By Gaya jayasuriya –
Ranil Wickremesinghe has been in the UNP for a long long time. The UNP has also suffered Ranil for a long long time. But let us hark back to when he made his push to become the Leader of the Grand Old Party and his track record vis a vis the voting block of the country. His base is Colombo centric. His thinking is Colombo and international.
Wickremesinghe
His backing and his choice of core appointments are also Colombo centric and westward ho.
When JR Jayewardene changed the system of voting from first past the post to proportional count of votes the thinking was that the UNP could never be beaten. But the people found a way around it. Since then the UNP has floundered only because the Leader was found wanting besides Premadasa.
You, Ranil was cheated of a victory to become President by Mahinda when he paid Prabakaran to get the tamils to refrain from voting. Them the very same Mahinda was able to fool the people that you were with Prabakaran at subsequent elections and you didn’t have the persona to prove otherwise. You had to bring in Gen. Sarath Fonseka as a compromise candidate to run for Presidency because you did not have the public approval to face Mahinda after the victory over the same Prabakaran. Sarath Fonseka was the foil which you could not be at the time.
That was with your approval. The next time you had to turn to Maithripala Sirisena to run against Mahinda Rajapaksa. Again with your approval. This time Maithripala won. You had the Prime Minister position given on a platter again. Not because of your appeal but for the vote base of the UNP. You misread the UNP vote as a block support for you personally. If that was so you should have run for the top office each time.
You could not manage Maithripala like you could not manage Chandrika. Again Mahinda was able to raise his head over you. Let us not fool ourselves that it was you who ran this government and not Maithripala. Your appointed Ministers had the key Ministries. You were more experienced than Maithripala. Now. after the local elections Maithripala too is not enamoured by you. The common denominator is you where the UNP faltered. You have not been able to muster your base vote. It has dropped down to 30-35% because the die hards do not vote. They do not vote because they think the UNP cannot win under you. Even Maithripala who won with the support of all the parties plus the UNP block vote who were inspired by Harin Fernando in Uva has become disillusioned by you.
You and your coterie of friends may think that you are the best amongst all around to bring this country back. You and they may be right. But the rest of the country is not convinced and you including your friends have not been able to convince them after so many shies at the pot. Something is wrong or missing in you or your approach. It’s not only your lack of public appeal and stand offish nature that is questioned after many years. It’s also the lack of leadership and the oft spoken of managerial ability. You simply do not have them. Your choices for important positions have been found wanting. Those closest to you or those who you thought were cats whiskers have abandoned you soon enough. Why? It.s because they saw you at close quarters and found that there was never a leader of quality that they thought was lying there. You simply postpone decision making and hope time will present answers. You want your juniors to deliver the plums but do not empower them. Those you empower are unable to inspire the public nor deliver. Soon enough they too abandon you and join the enemy.
No wonder Mahinda wants you to continue to be PM and then be the principal candidate in waiting for the next election. He knows what is good for him. You do not know what is good for the UNP. How can you win at a Presidential election the next time against Gotabaya Rajapaksa? You were given a mandate at the last Presidential and General Election to put away the Rajapaksas for good. They looted, murdered, plundered as did their men. But after defeating them you think that they can help you to win the next time. It’s in your nature to get others to grant you victory and thereafter throw them. You fear people who challenge you. You tread on those who have no opportunity to do so. You could not manage someone like Maithripala Sirisena. How can you manage a country consisting of a majority of Sinhala Buddhists who think three meals of rice and curry at an affordable price is utopia?
Do you love the UNP ? Or do you think you love yourself? What makes you think that the next person to lead the Party is not going to fare better than you?
Manoharan / February 20, 2018
Well written. Totally agree with your viewpoint.
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Ajith / February 20, 2018
I agree with the author that Ranil should hand over the leadership to a young energetic leader who can unite the people and reach the people. UNP needs to change fundamentally from urban politics to rural plus urban politics. UNP should liberate those poor rural Sinhalese masses who are kept in the dark by Mahinda & Co with lies & threat through education & economic development.
