11 October, 2024

Blog

Here Comes Sajith Premadasa!

By Shyamon Jayasinghe

Shyamon Jayasinghe

“Power rarely tilts smoothly on  to your lap for the simple reason that power attracts fierce competitors.” ~ 

Onslaught

It is beautiful to see this younger leader defend his besieged team, at last. The other day, Sajith Premadasa made a stirring speech suggesting that the previous defeated family regime was behind all the recent riots. He was addressing some housing scheme launching meetings in a number of electorates.

Sajith shot into the open and lambasted those who pretend to be ‘patriots,’ and ‘true Sinhala Buddhists,’ in order to create  conditions for their political resurrection. This is how Sajith Premadasa should go and this is what supporters of the movement for democracy and good governance, kicking their heels and had been waiting for. Sajith Premadasa must come strongly to defend his team in stead of remaining in some chosen political solitude. Sajith does have the shrill voice of his father.Can he recall how the present Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, came out in strong defence of his father during the infamous impeachment motion? Good on you, Sajith.

Example of R Premadasa

R Premadasa was an unequivocal team fighter who never tried to open out personal grudges against other team players. He spent a life time campaigning for his party until he arrived to the top.

I have worked under his father Ranasinghe Premadasa (RP) when the latter was President. We all found RP to be a most dedicated chief executive. He felt for the poor and the downtrodden. He was purpose -driven and would awake early morning at 4 am and give us calls jerking us up from our sleep. I used to curse RP for that but I soon saw  a transcendent purpose behind all he was doing. RP has his measure of faults; but he was more sinned against particularly by the media and by his own Ministerial rivals who seemed to looked down on him, pushing him to do rather quirky things and make unnecessary pretences. Had R. Premadasa continued to be his own unique personality and had he continued to show himself as a small man (punchi miniha) who came the hard, hard way from the bottom we would have still seen him living and contributing to our country. The point about RP is that his values were what a country like ours needed. He was avowedly anti-racist, secular, modern and committed to the plural society of different communities that Sri Lanka was and is. He was professional in his approach and was quick to spot the good officer and mark the fake.

Rise to Power

And have you observed the way RP rose from a position perceived as ‘low,’ in the social order; waged his way through what was  then a feudal-minded United National Party headed by formidable big men of wealth and heritage right to the peak on to become President of the Republic of Sri Lanka? RP helped transform that party into a peoples’ one. RP abhorred the idea of letting power fall into his lap; he grabbed power by sheer merit, personal example and adamantine purpose. He ran Gam Udaawas all over the island and captured the imagination of the public. Unfortunately for our nation, the man was destroyed by the LTTE. From the LTTE perspective their  assassination of solid leaders of the UNP had been one of their best achievements. I repeat, “from their perspective.”

R. Premadasa | File photo

However, even before the actually bombing RP had been killed by a lot of false propaganda. He was made out to be a murderer. If that was murder I wonder why people do not shout at the murderers of the previous family regime. That was a time of killing and it had been convenient to put some of the blame on the President.

In the current crisis of the yapalanaya government I was long wondering why R. Premadasa’s son Sajith never came up like his father. I got the notion he was waiting until power came to his lap. He should follow the footsteps of his father and understand that one can make it to power by sheer will. Power rarely tilts smoothly on  to your lap for the simple reason that power attracts fierce competitors. Besides the case of R. Premadasa, Mahinda Rajapaksa himself grabbed power from a reluctant President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

Yahapalana Government in Trouble

The yahapalana government, which cruised its way for the last three years making some modest achievements, is now seen in trouble. The main reason for this is the mental defection of the President himself onto the Rajapaksa camp. President Maithripala Sirisena has made an unfortunate U-Turn and is suspected of doing deals with Gotabaya Rajapaksa through his business magnate brother Dudley Sirisena. Sirisena did make some outrageous speeches during election time attacking his own Prime Minster and the major partner, the UNP. His adventurous foray into the local government elections cost both him and his major political partner, the UNP. It was sad to observe his funny behaviour during election time. To give credit to Ranil, the latter never stated that that was a cause of the political debacle. Maitripala Sirisena thereby played into the hands of the Pohottuwa and gave the latter an edge that could have been avoided. Maitripala today is increasingly being perceived as a ‘double traitor.’ He is steadily losing the respect of the sixty two lakhs of voters who backed him as common candidate. A video is doing the rounds where the academic monk Revd Dambara Amila of the ‘Puravesi Balaya’ civil organisation blasted the President as a ‘thuttu deke patholaya’ ( cheap snakegourd vegetable).

