By Sena Thoradeniya
(Continued from August 3, 2024)
1. Ranil’s Strategic Maneuvers
A. RW- masquerading as the savior
RW was offered the Premiership by GR in April 2022, Finance portfolio in July 2022, made President by the majority of Pohottuwa MPs in July 2022; it was GR and Pohottuwa who jointly created a Frankenstein, knowing very well RW’s shadowy past since 1977 and how the UNP supported the Galle Face Protest. We have documented that dark history in our earlier writings. Pohottuwa accepted him as the leader of their parliamentary group, Head of State and Government, and their savior in the face of murderous onslaught of protesters; RW has saved not only their lives; he has paid compensation for their property destroyed by the goons.
At the last stages of GR’s tenure, police and security forces did not take any action against the protesters. A government MP Madura Vithanage disclosed in the Parliament on 7 July 2024 that on 31 May 2022 when the protesters besieged GR’s private residence at Mirihana he, as requested by GR had telephoned the then Army Commander to take preventive action against the protesters, (blocking roads using armored vehicles was the request made by him), but he was told that it was a political matter” and to quell the protest using their own club wielding party supporters.
This statement begs a few explanations: why the Commander-in-Chief ask an ordinary MP to speak to the then Army Commander instead him talking direct to him or Secretary/ Defense? Can an ordinary MP suggest the Army Commander the action he should take in such a situation? How can the Army Commander suggest to incite party supporters to take the law into their hands? Was it a political matter” that had happened at Mirihana on 31 May 2022? Have the protesters besieged President’s private residence to hold a political rally?
If this statement is correct it is a very contentious and a dangerous one; can an Army Commander suggest such a foolish act? Is not the duty and responsibility of the army top brass to safeguard the security of the President and the State? Was it a suggestion made to hasten the triggering of the conspiracy already hatched, had Madura Vithanage acted accordingly?
By a very strange coincidence Vithanage’s statement did not receive the attention it deserves either of SJB, NPP, foreign-funded NGO cabal or bourgeois press (columnists and editorialists). No one, including those hawks who visit the CID as to perform purification rites at a drop of a hat lodged a complaint. Vithanage can safely sing cradlesongs for the amusement of his new leader RW.
With this digression we come back to our main narrative; SLPP accepted portfolios under RW; the worst was done by Dinesh Gunawardena who is from a different party accepting the premiership; the man who was removed by GR immediately after his remarks made during his marketing spree at Delkanda Pola, Susil Premjayanth was appointed as the Leader of the House; it is very interesting to note that RW did not accommodate SLPP seniors in the Cabinet of Ministers; before long some SLPP Ministers and State Ministers became clamorous spokespersons of RW. The strangest happening was those SLPP seniors who were not accommodated in the Cabinet of Ministers by RW, joining RW in his Presidential Election campaign abandoning the SLPP.
RW from the day of his ascendancy to the top post began pursuing his own agenda, what he could not accomplish as PM on several occasions at the expense of the SLPP.
It is none other than the SLPP leadership who is responsible for the present predicament of the SLPP. Before they proposed the name of RW for the Presidency (as there wasn’t a single UNP MP in the Parliament) and voted and elected him as the President, SLPP leadership should have signed a MOU with RW for a minimum programme and giving RW critical support, in other words reaching a compromise knowing his satanic past – not to support his anti-national bills as it was common knowledge that RW would not accede to carry out SLPP programme. But alas! SLPP supported all his anti-national bills, including the controversial Electricity Bill, Gender Equality Bill etc. despite MR’s letter dated May 12 sent to RW, against the divestiture of profit-making SOEs and requesting him to stop such action until the conclusion of the next Presidential Elections. But MR himself voted for the Electricity Bill and negated what he himself had written.
This confirmed the impression that RW and SLPP are having a grand political honeymoon, cruising together in a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean, despite some muscle flexing antics by Basil R, orchestrated for the benefit of gossip savvy media.Basil Rwas not able to get acquiescenceof RW for conducting Parliamentary Elections before the Presidential Elections. A shrewd politician RW knew how to woo the SLPP parliamentarians who have not completed the stipulated period to enjoy pension rights.
In this context Basil R’sstatement made at a Kalutara felicitation meeting, bayath nae; nayatha nae” (we are neither afraid nor in debt) became meaningless as it was RW who is in debt to SLPP and the person who should be afraid of losing SLPP support. If our politicians know something about our ancient Buddhist canons, RW would have re-joined: I have redeemed a loan; now I can offer a loan; I have left behind a treasure”, as stated by the Bodhistva parrot king in Salikaedara Jatakaya”.
