19 March, 2024

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Is There A Gotabaya-Wave? Can It Be Broken?

By Tisaranee Gunasekara

“…the elevation of Mr Rajapaksa to the presidency is likely to have a damaging impact on social stability… With a rise in Sinhalese nationalism, there is likely to be a further increase in anti-minority sentiment across the country… Combined with the weakening of press freedoms and civil liberties that we would expect under a Gotabaya presidency, this is likely to be detrimental to long-term political stability. As a result, the country’s economic prospects look set to darken.” ~ What would a Gotabaya Rajapaksa Presidency look like (Economist Intelligence Unit – 11.8.2019)

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

Saviours need crises, not the average inflation-unemployment sort, but the existential kind. 

It was barely four days after the Easter Sunday Massacre, and the funerals of victims were just beginning, when Gotabaya Rajapaksa announced his decision to run for president. 

Politicians use public tragedies for private gain. But the more astute ones don’t thrust I’m the Saviour placards at mourners. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a Trumpian figure who has little respect for political or social conventions, saw an unparalleled opportunity in the Easter Sunday Massacre and jumped at it. 

Since then, we are said to be in the midst of a Gota-wave. The Easter Sunday Massacre is supposed to have ensured for Gotabaya Rajapaksa the backing of absolute majority of Sinhalese, including almost all Sinhala-Catholics. With this seminal shift, he is expected to win the next presidential election outright.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa is indubitably the frontrunner of the presidential race. But whether he can win it outright, without going for a second count, is far from certain. 

The number of registered voters currently is around 16million. If, as in 2015, the turnout is 82% (and rejected votes don’t exceed 2%), this would mean a total valid vote of 12.8million. To win outright, a candidate would have to gain around 6.4million votes. 

The SLPP won the 2018 Local Government election polling 5million votes. That 5million votes belong to Gotabaya Rajapaksa. With it, he can come first in the presidential race, but he cannot win it. To win the presidency outright, he needs an extra 1.4million votes. 

Given the nature of the SLPP and Gotabaya’s own character and record, he will have to obtain this extra 1.4 million votes from among the Sinhalese almost exclusively.

Can he get this 1.4million from the Catholic Belt (spanning Gampaha and Puttalam districts), as some argue? According to the last census, the entire Catholic population in Sri Lanka (including children) is 1.2million. Close to quarter of this live in Northern, Eastern and Central provinces and are more likely to be of Tamil ethnicity. Moreover, voting patterns strongly indicate that most voters in the Catholic Belt had shifted their allegiance to the SLPP by 2018. At the 2018 LG poll, the SLPP won the absolute majority of councils in this area. 

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has a real chance of winning outright, if he can gain the SLFP’s backing. But will Maithripala Sirisena abandon his demand for premiership, and will the SLFP consent to contest under the SLPP symbol? Currently both prospects seem remote. 

In the last four years, many SLFP activists/supporters found themselves pitted not so much against the UNP as against the SLPP. This might have created sufficient bad-blood between the two parties at the grassroots level preventing many SLFPers from backing Candidate Gotabaya. While many of those remaining in the SLFP might feel a sense of identification with Mahinda and even Chamal Rajapaksa, no such feelings can be kindled by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The remaining SLFPers are more likely to vote for a third party candidate or even abstain than vote for a man who had never been a member of the SLFP.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has two other paths to victory. The first is a UNP broken both in spirit and in structure. The second is a stratospheric increase in anti-minority hysteria, which keeps many Tamils and Muslims away from polling booths and convinces an absolute majority of Sinhalese that they face an existential threat from which only a President Gotabaya can save them.

The Madness in the UNP

If an outright victory is difficult for Gotabaya Rajapaksa, it would be near impossible for the UNP candidate, be it Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa or even Karu Jayasuriya. 

The UNP scored 3.6million votes at the 2018 LG polls. Which means the UNP candidate will have to gain 2.8million extra votes to win the presidency outright. 

The argument that a Sajith Premadasa candidacy can assure the UNP of an easy victory is one not based on facts. In 2018, the UNP’s average vote in the Hambantota district was lower than the UNP’s national average. The UNP obtained 29.4% of the vote nationally, while in Hambantota, it got only 25.5%. The UNP won only one council in the district, the Hambantoa Municipal Council – a victory due to Muslim vote than to any Sajith magic.

By 2018, the Rajapaksas’ absolute dominance in Hambantota has eroded somewhat. At the LG polls, the SLPP gained more than 50% of the vote in Galle and Matara districts, but failed to do so in Hambantota (with 49.9% in 2018, down from 53.84% in August 2015). The UNP too suffered an erosion of vote in Hambantota, from 35.65% in August 2015 to 25.5% in 2018. It was the SLFP and the JVP that gained from the Rajapaksa losses. The SLFP scored 10.3% while the JVP got 12.8% (compared to 9.98% in 2015).

If there’s no Sajith-magic in Hambantota, the district he nursed for more than 15 years, can there be a Sajith-magic anywhere else in the country? Logically, factually no. 

Sajith Rajapaksa can promise to build a chaithya per village, but his chances of breaking into the Sinhala-Buddhist voter base of the Rajapaksas are non-existent. Instead his open identification with majoritariansim would lose the UNP the minority vote. Many Tamils and Muslims might feel more comfortable voting for the newly enlightened platform of Anura Kumara Dissanayake than for a deliberately parochial Sajith Premadasa.

What about the argument that a Sajith candidacy can win the backing of President Sirisena, together with his 1.5million votes? But the price of obtaining President Sirisena’s support would be a public pledge to make him the Prime Minister. Such a proposal might have been acceptable to the UNP in 2015, 2016 or even 2017, but not 2019. Post-October 26th coup, Maithripala Sirisena is toxic for most UNPers. A pledge to make him the premier would cause a spontaneous split in the UNP. Many disgusted UNPers would either stay away from voting or back a third party candidate, such as Anura Kumara Dissanayake. 

So a Sajith Premadasa candidacy is no silver bullet. Perhaps young Premadasa’s greatest weakness stems from his inability to learn from his father’s example. In 1988, Ranasinghe Premadasa didn’t go round the country holding public meetings demanding the UNP candidacy, and proclaiming he will contest the presidential election anyway. And his winning coalition united a majority of urban voters, the rural poor and the minorities. 

To prevent Gotabaya Rajapaksa from winning outright, the UNP must stop its infantile squabbling. Currently Sajith Premadasa and Ranil Wickremesinghe are fully occupied with trying to kill the elephant, one with fire and the other with ice. Such infantile conduct would have appalled Ranasinghe Premadasa and JR Jayewardene who always placed party-unity above their personal ambitions. But sons and nephews are not made of the same clay as fathers and uncles. Sajith Premadasa’s vainglory and Ranil Wickremesinghe’s obduracy are threatening the electoral prospects of the UNP, and far more pertinently, the very survival of Lankan democracy.

Terrifying the Sinhalese into submission

The hype around the SLPP’s 2018 victory served to hide a far more nebulous mathematical reality. The party’s average vote did not exceed the all important 50% mark. It won just 40% of the vote. Had that election been a parliamentary election, the SLPP would not have been able to form a government on its own. Had that election been a presidential election, there would have been no outright victor; to find a winner, second and third preferences would have had to be counted.

The infusion of multiple third party candidates can become a serious headache for Gotabaya Rajapaksa. They can’t cause even a splinter in the SLPP’s near monolithic base vote, and are more likely to take votes away from the UNP. But they can attract disillusioned anti-Rajapaksa voters back into the electoral contest. This would mean an increase in the voter turnout and a corresponding increase in the number of extra votes Gotabaya Rajapaksa needs for an outright win. 

The picture can turn even more problematic for him, if key third party candidates ask their supporters to cast second and third preferences. Since these voters would be of anti-Rajapaksa persuasion mostly, their second and third preferences will not be for Gotabaya Rajapaksa. This opens the possibility of Gotabaya Rajapaksa winning a plurality in the first count, but losing the overall election in second or third counts.

