CLASSIFIED | POLITICS | TERRORISM | OPINION | VIEWS

Karu Jayasuriya , joins Ranil Wickramasinghe -the birds of the feather, flock together.

By Charles.S.Perera

Only a few politicians are patriots and dedicated enough, to put the country before self, while others are self centred, and put self before country. So it was with Karu Jayasuriya.

If he were to have joined the Party of the President Rajapakse, he may not have gone beyond being a senior Minister. But in going back to UNP as its Deputy Leader, there is perhaps a chance for him to be the leader of the UNP , and perhaps an opening to being the President one day.

However, every body accepts him as a good person. He was a good Minister in the President Mahinda Rjapakse's government. He quietly carried out the responsibilities he had been given as the Minister of Public Administration, without being critical of the government or the opposition.

He did not resign from his old party, but rallied round the President Mahinda Rajapakse to support his formidable war effort against the terrorists. That way he proved himself to be a mature politician with far more foresight than the immature JVP politicians, or Ranil himself. He also knows Ranil Wickramasinghe as a weak leader, and that the UNP will weaken further under his leadership. However, whether Jayasuriya joining the old party will help improve it, is doubtful.

If Jayasuriya were to improve the present dwindling image of UNP, he has to compete with lot of others who had been standing together with their failed political leader Ranil Wickramasinghe for their own personal gain, some even preparing to walk into his shoes. That however is Jayasuriya 's problem.

But Karu Jayasuriy who was working quietly to give his best to the Ministry of Public Administration under the President Mahinda Rajapakse, has on leaving the government to join the UNP, suddenly becomes vociferous, and critical. It is well an good that he appreciates the President's war effort, but was it necessary for him to criticise the government as a reason for his leaving it ?

People would have appreciated it, if he gave some other reason to have left the government to go back to the UNP, rather than criticise the government for its financial failings as he says, which puts him in the same category of the failed Mr.Ranil Wickramasinghe. Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe's raison d'étre has become accusing, criticising, vilifying, and insulting the President Mahinda Rajapakse, his family and his government.

The UNF government under Ranil Wickramasinghe in which Karu Jayasuriya served before ,was not an example of good financial management. The UNF government sold the CWE sales outlets to three major companies . It was not a wise move in which many workers were laid off, and the country lost an enterprise that was working well.

The Sunday Leader which made a field day on the resignation of Karu Jayasuriya from the Government to join the UNP as its deputy leader, did not have much good to tell about him when he was the Minister of Power and Energy in the UNF Government under Ranil Wickramasinghe.

The Sunday Leader of the 28 April,2000 wrote,"…. Karu Jayasuriya is an honourable man is an undisputed fact. So was Mother Theresa. However, the good lady despite her saintly attributions could never have qualified to manage and turn around a crisis of humongous proportions, as is the power crisis in Sri Lanka. An Osma Bin Laden is a more likely candidate. »

The Sunday Leader adds, that " Karu Jayasuriya's respect of the Mafia style unions at the CEB knows no bounds. Before the first board meeting at the CEB took place on February 1, this year, following the appointment of Karu Jayasuriya as Minister, he had summoned an informal meeting of the board directors and chairman and appealed for their support to try and help businessmen involved in the mini hydro projects.

"http://www.thesundayleader.lk/20020428/spotlight.htm

The Island Editorial in the " Procrastination as an Art of Governance" wrote, Mr Jayasuriya is a genial person and everyone will be wishing him well. His proven success as a businessman and flair as a diplomat is conceded. But has he done enough to meet the current shortage of power?"

Karu Jayasuria who criticises the Financial Management of the government of the President Mahinda Rajapakse, did not do well when he was the Minister of Power and Energy in Ranil Wickramasinghe's cabinet of 2000. There were reports of serious illegalities with the contracts signed with Agrekko Limited, a financial deal entered into without consulting the Treasury or the Cabinet, and violation of tender procedures.

The Sunday Leader which wrote so enthusiastically of Karu Jayasuriya's coming back to the UNP fold, was not very kind to him for his financial dealings when he was the Minister of Power and Energy, The article written by Fredika Janz in the Sunday Leader of the 28 April, 2000, under the caption "Empty Coffers and Suicdal deal" says it all.

Therefore, Karu Jayasuriya praising the President Mahinda Rajapakse for his war effort and criticising the governments Financial Management, is a false excuse, as the old saying goes only the birds of the feather could flock together. Jayasuriya was out of place in the President Mahinda Rajapakse's Cabinet , and he is certainly better off with Ranil Munasinghe.

The President Mahinda Rajapakse is sincere, honest and above board. He is dedicated to the cause of the country. All allegations to smudge his good name came to nothing. The allegations of corruption that are being thrown in to the public arena, are not his doings. Once the main problem of terrorism is solved one can be assured that the President will attend to clean up the " stable floors" of crime and curruption.

Disclaimer: The comments contained within this website are personal reflection only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the LankaWeb. LankaWeb.com offers the contents of this website without charge, but does not necessarily endorse the views and opinions expressed within. Neither the LankaWeb nor the individual authors of any material on this Web site accept responsibility for any loss or damage, however caused (including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly suffer arising out of your use of or reliance on information contained on or accessed through this Web site.
All views and opinions presented in this article are solely those of the surfer and do not necessarily represent those of LankaWeb.com. .

BACK TO LATEST NEWS

DISCLAIMER