28 March, 2024

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Whoever Wins Ranil Will Be The Loser

By H. L. D. Mahindapala

H. L. D. Mahindapala

H. L. D. Mahindapala

What political analysts have failed to grasp so far is that the current presidential election is essentially a home-and-home match. This is not a contest between the Government and the Opposition, or the SLFP and the UNP, plus  the other minor parties. Though other parties have joined in  the fray, this election is a straight fight between the Mahinda Rajapakse-wing of the SLFP and the SirisenaChandrikaMangala wing of the SLFP. Others in the Opposition like Ranil Wickremesinghe are bit players carrying the torch for the Sirisena- wing of the SLFP.

This will become clearer if Maithripala Sirisena wins on January 8, 2015. As Rajiva Wijesinha stated in his interview with C. A. Chandraprema, the SLFPers will rush to Sirisena on January 8, 2015 if  he wins the election. And Sirisena will not reject them either. He will embrace them partly because of loyalty to them (after all blue blood is thicker than green blood, no?) and partly because he needs their political backing to survive. He already has the UNP and other minor parties, including the TNA though covertly, in his bag. What he needs now is the backing of those in the Mahinda Rajapaksa-wing.

At this stage the two wings of the SLFP will be contesting for more than power at the centre. Their battle will be for the control of the SLFP as well with Chandrika Kumaratunga claiming ownership as the daughter of the founder of the Party, S. W.R. D. Bandaranaike. If and when her protégé comes into power there is a possibility  of Chandrika Kumaratunga regaining the mantle of the SLFP leadership.

Ranil Maithri Chandrila 1Chandrika Kumaratunga’s importance will grow because she has played the key role behind the scenes for  the cross-overs. She has been  the linchpin in the covert operations to undermine the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime. Her claim to leadership will come by reclaiming the party back to the Bandaranaike family, as opposed to the Rajapaksa family. “The Queen of Deceit” – “the most corrupt and inefficient of all the corrupt and inefficient politicians who have come to power since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948” (Victor Ivan) — will once again hope  to climb and occupy the throne of power. First she climbed to power on the coffin of her father. This  time she can climb on the political marginalization/demise of Sirisena.

Sirisena is merely the mask behind which both Kumaratunga and Wickremesinghe are dancing. How long he can survive at the top, particularly if he hands over the presidential powers to Wickremesinghe, is anybody’s guess. Besides, the Coalition he is supposed to lead  is  in itself a temporary lean-to that can be blown away in next gust of winds.

Chandrika Kumarantunga and Wickremesinghe have put together the most unworkable coalition of extremists  – UNP-TNA-JHU in the main – for a change of personalities (not regimes) that  will not last long. This is one of the reasons why wishy-washy Sirisena, who is neither green nor blue in his new capacity as the head of the Coalition, lacks legitimacy in the eyes of the SLFPers in the Mahinda Rajapaksa wing. Whether he will have the political skill to hold the cows, the cattle, the pigs, the chicken in his version of  the Animal Farm is another question. His lack-lustre past, with hardly any achievements to his credit – it is not a patch on that of Mahinda Rajapaksa! – kept him in the background as a general factotum until he shot into the limelight as the Common Candidate in the presidential campaign.

Even as  General Secretary of  the SLFP he was more or less a back room boy playing an obedient role to the leader, whoever it may have been. His alliance with UNP-TNA-JHU has not enhanced his image either. On the contrary, in this new alliance he conveys, wittingly or unwittingly, the image of being the  toy-boy of Chandrika Kumaratunga without any inspiring/significant political passion or vision that would have lifted him above the run-of-the-mill MP. His general demeanour is that of a malleable lump of putty in the hands of crafty manipulators.

Of course, more details of his promises are due to be released in his manifesto which is not available at the time of writing. But so far he has been making noises not to present a cohesive, progressive and structured alternative to  that of Mahinda Chintanaya, or for the future of the nation. So far he has been announcing ad hoc measures that are, by and large, pie-in-the-sky promises that all candidates make just before elections and forget them the day after. Offering morsels like not occupying the official residence, or ruling from Polonnaruwa are gimmicks which will not have an impact on the main course of events.