The argument that Gotabaya Rajapaksa can win outright by attracting most of the first time voters is a specious one. There aren’t enough first time voters to bridge the 1.4million gap; and some of those voters would be non-Sinhalese…

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has only one definite path to outright victory. A crisis that drives the minorities underground and the Sinhalese mad. A crisis that reduces the overall voter turnout while increasing the Sinhala component of it. Another Easter Sunday CaMassacre or another Black July, ideally both.

While Candidate Gotabaya tries to portray a moderate mien, visiting mosques and kovils, his surrogates are busy creating anti-minority (especially anti-Muslim) hysteria. 

Take, for example, the sudden outpouring vitriol around the Muhudu Maha Viharaya in Pottuvil. Last month, a story claiming that Muslim extremists had toppled a number of statues in the ancient temple spread suddenly over the internet. One of the facebok posts claimed that the vandalised statues, depicting the Buddha’s eighty great disciples, were built by the Rajapaksa administration in 2013, and were razed to the ground by Muslim extremists in 2019. The post then went on to warn that if the current government is re-elected the same fate will befall the Samadhi statue, the Tholuwila statue and the statues in Gal Viharaya. The incendiary nature of these claims and their political intent need no belabouring. 

The story had since being exposed as a lie by Pathum Kerner (a medical doctor and an author) who visited the temple and provided video evidence, and by the AFP. The construction of the statues had begun in 2017 and is still continuing. Some of the statues are on the ground, because they are yet to be raised.

Like the mythic Hydra, the moment one story is debunked, several more spring in its place. An unknown animal welfare organisation (National Collective for Non-Violence towards Animals) led by an equally unknown Dr. Tikiri Bandara Atipola issued a press release claiming that hundreds of cows (including pregnant cows, sick cows and calves) were being bludgeoned or hacked to death illegally to feed the participants at the recent convention of the Dawood Borah community. Once again there wasn’t a shred of evidence. The aim was to spread fear, revulsion and hate. 

Last week, the notorious saffron-robed rabble-rouser Galagoda-Atte Gnanasara broke his self-imposed silence, claiming that there is a plan by Islamic extremists to carry out more attacks. In pro-Gotabaya websites, every unusual sound in the North is reported as a deadly explosion carried out by a resurgent LTTE. A military exercise at foiling a potential attack on the Victoria dam was reported by a Sinhala newspaper in such a way as to give the impression of an actual attack. When the TID arrested a doctor attached to the Palai hospital on suspicion of trying to revive the LTTE, the SLPP propagandists screamed that the doctor was a part of Tamil Diaspora driven conspiracy to assassinate Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Eventually the police was compelled to issue an official statement explaining that neither the detained doctor nor any other detainee had made such revelations. 

A recent statement by parliamentarian Wimal Weerawansa reveals the lengths to which the SLPP and its allies might go to terrify minorities into submission. Speaking at a public meeting in Piliyandala, parliamentarian Weerawansa claimed, “The current government helped and encouraged Tamil and Muslim extremists in the last four and a half years. As a result ordinary Tamil and Muslim people have become unprotected. If you want a secure country where a Sinhala man will come to your shop (kade) to buy something, I ask peace-loving Muslims to vote for Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who can build such a country.” (Wimal tells Muslims traders how to attract Sinhala people to their shops – Lanka c news – 2.9.2019 emphasis mine). If a Gotabaya victory can end the boycotting of Muslim shops, isn’t it logical to surmise that Camp Gotabaya had a hand in igniting the boycott in the first place? Is this the road to stability and prosperity or its opposite?

There are two dangers in this deliberate and systematic stoking of racial and religious hatred. It can ignite outbreaks of anti-minority violence. It can also make a Muslim fanatic resort to another act of terror. Either or both can create a Gotabaya-wave by terrifying the minorities into not voting, and persuading enough Sinhalese that only a Hitler-like saviour can protect them.   

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Latest comments

  • 16
    7

    no candidate can get 51 percent even with preference votes
    we will have to have another election

    • 17
      10

      The devil Gota is being protectd bythe very same GOVIGAMA RULING ELITE MAFIOSI and that includes Ranil and the D.R. Wijewardene extended families, plus Dissanayakes, Sirisena, Bandaranayakes etc.The crisis is within the GOVI CAMP that if they can’t a devil-GOTA at the top, then the ordinary folks who are NON-GOVI’s might find the most suitable person to rescue this country from the abyss that the continued GOVI CLASS put it into, throughout a century. This is GOVIGAMA WAR on the entire population to do the bidding of the NAZIS/ZIONISTS who are backing these scumbags/mass murderers from behind the scenes. The Zionist corporations and the Financial entities, along with its Military industrial complex will benefit greatly. MODI the Brahmin Super Devil is doing it in India. Indian businesses are falling like dominoes, one by one. To divert the Dosa/Biryani eating population, Modi is sending the imagination of the dumb population to the moon. That’s also after knowing that the moon landings are 50 years old hoaxes. Alas, MODI, GOTA, RANIL, SIRA are in a grand alliance…. can you imagine this???? Watch David Icke videos…you will get to the truth.

      • 16
        16

        UNP bending backwards to please Muslim voters by not taking action against Muslim terrorist backers, is driving Sinhala voters to Gota camp. UNP turning a blind eye to Islamic atrocities on Tamils, is forcing Tamil voters away from supporting UNP. All these put together will ensure a Gota victory in the first round itself.

        • 17
          6

          LP

          “atrocities on Tamils”
          All of a sudden this concerns you? Did you fall on your head?

          Thousands of mothers are still waiting to know the whereabouts of their children.
          According to the CID its his goons using the state apparatus that kidnapped children for ransom and murdered.

          So if any Tamil or parent without a conscience want to vote for a sociopath that is their choice and they have to live with it.

        • 6
          1

          Lanka Perera

          “UNP bending backwards to please Muslim voters by not taking action against Muslim terrorist backers, is driving Sinhala voters to Gota camp.”

          S**t attracts flies.
          I am you too are being attracted by Gota.

          Read Excerpt from
          Sri Lanka Struggles to Solve the Islamic State-Local Network Puzzle
          Publication: Terrorism Monitor Volume: 17 Issue: 17
          By: Animesh Roul

          …..
          The latest estimate suggests that the Sri Lankan police have arrested 293 radicalized individuals in connection with the bombings. The police also stated that over 100 bank accounts belonging to at least 41 of the arrested militants had already been frozen. Sri Lankan police are also working to freeze approximately $33.1 million (or 6 billion Sri Lankan rupees) worth of assets belonging to the militant suspects (Newsfirst Sri Lanka/You Tube, September 5; Colombo Page, September 5).
          …..

      • 4
        5

        Modi is not a Brahmin but belongs to a backward caste from Gujrat but is pandering to RSS extremist Brahmin/Kshatriya supremacists

      • 0
        0

        This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2

        • 0
          0

          PART THREE
          .
          I find it stated again and again that there is a third significant contender for votes – the JVP. Few seem to take the Nagananda Group seriously. I’ve spent two weeks in Colombo and studied their set up. Their final candidate could be any one of four or five pretty qualified people, each having his own organisation and differing in outlook. However, what they have sworn is that only one of them who will contest. What they have in common is honesty, dedication, and disinterest in self-advancement. They may not get all the votes that they deserve because sympathisers will be taunted with “wasting their ballots by voting ‘Alternative'”. It would, therefore, make sense for these groups to point out that there are two more Preferences after casting their First Preference for the “Alternative.” Even the JVP may be able to make the suggestion when going “house to house”.
          .
          Yes, the First Preference always to an honest guy, and never mind his not going far. This must become, by 2024, the way the entire electorate votes!
          .
          This time around, I wouldn’t want to discount the possibility of Nagananda doing very well, and of Dr Ajith Colonne actually winning! I discovered that Nagananda is actually a vegan, but he doesn’t bring such “eccentricities” into his Social Thinking.
          ​​

