BATTLE OF THE BLUES

A born again Chandrika is phenomenal.Found wanted nowhere and is being sought after everywhere. Maybe, the reason why she is Always late and Never on time [Reply:Yes, why hurry?]– Her signature tune that is not pleasant to those who have to wait in vain; probably choreographed to provide an awe element;holds the key to the doing or undoing of her candidateSirisena; her silhouette or shadow. Sirisena is the SLFP bride that eloped on the eve of the wedding without the retinue.

Coming out of retirement on her persuasion,best on a stump, single handedly toppled a UNP regime of 18 years; holds the record for the largest majority secured at a presidential election. Takes on another Giant; is Chandrika looked upon as a demigod in the SLFP, an Annebeth Chase daughter of goddess Athena in the G.K. Rawling’s novels? Indeed the daughter of two much loved prime ministers among the rural folk.

"Ranil as Prime Minister ran a pragmatic administration where law and order prevailed and financial discipline was tightly controlled to the extent that it kept a lid on the middle classes growing to become an expanded middle-income society as of present. Ranil was confronted with an ongoing war notwithstanding periodic spells of artificial peace caused by the failed ceasefire agreement that led to his fall"

  Some may dislike Mahinda others may hate Ranil; both are necessary evils for the good of a country devoid of mature and experienced politicians. UndoubtedlyChandrika, isa skilled and wily politician, likewise, is shedisliked or hated? Answer:Yet to find any two legged creature wanting to be ruled again by aChandrika proneadministration! Reason: Searched helplessly for a single Chandrika achievement or monument in her two-term presidency? Sirisena is burdened with aload too heavy to carry. Poor lad, don’t permit the load to let you down. How did Ranil and the UNP miss the signal and forfeit the candidature?
Chandrika was chaotic but amid the chaos there was a charming smile that disarmed any complaint.  Loose that smile and charm, loose most everything, except the family name --a forgotten chapter in the under40 voters’ club.

Is Ranil ahead or beneath the UNP? Silly-Billy,it’s the UNP that is in the forefront.Party counts more than a Person. Had the opportunity of hislifetime but fluffed it, by not coming forward as the third candidate along with the ‘common’ candidate. Surely the divided vote between two candidates with varying shades of blue from the same camp would haveensured victory to the holder of the opposite colour green. Missed it again? Now it’s a battle of the Blues –dark blues against the light blues.

"Rajapakse regime stinks of corruption and the want of good governance.  Much of it is unfortunately forgiven with the continuing efforts to splendidly save the nation from foreign assault for winning the war that has made poor reap the benefits that peace provided. Rural Poor unlike the comfortable Colombians are lesser timeservers adding value by factoring gratitude"

It’s being a long day’s night but may not be in vain. Has to await a general election in which neither major party gets a working majority –the most rewarding result for Sri Lanka; the need of the times. A coalition between the two major parties of Sri Lanka[UPFA of MahindaRajapaksa& UNP of Ranil, Karu and Sajith] is a compelling need to keep a disoriented economy, muddled foreign affairs and a divisiveTNA in their proper places. It will bring a 17 minus (-)& 18 minus (-) amendment and take the sting out of the constitution with necessary

Amendments with the easily accessible two thirdsmajority. It will automatically shove any possible division of the country to the garbage bin, as the two major parties stand united.  Let the TNA become the Leader of the Opposition as it once did previously and acted responsibly provided the JVP is represented in Parliament.  JVP with Anura Dissanayake at the helm has made it a principled political party that has regained its stature after the departure of erraticSomawansa.

Ranil wrote himselfoffand the UNP, prematurely and unfairly- due lack of confidence and the fear of constant defeat- not realizing the potential of the members of theUNP that stayed with him in the worst of times, now giving way to those ‘come lately johnnies’ from the UPFA, as expressed succinctly by Tissa Attanayake. Any formidable candidate of the UNP is stronger than a nominee of Chandrika, when the votes are counted.Ranil should place his trust in the evergreen party members rather than those who switch parties to save their seats - especially the revolving rump. Ranil as Prime Minister with Rajapaksa as President will automatically bring the 2/3 majority to restructure the constitution. 

