Sinhala Voters are the King Makers and the Ray of Hope for the Defeated
Posted on January 10th, 2015
Dilrook Kannangara
In 2010 Mahinda won with an astounding lead of close to two million. But within just five (5) years, he lost 2.3 million votes to a hitherto unknown contestant. How did that happen? It is important to get it right. Otherwise the UPFA and the Rajapaksa clan will be condemned to nothingness for the foreseeable future.
In 1956, 1970, 1977, 2004 and now in 2015 Sinhala voters have shown they are ruthlessly against minority appeasement. Sinhala voters who ended the mighty Senanayaka clan in 1970 over the Dudley-Chelva Pact is a lesson to all. It can happen again.
The Minority Myth and Debunking It
Minorities never voted for Mahinda in larger numbers. Mahinda always lost all provinces where minorities are the most. So there is no surprise there. The surprise is the losing of Sinhala votes.
Maithripala campaign focused very heavily on harawum lakshaya” specifically for this reason and what a good strategy it was. If you compare the lead Mahinda lost (lead over SF in 2010 and lead over MS in 2015), you can see what districts had the most reduction in the lead. Here is their rank and the rank of Sinhala population. Top 5.
Gampaha – lost 288,870 votes – Sinhala population rank of all districts – 1
Colombo – lost 244,177 votes – Sinhala population rank of all districts – 2
Kurunegala – lost 174,924 votes – Sinhala population rank of all districts – 3
Kandy – lost 165,553 votes – Sinhala population rank of all districts – 6
Kalutara – lost 134,269 votes – Sinhala population rank of all districts – 4
Only exception is Galle where the Sinhala population rank of all districts is 5. Lead reduction is 92,206.
Total reduction of votes from the top 6 Sinhala majority districts is 1.1 million exactly. Even if half this reduction was saved, Mahinda is the president today. Why did he lose such a large number of Sinhala votes?
It’s the Economy!
Take a look at provincial GDP growth for 2011, 2012, 2013 – 2012 given here.
http://www.cbsl.gov.lk/pics_n_docs/10_pub/_docs/statistics/other/Socio_Econ_Data_2014_e.pdf (page 49)
Only 3 provinces’ GDP growth rate exceeded the inflation rate by a meaningful percentage – southern, northern and eastern. Voters in the north and the east are driven by racism than economy, etc. and as expected chose to vote according to it. Sinhalese except in the south had no real economic benefit since 2010 which was much expected after the war.
Mahinda was lucky to get away with 47% or may be due to the very expensive campaign. Corruption was far worse in Jayawardana’s term when the Mahaweli project, war, housing and other gimmicks gobbled billions when the economy was just a fraction of it now. However, corruption never became an election game changer because they served the Sinhalese and in this case, almost entirely the Sinhalese. People forgave corruption as they felt development.
Minority Appeasing Politics
The most notable political development of the Rajapaksa second term is the LLRC which is the most comprehensive of all presidential commissions this country has seen. But its report is all about appeasing Tamils and it has nothing positive for Sinhalese and Muslims. The only constitutional amendment Mahinda made with his two thirds is the 18A which is of no use for anyone or the nation.
According to the economic development minister in 2013, over 90% of borrowed funds went to the north and the east. While the north and the east got excellent roads, the only comparable road to the south charges money! While the northern rail link was made in record time, the Matara-Kataragama rail link which was on the drawing board for a longer time never saw its completion.
Tamil IDPs were resettled in record time while Sinhala and Muslims IDPs were totally neglected. Tamil racist Thesawalamei Law continues its ugly rule of the north depriving non-Tamils its thriving economy. SLMC leader used his authority as the Minister of Justice to help Muslims get into Law College in record numbers and expand the Islamist network throughout the country including two Wahab universities.
From 2010 to 2015 a total of 46 Sinhalese were killed by government action; 2 Muslims and one Tamil. The disparity and its causes are clear; crystal clear.
The Future of UPFA Looks Surprisingly Bright
Despite the defeat, the future of UPFA and even the Rajapaksa clan look surprisingly bright. They have a very good chance to ride back to power and reclaim lost glory. They must get down to basics as they did in 2002-04. They must unreservedly champion Sinhala interests; demand the abrogation of 13A; demand economic benefits for Sinhalese; disrupt all attempts to appease Tamils; resist war crimes investigations ferociously and team up with the very Sinhala groups that worked for the victory of Sirisena. UPFA has no minority votes to lose now as it has lost all.
Above all, UPFA must delay the general election due next year. The longer it takes the better for it. And it must demand to abolish the executive presidency and the current election system. It is the presidential election and the preferential voting system that has given the minorities a disproportionate power. These two must go. CWC, SLMC and TNA may be assets at presidential polls but liabilities at the general election. To win back, UPFA must unreservedly take up Sinhala concerns as it has nothing to lose from minorities. When TNA, SLMC and CWC votes are subtracted from Sirisena’s votes, he is left with a smaller percentage than UPFA.
Despite his old age, as King Walagamba did, Mahinda can do it again. For that he must take up the problems of Sinhalese. He must know who his voters are and who the fakes are who love to surround him in success.
Conversely, Sirisena must take a leaf from Mahinda’s disaster. Dudley, CBK, Ranil and Sirima also fell in this same pit in their second term trying to appease minorities. Minorities didn’t vote for his Maithri Palanayak”. They voted hoping for petty communal gains over other communities. It is all good until the election is over but then begins racial bargaining. Unless Sirisena comes out of this racist pickle, he is not going anywhere and an ambitious Opposition awaits its turn.
January 10th, 2015 at 3:14 am
Dilrook Kannangara
Please stop writing about out old stories as We every one known about.
2014 onward We All Mother Lankan are United for ever .
January 10th, 2015 at 3:48 am
I really appreciate President Sirisena’s 100 day schedule with a predefined calendrer of proper plan of actions. I can see very much of professionalism in his plan of actions.
The following are the main reasons for Mahinda Rajapakse’s failure;
1. Corruptions and Nepotism It may be possible that the corruption issue (among politicians) is an over emphasised problem created by wasted interested parties to get a political millage out of the universal problem. But Mahinda Rajapakse’s response to this issue was inadequate. Anyway, sooner or later, we will come to know that when they appoint a commission to on Thursday February 5 to investigate allegations of massive corruption in the preceding period.
