{"id":239924,"date":"2024-11-21T10:53:37","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T05:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=239924"},"modified":"2024-12-04T15:35:53","modified_gmt":"2024-12-04T10:05:53","slug":"rebutting-munis-misguided-claims-akds-rise-is-rooted-in-the-people-not-foreign-influence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/rebutting-munis-misguided-claims-akds-rise-is-rooted-in-the-people-not-foreign-influence\/","title":{"rendered":"Rebutting Muni’s Misguided Claims: AKD\u2019s Rise Is Rooted In The People, Not Foreign Influence"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Roshan Pussewela<\/a> –<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Professor S.D. Muni\u2019s recent remarks on Sri Lankan politics, delivered at a university in India, have raised eyebrows and stirred debate. In his speech, he claimed that Anura Kumara Dissanayake<\/a><\/span> (AKD), leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the National People\u2019s Power (NPP), owes his rise to the United States. Additionally, he credited former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga with reshaping the JVP\u2019s ideology, steering it toward democracy. Both claims not only misrepresent the historical and political reality of Sri Lanka but also downplay the organic, people-driven nature of AKD\u2019s ascent to leadership.\"\"<\/p>\n

The Fallacy of U.S. Influence on AKD\u2019s Rise<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Muni\u2019s assertion that AKD\u2019s rise is orchestrated by U.S. influence is a gross misreading of the socio-political currents in Sri Lanka. Anura Kumara Dissanayake\u2019s popularity has been cultivated through years of steadfast dedication to principles of accountability, anti-corruption, and economic justice\u2014principles that resonate deeply with Sri Lanka\u2019s frustrated electorate.<\/p>\n

The 2022 economic collapse marked a turning point in the nation\u2019s political trajectory. The collapse, triggered by decades of mismanagement, nepotism, and corruption under successive governments, led to mass protests under the banner of the Aragalaya<\/i> movement. The NPP\u2019s message of systemic change found fertile ground in this climate of disillusionment.<\/p>\n

Anura\u2019s reputation as an honest and capable leader grew in stark contrast to the figures in the Rajapaksa regime and other traditional parties. This grassroots support is what catapulted him to prominence, not some imagined foreign intervention.<\/p>\n

While it is true that U.S. diplomats held meetings with NPP representatives, these interactions occurred only after it became evident that the NPP was a serious contender in the political arena. Diplomacy often involves engaging with potential future leaders, especially when they are expected to lead reforms. To frame these routine diplomatic engagements as evidence of control or undue influence disregards the agency of the Sri Lankan electorate, who overwhelmingly voted for change.<\/p>\n

Chandrika Kumaratunga and the JVP\u2019s Democratic Evolution<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Muni\u2019s suggestion that Chandrika Kumaratunga \u201ctrained\u201d the JVP in democratic principles is equally misleading. The JVP\u2019s transformation from a revolutionary insurgent group to a legitimate political force was an internally driven process, borne out of the failures and lessons of their violent uprisings in 1971 and 1987-89.<\/p>\n

By the early 1990s, the JVP had made a conscious decision to abandon violence and re-enter mainstream politics. This was not an act of external coaching but a result of introspection and the realization that sustainable change required public trust and democratic engagement.<\/p>\n

The coalition between the JVP and Chandrika\u2019s People\u2019s Alliance (PA) in 1994 was born out of mutual political expediency. The JVP lent crucial support to Chandrika in the presidential elections, but it was far from a mentor-prot\u00e9g\u00e9 relationship. In fact, the JVP candidates who contested under the PA coalition banner consistently topped the preferential vote lists, demonstrating their independent appeal.<\/p>\n

Later, the JVP distanced itself from Chandrika\u2019s government, signalling dissatisfaction with her administration\u2019s policies. If anything, this fallout underscores the JVP\u2019s ideological independence and refusal to be subsumed under another party\u2019s agenda.<\/p>\n

Breaking Regional and Ethnic Barriers<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps the most significant aspect of AKD\u2019s rise is the NPP\u2019s ability to secure unprecedented support in Sri Lanka\u2019s Northern and Eastern provinces, traditionally considered strongholds of Tamil and Muslim political parties. For decades, the North and East remained resistant to what they perceived as \u201csouthern\u201d or Sinhalese-centric political movements.<\/p>\n

The NPP, however, transcended these historical divides by focusing on issues that resonated universally: economic justice, good governance, and an end to corruption. This remarkable shift reflects the NPP\u2019s success in presenting itself as a genuinely national party, capable of addressing the needs of all Sri Lankans regardless of ethnicity or region.<\/p>\n

The victory of a \u201csouthern\u201d party in these regions is a seismic political event that cannot be attributed to external influence. It is a testament to the NPP\u2019s inclusive approach and the electorate\u2019s hunger for a fresh, unifying alternative.<\/p>\n

Addressing the True Issues<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Muni\u2019s narrative distracts from the real challenges Sri Lanka faces, including addressing the concerns of minorities, ensuring equitable development, and implementing meaningful devolution. While the 13th Amendment remains a contentious issue, the NPP\u2019s emphasis on participatory governance offers a pragmatic way forward, one that prioritizes empowering citizens across the board.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Professor Muni\u2019s remarks, while reflective of a broader geopolitical lens, fail to capture the realities on the ground in Sri Lanka. By attributing AKD\u2019s success to foreign influence and reducing the JVP\u2019s democratic evolution to an act of external guidance, he undermines the agency of both the leader and the people.<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka\u2019s political transformation is a homegrown phenomenon, fuelled by the collective will of its people to break free from a cycle of corruption and incompetence. Anura Kumara Dissanayake\u2019s rise is a symbol of this grassroots movement, not the result of a foreign hand.<\/p>\n

It is vital that we challenge such narratives and ensure that the story of Sri Lanka\u2019s political evolution is told accurately and authentically. The people deserve credit for the change they have fought for\u2014not speculative theories about external manipulation.<\/p>\n

*Roshan Pussewela: I am a social\/political observer based in Liverpool, UK.<\/i><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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