THE PRICE TO PAY TO KEEP MR RANIL WICKREMASINGHE AS THE PRIME MINISTER! AT END WHO WON THE ELECTION?
Posted on January 18th, 2015
By M D P DISSANAYAKE
The new government is already being pushed to the corner, whilst President Mathreepala Sirisena is safe in his role constitutionally, Mr Ranil Wickremasinghe is not safe as the Prime Minister. Firstly, he has obtain the majority confidence on the floor of the House to comply with the constitution. Secondly he has to accept every Tom. Dick and Harry of UPFA to obtain the majority confidence. The second scenario is beginning to annoy the supporters of the government, as the former unpopular MPs and Ministers continue to support RW.
Even if the Prime Minister-elect is successful on the 20 January by winning majority votes, how long would it last? To ensure the stability of his role until the next general election, he may have to bargain with the opposition continuously. If the opposition disagrees with government’s future proposed legislations or if the government disagrees with the opposition amendments, the threat of losing the Prime Ministerial role for RW cannot be ruled out. Even if a general election is held later in the year under the First past Post rule, the race could be extremely tight.
The former President has won 5.7 million votes almost single handedly, whereas the Common Candidate had won 6.2 million with the help of UNP, TNA, SLMC, JVP, JHU and some sections of SLFP defectors supportive of the Common Candidate.
Therefore, the new government cannot ignore the former President. If the government undertake a witch hunt against the President with a backing of 5.7 million supporters, the public anger and protests will become a serious challenge. The public sentiments are already outpouring in favour of the Father of Modern Sri Lanka.
January 17th, 2015 at 8:20 pm
The former President has won 5.7 million votes almost single handedly, whereas the Common Candidate had won 6.2 million with the help of UNP, TNA, SLMC, JVP, JHU and some sections of SLFP defectors supportive of the Common Candidate.
Therefore, the new government cannot ignore the former President. If the government undertake a witch hunt against the President with a backing of 5.7 million supporters, the public anger and protests will become a serious challenge. The public sentiments are already outpouring in favour of the Father of Modern Sri Lanka.
Above are all questionable claims.
With respect to the first claim, we can say, Mahinda Rajapakse did not want to unite the Sinhala-buddhist vote and he wanted to win Catholics. So, he went to Vatican, and the result is we have a Catholic missionary who came from Goa to be a Saint in buddhist Sinhale. further to that, Mahinda Rajapakse could not unite the Sinhala buddhist vote because of that another candidate could win the presidential election with the help of minority votes.
Besides, Mahinda Rajapakse had members from UNP, TNA, JHU, JVP and many other parties as his cabinet ministers or what ever it is. Besides, he claimed that he had a NATIONAL GOVT. Now his vandibbattyas are crying out loud.
January 17th, 2015 at 10:18 pm
Ranil has a couple of problems, not just the constant threat of a ‘no confidence’ vote in Parliament.
For example, Ranil said he would scrap the Colombo Port City deal and review all other deals with China and possibly scrap them as well. But yesterday, after Maithripala met with the Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka, Maithripala says he will implement “all” of the $6 billion in Chinese deals signed in September on an “existing basis”, which means the terms of these deals will not be changed. This obviously includes the $1.4 billion Colombo Port City project that Ranil wants to scrap, setting up a showdown between Ranil and Maithripala on who is going to be the leader in Sri Lanka when it comes to its relationship with China.
I think, like with Parliament, Ranil has to tread softly with Maithripala, as Ranil’s name was not on the ballot, and Maithripala could resign at any time and force another immediate presidential election that Ranil would most certainly lose.
Controlling Ranil Wickramasinghe has to be a top priority in Sri Lanka, as he is too inclined to promote Western neo-colonial policies that only benefit Western interests, not the people of Sri Lanka.
January 17th, 2015 at 11:43 pm
What ever said and done, in my eyes Ranil is traitor to my Motherland. I cannot forget what he did during his time in power so easily. I cannot forget what he did to our Intelligence and how he had wild parties with our arch enemies. I cannot trust him at all with all these western backers of his coming back again same like before to dictate us. His western backers aren’t coming here to help us but to poison our minds same like during the war. Already, the Ranil Govt has taken out all barriers from the North. They have appointed a civilian Governor as per TNA’s request. I hope that they will not remove our heroes from there and allow TNA terrorists to roam as they pleased. Forces remaining in the North is very essential for our own security and it should not be removed at all. If they do then we can expect another blood bath very soon.
