By Shivanthi ranasinghe Courtesy Ceylon Today

It was an act of cruel irony that forced the supporters of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to witness him resigning from Office on 14-07-2022 and hand over the reins to the then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. President Gotabaya won with an overwhelming majority and was given a rare two-third government precisely to save our country from Ranil Wickremesinghe’s anti-national policies.

This majority did not come from the traditional vote bases of the SLFP and its allies. For the second time in Sri Lanka’s contemporary history, the country united as one. Voters left their usual political affiliations and preferences to work and bring Gotabaya Rajapaksa to power and politically retire Ranil Wickremesinghe. The first time this phenomenon occurred was in 2008-9, as a 30-year terrorist era was brought to an end.

From President Gotabaya Rajapaksa voters expected:

1. A disciplined society,

2. Bolstered national security,

3. A strong economy.

By politically retiring the Yahapalana Government’s Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, people wanted to send a strong message to those politicians who weaken national interests to pander to geopolitical whims. The shameless servitude to US diktats severely cost the veteran politician.

Role Reversal

One could say that President Gotabaya’s mistake was that he tried to be more American than the Americans as he strived to prove himself as an advocate of democracy. Americans know when to,

• Work within the democratic framework,

• Use democracy as mere propaganda and

• Ignore it altogether.

Conversely, President Gotabaya got carried away. He thus allowed the anti-government protests, which the West insisted was a strong arm” of democracy, to continue unabated. Even as the protests degraded into boorishness, then hooliganism and finally violence, the protests were tolerated. The disappointment of those who expected a disciplined society from him is beyond measure.

Considering the circumstances that led to his resignation, the status of the national security does not need further clarification. His resignation has far reaching consequences. He left a very bad precedence, for now every government henceforth can be ousted in this similar fashion.

The protests adversely affected the ailing economy. We were on an economic tightrope and could not afford the luxury to protest. Neither investors nor tourists view protests as a fundamental right. Instead they become cautious and would rather look for other options. Tourism in April 2022 fell by more than
40 per cent. As the protests progressed, the economy continued to contract and for the first time in our history, we declared bankruptcy.

However, Ranil Wickremesinghe as the new President brought order to the country and restored the law.

He freed the State buildings that house the apex of the country’s administration from mobsters. Currently, he is working to resolve the bankrupted economy he inherited.

Of course, he cannot complain much as he is also an architect of this weakened economy. It was the policies he enacted during the Yahapalana Government that pushed our economic growth from a healthy seven per cent to an alarming two per cent – and that during a period where global economy grew.

However, the fact remains that presently there is a semblance of normalcy. This does not mean that we are on a path of recovery or the decisions enacted are free from controversy. It appears that we have no option but pass the darkest hour if we are to witness the dawn and may take many wrong turns in the meantime.

Nevertheless, President Wickremesinghe’s leadership in restoring peace whilst meeting economic challenges has been positively received by many – especially the former supporters of Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It appeared for a while that President Wickremesinghe has learnt from his past mistakes.

Death to Nation by Political Suicide

Just as voters began to relax and give President Wickremesinghe the benefit of the doubt, he shattered this fragile, budding trust.  During Thai Pongal festivities in Jaffna, earlier this month, he dropped the bombshell as he announced his intention to implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution (13A) in full.

None of his predecessors had ever seriously contemplated passing on land and Police powers from the Central Government to Provincial Councils. Therefore, it is unclear if President Wickremesinghe is actually serious and would do what none of the previous presidents dared.

If he does go ahead, it will be akin to resurrecting from the dead only to hammer another nail in his own coffin. People desperately feel the void of a true leader that they are willing to try anyone. In 2015, an unknown candidate was voted as President. The voters were enchanted by his ‘simplicity’. This adoration quickly evaporated and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a proven figure, was elected. Feeling deeply disappointed with him, many are now willing to try even the JVP.

Thus, if President Wickremesinghe holds a clear head and a steady hand, he has a shot at being accepted as a true leader of this country. Sri Lankans are not in the habit of holding onto grudges. That is the reason the perception many had of him to change when he was acting as a leader focussed on national interests. If he veers off course, now or later, that perception too will change accordingly.

However, retiring politicians is not the issue. We would have to live with the consequences of their mistakes. That is the real concern.

What Would be Resolved?

One of the reasons the Yahapalana Government began to lose its popularity is the co-signing of the Geneva Resolution 30/1. We need to ask, what compelled that Government to do so. If it was done on the presumption that it will strengthen our relations with the West, it did not.

Instead, it teethed the unsubstantiated allegations against our military. The subsequent resolutions continue to add allegations. Hence, instead of resolving the issue, we appear to be trapped in a never ending process.

Likewise, prior to the announcement of President’s intention to implement 13A in full, the government announced its intention of setting up a Truth Commission. This was followed by an All-Party conference to find a solution to the ‘National Question’ before the 75th Independence Day anniversary.

At the time, President promised to brief the Cabinet in February 2023 on the progress of the decisions taken at the All-Party Conference. However, the pledge to implement 13A was announced in January and thereby this promise was skipped.

Now, the key questions are:

• Why the deadline to find, before Independence Day, a political solution to a segment of the society when the entire nation is engulfed in a serious economic crisis?

• What precipitated President to override the concerns and suggestions made at the All-Party conference and announce his decision to implement the 13A?

• What are the solutions expected from establishing a truth commission or implementing 13A in full?

ranasingheshivanthi@gmail.com

(The views and opinions expressed in this article are writer’s own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Ceylon Today)

By Shivanthi Ranasinghe