indian block voted for SLPP. That is just an Indian trick to fool us Sinhalese.
India’s vision for the Island is blooming.
If you analyze Modi’s talks to his people here you will see what I mean.
We Sinhalese have no hope in the Indian Empire.
February 26th, 2018 at 3:05 pm
The most intriguing thing why did Ranil take the Ministry of Law & Order just for two weeks. There is a real reason behind it I think, to destroy all evidence against him & his cronies caught in the Bond scam. Otherwise why did it take it just for two weeks? Why no one ask it??
February 26th, 2018 at 7:28 pm
@ Charithsls,
That make sense… This could be the way the RAW and the West instructed the Yahap team for a way out of their pit hall.
Pohottuwa should plant an intelligent agent to monitor what happens there and collect the evidence. They can make a great opportunity here.
February 27th, 2018 at 1:13 am
GREAT HOPE IS REBORN in OUR PATRIOTIC HEARTS … for THERE IS a NEW VISION NOW!
…………………………
Split permanent, SLPP going it alone at future polls ‘Likely presidential candidate GR being targeted’
February 27, 2018
By Shamindra Ferdinando
Chairman of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Prof. G. L. Peiris yesterday told the media at Battaramulla Nelum Mawatha Office of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa that the SLPP-led Joint Opposition would got it alone at the next Provincial Council polls as well as subsequent Presidential and parliamentary elections.
Former External Affairs Prof. Peiris said so in response to query whether the warring SLFP factions were likely to reach an understanding ahead of critical polls for six PCs expected to be held later this year.
Those who had voted for the SLFP at Feb. 10 local government polls would certainly switch their allegiance to JO/SLPP at future elections, Prof. Peiris said.
JO parliamentary group comprises 54 members elected on the UPFA ticket at the last general election in August 2015.
Calling Sunday’s reallocation of ministerial portfolios a devious bid to deceive the public, Prof. Peiris pointed out how President Maithripala Sirisena and PM Ranil Wickremesinghe had reallocated portfolios of some yahapalana members amidst calls for Wickremesinghe’s resignation.
Having made an abortive bid to force Wickremesinghe to resign in the wake of the humiliating defeat the UNP and the SLFP had suffered at local government polls, President Sirisena had strengthened the UNP Leader’s position. Prof. Peiris chided President Sirisena for assigning the law and order portfolio to Wickremesinghe, in addition to national policies and economic affairs held by him.
President Sirisena’s declaration that the reallocation of subjects in respect of SLFP ministers would take place in the near future meant that he couldn’t understand even basic requirements.
Commenting on recent comparison of LG polls results with the next presidential polls scheduled in less than two years, Prof. Peiris pointed out that a foolish attempt was now being made to deceive the electorate that the SLPP couldn’t secure 51 per cent of the total vote cast at the next presidential polls. Prof. Peiris said that their candidate endorsed by war winning President Rajapaksa had been able to comfortably secure the required vote as those SLFPers who voted for the party at the recently concluded LG polls would certainly back the SLPP candidate.
Inviting Maj. Ajith Prasanna, formerly of the Sinha Regiment to address the media regarding stepped up propaganda offensive directed at wartime Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Prof. Peiris alleged the government was hell-bent on restricting the activities of those who could pose a political threat.
Prof. Peiris warned the SLFP of dire consequences due to President Sirisena ill-fated strategies. The former minister urged President Sirisena to seek a two-thirds parliamentary approval in terms of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution to dissolve parliament to pave the way for a fresh general election. “Sri Lanka cannot continue to suffer due to weakness and inability of Sirisena-Wickremesinghe administration.”
Retired Major and attorney-at-law Prasanna alleged that an attempt was being made to blame Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for January 2009 Lasantha Wickramatunga assassination. Accusing a section of the media for recent unsubstantiated reportage of The Sunday Leader editor’s assassination, Prasanna, a former UPFA Southern Provincial Council member said that those wanting to go after Rajapaksa had conveniently forgotten how the UNP in 2009 both in and out of parliament accused the then Army Chief Fonseka of running a hit squad.
Prasanna alleged that law enforcement authorities had ignored specific evidence available soon after the assassination furnished by retired Maj. Gen. Kumar Herath in an obvious bid to suppress the inquiry.
The retired officer alleged that a section of the media at the behest of the current administration wanted to protect Fonseka’s interests. Prasanna named several officers, who had been aware of Herath being told by the then Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) retired Air Chief Marshal Donald Perera that Wickramatunga had been killed with a sharp object.
Prasanna also referred to the attempted assassination of The Editor of Rivira Upali Tennakoon in a similar fashion using sharp objects during the previous administration.
The Island sought an explanation from Prof. Peiris and Prasanna as to why the previous government hadn’t brought the investigation into 2009 January killing to a successful conclusion before the change of government in January 2015, Prof. Peiris said that it was certainly unfair by the previous government to assert that nothing was done at that time.
Prof. Peiris and Prasanna said that had there been a lapse on the part of the previous administration, the UNP-SLFP administration should have made progress over the past three years. Instead, they engaged in political witch-hunt, Prof. Peiris alleged, adding that politically motivated inquiries had been accelerated in the wake of Feb. 10 polls defeat.
February 27th, 2018 at 1:47 am
UNP State Minister to bring a no-faith motion against PM
Tue, Feb 27, 2018, 01:35 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Feb 27, Colombo: A group of United National parliamentarians would move a no-confidence motion against party leader and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe for the party’s forward march, State Minister of Irrigation, Palitha Range Bandara said yesterday.
Speaking at a media briefing yesterday, Range Bandara said that this is a no confidence motion against the person who did not have the country’s trust.
Bandara added that the UNP has to change the leader it if wants to have a future and there was no point in reshuffling the cabinet.
“In this situation, the UNP has no further journey. The UNP needs to make a complete change if it wants to go forward. First of all in the leadership. Cabinet reshuffle or any other changes will not take the party forward,” he said.
The State Minister said he was not alone in seeking a change of leadership. There were many others who desired a change at the helm. “This is the reality that Wickremesinghe must understand.”
“We will bring a no-confidence motion against an individual who is not trusted by the people. Many of our members are ready to take the lead to bring this no-confidence vote And I am ready to lead this movement against the Prime Minister,” Bandara said.
February 27th, 2018 at 1:51 am
Wimal asks PM, President to resign
2018-02-27
DailyMirror.lk
While claiming that it was a big mockery to appoint the Prime Minister, who was the mastermind of the bond scam, as the Law and Order Minister, the National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said the PM and the President should resign without dragging the country towards anarchy.
Addressing a news briefing, he said the President who proclaimed that he would not engage any culprits to run the government, seemed that he had forgotten what he had uttered during the pre-election period.
“The bond scam that took place in the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is considered to be a massive fraud that ever occurred in South Asia. The master brain of such fraud is now being appointed as the Law and Order Minister by the President. Further, giving the portfolio of Youth Affairs to Sagala Ratnayake is like setting a wolf to guard the chickens,” he said.
Therefore, he asked as to how the county would move forward in this circumstances and urged the President either to rethink of entrusting of portfolios or resign with the Premier. (Sheain Fernandopulle)
February 27th, 2018 at 2:18 am
BREAKING NEWS: Arjun Mahendran has FLED Singapore! SUMMONS cannot be SERVED! Will HIS GUARANTOR & Co-Conspiratyor the RIGHT-HONOURABLE AGA-MATHI Ranil Wikunanasinghe assist the Justice Dept to LOCATE him??
HELLO ….. CALLING the Chief Thief .;….. for ASSISTANCE in locating his BOSOM Pal!</b?