Ranil is good for the outsiders not for the country or to it’s people. Foreigners love this Tie & Coat guy very much because he supports western values than local. Baiya is the perfect person to lead our country. MR or MY3 no different. They are true sons of Mother Lanka not Ranil or CKB westernized Bonny & Clyde. Let’s see how the ball will roll.
January 18th, 2015 at 12:16 am
**Baiya is the perfect person to lead our country. MR or MY3 no different. **
Just one addition. MR – Baiya with a spine MY3 – An invertabrate
We need a Baiya leader with a spine like MR.
January 18th, 2015 at 4:04 am
“The former President has won 5.7 million votes almost single handedly….”
Get real, MDPD. Yes, MR won “almost singlehandedly” but together with a vast army of supporters, almost unlimited resources, the advantages of incumbency and access to a vast array of state resources which he was not shy to exploit! MS, in contrast was a comparative unknown, described by some as “colourless” and without charisma. His campaign had to contend among other things with intimidation, thuggery and a relentless attack by the state media. The fact that he won, despite such odds, just reflects the depth of the electorate’s disenchantment with MR.
January 18th, 2015 at 8:16 am
MR didnt lose because of any disenchantment of the electorate but because of the foreign coup to get rid of him completely. Whole thing was planned between Tamil Diaspora and other western Govts like USA,England,Canada,India and Europe and also with the assistance of our local traitors like Rajitha,Mangala and others. This is the truth. Before anyone investigate corruptions of the previous Govt CID should investigate the Opposition coup before the elections and about Sirisena’s son involvement in money laundering and Rajitha’s tape conversation etc. We need answer’s for all that from the Yahapalana Govt. Also vote rigging in North as per some news we saw in some webs.
Before Yahapalanaya Gestapos investigate the corruption of the previous Govt Ministers and MP’s they must investigate old culprits too like Ravi Sathosa Hora, Rajitha Beer Hora, Sajith Artifects Hora. CBK Loka Hora and other loka Horu in previous UNP Govt. There should be a bipartisan inquiry for every single corrupted individual in politics on both sides. We should clean it completely from top to Bottom and have a real Yahapalanaya in our blessed country for every individual to live as their choice in Peace and Harmony.
January 18th, 2015 at 10:22 am
කැ සංඩ්රා
මොකෝ හමුදාවේ ය බලෙන් කතිරේ ගස්සුවද එහෙනම් දෙමල මුස්ලිම් අයත් මහින්දට කතිරේ ගසන්නඑපෑ සිංහලු විතරද හමුදාවට බය එකද ඔබේ මතය ඉන්දියානු බලපෑම දැන් එළිවෙලානේ ඉතින් තවත් මොකටද කතා කොහොම හරි කමක් නැහැ රනිල් ට රට පාවා දෙන්නා බැරිවෙන විදිහට මයිත්රී කටයුතු කලොත් රනිල් බටහිර ගැත්තා
January 18th, 2015 at 10:57 am
THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED!!!
-Out of 15 million voters the SIRISENA COALITION (which is a vast coalition) won against Rajapakse by a slim number of 450 thousand.
-The Indian and American media were too quick to claim the issue of “Democracy winning’ while hailing Sirisena. Both nations wanted Rajapakse out.
-Unlike past elections the Tamils and Muslims came out in massive numbers and yet the SIRISENA COALITION BARELY WON BY 450 THOUSAND VOTES.
-If in fact Rajapakse won this election and he was ousted by an Indain/ US backed Coalition then there are a lot of angry Buddhist Sinhalese.
January 18th, 2015 at 11:00 am
Unlike in India’s recent election where the BJP won by a massive landslide against the Coalition Congress party this election barely scraped through on just 450 thousand votes.
Immediately after the election Sirisena wants to accuse Rajapakse of trying to use the military to oust him. That is called deflecting and putting the blame quickly on his opponent to possibly cover up his own manipulations of this election.
January 18th, 2015 at 12:41 pm
Malinda Seneviratne in his editorial in The Nation has requested a Crime Probe : Lets begin from 1994.
Well and good.
Let’s start with the past (MR) regime soonest and expeditiously before the perpetrators make a run for it and the recovery of tax payers in the most recent times will be easier to track down.
The intent of these investigations should not be a witch hunt or to seek revenge, thus it should be carried out by professionally qualified financial forensic experts ( perhaps even international experts) assisted by able technical experts.
In all Forensic and Fraud investigations we start with the most recent transactions and work backwards examining loopholes and evasion techniques not only to trace funds flow but also to plug these practices.
