Confirming his earlier stance, President Maithripala Sirisena has today said, even if his party the SLFP gets more than 113 parliamentary seats in the August elections there are more deserving senior SLFPers who could be appointed as the Prime Minister.
President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party has sent the letter below to Kurunegala district candidate, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today;
Wera / August 14, 2015
WOW! I feel sorry for old meeharaka MR. This is Sirisena’s revenge and he did it in style. The most damning things he could say he has said. The anger among the Rajapakshe acolytes is palpable.
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Sinhala_Man / August 14, 2015
This isn’t easy to read in the scanned copy: here’s a Sinhala YouTube account which is easier to follow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYmJQKeDpaU
This account is not an authoritative translation of the text, but we have to make do with it for now:
http://newsfirst.lk/english/2015/08/president-sirisena-writes-to-mahinda-rajapaksa-contents-of-letter-revealed/106986
President Maithripala Sirisena states that if the United People’s freedom alliance obtains the 113-seat mark to form a government following the August 17 general elections, the post of Prime Minister should be handed over to a senior member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party who has not yet been granted this opportunity.
The president had expressed this sentiment in a letter to former President Mahinda Rajapakasa. The Director of the presidential media unit confirmed that a letter was sent to the former president on Thursday.
President Maithripala Sirisena’s letter, addressed to Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa states that, in the event the UPFA does not obtain the required number of parliamentary seats, he as the executive president can intervene and form a government, while ensuring the stipulated number of seats are achieved.
President Sirisena states in the letter, that, under such a backdrop it is a senior of the SLFP who should be appointed as the Prime Minister and not Mahinda Rajapaksa. He adds that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party is the only party in the country that boasts of leaders who are intelligent, politically experienced and with much forethought, who could be appointed to the post of Prime Minister.
The President urged Mahinda Rajapaksa to show flexibility and humility and give his blessings to appoint a party senior to the post of Prime Minister in the calibre of Nimal Siripala de Silva, John Seneviratne, Chamal Rajapaksa, Athauda Senevirathne , A.H.M. Fowzie, Susil Premajayantha and Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.
President Sirisena requested Mahinda Rajapaksa not to make statements from the heart but to make statements using his intelligence – for the betterment of the country, without inciting communalism
The president reiterated not to create divisions within the party and act to ensure that the UPFA garners as many seats possible at the upcoming elections.
The President stated that he is writing the letter in the capacity of Chairman of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party – seven months after , Mahinda Rajapaksa lost the January 8th presidential election and recollects that the SLFP-led Alliance had secured victory at four presidential elections and four general elections during the last two decades.
President Sirisena adds that both he and the former president had entered national politics through the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and that Rajapaksa was elected twice to the post of Executive President due to the trust placed by the people on the party.
The president noted that he contested as the common opposition candidate at the upcoming elections and gave leadership – in order to secure the post of President within the party ranks, at a time the public mandate against Rajapaksa was steadily increasing.
President Maithripala Sirisena states that his success to garner the support of all could be attributed to the genuine and untarnished relationship he had with the Sri Lanka freedom party and reiterates that SLFP activists did not have to go through harassment and difficulty similar to 1977 and 2001 after the January 8 polls this year, due to him being elected as the President.
President Sirisena further notes that he ensured the protection of party members and acted to suppress all violent activities following the polls and recollects the manner in which he assisted Mahinda Rajapaksa until 2005 during all decisive time periods. He says that he believes that there is no reason for Rajapaksa to forget the way in which he assisted him – to make Rajapaksa the prime minister in the year 2004.
President Sirisena also recollects how Wimal Weerawansa used his full strength to defeat this and the manner in which he stood by Rajapaksa during this time period and ensured that Rajapaksa was nominated as the presidential candidate of the party in 2005.
He reminded Rajapaksa the long-standing political friendship between the duo and the manner in which Basil Rajapaksa’s ulterior motives and actions had tarnished this relationship and how Basil Rajapaksa attempted to remove him from politics.