2. Sirisena’s welfare relief to the people by reducing the rising Cost of Living. Even though they were not aware of implementation problems and the economic repercussion it may have on the country’s economy as a whole.
But million dollar question is who is going to prepare the budget for Sirisena’s unprecedented welfare hand-outs. If he is not careful, if he cannot find sufficient funds to cover the welfare cost, the inflation, at the end, will inevitably take its own course to nullify the benefits anticipated.
January 10th, 2015 at 3:50 am
This 2015 result should send ‘shivers’ down both the Tamils & Muslim voters,they voted ‘enmasse’,their maximum power combined, against MR who lost only by a few lakhs. Two mistakes MR did was not to get either JHU or JVP on his side not to split the Sinhala vote & having to base only on the triumph over the tigers to offer to Sinhalese who understood he faltered in his golden chance to abrogate the 13A. Had he done it he would have been riding high after this election laughing at Tamil & Muslim voting with their feet not making any impact.Tamils & Muslims should know that this is not the end of MR & change their racist policies , both these two communities now look bare in their intentions to the whole world.If MR learns from this as Dilrook says MR will be very soon back on his saddle if he gets on with either the JHU or JVP or come straight with 13A.MR will learn hereafter the minorities are an ungrateful lot despite all the massive funds & development towards them.He appealed only to the minorities until the end with only war victory to the Sinhalese. Had he given what he would do with 13A after the election he would have won easily.I’ll agree with you the future is surprisingly bright, in fact brighter with MR & other National Leaders learning the true picture of who to appease in future elections & Sinhalese won’t be fooled with just the war victory.
January 10th, 2015 at 4:26 am
Dilrook is right Mahinda must wake up and start building and organizing now itself the next move of his party. Sirisena clan cannot do anything in 100 days. Those are all bogus promises which they want to present before the general elections to get votes. See already Tamils and Muslims celebrating their new freedom not as Sri Lankans but for their individual identity. Already they have raised the LTTE flag in the Jaffna university and thrown stones at the Army. It’s coming what ever you guys think. It’s real and we can see some blood bath in the near future.
Mahinda valued the freedom of the people than giving in to the Traitors who demanded separate rule. He didn’t lose the elections.He won because he recognized the real traitors to our land. God and the true Sri Lankan people will be with him for ever. Nobody should doubt it or worry. He didn’t care about the votes but the country. “My country is first,second and Third” that his words. A True leader.
January 10th, 2015 at 4:36 am
Dear Dilrook,
I always read your articles with interest. However, I am not in agreement with your analysis at all. If you really want to hear why MR lost: Large scale corruption (started with 10%. people say it was 70% towards the end. One does not need documentary proof to see what’s going on), massive wastage (mattala airport, hambanthota harbour, cricket ground, Mihinair; a perpetual leaking bucket, maintaining 125 number useless cabinet at a massive cost to name just a few), MR’s family members took it for granted it is their God given right to rule the country forever and acted accordingly (Namal & Basil in the forefront), complete failure of law & order (everyone knows that even MR’s driver can influence magistrate court decisions), getting rid of all honest, hard working civil servants, retaining dumb idiots and corrupt thugs around him, tolerating and protecting thugs such as Mervin & Muthuhettigama (just imagine how many votes MR would have lost because of stupid Muthuhettigama’s last minute fiasco; MR could have retained all those lost votes and gained more by sacking him on the spot and arresting him), rampant drug trade and associating with drug lords (with the capability of current government intelligence network, it can stop bulk of drugs coming in within 24 hours), retaining puppets as PMs (DM Jayaratne should have been forced to resign immediately after surfacing the customs clearance letter issued by his office; people talk about his son’s connection to matter), protecting murderers and thugs (kudi Dumi, PS chairman who killed the British tourist, PS chairman who made a school teacher to kneel in front of him), continuing with Sriyanthi’s relative on the big chair of Sri Lankan Air (the guy who diverted a plane to pick him up because he could not wait for 2 more hours and who travels 4 times to Dubai to see his mistress), utter misuse of public funds (Why should Namal get assigned a helicopter who is just a chit MP?), Last minute desperate actions of bringing in Kumar Gunaratnam and stage show with Salman Khan (only the proverbial Chinese with knotted hair will believe his appearance was an act of friendship). The list can go on and on. Intelligent voters (I mean Sinhala voters) were faced with the dilemma whether they tolerate this utterly corrupt regime or risk giving some leniency to tamil separatism. Rightly or wrongly people made their decision. I did not like their choice. Obviously you did not like it too.
January 10th, 2015 at 4:38 am
One more thing. MR’s sons did not do him any favour. Stupid and stubborn “night races” in Kandy lost Mahanuwara votes completely. I have spoken to few big monks there and they just wanted to see the back of MR.
These kids destroyed Sinhala culture leaving a lot of room for the opposition to attack them. No transparency in projects , handling them high headedly as if their own money.
Snatching of Champika’s ministry when he questions Rajapake’s men was a pathetic mistake. To make things worse Pavitra try to throw mud at him and got it bounced back badly.
It is too lengthy to list all mistakes , all because of bad friendship, lack of good advisors.
Advisors kept telling his Jayaweva and those who did not were sacked.
In the end , the main reasons were STUPIDITY, GREED and totally unnecessary FEAR of war crimes.
January 10th, 2015 at 5:58 am
Excessive nepotism was a reason. But still that could have been overcome if Sinhala people were looked after better. GR, BR, CR and some other distant relatives were in high positions even in 2010 when MR won a landslide. If nepotism was as big an issue as ignoring Sinhala people, MR would have lost in 2010. But he overdid it after 2010 to a ridiculous degree.
veediyabandara:
That is a small part of what I’m saying. If Mattala, etc. succeeded despite very heavy wastage, corruption, etc. people would have voted for MR. Basil was called Mr 10% before 2010 but that didn’t stop MR winning 58% and BR winning the highest ever preference votes at a general election.
