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RANIL WICKREMESINGHE - AS I KNOW HIM

9 August 2022 12:09 am - 10     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Ranil Wickremesinghe is seen surrounded by well wishers and party stalwarts soon after being sworn-in as the eighth executive President of Sri Lanka

 

My father instilled in me in childhood, to always have the courage to stand up for what I believe in, irrespective of public opinion, or whoever disagrees with me.  This inspired me to never lose hope in Ranil Wickremesinghe, stand up for him, and pray daily for his protection. I have never changed my political stance, have always supported the UNP, never asked for or received any favours for doing so. My political mentor was the late President JR Jayewardene in my schooldays. Later on, I got close to the late Dudley Senanayake through my late husband and he remains my favourite politician with Ranil, a close second. 


My first meeting with Ranil was in his childhood; I was training as a teacher in the kindergarten at Bishop’s College in my last year at school. Ranil’s mother gave him over to me on his first day as we were family friends, as the assistant teacher in his class and asked me to look after him. Another pupil who I met later on, while I was  handling community service projects at CIS, who I am proud of too, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam told me  recently, ‘Aunty, you are still looking after him!’. 

 

He has never bought houses or land here or elsewhere, this is what his parents built for him containing a vast collection of treasured books and documents, his grandmother’s 100-year old piano, paintings, artefacts collected over the years. Even their medical records were burnt


Ranil then was a friendly, affectionate little boy, always helpful in class and eager to learn and increase his knowledge.  Later on in his youth too, he was friendly, full of jokes and teasing; the reserve came much later on, after he became Leader of the UNP. I believe that he wants the best for the country, has the experience, wisdom, international respect   to be able to do it given time and co-operation. One cannot expect him to work miracles after the state the country was in, due to financial mismanagement, corruption, indiscipline and inefficiency in all respects.  He has his faults like we all do, but these are merely human frailties. He is not a good communicator, may not smile and slap one on the back, but he will not stab one in the back.   My humble opinion is that he has to be very tough, curb lawlessness, bring in unpopular decisions for the sake of the nation which he loves as well as we all do. He was born into distinguished families on both sides, has always had wealth and privilege and doesn’t need the plums of high political office to enjoy these privileges. There are things that money can t buy; bred in the bone and Ranil has them all. He has learned to survive the snake pits of his political journey and succeed in them. He has a great sense of history, wit, intelligence, capability, tenaciousness, wisdom, and works unceasingly with indefatigable effort and commitment to a cause.  All these qualities will stand him in good stead now. Ranil has never been a racist. He wants equal status and opportunity for all; irrespective of race or religion. He comes from a family on his mother’s side which has contributed greatly to Buddhism and he is a devout Buddhist.  He never resorts to slander, although he gets plenty of it and is the most misunderstood politician today. Turns the other cheek and doesn’t let it bother him. He has a tremendous capacity to forgive which annoys all who care for him. His father was a Christian, so he grew up in a home devoid of religious or racial prejudice. I am glad that his classmate at Royal College, Dinesh Goonewardene and his friend throughout despite political difference is the Prime Minister. Both have great experience and breeding; I hope and pray that they will work together in harmony. 
Those of us who care for him were not happy when he accepted the PM‘s post this time as we were concerned for his safety.  But never did we think that the most heinous crime of burning down his house with all his worldly possessions would happen. He has never bought houses or land here or elsewhere, this is what his parents built for him containing a vast collection of treasured books and documents, his grandmother’s 100-year old piano, paintings, artefacts collected over the years. Even their medical records were burnt. How can these, or looting, smashing valuables in state-owned buildings such as Temple Trees, President’s house and offices be peaceful protests? People must adhere to law and order, it’s what we do that counts, which makes us civilized people, distinguishes us from savages and beasts. Nurture over Nature, we can’t control what’s in our hearts but we can control our behaviour. 

 

My first meeting with Ranil was in his childhood; I was training as a teacher in the kindergarten at Bishop’s College in my last year at school. Ranil’s mother gave him over to me on his first day as we were family friends, as the assistant teacher in his class and asked me to look after him


For days before the election for President took place; as a Christian, I prayed several times daily, saying ‘Lord, may your will be done. Please protect Ranil and his family from danger, attacks or violence and don’t let him be humiliated’. As I said this for the last time late morning that day, I heard a voice saying. ‘Don’t worry, all will be well’. When I switched on my phone a little later, I got the message that Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected President.  I thanked God and continue to pray for his safety and for God’s guidance for him daily as I have always done and will continue to do till I breathe last.


