The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) held its first national convention at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium on 11 August 2019. Undoubtedly, it was a colourful and splendid event. At the convention, two decisions of importance were announced. These decisions are Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) would be the Leader of the SLPP and Gotabaya Rajapaksa (GR) will be the Presidential Candidate for 2020. Whatever I write below, there are two things to be praised.
The convention started on time and ended on time. In a country where none of us work on time, and all of us assume that a 10:00 meeting, would in fact begin at 10:30, this should be praised. The second thing was ‘no-frills’ talks both by Mahinda Rajapaksa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Nonetheless, none of these led us to conclude the political direction of the SLPP or its presidential candidate, GR. We have seen these two characteristics in the past, mainly amongst the extreme Right and the extreme Left politicians.
Since the SLPP has not yet disclosed its policy statement, it may be presumptuous to make a critique of the policy framework roughly outlined by GR in his talk. First, he defined himself, quoting General Cyril Ranatunga, as “a person who takes initiative over and above the normal call of duty.” Hence, he painted a portrait of himself as a ‘performer’ and promised that he would perform as the President, above and beyond the given limits and boundaries.
This reminded me of what Dr. Chris Edwards said in my presence, in response to a person who praised the then Chief Minister of the Wayamba Province, as an efficient performer. Chris said, “Yes he may be an efficient performer, so did Hitler.” Such a portrayal of an efficient performer might have been thought necessary today, as a large number of people in Sri Lanka call for a strong government that could respond to serious security lapses, as shown in the April Easter Sunday Attacks, killing around 300. Hence the SLPP may have prioritised stability and security in their policy agenda.
The importance of stability and security in today’s politics was also raised by one of aspirants to the presidential post, Sajith Premadasa, at the UNP rally in Badulla, almost repeating the words of GR. The high emphasis on security and stability by both candidates may raise eyebrows of the people, who stood for democracy and human rights in the 2015 Presidential Election.
Besides national sovereignty, security, stability and the maintenance of law and order, presidential candidates should focus on the economy that is in constant decline since 2015, the Prime Minister’s rhetoric on the economy notwithstanding. So, it is interesting and relevant to look at even briefly the SLPP’s economic programme for the next 10 years.
Economy 2020-2030
Introducing GR, MR said the SLPP presidential candidate and the Cabinet had a long-term perspective, so they were thinking of a 10-year plan. If we assume the UNF will field Sajith Premadasa (SP) as its candidate, the interesting thing to note is that both the SLPP and the UNF of SP see it would be necessary to deviate from the current economic policies of the Ranil Wickremesinghe-Mangala Samaraweera-led Government. As I have mentioned many a time, the economic policy package that was put into practice since 2015 has been a crude version of neoliberalism. It is true that since 1977 whatever the party/front was in the Government, the economic policies that were designed and implemented has had close affinity with the 20 points of the so-called Washington Consensus.
The Wickremesinghe-Samaraweera duo want to keep it that way, in spite of the fact that their economic fundamentalism has brought the first generalised crisis in Sri Lanka, since its independence. GR proposes to go back to the policies of 2005-2015, that depend heavily on State-sponsored and debt-based infrastructure development. During the MR regime, the reasonable high rate of growth was achieved by heavy public investment in infrastructure projects. Hence, highways, ports, multiple cities that go with beautification plan would be the main features of GR’s economic programme. If it is the case, there is a major lacuna as to how this infrastructure can be linked with industrial and agricultural development. Infrastructure is in itself not producing value.
It is not only in GR’s programme, but also in SP’s programme, these lacunae can be found. The writer of this column is not completely denying the possibility of capitalistic development in a country like Sri Lanka. A few countries have already shown it is possible. Economic development entails social, as well as technical dimensions. It needs surplus generated in production to be reinvested in the process of accumulation to make valorisation of the capital. In other words, surplus should be invested in order to make more and more surplus, as a constant and continuous process. Neoliberal pundits believe that by reinvigorating capital, labour and land markets throughout the country, everything would be hunky-dory. Since, 1977, every government tried hard to develop markets in all three spheres. The experience in East Asian Tigers, as well as now in China and Vietnam have shown development and growth do not follow this marketisation logic.
