By Shyamon Jayasinghe –
Sri Lankans are not an unfortunate people. We know that they are never vanquished by famine and drought. The Tsunami came, but that was a rare regional geological oceanic shift. A bit of flood comes now and then. The land is defined by scenic beauty; it is fertile for any tropical cultivation. People are quick at learning, imitating and creating. They are intelligent and free in spirit. The light of the Dhamma came early in the island’s history and spread throughout the villages and towns for many centuries. Through humanity’s historical evolutionary process a diversity grew in a tolerant atmosphere-a diversity in ethnicity and religion that was just thrown into a lovely curry pot. The island quickly got over political ups and downs and found solutions to political crises. The latest solution is now bigger than life before us: Ayubowan, Maithripala Sirisena!
I was most impressed listening and watching to the video going round of the speech that Maithri delivered at the UNP Headquarters before a UNP audience of stalwarts and rank and file. This is a genuine leader born of Lankan soil, I thought. Maithri instantly grasped his audience’ aspirations and apprehensions-which is the most important thing for a public speaker. He knew there were many doubts and suspicions and misunderstandings among the men and women of the Grand Old Party that have been long in the political drought. He effectively and dramatically pressed the button on the real crisis issue that all Lankans regardless of party affiliation do face today: In a third term, Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave no party left in the country-only a solitary dictatorship! The island is slipping fast toward the dictatorial paradigm, he warned.
Maithri beautifully reminded his audience of the great Gandhi who gave himself up for a noble cause. He reminded the audience about Nelson Mandela who languished in prison for 27 years; how he achieved his power- goal, completed his mission for South Africa, never asked for another term and handed over to another leader elected under democratic rule. The audience gave Maithri a rapturous endorsement when he said: “I am no Gandhi. I am no Nelson Mandela. But I regard the spirituality and philosophy of these personages in the highest esteem.” Maithri gave just 100 days to demolish the Executive Presidential system and restore parliamentary democracy in Sri Lanka under which every party can live and compete peacefully for the popular vote.
I thought, for an ordinary farmer’s son who grew in a colonization scheme built by DS Senanayake (Maithri mentioned this) this was most amazing. I have listened to Oxford-educated politicians of Sri Lanka but the latter were no par with the understanding that Maithri exhibited. He showed considerable restraint, used the right metaphors and demonstrated a clarity of thinking that converted me into a fan. To a cognitively receptive and intelligent person political experience is adequate to impart a sophisticated level of self-education, I thought. Here is a leader with his feet firmly on the ground who does rise far above ground.
Sri Lankans must join hands to shed this path toward a dictatorial system that most unfortunately its current President has set out to inflict on the people. Sri Lankans, unlike citizens inhabiting the arenas of dictatorial establishments in countries like Africa, are an intelligent, literate, educated, freedom-loving people. Democracy has been comfortably rooted in this beautiful island. Many a time have Sri Lankans exercised their franchise to change governments. This very possibility of change acted as a check and balance on a ruling elite. It was an open society that the island possessed. Diversities had been respected and popular consent constantly sought. Information was open. Why on earth has Mahinda Rajapakse sought to lock the island in a dictatorial system? Mahinda does have a problem with his close associates and sycophants who have contributed toward a delusional personality disorder that he now suffers from. The end would be that the people will forget even the good he had done.
PARAGON / November 28, 2014
PLEASE DO NOT THING RAJAPAKSE IS GOING TO GIVE MAITHIRI TO WIN SIMPLY.RAJAH ALSO WILL FORM A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT IF HE WIN AGIAN AS FOLLOWS.
PRIME MINISTER-MRS SHERANTHI RJAPAKSE
DEFENCE MINISTER-GOTHA PAYA RAJAPAKSE
FORGIEN MINISTER-NAMAL RAJAPAKSE
FINANCE MINISTER -BASIL RAJAPAKSE
CHIEF MINISTER PLANTATION-ARUMUGAM THONDAMAN
CHIEF MINISTER MUSLIM REGION- ATHAULLA
MINISTER OF FOREIGN RESOURSES-KUMARAN PATHMANTHAN
DEPUTY DEFENCE NORTHERN AREAS-DOGLAS DEVANANDA
DEPUTY DEFENCE EASTERN AREAS-KARUNA AMMAAN
MINISTER OF FORGIEN RELATIONS AND FORGIN WOMEN AFFIRES-SAJIN VASS GONAWARDENA.AND MANY MORE..
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mike / November 28, 2014
@Paragon
If Shiranthi is PM the First Lady may be Paba!
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Prem Vaidyaratne / November 28, 2014
BANDA for your information Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years in prison in 1990. He became the first black President of SA in 1994. Retired in 1999 after he completed his mission.