      • 4
        2

        Gota and the GOVIGAMA ELITE MAFIA family gangsters don’t have any other plans but to follow the RAW/Mossad drawn up plans. WHY ALL THE CRIMINALS (US/ISRAEL/INDIA etc) want Gota in the seat? GOTA is a proven PSYCHOPATH who have no brains and no heart…meaning foolish and cruel. This is a best formula for a Dictatorship and for a CRACKPOT leader like the HITLER (as all the Pro-NAZI Monks and the Mahanayakes demanding a Hitler/Nazi regime) and he can be easily commanded to implement the NAZI Eugenics to exterminate whole bunch of people without any fear nor any empathy towards the victims. So, the TOP OF THE AGENDA of the ZIONISTS is to build the Third Temple on the Temple Mount after destroying the AL AQSA mosques located in the premises. Pakistan poses a greater threat to the ISRAELI project as Pak Armed forces have the capacity to come to the rescue of the 3rd Islamic Holiest Site and to defend the rights of the World Muslims. Therefore, the need to destroy Pakistan is PRIME in their planning. Modi is selected as part of this Evil Axis and given super backing by the Israeli masters. What Modi is doing to the Indian Muslims is the same what Ranil/Sira/Mahinda/Gota are doing in Sri Lanka, and the Myanmar’s genocide on Rohinya Muslims. When Myanmar was massacering the Muslims, guess which leaders declared full support for the evil??? Sirisena, Narendra Modi and Israel. They went even to the extent of expelling the poor refugees whom were living on the edge of life and death. Sira launched his Govigama Hit Squad “BBS” and RAVANA BALAKAYA, Sinha Le and the entire state sponsored/protected SINHALA RACIST outfits to go against the Rohingya refugees and then on the Muslims of Kandy/Digana and Kurunegala. Its a very well organised project.

        • 1
          1

          So, through the well planned ANTI MUSLIM ( War on Islam) as launched by the GOVIGAMA MAFIOSI leaders (Mahinda/Gota/Sira/Ranil) is a plan by which the entire region is put through an ISLAMOPHOBIA FRENZY to incite the non-Muslims to create a genocidal climax (in the RWANDA style killings) to kill maximum Muslims. The FALLOPIAN RATHANA’s part is to fear monger the Sinhalas with fake threat of a secret annihilation plan of the Muslims to sterilize the Sinhala’s. Again a Fake Genocide plan story to push the Sinhalas to go for a popular genocide instigated by the state sponsored/ GOVI leadership backed MASS KILLINGS of the Muslims. By which the Asian region will be turned into a bloodbath to prevent any formation of the so called “Muslim Army” that will emerge in the KHORASAN REGION (AFGHAN/PAK area) as according to the Islamic Prophesies of the end times to defeat the Zionists and their promised Messiah- MOSCHIAC (The Anti Christ-Dajjal) who is declared the SUPER GOD of the Jews. Modi is doing his part of the WAR ON ISLAM, Myanmar’s 969 and Aung San Suki and Sri Lanka’s Govigama Elites (Mahinda/Gota, Sirisena/Ranil) aiding, abetting and facilitating the Sinhala Buddhist Racists. The Armed forces of the anti Muslim countries comprising (India/Sri Lanka/Myanmar) are all connected to the CIA/MOSSAD/RAW grand alliance and are well trained in joint military programs on how to play the game. Its the military of each countries who are running the RACIST pogroms through the proxies.

        • 0
          0

          So, Gota’s entry is a HUGE DANGER to the SINHALESE than anybody else in the country. Because, GOTA is promoted by the Evil Zionist agents who are operating the Indian Govt which is corporation owned by the Zionist Jews who are controlling the Global Power structure comprising the Political, Military and Financial powers as for the moment. MODI’s foolish itch to take over Pakistan by deceptive methods is very evident with his recent moves where the BJP/RSS Brahmin Terrorists conducted the UNDERCOVER Mossad/CIA/RAW operation in the False Flag attack in Pulwama and then it was blamed on Pakistan. Tea boy Modi is just a front face of the secret undercover Jewish machination which is going on to dismember Pakistan for a long long time ever since they declared Israel a country. RAW agency was a brainchild of Indira Gandhi (Secret Indian Jew) who mysteriously used Mossad’s help to train the RAW operatives. It was intended with the future of Jewish world domination in mind, which has become a fact in 2019, whereby the Zionist Jewish cabal is using the Secret/Crypto Jews or the famously called the ‘Donme’ Jews who have infiltrated into societies, governments and its Armies which are being used for Islamophobia and for the War on Islam, same as what the Govigama Mafia Ruling Elites are doing right at this moment. So, GOTA is thus being pitted against the stupid War on Islam which will be definite defeat as the Zionists know that its a losing game, but, trying their luck by pulling in dumbos like Modi and the Govigama Racist sluts.

        • 0
          0

          The real trials of the Sinhalas will begin once they put back any Govigama Mafia Ruling Elite member to the power again. The worst is the GOTA. Because, he has been already identified as an CIA/Mossad/RAW joint alliance operative. Subramaniam Swamy (Brahmin Jew) spelled the beans and openly declared the desire of the Israeli backed BJP criminal entity, that they want GOTA in the seat. This he said before the Indian elections in which BJP fraudulently won by insider manipulations to continue to be in the Zionist plans. So, Modi in India and Gota in Sri Lanka will be used to implement the balance work of the project to destroy Pakistan. The entire Sinhala population will be pitted against the World Muslim population and it will surely be cut off point of the friendly relationship Sri Lanka is having at the moment. The Muslims are slowly uniting under the current Islamophobia climate the Zionists created and promoting with their allies like Sri Lanka, India and Myanmar on Geo-Politics and centuries old Jewish religious politics in the take over of Muslim lands. Its a losing battle of the Zionists as they know that the present defeats of the Muslims was also a prophesy and the next one is the victory. global Islamophobia is uniting the Muslims all over the world as every Muslim knows that the persecution of the enemies have been widened with signs of countries benefitting from the Muslims have chosen to be with the enemies of Islam. Sri Lanka is the best example.

    • 1
      1

      nalmen,
      I expect the pattern of voting going to be somewhat different from last two (2015 & 2018) elections. 2018 results, in particular, has to be dealt with extreme care b’cos many UNP loyalists who would certainly vote for Sajith, voted against UNP due to anger for disappointments on various petty expectations. Politicians like Thissa Atthanayake may not have a number of followers but their support for Sajith can have a ripple effect at the grass-root level. Another factor is the behavior of the media which attacked UNP mercilessly in 2018.

      Usually, in national elections, what matters with the grass-root level voters is the cumulative effect of the prevailing euphoria; not the weight of importance of each separate factors (that’s what happened in 2018. Even MY 3 attacked UNP). In that sense, I agree that racial conflict may certainly help GoRa. But, if the Gvt can manage to avoid such incidents, GoRa will be at a disadvantage b’cos voices like Welgam’s raising serious questions on GoRa’s criminal history coupled with Sajith friendly media blitz can have a considerable effects on voters. Besides, the position of SLFP is still uncertain. Therefore, I think it is too early to make any prediction on the voting patterns in the presidential election.

    • 2
      0

      nalman, read the election law and be educated.

    • 0
      0

      Dear nalman,
      .
      What you state was troubling me also, but I think that I’ve got rid of these cobwebs by devoting a good deal of time to this question, by reading and by asking others.
      .
      In the event of no candidate getting 50% +1, the Preferences will be counted and added to the tallies of the First and Second Candidates. It will be quite possible for the guy coming Second on First Preferences to overtake the initial leader. It may seem to be a bit unfair that even a Third Preference will have the same value as a First Preference, but that is the system.
      .
      This system will also allow, after the counting of Preferences, for a candidate to be elected President on (let’s say) only 40% of the valid votes cast. What will be crucial for winning will be getting into First or Second Place on First Preferences, and then getting preferences from the “also-rans”. Tisaranee is dead right when she says that the Rajapaksas will get fewer Preferences from the “also-rans” than whoever comes Second.
      .