It was evident since many months ago that at an election a large number of Pohottuwa MPs would switch their allegiance to RW; before the nomination day this number multiplied dayby day in an unprecedent scale with diehard Mahinda loyalists switching allegiance to RW as they were caught in a bush fire.
In all meetings he addressed RW expressed that people should not forget the hardships endured in 2022, due to shortages of essential items such as fuel, gas, fertilizer, medicine; mentioned about calamitous circumstances people faced, foreign exchange scarcity, shortages and queues when he assumed leadership having only a single seat in the Parliament. He repeated all the other party leaders declined to accept leadership given on a platter. He was the only one who took up the challenge when others fled; he claimed that he himself was the savior and reiterated that he should be given another chance to continue the unfinished job.
RW says that he has revived agricultural activities, boosting production; bolstered revenue streams, strengthened the rupee and facilitated economic resurgence; he warns if we fail to rectify this and transition to a new economic paradigm we risk sliding back into economic turmoil; he creates a monster and shows its dreadfulness to the people; says Sri Lanka emerged from bankruptcy and was been able to agree upon debt repayment plans. His oft-repeated chansons full of poetic renditionswel Paalama” (vine bridge), Grusha and Caucasian ChalkCircle”,wankagiriya” (labyrinth) and the latest addition Titanic” keep the people in bewilderment, whether it is fantasy or reality.
In his Address to the Nation on 26 June RWsaid that Sri Lanka received an opportunity to repay loans on concessional terms with an extended period until 2043; Sri Lanka could now defer all bilateral loan installment payments until 2028. He said that development work which was halted are set to commence; can initiate new development projects; he demonstrated that he is capable of doing and have confidence to do so; said that he successfully elevated the country from bankruptcy and economic turmoil to a position that astonished the world; said that he had safely guided the child named Mother Sri Lanka through treacherous waters; this speech was like a clarion call for his Presidential Election campaign and showed futility of campaigns of Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara.
I pose a critical question. Will you move forward with me, who comprehended the problem from its inception, offered practical solutions and delivered results? Or will you align with those grappling in the dark still struggling to grasp the issues? Will you stay the course towards a brighter future for yourself and the nation? Or will you opt for a different path? We all are aware of the perils of veering off course or choosing the wrong path. Therefore, make the right decision.”
At Matara rally on 30 June Ekwa Jaya Gamu, Api Matara” (Victory through Unity), organised by SLPP Young Turks, again RW highlighted his efforts over the past two years; he underscored the need for collective commitment of all to propel the nation’s political journey; he said, I have safely brought the Titanic to the port; while other captains fled from the iceberg, we took a critical decision; sink or navigate to safety; now that we have reached the port; the question is what to do next with this ship; he blamed the other contenders; that they are not fit to hold any responsible position; When the President resigns and the ruling party fails to act, it falls upon the opposition to step in. Yet everyone evaded responsibility”. He said that he was the only person who shouldered the responsibility.
Clearly, he laid a trap; If any party possesses an alternative approach, I am willing to facilitate discussions with the IMF for them. The government is willing to make arrangements to provide travel permits, necessary funds for travel and accommodation for these discussions, he said at Matara. We can no longer afford to revert to old politics; do we have an alternative future? Can we afford to return to the days of long queues and traditional politics?” He repeated the same thing on 2 July in Parliament that he can make arrangements to meet Finance Ministers, in the countries mentioned by SP, Ghana, Argentina etc.
RW reaffirms, to take the country forward we no longer can make experiments; this is not a time to play bringing this person or the other; I have brought the country to a transformative stage only thinking about the country; if this government is replaced with any other there will be a severe crisis again; this should be avoided.”
Has RW done any miracle other than accepting dictates of the IMF and complying with IMF conditions and acting accordingly? It is well known that he has agreed to highly objectionable conditions of IMF.
Would the voters listen to these urban myths? This is a country which chased out the President who gave political leadership to defeat Tamil Tiger terrorists in 2005. Many say that we have short memories, although this writer does not subscribe to this idea, because we are a nation who have a rich historical memory and a cultural memory. But the neocons and neoliberals who are at the helm and various segments of the middle class who follow the former blindly want to keep the status quo.
The other important aspect is, this country having a surfeitof political parties, did not support even the war efforts, tried every trick in their book to scuttle the war efforts; even tried to defeat the budget. This criticism is also levelled against RW’s UNP and his loyal lieutenantsat the time. Just recall the notoriousutterances of Karunanayaka (Kilinochchi-Medawachchi: Alimankada-Pamankada binary), Kiriella (any bull can wage war”), Samaraweera (army commander is fit to be the commander of Salvation Army”), and RW himself (Toppigala is a jungle”). We do not see even a remote possibility major party leader joining the callof RW to unite, except three-wheeler parties”. These realignments are being witnessed daily. It is a futile call since all think that they are poised for victory; when they see the finishing line running solowhy shouldthey join in a relay and share the spoils?