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K.A Sumanasekera / November 28, 2014
“This Man Maithreepala” is no Joke …
And it comes from none other than his old/ new mate Mr Samaraweera who is the media spokesperson for Mr Wickremasinghe.
Samraweera says Ranil will be the PM, but no Executive Powers ..
The leadership council Boss of the UNP now says , they haven’t signed off the MOU yet.
Sira himself says his Coalition will have only core values of the partner parties.
And they should fit into his 3 prong Manifesto…
* No Corruption,
* Give Good Governance .
* Give Sovereignty to the people’ .
Will UNP financiers, commission agents and even the current and potential MPs who have been spending big bucks, be comfortable?.
Will Sira brothers .be appointed to the Bribery Commission?..
Is CBK the Minister of Justice to give the Intelligentsia good governance.
The last one is the .most interesting.
Does this Sovereignty extend to the Diaspora as well, now that Suren Surendran is an ally of Ranil after the London Meeting?.
BBS obviously didn’t have the right Core Values.
JHU , Champaka now says he has to discuss his Core values before he gets on stage along side CBK.
Do Mr Sambandan’s TNA core values fit in.?..
Or Vellala Leader has taken time off to consult the Tamil Intelligentsia to re discuss his as well ,,
Or will Sambandan do a BBS?…
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Singhe / November 28, 2014
This paid hack has to put his two cents worth on every article posted on this site. This time he has double spaced to make it look longer. I for one never bother reading his posts which invariably has the word Vellala and Dallit thrown in somewhere. What is the going rate you get paid to write your typical nonsense these days? Does inserting the words Vellala and Dallit get you bonus payments?
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Rabok / November 29, 2014
Ranil is a politician discarded by voters for more than 25 times ~ however through manipulation he manage to hold his position in the party throughout all these failures because he is the best bet for UNP financiers who were waiting patiently till the right moment to come to power and cover up their losses with substantial profit ~ CBK is a bankrupt politician ~ her intentions everybody understand ~ commenting on her politics is a waste of time ~ Mangi is another cunning fox ~ at the beginning he thought best bet would be to cross over ~ but later with CBK putting her two cents and other dealers making him invaluable ~~ thought Mithri plan is the best to come back to power ~ if MS is a seasoned politician he should understand all these workings behind him ~ but he apparently so much eager to be the dethroned king he do not see any of these pit falls
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kp / November 30, 2014
Y’know why i want MS to win? to see narrow-minded idiots like you, who’d rather see this country become another Nazi Germany just so your little conspiracy theories can do the rounds, end up with egg on your faces.
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Devendra Chelliah / November 28, 2014
Follow Sri lankans,
This your chance pl. take it. Democracy is the way forward. Don’t mess it up.
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Upasiri de Silva / November 28, 2014
Thanks SJ for a very fine article. MAHINDA is contesting the Third Term Ashe is now discussing with KP and the Tamil Daispora (not all) to buy back the North and East for the funds they may get back soon from banks as the LTTE ban is released. Mahinda needs this third term to sell the North &East to KP for USDollara 5 billion, and then hand over the Rajapaksa dynasty to Namal the BULL, if he managed to live that long.
But the democratic forces who love the mother Lanka should get rid him and his cronies, for the sake of their children and grandchildren.
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Naga Ramalingam / November 28, 2014
Maithripala is being used as a surrogate mother to deliver a potential presidential baby. He wants the people to believe that he can do wonders in 100 days, and hand over the government to Ranil. If he is capable of winning this crucial election and has the support of the people, why can’t he run the government rather than handing over to Ranil who is not elected by the people? Never seen a surrogate politics like this ever before.
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Mark / November 28, 2014
Never seen a corrupt dictatorship like we have now before. Therefore novel and creative methods have to be adopted for your information.
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Dr Ransimala Vidurapola / November 28, 2014
Brilliant strategy adopted by Ranil and the UNP. This choice broadens the support base enough to isolote Mahinda R from the rural base. Had the UNP done it alone MR would probably have made it. The surprising choice of the
Common Opposition Candidate will draw a large part of Rajarata and a crucial block of other rural SLFPers to vote against the incumbent. MR cannot any longer pretend to be an SLFPer. Only a real aascharyaya can save MR.As the days gather the tide will gather.
Ranil realizes one has to sacrifice a little to get more. This is wisdom.
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Jayanta / November 28, 2014
It is sad to note the manner in which MARA messed himself up. Corruption and indiscipline are in his blood.Let us get together and send him off soon!
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Sumanasiri Liyanage / December 1, 2014
No need to put Mahinda and Maitri on the scale to determine who’d win the game. It’s certain Duminda Nagamuwa of FSB will grab the seat. He’s the only candidate who can give both a real fight.
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