    • 0
      0

      PART TWO
      .
      Five London Mayoral Elections in the 21st Century, have been held under a similar system, but with only First and Second Preferences marked on a more user-friendly ballot paper. Please study those actual results.
      .
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_mayoral_elections
      .
      I laboriously calculated the results of the year 2000 election. It says, Livingston (who had been a Labour M.P. but contested as an independent) got 57.9% while Norris got 42.1%. Add those two figures, and you get 100. However, if you calculate his result as a percentage of total votes cast, it came to less than 45%.
      .
      I think that in some of the other years also it’s been like that.
      .
      So, we won’t have another election.
      .
      Please google for video explanations of the system in Sinhalese by Mahinda Deshapriya.
      .

    • 0
      0

      PART THREE
      .
      I find it stated again and again that there is a third significant contender for votes – the JVP. Few seem to take the Nagananda Group seriously. I’ve spent two weeks in Colombo and studied their set up. Their final candidate could be any one of four or five pretty qualified people, each having his own organisation and differing in outlook. However, what they have sworn is that only one of them who will contest. What they have in common is honesty, dedication, and disinterest in self-advancement. They may not get all the votes that they deserve because sympathisers will be taunted with “wasting their ballots by voting ‘Alternative'”. It would, therefore, make sense for these groups to point out that there are two more Preferences after casting their First Preference for the “Alternative.” Even the JVP may be able to make the suggestion when going “house to house”.
      .
      Yes, the First Preference always to an honest guy, and never mind his not going far. This must become, by 2024, the way the entire electorate votes!
      .
      This time around, I wouldn’t want to discount the possibility of Nagananda doing very well, and of Dr Ajith Colonne actually winning! I discovered that Nagananda is actually a vegan, but he doesn’t bring such “eccentricities” into his Social Thinking.
      ​​

  • 6
    1

    No.
    It is simply being driven serenely with meaningful gatherings without much fan fare.

    • 4
      5

      Thondamany

      Seriously what is your honest opinion about Windbag Weerawansa?

  • 16
    2

    Whoever comes doesn’t matter, we the common man will only face doom and gloom, whilst these politicians will plunder, pillage and rape democracy for the personal gain.

    To me the Easter Sunday attacks seem like an inside job of people wanting to come or stay in power. The timing of this couldn’t have been better for those who want to play the saviour card and promote extremism. Not some random ISIS attack. No one is willing to dig deep to find out who was responsible in itself is disconcerting.

    Political Media Campaign Managers are rabble-rousing Social Media Cardboard heroes for their masters gain. The Traditional Media and the clergy are openly and totally biased, showing with whom their allegiances lay.

    Political parties like the the UNP, SLFP have been washing their dirty laundry in public thus eroding whatever credibility they had. Confidence of their ability and their inability to tackle common problems with governance has let them down. Bond Scam has been their undoing. Whilst their inability to present watertight cases to put away criminals, behind the Thajudeen, Lasantha, Pragit, Keith, Avant Garde, Greek Bond Scam, Petroleoum Hedge Fund, MiG Scam, Memorial cases have been futile. The Judiciary and Law don’t even have their dentures on to bite down hard and lay the law.

    In the end all we can do is use the only power we common people have, our Vote to ensure we come out of these fires with a better brighter tomorrow for our future generations by Voting for someone who is Just and above all is honest. May sound like a distant dream or fantasy, but that is our only hope.

    • 6
      0

      Agree with Oma Yang. We need a miracle cure for the political plague that is killing the Country Slowly but Surely. The Major parties led by anybody will not resuscitate us. We need a new Fresh Just Moderate to lead and get us out of the debt quagmire we are in. We need reconciliation with the minorities. That will be achieved only by embracing them without any limitations. TG is being realistic, but that is not the need of the moment. Vote counting and percentages will nit redeem us. It is my humble opinion that a majority of voters are sick of the present batch of political pretenders to the throne. We all have to shout loud and clear of an alternative to the present climate. Rani, Sajith, Gota, Karu etc etc from the Major Parties must not be considered period.

      • 0
        0

        I’m sure that what “sarath de alwis” is praising is the main article by Tissaranee G. However, such praise could also be showered on “Oma Yang” and “Patriot” as well.
        .
        I think that we’ve got to stop being so timorous. Let us have the courage to reject racism, thuggery, and corruption. Let us vote according to our consciences. The voting may well go to a second round of Preferences, but we may not only be able to defeat the evil Gota, but drive him down to about 30% of votes cast, even if he has emerged as the leader on First Preferences.
        .
        But please educate every humble monolingual voter you meet on the availability of three preferences. Please start today. Polling day is Saturday, the 16th of November. We’ve got eight weeks in which to do it. If voters forget their nervousness, this election may well be decided on Preferences cast!

  • 31
    7

    A great piece of incisive analysis. An accurate assessment of evil that lies ahead with the toxic manifesto of a professional collector of social wounds. .

    • 10
      10

      I beg to disagree Sarath, not with TG as a matter of fact, but with your comment. This is perhaps the best I’ve read from TG, she does not refer to a toxic manifesto, instead to ground realities, perhaps you can learn from her, perhaps that is not needed because you know the coin’s two sides etc, but whichever it is, apart from some mathematical miscalculations, TG seems to have gotten over the Rajapaksha hate and have assumed almost sage like resignation, mate you should do the same, the vitriol kills from inside.

  • 11
    11

    UNP totally depends on ‘en bloc’ minority voting. Hence disharmony among ethnic and religious groups is a fundamental necessity for their electoral success. Propaganda to brain wash the minorities to the effect that the other is your enemy is their main modus operandi.
    .
    If Tamils and Muslims ‘en bloc’ are going to support UNP the Sinhalese ‘en bloc’ should support the SLPP. Maha Sangha should carry this message to the Sinhalese.

    En bloc voting based on ethnicity and religion is NO democracy. Minority leaders should understand that it is the minorities who benefit most from democracy. Fundamentally, en bloc voting is subjugation of free thinking and self respect of the individual.
    .
    As the things are can the Muslims afford to risk the goodwill of majority of majority?

    Soma

    • 10
      4

      Soma,

      It a very pathetic situation indeed
      Even though it is disunited it should be atleast NATIONAL
      that means UNP has to appeal to the Sinhala Budhist majority also.

      if not UNP will have to change it,s name.

      to DMP

      Disunited Minorities Party

      • 0
        0

        Brilliant, Wimpy Kid.
        .
        We’ve been through hell. Let us now be bold enough to embrace what we see as right, and repudiate selfish self-seeking.

    • 11
      9

      soman

      “UNP totally depends on ‘en bloc’ minority voting.”

      SLFP/SLPP completely depends on Sinhala/Buddhist (racist/fascist) bigoted voters. You are another aspiring fascist who does not grasp the idea of democracy nor the essence of UNITY IN DIVERSITY.

      It’s going to take another 2500 years for fascists like you to learn/understand humanism and democracy and democratic rights of the people.

      Only a few years ago my Elders reminded me of late 1970s when voters started wondering whether the country needed a dictator to put the country on its right path. Indeed they elected JR and you know what happened since 1977.

      Please stop being a smartass patriot.
      Your cunning ideas are going to take the country hit the bottom rapidly than you wish for.

      • 4
        1

        ‘NV
        En bloc’ voting must be identified as different from ‘majority’ vote which of course is Democracy without argument.
        I repeat fundamentally, en bloc voting is subjugation of free thinking and self respect of the individual.
        For their political masters these GROUPS are a comodity. Over the last 70 years minorities have been conditioned to behave like cattle at elections.

        Soma

        • 3
          2

          soman

          “En bloc’ voting must be identified as different from ‘majority’ vote which of course is Democracy without argument.”

          Majority within minority tends to elect the least evil of the candidate(s). People are diverse and they need to make their priorities and rational choices on the basis of safety, security, livelihood, habitat, dignity, respect for democratic rights, ………………… What is your fundamental problem?

          “I repeat fundamentally, en bloc voting is subjugation of free thinking and self respect of the individual.”

          Of course you are right in this occasion, we saw it in 1956, 1970, 1977, 2010, ………. The people didn’t make rational choices however the choices were made on the basis of mass anti minority hysteria.

