By Shyamon Jayasinghe –
Shyamon Jayasinghe
“Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot burst out when he should burst oust. .…In leadership, one has to throw a fit now and again, to show or even simulate anger in the face… Lao Tzu’s leadership concept is no style for a leader in the 21st century and living in the kind of cultural context that generates the kind of capricious politics we find prevalent in Third World countries like Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, rough elements and political conmen operate all the time and politics seems to be the prize for everyone.”
What a Showdown!
Announcement
But, first some preliminaries. Upon hearing that the Sajith faction’s intimidatory campaign for nomination had been getting out of hand, with some faction leaders personally intimidating UNP parliamentarians with intent to getting the latter to join them, UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe called for an urgent meeting of party parliamentarians to be arranged for him to meet them on the 6th September /19, as he returned from the Male. Enough was enough!
One would have expected Ranil to have a showdown. But, true to his style of handling a crisis with calm and quiet, Wickremesinghe remained sober-even in the face of what would have appeared to the generality of concerned persons as extreme provocation and incitement.
Lakshman Kiriella
After some preliminary questions, the Prime Minister announced:
“The only way to sort this out keeping, party stability, is for me to be nominated.” As the leader of the party, Ranil had every right to do that. He said he would shortly put the decision to the Working Committee and begin campaigning. “I will draw more crowds and I WILL win,” he said.
It has been clear to the political literate that what the Sajith faction was eventually heading towards was to oust the party leader. There is no other way reason why Sajith could be promising in his pre-nomination rhetoric to ‘change the country,’ ‘to rebuild the country,’ ‘make ever woman a millionaire,’ to ‘ensure minimum income of Rs 50,000 to the people,’ ‘to build thousands of Chaityas and Daham Paasalas, dole out this and dole out that.
In the position of the new President, Sajith’s powers under the 19Amendment is even more circumscribed than those of the current incumbent. Only the Prime Minister and his men in the cabinet can attempt such big changes. The faction objective has been to leverage the reality of an elected President and make haste to oust Wickremesinghe. That being done, the coup would have been over.
Kabir Hashim
Kabir Hashim is a senior Minister and the Chairman of the United National Party.It was completely out of place and a blatant betrayal of his key role particularly as Party Chairman to have formally started the Sajith campaign to take shape. He had proposed Sajith Premadasa for nomination at a normal meeting of the parliamentary group.Out flew the Hands of Mangala Samaraweera, Mallik Samarawickrama, Harsha De Silva, Eran Wickremaratne and some others. Obviously, the whole thing had been hatched. If these people had some sense of honour, graciousness, and gratitude to the leader who had made them something of them out of nothing, such an idea could have been mooted quietly and in private.
Ranil Wickremesinghe cannot burst out when he should burst oust. That is the nature of this man of high emotional intelligence (EQ). Never to get ruffled. However, in leadership one has to throw a fit now and again-show or even simulate anger in the face. He merely said he would think it over after consulting more broadly.
Signal
This signalled to others in the faction as a chance to exploit the situation. Planned by Mangala according to the Mangala Sutra, a campaign flow was organised on the spot. It is rumoured that external parties such as Mr Maharajah, some American sources, President Sirisena and all those in Opposition wanting to close serious cases of corruption and murder against them are backing the faction. Sajith and Sirisena are known to be cooing each other for sometime. Minister Mangala is a good campaign organiser and he has been putting his best effort over the last three weeks. Live telecasts of rallies well-attended had been organised for communication all over the world. How Mangala has time for his ministerial duties we do not know.
Ranil Wickremesinghe watched- perhaps tactically waiting for the natural wearing – out of the campaign. He should have realised that such a natural diffusion would have occurred had he at the outset got a Working Committee resolution that firmly rejected nomination commitments and firmly prohibited any such campaigning. He had the numbers (he still has) and he could have done that. Yet he preferred to watch.
Lesson from Lakshman Kiriella
Our Prime Minster is a great thinker and visionary with universal and modernistic values. He has helped keep political sanity, democracy, and harmony in our country. Since restoring law and order and the Independent Commissions, he has been admirably focused on the economy making impressive gains here. However, something he, hopefully learnt on the day of the aforesaid meeting (6/9/19), from his ministerial colleague Lakshman Kiriella was that a leader must stamp his foot down when enough becomes enough. I quote, for more authenticity, the report of the Daily Mirror (6/9/19) on the incident:
“Ministers Lakshman Kiriella and Kabir Hashim had a showdown at today’s meeting of UNP seniors.