The real reason is disregard of Sinhala people economically and politically. Corruption and inappropriate development is a part of it.
As I explained, proportionally Mahaweli, etc. corruption during JR’s time was far worse but never toppled governments because Sinhala people benefitted. MR’s jumbo cabinet of 110 ministers and massive corruption was okayed by people in 2005 to 2010. Even MR’s own Help Hambantota fraud was forgiven in 2005 because he served the Sinhala people!
So corruption per se is not sufficient to defeat MR and bring in a team of Bandit Queen and others.
The drugs, etc. criminals in the government also helped its demise but the opposition is no better. It has worse criminals in it including traitors and fraudsters of international disrepute. Queen of Thieves is in it. Mass murderer Ranil is in it. Even Sambandan and Hakeem are in it but still people voted for it.
The real reason for MR’s defeat in 2015 was his disregard of Sinhala interests since 2010. If he can reverse that, victory is assured even in the near future despite any other shortcomings.
January 10th, 2015 at 6:02 am
Historically majority of the minorities (especially the Tamils) were never SLFP supporters or voters. If they didn’t vote for their own parties (FP, TNA, SLMC, TULF,) they voted for UNP and very few for the SLFP. No party can win a presidential election with just the minority vote and thats how it should be.
As Dilrook has pointed out above the Sinhala vote was split almost down the middle. With the minority vote and upcountry vote (against Thonda wishes) MY3 was able to cross the 50% threshold. In true democracy any party wishing to obtain 50% or more must win the backing of both majority and minority.
Under the Westminster style first past the post system there could be a possibility of a Minority party group even been elected if the Majority vote block is split three ways. In 1977 TULF became the largest opposition party.
I’m not a fan of the Executive Presidential system. If we are to retain it i’d rather see the Executive powers clipped a great deal with clear responsibilities between Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. Preferential vote system got rid of and the unethical conversion of the political kind mastered by Mahinda Rajapkse. MPs must resign from Parliament if they crossover.
I delighted to hear that the CBK faction in the UPFA camp are making inroads for CBK & MY3 to rejoin the SLFP and for CBK to take the helm of the Party that her father founded.
Heartened to hear Nimal Siripala in his press conference say that UPFA will not hinder the 100 day programme and accept RW as the new PM irrespective of technical issues. These technical issues can easily be over come by the support of 34 UPFA MP of the 54 UPFA MP who would lose their pension rights if Parliament is dissolved this year. In any case there is the threat of dissolution of parliament if UPFA do not play ball.
The author as usual goes along the racial lines to cement over glaring errors.
The economy effected every citizen of the island nation in all corners.
LLRC was to appease the international community and not the tamils. The recommendations are still to be implemented.
True 18th Amendment was only beneficial to one person only and thankfully he got booted out.
Dilrook keeps repeating the mantra 90% of borrowed funds went towards the development of North and Eastern province. This repeated statement alone questions ones credibility on everything he writes. I will allow the readers to judge except to say on simple arithmetic- for arguments sake if the funds borrowed on the largest projects like say MRIA, Magambura Port and Southern Expressway only represents 10% of the borrowed funds, the 90% borrowed funds on N & E provinces must be astronomical!!! Enough said
The northern rail link was redeveloped and funded by the Indians in double quick time.
The 13th amendment had no effect on the electorate. Majority of the voting electorate are unaware of the effects or otherwise of the 13th Amendment.
I agree MR should have repealed it is a total waste of tax payers money. The thuggery at local levels were created by this 13th which benefited MR at the grass root level but also was his down fall in not taking a harder line on miscreants.
January 10th, 2015 at 6:29 am
Sinhala voter may be the King makers of Sri Lanka but when it comes to presidents they are the Indian imperialists and Indian colonial parasites. In 2005 India stopped them voting and got Mahinda in, but Mahinda did not become a puppet of Indian imperialists. This time it got them to vote and got Maithree in. Indian imperialists send in one Indian with an English name as a election Monitor representing the Commonwealth. This time it is another Indian with an Indian name from Guyana. India has been in recent politics in the island from 1927 when Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi visited the island.
January 10th, 2015 at 6:40 am
Dilrook, thanks for the article.
MR had a golden opportunity to get rid of the 13A. That would have been the patriots goldmine. The JHU left him but most of the core JHU votes remained with MR. What happened was that PCR provided a smokescreen to floating Sinhala voters to cover up Bandit Queen, Run-Nil, TNA and SLMC. The TNA waited until the last moment and kept a very low profile because they know that if they endorse a candidate, he is likely to loose Sinhala votes. Instead with PCR, the TNA got “credibility”.
To summarize the reasons why MR lost (honest reasons)
1. Corruption and nepotism (lamboginis, night races etc. etc.)
2. The two dirty Silvas
3. Failing to sack the useless PM over the narco and ethonol scandal. As PM and Buddha Sasana minister he did absolutely nothing
4. LLRC
5. Failing to get rid of the 13A
6. Appeasing minorities. In 2010 he spoke to the Tamils in Vavuniya in Tamil. The Sinhalese jeered him for obvious reasons. In the end he lost his Sinhalese voters in Vavuniya and never gained Tamil votes.
7. Failing to curb minority racism. All was needed was a bit of pro-Sinhala nationalism. Instead, we ended up with national ID cards contaminated with Tamil. Today Tamil tuition is a big business thanks to leftie rule that every government employee must pass an exam in Tamil. This is the most pathetic thing in our country, forcing the language of a minority (10-15%) on the majority.
January 10th, 2015 at 6:42 am
Another major reason was the Casino project.
In the end the person who brought the act: FM ended up with MY3.
January 10th, 2015 at 7:01 am
75% of SLs are Sinhalese.
Isn’t it obvious?
Anyway does it matter now? My3 is the president. Lets all support him. Some things you never knew of him.
1. His family is from Gampaha. But they were very strong patriots. So when DSS started COLONIZATION schemes they moved to Polonnaruwa. What a great event when a son of a SINHALA COLONIZATION SCHEME became the president. EXCEPTIONAL!
2. My3 worked very hard to SUSTAIN the Sinhala threatened villages from Tamil invasion. That was why LTTE tried to kill him twice.
