11 October, 2024

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Stakes Are High And Players Are Low!

By Vishwamithra

“Great is the issue at stake, greater than appears, whether a man is to be good or bad. And what will any one be profited if, under the influence of money or power, he neglect justice and virtue?” ~ Plato

Never was there such a high-stake political game. Never was there a situation in the country where the opposing political imposters, pretending to be serious-minded political thinkers, eyeing for the top job in the country. Never was there such a dearth of talent, wisdom, skill and intelligence in the arena at the highest echelons. Never was there a set of incompetent and corrupt political leaders vying for national leadership as patriots who have already been prejudged by the electorate and yet rejected totally and unequivocally. Never were the stakes so HIGH and the players so low, period.

If Ranil Wickremesinghe is one of the serious contenders, then the story could very well be foretold. This is his third attempt at the job at the helm. However, this time the electorate is much smaller than what once was. The country is not voting. Instead, it’s her elected representatives who will vote. When the country decided two and half years ago, Ranil did not get a single seat, leave alone an electoral victory for his Party – United National Party (UNP). He brought the UNP, a mainstream political party that has its roots to some of the real winners such as DS Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, JR Jayewardene, Gamini Dissanayake and Lalith Athulathmudali to a humiliating defeat. That is Ranil’s legacy; a very forgettable and ignominious one

Surrounded by utterly incompetent fellow-wheeler-dealers in whose cushy coziness Ranil finds his comfort zone in political life, this man is once again trying to project himself as a savior of a beleaguered economy for which he himself is partially responsible. His close friends in high places in the previous Yahapalanaya regime, Arjuna Mahendran, Malik Samarawickrama, Sagala Ratnayake, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, Vajira Abeywardana and Ravi Karunanayake have all contributed to the current morass. Their collective incompetence in the job in the Yahapalanaya era and absolute lack of empathetic demeanor towards the general public was rejected outright at the last General Elections in 2020.

Nevertheless, nearly after forty five years in politics, Ranil Wickremesinghe in 2022 met his coconspirators; coconspirators whose devilish ambitions and devious machinations have paved the way for national bankruptcy and sociopolitical decline. Judgment on those rascals, those political merchants who bartered the country’s coffers for a buck in their personal pockets, has already been delivered and the chief accused has fled the shores. But in the most inopportune circumstances, this fellow who was elected to power with close to seven million voters placing trust and confidence in could not find a place or country of refuge to accept him as one seeking asylum! The man who made his country somewhat a refugee camp is now seeking refuge in another land. A stranger irony would be hard to find.

Ranil Wickremesinghe’s cardinal sin of apathy has been compounded by his accepting the Premiership to serve to provide cover to the Rajapaksa family. Now he pretends to stand to save the country and that has been facilitated by virtue of the fact that he was the Prime Minister at the time of incumbent President fleeing the country. In the most inauspicious circumstances and in the most volatile conditions, the people of the country are awaiting the next phase of this strange national drama. What’s happening in Sri Lanka has made fact more akin to fiction than ever before.

But it is no joke. The country’s perilous fate is on edge; its unpredictability is estranging some really serious politicians away from the arena. In a wild potpourri of political mix, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Dulles Alahapperuma have thrown in their names for the control of the switch at the national helm. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), better known as Basil’s Party is in a virtual disarray. For once, its Chairman, G L Pieris has found his voice. In a bid to defeat his nemeses, Ranil Wickremesinghe, he is challenging the alleged statement of the SLPP’s Secretary who most unceremoniously declared that the SLPP MPs would vote for Ranil Wickremesinghe, the fellow who backed the other fellow who ran away from the country. There was never any love lost between Ranil and GL.

Whatever all these traditional politicians are planning and plotting to achieve, they seem to have simply failed to comprehend the current mood in the country. Playing traditional games is not only naïve and meaningless at the present juncture, it could spell dangerously close to destruction of all our democratic structures that are still in operation. The sad irony of these political machinations is the total disregard of the Aragalaya-school-of-political-thought. Without paying any attention whatsoever to the demands and nuanced sounds of the plight of today’s youth that emanated from the widely spread-out Aragala Pitiyas, these leaders of the mainstream political parties are making every attempt at carving out an area of influence for themselves without offering even a modicum of solutions to the wide and varied needs of today’s youth.

History’s treatment of such sociopolitical traitors has been very unkind; its judgment along with punishment could be tremendously unmerciful and deservedly so. Failure on the part of all parties not to go outside the box and make room and provide space for a non-parliamentarian/s to stand in as a genuine representative of the youth’s wishes and aspirations would be perceived as unkind and cruel. What is necessary at the moment is not to appease the youth; it is to listen and pay serious heed to their perils and plight.

Having launched a mass movement whose end point was never forecast as cozy and comfortable in a traditional sense, these youth are now taking a well-deserved respite after the departure of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. But our traditional leadership, both inside the government and outside in the Opposition, are still engaged in a conventional game-playing. The youth’s focus is way outside that arena. Instead of carving out a piece of turf for oneself in each of the political parties, the entire set of Opposition leadership simply failed to put forward a united front. No charismatic leader has emerged, at least as at the time I am writing this column, to rise above the fray and dominate the arena and take full charge of the situation and its inconsequential players.