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Amarasiri / February 20, 2018
Gaya jayasuriya ,
RE: Ranil Do You Love The UNP
“His base is Colombo centric. His thinking is Colombo and international.”
“His backing and his choice of core appointments are also Colombo centric and westward ho”
” It has dropped down to 30-35% because the die hards do not vote. They do not vote because they think the UNP cannot win under you. Even Maithripala who won with the support of all the parties plus the UNP block vote who were inspired by Harin Fernando in Uva has become disillusioned by you.”
An he wears a dark suits and ties, when the other politicians wear the sarong, the so-called national dress, like the Tamil Nadu politicians.Did Royal College Colombo spoil him?
UNP Do You Love Ranil? Why should UNP love Ranil? UNP stand for United National Party, not United Ranil Party.
After all, SLFP had different leaders, and they wore the sarong or the saree or the “national” dress.
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Sarrij / February 20, 2018
M.
You missed the crucial point.
R’s maneuvering has benefitted him to become PM a few times. He is cunning and knows his weakness. His ambition is to become PM. This he has achieved.
That is victory and achievement for him.
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Namal Perera / February 20, 2018
He is not only destroying his own Party by hanging on to Power but going to bury it with him.
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Lankan 2 / February 20, 2018
This is funny price of sarcastic writing ..half baked truth in a funny language..
I do not doubt Ranil leadership or language skills ..
Consider what type.of pidgin language Mahinda speaks or Goata speaks ..
Consider what type of leadership skills Mahidna and Goata has got ..
Ranil is 100% percentage better than them ..locally and internationally yet people for their foolishness do not know the difference.
I’m not a Ranil supporter at all but he is better many times than MR and his cohorts..
But Ranil has got crafty mind ..
He is more towards west than Chinese support ..
He is like JR and his style f politics is little bit different than many ..
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CHANAKYAN / February 20, 2018
What a fine exposition Ranil made last month when interviewed by NDTV at Dova. He never makes an effort to exhibit his capability. It comes with the confidence he exudes.
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Kamalawathie Sameer / February 20, 2018
Lankan 2 – This is a well researched article by Gaya Jayasuriya and you call it “a half baked truth in a funny language”. Try learning ESL and take MaRa, Goata, Basil, NaRa and cronies with you!
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sach / February 20, 2018
MR has proven his leadership skill and capability without any doubt
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Amila W / February 20, 2018
Leadership in leading the rapists, murderers, crooks? These guys no need a leader, just corrupt money, arrack and some hope on future impunity …
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Percy / February 20, 2018
I don’t know who this writer is whether it is a man,woman, or animal, but the derogatory reference to Sinhala Buddhists as people who see utopia in 3 meals of rice and curry a day is contemptuous and,insulting. I wonder what this bastard eats during the day if not rice and curry?Some papal faecal matter.?This is the kind of outrageous comment coming from Yahapalana supporters which enrages Sinhala Buddhists .This bugger/bitch will be taught a lesson which he/she will remember for life, in the next polls.
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sach / February 20, 2018
Because UNP sinhalese eat grass three times a day
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Amila W / February 20, 2018
Percy,
Rather than going behind him, accept and appreciate if he is telling the true story.
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Justice & Fairplay / February 22, 2018
Here goes Percy exposing his lineage again. Besides he has undressed himself and he doesn’t know it!
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Barathan / February 20, 2018
The writer’s logic is that Ranil must go because he has been in the UNP for a long time. Can I tell my Mother “You are too old, I want another mother”?
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Jayasingha / February 20, 2018
He doesn’t know what love is as he has never experienced it by giving to or receiving love from another.
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Babi Aachchi / February 20, 2018
The UNP is in dire straits for one reason and one reason alone – they reneged on their solemn pledge to the people to end corruption and prosecute Rajapaksa and his cronies for the unspeakable horrors they wrought upon our country. RW played a role in this cover up, and also failed to act when his own acolytes dipped their pudgy fingers in cauldrons of corruption.