3. My3’s father served in the army (among other jobs).
I invite my friend Ananda to join in. We are all for a SINHELA BUDDHIST UNITARY SL where all other persons have equal individual rights.
January 10th, 2015 at 7:59 am
I hope a future MR will not address in Tamil, drape a cloth all over, run to kovils in india ,bring in indian artists to our politics,what did all those result in to him, them to vote with their feet ( & bring shame to Sinhalese). What benefit he got giving in to SLMC, them to leave him in toto at the last minute, any Sinhala leader in future to learn what could happen so never give into SLMC demands & they will jump always near the end. Such fickle politicians from that community bring a lot of harm to the Muslims, hope it is not a Muslim trait.As above mentioned,nepotism , night races against Mahanayakes (lost Mahanuwara by close to thousand),not sacking PM & other corrupt politicians etc were his undoing.
However had he kept JHU or JVP on his side he would have won still.I think the present king maker is Ven Ratna & the JHU,if they leave this govt will have nothing to show to the majority. Hope Ranil & Ravi & Co will understand that.
January 10th, 2015 at 8:02 am
“Jan 10 (AFP) Mahinda Rajapaksa tried to persuade the army chief to deploy troops when it became clear he had lost Sri Lanka’s election. ”
This is a serious thing if true. In fact some people in SL interpret the delay in giving out the results within a certain period in the wee hours of 9th in many ways.
January 10th, 2015 at 8:26 am
They have appointed B.M.U.D. Basnayake as the new defence Secretary
මෙරට නව ආරක්ෂක ලේකම්වරයා ලෙස බී.එම්.යූ.ඩී. බස්නායක මහතා පත් කර තිබේ.
January 10th, 2015 at 8:35 am
Aloy
Ant-MR Rumour Mill is grinding so many stories, almost every anti Mahinda web site is coming out with fascinating and entertaining stories for Sirisena Supporters.
1. GR fled to Maldives
2. MR’s children fled to China
3. MR tried to contact Attorney General to declare Presidential election null and void
4. Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal fled the country
5. Chandrika is about to take over SLFP
6 MR has sold 300 tons of gold in US
7. MR organising printing press to print ballet papers
8. MR supporters were planning to rig the election
and many more
If you want, you are free to believe these and enjoy.
January 10th, 2015 at 8:44 am
mjaya
I don’t think average man in the street is so worried about two dirty Silvas or LLRC or 13A. As Charles last article pointed out, people were worried about Corruptions and Nepotism and opted out for welfare relief package promised to reduce the Cost of Living.
January 10th, 2015 at 8:45 am
Aloy,
I heard about the story too about MR, GR, WW to deploy the troops but was dissuaded by IGP (Ilangakoon), Attorney General and Lalith Weeratunge.
Ranil W got wind of this too and rang MR to dissuade him and warned that citizens would be in uproar and never forgive MR if such an action took place instead offered a safe passage with no recriminations if he went quietly.
Thankfully, MR accepted it gracefully.
January 10th, 2015 at 9:24 am
NMY
I now note the subtle change from “anti-SL” or “anti-Gov” to anti-MR.
Interestingly I note todays Editorial in the Daily News compared to yesterdays.
I wish newspapers especially the State owned newspapers dont treat the citizenry as idiots.
Cabraal is in SL
KP has fled the country
PBJ is in Singapore
Not sure of the whereabouts of Sajin Vaas
January 10th, 2015 at 9:34 am
Marco
This is the True story reported by Divaina
රාත්රී 10.00 පමණ වන විට ලංකාවේ සියලුම ඡන්ද මධ්යස්ථානවල “ඡන්ද වර්ග කිරීම” හමාරකොට තිබිණි. ඒ ඒ අපේක්ෂකයාට අයත් ඡන්ද ගොඩවල් වෙන වෙනම ගොඩගසා ඒවා ගණන් කිරීම ඇරැඹුණේ ඉන් පසුවය. පළමුව තැපැල් ඡන්ද ගණන් කෙරිණි. අනතුරුව අනිකුත් ඡන්ද ගණනය ඇරැඹිණි. රාත්රී 12.00 පමණ වන විට ප්රතිඵලයේ හැඩය කුමක්ද යන කාරණය ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂට මෙන්ම පොදු අපේක්ෂක මෛත්රීපාල සිරිසේනටද තේරුම් ගන්නට හැකිව තිබිණි. ගණිත මිණිත ශාස්ත්රවලට අනුව නිසි වැඩ කටයුතු කෙරෙමින් පවතිද්දී දිනන්නේ කවුද, පරදින්නේ කවුද යන කාරණයද සැක හැර දැන ගන්නට කාටත් හැකි වූහ.
මෙහිදී ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ සිය පරාජය පළමු පැය තුළම වටහාගත්තේය. ඔහුගේ අදහස වූයේ ඉතා ඉක්මනට අරලියගහ මන්දිරය වෙත තීරණාත්මක සන්ධාන නායකයන් කැඳවා ඉක්මන් තීරණයක් ගෙන ජනපති ධුරයෙන් සමුගත යුතු බවය. ඡන්දය ගණන් කර අවසන් නැති බැවින් කලබල විය යුතු නැති බව සමහර ඇමැතිවරු කීවත් ජනාධිපති මහින්ද කීවේ උතුරේ හා නැගෙනහිර මෙන්ම රට මැද පවා සිටින මුස්ලිම්, දෙමළ බලවේග ඡන්දය පාවිච්චි කර ඇති රටාව අනුව මෛත්රීගේ ජයග්රහණය පැහැදිලි බවය. එය මේ රටේ සිංහල බෞද්ධ බහුතරයකගේ පරාජය වුවත් එය සතුටින් බාර ගන්නට කුහක නොවිය යුතු බව මහින්දගේ අදහස විය.
ඒ අතර 9 වැනිදා පාන්දරට එළිවෙමින් තිබෙන පැය කිහිපයේ අරලියගහ මන්දිරය තුළ තවත් බොහෝ දේවල් සිදු වෙමින් තිබිණ. මෛත්රීගේ ජයග්රහණය තම පරාජය ස්ථිර බව මැනවින් වටහාගත් මහින්ද තම සමීපතමයින් සමග විශේෂ සාකච්ඡාවක් කළේය.