In spite of addressing some nationalistic issues, both the SLPP and the UNP of SP have not shown a clear path of economic development to the voters in 2020. It is pertinent to note that even after 40 years of dismal record under neoliberal policies, the two main parties have refused to learn lessons and to develop an alternative economic programme, leaving poor masses and working people completely disgruntled. The question posed to people in Sri Lanka in the 2020 Presidential Election is who can make ‘the failed policies’ workable, leaving no alternative or solution for the problems of the working people, and the marginalised section of the population, that is, numerically small Nations, women, LGBTIQ+.
About the writer: The writer is a retired teacher of Political Economy at the University of Peradeniya. E-mail: sumane_l@yahoo.com
The Attorney General has instructed the Acting IGP to expedite the conclusion of police investigations into several high-profile cases including the murders of Lasantha Wickramthunga and Wasim Thajudeen.
The cases include the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickramathunga, the killing of 17 aid workers in 2006, the murder of Sri Lankan rugby player Wasim Thajudeen, the abduction of journalist Keith Noyahr, the abduction and disappearance of 11 Tamil youths.
The Attorney General had instructed the Acting IGP to conclude investigations into the cases without delay and to submit the completed filed to the AG’s Department for the filing of charges.
The decision of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) regarding the upcoming Presidential Election will be announced at the party’s convention on September 03, according to General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) Mahinda Amaraweera.
Speaking at a press briefing in Colombo today (15), the MP said that plans are underway to organize a grand ceremony for the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s 68th Annual Convention.
He said that during the event on September 03, President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to provide an explanation of the party’s future programmes.
The UPFA General Secretary further said that they will never allow the SLFP to be weakened before another party.
Mahanayake of the Malwatte Chapter, Most Ven. Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera said Gotabaya Rajapaksa has the potential and experience to tackle the prevailing national security issues in the country.
The Mahanayake Thera expressed these views when Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa visited him along with party leader Mahinda Rajapaksa after seeking blessings from the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy today.
https://youtu.be/hs404mL_2aw
There is a problem with regard to national security and therefore it needs attention. You are the one who can tackle national security issues. You have the experience and potential in that area. We wholeheartedly bless you for coming forward to contest the Presidential election, the prelate added.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa along with Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa and MP Basil Rajapaksa visited the Temple of the Sacred Tooth in Kandy today (14).
A large crowd of Kandy public and several Joint Opposition members had organized a warm welcome for the Presidential hopeful Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
After paying homage to the Temple of the Tooth, he received the blessings of the Chief Prelates of the Asgiri and Malwatu chapters as well.
Later, he visited the Sri Thelwa Vinayagar Pulleyar Kovil in Katukele. He received the blessings of the Chief Guardian of the Kovil Swami Ramachandran Sri Krishnamurthi. He was joined by Opposition Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa as well.
Former Defense Secretary, then, visited the Meera Makkam Mosque with the Opposition Leader. The President of the mosque Hilahi Abdeen conducted a special ritual to invoke blessings on the two brothers.
Later in the day, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa visited the Gatambe Rajopavanarama Viharaya and had a cordial discussion with the Chief Incumbent of the Vihara, Ven. Kappetiyagoda Siriwimala Thero.
The Thero advised the Presidential Candidate stating, This is the last chance. If you miss this chance, the country, all of us, will be over”.
The formation of the United National Party (UNP) led alliance, Democratic National Front (DNF), is being further delayed, and as a result, nominating a Presidential candidate has also been postponed, sources said.
United National Front (UNF) leaders, on the night of 13 August, met at the Temple Trees to discuss matters in regard to expediting the formation of the DNF. However, according to a UNF source, the discussion had not led to any concrete agreement.
It is reported that the UNF had paid a great deal of attention to discuss the widespread opinion among UNF leaders regarding not nominating Presidential candidate until the DNF is formed.
The UNF source further said that another discussion will be held on 17 August at the Temple Trees, and the Party expects to arrive at a final decision regarding the formation of the DNF.
Meanwhile, Minister Mano Ganesan said that a Sub Committee was appointed to take a final decision regarding the forming of the new alliance and the committee will meet on 17 August.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on forming the new alliance and announcing the alliance’s Presidential candidate are scheduled to take place on the same day, after a final decision is made, he added.
UNP Deputy Leader and Minister Sajith Premadasa had also taken part in the discussion held at the Temple Trees.
The next two rallies of the islandwide series of rallies named ‘Sajith Enawa’ are scheduled to be held in the Matara and Matale Districts. According to State Minister Dilip Wedarachchi, the Southern Province rally will be organised targeting the Matara City, demanding that Premadasa be fielded as the UNP’s Presidential candidate.