Ranil W is too much of a gentleman politician to head or oversee such investigation and i have grave suspicions that he was too cosy with the Tsunami Hora.
We already have quite a few high profile absconding and quiet a few willing to “tell all”. No plea bargains should be allowed until and when prosecution and recovery of funds has been obtained.
This exercise if carried out properly and correctly will fatten the nations coffers.
January 18th, 2015 at 12:57 pm
BW
THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED!!!
Of course it was Bernard, Aliens from the same planet of Deshapriya landed at MRIA with pre-prepared ballot papers and “cyber- transported” themselves to the northern province to stuff ballot boxes.
Aliens are still looking for Deshapriya to transport hm back to mother planet.
Deshapriya has been kidnapped by the third-eye RAW agent Christie.
…hic..
January 18th, 2015 at 1:03 pm
HERE DROPS the FIRST shoe, CBK to become SLFP Leader, to be followed SOON thereafter by the SECOND Shoe: the appointment of CBK as Prime Minister!
I expect RW will be kicked “upstairs” SOON to the post of “Chairman” of the Committee of Presidential Advisors! Ranil must be in TEARS with the rest of the UNP stalwarts!
…………………….
President Sirisena paving the way for Chandrika to be SLFP leader; To move amendment to SLFP Constitution
by Zacki Jabbar
Island.lk
January 17, 2015, 7:45 pm
President Maithripala Sirisena, who was installed as the new Chairman of the SLFP last Friday, is to propose an amendment to the party Constitution shortly paving the way for Ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga to become the SLFP leader, SLFP sources said.
A senior SLFP’er said yesterday that during a meeting between Srisena and Kumaratunga in Colombo on Friday they had discussed abolishing the clause in the party constitution stipulating that any SLFPer who was elected President of the country automatically became Chairman of the SLFP as well.
” An amendment to this effect will be proposed by the President shortly,” he said on condition of anonymity.
Ironically the SLFP constitution was changed in 2005 to oust Kumaratunga as the leader and install the then newly elected President Mahinda Rajapaksa in her place.
The Rajapaksas had not only ruled the country with an iron fist, while paying mere lip service to good governance and rule of law, but also stifled democratic dissent within the SLFP and veered the party away from the principles enunciated by its founder leaders, sources close to President Sirisena noted.
“We will not allow the Rajapaksa’s ever again to destroy the image of the SLFP. As stated by President Sirisena himself, the Cabinet of Ministers was forced to shut up while the Rajapaksas who were corrupt to the core had allocated nearly 90 percent of the national budget to ministries run by them.
“Fortunately the attempt by Mahinda and his brother Gotabhaya to grab power by force on January 9, when they realized the vote count was going against them, failed. For this we need to thank the Army Commander and the Inspector General of Police for refusing to follow the illegal directives given by the Rajapaksa brothers.”
Mahinda, by making a big song and dance about him voluntarily handing over the SLFP Chairmanship to Sirisena had tried to create an impression that he was being magnanimous, but the fact is that he did not have a choice in the matter because the party Constitution had already laid down the policy that needed to be followed. He ,also created an impression of being a graceful looser and a true democrat by leaving Temple Trees in the early hours of January 9 .But before the day ended, the entire country knew of his failed coup attempt,” the sources added.
January 18th, 2015 at 1:13 pm
MR’s relatives in ENDIA conspired against him!
AS anyone would have guessed, Endia conspired against MR. An Endian RAW agent was in SL plotting against MR. Govt. ALWAYS knew this but MR NEVER took any action in time. YARL DEVI is the best laid ENDIAN plan. It DEPRIVED Sinhala people and made ALL 3 trains from the north TAMIL ONLY. Part financed by bloody Endia!
MR repeated his disgusting claim Endia is his relative again.
MR hired Endian Arvind Gupta to run his social media campaign.
MR allowed all Endian junk, kallathonis to creep into SL.
MR promised 13 amendment full implementation to Endia.
This is the end result. OBVIOUS!
January 18th, 2015 at 1:29 pm
Millennium City – 2?
Some foolish anti-SL politician (John Amaratunga?) had directed police to arrest a “floating armoury” off Galle. This is a SL Navy affiliated anti-pirate operation ship MV MAHANUWARA! These are the ships that kept SL waters safe without making a huge cry. This is an act of treason.
This is DISGRACEFUL.
Please visit their website the know the TRUTH – “http://avantmaritime.com/”
UPFA must bring a NO CONFIDENCE MOTION against this loser John Amaratunga NOW. President My3 should immediately look into it.