The president adds that Mahinda Rajapaksa was well aware of all these actions and add that this has bore testament the fact that life is indeed a “boomerang, to those who wish ill for others.” President Sirisena notes that he expected Rajapaksa to act with humility and protect his independence and adds that Mahinda Rajapaksa failed to do so until he was appointed as the common candidate of the opposition.
President Mairthirpala Sirisena adds that during the last seven months, when he met Mahinda Rajapaksa and even spoke to him over the phone, two days prior to the signing of nominations for the Kurunegala district, he had reiterated that Rajapaksa should not contest the polls due to the fact that he wanted to steer the party towards victory at the general elections.
However, President Sirisena states that his aspirations were shattered with Mahinda Rajapaksa signing nominations and states that he lost the opportunity he had to rally people who supported his victory and cause. President Sirisena notes that he did not intend to remove Rajapaksa from politics and wanted to bring in constitutional amendments to provide him with an honorary position and is cognisant that most members of the Rajapaksa family were in support of this move.
President Maithripala Sirisena note,s in his letter to Rajapaksa that, small groups are attempting to cling on to the voter-base of Rajapaksa to secure a parliamentary seat and adds that a full-stop will be put to the actions of such groups who does not have a political standing and believe that they can decide the SLFP’s future course.
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NIRMALA n / August 15, 2015
Can someone get me an appointment with Maithiri. I want to influence him to change his anti-Mahinda stance. I can give lot to Maithiri and get something crucial for Mahinda.
He cannot let his former leader down so publicly. Mahinda needs Maithiri and Maithiri needs Mahinda.
Maithiri! please do not alienate Mahinda. If he goes underground it will be dangerous for the country.
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Dirty Chethu / August 15, 2015
[Edited out]
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Akila / August 16, 2015
Ha ha ha. M3 never needed mahinda. You may have been in a coma all these days!
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Patriot / August 14, 2015
The main assumption that President Sirisena makes(or his wish) is that UPLF is going to obtain more than 113 seats or if it is a hung parliament, UPLF is still the party with the highest number of seats. That is why he says that in such a situation he as the executive president can get involved in getting the additional seats to form a government. In either scenario he begs Mahinda Rajapaksa to let him appoint some other senior SLFPer such as Nimal Siripala, Susil PremJayanth, Athauda and John Seneviratne, etc.
If one listened to Sirasa Dawasa the other day, one would have noticed that this what Asoka Abeygunawardene(Presidents close associate) exactly said. He said what is needed is a hung parliament with UPLF being the party with the highest number of seats. Then only the president can have a control over the Prime Minister. What is clear is that President Sirisena being a timid person is scared of both Ranil and Mahinda and his only wish is that there will be a hung parliament.
The presidents behaviour is kind of selfish.
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Samuel Jayaweera / August 14, 2015
“What is clear is that President Sirisena being a timid person is scared of both Ranil and Mahinda and his only wish is that there will be a hung parliament.”
my foot! He is not timid but he is risk taking person with gentleness in his charactor. He is the one who sacrificed his life for the change made on Jan 8th. No body else.
His speeches are the best if any one with a brain would consider it. He would not attack any anti parties the way MR is doing right now. RIght now MR and Wimal behave as if they have no arguments but to ask for people s mandate. They both have become jokers of the day. people are not stuipid as many feel or felt before Jan 8th.
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Patriot / August 14, 2015
“He is the one who sacrificed his life for the change made on Jan 8th. No body else.”
Did he? I thought he took the opportunity created by Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera as a selfish opportunist. Further if you read the 5th paragraph of his letter you will realize that he wouldn’t have left the SLFP on the 21st November if he was appointed as the Prime Minister which has been prevented by Basil according to Sirisena.
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Off the Cuff / August 15, 2015
I am in rare agreement with Samuel.
The calm soft spoken Sirisena belies his inner strength. If not for him we would still be ruled by the Constitutional dictatorship created by Mahinda.