The investigation into the complaint filed by Magalkanda Sudantha Thera against the officers of the Colombo Criminal Division who were caught in conversation with underworld leader Kanjipani Imran, has begun under the direction of the Western Province Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police (SDIG).
If the allegations are confirmed to be true, the SDIG has advised the National Police Commission to take maximum disciplinary action against the suspects
Parliamentarian Susil Premajayantha claimed that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has joined the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) in campaigning for former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in order to gain victory at the upcoming Presidential Election.
Addressing a Media briefing held today (14), he claimed that the SLFP has understood the policies put forward by the SLPP and has wisely chosen to accept the decision and support Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
He further said that MP Dayasiri Jayasekara is under a false impression that the Members of the SLFP have not positively accepted the Presidential candidate put forward by the SLPP while saying that Gotabaya Rajapaksa has received undeniable public acceptance which is evident through the public gatherings that took place to wish him following the announcement made by the SLPP.
By J.T. de Silva and W.K. Prasad Manju Courtesy Ceylon Today
A group of United National Party (UNP) Parliamentarians are attempting to select the Presidential candidate, by holding a secret election at the Working Committee, and in the Parliamentary Group Meetings.
Minister Gamini Jayawickrama Perera said that a document has been prepared by the MPs to request a secret election from Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.
He further added that Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara is making that document, and that he has refused to sign it.
There is a possibility of holding a secret election on 19 August at the MPs meeting. However, Wickremesinghe and Minister Sajith Premadasa should discuss about it and come to a decision, and if not a secret election should be held to solve the issue, he further added.
Meanwhile, a UNP backbencher said that a considerable number of United National Party (UNP) backbenchers are against the plan to hold a meeting at Dr. Rajitha Senaratne’s house on 20 August, to discuss the Presidential candidate and the proposed formation of the Democratic National Front (DNF).
He opined that Senaratne cannot be trusted, as he is against a candidate being put forward by the UNP. He added that Senaratne is expecting the General Secretary post of the proposed Front, and that a majority of UNPers were against it. He proposed that such a decisive discussion should be held at Temple Trees or Sirikotha, and the policies of the UNP should not be betrayed to pander to the needs of certain father and son combinations.
COLOMBO, Aug 13 (Reuters) – Sri Lankan shares closed marginally higher on Tuesday, easing from early gains of 1.2%, after the main opposition party named a hardline former defence chief as presidential candidate, seeking to capitalise on public clamour for a decisive leader.
** The rupee ended slightly weaker on importer greenback demand.
** The benchmark stock index gained 1.26% as soon as trading resumed on Tuesday. Markets were closed for a holiday on Monday. The index ended 0.1% firmer at 5,949.30, its highest close since July 30. It gained 0.82% last week. ** Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 70, served under his older brother, ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa, and is widely seen as the frontrunner in a presidential election that must be held before Dec 9. Gotabaya is immensely popular among Sri Lanka’s powerful Sinhala Buddhist majority, who credit him with ending the island nation’s 26-year-long civil war in 2009 and believe Colombo needs a seasoned hand after the April 21 bombings. nL4N256051] ** Market sources said early gains could not be sustained as retail investors sold shares.
** So far this year, the index dropped about 1.7 %.
** Turnover was 2.69 billion rupees ($15.21 million), more than six times of this year’s daily
Where to start? For nearly 40 weeks hundreds of thousands of French people have been on the streets in anti-government demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron’s rule.
Some have lost eyes and hands in the police response. The public has begun to view the smell of tear gas as a normal part of a weekend in Paris. France is 29 miles from the coast of England. Siri just told me that Hong Kong is about 5,992 miles from London as the crow flies.”
So complete has been the British media blackout on the Yellow Vests that many believe, wrongly, that there is some British government order banning on any mention of les événements en France.” The truth is that there is no need for one.
Like a homing pigeon in reverse the entire UK media has flown like a bat out of hell away from France all the way to Hong Kong (as they had earlier flown to Caracas until the big protests turned into the wrong kind of protests).
There is nothing, except the shoe-sizes, of the demonstrators in Hong Kong that I don’t know thanks to the veritable blizzard of in-depth analysis of the protestors there and their each and every demand. Protesters in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain can be executed, but we will never be told their names.
And the hypocrisy of the media is just for starters.
If a group of British protesters broke into the British Parliament and hung, for argument’s sake, a Russian flag over the Speaker’s chair it is highly likely” that a commando force would quickly and violently overwhelm and arrest them accompanied by volleys of accusations about Russian interference.