January 18th, 2015 at 5:40 pm
The following analysis by Mr. Ladduwahetti is worth reading!
———————————————————————–
Message in 2015 presidential election outcome
January 18, 2015, 9:24 pm
By Neville Ladduwahetty
Mr. Maithripala Sirisena has been elected President. He won by a margin of 449,072 votes. His vote bank of 6,217,162 (Ibid) was predominantly made up of the voters in six electoral districts of the Northern and Eastern Provinces, the Nuwara Eliya District in the Central Province, as well as a considerable proportion of a mix of voters from ethnic and religious communities from the remaining 16 electoral districts who were critical of the manner in which former President Rajapaksa governed the country. Collectively, they represented the diversity of Sri Lanka’s population, thereby reflecting an inclusive electorate.
On the other hand, the vote bank of former President Rajapaksa was primarily made up of the voters in 16 electoral districts outside the six districts referred to above. In these 16 electoral districts, former President Rajapaksa secured a majority of 307,828 votes over President Sirisena based on results quoted for individual Electoral Districts (Ibid). The 5,491,677 votes secured by former President Rajapaksa in these 16 Electoral Districts represent 95% of ALL votes received by him and 45% of the total votes polled. This fact is too telling to be ignored. Had he been returned for a third term on a predominantly Sinhala vote, his government too would have ended up being inclusive because of the inevitable crossover of self-seekers.
The Sinhala electorate that voted for President Sirisena did so because of serious lapses during the administration of the former President. On the other hand, the 95% that voted for the former President was also aware of these lapses relating to corruption, nepotism, family involvement in the affairs of the State, permissiveness that affected the rule of law, derogation of democratic practices and restrictions on the media. Despite this awareness the fact that the majority in the 16 Electoral Districts voted for the former President means that to that majority he represented certain intangible values that were nearer and dearer to them mattered more than issues of governance.
CLASH of VALUES
This election has brought into focus the clash of values within the Sinhala electorate. To one faction, issues of governance, law and order etc. meant more than issues that had the potential to render vulnerability to the integrity of the State. To the other faction, i.e., the 95% majority, it was not that issues relating to governance and law and order were unimportant, but that the more overriding value to them was the territorial integrity of their State. It is the territorial integrity that dominates their psyche above all else because the integrity of their beloved homeland is vital to their very existence.
This clash of values is at the core of Sri Lanka’s national question. Attempting to address the national question by ignoring the sentiments of the 95% majority would not be durable. For it to be durable these sentiments must necessarily be the foundation on which to build the frame of a future political structure.
To the 95% majority, a vote for the former President was not just an expression of gratitude for having ended the conflict thereby ensuring the most fundamental of human rights – the right to life free of terrorism despite external pressures. In doing so and making a divided country whole again the former President restored the integrity of the country that had been divided by representatives of this administration during a previous avatar. That Sinhala faction would vote for anyone who committed to ensure the security and integrity of the State and Nation. At this moment in Sri Lanka’s history it was the former President that symbolized that cherished value. Their hope is that someone would emerge to carry the baton forward for them.
In the perception of these voters, once territorial integrity is compromised the cost of making it whole again involves blood and treasure as had been demonstrated following the signing of the Peace Accord and the country divided between LTTE controlled areas and the rest. And, when it comes to the crunch it is this 95% that would step forward to make the sacrifices to secure the integrity of the State. They are conscious that no leader other than former President Rajapaksa would have taken the risks to withstand international pressures to cease prosecuting the conflict in order to bring the conflict to a decisive finality at personal cost to him.
The other faction of the Sinhala electorate acknowledges the contribution made by the former President in this regard. But in their opinion, gratitude has its limits. To this faction, the time for gratitude is over. In their view, it is a time for good governance, rule of law, reconciliation and etc. etc.. Considering the extent to which the current administration had gone to accommodate the LTTE, leaves questions as to the extent they are likely to go to accommodate minority interests at the expense of the interests of the 95% majority for the sake of staying in power. The 95% is confident that the former President would not make such compromises for the sake of political power.
In this regard, it is likely that the 95% majority would prefer a reformed Executive Presidential system over a Parliamentary system because a President under the former system is not only the literal leader of the whole State and Nation but also symbolically the unifying political figure, thereby underscoring the unitary character of the State. Parliamentary systems do not embody such elements because a Prime Minister does not literally or symbolically represent the whole and entire nation.