මහින්ද රනිල්
හදිසි හමුවක
උදේ ජනාධිපති මහින්ද රාජපක්ෂ දුරකථනයෙන් විපක්ෂ නායක රනිල් වික්රමසිංහට කතා කරන විට විපක්ෂ නායකවරයා සිටියේ ද ඡන්දයේ තීරණාත්මක මොහොතක ප්රතිඵල සමාලෝචනය කරමිනි. මහින්ද මුලින්ම ඔහුට සුබ පතමින් ඉතා ඉක්මනින් හමුවක් අවශ්ය බව දන්වා සිටියේය. ඒ අනුව රනිල් වික්රමසිංහ උදේ පාන්දර 5.00 වන විට අරලියගහ මන්දිරයට පැමිණ සිය දේශපාලන ප්රතිමල්ලවයා මුණගැසිණ.
දෙදෙනා අතර පැවතියේ සුබ පතා ගැනීම්වලට පසු ඉතා සරල හා සුහද සාකච්ඡාවකි. සාකච්ඡා කරන්නට බොහෝ දේ නොතිබිණි. මහින්ද ඉතාමත්ම ඉක්මනින් අරලියගහ මන්දිරයෙන් ඉවත් වන බව ඔහු කියා සිටියේය. ඒ අනුව ක්රියාත්මක වන තමන් තවත් පැයකින් පමණ තම සමුගැනීම කරන්නට සූදානම් බව අනාවරණය කළේය.
පැය භාගයක පමණ සාකච්ඡාවකින් පසු රනිල් පිටව ගියේ මහින්ද හා තේ පානය කිරීමකින්ද අනතුරුවය. ජනාධිපති මහින්ද සිය හිතවතුන් හා ඥතින් සමග පෝටිකෝව යටට ගොස් නිල රථයට නැග්ගේ මේ මොහොතේ තමන් අරලියගහ මැදුරෙන් සමුගන්නා බව කියමිනි. තමන්ට ජනාධිපති මන්දිරයට යැමට අවශ්ය බව අදාළ නිලධාරීන්ට කී ඔහු උදේ 8.00 ට ආණ්ඩු පක්ෂයේ මන්ත්රී කණ්ඩායම හමුවන්නට තමන් ජනාධිපති කාර්යාලයට එන බව දැනුම් දුන්නේය. ඒ සඳහා අවශ්ය දැනුම්දීම් ඉතා ඉක්මනින් කරන ලෙස ජනාධිපති කාර්ය මණ්ඩල ප්රධානී ගාමිණී සෙනරත්ට දැනුම් දුන්නේය.
ඒ අනුව ජනාධිපතිවරයා කෙළින්ම ගියේ කොටුවේ ජනාධිපති මන්දිරයටය. එහිදී මුහුණ කට සෝදා වෙනත් ඇඳුමකින් සැරසී ඉතා සැහැල්ලු පිළිවෙතකින් උදේ 8.00 වන විට ජනාධිපති කාර්යාලයට පැමිණියේය.
ජනාධිපති කාර්යාලයේ පැවැතියේ විශේෂ මන්ත්රී කණ්ඩායම් රැස්වීමකි. මුලින්ම මෙම ජයග්රහණය පිළිබඳ කැපවුණු සියලු මැති ඇමැතිවරුන්ට හා සියලු පාර්ශ්ව වලට ස්තූති කර කතාව ඇරැඹූ ඔහු මේ ජයග්රහණය පිළිබඳ විග්රහයක්ද කරන්නට අමතක නොකළේය. මෛත්රී ලැබූ මේ ජයග්රහණයේ නියම අර්ථය කවදා හෝ රටේ ජනතාව අවබෝධ කරගනු ඇති බව හේ ප්රකාශ කළේය.
January 10th, 2015 at 9:43 am
Marco
We all agree that KP should move out of Sri Lanka. He has to protect himself from LTTE and TNA
GR will be safe in Maldives Otherwise Fonseka will take revenge
I don’t know why PBJ is in Singapore, Chandrika appointed PBJ to this post.
January 10th, 2015 at 10:40 am
The defeat of Mahinda Rajapakse is much more than this article:
Indian papers covering this election often pointed out to President Rajapakse’s close connection to China and how that connection was a security threat to India. that is one issue
From Chennai to New Delhi charges of human rights violations brought upon President Mahinda Rajapakse were also meant to include the military. Those charges brought by the UNHRC failed but then an investigation was brought up by the United Kingdom and Ban Ki Moon. Again against the office of the President and the Minister of Defense which also meant the Sri Lankan military. After the election of Sirisena this issue seems to have vanished out of the Indian media. but it has not.
BEWARE:
Replacing President Rajapakse IS THE FIRST STEP.
Now comes the purge of the military. It is essential that the new government of Sirisena remove any military personnel from the highest level (President Rajapakse, his brother Gotabaya Rajapakse included) and all the military personnel faithful to him. It was on this issue Mahinda Rajapakse won the election, defeated the Tamil Tigers and the concept of Elam and created an infrastructure for the military for future wars. THAT HAS TO GO.
ANY POWER IN COLOMBO THAT KEPT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE IN POWER HAS TO GO. THAT INCLUDES
-PURGING THE MILITARY (If this happens the Buddhist Sanga must be prepared to absorb these highly trained people)
-PURGING THE BADU BALA SENA- this is essential for no matter the differences between the BBS and Rajapakse both worked together.
-PURGING THE SINHALESE NATIONALIST MOVEMENT- The biggest impediment to the “Elam Tamils” and the writ of rule by Chennai and now New Delhi under the BJP.
-PURGING THE SIS. the new Secret Service organization of any affiliation to the Rajapaikse administration
-REPLACING THEM WITH PRO SIRISENA ELEMENTS ESPECIALLY TAMILS OR ELAM SYMPATHIZERS IN THE MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT.