The most dramatic event in his 37 year-old-career in politics is  his departure from the SLFP to join hands with the UNP primarily. This is what is unnerving the SLFPers. They fear that Sirisena’s blind move means that the SLFPers will lose the upper hand they have had under Mahinda Rajapaksa who still is in firm control of both the Presidency and Parliament.

There is, however, a growing unease though, even among some of his close associates, that Sirisena blundered in signing the “Siri Sangabo MOU” with Wickremesinghe. In his eagerness to quickly pave the way for his crossover he signed an MOU elevating Wickremesinghe to the status of a president located in parliament. Sirisena promised to hand over all executive powers to him.

The first victim of the joint opposition, Gen. Sarath Fonseka, fought as a common candidate with a formidable Opposition backing him without signing a similar MOU. But this time Wickremesinghe got Sirisena to commit in writing that he would hand over all his powers to him. Naturally, this would have sent shivers down the spine of Chandrika Kumaratunga and Mangala Samaraweera who are more seasoned and wily power-brokers than naïve Sirisena. Their reaction was  predictable. It has dawned on the SLFPers that Sirisena has signed a deal to take the powers vested in Mahinda Rajapaksa-wing of the SLFP and hand it over to Wickremesinghe of the UNP without, of course,  the consent of the people who are the legitimate owners of power in a democracy. The, one  fine morning, without any explanation or warning, Sirisena announced that he will retain the powers of the Ministry of Defence. Where does this leave Wickremesinghe?

Sirisena has committed two deadly sins against his own party : 1. he stabbed his leader in the back after conspiring with the enemy secretly and, 2.more importantly, agreed in writing to hand over power which is in  the hands of the SLFP to the UNP. This was a no-no, in any language, in any political system which is all about cut-throat struggles for power. Which power group would willingly hand over all its power to its traditional rivals? If this went  through unchecked Sirisena would have been crying in the wilderness like King Lear who handed his kingdom to his scheming daughters.

In the meantime, CBK and Mangala woke up to the fact that there is nothing in the MOU for them if Sirisena hands over all executive powers to Wickremesinghe. Who in their proper senses will trust Wickremesinghe to be democratic and liberal defender of individual rights if and when he is entrusted with all the presidential powers? He is bound to get drunk with power faster than Chandrika Kumaratunga left alone in a French wine cellar – and the consequences to the nation would be incalculable. .

Obviously, what was needed was a mid-course correction. Under pressure from SLFP insiders, Sirisena back-pedaled quick fast but in low key which went unnoticed in the media and political circles. Sirisena came out  saying that not all powers will be handed over to Wickremesinghe. It is reported that the JHU too had pointed out the blunder to Sirisena. So the noble Siri Sangabo who was going to hand over his head  — not that there is much in it! — has  now settled down to hand over a few of his fingers to Wickremesinghe.

As of now the promise to abolish the Presidency has been put on ice. So now it is clear that, after backtracking, Sirisena will be more than the ceremonial president that he  promised to be initially. He will retain the all-important powers vested in the Ministry of Defence. He will still be the Commander-in-Chief of the Security Forces. Other details of  whittling down the powers of the Prime Minister are yet to be announced. But all the pomp and  power that Wickremesinghe was expecting will be out of his reach once again. He will be reduced to almost a nominal prime minister tasked to do all the dirty work. Once again Wickremesinghe has signed an agreement – like the one he signed with Prabhakaran –that eventually has boomeranged on him.

*To be continued      

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Latest comments

  • 8
    2

    Today both the SLFP and UNP are the same. Even USA accepts that they are just rival parties and other than that, there is no difference between those two parties.

    Most of the UNP MPs who crossed to the govt side for various reasons are the UPFA cabinet ministers. They will not hesitate, at it happened this time, to cross again to their their former party if the so-called common candidate wins.

    It is the Mahinda Rajapakse who paid these people with money, ministerial posts and other perks in order to establish political stability.In that sense, I don’t think Ranil Wickramsinghe becomes a loser. He is just manipualting the conditions as the leader of the UNP.