So far Sirisena has proved to be the Best President we have ever had.
One correction though, Sirisena sacrificed his safety and that of his family for the sake of the country but fortunately he did not sacrifice his life.
But if MR comes back as PM, Sirisena would again be at grave risk as then MR would be only a bullet away from the Presidency.
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Native Vedda / August 15, 2015
Samuel Jayaweera
A word of caution, when OTC agrees with you, then you must be wrong. You need to rethink about your comment.
By the way are you saying he has an iron fist in a velvet glove?
Is there any deal between MR and MS? Some people suspect so.
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Off the Cuff / August 16, 2015
Ha ha haa the Tamil Coward is still avoiding a reply. 27 hours and counting!!!
Just click on the link and prove what your wrote is true. I doubt you will ever have the strength of character to do so.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/postwar-domination-by-other-mean-militarism-buddhism-tourism-in-the-north-of-sri-lanka/comment-page-1/#comment-1872657
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Supun Jayawardhane / August 14, 2015
You may have got it fully wrong.
If he is timid would not he be able to leave that kind of speech a month ago ?
MR is not timid according to you – right ? Just behaving like the way Wimal Buruwanse does – what kind of views actually ?
Political leaders of the states should have the qualities in their speeches.
Does Mahinda bear this nature ? Never… he dont know even how to behave in a civilzed manner. Satakaya or a loincloth around his cant change his nature.
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Vanguard / August 14, 2015
An excellent letter, very civilized. I wish all politicians could disagree in a such a manner.
What it comes down to is a difference in opinion, even philosophy.
Being against seperatism is not racism, this fine point has been missed all the way to the top.
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Strategist / August 14, 2015
This letter (if it is authentic) is a strange one from a head of state just before a democratic election. Hatred has clouded his thinking and revenge has forced his action.
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Lasanda / August 14, 2015
Mahinda has sent a very short reply!!! The president must accept the people’s choice !!!!
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Just saying / August 14, 2015
Maitree is a absolute traitor – he first voted to have MR as the PA presidential candidate and then went against his own party.
This long-winded creepy letter was issued at this point to reduce the votes of the party that he is president! He could have waited to get the best results for his party and then refused to appoint MR – no, that would be too correct.
Treacherous and spineless – MS is the weakest politician in the entire region.
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Liyanage / August 14, 2015
Interesting, he is saying that if UPFA manages to get closed to 113 seats then they could make use of his influence as the executive president to form government. I wonder whom he was thinking of joining hands with. JVP, I think not.
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Samuel Jayaweera / August 14, 2015
UPFA and DP, is it that difficiult to get it ?
jvp will stay as opposition force of the parliament -Most likely the oppo leader of the parliment will be AKD.
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Amit / August 14, 2015
The letter has no date (have I missed it?). Hence, the validity is a concern…!!
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Jay wanni / August 15, 2015
It is stated in 1st para.that the letter is written after 7 months have lapsed after Jan 8th. i.e August 8th is the date of issue
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taraki / August 14, 2015
Sirisena seems to be admitting that he lives in fear of MR. No wonder, he was ‘riding the tiger’ and he has dismounted.
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Native Vedda / August 14, 2015
taraki
” Sirisena seems to be admitting that he lives in fear of MR. No wonder, he was ‘riding the tiger’ and he has dismounted.”
Of course MR is still riding the the dead tiger and unable to dismount it unscathed for the fear of losing the elections. He does not know how to retire gracefully.
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NAK / August 14, 2015
You be patient vedda he’ll retire gracefuly when the right time comes!!!
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Native Vedda / August 14, 2015
NAK
” You be patient vedda he’ll retire gracefuly when the right time comes!!! “
The right time came and went on the early hours of 9th January 2015. He lost, couldn’t be a better for him.
Well you cannot stop a despot from humiliating himself and his b***s carriers.
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taraki / August 14, 2015
Vedda you are well aware that I meant that Sirisena was riding the Tiger (that is MR himself) and not the LTTE.