          Later they (you included) went on rampage.

    • 4
      1

      Soma,
      This is a fake argument based on wrong assumption that Ra..kse family represents Sinhalese/Buddhists (S/B). This is utterly wrong. Minorities vote ‘en bloc’ not against S/B; it is against the Ra..kse family which employs scare tactics against minorities in order to deceive S/B hoping to win S/B votes ‘en bloc’.

      I don’t believe that they like what they are doing but staying with it only b’cos they are now stuck with the bad strategy for two reasons: 1. They have nothing else but “ending the war” to show as the only major achievement. 2. It is now almost like a political suicide to abandon the extreme racist support they have cultivated since 2009!

      In private life, Ra..kse family gets along very well with minorities as long as they are rich & powerful. For example, MaRa’s wife is a Catholic; his sister was married to a Tamil named Thirukumaran Nadesan who is well trusted to hand over BaRa’s Malvana property to escape from the corruption charges; Muslim Congress was with MaRa until the end of 2014; and they made many deals with all minority parties including TNA!

      As a matter of fact, it is obvious that GoRa himself is not playing the race card in his campaign; his main trump card seems to be the security. The strategy seems to be that GoRa carrying the “Viyath Maga” while pounding on national security while surrogates (WW never seen even near Viyath Maga) playing the race card!

    • 3
      3

      Soma:
      What on earth are you on about? Is it just your own confusion or are you seeking to sow it even further into the political discourse?

      • 1
        1

        Mr. Poorten
        You don’t seem to understand or I haven’t stated it clearly (poor English)
        What I am opposed to is EN BLOC voting based on ethnicity and religion. Not MAJORITY voting out of their own choice, definitely not. For example in an opinion poll prior to an election if it is found that 75% among those who call themselves Tamils or Muslims are favouring a particular party I have no issue at all, absolutely. That is pure democracy of course . But for me EN BLOC or collective voting is poles apart from MAJORITY voting and is a severe distortion of democracy, manipulation of individuals. Citizen become cattle – the whole country becomes a few herds of different colour. Now the dangerous side of this aspect is exaggerated propaganda is carried out that the ‘other’ party is anti you. Minor events are blown out of proportion. UNP under Ranil Wickramasinghe has been masterfully doing this to the severe detriment of amity among different groups.
        .
        There is another related issue to this ugly phenomenon. A most sacred aspect of our democracy is ‘secret’ ballot. In Sri Lanka if you wear a ‘pottu’ , or ash on your forehead , a cap, a veil over the head, sport a beard I know which party you voted for. This should not be so – after the election everything should be business as usual. How Rajapaksa supporters referred to any Muslim on the street after 2015 elections is unprintable as per CT editorial policy. It happens because en bloc voting has enabled individual identification, you must agree.
        (In France when they banned Islamic head cover they included Crucifixes too – the purpose being individuals not to be identifiable on the basis of religion in public)

        Soma

  • 14
    0

    Tisaranee Gunasekara:-
    “William Gopallawa, MBE was the last Governor-General of Ceylon from 1962 to 1972 and became the first President of Sri Lanka when Ceylon declared itself a republic in 1972 and changed its name to Sri Lanka. Until 1972, Ceylon was a Commonwealth realm with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state and Queen of Ceylon.”
    I can remember Sir William Gopallawa as the Last Governer-General and First President of Sri Lanka.
    He was a real Gentleman and did not interfere with members of the Elected Government!
    It was only afterwards that Presidents became Swollen Headed and acquired more Power unto themselves!
    Even Queen Elizabeth II did not interfere with the Elected Government!

  • 21
    4

    Thisaranee , you beauty!

  • 11
    1

    One question we should ask is..
    Do Ranil and Sajiht want to give power to goata.. Goata does not have ground support but UNP split makes him hero.. As long as UNP is not united Goata could win..but..
    Will Goata get nomination? Will Foxy Ranil have some thing to do last minute to confuse all.
    Will CBK will do her last minute trick to fool all,

    so many puzzle about this election.

    • 0
      0

      “Goata does not have ground support but UNP split makes him hero” – UNP will never be split. Who is there to split? Sajith without UNP is useless for Kili Maharaja, so no sponsors for the project.

      • 1
        0

        And the coodinated bombings killing 300+ people on Easter Sunday which was allowed by the Yahapalanaya misfits.

        Make Gota_Shavi and team look heros.

        The unproved human rights violations dsen’t hold in the eyes of the average citizen

  • 5
    0

    The 30 year bloody civil war has not been a learning curve for Sri Lankans
    Minorities as Well as Majority.

    The UNP had a mandate from the people to make things right but they failed miserably due to lethargy and self interest while not being in touch with the common man.

    So voters will vote for the less worst of the bad lot.

    In spite of Gotabhayas humanrights record that has been questioed by many , He promises to be doer not a talker.

    My prediction is Sri Lanka is heading towards another national government.

    Where no one will get absolute power.

    In this scenario it is best that all parties gettogether and work towards a better Sri Lanka.

    Have longterm stratergies in place and work hard to make it happen.

    Have one policy , strong constitution and work towards a united and a better Sri Lanka.

    • 0
      0

      Do you still think that they could unite for a National govt ?:
      :
      It should be dream. tO ME they are more culprits than unity seekers.
      :
      At the beginning of GG govt it looked as if they can work together, but it was fully broken by the stupid actions taken by Sirisena as the president. :
      :
      I have lost my hopes, they would neve rbe abl eto work together .. nor would JVPrs.
      Srilankens will remain as it is, if they woul dnot vote for an alternative force such as of Mr Nagananda Kodi.
      Now it seems that some monks come to light and become vocal in favou ro f NK.. that is a good sign, decisive factor in lanken eleciton is the new floating votes. … that will be 15 lacks (1.5mio) that I believe will fall on NK for sure. AND minorities will also realize that the need of supporting him than other two giant parties as in the past.

  • 5
    1

    President John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address inspired children and adults to see the importance of civic action and public service. His historic words, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country,” challenged every American to contribute in some way to the public good. Sadly in Sri Lanka, we’ve not had a single politician who has inspired its people in a similar manner.

  • 13
    3

    Mahinda is no fool to jeopardize Namal’s future by installing Gothabaya for the next ten years using his votes, future unprecedented surprises will not in any way surprise those who know that politics is the dirtiest game ever played by human beings.

    • 6
      5

      If Gota is elected by fair or foul means he will be like a vampire sucking the blood out of this country. His brother Basil is the architect of a Win. Remember the Election Commissioner who disappeared for three days and parachuted to announce the Presidential Winner In 2010. Nobody questioned the disappearance. Houdini will blush.

  • 12
    6

    If GR has to come into power so be it. !!! There won’t be much difference as in the past.
    The only positive side of life to be, is that there won’t be strikes, student protests, and other demonstrations that disrupts daily life. There will be some resemblance of discipline and that is what Sri lankan society lacks.
    Ranil the arsehole of a Moron coming back will be like the resurrection of Satan. More corruption, strikes, demonstrations, murders, robberies, drug deals etc etc.
    Sajith P , has only one ambition and that is to succeed his father and thus no further.
    Karu J, slimy as a eel, no power, no charisma, no vision, no nothing. At 80 years he still wants to be in the limelight less all shame.
    The others are all Wankers trying to overdo one another.
    What can you expect from the voting population who have no idea what they are doing when they stand in line to cast their ballots. Bring down the price of bread and they will gladly sell their souls to the Devil for more.
    Sri lanka is lost never ever to return to its former glory.

    ” Sri lanka Prajathantrika Samajawadi Kehelkan Janarajaya “

    • 7
      2

      Melvin:
      Yours sounds like the kind of rant typical of some expatriate Sri Lankan existing in some “first world” country who has nothing but contempt for those in a country that deserves better than its current crop of parasites parading as politicians.
      Is there no possibility of some sane analysis except from the likes of Tisaranee and Sarath de Alwis? THAT absence of sanity (except for those two and a few other FEMALE journalists) seems the only light at the end of this particular Sri Lankan tunnel!

