Have you given up, Mahinda?

By Dr Upul Wijayawardhana

Undoubtedly, you are the leader of the Rajapaksa pack, though you are not the eldest or the one holding the highest office. You are also the politician closest to the hearts of the ordinary folk in Sri Lanka. So, why do you seem totally inactive when things are apparently getting from bad to worse; when Pohottuwa seems to be sinking in an ever widening and deepening quagmire, mostly of its own making? I do not have to remind you that it would be you who stand to lose the most. It makes it all the more puzzling why you are apparently withdrawing into a cocoon; or is this forced on you?

If the inaction is forced, it has to be by something internal, probably the family; not outside forces, as in the past you have demonstrated amply that you can stand up to even the strongest foe. Though I dedicated only half of my working life to Sri Lanka and have been living abroad for over three decades, my heart is in Sri Lanka and the blood that rushes through my arteries and veins is Sri Lankan. It is hard to describe how my heart swelled with pride when I learned how you insulted, albeit in a very diplomatic manner, the Foreign Ministers of the UK and France who came to rescue the leader of the most ruthless terrorist outfit the world has ever seen. That attempt was the culmination of numerous hypocritical acts committed by the West, which whilst condemning terrorism, would do their utmost, even help terrorists, to secure votes!

You, aided by your brother Gota and our brave security forces, were able to defeat terrorism, which you achieved against all odds, defying the predictions of so-called experts! Sri Lanka should have earned a unique place in history but the jealous West denied us that opportunity. Unfortunately, you succumbed to the machinations of the West by removing some of our diplomats who defended our honour, very successfully initially, in forums like UNHCR, the cesspit used by the West to tame those who do not toe their line. It transpires that these were carried out on the basis of representations made by parties with sinister motives. Of course, the Yahapalana traitors connived with the US and made matters even worse subsequently, but it is another story.

Though Sri Lankans hailed you as the ‘uncrowned king’ after the ‘war victory’ it was not to last, as six years later they sent you home unceremoniously. Well, this is nothing new; after all, Churchill won the war but lost the subsequent general election! However, you need to take responsibility, too, as it was your behaviour, as well as the behaviour of your fellow parliamentarians, which led to your ouster. Though any other politician would have buried his head in the sand and, perhaps, opted for retirement in such humiliating circumstances, you showed that you are a man of true grit. Your friends and family rallied round, your brother Basil organising, very successfully, a new party for you.

Yahapalanaya

headed by Sirisena, who betrayed you, was a disaster. Unfortunately, impatient for power, you got dragged into a coup by Sirisena which demonstrated the worst behaviour of our parliamentarians. Notwithstanding the temporary increase in Ranil’s popularity due to this blunder, voters of Sri Lanka placed their trust in your family, first by electing Gota to presidency and subsequently, at the general election, many members of your extended family to the parliament from different areas of the country. Gota started very well and it looked as if the vistas of prosperity may be a reality, at last, but things started going wrong pretty soon. The unexpected two-thirds majority was used to bring a constitutional amendment which included the ridiculous clause that allowed a dual citizen even to become president! The corrupt lot among your supporters soon showed their true colours by doing everything possible to make money. Though voters endorsed them in the hope that they were reformed by defeat, it looks as if politicians are truly an incorrigible lot!

Though many blame, unfairly, the misdeeds of Yahapalana going unpunished, there is enough reason to blame Pohottuwa for equally heinous frauds. I said unfairly as Yahapalana misdeeds have yet gone unpunished because Pohottuwa left it to the normal judicial process, in contrast to Ranil’s notorious operations from Temple Trees for selective punishment! However, the blunders of Pohottuwa are far too numerous for a short piece like this, but as a consummate politician you are well aware of these, no doubt.

It is rumoured that a Cabinet reshuffle is in the offing, and it is incumbent on you to have a word with Gota to ensure that it does not turn out to be the farce the last one was!

If it is used to get rid of the ministers who spoke against the ‘shady’ Yugadanavi deal, it may turn out to be the last nail in the coffin of Pohottuwa. It is a questionable deal on many counts; it was signed without following the accepted tender procedure; there is a conflict of interest on the part of the minister with US citizenship, and it was rushed through the Cabinet without being presented to the Parliament.

In fact, it was left to the leader of the JVP to present the agreement to Parliament. When it was presented, the shameless mouthpiece of your brother declared that anybody could have got it from the courts. Does he think that Sri Lankans are the biggest idiots in the world for him to give such lame excuses? It should have been presented to Parliament by the minister who received the power portfolio at the last reshuffle. The only valid inference that could be drawn is that the change of portfolio too was a part of this shady deal.

I know blood is thicker than water and that Basil helped you a lot to regain power. As much as he was the creator of Pohottuwa, it is increasingly apparent to many, including your ardent supporters, that Basil’s actions are driving your supporters away from you in droves. It is pretty obvious that the contested clause in 20A was for Basil’s sake. Before his entry to Parliament, his mouthpieces waxed eloquent about the benefits of his presence in the legislature. He snatched the Finance Ministry away from you to perform miracles, they said.

Basil presented his first budget but was absent during most of the discussions and escaped to his ‘second home’ soon afterwards. Cartoonists have a field day portraying that as the first lamp was fake and that Basil had gone to get the genuine Aladdin’s lamp! Perhaps, you ought to persuade your Malli to remain in the US and enjoy retirement. That would be the first step, if you do not wish to be disgraced twice!