B. Ranil’s strategic maneuvers in the economic front
Using public funds, RW began to give away various handouts and poor relief to different segments of the society. As they are legion it is not necessary to list down what they are and commenting on the viability and practicability of such acts, as almost all are aimed at the upcoming Presidential Election. But making some observations about some proposals which are detrimental to the country in the long run is important.
Under Urumaya land grants, giving freehold land title deeds was lauded by RW supporters, but it will result in pauperization of the peasantry and adding more numbers to landless lot as there is an inducement to sell land. This was what the Americans needed by their abortive agreements.
RW met Bishop of Mannar in mid-June and discussed development of Point Pedro, Mullaitivu as renewable energy hubs, power connectivity and land connectivity with India, plans to develop Mannar as a tourist hub, development of Mannar Fort to attract cruise ship tourists. This manifests the prominence he has given to so-called connectivity death trap laid by India.
RW while attending the opening of a Sea Water Desalinization Plant, promised a River to Jaffna” to provide water to the Northern Peninsula; this proposal was in the pipeline for nearly 5 or 6 decades. He also promised to introduce drip irrigation as it is a new concept; he did not tell how to get water for drip irrigation. All Presidential candidates promise to introduce many things thinking they are novel concepts; these do goodies try to invent the wheel not knowing that the wheel was invented many centuries ago, in this case several decades ago.
Proliferation of Smart classrooms” has reached an epidemic level as many Presidential candidates think that it is the main drawback in our school system. Education Minister on behalf of RW, announced the creation of Entrepreneurship Circles” in 3000 schools as part of the first phase aimed at fostering school-level entrepreneurs. Now RW, SP, Anura Kumara all talk about Entrepreneurship. Where were they all this time? JVP destroyed factories, transformers and Agricultural Service Centers. UNP governments destroyed state industries under its privatization programme and local level handloom and power loom industries.
RW says transformation of Sri Lanka to an export-driven economy is imperative; both SP and Anura Kumara repeat the same. Creating an export-driven economy was in the top of the agenda of development initiatives cherished by many policy makers and governments and there is nothing new in these dreams of new born babies.
RW said that he is going to identify areas occupied by plantation workers and designate these areas as new settlement villages at a special discussion held on 17 July. Not to be outdone Premadasa promises to make plantation workers entrepreneurs – tea smallholders providing them with tea lands; we do not know how he is going to do it. Is he going to fragment big tea plantations? This will provide with a death warrantto lush tea plantations in the hill country. These were the people who opposed vehemently nationalization of foreign owned tea plantations alleging that nationalization of plantations would kill the hen who lays golden eggs. Later when they came into power, they formed cluster companies and as the next step state owned plantations were handed over to capitalist management companies by CBK.
These politicians first, should understand how the tea small sector grew overtime. There is a scheme already in existence introduced since 2008 called Revenue Sharing Model (RSM) in some state-owned plantations. A part of tea estate land given to workers to grow, pluck and sell green leaf to the company.
The danger of these short-sighted proposals is making the so-called Mallaiyaha Tamils” into an antagonistic force in the hill country, fighting for their ‘liberation”. Already it is being carried out with the blesings of Julie Chung, so-called Rama Trail” and establishing massive Sita Amman kovils in the Central Highlands.
Increasing fixed deposit interest of senior citizens to 10% (senior citizens are aware that it was this government which reduced the interest rate from 15% to 8.5%), is a mere eyewash to hoodwink them.
C. Ranil’s strategic maneuvers in the political front
RW began his political manipulations by appointing some of his loyalists as Governors, the worst was the appointing of a Thondaman as Governor of the Eastern Province.
In July 2023 a conference was organised to update the parliament party leaders on the National Reconciliation Programme and North East Development Plan; RW said collective discussions among all parties are necessary to decide in granting police powers to Provincial Councils; RW proposed arrangements that would allow members of Provincial Councils to concurrently hold position and be appointed as MPs, while MPs could also hold position as members of Provincial Councils; his recent utterings reveal that he has not deviated from this stance. This will make provincial affairs and parliamentary affairs a mockery, making provincial affairs an appendage of the legislature, creating more power wielders at provincial level. RW is under pressure from Modi to implement the 13th Amendment. Now there is a competition between RW, SJB and NPP about full implementation of the 13th Amendment. It was UNP, JVP and TNA indefinitely postponed Provincial Councils elections in 2017. Provincial Councils are now being controlled by RW through Governors appointed by him. Visiting North and East he said that in this country we have 10 governments, 9 of which are Provincial governments”. He cannot say like this unless he is going to break Sri Lanka into 10 states.