Weakened the Government

The resultant rift between the President and Prime Minster has effectively weakened the government. Ranil Wickremesinghe is compelled to do some arduous tight-rope walking in order to avoid the government becoming totally dysfunctional. The rejection of the UNP proposal to have Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka take over the Law & Order Ministry is a case in point.

This situation is an absolute let down. Besides, it has spurred the street activism for which Mahinda Rajapaksa is adept at. Many big wigs of the former regime are creeping through the slit of executive weakness to bolster their efforts to compel the government to crash before the end of its mandated term. The recent anti-Muslim riots would not have cropped out if the government is not seen as being weak. Surely, many more street stunts in Nazi style are to follow. If the government falls before the court cases, then all alleged murderers and crooks will find their escape. In his aforementioned speech Revd Dambara Amila elucidates this Rajapaksa strategy very well.

Revd Damabara Amila also points out how soon after the defeat in 2015 Mahinda Rajapaksa and his men set out on their street activity to instil into the minds of people and officials that they are going to come back. This scared even the teams engaged in investigating the accusations.

Latest comments

  • 39
    4

    Sri Lanka does not need Two Leaders, Pulling in Opposite Directions!
    The Only Solution is to Abolish the Position of President!
    We have done Well as a Nation before the Presidential Post was Created!
    Are we trying to imitate the USA?

    • 9
      16

      Do you agree to abolishing the Presidency and let the MPP in the Parliament to be bought? If it happens, the LTTE diaspora will give money to Mangala as was in 2015 and buy the entire Parliament (except WW) or if not extraterritorial enemies of Sri Lanka will do that. The votes of majority of Parliamentarians are already on sale for the highest bid. Even the newly elected LG babies have joined the bandwagon. Opposition parties are maintained by the government! There are no MPP even for crucial debates. This is the dirtiest Parliament Sri Lanka ever had. Therefore, it is imperative for Executive Presidency to remain.

    • 18
      1

      A good analysis.

      “Revd Damabara Amila also points out how soon after the defeat in 2015 Mahinda Rajapaksa and his men set out on their street activity to instil into the minds of people and officials that they are going to come back. This scared even the teams engaged in investigating the accusations.”

      Lately, I happened to pay a visit to lanka. Most I met with – coming from various walks of life, shared me that they would want Rajapakshes back. Can you imagine ?
      All these men and women to think that way, is beyond my comphrehension.
      We are not reborn, until end of 2014, the levels of basic human rights had been fallen into was not overlooked by anyone.
      ENtire WORLD was criticising MR s second term the way they had been upto. But naive folks to make u turn and agree with him says every thing about the folks.
      I think lanken masses have no idea bout what they have been doing.

    • 1
      1

      Sri Lanka’s future:

      “China’s parliament voted to repeal presidential term limits, allowing President Xi Jinping to keep power indefinitely in a formal break from succession rules set up after Mao Zedong’s turbulent rule.

      All but five of the almost 3,000 National People’s Congress deputies present Sunday supported the measure to strike a constitutional provision barring the president from serving more than two consecutive terms. The amendment — announced by the Communist Party two weeks ago — removes the only barrier keeping Xi, 64, from staying on after his expected second term ends in 2023.”

