By Marlon Dale Ferreira –
Marlon Dale Ferreira
The tangible feeling of euphoria and hope that sweeps across the beautiful island of Sri Lanka at present is wonderful. Long shadows of darkness have been lifted, showcasing the beautiful Sri Lankan smile. Perhaps a new era of peace and compassion has dawned and finally after ten long years, Sri Lankans can truly claim the title, ‘Miracle of Asia’, as the smoothest transition of power took place, sweeping this paradise isle with great relief.
A new era of peace and compassion, love, joy and hope amongst all Sri Lankans be they Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay or any other ethnic or religious group dawned today, the 9th of January 2015.
But let’s remind ourselves first, that we are all Sri Lankans.
The nation voted and waited patiently for the result that the majority of whom, be it the three wheel driver you travelled with yesterday or the vegetable seller down the street or the elite in Colombo, wished and hoped for.
The night went by with not much comment and the entire country was bracing itself for what many predicted may take place.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had lost even before the first vote was cast and with that being common knowledge, including to himself deep within, the question lying in every Sri Lankan’s mind was, “Would he really relinquish his power and give the people whom he saved from a treacherous civil war, what they wanted?”
*Ranil, Chandrika, Maithri and Rajitha- Photo courtesy Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Sri Lanka Facebook page
As the results were announced, one thing was imminent: a clear victory to the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena, the man who challenged his very own Sri Lanka Freedom Party and UPFA President, when as the Minister of Health he crossed over barely two months ago.
Maithripala Sirisena, the son of a farmer from Pollonnaruwa, had practically everyone’s support to help him win this election and in the process, won it for them.
However, there was much anxiety in the wee hours of the morning, when the President and those concerned knew the eventual outcome.
Much against popular belief, information was received, alleging that, about 0100 hours of the 9th January, the military was ordered to be positioned around key strategic locations. They were on stand by, awaiting further orders from the Executive. The nation predicted Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Defense Secretary and brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa taking over the country in true military style due to the forthcoming loss.
However, as some slept through the night and many others remained glued to their televisions eagerly anticipating the results, high level local and international talks took place behind closed doors, resulting in a smooth transition of power.
About 0430 hours of the 9th of January, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was summoned to Temple Trees and after an hour of deliberation, even before the final election results were declared, President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over the reins and departed.
It was well before 12 noon when the Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya, who along with his team had performed splendidly, officially declared Maithripala Sirisena, as President of the Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka, having collated 51.28% of the votes.
The subsequent swearing in ceremony of Sri Lanka’s 6th Executive President was completed at Independence Square the same evening, where Ranil Wickremesinghe was also sworn in as Prime Minister.
All political party leaders who backed Maithripala Srisena were in attendance, signalling unwavering support for an era of change.
In appreciation and grateful thanks to Uvindu Kurukulasuriya, the Founder of Colombo Telegraph, a journalist in exile, who yearns to return home, your passage is safe.
Amarasiri / January 10, 2015
Marlon Dale Ferreira
RE: The Awaited Change & The Smooth Transition Of Power
“But let’s remind ourselves first, that we are all Sri Lankans.”
“The tangible feeling of euphoria and hope that sweeps across the beautiful island of Sri Lanka at present is wonderful. Long shadows of darkness have been lifted, showcasing the beautiful Sri Lankan smile. Perhaps a new era of peace and compassion has dawned and finally after ten long years,”
Thanks for the write-up, but a little bit more further information and education of the populace is needed.
The Voting Supports that, bur some additional education is needed, especially those who believe that the Sun goes around a Stationary Earth, Astrology and those who believe in Fairy Tales and Monk Mahanama Mahawansa Tales etc.
By the way, did you write, print and distribute the Common sense Phamplet Sri Lanka 2014 to educate the populace?
Common Sense (pamphlet)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Sense_%28pamphlet%29
Common Sense[1] is a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine in 1775–76 that inspired people in the Thirteen Colonies to declare and fight for independence from Great Britain in the summer of 1776. The pamphlet explained the advantages of and the need for immediate independence in clear, simple language. It was published anonymously on January 10, 1776, at the beginning of the American Revolution and became an immediate sensation. It was sold and distributed widely and read aloud at taverns and meeting places. Washington had it read to all his troops, which at the time had surrounded the British army in Boston. In proportion to the population of the colonies at that time (2.5 million), it had the largest sale and circulation of any book published in American history.[2] Common Sense presented the American colonists with an argument for freedom from British rule at a time when the question of whether or not to seek independence was the central issue of the day. Paine wrote and reasoned in a style that common people understood. Forgoing the philosophical and Latin references used by Enlightenment era writers, he structured Common Sense as if it were a sermon, and relied on Biblical references to make his case to the people.[3] He connected independence with common dissenting Protestant beliefs as a means to present a distinctly American political identity.[4] Historian Gordon S. Wood described Common Sense as “the most incendiary and popular pamphlet of the entire revolutionary era”.[5]
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Aela / January 10, 2015
Hi Marlon, Nice to see your sudden business like tone this morning so very different from the open support you expressed for dictator MR in your previous articles.
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K. C. John / January 10, 2015
So true, Aela, so true! Just like reading the “Daily News” last week and again this morning (10th Jan). It is disgusting how these so-called journalists turn colour like “katussas”!
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Suren / January 11, 2015
Marlon had to write the way he did without upsetting the empire that was in power. Now you will hopefully see Marlon and many more writing freely. The journalists too have families to feed. Have a lot of trust in Ranils administrative skills and democratic credentials.
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Javi. / January 11, 2015
“”Now you will hopefully see Marlon and many more writing freely. “”
Really??
His boss is always right- peter principal
If all who purport to be journalist were to writ their minds out then there wont be Murdoch and the banner which competed Gates to be the richest in the world.
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