Gender based bills: Womens’ Empowerment Bill and Gender Equality Bill; the former was introduced by Anupa Pasqual of Yuthukama Group , State Minister of Social Empowerment;according to Julie Chung’s ‘X’message dated 18 Juneshe had met withAnupa Pasqual at the US Embassy along with Madura Vithanage , SLPP MP, Dulles Alahapperuma MP (now changed his allegiance to SJB) and some other SJB MPs. Gender Equality Bill is said to be a joint effort of Women’s Parliamentary Caucus; they including Harini Amarasuriya of NPP were sent to New Zealand on a study tour funded by USAID with the blessings of Julie Chung. RW made a statement in the Parliament on 18 June concerning the Gender Equality Bill; proposed a Parliamentary Select Committee to review Supreme Court determination as it has determined the bill was inconsistent with the constitution, would require both a parliamentary special majority and a referendum. RW referred to it as judicial cannibalism”; Harini Amarasuriya of NPP said that it was a weak draft bill filled with vague clauses which was the reason why the Supreme Court has determined it was inconsistent with the constitution.
RW attempted to extend the term of Attorney General for another 6 months on the pretext of his services would have to be retained in view of the Easter Sunday probe and X-Press Pearl issue; but was scuttled by the Constitutional Council.
RW providing funds under decentralized budget to opposition MPs; alleged to have given bar permits to some.
Using Local Government polls candidates in state-funded development activities.
RW in July 2023 gave presidential pardon to 2 convicted Tigers, serving a jailterm in the Central Bus Station bomb attack on 31 January 1966, which claimed the lives of 91 persons. One of them was sentenced to 200 years imprisonment and the other life imprisonment; he also pardoned LTTE cadres who bombed the Central Bank in 1996.
RW began forging alliances firstly with SLFP breakaway group Ministers, State Ministers and MPs and secondly with PohottuwaMinisters, State Ministers and MPs and the so-called New Alliance” and other Pohottuwa anti Rajapaksa groups in a subtle way; diehard Mahinda loyalists of SLPP drifted towards him astoundingly breaking ties with MR and Basil R. We witnessed a grand spectacle in which SLPP MPs and former SLPP Ministers (men and women) who vilified, denigrated and disparaged RW joining him en masse as what was said and done by them had happened in a previous birth. This tide began with a significant number of Pohottuwa Ministers and MPs pledging their support to RW at Ekwa Jayagamu” public meetings held at various cities.
It is said by now around 100 out of 145 MPs elected on SLPP ticket have decamped. All these MPs decamped for their own sake to be re-elected as MPs at the next General Elections. Almost all these MPs were elected in 2020 thanks to MR. If the SLPP hierarchy has taken any action against the SLPP dissidents initially, as the SJB did, it could have halted this situation without allowing it to grow as anepidemic. MR’s saloon door policy” did work against him this time.
RW succeeded in forging alliances with EPDP, whose leader Douglas Devananda opposed the idea of fielding a common Tamil candidate declaring that it is not beneficial to Tamil community, inimical to the interests of Tamil community; Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), State Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanth (Pillaiyan) expressed solidarity and confirmed his support for RW. He was seen wrapping RW with a Ponnadai” (golden robe) and garlanding him with a huge garland; KarunaAmman and VillayaindranMP for Batticaloa also pledged his support; RW was able to woo certain leaders of the plantation workers. Just before the nominations and soon after the nominations some SJB key figures and Muslim MPs switched their alliance to RW defying their party leaders. Tamil (including plantations) and Muslim political parties and some old buddies like Ranawaka pledging support to Premadasa do not portray a significant political advantage to him as they all supported Premadasa in 2019 also; it should be stated that with their votes Premadasa obtained only 5,564,239 votes (or 41.99%).Only new faces in his alliance” are those who left the SLPP whereas RW leads a broader alliance” than his former ally.
Sarath Fonseka had met with RW regarding a foreign exchange matter, believed to be what SF had received in the run-up for the 2010 Presidential Elections; RW was the Chief Guest at the launch of SF’s book on 28 June; paying SF a glowing tribute RW highlighted SF’s ability to contribute significantly to the country’s future. He did not forget to remind that it was the yahapalana regime, he as the Prime Minister promoted him to the rank of Field Marshal; SF breaking away from SJB and contesting at the forthcoming Presidential Elections are interpreted as the work of a vote breaker proxy candidate.
RW addressing issues of unity in a coalition, demonstrates that he is committed to unity for the nation’s interest; encourages other political parties to join in this initiative. Regardless of political affiliations what is foremost is the country’s success has become his catchword; he extends an invitation to opposition urging them to prioritize national interests over partisan politics.