Recently, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had requested President Maithripala Sirisena to assign the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) which is presently under Mr. Hashim to Mr. Kiriella. But Mr. Kiriella is known to have resisted such moves. The President had conveyed this to Mr. Kiriella and the other party senior who had met the President last week.
Minister Kiriella raised this matter at today’s meeting and reportedly taken Mr. Hashim to task.
“What right do you have to block this move,” he asked.
This led to a verbal tirade between the two ministers. Mr. Kiriella accused Mr. Hashim of letting down the party on four counts. He said Mr. Hashim was sworn in by the President as a minister despite instructions by the Prime Minister not to do so and was known to be having underhand dealings with the President against the party. Mr. Kiriella also said Mr. Hashim had met SLPP’s presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa in secret.
“You were exposed by Minister Navin Dissanayake regarding your surreptitious meeting with Gotabaya. Then, you admitted it. I am ashamed to associate with people like you in the government,” he said and also accused him of conducting public rallies all over the country regardless of the party’s position.
“It is shameful that you do these things as the chairman of the party. You better resign from the party and do what you want,” Mr. Kiriella said.
Meanwhile, Minister Hashim told the Daily Mirror that he resisted the move to take the CPC away from him because he was the only Cabinet minister representing the Kegalle district.
“We do not have expressway projects leading to Kegalle. It is a poor district. I want to serve my people better,” he said. (Kelum Bandara)”
LAO TZU
Centuries ago, Lao Tzu said:“A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.”
Lao Tzu’s leadership concept is no style for a leader in the 21st century and living in the kind of cultural context that generates the kind of capricious politics we find prevalent in Third World countries like Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka, rough elements and political conmen operate all the time and politics seems to be the prize for everyone.
Conclusion
Lakshman Kiriella showed the way and he was proved effective as Kabir bent down meekly. This is an example for other leaders in the party who should come forward to cover up the weak points of the party leader. The Grand Old Party must have strong and convinced frontline men who would drive away the rats and white-anting termites out of it. We have been missing Ravi Karunanayake for a long time but Rajitha Senaratne is a safe strongman.
Hamlet / September 8, 2019
Sajith should wait for the General Election, and Aim for the Prime Ministership.
A Future President will be Merely a Figurehead!
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Dr. Gnana Sankaralingam / September 8, 2019
Leader has to lead from the front, and not just hide behind putting others forward and reap the benefits. Behaviour of Ranil in several instances has shown that he has no leadership qualities. For that matter none of the UNPers have it compared to Rajapkse brothers. A leader has to take firm decision, stick to it despite opposition and deliver.
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Justice and Fairplay / September 10, 2019
Shyamon
Why did Britain rely on Churchill during the war? Because he could inspire, because he led from the front, because he gave it hope and courage in times of distress.
The chief reason why so many are rallying around Gotabhaya is because the people are fed up with Ranil for not standing up against injustice during Ranils term as PM.
We may not need a Gota but we certainly do not need Ranil. He had even no guts to repudiate the President when the latter gave him a public dressing down during his 2nd swearing in, last December.
Ranil may be learned but he isnt brave nor straight forward in his dealings. The country is fed up of devious manipulation in the guise of politics. It cries out for a strong leadership; someone willing to uphold the law and apply it to all equally.
The country also yearns for someone willing to let go, with the same ease as he is willing to accept. Sadly, Ranil isnt that man.
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Amarasiri / September 8, 2019
Shannon,
Ranil W as the leader of the party should have nipped the nomination of Sajith Premadasa in the bud. That is why he is not a a leader.
Actually, Laksman Kiriella is a better leader than Ranil or Sajith, ( does he know what he is uttering after taking shelter in the rain under the buildings of the London school of economics).
Is the Maharajah, Sirisena and Sajith plan in jeopardy?
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Amarasiri / September 8, 2019
Shaymon,
Ranil W is no leader. He is trying to ride the party.
He should step aside and give the leadership to Kiriella or Sarah Fonseka.
What is Ranil’s strategy?
Try yo get elected President for the next 5 years, as the chance of becoming Prime Minister again after the next next general elections Is slim.
So, he gets to be president, and the others are in the wilderness,
When will Ranil retire?
