By Dayan Jayatilleka –
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleka
In October 1988, accepting the UNP nomination at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Ranasinghe Premadasa complained in a bitter, biting aside, that as Prime Minister he had enjoyed “the powers of a peon”. That status is about to change if the Opposition wins, because the Maithri manifesto makes clear that the centre of gravity of executive power will undergo a decisive structural shift from the Presidency to the parliament and the Cabinet. Thus Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe is tipped to be the most powerful Prime Minister since Madam Sirimavo Bandaranaike—far more powerful than the infinitely more deserving Mr. Premadasa was under President Jayewardene. If after a parliamentary election, a breakaway SLFP is the largest party and if ex-President Kumaratunga is the leader of that party, then it is she who will be the most powerful Prime Minister since her mother. In this scenario, Mahinda Rajapaksa would have been shunted home to Medamulana. Is it only me, or is there something wrong with this picture?
What then are our real choices on January 8th 2015? With the joint Opposition’s declared objective of Maithripala Sirisena occupying a shrunken Presidency and therefore wielding reduced authority, and power being shifted to Parliament and the Cabinet, it will be Ranil and Chandrika who will wield real power and influence. Should we bring them back and toss Mahinda out?
To my mind, what Mahinda Rajapaksa has done wrong- or got wrong–is greatly outweighed by what he has got right and done right. On the other hand, what Ranil and Chandrika got wrong have done wrong, far outweigh whatever it is they did right. Since Mahinda’s positives greatly outweigh his negatives and the opposite is true of Ranil and Chandrika, I see no sense in removing Mahinda and re-instating Ranil and Chandrika, albeit with Mr. Sirisena as the human shield and presidential proxy candidate.
President Rajapaksa should have made Maithripala the Prime Minister. He was wrong not to do so. It is illogical to conclude that Mahinda’s error should be rectified by us by making Maithri the executive President for 100 days and then ceding real power to Ranil and Chandrika. Instead, Maithri must be given the post he is entitled to and suited for, the Prime Ministership, by us voters.
Maithripala Sirisena would undoubtedly make a good President but not right now; Right now, Maithripala would make a superb Prime Minister or Leader of the Opposition. He can be a useful counterbalance to Mahinda. We can give him either post through our vote, at the parliamentary election. He can then reintroduce the 17th amendment and thereby reform the Presidency. The next time around, we could make him President.
If anyone should be selected to the top job, he/she must have better credentials, a better track record, than his/her competitor, who may or may not be the present occupant of that post. Are those currently in the Opposition who will have the power to rule over us have a better record of outstanding achievement than the man whose job they hope to take in twenty days, if only to abolish it? Is the opposition more of a proven success than Mahinda Rajapaksa? I have no reason to think so because that’s not what the evidence shows.
How did Chandrika and Ranil discharge their responsibilities in the service of the Sri Lankan state and us, its citizenry, when they were in office? How do they compare with Mahinda Rajapaksa and his record of performance? What is their track record; their ‘form’?
- President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga viewed her electoral victory as a massive mandate for peace. If she had not made the following mistakes, then she could have won the war, implemented a reasonable autonomy arrangement and constructed a progressive pluralist society.
- She failed to see that her victory was also the result of the LTTE’s serial decapitation of the UNP.
- She failed to prudently pick the 13th amendment or the Mangala Moonesinghe proposals (which Madam Bandaranaike had signed off on) as the start-line, and not overshoot the mark and waste time and political capital on a federalizing ‘union of regions’ package.
- She could have presented the more moderate August 2000 draft in 1995.
- She should have settled upon Devananda and Siddharthan as her Tamil political partners instead of pursuing the mirage of a negotiated peace with the Tigers right through to 2005.
- As commander-in-chief, she could have ordered the Tigers to be encircled and destroyed in the liberation of Jaffna (Operation Riviresa) instead of letting them escape with the civilians into the Wanni.
- She did not use her courageous cousin Anuruddha Ratwatte in the role that President Rajapaksa deployed his brother Gotabhaya.
- She patronized and encouraged the Sudu Nelum antiwar movement which conducted pacifist propaganda in the Sinhala areas while the war was raging – thereby hampering morale and military recruitment.
- She failed to give full command and free rein to the best professionals such as Sandhurst-trained General Gerry de Silva instead of the fairly mediocre General Daluwatte who conceived of the disastrous Operation Jaya Sikuru. She failed to send Gen Gamini Hettiaarachchi to the National Defense College in Delhi and instead sent the officer who was the head of her personal security detail. Had the iconic Special Forces commander Gamini Hettiaarachchi been permitted to acquire his NDC qualifications in time, it is he who would have been the Army commander, and could have won the war for us with far fewer civilian casualties and consequent international fallout.
- She squandered the opportunity of rousing global sympathy for Sri Lanka’s war and against the Tigers immediately after their suicide attack which blinded her in one eye and instead switched on the Norwegian peace track.
