CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

CHANDRASOMA’S DEVIL- A REPLY

By Shyamon Jayasinghe, Melbourne

“What can we say about this False Bahu (the Pseudo-Bahu RaWick) who has malignantly appeared on the scene to destroy all that our ancestors revered?’ Thus states R. Chandrasoma in your leading story today (27/9). Hasn’t he become paranoid about Ranil? If Ranil is set to lose, as he says he is, then why castigate him in such poisonous words? Simply leave the dying man to die in peace.

Chandrasoma has demonised Ranil. If Ranil’s policy toward the LTTE is “evil” then that same criticism applies to the SLFP as the two parties show no difference in that regard. Both the UNP and the SLFP stand for peace negotiations. Both stand for PTOMS. Both stand for a federal solution and both stand for Norway as the facilitator. Ranil’s rival is a nominee of the SLFP and the latter will have to carry forward SLFP policy, disregarding the “givisum” with the JVP and JHU, if he comes to power. In fact, the “givisum” has caused a serious stir among loyal SLFP followers. I am no soothsayer and so will not predict the outcome. I only want to point out that if Chandrasoma regards Ranil as malignant he must do so in respect of the other Presidential candidate, too. Thus, we are left with two malignant candidates.

At least Ranil has spelled out the same policy from the outset and has done so openly. He hasn’t backtracked on it for personal advantage. Such behaviour evinces credibility and decency and not malignancy.

It is great to see the two major parties forging a consensus with regard to national issues of critical importance. These parties have governed Sri Lanka for years and it is their accumulated practical experience that has dictated the acceptance that Sri Lanka is a plural society of different peoples. Any party with ambition to govern will have to accept that social and political reality. Only an irresponsible minor party can afford to protest against that and that, too, only until such party approaches the point of reaching the potential to lead government. The next step to become a lead party would necessarily require the broadening of its platform to accommodate interests of other ethnic and religious groups. In fact, this is what has happened to the SLFP over the last decades when that party led government. The SLFP began more pro- Sinhala Buddhist and has gradually broadened its policies to embrace interests of other ethnic and religious groups.

Any departure from the consensus reached within the two major parties will surely spell doom to Sri Lanka as an integral political entity.

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