    • 5
      4

      Shyamon,
      OH YES! Do not forget Maria Kade Sajith would excel in the highly competitive recruitment business of Sri Lanka. Specialisation Security Guards, well documented. How about the protection of Sri Lanka’s prized national parks? Sajith P treats them like his own family inherited private Game Parks. For himself, his cronies and countless, uneducated henchmen. Disregarding all rules applicable to all other law-abiding citizens. Is this foul-mouthed nutter, the only choice we have left as a future leader? In a nation of 20 million souls? Some of whom are truly world-class in their chosen fields. GOD SAVE SL!
      Cheers!
      PS: Shyamon, What on earth is wrong with you? What happened to your analytical prowess? Are you being influenced by Dayan J Alzheimer on such matters?

    • 0
      2

      Abolishing PResident and keeping an Executive – PM as now makes the MPs powerful and that works for special interest groups as they can buy MPs. Abolishing PM and making the Executive president making a really executive but accountable to wrong things he did for no valid purpose, not to save the country makes the country successful and that is what the True Democracic power or the universal franchise is for. right now, there is no ministry for cultural affairs. It is instead, A christian for buddhist affairs, so the president has to do buddhas sasana ministry, then muslims affairs, christiand affiars and hindu affairs. where do we get this kind of nonesense.

    • 0
      0

      goood one

  • 3
    14

    OT looks elder is marketing now the hichchi nagaa and both got married to evangeelical christians after watching the movie Aadare hithenawa dekkama. His role model is his father and what he did. he appreciates his father bringing him into “SUMAGA”. Anyway, why do we need a ministry to build Udagam. IT is initiated by LAlith Athulath mudali. I heard he has started family planning, so no children, and wife gets him to go to Grocery and every thing. They do grocery in the MArketing department. Hichchi naga got upset because Mahinda Rajapakse accused her for bringing 2 million worth fake notes to colombo – 7 Bank branch. See our future leaders. When Ranil leaves we have one more.

  • 0
    1

    Mr. Shyamon Jayasinghe you had a long discussion in Waddukkodei Miridiya hotel and found How fluent Sajith is in american english. He had said, that you were not gratetdful to even his dad. You had said to work without making any troubles something like that. I heard both wives were educated in Saint Bridget convent. What did he say about anti-muslim violence ? Did Ranil was trying to give a Naagasalam game and Mahinda Rajapakse tried to use it for his advantage ?

  • 3
    2

    [edited out]
    Anyway Ms Navai Pillai has written a beautiful article why Dr Ranil and his mate Sillysen are in deep poo.
    It is more interesting and more relevant.
    Ms Pillai said the current riots wouldn’t have occurred if Dr Ranil had implemented what she helped draft for the Yahapalana Government.
    Which Dr Ranil and Mangi co sponsered with the US at the UN.
    I think the Madam is right.
    If Navai had her way, Dr Ranil would have been able to do a clean sweep of the three forces and put Old Royals who couldn’t make the cut at AL as the Officers from Leutinents right up to the Chief.
    Specially the Srilankan Army.
    While the whole lot of brave Commanders were languishing in Jails in Geneva and or Bogamabara.
    After Ms Navai’s mates from Europe read the sentences in English, before the Black Maria took they away in handcuffs.
    And the Rajapaksa Family locked up in a special Jail in Colombo, because it would have been hard to hold them anywhere else.
    BTW , wonder whether Ms Pillai read the latest Election results in our motherland..

  • 2
    2

    What a fine piece of writing!

  • 5
    2

    Except a few fleeting accurate comments here and there this article is full of u supported myths. CT editor, fact check please! While we are at personal views upon views upon views ( ad this is the opinion section :) ) these miffed Colombites should get over their misplaced adulation of Sajith Premadasa. The reason Sajith Premadasa is where he is is because he is an arrogant, uneducable, petty, narrow , entitled fool . You can give the unp to him to lead and see what mental limitations can do to a large political party .

  • 7
    0

    SP cannot be regarded as the only solution. Imtiaz, and few calm, matured politicians also deserve attention for leadership. MS in a coward. A woman in nation dress.