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Native Vedda / August 14, 2015
taraki
“Vedda you are well aware that I meant that Sirisena was riding the Tiger (that is MR himself) and not the LTTE.”
Of course you did, however I meant MR.
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Truth / August 14, 2015
President Maithripala was elected by those who wanted a government without members of parliament pre-occupied with the distribution of Drugs & illicit Alcohol, running betting shops all over the Island,collecting massive commissions, not respecting the rule of law, electing rapists and murderers as their representatives in the provincial administration and covering up the misdeeds of their sons.
The minorities who do not want a government that respect their race and religion fully back the administration of President Maithri.
Hence the good governance based administration of President Maithri is incompatible with the bad governance administration of Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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Naga / August 14, 2015
This letter shows that Maithri is no respector of democracy. It also further exposes Maithiri’s false face as a champion of good governance. He is not just a Judas or a Brutus but essentially a lowly spiteful man out to wreck personal vengeance on an enemy who he had already defeated.
Maithri cannot decide who the Prime Minister though nominally the Constitution provides that he will have the power to appoint the Prime Minister. It will be the people who will decide on the 17th who their Prime Minister should be (though indirectly by giving their overwhelming support for one of the two major parties)and not Maithri.
Maithri should first respect the constitution and the constitutional convention relating to the nomination of a Prime Minister. Sri Lankan Constitution and constitutional conventions are very clear that a person who commands the support of majority of Parliamentarians following an election should be invited to form the government. If UPFA emerges as the party with the highest number of seats, as per the constitution and constitutional convention Maithri should invite the acknowledged leader among the UPFA candidates to form the next government. That acknowledged leader is Mahinda Rajapakse. A great majority of UPFA candidates have taken an oath at the Anuradhapura rally that they will support Mahinda as the Prime Minister if UPFA is elected. And now all the senior leaders of UPFA and SLFP have put in their signatures to confirm that their choice for Prime Minister is Mahinda Rajapakse.
If Maithri goes against verdict of the people in case UPFA under Mahinda’s campaign leadership emerges victorious, he will be forced to run away because I believe there will be an outbreak of unconrollable riots and violence. Army may be tempted to intervene and we may see even a military take over in order to bring normalcy to the country. It may create the ideal environment for the intervention of the dirty Americans who are waiting for such an opportunity. That may also lead to the start of yet another armed rebellion in the North East by the defeated LTTE elements and this time with the active participation of Tamil Nadu youths.
If Maithri does not respect democratic traditions and conventions he will go down in the history of Sri Lanka as a leader who destroyed Sri Lanka as a democratic state.
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Off the Cuff / August 15, 2015
Dear Naga,
Re “Maithri should first respect the constitution and the constitutional convention relating to the nomination of a Prime Minister. Sri Lankan Constitution and constitutional conventions are very clear that a person who commands the support of majority of Parliamentarians following an election should be invited to form the government”
There may be a Constitutional issue that will probably disqualify MR being the Prime Minister.
1. MR is presently, constitutionally debarred from holding the office of President and he is hence debarred from acting as the President.
2. Does the constitution confine the “confidence of the MAJORITY in Parliament” to a single party or combination who won?
What if Sirisena shows a COMPOSITE majority placing their confidence on a candidate other than MR? Most of those who get elected has been frogs in the past.
Sirisena has put the Country before the Party as any Sri Lankan Leader should.
He has shown he is not driven by selfishness by being the ONLY person to have kept his promise of doing everything in his power to reduce Presidential power that does not require a referendum even AFTER becoming the ALL Powerful President of Lanka.
He could have done what the Others who promised did, forget the promises after becoming President.
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Pataka Ransinhe / August 14, 2015
Hon President Mithiripala Sirisena,
Please send copies of ” No body is indispensable” by John F. Kennedy to MR and CC members of UPFA.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / August 14, 2015
The moda moolana big boss canot understand that.
Moda boss must call mr Pee Risk or Andapaala SaJin vass to translate the document.
then “Koochchiya gihin”.
no use of giving advises to born fools”!!!.