,
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D. P. / September 8, 2019
Hamlet,
I think that Sajith is doing the right thing; power structure of UNP must change hands sooner than later & Sajith has come back to it at a very good moment also with a strong backing with rank & file of the party itself. That a talented team is backing Sajith is itself a testament to the need of a leadership change.
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I have no idea how much is the extent of Ranil’s involvement in the Bond Scam. What bothered me was his efforts to keep Arjun M in the Gvt even after he was fired from the CB. Even if Arjun has deceived Ranil, his failure to recognize true nature of people around him put a huge question mark in my mind. This was what happened with Wijedasa R as well. Wijedasa’s case was much simpler than Arjun’s. Another case of poor judgement was waiting for MY 3 to sack him instead of breaking the National Gvt once it became clear that the the union was hurting the party tremendously.
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I still do respect Ranil’s knowledge but, I also believe that it is time for him to step back & play an advisory role for the emerging younger talents. It is not b’cos his leadership style of empowering team members to perform while expecting the results of team work will speak for itself has anything wrong. But, in the absence of charisma, such a style requires an extreme level of trustworthiness in order to win political capital. I believe that it is where Ranil failed. That is why he is no longer a viable presidential candidate.
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I challenge Shyamon to disprove me!
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Chun Paan / September 9, 2019
” I also believe that it is time for him to step back & play an advisory role for the emerging younger talents.”
What nonsense this man is writing. Sri Lankan politics is a dog fight they do not behave the way this man thinks.
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D. P. / September 9, 2019
C P ! ,
Who said it is not a dog-fight. As a matter of fact, the higher it goes in ranks in any sector, not just in politics, the noisier is the dog-fight and bloodier the cut-throat. This is human nature; we all in it! What is happening within UNP is no exception. GoRa did the same to Dinesh & Welgama by using Ra..kse clout. The incumbency would rarely step down without giving a fight.
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Suranjith Bandara / September 8, 2019
It is written, “Our Prime Minster is a great thinker and visionary with universal and modernistic values”.
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This statement missing the words ‘relating to self preservation’.
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The current state of affairs wihnin the UNP shows that he is going to rely again on the same method on which Ranil W stuck to party leadership by the ‘modernistic (undemocratic) value’ of stacking the party’s executive council with henchmen. Through this method he became the only leader of a political party anywhere in the world, after losing election after election at provincial and national levels. Then he stuck to the ‘joint candidate’ fraud.
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Ranil W kept undermining any one with even a remote chance of challenging him. Only last week Kiriell himself complained (during a stouch with Kabuir Hashimn) how some influential bodies including the Petroleum Corporation was removed from him after he took the lead to return the October 2018 change of government!
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Ranil is an incompetent, paranoid person with craving for UNP leadership, mainly because he would have nothing to do outside politics. He must be worshipping JRJ’s photo for granting him this chance!
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Rohan / September 8, 2019
Man! Shyamon!! Three huge thundering and stinking farts to Lakshman Kiriella!! You talk so big of your leader but he didn’t produce a President out of UNP for the last 25 years. That’s the good and huge record of your boss and miserable leader – Ranil. Please let him get out, without ruining UNP and country, and all had enough with him and his cabals, and their schemings. All in all, all the records have it, Ranil is not a winning man but a born loser, and come what may, he wants to cling on until his last breath. This got to change for the good of the people and the country. Sure, if he still wants to come, that going to be the end of him and UNP. It’s the present day real and true ground reality.
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Raj / September 9, 2019
With current infighting for prez candidacy and dirty underhand deals with My3, the Grand Old party is already finished. It will face the same fate as the SLFP.
Best thing for the UNP backbenchers is to create a new party like Pohottuwa and face future elections. Then there will be a future for them.
Many UNPers will vote for Gota this time: he will have a resounding victory over Ranil or Sajith (or even both put together.
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K.A.Sumanasekera / September 8, 2019
This comment was removed by a moderator because it didn’t abide by our Comment policy.For more detail see our Comment policy https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/comments-policy-2
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Native Vedda / September 8, 2019
KASmaalam K.A.Sumanasekera
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Brilliant.
Thanks
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Prem Vaidratane / September 8, 2019
Kabir deserved this sharp blow by Shyamon. As a party chairman, Kabir shocks us all
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soma / September 8, 2019
Anyone other than Ranil Wickramasinghe for precedency. He totally depends on minority en block voting of minorities and as such divisions based on race and religion are his bread and butter. This equation works as long as people are devided. If he becomes president his main push will be towards federalism which means the beginning of another round of ferocious animosity.