      • 3
        2

        Mr. Emil ,Van der Poorten,
        what Melvin has stated is absolutely correct. He may be existing in a first world country, and what right thinking person would not have contempt for his former country of birth that deserved better for all but has not got that better because of the so called patriotic politicians who rule under the guise of good governance but who are above their eyeballs in corruption and below their balls in honesty.
        There has been sane analysis from 1948 on wards but it has been thus far and no further.
        All the sane analysis on why Sri lanka never made it to the level of betterment like India, Bangladesh,Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and even Vietnam will not bring it closer to the light at the end of the Sri lankan tunnel.
        Emile !!!!! Melvin is not ranting per your analysis, but expressing his views with anger that Ceylon and now Sri lanka has not made it beyond the light at the end at the end of the tunnel.
        [edited out]

  • 3
    8

    What TG is saying (though using some erroneous logic) is that Gota will win the election but will not win presidency. That seems at least her wish. She and her ilk doesn’t care the impact of such an outcome on the governance of the country. A president from a second count if he/she doesn’t win the first round will not find the legitimacy to govern. TG in effect wants another “achcharu” yahapalana type dispensation.

    2018 LG polls cannot be equated to parliamentary or presidential elections where electoral dynamics will be different though that LG poll results show some important trends. But you cannot extrapolate it like TG tries to do.

  • 15
    4

    Good analysis. GR is trying to project himself as a hero. No one has forgotten that he is fraud, liar, murderer, psycho, cheat, deceiver etc. After knowing these of him, only lunatics will vote for him. Will count how many lunatics our country has.

    • 0
      0

      Ad, If Prabha contested, you vote for him?
      He too fraud, liar, murderer, psycho, cheat, deceiver etc.
      How about you? Getting free everything from the country and now live in 1st world without paying back. And, expenses for you guys made by majority community. what a shame on you!!!!

  • 5
    5

    What is the logic behind these Heavy Hitter UNP supporters calling him Gotabaya?.
    Specially if they want to neutralize the Wave , if there is one.

    Call him Nandasena and the Donkey Vote will automatically go to the well known good politicians in the Arena like Premadasa, Anura Kumara and Dr Ranil Wickremasinghe , if Dr Ranil pulled a rabbit at the 11th hour and neuter Premadasa.

    • 7
      2

      K.A. Sumanasekera:
      If you’d send us a mailing address, we’d send the hat around and collect enough to give you an English primer. Then, at least, your stupidities would be more comprehensible and probably evoke at least the giggles that are not possible when they are simple gobbledegook.

      • 2
        7

        Mr. Poorten
        You must try to improve your English.

        Soma

      • 0
        2

        Emil Aiya,

        Thanks but no thanks..
        I even have a personal trainer now in Colombo to keep fit and enjoy Dr Ranil’s Yahapalanaya.-

        I have been well primed with a real under coat and a couple of all weather resistant Top Coats too..

    • 7
      1

      KASmaalam K.A.Sumanasekera

      Do you still friends with Gnanasara, Weerawansa, Dayan, Udhaya, Nalin De Silva, Duminda, Dinesh, …… ?
      Or at least admire them from a distance?

      • 0
        3

        Dear Native,-

        Funny you asked..Guess who I met the other day.
        It was non other one of the greatest Chief Justices of the Motherland ,Mr Nalin de Silva..
        He came out of a Hardware Joint next to Dlijanz in Wellala Gardens..
        And he said “Hello ,how are you..”..

        It blew me away,
        First it was the first time I have seen him .
        Secondly I never expected a CJ of our Motherland to be such a simple Simon and say hello to a simple citizen Silva like me…
        Just imagine even the new UNP aristocracy of Dr Ranil doing it, let alone going to a Hardware Joint in Galle Rd..

    • 5
      1

      KASmaalam K.A.Sumanasekera

      Are you still friends with Gnanasara, Weerawansa, Dayan, Udhaya, Nalin De Silva, Duminda, Dinesh, …… ?
      Or at least admire them from a distance?

  • 6
    1

    To many, particularly, the average Sinhala Buddhists, Gota is the best (possibly, out of a bad bunch) with, perhaps, AKD, as an alternative. Effectively, the SLFP & the UNP are in the distance in the Presidential race. Sirisena single handedly destroyed the SLFP but Ranil & Premadasa jnr are equally responsible for the destruction of dashing the hopes of a UNP victory. The UNP is divided but whether Sajith deserves the party leadership or not, he has no right to assume leadership & should be expelled from the party for causing the rebellion. It would be amusing to see how Premadasa jnr & his loyal supporters survive on their own in the political wilderness in the event of such a scenario. When the country is fed with corrupt & self serving politicians, there is a possibility for the UNP to come out as the saviour if Ranil can crack the whip & got rid of the dead wood & parasites within the party, paving the way for educated new comers with integrity but Ranil also has to understand that people have no faith in him any more. He can still reform the party & step down gracefully, rather than be kicked out unceremoniously by the party & the public.

  • 7
    3

    Other than Easter and Black July , in desperation Gota may stage an attempt on him self. That is one possibility one writer (Asanka) suggested here in CT, Also recommended by ever lying Wimal and Gommanpilla. A election between a pimp and a murderer.

    • 4
      6

      The Tamils already staged an attempt on his life once.

  • 1
    5

    There is always a long line of her style “Biryani & Arrack” crowd shout Hurray to Tissaranee Gunasekara. But, thing are as usual, “the lose canon firing on all over everywhere, on anything” without focus. In 2015, Tissaranee kept blaming that Leader Pirapaharan appointed Old King as president, but she sacrificed her body and soul to bring the White Flag Murderer, War Criminal, knowingly as the Saviors of the Holy Race, the Sinhala Mahajan. Practicality has shown that Tissaranee class Sinha Intellectuals and Ranil class politicians are the most effective election campaign managers for Old Royals. Further, Sinhala intellectuals like Tissaranee Gunasekaras divide them into teams to campaign groups for Old Royals. One is the explicit one like Maha Viyath. Other one is Tissaranee Gunasekara, Ranil, New King, Sarath De Alvis….class saviors of War Heroes, who protect and save Old Royals, by putting blame on Tamils (LTTE) or Muslims-even. . It is the Yahapalanaya attacked the Tamil Churches to save the Old Royals from the UNHRC noose or UN Electric Chair. When the coup was on, Western government offered to Ranil their support, But Ranil had his own meeting with the other two Trios and defeated the West, in saving the war criminals. In this election, Mangala-Vaalaiththodam Jr Team and Old Brother Prince‘s Maha Viyath are pledging to work with US. But Ranil, Yahapalanaya, Tissaranee are the ones pledging to work with China and want to have saved the Chinese Veto at UN.
    The Hindu guy, apply the huge wooden wedge to chariot wheel, is not against the chariot moving, but cares the side the chariot should turn to its safe passage.
    There is one little secret. Old Royals killed 45 Tamil Journalist and about 5 Sinhala Journalist. So many remaining ones (, Sinhala-Muslim Journalist and Jehan PhD like NGOs), joined hand with Old Brother Prince. But some Sinhala Intellectual journalist well survived with their journalism, without join Old Royals. That is because Old Royals knows who to clean – whom to save.

    • 7
      0

      Mallaiyuran:
      I think a (desperate) appeal is in order to the people in charge of CT to place a total ban on the incomprehensible nonsense that you insist on inflicting on its readers.
      The script is English but WHAT language do you think you are writing in?

      • 0
        9

        Mr Pooten
        You must try to improve your English.

        Soma

      • 0
        5

        Emil van der Poorten,

        Today one more has realized that pretentious Journalism, that is “Wrapping Cow dung in Silk” & presenting with mastery English of Emil van der Poorten or Tisaranee Gunasekara can do no more political insurrection from Sinhala Buddhist Anarchy. Mr. Poorten, the first confrontation encountered for a man of principle with truth is, Truth is Hard to Comprehend ( & believe). Next is hard to challenge once comprehended. Pretentious journalism’s in-depth is nothing below the wrapped silk or the bells and whistles decorated with.
        Netryaya pozhuthu kannodu. Indraya pozhuthu kaiyodu. Naalaya pozhuthum unnodu –Kannathsan (Yesterday we saw each other; today we are hand in hand; Tomorrow we will, in our ship, voyage together)

        Welcome to Mallaiyuran’s fan club.

