Will Anura Kumara step down and allow Harini to lead?

She appears genuine; a lady with integrity, who is thorough and like a good sales rep, is fully convinced of the ‘efficacy of her product’! She has the knowledge, the judgement, and the temperament, to be a successful leader

Ravi Nagahawatte writing under the catchy title, “What does Patali know about politics that Harini doesn’t know?”, [Daily Mirror -14/10] - says,
“…. we see two forces in the likes of Patali Champika Ranawaka and Dr. Harini Amarasuriya knocking on the door as future leaders of this country”. …..”The difference between Ranawaka and Amarasuriya would be like how an engineer and sales rep talk about a certain metal roofing sheet to a group of potential buyers; the latter definitely appealing to the masses when speaking.”

Harini, who holds a doctorate in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh, and a senior academic at Open University, doesn’t beat around the bush: no mincing of words, she knows that prospects are better served through brief, clear language, to explain why Sri Lanka has failed though being governed by major political powers over the past 75 years. She appears genuine; a lady with integrity, who is thorough and like a good sales rep, is fully convinced of the ‘efficacy of her product’! She has the knowledge, the judgement, and the temperament, to be a successful leader.

The JVP, in alliance with several professional and intellectual organizations, have formed an alliance called Jathika Jana Balawegaya [JJB]. One such brainy group is represented by Dr. Harini Amarasuriya MP.
A couple of recognized international survey institutions, along with a local player, conducted surveys in July/August to read the pulse of the electorate; the outcome concludes that there is a huge shift in the voter preference; from the traditional loyalties to the left aligned alliance, JJB.

They in fact have recorded a shocking, over forty percent in favour of Harini’s alliance. The million dollar question is, whether the leader of both the JVP and JJB, Anura Kumara Dissanayake MP, a mature politician who shifted loyalties from Chandrika to Mahinda and then in 2010 to Fonseka; and in turn to Maithri-Ranil in 2015, but could muster only a little over three percent of valid votes at the 2019 Presidential stakes, during the peak of Rajapaksa popularity, would be altruistic enough to part with his title and forego an outside chance [a dream] of leading the nation in the future? If he does so, the young, the independent, and most of the floating voters, hitherto deceived by the two main rivals, no doubt would enthusiastically vote in favour of the system change that they have been clamouring for.

Mahinda and Gota campaigning separately?

Has former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa begun a secret campaign to boost his image by persuading the villagers that he was ill-advised and compelled to take wrong and harmful decisions by others. A team led by a media head and businessman who visit villages and speak to the people explain the circumstances that led to his removal from Presidency and also collect feedback from villagers in a survey to assess the level of trust that remains.
Former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who attempted to advice his brother on many issues including the fertilizer ban and on handling fiscal matters only to be rejected by the younger brother, is also planning a series of rallies island-wide organized by his corrupt and die hard supporters in the Pohottuva party who think that the party should distance itself from Gota and re-build it to face future elections.

ARAGALAYA, a blessing in disguise for Mahinda?

Former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa appeared in public for the first time since his resignation in May as Prime Minister by attending a Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) propaganda rally under the theme ‘Let’s rise together, start from Kalutara’ on October 08.
Publicized as the first of many that the SLPP proposes to hold island-wide in a drive to rebuild the tattered image of the Pohottuva party, Gotabaya Rajapaksa jumped-the-gun when he announced months ahead even before receiving the blessings of the party or family, on his intention to run for the top post. The unexplained procrastination of naming Gota as party nominee by the brother confused everybody in 2019.
Kumara Welgama was the only SLPPer who openly spoke against nominating Gota as their candidate; the former minister and Mahinda loyalist, correctly guessed why Mahinda was dilly dallying.

Mahinda addressing the fairly well attended meeting said there was no need to explain the economic situation to the people since they knew it perfectly well. He said it was their duty to protect the government and back the policies of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, though they criticized him back then. Since he was with them now, they should ‘admire and commend him for he has preferred the correct path.’

Dr Harini, so far, is undoubtedly the best bet, provided she openly makes known to the public, her dissention with some JVP high ranking ’71, ‘88/89 type radicals, who profess a mass invasion of the house surrounded by the waters of Diyavanna!

However, some In the UNP misinterpreted the comments; Range Bandara, the staunch Ranil loyalist, over-looked by the ‘Nayakathuma’ for a position in his administration took a swipe at all SLPP speakers in a vituperative manner. A little too early though, it marked first signs of a possible split according to posts appeared in social media.
It was Dr N. M. Perera who forewarned of the dangers in Executive Presidency. We experienced bitter relations in Chandrika-Ranil; Maithri-Ranil, Gota-Mahinda [same party in addition to being siblings] and now Ranil-Pohottuva. Commenting on a situation where the President and PM (Cabinet) elected from rival parties, being compelled to unite in a ‘cohabitation’, an undesirable feature, according to the learned political scientist who received two doctorates for his research on ‘comparative constitutional studies’ wrote….,

“The fact that the President has the power to assign to himself any subject or function, he can at will take away any function already agreed to the PM or to any other minister. In these complex circumstances, what happens to the left majority in the House supporting a left Prime Minister who is burdened with a President sponsoring a conflicting policy with the declared policy of a majority? How is this clash to be resolved? Will that President be ready to swallow his pride and foreswear his principles adumbrated in his own professed policy when he assumed office? If neither is willing to give way, there will be an impasse. The whole administrative machinery will come to a standstill.”

Harini, with her research interests in state society relations, political movements, dissent and activism can convince the electorate in 2024 of her eligibility, if the legislature fails to introduce a new Constitution abolishing the Executive Presidency in the meantime. Till then, her alliance led by JVP, must realize that only an experienced, strong and seasoned leader like Wickremesinghe, the right man with the right knowledge and skill, who can recover the shattered economy of a bankrupt State. He appears to be handling the situation in an efficient manner albeit with violent crackdowns on protests and the arbitrary detaining of activists and journalists.
Dr Harini, so far, is undoubtedly the best bet, provided she openly makes known to the public, her dissention with some JVP high ranking ’71, ‘88/89 type radicals, who profess a mass invasion of the house surrounded by the waters of Diyavanna!

Writer can be contacted at - kksperera1@gmail.com