Shymon J, true to his principles will he campaign on the promise of handing over presidential powers to prime minister?And who will be the primeminister designate?
It is not sufficient to get 51% out of total population President of Sri Lanka should also must enjoy the support of the majority of the majority.
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Soma
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Native Vedda / September 8, 2019
somass
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“He totally depends on minority en block voting of minorities and as such divisions based on race and religion are his bread and butter. “
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What are you talking about?
In fact if he is attracting minority voters that is what one calls unity in diversity.
Minority votes are as valid as majority votes.
If you have a problem with parity of votes you should get the Mahasangha, Dhinesh, Dayan, Weerawansa, Udhaya, Single handed Kamal, Shavandra …..Mahinda, Gota, GL Pieris, …. to force the government to change value of votes from equality of votes to Sinhala Only Votes.
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That should satisfy your brand of parochial democracy.
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Keep harping on a non existent problem you will end up with a Fascist ruling this island. That will have huge impact on ordinary voters. The first thing your beloved fascist will do is make all votes equal by disenfranchising everyone in this island including those who deprived others the rights of citizen.
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Cunning idea.
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Ethel Nanayakkara / September 8, 2019
What about looking at it from a different angle? Mr Wickramasingha is the only leader who wants democracy for all; the majority as well as the various minority groups.
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soma / September 9, 2019
Native, Ethel N
You don’t seem to understand or I haven’t stated it clearly.
What I am opposed to is EN BLOC voting based on ethnicity and religion. Not MAJORITY voting out of their own choice, definitely not. For example in an opinion poll prior to an election if it is found that 75% among those who call themselves Tamils or Muslims are favouring a particular party I have no issue at all, absolutely. That is democracy of course . But for me EN BLOC or collective voting is poles apart from MAJORITY voting and is a severe distortion of democracy, manipulation of individuals. Citizen become cattle – the whole country becomes a few herds of different colour. Now the dangerous side of this aspect is exaggerated propaganda is carried out that the ‘other’ party is anti you. UNP under Ranil Wickramasinghe has been masterfully doing this to the severe detriment of peace and unity.
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There is another related issue to this ugly phenomenon. A most sacred aspect of our democracy is ‘secret’ ballot. In Sri Lanka if you wear a ‘pottu’ , or ash on your forehead , a cap, a veil over the head I know which party you voted for. This should not be so – after the election everything should be business as usual. How Rajapaksa supporters referred to any Muslim on the street after 2015 elections is unprintable as per CT editorial policy. It happens because en bloc voting has enabled individual identification, you must agree.
.
More at another time.
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Soma
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Ethel Nanayakkara / September 9, 2019
Do you think we have en bloc voting among the various minority groups? All the main political parties, I’m not sure about the JVP, have political representatives of the various minority groups along ethnicity and religion. If any political leadership targeted any group en bloc for voting in favour of or against them, that is their own perception of the ground situation.
I cannot imagine any group, majority or minority voting for any political party as one community. It is wonderful to think that we are so united at least on such a basis. Post election – it is more up-to us, the citizens, to prevent such harassment and discrimination. At present, we have that atmosphere of democracy to do so. Let’s safeguard that.
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Simhi / September 8, 2019
Well said, Shyamon
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nalmen / September 8, 2019
shyamon
hashim went to see gota when he was sick as gota had visited him when he was ill
and when he went there he found sagala already there
ranil could have avoided all this had he announced his candidature before sajith did
those who abandoned him did so because they knew he could never win
how could he after losing 26 elections?are the colombo sinhalese enough?
how many villages has he visited?
they believed enough was enough and it was time for the naaki seeyas to hand over the baton to the young members of the party
why dont you come back and work for ranils campaign instead of hiding there and writing nonsense
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shankar / September 8, 2019
if ranil contests as the UNP candidate,sajit should contest as a independent candidate.While ranil goes around the country telling all youth will be wearing gold necklaces sajit can outbid him saying all the new women millionaires will use new underwear once only and he sajit will export it to japan(as he sleeps only 4 hours he will personally do the quality control sniffing each one himself).
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nalmen / September 8, 2019
the royal college motto is learn or depart
ranil never learns nor does he depart
pity the unp
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Casiechetty / September 8, 2019
“It has been clear to the political literate that what the Sajith faction was eventually heading towards was to oust the party leader.”