D. Culture
Not a single candidate is interested in culture. Sometime back Anura Kumara announced at a meeting held at Uda Dumbara that there are no Sinhala films in Netflix. This was the way he identified our cultural problems. Mao said: An army without culture is a dull-witted army, and a dull-witted army cannot defeat the enemy”. We change this to, a political party without culture is a party of hooligans and thugs”.
E. Internationally
By entering various connectivity” programmes with India RW is attempting to make Sri Lanka, a vassal state of India; doing so RW is trying to achieve two things: coming into the orbit of influence of India and thereby becoming a partner in QUAD activities in the Indian Ocean Region. This stance is good for him in the long run. RW had told the Indians that (in his visit to India) Sri Lankan territory will not be used against India; RW and Modi had discussed the question of Chinese presence in Sri Lanka; India protested to China’s research vessel Yuang Yung in2023, calling it a spy ship; to reassure India Sri Lanka on July 18, 2023, 2 days before RW’s visit to India announced a new standard operating procedure” for future port calls by foreign research vessels; but allowed Indian naval ship (INS) Khanjar to visit Trinco on 29 July, 2023 to take part in several training programmes with a crew of 151; it was welcomed by Sri Lanka Navy; on 14 September, 2023 INS Nireekshak” arrived at the Trinco harbor with a crew of 137; was involved in diving training with Sri Lanka Navy Diving Unit.
Julie Chung, the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka as self-proclaimed Viceroy of Sri Lanka continues her meetings with government officials, including members of the Elections Commission, superior officers in the defense establishment, government Ministers and opposition MPs as she was given a carte blanche by the Foreign Minister and the President. This week she was seen touring the Southern Province. Visiting Kirinda Viharaya she rang its gantaraya (temple bell). What was announced? For Whom the Bell Tolls? Does it signify death? This is none other than abusing Buddhist rituals.
Visiting Indian Externa Affairs Minister Jaishankar in June discussed with all political parties and he reportedly said that it is important that India-funded projects such as renewable energy projects, including solar power projects, grid connectivity, land connectivity and proposed petroleum pipeline between India and Sri Lanka are not derailed by any incoming government, stressing the need to ensure that these projects continue under any incoming government after theupcoming Presidential polls. He hailed the pledge to fully implement 13th Amendment.
2. Ranil’s Machiavellian tricks
Rapid alignments and realignments of political forces has changed the political dynamism. On 29 JulySLPP announced that it has decided not to back RW’s candidature at the Presidential Elections and to field its own candidate instead and he will contest under Pohottuwa symbol. Until then there was speculation that SLPP was going to support RW and he having a very good chance of winning. But the situation changed dramatically as scores of SLPP MPs switching their allegiance to RW. With this can RW free himself from the derogatory term used by the capitalist media Ranil – Rajapaksa” is the biggest question. But all the rogues who were responsible for the downfall of GR are either with RW or with Premadasa; the other group including Viyathamaga” grandees also joined Premadasa and neither party can claim that they are free from Rajapaksa wrongdoers. Similarly, SJB cannot absolve itself from yahapalana political, economic and cultural crimes.
RW was the last man out of the three main contenders to enter the fray; his delay in announcing his candidature gave rise to many speculations; but he was the first candidate to pay the deposit at the Elections Office, this time as an independent candidate. This was a terrible setback to SLPP strategists. Restoration of law and order, economic recovery even as an eyewash, getting the support of the majority of SLPP MPs defying MR and Basil R, are the stepping stones laid in front of RW. Next question posed by some is can an independent candidate win a Presidential Election? This is not a serious obstacle to be reckoned with, as in 2015 Sirisena won usingan obscure symbol -Swan- of a more obscure wild card” political party not in mainstream politics except loaning its name and symbol to political outcasts.
SLPP MPs have aligned themselves with RW not to save the country, but in the name of their political future; to get elected as MPs and getting portfolios in the event of a RW victory. The biggest question is whether they can bring votes; they have made a big misjudgment that they were elected last time on their popularity forgetting it was because Rajapaksas, especially MR’s munificence. It was MR who brought votes to SLPP and as a result they were elected as MPs.
Same thing applies to SLPP dissidents who joined Premadasa; all these people will be swept away at a General Election. Those who were appointed as appointed MPs will fade into oblivion never to see them again. Only G. L. Peris, the Olympian pole-vaulter and a handful would get a national list slot from SJB. If RW loses SLPP dissidents will be the biggest losers. They will have to come back to SLPP fold to win at a General Election. They cannot contest as Independents or as UNPers as UNP no longer exists.