  • 0
    0

    I for one firmly believe that all this may hem and catastrophe the Nation is experiencing to day is mainly due to the glaring fact the UNP as the main stake holder at the Presidential Election failed miserably to address the salient issue that was and still remains unanswered. The honesty and credibility of PM and nay of the entire UNP is assailed and brought to sharp focus . A simple but a genuine statement from the PM to the UNP caucus immediately after the swearing in reiterating the the salient promise made to the people and a severe warning against any corrupt activity on the part of the UNP caucus would have prevented this disgraceful situation, and UNP could have had many feathers on their caps. Such an statement from PM could have check mated President too. But alas that bit of wisdom was not to be seen even after 50 years of political experience. What one can infer is that UNP too has taken a cue from previous regime and it was only a matter of time for them to follow suit and within a couple of months came the shocking revelation about the Bond issue. If we are serious and concerned about good governance in our country We have to show the door to all corrupt politicians
    and dump them lock stock and barrel, irrespective of their lineage.

    • 0
      1

      both the SLFP and UNP needs democratic party constitutions. both are catering to their old families and king’s type governing style. that is it goes from husband to wife, mother to daughter, son, or Uncle to Nephew. that has to be stopped and there should be open debates among candidates to find the best. but, the party leaders are attached to the OLD boys club and say they that would destroy the party. Inthis case, Ranil says, his only left over prince may not marry – stay the ay dudley was. Mahinda Rajaopakse says, His son also may not marry for a long time. MY3 says his son looks he also does not like politics and he likes to do other things.

  • 1
    2

    Feeble attempt to cover up the utter failure of yahapalana project. Blaming the other never rectify one’s own weaknesses and failures.

  • 3
    0

    this dainty little man walking on the beach reminds me of someone but i don’t know who.
    Who is he and what is he doing? Nice legs too.If ranil sees he will get a high position.

    • 2
      0

      Awwe, Shankar that is not nice, don’t say bad things about dead people!

      • 1
        1

        wannihami

        We have to discuss past.
        Don’t bury the difficult or undesirable part of history under dead people convention.

        Be honest, Dutta Gamani Nayake and barrel Bomb Athulathmudali never liked Premadasa for obvious reason. Both took every opportunity to undermine Premadasa for obvious reason.

        Don’t tell us you (the Sinhala/Buddhist fascists) had never judged people on their birth.

  • 3
    2

    Invite Sajith Premadasa for a school price giving, all he jabbers is about Mahinda Rajapaksa. Seriously. Watch Swarnawahini 8.00pm news bulletin where they have reserved the last 3 mnts for SP. It is real fun. Start listening to Sajith Premadasa. He did a great service to MR by keeping him on unvavering focus.
    Soma

    • 1
      1

      soma,

      Are all Sri Lankans equal?

    • 2
      2

      somass

      Stop making fun of him for he is a LSE educated London returned Bhumiputra (son of the soil).

  • 3
    1

    Shymon aiya is preparing himself for the fairwell of his demigod Ranil Wickramasinghe. New boy is talking about bringing back a ‘Premadasa Ugayak’ but seems unconscious of the fact that the very word sends a chill down the spine of our elder generation who managed to survive ’89.
    Soma

    • 2
      2

      Yep.. finally Shyamon has come to the realisation that his hero RW is really a ZERO!!?

      But you still choose badly Shyamon!..Sajith is not a patch on his father.. another lost cause!! Pompous and arrogant.

    • 2
      2

      somass

      “New boy is talking about bringing back a ‘Premadasa Ugayak’ but seems unconscious of the fact that the very word sends a chill down the spine of our elder generation who managed to survive ’89.”

      Your Mango friend the public racist Dayan is very fond of him . You know why? Dayan worked for Premadasa during the dark days. Dayan also worked for Dr Mahinda (LLD + 3 PhD) during the second dark days. Like you Dayan simply liked/likes to let rivers of blood soil the entire island.

  • 2
    4

    Does this old man preach anything new other than singing hosnas to United National Party? Such a dumb! People usually get mature with the age but Shyam Jaye seems to be otherwise. He’s been backing and pushing Ranil Wickremesinghe all these years and now, understanding the level of marketability of him, he switches to another loser Sajith Premadasa. If Sajith had done such a stupid and unrealistic statement, as Shyamon Jayasinghe happily announced, that will seal another election debacle to UNP. Go on uncle Shyam. Your clear the way for Gota to be in the helm of SL in 2020.