        • 1
          3

          Mr Poorten
          Why don’t you add one more word to your vocabulary: M O D E S T Y.

          Soma

        • 0
          3

          Mally .. Don’t worry mate.

          Those UNP supporters still think they are in Walauwas , ordering the servants in broken Sinhala.
          And talk to each other in Queen’s English ?..

          They don’t realize that it is the message which is important .Not the delivery..
          I don’t think they have any idea of AI…
          You keep up your good work..

          • 0
            0

            Thanks Sumane,

            I will try to continue my services to the readers’ world.

        • 0
          0

          So, Mally, you think there exists something called Mallaiyuran’s fan club, do you?
          .
          You delude yourself.
          .
          If you really want to establish something like that a welcome first step would be for you to drop these tiresome allusions to “Old King”, “Old Royals”, ” Old Brother Prince”, etc.
          .
          As it is, you are a bore. If you try to be more direct in what you say, you may actually be bearable.

          • 0
            0

            Sinhala_Man,

            ” If you really want to establish something like that a welcome first step would be for you to drop these tiresome allusions to “Old King”, “Old Royals”, ” Old Brother Prince”, etc. “

            I established only Mallaiyuran Fan Club; Not Naganda Fan Club. Sorry man!

            Suththa(exclusive) Saiva Kadai sells only hot hot Curries. Baby’s sweet cakes are sold at Mr. Poorten’s Dutch Bakery or Sinhala(_man) Mama’s Paan Kadai. .

    • 2
      0

      Now Now don’t take away the fun away from elections
      There is nothing wrong in having a good Biriyani and having a bit of arrak to wash it down,
      at least during election time.

      Don’t be a “”periaya karckckal Aiya””

      • 0
        1

        Wimpy Kid,-

        Taling about Buriyani, I have been scouring all those joints , and even those on line order places run by our Muslim Brothers and Sisters from home ,to get the real thing like the ones Buhari in Maradana used to make…

        Bu all attempts have been disappointing.
        They all now taste like the Patak’s Buriyani Mix from Hindia with a piece of roast chicken embedded.-

        Do you know any good ones?..

        Arrak is no problem with about 6 to choose from beside Gal..
        DCSL Old Arrak is the still the best among the Lot..

  • 4
    14

    I predict Gota will win by a landslide. Most of the Churches attacked on Easter Sunday were Catholic. The Catholics are very angry, they will do everything they can to prevent a future attack. Meaning, vote for a strongman like Gotha. A Sirisena endorsement is not necessary, despite what the author claims, as Sirisena was mostly responsible for the attacks. Plus, UNP boss Ranil has given his unofficial endorsement to Gota, this is well-known by now. Many UNP supporters will see the obvious weakness in their party and refuse to vote at all.

    • 9
      4

      Lester
      I predict Gotabhaya will get a total wipe-out. I highly doubt Catholics will vote any politician. It is a known fact that all 225 MPs plus the President were fully aware of the Easter Sunday Muslim suicide attack, their targets and even the whereabouts of terrorists!!!!! Catholics should have a serious mental problem to vote Gotabhaya or any other politician. I understand 18 people have already in the contestant list. I am sure there will be a high chance to elect a non-politician.

      • 4
        4

        Champa,

        Cardinal Malcom Ranjith made a smart move by allying with the Buddhists after the attacks. He gave his unconditional support to Mahinda. Mangala was very foolish for condemning the Cardinal. If I was a Catholic, it seems logical to follow the example of the Cardinal and support this alliance. Not only that, the Cardinal knows Mahinda is still in charge of the SLFP. The UNP is fractured in a bad way. I have never seen an election where the leader of one party endorses the main candidate of the opposing group, as Ranil is doing now. Ranil wants to stay in power at any cost. If SP becomes President, he will give Ranil the boot. So from Ranil’s perspective, it is best for the UNP to lose the election, so that he can remain party leader.

        • 0
          0

          Leslie
          The Cardinal I know is neutral.
          When did he declare his unconditional support to Mahinda? This is news to me.
          Also the Cardinal didn’t ally with Buddhists after the Easter attack. Long before that, he maintained a good rapport with Buddhists and in turn earned their love and respect.

          • 0
            0

            Ooooops, this is a reply to Lester, not to Leslie.

          • 1
            1

            Champa,

            Mahinda was able to secure a position for the Cardinal’s niece to work at the embassy in Paris, though she is unqualified. In exchange for the Cardinal bringing the Pope to Sri Lanka. Secondly, I quote you from a Catholic Source. “Cardinal Ranjith said that the best way to resolve problems is through “dialogue and cooperation.” “The Catholic community – the cardinal stated – is close to President Rajapaksa’s efforts to eliminate the distrust between groups, and unite all Sri Lanka eliminating terrorism….. He then warned “misled” priests who, working from abroad, promote “divisions” in the country, the cardinal expressed “regret” over this question and reciprocated “appreciation” for Rajapaksa’s efforts for peace in Sri Lanka.” This was in 2010. In 2019, the Cardinal said human rights are already part of religion, so that special laws are not needed from outside. Mangala was upset after hearing this. The Cardinal also acknowledged Sri Lanka is a Sinhala-Buddhist country. We can say for sure, the Cardinal is not a fan of the UNP.

            • 1
              0

              Lester
              Who says Cardinal is a fan of the UNP?
              Don’t forget, those who praised Mahinda in 2010 are the same people who deposed him in 2015.
              If Mahinda is contesting, it is a different story. Gotabhaya is not Mahainda. He can never be.
              We have tried and tested our politicians for 7 decades. Even after 71 years, they are still talking about developing the country which is hilarious. This time people should give a chance to a non-politician. Unfortunately, due to an unconstitutional restriction introduced by 19A violating people’s fundamental rights, this non-politician cannot contest independently but will have to come from a political party. I wonder why didn’t any citizen challenge this in the SC?

      • 0
        0

        Chumpa, go and check your serious mental problem.

    • 0
      0

      Dear Lester,
      .
      Do you realise that Dr Ajith Colonne is also a possible candidate?
      .
      Don’t you think that he is streets ahead of Gota in military intelligence, although he may not exude machoness?
      .
      I know that they have a difficult job, but they sometimes work in mysterious ways their wonders to perform.

      • 0
        0

        Sinhala_Man,

        I agree, Ajith Colonne is better qualified to be President than Gotabaya, except in the area of defense. But what are the odds of a mathematician becoming a President? They lack the charisma and suave to appeal to the simple-minded masses. To win in politics, you must first of all master the art of deception. You must be able to intimidate your opponents, while projecting your own image above theirs. It does not take a particularly high IQ in order to do this. An example being Donald Trump. Unfortunately, the training of a mathematician is in rigor and proof, not in telling lies. So it is doubtful Colonne can go far in this arena.

        • 1
          0

          Thanks, Lester,
          .
          Military Intelligence is one of Dr Colnne’s special fields. He has done a huge amount of work at the Kotelaweal DefenceAcademy.
          .
          In the comment above, I had given a link to a 90 minute Youtube of him speaking in English. That was last night.

          Today, many hours later, I have been listening, spell-bound, to him in Sinhala.
          .
          Unfortunately, the moderators are removing such links. That is a matter of policy which we must be mature enough to respect. They had left in that reference to themselves as performing wonders! Please google for the information on Dr Colonne, and if you are impressed recommend him in your own words.
          .
          Two weeks ago I had not even heard of him. No deception in him, but plenty of ability to see through deception!
          .
          Also lots of charisma.
          I have no time to think out my response to you better. all the better to have you (whose identity I have no clue of) confirming my findings!
          .
          Regards,
          .
          Panini Edirisinhe (aka “Sinhala_Man”)

          • 1
            0

            Sinhala_Man,

            Thanks for your recommendation of Dr. Colonne. As you said, he is relatively unknown. However, he has an excellent vision in regards to economics, national defense, and many other issues. His approach is what you call an example of “micromanagement.” Many famous corporations have been built around this style of organization, such as Apple and Amazon. It would be interesting to see such an approach applied to politics.