There is not a great distance to cover between the SLFP and UNP with a frequent flyer service flowing to and from with comfortable access to the entrances of both party offices. The difference lies only in the personality and the style of leadership between the leaders of both parties at all times [in this case Mahinda and Ranil] otherwise the parties are twins in substance and appearance. Naturally S.W.R.D Bandaranaike and his team of MPs with followers left the UNP to form the SLFP. This is not the case of the LSSP or CP or JVP or TNA. 

Therefore if one side wins a national election, MPs on the loosing side can fly crous the aisle without any discomfort to the government, making a mockery of the constitution due to the interpretations of the judiciary. The winner acquires a majority after a general elections unlike at a presidential election.

Much of themovements were engineered and made possible during a period when a controversial Chief Justice headed the judiciary. It was not long ago when Dr. Neville Fernando, Gamini Dissanayake and Lailth Athulathmudali were removed from UNP membership and forfeited their seats when Chief Justices stood upright and ensured courts adhered to the spirit of the constitution. Wavering judiciary of an unfortunate period has destabilized the country for all times. They, before any politician, should be blamed for tinkering with the constitution. Instead they still roam around giving silly interpretations because politicians like to hear any tune that a piper plays that pleases their ears. 

Sri Lankans have short memories and much is forgotten and forgiven. For the Colombians, any passing devil is an angel, if the mission is to displace the Rajapakses’- understandable, with a surfeit of friends and relations planted in high places, in a competitive society and good governance is becoming virtually unknown.IfRajapakse wins the election many will crawl back to him. 

Words of General Fonseka spoken on defeat are words of wisdom emanating from a man who has experienced it first hand.

Rajapaksa won a war and ushered peace on which dividend the country forges ahead. We live a secure life due to the bold initiative of the Rajapakses’ in uprooting the LTTE from its undergrowth, for which the West seeks to punish us. Yet Rajapakse is like Sirimavo Bandaranaike, is asking too much from the rural masses and taking them for granted. They sent her packing home with seven electorates-coming mostly from the multi-member seats.

Ranil as Prime Minister ran a pragmatic administration where law and order prevailed and financial discipline was tightly controlled to the extent that it kept a lid on the middle classes growing to become an expanded middle-income societyas of present. Ranil was confronted with an ongoing war notwithstanding periodic spells of artificial peace caused by the failed ceasefire agreement that led to his fall. Ironically his UNP minister who was more responsible for the transactions with the LTTEis having a time of his life in the comfort of the government as its most travelled Foreign Minister. What is the secret of success? Throw principles to the wind and learn to switch parties knowing the backing of the judiciary is in your pocket if your own welfare is foremost.MahindaRajapaksa and RanilWickremasinghe are more principled politicians to stand by their policies whether they win or loos. Don’t monkey with the judiciary yet don’t hesitate to decapitate those judges that fail to maintain high standards.  

Mahinda enlarged the comfort levels of the middle-income group with the oncoming of peace that enabled home grown business to thrive from their households.It was possible because Rajapaksa took the proper option of wiping out terrorism from its roots that made the people think of a lifestyle beyond safeguarding the security of their family.With Ranil a stagnant middle class maintained its compartmentalized distinction between the middle and upper middle classes that is a fundamental to the UNP gentry; Mahinda diluted it and turned it into a middle-income society ofan over consuming majority making money circulate to thrive the economy.

Travel along any road in the South of Sri Lanka and see the spouting name boards of lively private enterprises displayed in homes and gardens that reflect the spirit of the emerging middle-income society that points to the future of the urban Sri Lankan economy. It is sadly absent when you pass Vavuniya on M9 towards the North because the Rajapaksa regime has failed to create the infrastructure to put money into the pockets of the northerners. They will loose votes that should have been in their hip pocket ifthey sheltered the valuedJaffna wallet.

The Rajapakse regime stinks of corruption and the want of good governance.  Much of it is unfortunately forgiven with thecontinuing efforts to splendidly save the nation from foreign assault for winning the war that has made poor reap the benefits that peace provided. Rural Poor unlike the comfortable Colombians are lesser timeservers adding value by factoring gratitude.They also know little of current events that do not touch them. It’s those mothers that need be saluted for providing sons and daughters that made Sri Lanka overcome terrorism during our lifetime and save the country from a possible division.

The Future of the people of Sri Lanka is in their hands. Their decision is better than mine.They know and will do the needful better.