Where did Dr. Upul go wrong

The article titled ‘Where did Sajith Go Wrong’ by Dr. Upul Wijayawardhana in the Daily Mirror a couple of days ago was interesting enough, but it would have been more readable, if he stuck to facts rather than to fiction and to his own assumptions. In the opening lines itself, he states that politicians should go for compulsory retirement in their old age for reasons of progressively diminishing cerebral function and in the very next line he contradicts his theory by saying that Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamed, at 93 years returned to politics as Prime Minister of Malaysia, after 15 years of’ retirement and that is an exception than his rule. It appears that Dr, Upul is not willing to grant the same exception to our local politicians, those well passed their retirement date. 

• At this crucial moment Sajith has become the saviour. This is why even the closest pals of Ranil have now deserted him and are campaigning for Sajith
• SF has been dreaming for quite sometime to become Law and Order Minister for which he has to be in the good books of Ranil. So there is nothing wrong in SF siding Ranil
• A whole lot of others are all anxiously waiting to welcome Ranil as the UNP candidate, because they very well know that Ranil will continue with his chain of defeats at elections

 While appreciating Sajith’s loyalty to UNP through thick and thin, Dr. Upul admits the weaknesses ‘multiple defeats’ and ‘lack of successes’ of Ranil during the past few decades and states that ‘his actions have weakened the UNP’. But he dismisses all such failures of Ranil as yet another matter. And in a later paragraph, he says, “Ranil as the governing party leader and the current Prime Minister, has all the might to contest the Presidency, if he wishes to, irrespective of’ the past record.” He also states “if Sajith faces the electorate, it will be with a significantly reduced chance of a UNP victory.’ To a large number of UNP ministers and MPs, who were all these years helplessly tolerating the downward journey of the UNP under Ranil, at this crucial moment Sajith has become the saviour. This is why even the closest pals of Ranil have now deserted him and are campaigning for Sajith.   

While appreciating Sajith ‘s loyalty to UNP through thick and thin, Dr.  Upul admits the weaknesses ‘multiple defeats’ and ‘lack of successes’ of  Ranil during the past few decades and states that ‘his actions have  weakened the UNP’

Dr.Upul forgets the fact that the opposition led by Mahinda Rajapaksa, and vehemently supported by persons like Dinesh, Bandula, Udaya, Wimal and a whole lot of others are all anxiously waiting to welcome Ranil as the UNP candidate, because they very well know that Ranil will continue with his chain of defeats at elections. They are confident that it is easier to beat him rather than any other UNP candidate. They are fully aware that highlighting in the eyes of both rural and urban voters, Issues like the fraud date, Bond economic debacles, sale of national assets to China, high cost of living, increase in crimes, strikes one after the other, maladministration by heads of various ministries and departments as exposed at the COPE and at the presidential commission to inquire into the corruptions of the present government and many such other allegations could be levelled only at the premiership or Ranil. Factually, one cannot comprehend how Dr. Upul, who has been living in UK for ages in comfort and luxury, only with an occasional short trip to Sri Lanka, could fathom and feel the true pulse of the masses here and state that Ranil will win and Sajith will reduce the chance of a UNP victory.  

Dr. Upul says that Sajith missed a golden opportunity when he refused to accept the premiership fifty to sixty times offered by the President. How could Dr. Upul, the renowned Cardiologist, think so in a total contrast to his judgment. It must be emphasized that those were the golden opportunities of Sajith to display his absolute loyalty and faithfulness to Ranil, standing by him at the expense of his political future and proved his golden quality as a matured politician, that he is not the man to fish in troubled waters. Sajith also projected to the world his strength by not striking a person when he is in trouble and weak, and by taking Ranil when he is strong as the Prime Minister and the party leader.   

Dr Upul accuses Sajith for holding the Kurunegala rally after Ranil has requested him to desist from holding such rallies. No wonder, from UK, Dr. Upul did not grasp the truth. When Ranil had the chat with Sajith the true leader did not want to let down hundreds of his committed battalion who had taken the political risk of their life by supporting him. So he held the Kurunegala rally and refrained from holding any more rallies thereafter respecting the request of his leader.Ranil.  

Mangala as SLFP candidate, not only defeated Dr. Upul’s brother Ranjan -  the then UNP candidate but also, since becoming a UNPer, Mangala was  responsible in getting Ranjan posted from the Matara electorate to  Hakmana electorate through Ranil, causing the end of the political  carreer of Ranjan

Dr. Upul states that the Chairman of the UNP Kabir Hashim - should not take sides and support Sajith as it is a coup and an act of lunacy. But the learned Doctor seems to have missed that the party Secretary Akila Viraj and Vice Chairman Ravi Karunanayaka -- taking the side of Ranil, without any attempt to act as mediators to the conflict between the leader and the chairman of their party. He also refers to a media chat by Sarath Fonseka (SF), where SF lashed at Sajith. SF has been dreaming for quite sometime to become Law and Order Minister for which he has to be in the good books of Ranil. So there is nothing wrong in SF siding Ranil. Still, the better thing would have been for the Field Marshal to settle the dispute through negotiations. But in fairness to him, can he, who annihilated a whole array of dangerous terrorists using most modem armaments, think of a process of amicable reconciliation?  

Dr. Upul has devoted several paragraphs to attack Mangala Samaraweera for supporting Sajith. But most people in Matara know why. Mangala’s father, Mahanama Samaraweera defeated Dr. Upul’s father Justin Wijayawardhana  then sitting UNP MP for Matara, at the General Election held in 1960 July. That was the first grudge of Dr. Upul against Samaraweeras. That was not all. At a couple of subsequent elections, Mangala as SLFP candidate, not only defeated Dr. Upul’s brother Ranjan - the then UNP candidate but also, since becoming a UNPer, Mangala was responsible in getting Ranjan posted from the Matara electorate to Hakmana electorate through Ranil, causing the end of the political career of Ranjan. It as therefore, no surprise for Dr. Upul making hay while the sun shines.