    Sajith pemadasa like people never cross to the SLFP or to the UNP instead he is waiting he becomes the most senior because of that most qualified to be the presidential candidate.

    If not how many SLFPers are original MPs in the SLFP and how many UNP – MPs are original MPs of the UNP ? Most have crossed.

    • 3
      0

      ” Most of the UNP MPs who crossed to the govt side for various reasons are the UPFA cabinet ministers. “

      Most prominent reason for crossing over being taking a gamble in order to preserve conditions of employment. They know very well that the perks attached to a government minister are far superior to that of an opposition MP ..

  • 12
    1

    Pleeeeeease…. why does CT promote this guy who sings for his supper in his top voice? I am not proposing a censor, but promoting someone like this????

    • 1
      1

      Pleeeeeease…. why does CT promote this guy who sings for his supper in his top voice?

      To expose and thrash the scumbag !!!

      • 2
        1

        To expose and thrash the scumbag !!!

        True. To expose scum bag Chandrika, scum bag Ranil, scum bag Mithripala, scum bag Navin D, scum bag Mangala M, scum bag Rajitha… and the list goes on!!!

        • 1
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          BTW, your scumbag is getting booed in Pallekale and Dambulla !

          He is dying a natural death. I am sure it is painful.

  • 9
    2

    H. L. D. Mahindapala -, Aka Mahinda-Shill,

    RE: Whoever Wins Ranil Will Be The Loser

    It is NOT about Ranil, It is about Defeating The Family dictatorship and Bringing Democracy and Law and order..

    Story of the modern Hitler… Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IKHJG5ztL68

    Is the leader a patriot?

    While an ordinary citizen has to live with Rs. 262 a day the leader of the country spends Rs. 26.2 million a day said the Leader of the JVP Anura Dissanayaka in Parliament and asked whether it is patriotism.

    The ‘Hanzard’ states he posed this question in Parliament on 24th November.

    “The ordinary citizen spends Rs. 262 a day. The leader spends Rs. 26.2 million. Is the leader who could allocate Rs. 2500 million to maintain his pool of vehicles a patriot?” the Parliamentarian had asked.

    http://www.lankatruth.com/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7986:is-the-leader-a-patriot-&catid=42:smartphones&Itemid=74

  • 11
    2

    If Mahinda wins, Sinhalese people and the nation will lose its independence and people have to face jungle law. If Mahinda lose, there will be a hope for recovery of law and order and people will enjoy true justice and freedom.

  • 14
    1

    You are a real stupid low life. This election is not about Ranil. This election is about much important burning issues in Sri Lanka. Australia must cancell your doll for going overseas & conducting election campaigns in other countries.

    • 1
      1

      Angry Fellow Says:

      Mhindapala = “You are a real stupid low life. This election is not about Ranil.”

      Mahindapala is a Shill from Lankaweb. He has an IQ of 79, the average, so give him some leverage for adjustment.

      PS. Amarasiri cannot comment on Lankaweb, as Amarasiri gives them indigestion and constipation.

    • 1
      1

      H. L. D. Mahindapala –

      “You are a real stupid low life. This election is not about Ranil.” Listen to video below.

      Presidential election not only to resolve

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C9cTJ-p1MM

    • 1
      0

      Rest of amunition from the war can be useful for erase this kind ofidiots.
      Yes you are dead right why CT allows them to add their thoughts on this valuble platform ?

  • 11
    1

    Madapala is slinging mud again!

    There’s hardly any facts in the article. Madapala should listen to the startling revelations made by maithree at wennappuwa on Saturday. 6 choppers bought for the private use of Jarapaksa’s. a horse was imported from UK so the Rohitha Prince can use his chopper to fly to Nuwaraeliya to take a ride on his imported horse,,,, what a life!!!

    Going to end on January 08, 2015.

    • 1
      0

      Neomal

      Gone with the Maitripala wind

      The Answer my friend is blowing in the wind..

  • 6
    0

    To defeat this evil family politics all forces of democracy should unite. This is a battle between the forces of evil domination and democracy and freedom

  • 7
    0

    I think this man is mad….Always destructively criticises Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe….. It is very obvious and apparent that Mahindapala is a GD of MR.
    These people….so called journalists have completely corrupted MR. Mahindapala must tell Mahinda the way how to govern this country with justice.