- She wrongly picked Norway, with its obvious Tamil Diaspora instead of Japan (which neither a Tamil lobby nor granted the state any military aid) as the peace negotiator.
- She wasted the opportunity for a full on counter-offensive with the rapid induction of airpower, presented by her own sterling defence of Jaffna in 2000 after the fall of Elephant Pass.
- She delayed in authorizing the LRRP deep penetration raids on the Tiger command structure until after the Katunayake attack.
- She turned her back on the possibilities opened up by the US ‘global war on terror’ by making key speeches in London and Delhi proclaiming that ‘terrorism cannot be defeated by military means’ (which Mahinda Rajapaksa has given the lie to).
- She sabotaged the Karuna rebellion by permitting the LTTE to pass through the Sri Lankan naval cordon and land in the rear of the Karuna rebel forces.
- She marginalized Lakshman Kadirgamar and negotiated a post tsunami joint mechanism with the tsunami-weakened LTTE which gave them equal representation with the legitimate state in its top tier and a 5:3 advantage in its vital middle tier, with a headquarters located in the Tiger controlled Wanni.
Therefore one cannot but question her moral right to complain about and criticize her decidedly more successful successor.
What then is the actual level of competence in national political decision-making shown by her current ally and partner, the aspirant to the post of an empowered Prime Ministership?
- Ranil Wickremesinghe abjectly signed an asymmetrical CFA which did not reflect the actual balance of power between the Sri Lankan state and an LTTE which had begun to be weakened by the first LRRP hits on its command structure (‘Lt Col’ Shanker being killed in Sept 2001).
- He agreed to disarm the anti-Tiger Tamil groups without mentioning the issue of decommissioning under international auspices of Tiger weapons. He was a model of supine appeasement and failed to respond resolutely to Tiger abductions and killings of Police and army personnel even in the city and suburbs of Colombo.
- He undermined the morale of his military by the Athurugiriya DMI ‘safe house’ raid and the ensuing interrogations, the dispute with the Jaffna army chief over the HSZs, the intervention in which a Tiger ship was allowed to go unscathed from a Sri Lankan navy ambush.
- He allowed free passage for sophisticated electronic communications equipment for the Tigers, not to mention the broadcast of Prabhakaran’s warmongering ‘Mahaveera’ speeches through the Rupavahini.
- He failed to use his ‘Washington connection’ to present Sri Lanka as a frontline in the global war on terror instead of providing an excuse for the Tigers in Washington to the effect that military means should be used against ‘international terrorists’ and not the Tigers (who were manifestly no longer ‘national’ when they blew up Rajiv Gandhi); had he used his supposed international connections to strengthen the Sri Lankan military or secured a public Western commitment so that either could have served as a deterrent to the Tigers – then perhaps the inflation of Tiger territory, power and ego would not have taken place to the extent that they planned and for and publicly proclaimed the imminence of ‘The Final War’ (HRW Dec 2005).
If Chandrika and Ranil had not conducted themselves as they did, their successor and the armed forces would not have needed to wage a war of such huge magnitude and intensity that the collateral damage has caused us to be a target of the international human rights movement.
With this track record, is it therefore wise, is it prudent, is it logical, is it desirable, is it fair and ethical, to usher Ranil and Chandrika into power with Maithripala Sirisena as a ‘human face’, while tossing Mahinda Rajapaksa out? Speaking strictly for myself, I rather think not.
Vibhushana / December 20, 2014
Whatever, it is Ceylon is still burdened with the Jaffna Tamil curse. It is because of this situation that Ceylon cannot have a normal conversation about normal things like better governance etc.
The items DJ mentioned here is yet again to do with failures of handling the Jaffna Tamil curse.
/
samuel J / December 20, 2014
A man who call self as senior analyst, senior diplomat, senior lectuerer, senior man to advise while not even handful of would not see him as an adviser to the prevailing alarming situation of the country – anyway this kind of men to leave supportive articles intending to manipulate the masses – what we need least right at the moment.
I asked myself why the bugger did not utter a single word all tehse days, even if Rajapakshes fought hard to paint a better picture which has now been fading away hour to hour, – it shold be becuase the bugger could not bear the way masses becoming aware of the ground realities – facts related to collossal sums being abused by president and the bunch – even if this guy would sing his housanas to please Rajapakshes, victory for the opposition is this time inevitable.
/
Seelawathige Putha / December 20, 2014
What has DJ taken up since he was sacked few years ago ?
All the calamities – millions of fund abuses took place during the recent past – what has PUNDIT DJ done in order to make his beloved President convinced that the direction of his administration is moving totally wrong. How has so called years of diplomatic expereince of DJ helped MR adminsitration to do things better ? Why MR and DJ are entwint as if they are Ziamesian twins – why right has this DEBIDI CHARITHAYA – most hypocrite- self descriptive, selfish man to say about all these ?