If a crowd of British protestors occupied Heathrow Airport in such numbers and so disruptively that British Airways had to stop flights in and out of the airport, causing massive financial loss, dislocation, and personal inconvenience, I promise you that their protest would have been cleared out by the above mentioned commandos on the very first day of their protests.
If protesters in London were hoisting Chinese flags and singing the Chinese national anthem then, well, I’m sure you get my point.
The struggle between the government of China and its citizens is no more the business of the British than it is of the Slovakians. It’s true that Hong Kong was a British colony for 150 years but the least said about the shame and disgrace of how that came to be, the better, I promise you.
Suffice to say that to acquire territory by force, followed by unequal treaty at gunboat-point to punish the actual owners of the land for resisting the British opium trade, is, even by British Imperial standards, extraordinary. So shameful is it you’d think the British would want to draw a veil over it. But not so.
The British tell us that Hong Kong want democracy but nobody ever says that across a century and a half of British rule in Hong Kong the people there were allowed no democracy of any kind.
They tell us about the justice system without ever mentioning that even today the ‘draconian’ courts of Hong Kong are still stuffed by white English judges.
They tell us about NGOs and civil society” without telling us whose pounds and dollars the NGOs” are stuffed with.
In fact, these foreign-funded and guided organisations are carefully stabled Trojan Horses chomping their British and American supplied hay until the time came for them to be told to gallop, and gallop they now are.
This is all Hong Kong phooey! No other country in the world would have shown such forbearance in the face of foreign-sponsored rioting destruction and sabotage of the national economy as China has. If in the days to come China’s patience runs out, it will not be before time so far as the great majority of Chinese citizens, including Hong Kong citizens, are concerned.
China signed up to the one country, two systems in the territory. It did not agree to two countries, two systems. Not one inch of Hong Kong belongs to anyone but China. The days when foreign countries could impose their will on China are long gone.
George Galloway was a member of the British Parliament for nearly 30 years. He presents TV and radio shows (including on RT). He is a film-maker, writer and a renowned orator.
Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake says he personally believes that Tamil people must be granted the powers of land and police vested by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
Addressing an event held in Mullaitivu, the minister stressed Sinhalese leaders must heed the demands of the Tamil people.
If their demands are not attended to, the country will have to face a tremendous issue in the future, Minister Dissanayake said further.
The minister stated that he expects to seek a fair solution for this issue, along with Tamil political leaders, by calling for a referendum in the areas where Sinhalese majority reside.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka (CBCSL) has appealed to the government to hold an impartial inquiry in the Easter Sunday attacks and bring the perpetrators before the law.
Issuing a media release, the CBCSL said a fair and impartial investigation on the incident has not taken place yet.
We observe that several committees have been established and their main focus appears to be to find out those responsible for the serious lapses in security,” the release said.
The CBCSL insists that as a matter of justice, the final aim if the inquiries should be to ascertain who the perpetrators are and those have aided and abetted in any way in this dastardly act.”
The Conference added that it does not see any positive signs in this direction.
Stating that the report of the three-member Presidential Commission of Inquiry is yet to be revealed, the CBCSL added that the government is yet to give an assurance to the people that there is only one set of Laws in the
The CBCSL has urged the government and all political leaders of the country to ensure an independent and impartial inquiry as a matter of utmost urgency.
The release reiterated that what is more important is to do justice in this regard, by bringing those responsible before the Law of the country expeditiously.”
The release was signed by Archbishop of Colombo Hiss Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith, the President, Vice President, Secretary-General of the CBCSL and two other Catholic Bishops.
It
was a moment many had awaited with much impatience. ‘My choice didn’t matter – the Nation had already selected &
elected him… My brother is yours” was enough to put to rest any doubts. Gotabaya
Rajapakse was thus declared the Presidential nominee of the SLPP a party formed
& steamrolled into public popularity after the 2018 local government
elections. A very dignified and articulate speech was delivered by the former
President & present Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapakse. It touched every
area that needed to be touched and set the tempo for the grand finale and then
came the Nation’s new hope with what no one expected was to become his National
Policy statement.
Gotabaya
Rajapakse articulated his speech well and was perfectly suited for the
occasion. It was toned to show what he would do, was acceptable and believable.
I love my Nation, I have a vision for
my Nation, I will serve my Nation & I will accept the challenges and prove
I can overcome the challenges responsibly & successfully’ was all that the People wanted to hear Gotabaya
Rajapakse say.
