Aspirations & Suitability for Premiership

By Darmitha-Kotte

There is no doubt that many would aspire to become the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and it is no secret that there is one such individual who always thought that being the only son of two late Prime Ministers was adequate qualification to become a contender. He not only aspires but feels that it is his "God given right" irrespective of the fact that his party loyalties have been shaky for as long as we remember his political career!

There is speculation that once again, some SLFP stalwarts are attempting to promote AB's name for Premiership as per an article that appeared in "Lanka" of 2nd March 2007. According to the news item, it is reported that Mr. Ratnasiri Wickramanayake who came in through the National List is to be requested to resign and Anura Bandaranaike's name is to be nominated for the post. This could be pure speculation but whatever it may be, serious thinking needs to be done before making such a move and President Rajapakse needs to think very seriously both the pros and cons of this suggestion.

The SLFP membership must shed its blind belief that the SLFP is the sole property of the Bandaranaike family. The late Mr. SWRD and Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike no doubt, have to be treated with the highest respect for their unswerving loyalty towards the party until their death. But it stops with that- their children did not have the same allegiance towards the party and it is all too well known how both Chandrika and Anura abandoned the late mother and crossed over to other parties or formed new parties to compete with the SLFP in the not so recent past within a matter of 20-22 years. When the late mother most needed her children they were seated with the enemies. This should be evidence enough for anyone to understand that personal gains have come up before party loyalty for these two children & therefore, they have to prove themselves to be worthy of higher positions. Chandrika Kumaratunga ofcourse proved an utter failure and insult to the late parents during the past 11 years. Let us not make the same mistake with the son who has shown his fickleness on too many occasions. To his credit, there is no one who could deny the fact that he is a good speaker but being only a talker is not good enough to aspire for higher posts in the government.

A very interesting article written in a Sinhala newspaper on 4th March 2007 by columnist Buddhika Kurukularatne in his "Ambalangodayage Katha" under the title " AB Who Locked Horns With His Mother After Swallowing The Bait of JR" gives a very good character certificate to Anura Bandaranaike and his tendency towards manipulations as well as his fickleness. AB is described as a person who enjoys a good drink till the late hours of the morning, enjoys life in the USA rather than in Sri Lanka, is a talker rather than a worker but good company! The article explains how AB sought the legal advise from a strong UNP lawyer when he filed a case against his mother and the SLFP-what more do we need to judge his character or his allegiance.

The role of a Prime Minister of any country requires serious thinking and hard work, it needs an analytical mind and a sound knowledge of international relations and the politics involved-most of all, it also needs a mature mind and a sense of national identity as well as the sovereignty of Sri Lanka. A government cannot have a conspirator as the second in command. A Prime Minister must be a person who can rally together all politicians whether they be Cabinet Ministers, MPs or even Opposition Members in times of a national crisis. He must be an asset to the Executive President and not a liability. Therefore, it is wise for SLFP party stalwarts, to rethink their suggestion of appointing Anura Bandaranaike for Premiership if they have the SLFP as a party upper most in their hearts and if they wish to respect the late Mr. and Mr. Bandaranaike. Party discipline and party survival is more important than paying heed to personal likes and dislikes!

The country needs strong and loyal politicians for whom Sri Lanka as a sovereign nation comes first and not politicians who could be manipulated by parties with vested interests.