If his beloved president should be the persno to lead this nation – this bugger could long have made him clear that numerous accusations being passed to MR regime should be focused by Meeharaka Rajaapkshe, insteads of repeated prevarications.
/
Amarasiri / December 20, 2014
samuel J
“I asked myself why the bugger did not utter a single word all tehse days, even if Rajapakshes fought hard to….. “
Wait until Jan 8, 2015 when the Medamulana MaRa , their Shills and crobies go bersek and destroy propery and kill people.
Dayan Jayatilkllale is clearly a shill.
See a roomful of such shills, where were there 70 years ago…
[Edited out]
/
Spring Koha / December 20, 2014
DJ was senior this and senior that, and then, legendary diplomat. Then out of the blue, time was called. His services were NOT required. A lesser man took his place. Like most of us, DJ was putty in the hands of the honcho of the day. The best he can do now is to reinvent himself, as a ‘political scientist’, and hope that someone will take notice as he pitches his twice-boiled cabbages, unethically citing events that he did not have the integrity to walk away from. He would plead that he was ‘serving the nation’ rather than serving himself.
‘General’ Dayan has nailed his kurakkan voula to the Rajapakse mast; will he be left naked when MR makes a break for it in the New Year?
/
Navin / December 21, 2014
Spring Koha
If there was an award for “Most Perceptive Comment” in these Columns I will nominate your above comment for the title.
The Almighty in his infinite mercy, banished Adam to Sri Lanka as chastisement for his disobedience. Because he considered Sri Lanka as closest to Paradise.
Although the land was blessed with His bounties, the People were not so lucky. Tragically, they have been afflicted with all the evils of human nature.
I quote from WIKI to explain:
Quote:
Abhidhamma: Ten defilements and unwholesome roots[edit]
While the Sutta Pitaka does not offer a list of kilesa, the Abhidhamma Pitaka’s Dhammasangani (Dhs. 1229ff.) and Vibhanga (Vbh. XII) as well as in the post-canonical Visuddhimagga (Vsm. XXII 49, 65) enumerate ten defilements (dasa kilesa-vatthūni) as follows:
1.greed (lobha)
2.hate (dosa)
3.delusion (moha)
4.conceit (māna)
5.wrong views (micchāditthi)
6.doubt (vicikicchā)
7.torpor (thīnaṃ)
8.restlessness (uddhaccaṃ)
9.shamelessness (ahirikaṃ)
10.recklessness (anottappaṃ)[7]
Unquote.
Any of the above ills, are not responsible per se, for the evil mindset of the Sinhala Buddhist. The Politicians have exploited them for their benefit. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Devil’s Proxy, has been the worst so far. The proof is the fact, that not a single Sinhala Buddhist politician can openly say today that he is willing to do what is right by the Tamil inhabitant.
Vibhushana: If you can momentarily divest your self of the above evils, take a moment to ponder and tell us truthfully, which country would you have chosen to be born in.
/
Ajith / December 20, 2014
I don’t consider DJ as a neutral analyst. Simply he is an opportunistic, racist and selfish. He is very fluent in English and imitatehimself as a socialist but is a fundamentalist. He thinks others can’t understand who he is. I don’t know whether how much Rajapakse’s have offered him to do this job. He is not bothered about Rajapakse family becoming king of this nation. He is not bothered about of Rajapakse ordering murder of Lasantha, He is not bothered about Rajapakse ordering BBS to attack Muslims, He is not bothered of massacring thousands of Tamils using chemical weapons, he is not bothered about Rajapakse paying millions of public money to buy murderers to appoint as ministers.
People understand his tactics. He will go round and round and come back and say Mahinda is better than others, Gota is better than others and Namal is better than others.
/
Lanka watch / December 20, 2014
Vibhushana- You have spelt the word ’cause’ in a wrong way, where as you have spelt it as ‘curse.These two words have two different meaning
as you probably know.Apart from Jaffna being an occupied land by armed forces and peoples rights shut, and loosing their ancestral lands to and the Sinhala power men who seem to like the fertile lands over there
and grabbing with the support of the almighty, as if the lands elsewhere on other seven provinces are all occupied and depriving the livelihood of the farmers and local industrialists, Jaffna people have the same problem affecting the whole of N/E Tamils and not differently.
It is in fact the Tamils of the N/E fighting for a for a just CAUSE. So please correct your statement.
/
Javi. / December 20, 2014
Vibhushana,
“Whatever, it is Ceylon is still burdened with the Jaffna Tamil curse. “
tatte motte down under JHU on atta prikana free education.
You are the curse upon yourself and the rest of society- you look up and spit while DJ has been taught to swallow his saliva at the missionary school.
your catalyst are the Muslims who have enjoyed the full tamil rights and privileges.
With Modi Mooth Maro re signing the defence treaty (for another 10 years) with Russia and reactivating the Hindia Business Centre Moscow – Rupee/Rouble.
The Chinese will not send any more nuclear subs to South east Indian waters.