THIS IS A TIME HONORED PRACTICE TO REPLACE A POWER BASE AND RE ESTABLISH THE TAMIL DOMINANCE. ELAM WILL BECOME AND ISSUE. IF IT DOES NOT THEN EXPECT COLOMBO TO TAKE ORDERS FROM NEW DELHI VIA CHENNAI
BIGGEST PROBLEM NOW STANDING IN THE WAY OF SIRISENA IS CHINA. WILL CHINA ACCEPT THIS CHANGE OF GUARD THAT IS MEANT TO PIVOT SRI LANKA’S FOREIGN POLICY AWAY FROM CHINA AND TOWARDS INDIA?
This is a summary of what can be expected. I hope I am wrong. I believe I am right. Please consider the above and what further actions will the new government take in order to remove any vestiges of Mahinda Rajapakse and the rise of the TNA.
January 10th, 2015 at 10:42 am
One factor which was irritating and clear to even the most uninformed voter is the non application of law and order to any one who is even remotely connected to the administration. This led to a totally corrupt police and legal system. Hope new administration clean up the law enforcement which is fundamental to the development – socially and economically
January 10th, 2015 at 11:43 am
Mr. BW,
The new cabinet has been named. The people in the places are the right people to go ahead with the agenda you have pointed out. It is time to reorganize the SL patriotic forces both in SL and abroad. We have to come back stronger. We should resist anything imposed on us without breaking the law.
Lets see how the 100 days turn out. Remember back in 2001, there was a 100 day program back then as well. :D
January 10th, 2015 at 12:19 pm
Dilrook: The facts stated under the caption: “The Future of UPFA Looks Significantly Bright”, in you article has to be looked at from the present situation that is set in motion by the new Government under Mr. Maithri Sirisena Presidency. It is clear, even from the perspective of UPFA, made known by Ministers Nimal siripala de silva, Dinesh Gunawardene and Wimal Weerawansa, that the “100 Day Programme” will be “watched” and “studied” closely before any action is taken. In other words, UPFA will “monitor” the situation allowing it to go for the declared “100 Days” starting from January 10th. The “successes” and “failures” would be assessed thereafter and any campaign has to start on the basis of that decision.
As per the above stated “100 Day” Programme, Monday April 20th is the date set apart to : “A Parliamentary system will be put in place instead of the Executive Presidency system”.
Next important event as stated: “Thursday April 23 – Parliament will be dissolved and free and fair elections held under a caretaker government. Following that election, the Prime Minister will be appointed from the party getting the highest number of seats at such election, with a Deputy Prime Minister from the party getting the next highest number.
Next comes in the programme: ” A National Government of all parties represented in Parliament will be established to govern for a period of at least two years”. It further states: “Under that Government a National Policy Framework will be formulated to deal with the principal challenges the country faces and a political culture will be developed to act in accordance with that Framework”
Granted that the above steps are taken as scheduled, it will be the UPFA that has the greatest “Challenge” and the uphill task of “adopting” to it OR simply “Defy” it, and”Break” away totally from such a ” National Policy Framework to be implemented by a “National Government”. In my opinion, this “100 Day” programmed and the action plan to follow is a “double edged weapon” for UPFA or any other party who will defy it. If they are a “Party” who assent to that “National Policy Framework”, there is no way UPFA could break away and campaign “singularly” to opt for an alternative plan. On the other hand, UPFA, cannot stay away from participating in the process of formulating such a “National Policy Framework” and that step taken will be the “Beginning of the End” of their future survival.
Based on the above analysis, I do not for a moment think that it is such a”Surprisingly Bright Future” UPFA has at this juncture. It is very much dependent upon the “Clear Decision” that the UPFA is going to take at this very moment and that “Decision” could be “make” or “break” position for the UPFA in the political arena of the country.
Where would they (UPFA) head?
January 10th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Douglas,
It depends on how Ranil , with people giving him a 2nd chance because of devil rule of Ma-hinda, performs.
I don’t think he can perform well without the help of brighter people like Ven Ratana Treo, Champika and young Sujeeva Senasinghe. I believe the President is not as stupid as MR and he will intervene and guide with the help of bright people backing him.
I did not see good signs yet, I saw peeping CHandrika and foolish Ranjan Ramanayake trying to teach the President.
But unfortunately for UFPA , they too do not have brighter people than cunning but foolish Rajapakses.
January 10th, 2015 at 12:47 pm
Mjaya,
I agree with you on forming SL patriotic forces. But this force should not follow Adhamma of Ma-Hinda, which I described elsewhere. More importantly this force should distant itself form MR and focus on so called promised Yahapaalanaya and launch attacks every time there is a hint of Adhamapalanaya coming.
We did not do that during MR rule. People were foolishly attached to one Evil Man, and that includes me.
January 10th, 2015 at 12:59 pm
Mjaya,
We should stop fighting with each other and carry on with monitoring and reporting more diligently. We should be critical of every wrong move without speculations
We should stop mourning MR and blaming fellow citizens. Non-citizens may continue long cuts and pastes as usual
January 10th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
NMY,
I can believe the Divayina story. We do not really know who My3 is and we will find out this. MR is a fool and a betrayer. Why did he allow safe passage of KP ? Where is KP’s treasures ?
Where is Karuna ? back to jungles to wage war again ?
January 10th, 2015 at 1:30 pm
Nanda
You can’t believe Divaina story, but you believe these faceless e-mails and websites. If MR has tried to declare presidential election null and void, he has to suspend constitution, because president has no power to declare that. Only Election commissioner has. If he has done that by now information must have been leaked to major newspapers in Sri Lanka
January 10th, 2015 at 1:34 pm
NMY,
Please friend. Remove your stupid veil. I am not attached to ANY politician.
I only said, ” I can believe the Divayina story”. Please read again after you remove your opaque veil.
January 10th, 2015 at 2:19 pm
NMY,
“We all agree that KP should move out of Sri Lanka. He has to protect himself from LTTE and TNA”
This is the most idiotic statement that can come out of anybody. KP was a wanted man. Malaysia apprehended him and handed him over to SL as he was the architect of Tiger war. He was wanted by India on Rajiv killing. What did MR’s government do?. For some unknown reason he was given the right royal treatment and now allowed to escape. Is this not to allow him to plan and start another war and put the country in jeopardy?.