Why SLPP leader MR postponed his decision regarding the presidential candidate? He kept business magnate Dhammika Perera, the actor who was dressed in his stage costume until the Director finalizes the acts, scenes and actors in a peculiar political drama in which the script wasconcealed, embroiled in a guessing game. Still everything is shrouded in a mystery; according to grapevine a massive campaign against him was being planned targeting his businesses; also, when the bats were abandoning the tree once full of juicy fruits, a person who has built up a massive business empire would not come forward to be a loser, having no SLPP loyalty and an established political network for himself. Another interpretation was it was nothing more than showing a Goliath toincrease SLPP’s bargaining power with RW which went haywire. No doubt Namal R was a last-minute replacement. Fielding a candidate is beneficial to SLPP instead of allowing it to be decimated as a political force. This would augur well at the next parliamentary elections.
Initial mistake was done by the SLPP. At this juncture we do not discuss why GR handed over the reins of power to RW; what we ask is why SLPP supported every bill introduced by RW? They were reduced to a mere set of puppets or signal posts raising their hands to every bill RW introduced. They deprived themselves of their power base; did not know how to show their strength and bring RW to the negotiating table; instead SLPP forfeited its bargaining power. They did not realise that they gave the reins of power to a person who himself was a creator of the present crisis, the architect of foreign exchange crisis under yahapalana regime. As this was discussed many times by various analysts, we do not intend to discuss this matter any further.
This process began with SLFP breakaway group led by Nimal Siripala Silva and the alliance consisting of SLFP dissidents holding meetings at Ambalantota, Badulla and Wellawaya. SLFP was broken into three groups of which one group fielding a candidate at the Presidential Elections. This candidate has resigned from his cabinet portfolio; it seems that he is coming forward to help RW to break whatever votes one group of SLFP has in its bag.
Pohottuwa grandees began to address RW’s meetings held at Matara, Kandy, Galle and other places respectively at a time SLPP was toying with many options whether to support RW, or RW coming as the SLPP candidate or fielding their own candidate; this idea remained while some Pohottuwa grandees openly supporting RW’s candidature.
Addressing a meeting of print and electronic media heads on August 7, RW said that the other candidates are coming forward for the furtherance of their future whereas he has come to build up the future of the country and people. Since he has rescued the nation from a severe economic disaster,he has no contest with the other contestants. What is needed at the next Presidential Election is carrying forward this government’s economic programme as the only way forwardand heneeds a mandate from the people for it.
Addressing Kantha Ape Balaya” rally on 9 August, RW replied to his critics why he became a non-partisan candidate: The truth is that hunger is not political; regardless of party affiliations everyone experiences pangs of hunger. We must set aside our political differences and unite to address the needs of our people.”
From the day he became the President he was inviting the opposition MPs to join him for the sake of the country. To the gullible voter this can be appealing. It sounds like something emanating from an auction house, do you want to go back to petrol, cooking gas and milk powder queues, power outages, shortages of pharmaceuticals and fertilizer”? Sounds like a call from the messenger of death, makingthe gullible voter shivering in fear and anxiety. This reminds us how JR came into power in 1977 amplifying the agonies of an era of queues.
RW’s selection of gas cylinder as his symbol is a shrewder act than its symbolic value portraying the hardships people had to undergo as he reiterates in his rallies. There is every possibility of using this symbol in public places defying election laws.
At this juncture it is only RW who draws attention of the people to certain developments outside the shores; no other candidate is worried about what is happening in the international arena as it does not affect Sri Lanka. Soon after the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh by Israel Zionists, RW appointed three committees to address the national security and economic impacts that may affect Sri Lanka considering the political developments in the Middle East. At a meeting he announced that in such an event Sri Lanka would have to take measures to repatriate the migrant workers from the Middle East.
3. Bangladesh: Ranil’s uninvited guest?
As soon as we received the news related to the ouster of Sheik Hasina of Bangladesh, we thought that the developments in Bangladesh are very much advantageous to RW and he would exploit it in his Presidential campaign to hilt.
As expected RW on August 7, declared at a meeting of print and electronic mediaheads, if he has not undertaken this country Sri Lanka too would have ended up as Bangladesh. Although the protesters ousted the Prime Minister there was not any organization to take over. He made a very legal observation, an observation Western governments and media ignored for reasons known to them. RW remarked whether the appointment of Mohammad Yunus as the head of Interim government is constitutional. What he said was a member of the Parliament should have been given the opportunity; if a similar thing happened in Sri Lanka, we would not be able to hold Presidential Elections. He must have thought about the way he came to power! But we should not forget that he was the man with Sirisena who made Mohan Peiris, the Chief Justice evaporate– remarking that such a position did not exist – under yahapalana regime. In doing so he did not follow any correct procedure. As President, postponing local government elections he said that there wasn’t an election to postpone.
Only the men of the SJB bandwagon and electronic media openly supporting SJB are using Bangladesh events, just to attack NPP in general and Lal Kantha in particular.