The Chinese have 2 contracts for gas 300+400 billion for 30 years and they in return create all infrastructure in Russia so that it becomes self sufficient.
export your tea to middle east, former soviet because its coffee now in the west.
Lanka go back to the days of cannibalism is what the joint diaspora can think.
Enjoy your stay cats.
No more australia for sihala buddhist refugees but PNG where 800 ethnicities survive there- [Edited out]
/
Kiri Yakka / December 20, 2014
hmmmm….. vibushana – you want better governance ? and the Stupid Jaffna Man does not want it ?
Does ” better governance ” include the killing of civilians ?
/
Native Vedda / December 20, 2014
Kiri Yakka
You should understand Vibhushana’s dilemma as we have come to know about him/her/it very well he is torn apart between his/her/its normal self and the voices he hears in his head. He has no control over his head nor his fingers when he types what he types.
Today he heard voices about Jaffna curse hence the words have stuck in his head.
Once he heard Tamil Sangam literary voices in his head which made him to believe he was a Sangam scholar.
Please bear with him.
/
Navin / December 20, 2014
Vibushana, look at DJ’s beard, its thick with the white stuff. You too should join him and enjoy MR’s facial shower.
/
Spring Koha / December 20, 2014
Vibushana, You have soiled yourself – again!
Our curse is not the JT’s; Our curse is the insecurity of a large Sinhala-Buddhist population and the Sangha, who have fallen for the wiles of our cursed opportunist politicians.
Our Tamil brethren are like ALL of us, creatures of circumstance. 99.9% of our population living here today arrived with no choice, no say in the matter.
If there is any thing to curse, Vibushana, curse your horrible luck for being born on this blessed island (and thank your lucky stars that you were not born in Kabul).
/
Navin / December 21, 2014
This was posted under your other comment. Sorry for causing any confusion.
Spring Koha
If there was an award for “Most Perceptive Comment” in these Columns I will nominate your above comment for the title.
The Almighty in his infinite mercy, banished Adam to Sri Lanka as chastisement for his disobedience. Because he considered Sri Lanka as closest to Paradise.
Although the land was blessed with His bounties, the People were not so lucky. Tragically, they have been afflicted with all the evils of human nature.
I quote from WIKI to explain:
Quote:
Abhidhamma: Ten defilements and unwholesome roots[edit]
While the Sutta Pitaka does not offer a list of kilesa, the Abhidhamma Pitaka’s Dhammasangani (Dhs. 1229ff.) and Vibhanga (Vbh. XII) as well as in the post-canonical Visuddhimagga (Vsm. XXII 49, 65) enumerate ten defilements (dasa kilesa-vatthūni) as follows:
1.greed (lobha)
2.hate (dosa)
3.delusion (moha)
4.conceit (māna)
5.wrong views (micchāditthi)
6.doubt (vicikicchā)
7.torpor (thīnaṃ)
8.restlessness (uddhaccaṃ)
9.shamelessness (ahirikaṃ)
10.recklessness (anottappaṃ)[7]
Unquote.
Any of the above ills, are not responsible per se, for the evil mindset of the Sinhala Buddhist. The Politicians have exploited them for their benefit. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Devil’s Proxy, has been the worst so far. The proof is the fact, that not a single Sinhala Buddhist politician can openly say today that he is willing to do what is right by the Tamil inhabitant.
Vibhushana: If you can momentarily divest your self of the above evils, take a moment to ponder and tell us truthfully, which country would you have chosen to be born in.
/
Bagya Jayaratne / December 20, 2014
Dj – MOST KNOWN AS NATION ‘S KATUSSA.
Who do you think you are to come with this current of analysis only supportive the rascals in power further ?
Ask yourself please what good your articles have brought sofar particularly convinsing the hallozinated gullible masses all these months.
Even if UNP had their own problems within the party – they have now moved the nation all these weeks – by coming to a common goal in defeating most abusive president. It is high time to say good bye to your personal vendetta with Ranil or anyone and get united to support common opposition. YOURs has been very unique to your SILVA/JAYTHILAKA or mixed genetics but that has not helped to us srilankens not the least since your were recalled from France. Besides you earn no respect today since you always cough for Rajapkshes. Your buddy Rajiva finally has got guts to leave his seat but- pathetic to see you are still stick to your selfish agenda. If you are a socalled partriot, you have to prove it today prior to the most crucial election on 8th Jan.
/
Sirimal / December 21, 2014
Dr. Jayathilaka /Silva @
Please stop shilly-shallying and make a decision now! Time is up to change your attitudes.
/
Park / December 21, 2014
How much did KP give you Vibushana?
/
Richard Kaz / December 22, 2014
For DJ and your likes, any attempts to treat Tamils as equals, any attempt to provide equal rights to Tamils, any attempts to provide Tamils some political space in Sri Lanka, any attempts to provide Tamils democratic rights, any attempt for Tamils to have a say in their own lives is seen as a “failure” or a “curse”. DJ keeps good company.