Parliament might meet in the next few days and settle the issue of who our next President is and who our next Prime Minister is. Whether the issues of declining economic conditions would worsen further or make a slight turn towards betterment, the political crisis is never going to be resolved in the way it is being attempted to be resolved. Breakdown of trust and confidence is total; its downward journey is only gaining its alacrity with each step our politicos are taking with or without being conscious of the more profound issue that is at the center. When they fail in their lack of perception and lack of understanding of the central issue, the problem goes further down and develops its own character and momentum without depending on the actors and onlookers. This inscrutable phenomenon is taking ahold of our collective mindset and we don’t see it because we have stopped looking. Indulgences in Band-Aid solutions have overtaken our better sense, savants as well as ignoramus, and relentlessly attacking the very existence of sanity and moral human conduct. How we will come out of this dreadful morass is anybody’s guess. One thing is yet so sure: selection of a new President and a new Prime Minster is surely not going to solve our problems.

*The writer can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com    

Latest comments

  • 7
    3

    “One thing is yet so sure: selection of a new President and a new Prime Minster is surely not going to solve our problems.”
    The situation is changing but we don’t stand the nature of that change would get us a fully dependent country of some external power. It appears that the people power that united the people is going to die very soon. The renewed UNP and SLFP (now SLPP) are made to unite together to form a new partnership with West and East. Without a dollal in foregin reserve, the country is now filled with Petrol and Disel at low prices in plenty from the world. IMF and and other donors are now happy to help Ranil. For USA and Ranil the protestors are now fascists and violent and it is legal to use military to protect public properties. China is ready to give four billion dollars immediately to Ranil. Ranil has ordered to ban the social networks because that is used to threaten MPs. So, the Iron hand of Ranil has been given the permission to maximise the use of military against people. In few months time Gota will be back to Country, Mahinda become Prime MInister and Basil again Finance Minister, Sri Lanka and most people who even visited to see the Presidents palace will be behind the bars lawfully and constitutionaly.

    • 5
      3

      When born a man ……. a man has to prove his manliness every day. ……. Fortunately that’s a problem women are not burdened with.

      Proving manliness daily is not an easy task …….. especially for effeminate men.

      What Ranil is doing ………. what Ranil has done all his life ………. is trying to prove he is a man.

      The country and the people ……… have very little to do with it ………

      It’s more about one’s insecurities …………….


      Native Vedda’s verbal violence against women is also a way of proving one’s manliness ….. :))

    • 5
      1

      What we add on CT is irrelevant. Similar to the manner, birth certificates are already made, very same ULTRA stupid people have already voted for them to stagnate in the parliament for another 3 yearss. Had they used their brains, as we repeatedly warned them, things would have run positively…. now it is too late.

      The mirror image of the virulent NATION is already entered in the parliament. Over 150 are criminals directly or indirectly. People indifference and total ignorance punish them today multiple times.

      All is long known to the very same people, if rascals and their henchmen would be adulated and brought back, the outcome would ever be reversible.

      Not uneducated people, but various kind of so called professionals produced at SRILANKEN universities stupidly elected them into parliament. I don t think any of them have the right to criticise the parliamentarians today… this vicious cycle continues in this country going around in circles. People should be ashamed to let this happening again and again… but their genetics is SRILANKEN…

  • 1
    4

    Whatever all these traditional politicians are planning and plotting to achieve.

    Appointing through national list is ok for parliament represente. For president Ranil don’t have people power it He has not bankruptcy recovery experience he had his days worked for his gain Nothing of his experience stopped the down fall of country

    • 0
      0

      RBH599,
      “He has not bankruptcy recovery experience he had his days worked for his gain Nothing of his experience stopped the down fall of country”
      Are you suggesting that we hand over to MaRa and Gota?? They at least have experience in collecting the funds and sweeping the Cream off the Cake to enhance their personal wealth???
      Good one!
      Then we can eat Mallung and bath???

  • 5
    0

    stakes-are-high-and-players-are-low/
    ========
    Low in Quality

  • 17
    5

    …………….The man who made his country somewhat a refugee camp is now seeking refuge in another land. A strange irony would be harder to find…………..
    reflects Vishwamithra.

    The man captured Power on the pretext of saving the country from Muslims.
    Now he is moving from one Muslim country to another to save his skin.
    The man has redefined Irony………

  • 3
    1

    “Breakdown of trust and confidence is total; its downward journey is only gaining its alacrity with each step our politicos are taking …. and develops its own character and momentum without depending on the actors and onlookers…. Indulgences in Band-Aid solutions have overtaken our better sense, …. How we will come out of this dreadful morass is anybody’s guess.”

    Excellent summation on the eve of a decisive moment where none standing to lead an ailing nation provides any solace to the people who are squeezed from every direction, a sad commentary on a nation with a rich culture and heritage tracing back to more than 2500 years and boasting of a literacy rate with 92% on a land rich with resources plenty.