NMY, who are we all?. Shouldn’t he be in an SL jail until his fate is decided by SL’s judiciary?.
January 10th, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Both MR and GR should be tried for the above treacherous act.
January 10th, 2015 at 2:42 pm
As My3 said hatred ceases not by hatred.
These LTTE TERRORIST MODAYAS pretending to be good SLs should be disregarded. MR and GR have NOT done ANY TREASON due to the stated fact. Then how about Run-nil? CBK? This will not end if we follow the path of HATRED.
This is a time to work TOGETHER not against.
January 10th, 2015 at 3:28 pm
MR lost the election because he had lost touch with the woes of the common masses.
For the average citizen the rising cost of living (it is going up in most countries) and not getting the anticipated peace dividend, while the ruling class both in provincial councils and parliament having a whale of a time with personal protection provided by the government and the politicians getting away even with heinous crimes became too much to stomach.
Once he got the 18th amendment passed he could have cleaned up the mess by getting rid of the riffraff he was keeping at the time as a necessity.
It is pointless blaming anybody. The strategy followed by CBK, RW and their backers, i.e.splitting the Buddhist vote and securing most of the minority vote worked; the minorities always voted with a communal mind set irrespective of cost of living problem. Neglecting the old SLFP MPs and the behaviour of BBS provided the room for that strategy.
He could still come back if he manages to keep the SLFP leadership.
January 10th, 2015 at 3:56 pm
Lorenzo,
JR also said that which is Buddha’s words. But who let these LTTE head to flee ?
January 10th, 2015 at 4:00 pm
Average citizen is right. Outside living non-citizens are wrong. This is because the citizen “feel” the corruption. Out siders visiting nice hotels yearly feel that country has “developed” whereas country has been actually robbed under the veil of “development”.
January 10th, 2015 at 4:39 pm
Lorenzo,
“These LTTE TERRORIST MODAYAS pretending to be good SLs should be disregarded.”
Could you clarify the above statement. Who are “LTTE TERRORIST MODAYAS”?.
If not, you too will fall into that idiotic “We all”.
January 10th, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Lorenzo,
The president always start with a Dammapada Gata which has that meaning. But it does not mean you let the offending criminals escape. In that case he is identical to ex president.
January 10th, 2015 at 4:42 pm
Lorenzo,
Please do not call Aloy LTTEier.
January 10th, 2015 at 5:10 pm
Nanda/Independent,
No way!
To win we teamed up with TERRORISTS and TRAITORS too. That is a FACT. We HAVE to accept it. As our tummies have good and bad bacteria.
e.g. CBK, Run-nil, TNA, CWC, SLMC, Wickramabahu, etc.
So there are MODAYAS in the My3 camp too driven by HATE. They want their beloved terrorists to become the bosses.
Just think what will happen if we harass or punish MR and GR. These modayas want this.
1. It will SPLIT the army
2. It will be like the MILLINIUM CITY. The 2 cannot be brought down without a large expose.
3. How about CFA terrorists, TNA terrorists, SLMC terrorists? They should be punished first! How can you punish ONLY MR and GR? Isn’t that BIASED?
4. UNHRC, TEs and JIHADISTS will be laughing at us.
So please don’t team up with these curses.
I campaigned for My3 and worked closely with DR and other top My3 strategists. I can tell you with 100% confidence that MR and GR will not be harmed. We are keeping a close watch of those who call for their BLOOD. We KNOW who they are.
Trust me. When My3 said “Nahi Verena Verani” he MEANT it. I can tell you this a hundred times but you must accept it.
Remember how CREEPERS crept into MR when he won in 2010? Same thing with My3. Now the SAME MODAYAS are trying to creep into him. We should stop them. Otherwise what happened to MR will happen to My3.
BTW we are aware today’s announcement of ministers will DISAPPOINT MOST SLs. Our Cabinet is FAR WORSE than MR’s. Mangala foreign minister, Harsha Finance Minister!! Hackhim shipping minister again (remember the 2003 tug boat deal of billions)?!! Kabir Hashim education!! Sumanthiran peace!! (chicken house to the control of fox!)
We have a plan to manage the fallout. For that to work we need to TACIT support of the UPFA. Please don’t rock the boat now. This is the MOST difficult phase.
January 10th, 2015 at 5:24 pm
New defence secretary is BMUD Basnayaka who was CHAMPIKA RANAWAKA’s ministry secretary (appointed by MR then) and a HUGE FAN of Gotabhaya Rajapaksa!
A very wise choice. Need I say more!
I appeal to all PATRIOTS (only) to SHED HATRED and team up together to defend SL. We need UNITY not DIVISION. Togetherness not punishment. We NEED people close to MR and GR too.
January 10th, 2015 at 6:20 pm
I remember the interview Gota gave to BBC hardtalk of Stephen Sakur. When he mentioned about ‘White flag case’ Gota exploded and said “we will hang him”. In fact he did the next worst thing he could do to the war winning hero. He has to languished in the prison in jumpers for two years and that is for letting the world know that some one had given orders to kill the LTTEers. Nobody says that killing them is bad as they were given the opportunity to surrender and they did not accept it. But that was not good enough to jail SF. So, now what the SLs should do to MR and GR for allowing the current LTTE leader to flee?.
Besides it is now emerging (see also The Nation’s report of today)that someone went to Mako and asked him to allow the ruler to remain in power (for two more years?) and that is why the election results were not coming out for a certain period in the wee hour of Friday morning. I have commented on this earlier.
Isn’t that treason?.
January 10th, 2015 at 6:24 pm
Sorry, please change my last line to ‘Isn’t that treacherous?’.
January 10th, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Lorenzo,
Maithree promised to punish the big offenders ( I mean not Gota and Mahinda but could be their close friends). If the big fish like KP escape ( this is MR’s work) we lost a big opportunity. A a lot of other big fish who steal the people should be caught and punished.
KP was hunt down bay Malaysians. We must respect their effort. Let him escape is not “Nahiverena Verani” but simply betrayal.
January 10th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
Hackhim shipping minister ? That is a big betrayal of motherland and Yahapalanaya.