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gogomahinda / December 20, 2014
I like the various ways,ebbs and flows in which the writer attempts in articles to influence the readership except that he does not know it is a useless exercise,readers knowing his antecedents,knowing which box to cross.
/
Navin / December 20, 2014
There must be something about the Rajapaksa [Edited out]. This guy DJ simply loves it.
/
Seventh Heaven / December 20, 2014
DJ goes on to say that rights of Chandrika and Ranil weigh less than their respective wrongs and lists the wrongs without listing their respective rights for us to compare. He does not give a list of rights and wrongs of Mahinda except to say that Mahinda rights weigh more than their wrongs.
If one examine the failures of Ranil and Chandrika, a good amount of them deals with weakening the military and loosing the opportunity to smash the Tigers. I would like to maintain that who so ever smashed the Tigers are likely to get the flak of the so called self appointed International Community because they wanted this problem to be a festering wound with neither side winning or loosing and the conclusion of this war would be a huge blow to the arms industry. What can we learn from the incident of Ministers of France and England coming all the way to rural Sri Lanka to plead with Mahinda to give a respite to the war?
That is why Ranil and Chandrika are good guy and good gal of the Western Nations and Mahinda is a War Criminal.
/
Asaipillai / December 20, 2014
Dr. DJ, it is clear that you are desperate to prevent Ranil becoming PM. You can see the writing on the wall for MR. Last week MR had to stop speaking at a election rally in Dambulla as people heckled him continuously. Things like that never happened before. The tide is turning and save your breath as NOBODY listens to you.. Sad for you!
/
Paul / December 20, 2014
Thank you for reminding us of these very serious failings. Amnesia is a national trait.
/
dcn / December 20, 2014
DJ is a biased person. He will never show the faults of MR governance probably expecting a recall for an assignment. He is aware that Ranil is intelligent and would never consider him worthwhile and therefore he has to continue sith Ranil bashing to satisfy his contract.
He writes on CT frequently and has he ever shown his protest about banning of CT or other loss of press freedom. The readers understand his aim and never consider his comments worthwhile.
/
Saras / December 20, 2014
What DJ has also failed to identify is the rights and wrongs of CBK and RW taking MR along the garden path and making him believe that Karu is going to his opponent while plotting behind the scene to win over my3. Remember MR’s call to KJ.
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Dev / December 20, 2014
Last we he “pretended” he was an undecided voter. Reading the comments it was clear no one was fooled so he has decided to come out with the truth-he wants Mahinda.
Did Mahinda promise you more at that tea party than Maithri? Knowing you, that would be the only criteria that is important to you—personal benefit !!!
Poor Dayan, with the opposition making headway, are you starting to panic that your chances of a politically motivated diplomatic appointment slipping away?
Are you scared ?
/
Javi. / December 20, 2014
“come out with the truth-he wants Mahinda.”
Just like you, like you and the diaspora.
Until the sihala buddhist turn to be cannibals and start having sex with real lions of Africa- mahawamse.
/
Percy Jilmart / December 20, 2014
Let the bloody voters decide. Who the hell are you Duckter The Yarn to tell us voters who we should or should NUT vote for? You are nothing more than a pathetic mercenary intellectual who will sell himself to the highest bidder. Shame.
/
Pandith / December 20, 2014
Dear DJ,
If MR really wanted to prevent R or C being the next leader of the country, or did he really loved the country, he would have regressed to premier post and get one of his brothers to contend for the presidency with less powers by amending the constitution, rather than stripping the limitation for number of terms with 18th amendment. DJ, you should have given him such advice if you do not like R and C.
Fool, he really likes being the president not because he wants to serve us, but merely to loot us.
People now believe the country is better off without MR. MR hijacked the victory of war, even used it for his personal gains rather than letting people get the benefits.
/
Chaturta / December 20, 2014
DJ is trying to curry favour, in case MR wins he may get to eat some better crumbs.
Maithree never said he is a proxi for either Chandrika or RW.
He will keep nessesery power to counter balance abuse by any branch of the state.
What is plain in my eyes is someone like DJ who profess to know everything under the sun about politics & Government deliberatly ignor the fact that Maithree was not born from the last rain.
Maithree is smarter than DJ think he is for sure!!
What we Srilankans are asking is decency, respect of law and intergrty from our politicos….and some in the inteligensia is trying to pull wool over our eyes to win favour… in case MR wins.
Problem of MR is he have no idea of ……….common decency.
He knows very well about the Karapincha diplomacy but decency-intergrity-respect of law, he doesnt know.
Now ,that is a big problem for most of us but not for DJ.
I think Maithree is a decent human being,man with some human values…that itself is good enough for most of us to elect him on 8th Jan.
DJ can sing what he wants but I reccomend him to sing Mohideen Begs “Amataka karalamu perani katha”…..especially because his master MR is airing old kathas of Maithree since last week.
Better die like a hero than live like a coward, DJ , there are people who think like that!Maithree is one of them.