  • 7
    8

    Gota has done absolutely the right thing by announcing his presidential bid the days after the Muslim terrorism. His early announcement is a stark warning to future terrorists and an assurance to Sinhalese, Tamils,etthey are back in safe hands. Suspects like Badudeen, Asad, Hisbulla, etc have to support any candidate of Yahpalana regime because they have covered up Badudeen’s shenanigans. On the other hand, whichever side Muslim politicians are on, Sinhalese will vote the opposition candidate. Tamils in Eastern and Western provinces are having an aversion towards Muslim extremists as well. So they will also vote Gota.

    /
    Yahapalana retards know well that their incompetence of governing is the reason for Muslim terrorism and will lose all upcoming elections. So they will play lots of foul tricks to win the presidency.

    • 5
      4

      John
      That is nonsense. Give me one example of the measures he will take to eliminate Muslim terrorism. Bathiudeen started clearing Wilpattu forest and settling Muslims during Gotabhaya’s tenure as the Defence Secretary. He didn’t stop it then. He will not stop it in the future too.

  • 7
    3

    Gotabhaya’s defeat is imminent.
    New actors who are detrimental to his victory are joining him every day, which is good. So far he has not rejected American Agreements such as SOFA. VFA or MCC’s COMPACT. Any fool can see that in order to maintain his power, he will do anything to please colonial masters. Anyways, the only consolation is no matter how much he and his cohorts tried, he cannot win.
    Politicians were behind every racial riot in Sri Lanka, in addition to the unfathomable destruction brought by them for the last 71 years. There is no logic in electing one of them again. Therefore, the peace loving Sinhalese patriots should elect a non-politician as the next President.
    I don’t see any reason to panic at this time.
    Sri Lanka’s Presidential battle is like muddy water right now. If you leave it alone, it will clear by itself.

  • 7
    1

    “Is There A Gotabaya-Wave?”

    No there isn’t. The media, his family and a few bottom crawlers are trying to create one.

    He does have a base but that will not amount to even half of what he needs to win.
    Trump’s base is non college educated red necks but this guys base is outright uneducated villages that got a luxury lifestyle according to their standards because of the war and military.

  • 8
    2

    Hi friends, without even a blink of my eyes, I should say, there shouldn’t be any remotest chance for Gota to win, and he would loose miserably, provided Ranil and Sajith patch up, go forward on a solid footing, and take on the UNF campaign as one great team. Even at the last presidential election on multiple comments in CT, I predicted that MR would loose, and it happened. With the entire state machinery, and unmatched money and muscle power at their disposal, yet MR lost owing to total deserting of him by the minorities. Same play and maths is being played at this instance too. Majority Sinhalese votes going to be shared among fifteen or more candidates but among them, the one who gets the minorities votes becomes the winner. In his first presidential election MR won with mere hundreds thousands votes, after bribing the LTTE to get Tamils to boycott the election. At that time at least the Colombo Tamils voted for him, Ranil would have won. Second one MR won because of the war victory. The UNF has great and thumbing chance to win this election, if Ranil, Sajith, and all the other UNF leaders sit together and work it out to solve their issues, and jump on the campaign band wagon with all their might and vigour to win it handsomely. All should keep it in mind that last local government election’s equations and maths wouldn’t work at a National elections like the PE.

  • 5
    1

    Tissaranie quotes, ‘ The UNP scored 3.6million votes at the 2018 LG polls. Which means the UNP candidate will have to gain 2.8million extra votes to win the presidency outright.

    It is no secret that easily over 1.3 million UNPers did not vote at the Local Govt Elections in 2018. However at a Presidential election all these UNPers will vote making a total of 4.9 mil. Further of the new vote amounting to over 2.5 mil, the UNP can rely on a further 1. 5 mil with Gamperaliya and Langama Pasala Programme, making a total of 6.4 mil. SLPP at the LG polls in 2018 got 5 mil votes with the backing of Welgama, Athauda Seneviratne and some others who backed MR but not Gota. Therefore Gota will not receive the full 5 mil. but will be reduced. It is detrimental to Gota in the event the SLFP field a candidate, as the anti UNP vote will not go to Gota.

  • 6
    0

    Not a wave exactly. But a sense of futility and doom about the whole situation and grudgingly allowing one “disciplined” tyrant to take over from the hordes of criminals and goons currently pillaging the country. Faced with the choices or rather no choice, more and more Sri Lankans are coming to the sad resignation that it is at least better if only one monster robs, rapes and murders you than hundreds doing it to you.

  • 4
    1

    If the Catholics have any brains they would have already understood that the most guilty and responsible party to the bombings are the Rajapakshes by coddling Muslim extremists and keeping them on their payrole. Even the whole Hisbulla affair is thanks to the Rajapkashe desire to get the radical vote among the Muslims since they always knew the traditional Muslim would always be loyal to the either the SLMC or the UNP. The second most guilty person for this disaster was Sirisena. How could they not remember what else the Rajapkashes did to them such as the killing of the fisherman in Chilaw, the killing of the youth in the FTZ incident both victims Catholic. Also the Rathupaswela incident where a Catholic church got plastered with bullet holes and its occupants nearly lost their lives as well. The Problem is the Nasty MEDIA all bought and kept by the Rajapkashes who have created a fantasy around a madman. He will win but how. Are people that stupid. Anther problem with this picture is comparing the UNP vote based on a municiple election. It is obvious that due to the false media hype a significant number of UNP voters did not vote in that election.

  • 2
    0

    This is the second part of my analysis and opinion of this article. The problems the UNP is having is not due to the parties policies or infighting. It was a diabolic attempt carried out by outsiders to undermine the party. Sajith was the willing pawn in this plan. Several other low down non performing UNP MPs were roped in to carry out this job. This group has always existed. They have always been swayed by Sirisena to undermine the party. But it did not work then and it will not work now. It was to the surprise of the Rajapkshes and Sirisena that the attempted coup failed. The intelligent leaders within the UNP including the party leader have worked systamatically to defetat this attempt. Looking at the manner and type of questions being asked by journos from Sajith when he emerged from talks at Temple trees is a glaringly obvious that the media is marching to a hidden agenda. A false narrative completely removed from reality. The largest urban centres in this country almost always votes overwhelmingly UNP. This includes the faithfull Muslim vote and more than likely the Tamil vote as well. Regarding the Tamil vote what choice do they have. A majority of the Catholics will also vote UNP.

  • 2
    1

    Person responsible for emergence of amarican gota is no other than ever failing Ranil.. No action taken to neutralize the mud sliggers and take action against former regimes corrupted individuals, no action against all kinds of extremists groups..
    Look how mental case pro gota iraj is sligging mud at unp. No action taken yet. Had it happen during former regime, mental iraj would have dissapeared long time ago…
    Unp or Siri needs to act tough as that is the case why some are falling in love with gota..

  • 4
    1

    Yes Bawa thanks for parroting. We also heard an attempt on MS by an Indian citizen who is a long standing Mentally ill patient. Now we know it was Sirisena, s own attempt. Last week court dismissed the evidence of a Tamil accused , in Gotas case (attempt ????) This person is diagnosed with cancer and still in prison.( dont know how many years ????). He was tortured and coerced to sign statement accepting responsibility. So enough of Lankas, “low and odor” . BS. Once again this election is between a Pimp who goes around “fixing for others” and a Murderer. Who is going to be your pick Bawa.???????

  • 0
    0

    As what could be considered a UNP bloc voter, I will be spoiling my vote this upcoming election. The Easter attacks was the hair that broke my back. I will no longer apologize for the machinations and shortcomings of this motley crew……..I wonder how many more die-hard UNPers will do the same…..quite a few I recon!

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