Ratanapala

14 Nov 2018

The Way Forward and What is to be done?

It is time the SLFP died its natural death and so too the UNP. These two geriatric political parties though brought into existence on lofty ideals, have over the years failed to bring peace and prosperity to the citizens of Sri Lanka. The only thing that they did famously is to divide the Sinhala polity in the middle. Together they have impoverished Sri Lanka, made politics in Sri Lanka the most corrupt in the region and the corrupt politicians rich and powerful. They also brought in the minority racists and religionists to the fray and made them kingmakers of Sri Lanka. The end result is for all to see – our past political history- the machinations and the deleterious effects of the doings of Chevanayakams, Amirthalingams, Sambandans, Thondamans, Ashroffs and now Hakeems, Mano Geneshans and Baithuddeens and add to this the Senanayakes, Bandaranaikes, Jayawardeens and Wickramasinghe.

Rajapakses too had a hand in that they failed to consolidate the war gains. Winning a war is not just the battles – it includes maintaining the peace. This is the reason the victorious Allies are still stationed around the world in strategic locations. Mahinda Rajapakse failed in this score because he is the one who commenced the withdrawal of Armed Forces from strategic locations in the North and East. No one within Sri Lanka or outside should dictate where Sri Lanka’s Armed Forces should be present or not. Then Army Commander – Sarath Fonseka’s assertion to increase the army was in fact correct strategically  as it takes more to maintain peace than fight wars. It took 30 years to finish off the war because we did not have enough soldiers to keep and defend the peace in the liberated areas! Finally, the war was won, because  the President Mahinda Rajapakse took a firm stand, the then Defence Secretary – Gotabhaya provided the necessary manpower and war logistics to hold onto and defend liberated areas while prosecuting the war elsewhere. In the immediate aftermath of the war ending Indians managed to break up the Sri Lankan the war winning team and Sarath Fonseka and Rajapakses parted ways!

After 70 years what the nation needs is time and space to move forward as one nation leaving behind the enmity and divisiveness. For this to happen the unity of the Sinhalese is paramount. Minority politics and their aspirations will never see daylight with only half of the Sinhalese agreeing. This is why the unity of the Sinhalese be they UNP or SLFP is of paramount importance for the good of all concerned, minorities included.

What ailed Sri Lanka during the last 70 years is the constant demands of minority Shylocks asking for their pound of flesh and more. In their own words, it is – Little now and More later! Even as we speak, these forces are at play 24/7 finding ways to keep Sri Lanka destabilized and a failed state. Even after making the TNA with only 16 seats in the Parliament the main Opposition Party, did they have anything to do with the governance of the nation? They abstained with scorn and enmity in their eyes, from every parliamentary activity that had to do with the governance of Sri Lanka and only participated in legislating actions that would lead to the balkanization of Sri Lanka and in the end her destruction as an independent political entity in South Asia. Their main purpose of occupying the position of the Opposition was to prop up the unpopular, traitorous, mega-thief Ranil and his cohorts – now famously referred to as the Butterflies”!

And so it goes for the Islamists spreading Wahabbism throughout the length and breadth of SrI Lanka. Just at the eleventh hour when there was a clear need for ousting mega-thief Ranil they left to Mecca indicating that they will return to enjoy the spoils! Patriotic UNPers and SLFPers should see this reality and leaving aside their petty differences unite to save Sri Lanka. This why they all must join forces under Pohottuwa, not because it is the best, but because it is ground reality and the only existing  common place where all from different political hues can gather and unite to end once and for all the tyranny of  Minority Politics. We must be in a position to muster a 2/3^rd majority to bring about the necessary constitutional changes as well as provide for reasonable minority demands that do not infringe on the security, wellbeing and continued existence of Sri Lanka as a separate, unitary and independent political and geographical entity south of the Palk Straits!

It is time, all those well-meaning Tamils and Muslims leave the divisive politics and join the mainstream to achieve their realistic aspirations. Division of the country into fiefdoms or giving land and police powers to Eelamists is no way to achieve lasting peace in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka simply does not have space nor the security measures necessary to entertain such wishful thinking that only bring luxuries to a selected few!

It is time, Sinhalese of all hues, be they UNP, SLFP, Buddhist or Christian unite behind Pohottuwa to take the country away from the cannibalistic politics of today, for together we can prosper as a nation. It is time the Sinhalese demanded from Pohottuwa that it cannot be ‘Politics as Usual’ as it used to be. It is time they got rid of the useless riff-raff, the traitorous, self-serving and the bribe-taker lot among them and move forward with only those who can be trusted to make way for progress. Pohottuwas must leave space only for the best in the SLFP, the UNP and those among minorities who aspire to prosper together.

Other nations such as Malaysia and Singapore sorted similar problems right at the beginning of their independence from Colonial Powers. This is why these countries prosper and Sri Lanka not! Big and powerful nations respect their strengths and politics!

UNLESS THE SINHALESE UNITE AS ONE, BECOME SELF SUFFICIENT IN THEIR BASIC NEEDS AND SECURITY. THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THE MINORITIES. THIS IS THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH BEHIND POLITICS IN SRI LANKA. This is what ailed Sri Lanka for the last 70 years. It is only the United Sinhalese who can accommodate those peaceful intentions of the minorities and take the nation towards progress! No solution or agreement, call it what may provided by 50% Sinhalese will be valid in the days, months and years ahead!

The so-called International Community are at the door calling for ‘democracy and human rights’.  This bogus cry is now seen to be fake as the fake news their media propagate.  It is their system of governance that made  the 1% own the 99% of world’s wealth. They would rather make Sri Lanka unstable, divided,  a failed state and divide the spoils rather than try to negotiate with a weak state. On the other hand they would support a country that is strong politically and militarily. They say Nature abhors a vacuum and so is politics. They are onto Sri Lanka because they find Sri Lanka divided, unstable and vacuous. United we can stand, divided certainly it is oblivion, death, and destruction a la Libya, Iraq and Syria!

We must provide India the security she needs south of the Palk Straits! It is only a strong Sri Lankan military which can provide this assurance and not a weak Sri Lanka! Senior Indian politician Subramaniam Swamy put it succinctly – We can trust the words of Mahinda Rajapakse. He is a strong man and we can depend on what he promises”.

 Time is of the essence, let us not bungle it this time! All patriots, be they UNP or SLFP, who wish well for Mother Lanka, unite behind Pohottuwa! Mahinda Rajapakse, Gotabhaya Basil are better leaders than any other currently in Sri Lanka. They can deliver what all Sri Lankans needs today – Peace and Prosperity!