/
Peace / December 20, 2014
The writing is on the wall and DJ cann’t see it with his Political Scientist glasses.
Makes one wonder what is blurring his vision? One could speculate many things including Yuan.
At any rate the population has decided only uncertainty is how MR going to handle this on Jan 9 th.
Would he accept people’s verdict or would he use undemocratic means to stay in power?
/
Manushya / December 20, 2014
The writer seems make an attempt to justify why people should vote to MR and why not to MS though citing the negatives of Ranil and Chandrika. The negatives he has highlighted are mainly to do with the way Ranil and Chandirka handled the LTTE and the Civil war. I don’t think that majority of educated Sri Lankans are idiots to discredit MR for what he achieved in eliminating the LTTE terrorism from our mother land. In fact, it was the very reason as to why people voted him in 2009 under the slogan “kalaguna selakamu”. The people afterwards expected MR to mobilize the talented and capable people to rebuild the nation so that everybody, immaterial of their caste, creed, race and religion, could live peacefully in a just and fair society, and breed and raise their children giving them some hopes for a better future. I would like to ask the writer if MR has done so? Or does MR show signs of doing so in the foreseeable future? Does the writer think that people in the country should keep voting MR only for what he achieved in winning the civil war in 2009, and not for what he did not achieve beyond 2009? Does he think that People should not vote MS due to what Ranil and Chandrika should have done but didn’t do during their tenures? What strategy does the writer propose to MS in order to capitalize on the UNP vote base sans any power sharing agreement with Ranil or UNP in a potential future government? Does he think that people in the country are that idiotic to vote Chandrika to make her the next prime minister? Does he think that there will not be any opportunity to change the policies given in MS’s manifesto after he getting elected? Because the plans/policies will not be restricted to what is on paper. They do emerge when the context changes. Does he think that MR will not have even a slightest chance to getting re-elected as the prime minister (instead of Ranil or Chandrika) even after MS winning the presidential election? Does he think that MR will give up that easily? Does he think that people should not use their vote with the hope of achieving a better future simply due to so called mistakes committed by Ranil and Chandrika? Doesn’t he think that Ranil, if becomes the prime minister, should try and get done everything right to survive in a coalition government? The only problem I can envisage sans the executive presidency in the country is a weaker government which I think could be intelligently dealt with when revising/modifying the constitution upon election of MS (if people wish so). Therefore, I would like to ask the writer should voters “මුහුද හත්ගව්වක් තබගෙන අමුඩ ගසිය යුතුද?” Please forgive me for my poor knowledge on politics/political science, but as a member of the general public, I think that there are numerous possibilities/potentials, and the situation will not be as simple as what the writer thinks/predicts it would be/going to be.
/
keith / December 20, 2014
Dayan is a premadasa acolyte who has basically outgrown his usefulness.What says is fundamentally wrong here as according to the Negatives of mahinda outweigh the negatives of maithripala,ranil,chandrika.However the citizens of this country want a change of positivity in this country.I guess when you try to be too smart you can’t understand the pulse of the people
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thondamannar / December 20, 2014
Wioth maithree manifesto Ranil will be the most powerful Prime Minister representing the Maithree party the NDF………..
Aiya sirrrrrrrr…………… What has become of the Grand Old Party??
Today, they are relegated to the level of poster & baggage boys distributing handbills for someone else propped up by another of their opponents CBK to be propelled to the Throne.
What is the future of the die hard 30% vote base (even at dark time)of the UNP?
They need to retire from politics and remain at home and not cast their vote to anyone.
Our PC a couple of days ago experienced a verbal spat between two parties. We await thye next stage fistcuffs or a sparring session.
What is happening to the NPC?
/
Kiri Yakka / December 20, 2014
Dayan,
You should know how to handle that rejection letter you received from my3 better than this.
Your are right in that your only hope is MR – hang on to him buddy and hang on tight.
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Native Vedda / December 20, 2014
Kiri Yakka
“Your are right in that your only hope is MR – hang on to him buddy and hang on tight.”
He has to hang in there until MR starts another war against the minorities to find final solution?
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jansee / December 20, 2014
Dayan:
MR will not be in a precarious situation as he is in now and there would have been no necessity for you to jump to his defence if he had not allowed his family members to plunder the country and behave like a dictator. The masses will not have have forgotten what he had achieved but just like Churchill he is at the crossroads for believing and behaving in a manner that the people forever will keep him power. Your penchant for patting him on the back is salutary but Dayan alone is not SL. One can only breathe with a sigh on the opportunities and possibilities that lay at MR’s feet, only to screw them up colossally.
The excesses of the Rajapaksa clan have peeved many. True, where RW and CKB failed, MR succeeded and for that the people showered him and ushered him a life fit to be that of a king. The accolades heaped on him is the testimony of one of the many rewards and dividends that he received but alas he screwed them up so badly that people are simply fed up with his rule. As if to prove that either you are blind or pretend that there are no excesses by the Rajapaksa clan that you have chosen to point out in your advocating the election of MR as the president. By dancing with the 18A, he had simply thrown the checks and balances into the dustbin. He may be a war hero but not in the magnitude of Churchill who was hailed as the war hero but people packed up his bags.