CONCLUSION
In the exuberance following regime change it is likely that the existence of a 95% majority lurking in the shadows would be ignored. They have an opportunity to give expression to their disappointment during the Parliamentary elections that are expected to follow after a Parliamentary system is put in to replace the Executive Presidential system in April 2015 in keeping with the 100 day programme. However, their hope is that whoever emerges to represent their interests would conduct themselves and the affairs of the State in a manner that would bring honour and dignity to this 95%, as well as to what they stand for.
January 18th, 2015 at 6:04 pm
The new government is reviewing Chinese projects. It is extremely unwise to hinder Chinese projects or slow down the rapidly rising Sri Lanka-China relations. With Chinese involvement, the Sri Lankan economy will be in ruin in no time. If the president keeps his promises of salary increases, reduction is commodity prices and taxes, and other concessions, the economy will take a massive hit. The only way to cusion it is through Chinese economic assistance via infrastructure projects, etc. that causes an inflow of funds.
The new government will not last long if Chinese projects are hindered to satisfy a hegemonic India. Gratitude towards the voters is more important than anything else.
January 18th, 2015 at 7:11 pm
Very Similar to Rajapaksa, on the 22nd of May 2009, Stupid Ranil Wickremasinghe Opens his stupid Mouth. President Should Intervene Immediately to Correct This
India to keep close eye on PM’s ‘serious’ statement
January 18, 2015 04:50 pm
Indian Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu replying to a question on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe’s remarks on offering more autonomy to Tamils in the island nation, he said it was a ‘serious’ statement and the NDA Government had taken note of it, the News X agency reprorted.
“It is a very serious statement and we have taken note of it. We have age old relationship with Sri Lanka and we want to continue our relationship”, he said.
After the victory of Maithripala Sirisena in the recent Presidential polls, Wickramasinghe indicated that the new Sri Lankan government would offer more autonomy to Tamils.
January 19th, 2015 at 5:08 am
Very Similar to Rajapaksa, on the 22nd of May 2009- Since 1948 We heard this today , not new to We-Tamils.
January 19th, 2015 at 5:26 am
>>>Nanda Says:
January 18th, 2015 at 7:11 pm<<<
I don't know what Ranil means by "greater autonomy" as Tamils can live, work, and buy land ANYWHERE in Sri Lanka.
This is NOT true for the Sinhalese Buddhists, who are currently prevented from living, working, and buying land in the North and most of the East. So is were concerned about "greater autonomy" it has to addressed to ALL citizens of Sri Lanka, not just the Tamils.
The Tamils need to show FIRST that they can accept non-Tamils as neighbors in the North and East, and until they do this there can be no action of any sort that reinforces the erroneous notion that the North and East "belong" to Tamils and Muslims. These regions belong to ALL Sri Lankans, just like the rest of the country.
January 19th, 2015 at 5:39 am
These kind of racist, anti-Sinhalese Buddhist laws have no place in Sri Lanka, so Ranil’s GREATER AUTONOMY should start with abolishing this law:
Ordinance No. 59 of 1947
Thesawalamai Pre-Emption
January 19th, 2015 at 6:51 am
Namaste; British left the dominions of the British-Indian Empire and the Indian colonists stayed and prospered more.
January 19th, 2015 at 10:54 am
Vimutti said
“I don’t know what Ranil means by “greater autonomy” as Tamils can live, work, and buy land ANYWHERE in Sri Lanka.
This is NOT true for the Sinhalese Buddhists, who are currently prevented from living, working, and buying land in the North and most of the East. So is were concerned about “greater autonomy” it has to addressed to ALL citizens of Sri Lanka, not just the Tamils.
The Tamils need to show FIRST that they can accept non-Tamils as neighbors in the North and East, and until they do this there can be no action of any sort that reinforces the erroneous notion that the North and East “belong” to Tamils and Muslims. These regions belong to ALL Sri Lankans, just like the rest of the country.”
Spot On! ABSOLUTELY CORRECT, Vimutti!
Before the Presidential Election, I was planning to construct a Wind Power Plant in the North West, and a Factory to build those Wind Turbines both for local use and for export in the North West of Sri Lanka.
I have CANCELLED those plans now because my INVESTMENT would not be safe with the PROMISES of the current GOSL to EMPOWER the Separatists in the North and East of SL, with India voicing “Hossanas”.
As a SINHALA BUDDHIST, I would be SUMMARILY EJECTED from those properties if the SEPARATISTS come to power! There is NO PLACE FOR ME in 40% of my Motherland!
Now I am looking for alternative sites in the “Deep South” of Sri Lanka, where my INVESTMENT would be safe from such Racist moves to deny me equal opportunity!