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ne has to lose - the other has to win; to say the obvious. Who’s going to be the fallen guy - Ranil or Mahinda – in electing the Lord of the Throne for the Negatives? Picking the loser is a less onerous task than the winner. Two defeated old codgers closing on seventy need a wake-up call, being out of touch with reality. A match is on…crowds are bussed…. song and dance… applause is orchestrated; we go through the stupid motions that are no longer exciting except for the performers on the stage. Geek is the term, young generation refer to such silly festivity. It enthuses the party workers, if at all, and sourpuss for others.
New names, new face evinces an interest. Scroll down the candidates’ lists…. uninspiring names where posters feature photos of a youthful past and the image of a sordid present. Deception begins from the poster onwards. Serves us right for living amongst muck.
Neither can afford to lose–a twice trounced Mahinda, war hero in the past tense, will slide down several pegs and find being targeted by a pack of bloodthirsty hounds cut loose to hunt his cronies’ ill-gotten funds. Next time only the ineffective Attorney General’s department will save them. Even an election will not rejuvenate these lawyers as they have careers to be safeguarded in revolving times.
Recurring loser Ranil, kept democratic traditions alive notwithstanding repeated defeats, will have to hide in shame after Sirisena won the event in comfort. Otherwise it is further proof of an established habitual loser – not the way to end a remarkable career.
The style of governance of the UNP has not reached expectations it held out- if defeated; the root cause is churning reams of false pretense. Facebook Society treats both sides with disdain after anchoring Sirisena previously. Ranil needlessly had to follow Sirisena, whereas he should have been leading upfront, if he dared to contest. Boy, he is got a phobia of losing otherwise he would have been reigning as the President. With a lacklustre performance, he may not be able to retain premiership. For Mahinda, without the State to prop him is unable to navigate a take-off. Is his address in Mean Street?
Whoever loses, this result is going to lead to a night of sharpening the carving knives - many will desert to the other side in search of unjust enrichment. Election results looks distorted when the portfolios are offered.
The supporters deem it a lap of honour while others deem it the final lap. To the faithful, their leaders will linger in their minds affectionately due to the uninterrupted unstinting support extended to the UNP/SLFP in days of good or bad. Whoever loses, Sirisena will have a wry smile that will soon break out into a chuckle. Why? The Polonnaruwa lad outsmarted two giant political parties between bouts of egg hoppers and red rice. Made them grovel before him for a fleeting moment. Sirisena holds a unique position. A President elected by the people with the help of the UNP; thereupon anointed as the party President by the SLFP- he reached the zenith of his power. Enjoys the immense interim powers of an executive President, much of the honours denied to his successors, conferred on him exclusively for his term by a tailor made constitution. Balancing delicately perched on two stools the day he falls, may not find a leg to stand on. History will fault the Rasputin sect of monks for engineering a constitution that will disorient a nation to usher an Elam. This constitution is geared to support weak governments that have to carry on with all its infirmities for 52 months compulsively while the country bleeds. Doors are closed for elections for four years and six months. Saffron peril has killed democracy at conception. How can they govern for four-and a-half years if a hung Parliament emerges; a likely eventuality. Monks have an important place in society but should not take on the task of constitution-making and look giddy.