{"id":40986,"date":"2015-01-24T00:55:09","date_gmt":"2015-01-24T07:55:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=40986"},"modified":"2015-01-25T17:25:09","modified_gmt":"2015-01-26T00:25:09","slug":"new-political-alliance-by-former-president-mahinda-rajapakse-5-7-million-vote-bank-partnership-with-jvp-vital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2015\/01\/24\/new-political-alliance-by-former-president-mahinda-rajapakse-5-7-million-vote-bank-partnership-with-jvp-vital\/","title":{"rendered":"NEW POLITICAL ALLIANCE BY FORMER PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE – 5.7 MILLION VOTE BANK- PARTNERSHIP WITH JVP VITAL"},"content":{"rendered":"

By M D P DISSANAYAKE<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The country is in urgent need of a strong political grouping headed by the Father of Modern Sri Lanka, former President Mr Mahinda Rajapakse.\u00a0 The general public is realizing that they have \u00a0exchanged Ginger and bought Chillie.<\/p>\n

The country require a new visionary political culture recognizing the rightful place for majority Sinhalese.\u00a0 In Sinhalese dominated country, fighting for the protection and enhancement of rights of majority is not racism. For fear of antoganizing the minority and inevitable bashing by the imperialists international community, no one, including the former President took the front line as the saviour of Sinhalese.\u00a0 This was a grave error.<\/p>\n

Recognizing the marginalization of Sinhalese aspirations by D S Senanayake, John Kotalawela etc., SWRD Bandaranaike left the UNP and formed SLFP.\u00a0 To fight the general election of 1956\u00a0 he then formed Mahajana Eksath Peramuna with the famous Pancha Maha Balawegaya.\u00a0 It was an instant success, reducing the UNP to 8 seats in 65\u00a0 member House of Representatives.<\/p>\n

Mr Mahinda Rajapakse is now well equipped to lead a New Balawegaya as he has demonstrated his skills as a Leader, during most difficult periods in Sri Lanka.\u00a0 Whilst keeping away Basil, Namal, Sasheendra Rajapakse, Mr Gotabaya Rajapakse is a potential leader to join his brother for the mainstream new campaign.\u00a0 Both Messrs Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapakse command enormous grass root support.\u00a0 Their score cars are unchallenged, if a strong movement is immediately chartered into the hearts of Sri Lanka’s known territory, Sinhalese.\u00a0 In fact, Mr Gotabaya Rajapakse’s\u00a0 was the best performer in the previous government, with the exception of President himself.\u00a0 If GB was not the brother of MR, he would have been President already.\u00a0 Therefore, in the new political movement, placing GB in leadership role will be an invaluable asset with added value.<\/p>\n

The other factor is to integrate JVP into the this Alliance.\u00a0 During recent election, JVP did not support\u00a0 the Common Candidate, but demanded defeat for the former President.\u00a0 The situation today demand a different perspective for the JVP to be recognized as a winning force.\u00a0 But JVP will be very skillful during anyfuture negotiations.\u00a0 The Alliance can be \u00a0in the form of No-Contest Pact at the upcoming general election or preferably as a partner with equal status for the JVP with existing constituent parties. Merger with the JVP will\u00a0 bring long term image of team of clean administrators, as they have been strong watch-dogs in the past.\u00a0 JVP might be seen by some as “trouble makers” but most of their criticisms were constructive rather than destructive.\u00a0 JVP is rich in human resources in terms of intellectuals, professionals, but may be \u00a0poor in financial resources.<\/p>\n

The new Alliance should be a genuine partnership, not just a marriage of convenience. It should embrace:<\/p>\n