    • 1
      3

      max

      How did you manage to hear his hosannas while you are residing in saffron thug Gnanasara’s amude?
      Are you imagining things?

      Did you know the LSE “EDUCATED” Sajith Premadasa once proposed to transform this island into a Buhmiputra system of governance, in other words preferential arrangement for the sons of the soil, some thing similar to Chapter II of the constitution however it would have imposed severe curtailment on economics for those who are considered non Bhumiputras, meaning tyranny of the majority.

      Being a public racist yourself you should support the LSE “EDUCATED” Sajith Premadasa. On the other hand he didn’t need to go all the way to London School of Economics to learn this racially motivated strategy.

      He could have learned a page or two from Ronie de Mel, former UNP Minister of Finance (23 July 1977 – 18 January 1988), who proposed Buhmiputra system immediately after the 1983 riots in order to re-balance the supposed advantages the minorities had in the economy, create a level playing field for the majority the Sinhala/Buddhists whom he believed to be the Buhmiputras (sons of the soil) of this island.

      Please support Sajith Premadasa for what he is and not the saffron clad thug Gnanasara what he is not. The other public racist Dayan will definitely support him.

      By the way what is the difference between Buddhism and Sinhala/Buddhism?
      What is the difference between Sinhalese and Sinhala/Buddhist?

  • 5
    2

    The problem of the UNP with ponna leaders has now extended to the country’s leadership. The maha ponnaya Ranil needs to be kicked out but podi ponnaya is not the solution. At least someone like Ranga Bandara need to be selected leader.

    • 0
      1

      Totally agreed, Maname, Ranga Bandara has a great name and he stands without slouching.

  • 7
    1

    Sajith has not shown that he has the attributes needed to bridle corruption, nepotism and the culture of impunity.

  • 0
    1

    UNP has hope.
    Imthiaz Bakir Maker!
    He is a decent inteligent guy.
    He is the ideal person to lead UNP!
    Sajith is a matta!

  • 0
    1

    Pardon me Shyamon, but I don’t think it was sheer merit that made Premadasa President but party seniority, & the old fox didn’t want to break the UNP by sidelining a populist.

    If my memory serves correctly, Premadasa had his own goon squad to bump off ‘undesirables’, like investigative journalists, & Richard de Zoysa comes to mind. Premadasa, uneducated as he was, played to the gallery, his vision was in the short term & flawed. He armed the LTTE, his ‘gam udawa’ was a waste of public money, appointed the son in law as a director of Airlanka & was pretty much in the pocket of the Maharajahs. Of course, all that is relatively insignificant compared to what is happening now & Premadasa probably comes a close third behind MR & Sirisena as a much hyped President who contributed nothing for the betterment of the country (but promoted nepotism, corruption & wasted public funds). However, Premadasa junior with his ‘better’ education, controversial or not, is not the savior needed. He maybe abiding his time but so far, has not made any useful contribution, unless you think that doling out money (whose I wonder?) to temples & to build Buddha statues in street corners in his electorate.

  • 0
    0

    why assume that sajith will replace ranil.Ask all the UNP card carrying members to put out the leader they want.Don’t ask anyone to contest as a candidate because it will split the UNP.Just ask the members to put forth the person they wish to lead the UNP. I like to see how much votes sajith,ranil,karu,arjuna and ranjan ramanayake etc get.The highest votes polled can be offered the leadership and should take it as per the wishes of the members who may be about a million i think.

  • 0
    0

    Shyamon has stated;

    “Power rarely tilts smoothly on to your lap for the simple reason that power attracts fierce competitors.”

    Bloody humbug, “Power attracts corruption and immoral politicians “

  • 0
    0

    Curious to know if you worked for His Excellency President Premedasa when he armed the LTTE and what you told him about it? Just curious.