Sirisena may not be an angel. After all, politics is no place for angels. Essentially both of them are political animals and both are devils. But the question is, who is the lesser evil?
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justice / December 20, 2014
DJ has difficulty with his thinking – else he would not have written his PhD thesis on what another man thought – “The Political Thoughts of Fidel Castro”
He will now have the opportunity to write another thesis on “The Thoughts of Mahinda Rajapakse and his Family”.
He is supposed to be a ‘scientist’ in politics!!!
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Park / December 20, 2014
Chandrika becoming the Prime Minister by Pandit Dayan is based on the assumption that Maithree cannot be trusted. For a person (Dayan) who cannot be trusted at all as he lied to UN and lying now to the public in Sri Lanka is assuming that Maithree is also a liar is amazing.
Before this Kunu-Pandit Dayan analyzes what Rajapakse did right and what Chandrika and Ranil did wrong, its time some to analyze what Dayan did right and what he did wrong like lying to the UN (no analysis by Rajiva Wijesinhe pls). Dayan is an opportunist and he knows very well Maithree is going to win and Dayan will have no place at all.
Shame on you Dayan.
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Ambedkhar Reborn / December 20, 2014
MR told at the Kilinotchi election meeting that you all must forget the past and vote for him.
But MR, GR , DJ and the likes are still seeking support from the South using the past.
SL Middle East workers union (1 lack and 48,000 of members ) has said that in 2005 and 2010 they supported MR to win the election. But MR regime has gone in the wrong direction from 2010 and their support this time is to the humble down to earth Maithiri who is not a mean leader and a good team player.
I am sure the union leaders or their committee members are not PhD holders or one up academics in political science or physical science or the so called experts in various fields.. So this time too union has made a rational decision to based on their common sense. Their full support is for their Maithiri.
Why DJ , you do not write about election violence, intimidation of voters by the armed forces, police as by standers when opposition rallies or meetings are held and above all about the possibility of army taking over of the goverment after 8th Jan like what the armies of Thailand and Myanmar did in the past.
Disparaging Ranil and Chandrika based on their past and praising MR regime that has gone in the wrong direction and taking the country towards bankruptcy as Champika Ranawake candidly elaborated in his book, is a time wasting sell am a like flying kite.
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punchinilame / December 20, 2014
Your writing is only for the English readers however the Voting public
is deaf to your pleadings. Why not dare address the public along with MR to see any benefits??
10 Judges agree that MR should be OK 2 yrs. ahead of his due time – thereby cheating MR by giving a last chance for SB Voters to decide. MRs track-record does not deserve him a 3rd term of governance. If he wiped off so called terrorism aided by the West and India he must be given a Chinese Nobel prize and that be the end of it. DJs plea does not hold water any more – not in the 21st century. Do you realize the ground reality in todays electioneering and what is in store for all its
citizen from 9-1-15? You guess again.
A C.P.A. on-line Survey among 1394 between 12 – 16th Decm. reveals 76%
for My3 (37.98% being in the 30-45 age category)
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We the People / December 20, 2014
Dayan J: You say: “To my mind, what Mahinda Rajapaksa has done wrong- or got wrong–is greatly outweighed by what he has got right and done right”. YEAH, RIGHT.
We the People say: ” Dayan, go back to school or just shoot yourself: you are a disgrace to your parents”
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Kirri Yakka / December 21, 2014
No need for Dayan to shoot himself .
He has done that already in this forum.His pants are off and every body
Is able to see through him. He can only report to pay masters and does not
know how to operate in open forums.
It is time for him to keep shooting himself here.
Dont you feel sorry for him?
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Banda / December 20, 2014
Sirisena is a puppet of Ranil and Chandrika. It is obvious then, one has to expect very much less than those two. Dayan is wrong. If we go by My3’s manifesto, no where did he say he would abolish the executive President ceding real power to Prime Minister (Ranil or Chandrika) in 100 days. All it has is a verbose explanation about how he would abolish the executive Presidency during his six year term and going on retirement.
It seems, all that hard work by Ven Sobitha, Professori David and et al have been clearly high jacked by the bandit queen and an insignificant duo of the Urumaya. No need to mention the pathetic ride along the garden path by the apathetic UNPers. Leave out the vultures that await for thing to get rot aside, this presidential election is clearly a fight between the blues to settle their scores. That’s all.
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Leelawathie / December 20, 2014
And MR is not a puppet from Gotabaya (Nation s executionist), Basil and Namal and other goons. Is he people s leader ?
You being in your mid 70ties should have gotten this long ago. Sadly, you guys have been fallen that deep as dogs tails would not never be straightened. .