Has Sajith done anything special for him to replace a leader of RW’s stature? Who the hell is Sajith?
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Wilbert / September 8, 2019
All the Buggers are the same.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cut throats, Swindlers, Wankers, Rogues, Cheats, Robbers, Shaggers,
Satanists, Perverts, Morons, Eunuchs, Poofters, Sex Maniacs, etc etc etc.
You name it from the book of Satan and they are all what is in that book.
As long as these Vipers are slithering all over the country there will never be security, peace, harmony and prosperity.
They need to be caught, chopped into pieces , burnt and the ashes thrown into the Marianas trench never to be retrieved. Every square inch of the land needs to be cleaned with prayer and penance and the sun will shine in a glorious way.
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Citizen Silva / September 8, 2019
I am happy to read some actual truth about Ranil. Most put the blame on Ranil for losing power, why don’t they talk actual reasons. Who initially destroyed the UNP? It was late Premadasa and pave the way division of the party. When Ranil tried to bring peace to the country soome spread that he was going to divide the country. Have people forgotten how Prabakaran was bribed and not allowed people of Northern to vote?
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Ethel Nanayakkara / September 9, 2019
Exactly…we forget the realities of the past and scream about an unproven bond-scam. Who among the contenders have contributed to wards the development of the country across so different areas; the economy, education, religion, specially Buddhism and most of all unity and reconciliation among the citizenry.
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Mallaiyuran / September 8, 2019
Shyamon Jayasinghe,
You have become racist! Now Thero De Silva only a disciple to you.
I don’t support Muslim-Sinhala Goverment politicians. Kafir a decent guy, irrelevant of his political orientation. Kafir calmly left, but if it were Lemon Puff Veeraya, would have returned with a pile of cow dung to Kiriella.
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Perera / September 8, 2019
Grand old party may have a history of its own and the recent history under RW is a pathetic history. He has not given leadership to resolve poverty of the down trodden. Instead robbed the county with his Royal goons and now even an indictment cannot be served as the county has to go down extradition process. RW took responsibility for the CB appointment of AM and now is a de facto fugitive. RW never had any concern for the poor of our nation and he is only a master tactician to remain / grab power and authority for eternity. This is what he is planning now without handing over the party candidacy to SP. Poor have become poorer under RW and its time to throw him out by force.
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Adrian / September 8, 2019
Shyamon,
Instead of writing these repetitous hosannas to Ranil, why don’t you suggest a fair solution? Let the UNP parliamentarians in a truly secret ballot choose the presidential candidate of their party.
At present, the party constitution allows a committee consisting of Ranil’s hand picked cronies to select the candidate. So no surprise who will win! The born loser will get yet another chance to lose and put a war criminal in President’s House.
Do you really want that?
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shankar / September 9, 2019
adrian
i totally agree with you.Let the UNP parliamentarians choose the presidential candidate.That is the more democratic manner than a working committee doing it.
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whywhy / September 8, 2019
Shyamon ,
Let us take a minute to focus on the S L P P and come back to your Ranil
vs Sajith episode .So far , S L P P maintains , Gota will be their president
choice and Mahinda their P M ! If there’s any doubt of this combination ,
it’s about Gota and not Mahinda ! So , Their dream is to make Mahinda
the leader of the country whoever becomes the president . My personal
preference of the whole process apart , but there’s one thing that is
obvious here , Mahinda will run the show as the P M . And that is what
everybody in their company want . Now , back to the U N P circus which
is nothing new , what is the brouhaha this time around ? Saint Ranil and
the slob Sajith according to Shyamon ! Ranil has no shame playing this
same old music over and over again every time there’s real or made up
trouble when an election is round the corner ! Is it one of the greatest
qualities of a clean visionary and democrat ? Between 2016 and now , the
Great Britain has seen three Prime Ministers on the issue of Brexit ! We
look up to this country for almost everything , especially the U N P ,and
we didn’t notice this outstanding quality of democracy ? And one more
simple question Shyamon , take a look at what you are saying about
19th amendment that disables Sajith to carry out his promises as the
president has no such power ! Here we go , why should then Ranil desire
that seat ? Why all this fuss over nothing ? Whatever you try to paint
here with almost no success in my view, I can only see it a drama of
deception . A huge national deception which is disgusting.