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NAK / August 14, 2015
This seems to be a multi pupose letter.First,without a date and a distorted signature leaves room for it to be rejected as a fabrication if need be.
Then, it creates an excuse in case if he is compelled to appoint MR as PM.
So later he can claim I told him and I begged him not to come forward but he doesn’t listen, what more can I do?
Then, this letter is aimed at reducing the number of votes for the UPFA there by reducing the chances of having to face Mahinda.
Then as usual this letter is full of out right damn lies, half truths and pretentions.
He begins with a lie ‘hithawath Mahinda Rajapakse’ he is anything but ‘hithawath’ to Mahinda. From then on he down loads a lot of bull shit twisted to suit his claims.
He cuts a pathetic figure who is lost and desparate for directions.
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NAK / August 14, 2015
Personal like or dislike should have no place in one dischrging his duty towards the country. Sirisena can say as loud as he like that “I don’t want to appoint Mahinda rajapakse as PM” but he is duty bound by the constitution to do so if that comes to be.
He can and he may well decide to subvert the law and end up with the country in total chaos.
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lasitha / August 14, 2015
This looks like a letter written by a jilted lover
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Punitham / August 14, 2015
Where is the Tamil(as well as English) translation? Whatever omes from the President musthave a translation. Then others will follow.
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Jayasingha / August 14, 2015
MS says that he appointed RW as prime minister as per the mandate requested by him from the people at the presidential election though it was not an election to select a prime minister. In this general election the UPFA which he leads is directly campaigning for a mandate from the people to appoint MR as PM after victory. Whatever his personal views are MS has to abide by the wish of the people when the UPFA wins at the general elections. Otherwise he is acting contrary to the peoples wishes and also against democratic principals.
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Nimal Tissa Wijetunga / August 15, 2015
Whatever said and done by Maithripala Sirisena, if Mahinda Rajapaksha wins, he has to bow down to the the decision of the people.
Whatever written in the law books will not be valid when people started agitating.
Anybody has little senses think that President can change or oppose when MR WINS and obviously command the majority of the elected members in the parliament.
Pls look at things practically. MS has just pass through his number of years in politics as in my opinion, no any major achievement, with these childish actions, he shows his immaturity very well.
Even Supreme court has to bow down to the peoples will when it comes to this kind of matters.
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Yawn Yawn / August 15, 2015
MR is standing as an MP ok……. this is not a presidential election.
MR and his followers need to remember that.
They shout and rave as though he’s going to run the country…. Please remember he’s standing to become a member of Parliament.
This isnt an election for Prime Minister.
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D.Nimal / August 15, 2015
Hon.Mathripala Sirisena has forget that he is still President of
Sri lanka.
MS is ignorant and blind on his acts and state of affaires, while handing of that democratic governances has been not realized by MS; it has own Traditions, Convention , Rule of governances, unwritten & written memdordam of understanding, accepted Party rules and conducting system of democratic institution, and even above all Democratic constitution had been enacted by previous elected Parliament for his guidance been totally discard by current President.
Here is very challenge of democratic institutions by act of MS, which his move against an our own system of democracy is undermined, whole ranges of values & system had been build 67 years by major political classes, Parties and eminent persons by their owe efforts of laid foundations for many numbers of national intuitions to serve the PEOPLE and enrich democracy governances and rule of law has been lead to dismantle & Ignore by MS.
In fact new elected president of MS governances of Sri lanka become irresponsible that we talking our country, nation and people has gone last 8 months untold tribulations and has been faced its greatest perils.
People of Sri lanka and their security forces making great sacrifices war against Tamil LTTE ruthless terrorist ,forging ahead against all odds, changing again back to poor and backward Sri lanka by act of MS since 2015 January 9th of so-called “rainbow revolution” led & back by US-CIA & INDIAN-RAW.