    Mahindapala…please do not guard Mahinda and his family by hating Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe.

  • 6
    0

    Mr. Mahindapala Says that Sirisena back Stabbed his LEader.

    How about Mahinda Rajapakse back stabbing Mangala Samaraweera and getting rid of him, putting Tiran Alles in the hospital, sidelining JVP, back stabbing Sarath Fonseka and made his all cabinet just puppets.

  • 6
    1

    Mahindapala must read about Mahinda’s Buckingham white horse and lavish life style which was revealed by Mr. Maithreepala Sirisena.

    Why you do not talk about Mahinda’s assets. As a candidate everyone reveal their personal assets to the public…..Are you blind Mahindapala or Are you deaf?

    Are you disable…why you can not write about those things…Hey Man be very impartial and unbiased.

    Then people will love you and respect you.
    Now as you do people hate you man.

  • 2
    1

    We must learn the lessons of banning the Colombo Telegraph through direct access by fellows who do not care about free speech. Within this forum too we must not commit the sin of denying free speech.

    All politicians have their vices and virtues. But politics can be a dirty game. The writer has put his point of view well. Remember one thing! Once you get the authority promises are no where, even the written agreements which are bad in law. That is the modern trend.

  • 3
    0

    This election is not about MS, RW, CBK, UNP, SLFP, JHU or TNA. It is a very clear choice between democracy and dictatorship.

    If you very conveniently forgot how MR ran the country in last few years systematically destroying/politicising all democratic institutions, just think about the campaign they run . This is shameful , MR is grossly violating all rules of the civic society and election laws, using police/military to enforce fear by threatening opponents and media, censoring all alternative voices in main stream and social media, spending billions of peoples money. It is very a clear that MR will do everything and anything possible to win,including murder and large scale rigging.

    Aren’t we in a dictatorship already ?

    Dont you know this very website is censored in Sri Lanka by your pay master ?

    You certainly are nothing more than a hypocrite and another paid agent of the regime.

    Shame on you !!!

  • 3
    0

    Mahindapala, I am a UNP supporter but don’t worry if RW looses. As much we will be sad if he does, all we want is your king to be defeated and MS will see to that with RW’s support. You just find mind your business and find yourself another job after the 9th of Jan.

    There is noway MR can win now but only if he cheats.Which he is admittedly damn good at. There is so much money to lose we know he will fight this unethically like he came into power in 2005. Bloody filthy rogue he is!!!!

  • 0
    1

    Let us start eating this man alive. What he is writing is too unpalatable to our taste. Who will volunteer to cast the first stone? :-)

    “The most dramatic event in his 37 year-old-career in politics is his departure from the SLFP to join hands with the UNP..Sirisena blundered in signing the “Siri Sangabo MOU” with Wickremesinghe.”

    • 1
      1

      Paul – surely this guy must be indigestible, if not downright poisonous (much like the drivel he inflicts on us), so let’s think twice before “casting that first stone” . Hopefully he’ll drown in his own excrement and in doing so spare us his bullshit.

      Not a word from him on the ‘family’s’ monumental corruption and numerous other felonies – what a frigging creep!

  • 1
    1

    Mahindapala again has thrown some of his brilliant comments here about the upcoming elections. He has an arsenal of infinite wisdom. Now, thanks for your comments Mahindapala, please go to bed and take a much needed rest until the elections are over. Nighty night!!!!!!

  • 1
    0

    Mahidapala, You say Ranil is powerful, and powerless. Again you say Maitripala controls a “wing” of the SLFP, and he is controlled by Chandrika and Ranil. You are truly worried this time, aren’t you, because you know your hero is in trouble? That’s why you are more delusional than usual. Instead of writing nonsense, you should see a shrink.

  • 2
    1

    Can Sira and Ranil give the TNA, 13 A ?..

    And Demilitarize the North, Send the Army back to the South, Join East with the North even if ex CJ Shirani is re appointed?..