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Nosey Parker / September 8, 2019
Shyamon
Have you tried stand up ? You’d be a big hit down under .
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Agnos / September 8, 2019
RW hasn’t shown any strong leadership, whether in cleaning up corruption, bringing cases against the criminals and corrupt in the former regime or in keeping his promises to Tamil parties, which along with the JVP defended democracy when Sirisena attempted coup. He has even been accused of having underhanded dealings with Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. So I don’t understand Shaymon’s love for RW.
But I don’t see how Sajith P. would be a good leader when he, having known all along that the current predicament would come, couldn’t build up enough support to outsmart RW within the party and secure his nomination. How can such a person take on the cunning Rajapaksas?
In Sri Lanka professionals used to have a mandatory retirement age of 60. Even when there are some extensions for certain leadership positions, I don’t recall it going past 65. Not sure how it works in the private sector now. Political leaders past 70 should take up advisory/chairmanship positions, leaving the contest for the presidency and cabinet positions to younger leaders who can bring energy and agility to their work. It shouldn’t become a gerontocracy
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nimal fernando / September 9, 2019
When an entire population of a country is not up to it ……… a country needs a towering figure to pull them up.
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JR had some traits of leadership ……….. he was sorta too smart for his own good ……. and his crookedness made him come undone ………
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Mahinda has the charisma and the cunning that many Lankans fall for …….. but he is an ignorant imbecile ….
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Dunno who, when or what ……… can predict only one thing with certainty ……… where Lanka is heading
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And that’s down …….. I’ll bet my house on it!
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soma / September 9, 2019
Native, Ethel N
You don’t seem to understand or I haven’t stated it clearly.
What I am opposed to is EN BLOC voting based on ethnicity and religion. Not MAJORITY voting out of their own choice, definitely not. For example in an opinion poll prior to an election if it is found that 75% among those who call themselves Tamils or Muslims are favouring a particular party I have no issue at all, absolutely. That is democracy of course . But for me EN BLOC or collective voting is poles apart from MAJORITY voting and is a severe distortion of democracy, manipulation of individuals. Citizen become cattle – the whole country becomes a few herds of different colour. Now the dangerous side of this aspect is exaggerated propaganda is carried out that the ‘other’ party is anti you. UNP under Ranil Wickramasinghe has been masterfully doing this to the severe detriment of peace and unity.
.
There is another related issue to this ugly phenomenon. A most sacred aspect of our democracy is ‘secret’ ballot. In Sri Lanka if you wear a ‘pottu’ , or ash on your forehead , a cap, a veil over the head I know which party you voted for. This should not be so – after the election everything should be business as usual. How Rajapaksa supporters referred to any Muslim on the street after 2015 elections is unprintable as per CT editorial policy. It happens because en bloc voting has enabled individual identification, you must agree.
.
More at another time.
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Soma
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soma / September 9, 2019
Shymon J
They are right in abondoding Ranil but wrong in choosing Sajith in place. Sajith is a demogogue in true sense of the word (I have double checked the meaning of ‘demogogue’ on Google.). A very cheap one at that. Very distasteful to listen to his ‘poochanam’. What does he take us for? . The very day he becomes the leader of the UNP will be the last day of your UNP as we know it. Why not Navin or Eran for sanity’s sake?
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Soma
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Thanga / September 9, 2019
Shyamon did not quote fully what Minister Kiriella told Minister and UNP Chairman Kabir Kashim. He omitted vital parts of it. Here is the full version-
One: he had secret dealings with President Sirisena. This was together with Premadasa. The leader of the party was never kept informed of any of these secret discussions or deals, he said. Kiriella also said Hashim did not inform UNP leader Wickremesinghe that he was taking his oaths after he had resigned together with Muslim ministerial colleagues. He was the Minister for Minister of Highways & Road Development and Petroleum Resources Development Postal Services. Though he was Chairman of the party, he has thus surreptitiously by-passed the leader, charged Kiriella.
Two: Being Chairman of the UNP, he has endorsed the conduct of public rallies in favour of Premadasa. No decision over such meetings had been taken by the party or its leader. This, he said, was in open defiance of the UNP leadership.
Three: Hashim has met SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa secretly. Kiriella said that the matter had been made public by Minister Navin Dissanayake at a government parliamentary group meeting. He has had a three-hour-long meeting.