Lajjya…. you and the folks are a greater shame to this nation.
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Sensible Thinking / December 21, 2014
Go to hell Bandara.
Mahinda is a puppet of KP.
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Real Peace / December 20, 2014
DJ:
I refer to the last paragraph of your article.
In Batticaloa, the LTTE shot dead over 400 surrendered policemen. As you mentioned in your last paragraph, is this massacre also a ‘collateral’ damage of the war?
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Worry / December 21, 2014
I simply do not comprehend what the F—K Dayan Silva or Dayan Jayatilleka speaks or writes these days. Does he hold a political science degree? I very well know what political scientists articulate or accomplish to educate the general public in general and students in particular. After all looking at what MR did for Sri Lanka during his 8 years of ruthless lawless government for the country’s economy, people, international relation, etc and the ways, in which Dr. Silva or Jayatilleka (whatever the BS is he) does these days seems to me is f—ing selfish, foolish, third class, uneducated stupid, and no sense in the civilized world. I think he is highly suitable for housekeeping or gate keeper job with an Amude in Medamullane or in Weeraketiya. Certainly, he is not suitable for teaching in Colombo University unless CU runs by bunch of Weeraketiya dissenters. Make no mistake, this Silva incredibly understand MR’s weak spots that MR will re-consider him once again and launch him to foolish ambassadorial position to Geneva or France to represent SL. Like Tissa Attanayake is currently bending his back to MR in every stage. Using MR’s ruthless and power greedy situation, Silva beggar is playing another stupid political card to go to Europe regardless of the country’s future. That is his vision.
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Native Vedda / December 21, 2014
Worry
“I simply do not comprehend what the F—K Dayan Silva or Dayan Jayatilleka speaks or writes these days.”
He has always been like that ever since he joined the EPRLF provincial council as a minister. The only difference is that you have recently spotted the man, his mission and his banality. He has taken 64 position all at the same time.
Remember he is a self confessed war monger a war crime denier who in fact believes he won the war single-handedly and demolished UN at Geneva.
He has no purposeful activity to contribute to the people. He desperately craves for attention.
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Worry / December 21, 2014
Hey DJ,
This is for you man! Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people (Eleanor Roosevelt).
You are a small mind person and you discuss about MR’s greateness and CB, RW, and MY3’s weaknesses. You do not discuss ideas. Shame to Political Science Degree.
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Piranha / December 21, 2014
DJ,
Care to list the mistakes of Rajapaksa? They will fill many pages, you know!
For you, Rajapaksa winning the war mitigates all his mistakes. That is what Rajapaksa himself thought and carried on with his corrupt and criminal activities. He certainly satisfied the poor and uneducated Sinhala masses with this but you, an educated man, should you accept his destruction of democratic institutions and pilfering the national coffers for the benefit of his family and friends?
The people have at last realised the damage Rajapaksa is doing to the country, it’s people and its name and they are about to throw him out. Most of Sri Lankans will rejoice but I am sure you and a few others who benefitted from him will shed a tear or two. Your hatred of Chandrika and Ranil is obvious these two getting some degree of power in a future government is unpalatable to you. As far as I am concerned any other person will be better than the corrupt and criminal Rajapaksa’s ruling over Sri Lanka a day longer.
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Jim softy / December 21, 2014
Dayan Jayathilake says that Ranil Wickramasinghe signed an asymmetric CFA.
That is a very very dishonest statement when Dayan Jayathilake says that he is a political expert in every work experience or his academic qualifications are concerned.
I can not say that Dayan Jayathilake is dumb that is why he is writing this kind of things.
It is simple dishonesty.
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Thanga / December 21, 2014
DJ is driven by a single issue. Giving credit to Rajapaksa for defeating the LTTE. This is the phobia he suffers day in and day out. He should note the defeat of the LTTE military did not end the ethnic conflict. The reasons for the war still remain unresolved. Rajapaksa won the war with the help of 21 countries but he lost the peace. Did the Thamils invite Rajapaksa and his army to liberate them? Why there were no garlands for the army? When Berlin was liberated Germans lined the streets to welcome the allied forces. The Thamil people are worse off under Rajapaksa than under the LTTE. That is the message the Thamil voters gave when they decisively rejected Rajapaksa and his UPFA both during the 2010 January presidential elections and 2010 April parliamentary elections. There will be a repeat performance come January 8th, 2015. This time he cannot win the elections solely depending on Sinhala – Buddhist votes. DJ the political scientist must tell us why Sri Lanka is in a quagmire? Why India and USA is engineering for a regime change which Rajapaksa calls it a conspiracy? Why Rajapaksa won militarily but lost diplomatically by making the Western countries and India his enemies? Why this debacle in the diplomatic front? Sri Lanka got defeated three times in a row at the UNHCR? What are the reasons? Of course DJ is both deaf and blind to the question of rampant corruption, waste, nepotism, collapse of rule of law, undermining media freedom and politicisation of the judiciary.
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