  • 5
    4

    I am not that savvy to foretell political events. Yet, I can safely predict that any jugglery Ranil tries against aragalaya will boomerang on him!

    • 11
      1

      Nathan,
      .
      what more will boomerang on him?
      his most valuables- which is the library in his house was burnt down by mobs (Aragalaya or by JVPrs).

  • 2
    15

    “One thing is yet so sure: selection of a new President and a new Prime Minster is surely not going to solve our problems.”

    Then why the hell these ‘Aragalakarayo’ played havoc in this country to remove President Gotabhaya Rajapakshe and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakshe?
    These dumbos who kept on shouting ‘Ape Salli Apita Diyaw’ would have thought if Mahinda and Gotabhaya are removed Anura KD and Kumar G. will go to Uganda, fill $$$s in gunny bags and bring to Sri Lanka and solve the $$$ crisis. Instead of bringing $$$s, these guys ruined the chance of earning few dollars from tourism. Families who survived on tourism are the worst affected.

    • 13
      2

      Go Home Eagle Eye

  • 7
    6

    Ranil is/was not corrupt. He is a seasoned politician. This the highest qualification at present, to be a prime minister.

  • 5
    8

    If Sri Lanka follows the traditional path of dynasty, Sajith will be the next elected President. JVP were once terrorists, people will not forget easily. SLPP has a shot with GL. Meanwhile, expect high inflation/unemployment until tourism revives. The US request to head chopper Bin-Salman for increased oil production was rejected. While Putin will play games with energy supply to Europe. Combined, this increased demand will see higher commodity prices.

  • 4
    1

    Sri Lanka has been dealt with a bad hand, and even if we keep shuffling the cards, we are playing with a losing hand, and can never win. We have the jokers and low cards who made this mess, running to get us out of it. It makes no sense.

  • 3
    2

    Aragaliya is not JVP or LTTE type uprising………it is largeley peaceful protest by a disgruntled people led by educated youth, some with econ degrees.
    Had they been bloodthirsty they would not have put up with state terrorism by opportunist thieves but taken arms.
    No organic change no IMF handout to a bunch of thieves (they Knew it).
    If the country claims to be civilised, it should have a system.
    Their proxies and apologists in the west should try China or North Korea.

    • 1
      1

      “Their proxies and apologists in the west”
      Who are ‘they’? “disgruntled people led by educated youth, some with econ degrees.”?
      “(T)ry China or North Korea” for what?

      • 1
        2

        Oh just on this site and in Galle face…….if you missed them its a fortune.

        • 0
          1

          I couldn’t have missed but the clues do not help to recognize.

          • 2
            2

            Proxis– lankans enjoying western democracy while promoting the bigotery back home.Spotted easily in Maryland and West virginia to down under.Some of these guys say all is fine at home(for them?)

            Aragalya has economists and lawyers of course, some in fact were very active today !

            • 0
              0

              A proxy is a person authorized to act on behalf of another.
              I am still unclear as to whose proxy is who.

              • 0
                2

                Exactly—it also means holding funds for others in oligarchies.
                Jomo Kenyatta in Oxford street comes to mind!

                Offshore funds,Yachts and, kensington properties are only a forensic investigators playbook. But why…… Sri lanka is different in letting it casscades to the loyals.
                For me, I hope, the stock market may rise with Ranil and the Royals!!!

                • 0
                  1

                  Oh wondering if I said too much—someones marked a dislike already.
                  In my student days we all knew that Kenyatas properties in Oxford steet were handled by a kenyan in London. A Russian Yacht was ceased in Italy recently.Panama and Pandora are basically trust funds and sometimes

                  • 0
                    1

                    held by asset buddies and their teams.

  • 2
    1

    “Aragalaya-school-of-political-thought”
    Can someone spell out the essence of it?
    *
    It tried to be apolitical and still claims to be so.
    So can we look for an “”Aragalaya-school-of-apolitical-thought”
    It will invariably get politicized on way or another.
    Several forces are in operation. Some retreated when their short term ambutions cannot be won using the Aragalaya. Others suggest that it should declare victory and go home.
    But it simply cannot give up— it could even split, but it will go on.

  • 0
    0

    Of the four guys whose mug shots are displayed above, one (Sajith Premadasa) has decided not to contest. He had, instead, proposed the name of Dullas Alahapperuma, and it had been seconded by Professor G. L. Peiris.
    .
    We all want the guy who wins to step down by February 2023. It actually is not possible, according to the Constitutions, for Parliament to be dissolved before that.
    .
    No, that is not quite right! If the 225 fellows in Parliament agree to dissolution, it can be dissolved even today. Agree with what sort of majority? I can’t now remember.
    .
    It is difficult to keep everything in mind; only advice that I can proffer is: relax, think carefully at lest one full day ahead. Then vote according to your convictions – not because somebody else told you what to do. When politicians realise that the majority of voters think rationally, then those same fellows will suddenly become better!
    .
    I’ve been submitting comments these past three days in response to almost all articles dealing with this Election. Actually, I don’t think that there have been articles on any other subject

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