Four: He tried to stall the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) from being added to his own portfolio. Kabir saha Sajith Janadipathi Sirisena ekka deal daanawa or Kabir and Sajith are working deals with President Sirisena. “The President told me Kabir ‘magey oluwa kanna hadanawa’ or Kabir is trying to eat my head. He had come with four others to tell me not to give CPC to me,” declared Kiriella. This had been conveyed to him when he visited the Presidential Secretariat. Kiriella said that the CPC was only ‘parked’ in Hashim’s Ministry and the Premier had made it clear to him. 1/4
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shyamon Jayasinghe / September 9, 2019
You are right, Thanga
Shyamon
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Thanga / September 9, 2019
Before the Premier was to write to the President, he had, in fact, telephoned Hashim and told him about it. After the Premier had recommended to the President that he (Kiriella) should be given the CPC, he (Hashim) went to meet Sirisena and scuttled it. In my view, this is treachery, he charged. “What right have you got to defy the party leader,” asked Kiriella from Hashim. (http://www.sundaytimes.lk/190908/columns/new-alliance-with-premadasa-not-working-out-sirisena-shifts-bets-back-with-slpp-367615.html)
So the UNP Chairman did not have the common courtesy to inform his leader that he was taking his oaths as a Minister before President Sirisena. Of course, it is a mystery how the President appointed these Ministers without Prime Minister’s advice. Knowing the idiosyncrasies of Sirisena who exhibits total ignorance of the constitution this comes as no surprise.
The 19th Amendment to the constitution is clear on the point who can appoint a Minister and whose advice the appointment is done. The 19 A restored certain degree of powers to the Prime Minister.
The prime minister is the second in the order of procedure after the president and head of the cabinet of Ministers. The Prime Minister would be a member of the constitutional council national council, national Security Council and the most senior member of the cabinet of Ministers.2/4
As head of the cabinet of ministers, the Prime Minister has the power to:
• Determine the number of Cabinet Ministers and Ministries and assignment of subjects.
• Determine the number of Non-cabinet Ministers and Ministries and assignment of subjects.
Principal adviser to the president
By the constitution, the Prime Minister holds formal power to ADVISE the president on:
• Appoint, dismiss, or accept the resignation of cabinet and non-cabinet ministers.
• Change of subjects assigned to cabinet ministers.
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whywhy / September 9, 2019
Thanga ,
First thing first ! Ranil is a leader for the party by accident and then
he is the P M by back door just like Sirisena is from ! Ranil never
tried to stand up and fight for something like previous leaders which
his loyal buddies who are genuine Lackeys try to attribute to his
nobility . He has demonstrated , not once or twice , throughout his
life in politics that he doesn’t care win or lose ! It’s no magic that
competitions have both win and loss but nobody ever compete to lose !
In Silankan current politics , Ranil is a well registered loser , he knows
it and that is why he avoided two previous president elections and his
being incumbent P M , there are too many share holders including the
lonely Champika and the yellow robed Rathana Thero ! The only thing
Ranil can boast of is , cutting off the Mighty U N P strength to pieces
and auctioning it ! This is why one huge bloc of M Ps and ministers are
now closing ranks to rebuild the party from anymore damage which
could be suicidal . The alternative choice for the job may not be perfect
but any other choice will have more flaws . One thing Sajith doing is
correct that his address is mainly to the fools who want big chunks for
free ! Whether he can deliver or not is , only a question of a few who
have no candidates to turn to ! About Kabir , not much to say , one of his
in-law , Muzammil is already on the fence it looks . And , it was Sajith
who first requested in public on behalf of the party from Kabir to take
back his ministry. The plans were afoot for quite some time it seems .
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soma / September 10, 2019
Thanga
Incidentally, can I seek your kind favour to clarify this English word ADVICE/ADVISE?
When you say ‘As advised by the Prime Minister’ is it the same thing as saying ‘As decided by the Prime Minister’? OR does it leave option to the President to accept or keep on rejecting it until a nomination agreeable to him comes up?
–
Soma
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Thanga / September 9, 2019
Kabir Kashim was not the lone sheep. He was joined by Abdul Haleem who took oaths as Minister of Postal Services & Muslim Religious Affairs. Abdul Haleem was an appointed MP owing allegiance of the UNP, especially its leader. In all 4 Muslim Ministers, 4 State Ministers and one Deputy Minister resigned on June 03.2019.