As
Mr. Gotabaya Rajapakse said, the country was at a very decisive juncture – it was
nothing anyone was not aware of. The country had been misled, misused and manipulated
by those that had orchestrated the January 2015 regime change. It was only
natural that the patriotic and national-minded individuals and organizations
would search for an alternative leader. Thus, Gotabaya Rajapakse acknowledged
the trust placed in him by the Maha Sangha and the citizens of Sri Lanka for
that role. He pledged to encompass the hopes of all Citizens on behalf of the
Nation. That pledge received a resounding applause.
Gotabaya
Rajapakse reminded the Nation of his 20 year’s services in the armed forces and
the note by late Gen. Cyril Ranatunga who had inked in pen that Gota was one to
take any initiative & complete it over and above the line of duty. This he
proved throughout the 10 years he was tasked to handle the most challenging roles
as Defense Secretary throughout the conflict & thereafter. That role,
everyone knows he did with exemplary acumen unmatched by any of his
predecessors.
The
listeners were automatically taken back to his post-conflict role in a quest to
beautify Colombo and suburbs turning Sri Lanka’s capital into one of the most
beautiful cities in the world & gaining international recognition for it.
As
Mr. Gotabaya Rajapakse rightfully said – not only does the country need a
leader with a vision but a leader who can plan & complete that vision. Everyone
knew that as Defense Secretary and throughout his post-LTTE defeat role he had
shown to the Nation that he was a man with a vision and a man who could turn
that vision into action and complete the action within a short time.
SLPP’s
Presidential Candidate covered some very sensitive areas with finesse placing
confidence in the People that he would :-
Give prominence
to National Security
Bring Law &
Order & Discipline to the Country
Deal with all
countries without kneeling before anyone
Not compromise
the country’s culture – heritage or sovereignty in dealing with the
international community
Not allow any
nation to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka
Not allow anyone
to breach the Sovereignty of Sri Lanka
And to make Sri
Lanka the safest country to live in
I will take responsibility for you
& your children’s safety’ was
all that parents wanted to hear and People sighed in relief that they were now
safe.
Gotabaya
Rajapakse did not forget the history or heritage or the place of Buddhism in
the ethos of Sri Lanka when he said that the 2600 written history had taught to
respect all other communities and religions and that would be the basis of his
rule. Inspiring people further he declared that Our Unity was Our Strength and
we needed to nurture that & certainly that meant we needed to remove the
obstacles that were trying to divide the Nation & its People. In so saying
he immediately declared that he would not allow or tolerate extremist terrorism
and that gave further confidence in him to the People.
Environment
was a topic close to everyone’s heart and to declare that under his government
he would protect environment and sustainability was welcome news just as much
as the commitment made to reforestation. The Green Town concept and beautifying
towns and cities that began with Colombo would continue across Sri Lanka under
a Gota Rule.
He
took listeners back at the period 2005-2014 and the development that took place
and that would continue to take place once again and everyone realized that the
development had stalled and stopped after 2015.
For
any country to develop the economy must be handled well. Mr. Rajapakse assured
that the new economic environment would synergize with the local economy under
the concept ‘Gama Samaga Pilisandara’ and that under the Eliya & Viyathmaga
programs meeting rural people and tapping their wants and needs, he was well
placed to set a program that would result in success – economic liberty,
respectful living, safe environment, people-centric economy, human resources
put to best of use, innovations, talents & skills given due recognition and
all these would affect better employment and new jobs opportunities. An area
that has been under much scrutiny has been agriculture and it was welcome to
hear that agriculture would be developed and sustained further just as transportation,
road, rail, school, water, village development and work from home using
technology would also be areas that he would address.
He
gave much promise to youth who are looking at their own future and youth have
much to look forward to.
Another
hot topic that he gave a policy statement for was the role of the public sector
and he firmly committed that it should be devoid of political interference with
promotions on merit & skills.
Before
ending his policy statement SLPP’s Presidential Candidate raised the bar in
requesting that his campaign should be one of total discipline – no revenge, no
hate, no vengeance, no polythene, no lies, no mud-slinging, no counter
arguments but one based on truth, logic & facts.
He
assured that he would set an example as a leader should and that Sri Lanka
would soon rise up to greatness that existed during ancient times.
Thus
spoke a Real Leader and Hope was reborn among all Citizens.