Lal Kantha addressing a group of tax men on 6, August said that JVP’s plan to capture parliament in July 2022 went awry as some protesters and their leaders did not support it; his party wanted to do it, but it was not possible because others left the scene. According to him the so-called aragalaya failed as a result; although they were able to oust GR, they could not capture power; Rajapaksas made a comeback consolidating their power in the parliament, he said. This shows NPP politics, using others as hirelings for their work.
At the opening of the Special Operations Command of the Police Special Task Force on 12 August, RW capitalized the Bangladesh situation very effectively. He repeated that after taking over the government he had taken necessary steps to stabilize the economy and avert bankruptcy. (We forget for the time being that it was he, his Finance Minister and Governor of the Central Bank were the persons who declared Sri Lanka’s bankruptcy). He reminded again the situation two years ago, how the protesters seized public buildings, attempted to set fire to them and take control of the Parliament. Due to the efforts of our armed forces and other law enforcement agencies we were able to prevent the capture of Parliament, he said. He described in detail the situation in Bangladesh, collapse of the Parliament, killing of MPs, key government functionaries have been forced to flee, hotels set on fire and destroyed and the situation in Bangladesh remains far from normal.
We should not forget that Ranil Wickremasinghe is The Child of Galle Face Protest”. He, UNP and his present advisers were with Galle Face Protesters; he proposed to provide facilities to the Galle Face urban ghetto; later he was instrumental in dismantling the Galle Face campsite and stopped NPPers storming the Parliament.
But we observe that RW is cautious in capitalizing the situation in Bangladesh as he does not want to antagonize his US and Western masters as now it has been revealed that the US was involved in the ouster of Sheik Hasina. In May, Sheik Hasina said that conspiracies are hatched to topple her government and alleged a white man’s plot” to carve a new Christian country” out of Bangladesh and if she had allowed a certain country to build an airbase in Bangladesh then she would have had no problem.
Deccan Herald” reported on 21 July that Sheik Hasina has said the Indian envoy in Bangladesh that anarchists in Bangladesh tried to create a Sri Lankan type mayhem to topple her government.
In her undelivered speech she revealed that she would have remained in power if she had surrendered the sovereignty of Saint Martin Island and allowed America hold sway over the Bay of Bengal”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, I welcome the swearing of Dr. Mohammad Yunus to lead the interim government in Bangladesh. US supports his call for calm and peace”. Can Blinken say anything rather than welcoming their protégé, the man flown from Paris immediately as a puppet. (This is not the time to describe what type of a person Yunus is. Allegations against this so-called poor man’s banker and Nobel laureate are appalling). Galle Face Protesters wanted to anoint a Bar Association bigwig, an arch anti-nationalist, a reactionary and a darling of USAID as their interim President of Sri Lanka! The irony of the whole episode is an 84-year-old octogenarian leading an interim government in Bangladesh formed after a so-called Z- Gen Revolution”! Earlier US State Department, UK and some other Western countries said Bangladesh elections held in January were not credible, free and fair”. Western countries expressed concerns over violation of human rights and press freedom under Hasina. The groundwork was prepared for her overthrow. Some US lawmakers in the Congress have urged sanctions on Bangladeshi officials over human rights abuses.
RW cannot denounce the attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus, their houses, businesses run by them and Hindu temples as he does not want to antagonize Muslims and Muslim fundamentalists in Sri Lanka on the eve of an election.
RW took more than a week to congratulate Mohammad Yunus. It was reported that the American puppet Yunus, in his telephone conversation with RW has requested RW to visit Bangladesh at the earliest opportunity and provide necessary guidance for the recovery of the country. Birds of a feather flock together!
Bangladesh Interim government appointed Ahsan H. Mansur, a former IMF official who has worked with the IMF for almost 3 decades as the Governor of the Central Bank. (Sri Lanka at the height of the crisis brought an IMF official as the Governor of the Central Bank.) Bloomberg” on 13 July reported Ahsan H. Mansur’s appointment as bringing firepower to the team negotiating with multilateral lender for more funds to prevent foreign reserves from dwindling further”.
It was a sad spectacle the so-called Jana Aragalaya” Presidential aspirant appearing in a TV talk show who justified the ouster of Hasina adding, that Bangladesh people had chased away Prime Minister Hasina as she had pursued an IMF led agenda inimical to her country”. Think ahead and see what is happening around before making such ridiculous statements is the advice we can offer to these misinformed people. If it is so why did not, they begin a struggle against RW’s capitulation to IMF dictates?