  • 0
    0

    Shyamon.J.
    Could you pl.tell us whether the London School of Economics[LSE] confer a degree on Sajith Premadasa?

    • 0
      0

      Plato! You mean the London school of comics?

  • 0
    0

    The writer’s aim is to get Sajith to speak up and defend his team. I can see that. He is leaving the leadership issue open

  • 0
    0

    Why Premadasa? What about your hero RW? So you have joined the millions who never had faith in RW. ?There is another UNP leader waiting in the wings, who according to UNP circles is excellent leadership material – Chatura Senaratne !! He will bring such glory to the party, that may make buggers like you blush with excitement. You may even leak in your pants with a bit of gravy!!

  • 1
    0

    Dear Simon the Moron,

    Your articles shows your bootlicking ability and not any sense.

    We want a future leader in Sri Lanka to build Sri Lankan economically and socially. Not a Moron who could not pass a single exam at his school or in the University. The man promotes by the Simon, I heard, was always last in his class room rankings in Sri Lanka. Then he went to UK becuase of his fathers illegally gathered money and power. There he could not complete a single exam. He got a certificate from a University in London submitting a medical certificate. These facts were reported in the news papers in Sri Lanka abroad.

    In addition to this, if any body listen to this future UNP leader’s apeaches would realise that there is nothing sensible that this man can talk or diliver. When he speaks, he is like a screaching parrot. There is no any sense. He is winning elections becuase he dole out the farther’s ill gotten money.

    Simon the Moron, these are the peaople that you promote to be the future leader of Sri Lanka. Please remove your UNP set of glasses and try to be sensible citizen of Sri Lanka.

  • 1
    1

    To Sunil Dasanayake. What exam has your Gota passed?

  • 1
    0

    In the UNP, there is only one man that I show recently has uttered a sensible word about what is going on now. It is Wasanatha Senanayake. He talks sense and he feels the pulse of the people.

    But the future of the UNP is very bleak. There is not a single person in the UNP , who has the vision and mission to drive Sri Lanka. There are Royalists , so called academics and business managers, people like Harsha and Eran but they do not understand or can not understand how rural folk of Sri Lanka thinks or feels.

    • 0
      0

      Agree with Sunil Dahanayake. I’m sure there could be a UNP pohottuwa arising from the current UNP crisis.

  • 0
    0

    Before deciding who My3 is , shouldn’t we take an account of Ranil’s frailty ?
    And how come he can ward off internal party challenges and no strength to
    tackle his real opponents outside his comfort zone ? He skipped two president
    elections , a leader of the strongest single party ? How do you want the people
    to take it ? He is destroying the party and its foundation with every action he
    takes in the name of the country , its people and democracy because he very
    clearly exhibited his inability of going it alone and will go any low to catch
    power ! Instead of targeting the whole SLFP he singled out MARA and replaced
    him with the “thuttu deke patholaya” as Dambara Hamuduruwo put it ! Who is
    facing the music now ? it is not Ranil , it is the UNP and those put their weights
    behind it ! I still don’t dislike Ranil but I won’t approve of his tactics which are
    badly calculated and he himself knows it. Is he not a game player ? Give me an
    answer to one simple question Shyamon ! You keep screaming that the country
    was bankrupted by MARA band , and then you give a Rs 10,000. salary increase
    to the public service as soon as the president was elected ? Nothing more could
    be simpler ! Explain it to me , the logic or strategy behind it ! Now look , even one
    single man like My3 , playing the cards to let him down ? Why ? Every fool in the
    country knows why ! My3 didn’t give up SLFP to become president but Ranil did
    betray UNP to become prime minister ! He tried to use My3 to climb the ladder
    and that didn’t work ! Let us do an honest analysis Shyamon , no sides ! Miracle of
    Asia , full of conspiracies and cut throats.

  • 0
    0

    Why not ban all religious preaching and activities for an year , except to attend Temples, Churches and Mosques for Praying in SILENCE. Only the GOD and the Praying person should talk to each other softly. No loud speakers Please.

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