January 10th, 2015 at 6:30 pm
An article in Times of India titled “Sri Lankan army defied orders to keep Rajapakse in power, claims Sirisena” good article to read since it insinuates Sirisena is already the mouth piece of the military which was forged by Rajapakse. Srisena now speaks for Sri Lanka’s generals. a couple of quotes of commenters:
Raghav Sharma•11 mins ago
For the first time in the world politics, the unity of minority paid the dividends.Tamils and Muslims pushed this modern Idi Amin into the dust pin.Hope to hear the reaction of Salman & Dr.Swamy who were blindly supported this devil. Mahinda must be thinking to hide at Salman’s house.This man never finished the terrorism rather he brought a new hypothesis by including all crooks including former terrorists inside the ministries.One of his former minister said that the amount of loan he took from other countries may take another 120000 years to settle .Doubt that human race will exist that time or not.Lord Venketeshwara and his nephew Lord Karthikeya never helped him ..Now Shani Bhagawan’s role is on.Even the former LTTE chief would have occupied a supreme position if he would have satisfied his demnads Remember all terrorists have enjoyed their lives under his patronage.Most of them were wanted in India for various crimes including the murders.
And
Raghav Sharma•2 hours ago
YOU CAN NOT NEGOTIATE WITH THE PERSON WHO SAYS WHAT EVER MINE IS MINE BUT WHAT IS YOURS CAN BE NEGOTIABLE- JOHN. F.KENNEDY
Many people feel that the defeated past President of Mahinda Rajapakse behaved like a gentleman by quickly vacated his official President Palace. More and more truth is coming out his last hours in power. Just before the final day he and his nasty members of the regime have destroyed many crucial evidences and deeds related to sensitive issues. They have also blocked many important websites. According to the popular independent English newspaper, The Colombo Telegraph “ The secretary to the ministry of defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa and wife Ayoma fled to Maldives by an Air Force plane as soon as the results started to flow in, Colombo Telegraph reliably learns. No Visa required while Singapore the other neighbouring country with No Visa Requirement refused to allow Military flight. Rajapaksa sons were packed off to China.“For a moment don’t believe Mahinda Rajapaksa gave up like a gentleman. He wanted to declare an Emergency and annul the Election results and sent for the Attorney General and asked him to prepare the necessary papers. The AG refused and it is only then that he sent for Ranil Wickermesinghe and said he will go peacefully and asked for safe passage.”
As Colombo Telegraph reported this morning Rajapaksa was getting set to dissolve parliament. As sitting President, Rajapaksa is empowered to dissolve the parliament until the Elections Commissioner declares the final result. Maithripala Sirisena decide to take oaths today instead of 10th January as originally planned to prevent any tricks by MR before he finally relinquishes office”.
Many shortsighted people feel that he has the guts to finish off the terrorism. The answer is “No”. Rather, he took in charge of a new form of terrorism by inducting the ruthless terrorists like Douglas Devananada (who is facing a murder charge in India), Karuna alias/ aka Vinayagamurthy, Pillaiyan in his jumbo ministry. The army and police commandos were often misused for physically liquidating his political rivals , flourishing businessmen, bold journalists , innocent Tamils and Muslims. These nasty elements were sent by a popular killer vehicle called “white van”. He made it sure to see that Northern Province will run with a Chief Minister as a “non-powered beggar”. State protection and patronizing a hard core terrorist like “KP” who was the underworld arm supplier to LTTE. His arms destroyed the lives of many Sri Lankans. He was granted President’s mercy. Few weeks before the election, KP was flown back to Malaysia.
He and his chamchas often carried out a campifn against the Human Right Commission of the United Nations led
January 10th, 2015 at 7:26 pm
Come on Nanda.
You are swinging from one extreme to another. Just calm down. I gave you a forewarning what the Cabinet is going to be. BAD!
After winning My3 phoned MR (refused to answer) and GR (a VERY VERY CLOSE friend of My3) and assured them NO harassment, punishment or war crimes. SF is a good man but we will keep him on a leash not to bite GR or MR. We even keep the tigers, pigs, asses, mules and bandicoots on a leash by appointing MINISTRY SECRETARIES directly.
So don’t create havoc.
Maithri wewa!
January 10th, 2015 at 9:34 pm
Aloy wrote: /Besides it is now emerging (see also The Nation’s report of today)that someone went to Mako and asked him to allow the ruler to remain in power (for two more years?) and that is why the election results were not coming out for a certain period in the wee hour of Friday morning. I have commented on this earlier./
What a silly comment for we all know that MR had had a meeting with RW at 4 am when he informed Ranil that he is leaving temple trees very soon.
January 10th, 2015 at 10:20 pm
I am no strategist to a presidential candidate like Lorenzo but a mere villager who backed MR in my own way in spite of his many shortcomings. I did so because I thought he could do a far better job than his opponents.
Although it is good to read write ups and discussions on what went wrong for MR, what is important right now is to see what was promised by My3 in his 100 day program and other listings that was delivered to our homes during his election campaign implemented. In doing so, how My3 deals with his new buddies (jihadists, ellamists and mad elephants) is just academic to us.
January 10th, 2015 at 10:23 pm
සමහර තිරිසනුන්ට පවා තමාට උපකාරයක් කලඅයෙකු මතකයේ රැඳේ. කළගුණ සලකයි. අවාසනාවට අපේ සමහර මිනිසුන්ට මතකයේ රැඳෙන්නේ යමෙකු තමාට උපකාරයක් කරනතෙක් පමණි.
January 11th, 2015 at 6:42 am
Following on from my comment above reports are coming in that over 20 SLFP members have joined the President and have made the President the Chairman of SLFP.
There are some dubious characters who have crossed over or pledged support to the President
February 22nd, 2015 at 7:54 am
Dilrook , I re-read your article after reading Ratanapala’s Mahinda’s Long March;
There is lot of good sense in what you have said. We have to change our Sinhala mentality of appeasing the minorities at the cost of the welfare of the Sinhala. Bulding Churches, pleasing the Catholics, the Bishops, and Pope. If we allow Ranil to continue , it will take a longtime to undo wrongs he is doing and will continue to do, and take Sri Lanka back on the tracks laid by Mahinda Rajapakse.