‘You will never get to the end of the journey, if you stop to shy a stone at every dog that barks’ -- Winston Churchill 


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  Comments - 10

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  • Mano Tuesday, 09 August 2022 04:36 AM

    I am a Jaffna born Tamil settled in London. You being a non white lady and yet quoting Winston Churchill is ludicrous and reflects your lack of understanding of the world current affairs now. In the recent years Winston Churchill is gained notoriety, many years after his death, for being a downright racist who hated the idea of non whites being in equal status with the whites. Consequent to outcry against Winston Churchill the statues of Winston Churchill in Britain are being covered from being seen by public with iron curtains and concrete walls or they are being removed to be kept safely in museums. Even the Winston Churchill mini statue kept in the Oval Office in the White House has been moved out. This is the current reality in the West. Potential Prime Minister in 6 weeks time in Britain is a Hindu Asian.

    Mithula Tuesday, 09 August 2022 07:30 AM

    I too used to have great faith in Ranil. Until I understood that he has no feelings for our people. His only wish is to be president even over the dead bodies of our people. He doesn’t care even if half of our population go hungry. Only thing he wants is power and to protect the crooks in parliament including his buddies the Rajapaksa’s. I hope and pray every day that we will be saved from Ranil the devil as soon as possible. May god protect my beloved mother land always.

    Sangaralingham Tuesday, 09 August 2022 08:42 AM

    RW seems to me the wisest choice to overcome country's crisis.need lot of support moral courage from him and and countrymen women

    Rienzie Wannithantri Tuesday, 09 August 2022 08:53 AM

    Splendid exposure of KNOW HOW of a personality of courage and dignity.

    M Susiriwardana Tuesday, 09 August 2022 11:24 AM

    Madam, I fully agree what you say about Ranil. Being a person who had to work as a high level government official for over a decade under him, I learnt that his only goal is to see the country prosper. You are 100% correct when you say he never wanted to use state resources for his personal advantage, including those if came as early 2015 bond scam. May be he had main goal of becoming the President, but in the present day politicians, I do not see anybody who has the maturity, strength, and broader vision to take Sri Lanka out of this agony, rather than attempting to see how best they can utilize the present situation for their own advantage. This is high time for us all to help him to take the country out of this apathetic situation. He has already taken meaningful steps to relax serious difficulties we experienced on fuel, power, gas, medicine etc.

    Sheri Tuesday, 09 August 2022 01:49 PM

    In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests, protesters sprayed graffiti on Winston Churchill's statue over two successive days and, as a result, the statue was temporarily covered up to preserve it from further vandalism. It has not been removed as erroneously claimed by the comment above! Misinformation and fake news abound!

    Keerthi Weragoda Tuesday, 09 August 2022 06:58 PM

    I agree with your comment that one cannot expect RW to work miracles. To my reckoning RW is the only political leader who can take our beloved country out of this quagmire. One thing I expect from RW in addition to salvaging the country from this mess is to deal with all those rouges, politicians and bureaucrats who took us down this road. Then only his stature as a man of the people will be recognized by the masses, which will also help to bring back the old glory of the UNP. Otherwise the black mark that reverberates around as a Rajpakse man cannot be eliminated. I wish him all the strength and the courage to do the right thing in the best interests of the country.

    freddy foxx Wednesday, 10 August 2022 01:05 PM

    On the other side of the coin, this man has been noted to be THE most deceitful, crafty manipulator in the South Asian region of this planet, among other things. Look closely at the contours of his face and one will agree. This trait made him a co-rogue of the CB heist. His recent request to the judiciary to acquit him of all accusations is testimony to the above and apparently the writer of this article is flagrantly shamelessly begging this rogue for a high administrative position, so God Help Us all.

    Anosh Balasingham Thursday, 11 August 2022 04:56 PM

    The inconvenient truth is that Ranil's end will be worse than that of a rabid dog in the words of Mr. Kovilhill. Anosh

    Justice and fair play Friday, 12 August 2022 02:20 AM

    In 1981, the world famous Jaffna library with its centuries old manuscripts, thousands of books,art works were burnt to ashes by the racist thugs Cyril Mathew and Gamini Dissanayake. The following day the South gloated about the destruction. THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION ON THAT DAY WAS RANIL WICKREMASINGHE. HE NEVER UTTERED A SINGLE WORD. GLOATED IN SILENCE WITH THE THUGS. KARMA FOLLOWS. YOU MAY PRAY DAY AND NIGHT FOR RW, THE GOD HAS HIS PLANS.


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