All Muslim Ministers including cabinet, state and deputy ministers in the Sri Lankan government resigned from their ministerial portfolios on June 3rd citing the government’s failure to ensure the safety of Muslims following Easter Sunday attacks. Citing growing instances of Sri Lanka’s Muslims being “demonised” and “framed” following the Easter terror attacks, all nine Muslim Ministers stepped down.. This sudden move came in the wake of a fasting Buddhist monk’s demand that three key politicians, including a Minister, resign over alleged links with Easter suspects.
But, Kabir Kashim and Abdul Haleem rejoined the cabinet on June 19th just two weeks after resigning their portfolios. They could no wait a minute longer and both were in such a hurry they had no time to inform their leader.
Speaking to the media on 22 July, former minister Rauf Hakeem said the present problems need to be resolved before they can accept the ministerial portfolios again and they have informed the government of the issues. “We need to see an atmosphere of resolving those issues swiftly. No decision has been made yet and may take some time.”
Fish cannot survive even for a few minutes without water, nor the Muslim politicians. They always join the ruling party in power. Rauf Hakeem and the rest of the SLMC during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s dispensation voted for 18A. They also voted in favour of 19A which nullified 18A. The Muslim leaders have no policies or principles, what matter is self-interest!
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whywhy / September 9, 2019
The problem here is not about Muslim leaders having or not having
policies or principle , it is all about internal battle of U N P that
crops up every now and then from Dudley Senanayaka up to date !
Those who are waiting to pick on Muslims , will make mountains
out of molehill ! Kirialla here , very clearly takes on his cabinet
colleague and the party chairman from the side of Ranil and not on a
Muslim simply because Kabir is a Muslim ! When internal battle
erupts in any party , members will only have one choice ! Yes or No ! .
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Mallaiyuran / September 10, 2019
We are not UNPyers like Thanga or Sumanthiran, who sold out the TNA to UNP and Sampanthar chest beating to Colombo Media that because of his unconditional surrender to Ranil, Tamils going to reject him in the coming election. By undercutting, they two forced CV out of TNA. Now Thanga is dying to give the TNA’s oxygen to dead Ranil hoping to save him, leaving TNA dead confirmed. So we cannot spend too much time analyzing Sunday Times campaign material here.
It is the one Ranil forced Kabir to resign his minister post to Save the 4/21 bombers of Tamil Church. Yahapalanaya bombed the Sainthamaruthu home to hide the truths. The Rapist navy delivered the bombs. Then, for what in the hell Kabir has to resign to save Rishard? What a gimmick Thanaga playing? The defense meeting was cancelled for months because to prepare for bombing. Ranil pretended like he was not invited. What a liar.
The only purpose of 19A was to save Ranil on the job of PM. If I were a Sinhalese, that piece has to be immediately scraped off and 20A has to be passed. That will confirm Ranil will be only an opposition leader, even beyond his life time, even in the hell when he go there. Ranil is the one always made dirty deals with Old King. Ranil saved him, a public secret. He went even Singapore to talk to Old Brother Prince. Ranil earned the name a fox because his cunning & undercutting games. Kirella is a partner of Ranil. Kabir is known as a decent man. It was Ranil who told Kabir to take back the minister post, but with Rishard. Rishard and others wanted to wait until Ranil confirm Kalmunai will not be divided.
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Mallaiyuran / September 10, 2019
to stop bold
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citizen perera / September 9, 2019
Ranil is a miserable failure and failed at 23 elections. What makes him think he can win this time? He is arrogant and willing to dance to the tune of the west. Who can deny that he got benefits from the bond scam? He is dishonest and thinks only Royalists can do a good job. He has no feeling towards the common man.
He will surely lose to Gota in a one to one campaign. Sajith will fare a little better.
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TP Ismail / September 10, 2019
Good assessment, Shyamon. You haven’t minced words regarding this clown KABIR HASHIM who is a bloody disgrace
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NonResident / September 11, 2019
Three cheers for what? for the three rogues in Highway LK Bond RK and Tablet AK? It is time Rw and his clan of rogues including the likes of you are sent home for good. With this article you have stooped to the lowest levels to prop up your sick leader in RW!
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NonResident / September 11, 2019
Or maybe we have to ignore you too as you too is a victim of Aspergers just like RW you are attempting to prop up! when will we Sri Lankans learn? A Narcissist President and an Asperger’s PM! God help Sri Lanka!
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