{"id":201232,"date":"2019-05-04T23:00:27","date_gmt":"2019-05-04T17:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=201232"},"modified":"2019-05-07T13:53:07","modified_gmt":"2019-05-07T08:23:07","slug":"the-kingmaker-who-would-be-king-reward-for-the-exemplary-conduct","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/the-kingmaker-who-would-be-king-reward-for-the-exemplary-conduct\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kingmaker Who Would Be King (Reward For The Exemplary Conduct)\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

By W. Vishnu Gupta<\/a> –<\/b><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

W. Vishnu Gupta<\/p><\/div>\n

The exemplary conduct and the effective actions taken after the Islamist Terrorist attacks on Easter Sunday<\/strong><\/a> in Sri Lanka has reinforced the chances of Maithrpala Sirisena winning the Presidency in 2020. What a cruel twist of fate; Gota and other wannabe President may have not expected to be in the current predicament in their not so illustrious political careers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Duminda Disanayake, MP\u00a0 <\/span>Maithripala Sirisena will be the next SLFP candidate in the 2020 Presidential Election. \u201cIn terms of the existing law in our country, neither former President Mahinda Rajapaksa nor former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa who holds dual citizenship are eligible to contest the forthcoming Presidential elections, said Anuradhapura District Parliamentarian Duminda Dissanayake. \u201cHowever, the SLFP candidate to contest the elections is present President Maithripala Sirisena, emphasized Dissanayake. He said so addressing the media at his Anuradhapura party office.\u201d \u2013 Daily news 12th<\/sup> April 2019.<\/p>\n

It is affirmative, according to the SLFP that Maithripala will be the preferred candidate in a \u201cThree cornered\u201d campaign that both oligarchies lead by UNP and SLPP leadership hate to think of. It is a foregone conclusion that none of the oligarchies will receive 51 percent or 50 percent plus one vote of the total voters in Sri Lanka to win the Presidential election. It is great for a nation plagued by corruption and poverty to know that rule of oligarchies that lasted since 1953 is finally coming to an end. The people may not realize that they were under two oligarchies for nearly 66 years and they were duped by a group of hedonists known for crime, negligence of national security and embezzlement.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It appears that SLFP sans Chandrika under Maithri\u2019s leadership has already started to break away from the grips of oligarchies in 2020. The first move was made in October 2018. Though this strategic move was derailed at the Supreme Court, Sri Lankans must cherish this particular historic event that challenged the legitimacy and process of electing MPs, Prime Minister, Opposition Leader and the Speaker. Subsequent, scathing criticism of PM at the swearing-in ceremony was not a trivial laughing matter. It was opened to be seen by the entire world. Maithree made the first move in October 2018 to shun aside one of the oligarchy leaders unceremoniously. Most likely he knew the other oligarchy leader too is not trustworthy and neither MR nor RW could muster a clear majority in the parliament.<\/p>\n

Judging by present political landscape of the country, it is highly doubtful that SLPP or UNP will be able to win the next Presidential election without the support of SLFP. Therefore the leader of the SLFP is in the most admirable position of \u201cThe Kingmaker\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eventually the people will be tired of dirty political games played and misery imposed by the oligarchies sheltered under the banners of UNP and SLPP. Internal struggles to assume the leadership of Oligarchies are so visible to the electorate. SLPP membership is in disarray by one group is promoting the Rajapaksa clan members including Shiranthi while the others vehemently oppose any Rajapaksa other than constitutionally ineligible Mahinda. UNP membership is also waging a similar internal campaign to promote Karu, Ravi, Sajith and an outsider Champika. Reminiscence of what took place between the trio (Premadasa, Lalith and Gamini). George Santayana, writer and philosopher, once said \u201cthose who cannot remember the past are condemned to\u00a0repeat\u00a0it”. The only leading political party that does not fight or struggle to choose another leader to be the next president is SLFP. The present leader of SLFP has achieved few major accomplishments since October 2018 to show the voters while others are scheming to name their nominees with credibility. Chief among them are:<\/p>\n