    These are the issues which are going to do serious damage to the nearly 6 years of freedom, peace and prosperity which have prevailed in the Island, after 30 years of mayhem.

    Do our Dalits, who are the great majority know these secret deals , Sira has struck with the UNP and the TNA?.

    As usual , instead of promising Gold Bracelets, and Mobile Phones Sira has opted for real bullshit like of living in his own house and working from Pollonnaurawa to con the Dalits…

    Sirisena who pretends to be a leader of the Dalits, joining with the UNP, to hoodwink the poor innocent great majority, is the ultimate insult any politician has ever inflicted on the inhabitants.

    • 0
      1

      K.A Sumanasekera

      “Can Sira and Ranil give the TNA, 13 A ?.. And Demilitarize the North, Send the Army back to the South, Join East with the North even if ex CJ Shirani is re appointed?..”

      Please enlighten us as to why it is wrong to give 13 A to all people of this island, send army back to the South, join East with the North and reappoint Shirani to her former position?

      Please focus on the issues raised. We know its difficult considering your past comments and your mind(?)going off at a tangent, lets have a robust defense of your position, indeed the position of majoritarian including Sinhala/Buddhist Vellalas.

      By the way can you give us a lucid definition of Sinhala Buddhism? Note some of my Elders not only have clear idea of what Buddha taught but put his thoughts into practice in their day to day life. This has nothing to do with Anglican, Vellala, diaspora, USA, the West, …..

      Please stop faffing around and get to the point.

      • 0
        0

        Dear Native,

        Not a problem, if our Dalits have at least the same minimum income levels as that of the Diasporians on the Dole…

        Then we can tolerate even Mangala Samaraweera as our CM ..

        And even a Freguson City in Batti and Staton Island in the South shouldn’t be a hassle..

        • 0
          0

          K.A Sumanasekera

          You have responded to another commentator and you will see only if you read your comment which has no relevance to my comment.

          Please read my comment at December 15, 2014 at 12:25 pm

          and then read your comment at December 15, 2014 at 11:56 pm

          By the way you don’t need to respond to each and every comment that you come across in this forum.

  • 0
    0

    M’pala’s may have been benefitting from the give-aways etc and therefore he does not look at the total picture rationally. We also know his bias towards Ranil and therefore he tries his best to jstify the wrong reporting he is doing always.

    MS has left the ruling party based on his convictions. Ranil an intelligent and experienced politician knows the present situation well and had acted appropriately and they have made a winning combination.

  • 0
    0

    Your King is caving in. Read on people
    A speech delivered by President Mahinda Rajapaksa over the weekend was cut-short following continous disruptions by the crowd. Rajapaksa, who was addressing a crowd in Dambulla, was forced to abandon his speech as members of the audience continued to disrupt him. According to eye-witnesses the President was forced to stop several times until the crowd grew silent before he continued. Finally Rajapaksa grew annoyed and announced that he could no longer continue his speech and that he would give way for them (the noisy audience members) to use the podium, he bid farewell to the crowd and left along with the rest of the contingent on the platform. Sources within the government denied that the President was forced to cut his speech short, but instead he finished early as he had another meeting to attend. Several weeks ago over 500 farmers from Dambulla protested along the main A9 road in Dambulla over the government’s decision to import big onions from India. According to P. R. Senajayakody, a local farmer, members of the government buying agencies had instructed them not to sell their produce as prices were expected to fall. However, when they went to sell their produce in the market they were told the government had imported onions and there was a surplus and so they would not be able to buy the locally grown onions.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-xTpr2bpCg

  • 0
    0

    Mahinda Rajapaksa is [Edited out] What does HLD stand for? [Edited out]

  • 0
    0

    Sumanasekera and Mahindapala should [Edited out]

    Any objections any one?

    • 0
      0

      @Navin, absolutely no objections. One extra thing I would love to do is to open Kandiah Arasaratnam Sumanasekeram’s thick scull and see how much hot air comes out of it.

      I will bet you any money, his scull if filled with 50% fart with an egg flavor and 49% with goo. The 1% is the margin of error :)

  • 0
    0

    Go to a corner and shake it off you old F*rt

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