According to e-Con e-News political analyst US will put up their military demands on Sri Lanka before the elections and failing to obtain will allow their ‘elements’ to run riot by claiming fraud as in Venezuela until the US strikes a deal and then wipe them out, getting rid of another generation. Remember in 2010 JVP cried computer jilmart”, but could not go any further. This time they have ex-servicemen and a digital platform” to run wild after the election. Who has provided the NPP with finances, resources and expertise for this extravagant digital platform, which claims a digital revolution” remains unanswered? There are certain politicians in Sri Lanka already claiming that the election is not going to be credible, free and fair”.
Do not forget that NPP stalwarts Vijitha Herath, Samarasinghe and Nalinda Jayatissa had met with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu on 13 May 2024. Julie Chung also took part in the discussions. Vijitha Herath received a memento from Lu. In her ‘X’ message Julie Chung had stated the discussion focused on Sri Lanka’s current economic situation, the intervention of the IMF, the conducting of free and fair elections and the security of the Indian Ocean region”.
Donald Lu and Julie Chung also met with Premadasa, Harsha de Silva, G. L. Peiris and a few more of the SJB, to discuss Sri Lanka’s upcoming elections and their perspectives on Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and their vision for the nation’s path forward”.
Economic Times” reported on August 9, as quoted in Indian Punchline”, citing Awami League sources that the hatchet man of the colour revolution in Bangladesh is none other than Donald Lu who visited Dhaka in mid May 2024. Indian Punchline” further adds that Donald Lu specialised in fueling and masterminding colour revolutions which led to regime changes in Albania, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and the ouster of Imran Khan in Pakistan. (Imran Khan paid the prize as Pakistan abstained to vote against Russia). It is horrendous if one explores the treacherous history of this man named Lu.
There is a theory that Bangladesh will very soon become the next Afghanistan as influential Islamic religious groups such as Jamaat-e- Islami and Hefazat-e- Islam Bangladesh and terror groups like Jamaat-ul- Mujahedeen- Bangladesh (JMB) are actively participating in protests in Bangladesh.
Western narrative about Hasina’s ouster is exaggeratedwith criticizing Hasina’s security forces resorting to egregious levels of violence against peaceful protesters”; repressive action unleashed prompted the people rally around the protesters. Did GR resort to egregious levels of violence” against peaceful” protesters in Colombo for them to oust him? Why the protests were petered out when RW dismantled the Galle Face urban ghetto and prevented the storming of the Parliament? Answer is, whether there was violence against protesters or not Western imperialists use their pawns to achieve their goals.
NEXT PART VIII: Political dynamics and unpredictable nature of voters; Entrepreneurial State; Future of Sri Lanka as an independent sovereign state under US and Indian hegemonic influence; Way ahead
Protesters stormed the official residence of Sri Lanka’s president after Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled in July 2022. © Reuters
Opposition leader Sajith Premadasa’s supporters hope Sri Lankans will vote for a clean break from any link to the Rajapaksa clan. © AP
Namal Rajapaksa is running in the presidential election as the candidate of Sri Lanka’s largest political party, Podujana Peramuna. © Getty Images
Bevins is the award-winning author of The Jakarta Method”, about the US Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA), and British secret service MI-6’s Cold War killing sprees across Asia, Africa and Latin America against communists, socialists and the Red left that helps contextualize some of the armed conflict evident in de-colonizing Ceylon/ Sri Lanka, and elsewhere in the Afro/Asian post/colony.
Along with Yale University historian, Eugen Ford’s Cold War Monks: Buddhism and America’s Secret Strategy in South Asia”, Miller and Bevins help lift the veil off long-cultivated islanded ignorance among Colombo’s academic, political, and business intelligentsia about the wider geopolitical Cold War dynamics that contextualize Sri Lanka’s spasms of conflict among Leftists, ethno-nationalists and the State, as well as, the pogrom/riots of 1983 and the war that followed. This includes the weaponization of linguistic and religious identity politics in collusion with and funding for politicians in the geostrategic post/colony –still struggling for real independence from the UK-US Raj.
Mossadu was the local name for the foreign (white) mercenaries a la Israel’s intelligence agency, The British Mossadu’ also participated in dropping grenades in cocktail glasses taken from the Officer’s Mess in Trincomalee Harbour on innocent civilians according to a British Diplomat.
It is remarkable that the worst ‘ethno-religious’ violence, such as the Pogrom of 1983 happened in Ceylon/ Sri Lanka when liberal pro-Western, United National Party (UNP) governments were in power. Hybrid shocks like July 1983 debilitated the economy, triggered out-migration and brain drain, and enabled deep penetration of government institutions by external intelligence and other economic experts’ also for neoliberal economic reform.
Freedom must be defended in every quarter. Each collective security organization has its own character. SEATO, NATO, CENTRO, and other groups have been designed to meet particular situations in various parts of the world for the threat of Communism is worldwide.”