Well the Dilemma of democracy is that Gamarala turn politician into SLFP politics of MS under the leadership of SLFP—-SRB,CBK and MR has not thought and not given proper in-services training for M.Sirisena in the respect of democracy and its system of governing democracy in Sri Lankan model. Due to act of MS we lost main pillars of nation status, completely lost new horizons for nation re-emerging democracy and development.
ALL IN ALL act of MS has undermined concerning the in officers of one sovereign to another of people ,which are comprehended in the law, which that is commonly called the law of nation ,that we need to say the law of nation and law of nature is the same thing.
In modern political democracy and state would have to place its own national interest above all in a Global where power of democracy is the paramount factor good governances of unitary nation.
What MS want to do resilience basic of the democratic sovereignty rights of our PEOPLE. The majority who follow the path of Sri lanka of its democratic sovereignty of people, feared the new President of MS would soon degenerate into tyranny.
I concluded my comment speech by Benjamin Franklin last day of the constitutional convention 1787….” much of the strength and efficiency of any government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends on opinion—general opinion of the goodness of the government as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its governors.” MS has to learn lessons from history of democracy of fathers of US democratic leaders of modern world.
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Nimal Tissa Wijetunga / August 16, 2015
If MR wins the August 17th election, Maithri has to bow down to peoples decision by the peoples court as the peoples will is above all courts in any country.
I do not know that Maithri is so immatured to understand this.
Besides, I would say that it is very clear that Mahinda Rajapaksha will get a resounding mandate on the 17th August to take forward Sri Lanka in all spheres locally and internationally.
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Lanka Citizens / August 16, 2015
Those who voted for ‘Good Governance’ never voted for Ranil. Ranil becoming prime minister never penetrated the public mind as something catastrophic. Furthermore there was no alternative but to give the prime minister post to UNP, since Maithripala’s campaign was entirely fueled by UNP. General public was used to seeing executive presidents running the show and prime minister being a more or less a figure head. Nobody thought RW would run the show and Maithripala would take a back seat. At least nobody thought Maithripala would take the farthest seat from driver to enjoy the scenic beauty and never worry where the vehicle was headed. To have complete faith on RW for a politician of Maithripala’s stature was just beyond reason for many Good Governance advocates. It just put the entire country in harm’s way.
Furthermore giving a majority in the parliament to UPFA means President Maithripala would also have a significant influence on the conduct of the government. In the case of UNP government Maithripala would be hugely sidelined, simply because no UNP minister would go beyond Ranil’s word. But if UPFA is in power, Maithripala could work with UPFA MP’s at a personal level. This is simply because he has been working with them for the past so many years. So UPFA winning means more purposeful involvement of Maithripala in the strategic decision making of the government. Associates of Mahinda Rajapakse could be moderated also by Maithripala. So setting aside the personal agitation President Maithripala has of Mahinda Rajapakse, UPFA coming to power in August17th general election and Mahinda Rajapakse becoming prime minister is a far better outcome than giving power to sinister Ranil and his gang of buddies, even from the point of view of president Maithripala
In order to ensure the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, it is a must that Ranil is not made the prime minister. In order to ensure the average Sri Lankan lives are enriched it is a must that Ranil is not made the prime minister. In order to make sure that our younger generations are passed on a united, undivided Sri Lanka it is a must that Ranil is not made the prime minister. The only way to make sure of that is by voting for UPFA and making sure that August17 doesn’t become day of resentment for generations to come. We should be vigilant to the fact that politicians of minority parties are hell bent on diving this country with the help of foreign powers. Foreign powers are supporting these politicians so as to exert their influence on the South Asian region through Sri Lanka. Ranil will do as told by these external forces and be completely ignorant of the native Sri Lankan peoples demands. This moment is a critical juncture of our history, mess it up and we would be opening up the doors to hell. Make the correct decision and we can protect our country so that we can work on improving living standards of each and every Sri Lankan. That correct decision is voting for UPFA and ensuring Ranil Wickramasinghe does not become the prime minister !!!!
[Edited out]
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