But this is the crucial point: He is not solely to blame.
The entire UNP/SLFP cabinet cabal – the Sagalas, Wijedasa Rajapakses, Kiriellas, Senaratna’s and such – did nothing but pay lip service about reversing the trajectory of corrupt politics in this country while aiding and abetting the largest cover-up of the crimes of the philandering, murderous, thieves this country has ever seen.
The UNP is still in denial, attributing their loss to their purported inability to implementing their economic policies.
What is the point of replacing Ranil when the alternatives are just as bad or worse?
So here is question for the UNP and the Yahapalanaya coalition: We voted for you so that you would end corruption and prosecute the Rajapaksa criminals. Not a single big fish has been charged nor prosecuted, so either the Rajapakse’s are saints or you lot are incompetent.So why should we vote for you again?
Changing your leader matters not a whit.
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nalmen / February 20, 2018
ranil should never have taken to politics in sl as he has no rapport with the masses
the brief period of uncertainty as done some good he can no longer be arrogant in his behaviour both to the opposition as well as to his own party
he is lucky to have got away this time but his days are numbered and if the party continues with him after 2020 it is doomed
the lg polls have shown up both sira and ranil so both should retire in 2020
to avoid further humiliation
gaya you really hit the nail on the head
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Percy / February 20, 2018
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Mama Sinhalam / February 20, 2018
I agree with in toto. Ranil must go. But, he will stay. The best that one can hope is that he can see what is faults are and in the two odd years he has try to shed them and exit gracefully giving way to someone younger and not corrupt, if such a person exists today within the UNP. The picture is bleak. At least try to redeem yourself by cleaning the country of corruption. At least, don’t add to it. Try also to expose the corrupt in both camps so that the country can be rid of these guys. You might still leave a legacy. Otherwise, your place in history will be zero, despite the long innings.
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Shenal / February 20, 2018
Why should anyone love a political party? Citizen must love his country not any political party. This writer has clearly shown his/her/its slave mentality. UNP is the party of real slaves.
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Henry Fernando / February 20, 2018
Gaya J. Your biography assessment is fair and reasonable.Unfortunately none in the UNP caucus had the courage to tell him or offer some advice until very recently a very few of them showed their displeasure and disapproval. He was canonised as Mr. clean but with his involvements in the C. B. appointments and financial issues he is forced to eat the humble pie. He had a golden opportunity to be a great statesman if only he had the wisdom to act in the best interest of the Country and the Nation, instead he together with President betrayed the People. From the word go his confidants in the cabinet too continued the corrupt activities of the past regime unabated.If only the PM had issued a strong warning in public to all MPP and particularly to UNP caucus that any sort of financial misconduct will not be tolerated and that stern action will be taken irrespective of who they are. In short this the mandate of the people. But now what do we hear and in fact people are aware that President and PM are in the forefront in protecting the criminals and the corrupt politicians. This is simply adding insult to injury to the Nation and the greatest betrayal in the recent history of Sri lanka. The poor and the suffering people in our country who voted for these two leaders never expected or doubted this kind of ungrateful and disgraceful conduct. In the past ten days or so we saw the number of meetings and discussions that took place, what for? were they about providing welfare facilities or anything to do with the people’s needs. No, not at all, Politicians were manipulating ways and means to retain their position and power. I personally think that there is still time for the PM to tell the Country that he will address the main issue and promise to bring all perpetrators
before the Law , irrespective of what come may.
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The Oracle / February 20, 2018
The question should have been ” Ranil , do you love your country ” ? .
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sach / February 20, 2018
How can you manage a country consisting of a majority of Sinhala Buddhists who think three meals of rice and curry at an affordable price is utopia?//
This is exactly why UNP need to be destroyed. UNP will not win any election in the foreseeable future with or without that loser RANIL. Ranil is a cancer cell and now it has affected other parts of UNP body. There are Ranil cancer cells in Harsha, Sujeewa, Harin. The UNPers do not realise they are damaging the country according to the whims of Americans, indians and LTTE rump. The Sinhala Buddhists who eat rice three times a day know.
UNP cannot survive. I think it is a foregone conclusion that UNP body is now dead due to Ranil cancer. It needs to be destroyed and buried
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M H K M Hameez / February 20, 2018
Fantastic piece of writing….very well analysed…..
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nadarajah / February 20, 2018
Percy -what the writer meant was food needs to be provided at a reasonable price at any cost which is not understood by Ranil
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Suren / February 20, 2018
I agree with your comments. Ranil does not love the party, country or the people . His love is for himself and his set of young and old males. It is a well known fact. You will be ruined in the next presidential elections even if Gota contests or not. You are no match to Rajapaksa,s in every aspect of personality, shrewdness and the place MR holds in this country and in the hearts of the people. I think your leadership in UNP will end all the hopes of the party.
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K.Pillai / February 20, 2018
Gaya Jayasuriya wonders loudly as to whether Ranil loves the UNP or himself!
Gaya must first ask Lankan politicians whether they love the country. Of course there will be a unanimous “YES”. The follow-up question should be “How come you are all very rich – some filthy rich?”
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Rajash / February 21, 2018
absolutely MaRa loves his family.
the question should be Ranil do you love Sri Lanka.?
BREXIT in the UK is a great example of politicians putting Party ahead of the country.
The Brexit referendum was called by David Cameron under the pressure from the right wing elements .of the Party now the country is in real chaos.
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Thondamany / February 20, 2018
NO.
I luv myself and want to roam the world at the expense of the masses.
Also would like to take along with my Professor as I need to compensate her for my shortcomings.
Please excuse me.
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Fathima / February 20, 2018
We have to understand that RW is also contesting internationally against Rahul Gandhi, and SL is currently leading with 4 extra losses to the topmost place, and for a record in Guinness – in “Most Loses in Elections”.
Both are decent looking, gentlemen politicians with great backgrounds, and not knowing how to be Romans in Rome.
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Freeda / February 20, 2018
Why people have forgotton about the “Bheshana Samaya” from 1986 to 1989 how 60000 youths were killed by UNP and JVP. There were dead bodies practically every road, every university and every road. There was a killing field at Batalanda under RW’s control. How can people talk good about the biggest dictator UNP ever had.
Please research about “BHESHANA SAMAYA” under UNP>
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Park / February 21, 2018
I understand Ranil, I think. Those who went to top grade Colleges have the “Cabbage Machan” syndrome. What I mean by that is appointing Good Old College buddies to senior positions. This we see not only in the Public Sector but also in the Private Sector.
Ranil is smart, no doubt about it, but unfortunately Sri Lankan politics is not matured enough to understand Ranil and his policies. Similarly Ranil does not understand the pulse of the people.
We Sri Lankans love “pinata dewal”, we want everything provided to us on a plate by the Government. This has gone on for so long today we even have “Pinata Seat Ministers and MPs” (most of them were the loud mouths during the election campaign) even in the Parliament. Every person in this country wants everything free. They do not understand even the inflation related price increases and impact on international pricing structures affecting local prices. Most of the Sinhala Buddhists who are against Ranil are villagers, and they are farmers. Over the years the size of the lands cultivated by these farmers have shrunk. With smaller farms there is no way a farmer could make money. But the farmer does not understand this and the Government has not explained it to the farmers, resulting in the poor farmer expecting handouts from the Government. This is not the fault of Ranil other than him not making any attempt to communicate it properly. This is a simple example how Ranil has not been successful in communicating. Even when the SLPP and even President called UNP as the rogues behind the Bond Scam no UNPer contradicted. If one truly analyzes, its during the Yahapalana Govt period this happened but there is no proof that UNP robbed (may be one individual may or may not be involved but not the party).
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