The Future Of President Mahinda Rajapaksa
Mahinda Rajapaksa
By Victor Ivan
If President Mahinda Rajapaksa is not able to make a serious change in his attitude, style of governance and actions after genuinely looking back at his first four years of governance, it is unavoidable that he will crumble as a leader, speedily heading towards obliteration even though he will be able to win the next presidential election. The President should have critically looked back and reviewed his performance after the results of the Southern Provincial Council. But that did not happen.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is a leader comparable to a highly valuable gem which is uncut and unpolished. If that gem was handed over to the custody of a versatile group of craftsmen, it could have become a very precious and a rare gem after careful cutting and polishing by experienced hands. Unfortunately, this gem is being continuously cut and re-polished by unskilled craftsmen who are not conversant with the subject. If this is to continue further, his importance and his value could get completely lost.
Out of all the leaders who came to power after independence, Mahinda Rajapaksa is the leader who is closest to the general public. He is not a leader who represents the elite society of Colombo Seven. He is also not a leader who came from the lower rungs of society but from the middle. He, like President Premadasa, does not think too highly of political dogma, but is a utilitarian leader.
President’s nephew Sashendra Rajapaksa
Like President Premadasa, he also had a determination to become the leader of the country some day. He waited patiently until the right time came. Like President Premadasa he too had a high degree of endurance. He was quite patient against the humiliation directed at him. When the right time dawned, he utilised that opportunity in a clever manner.
The post of premier and the candidature for the presidency did not fall into his lap. He created a situation where he could not be denied these posts. Under the special and complex political situation that prevailed in the country, despite President Chandrika Kumaratunga working against him, and Ranil Wickremesinghe having a better chance to come to power, he still won the presidential election. It was on his birthday, that the official results of the election were announced.
Basil Rajapaksa
Since the day he came to power, the most prominent weakness he has exhibited as a state leader is that he has not selected a team of high calibre, experienced, unbiased officers who could assist him in the governance of the State. In lieu, of the experienced and clever, he selected people from among his friends or relations.
Quite different to this situation, President Premadasa had a team of very clever officers who had been selected carefully. Among them Paskaralingam, Bradman Weerakoon, K.H.J. Wijedasa, and Susil Siriwardene gained the utmost confidence of President Premadasa. In steering the ship of state, he sought advice from this experienced team and in implementing his commands he had their assistance and help.
Victory over Pirapaharan
Chamal Rajapaksa
After coming to power, the greatest challenge to be faced by President Mahinda Rajapaksa was considered to be the de facto state of Pirapaharan. Due to the cease-fire agreement, it had received a legal acceptance which was not there earlier. They had identified the land they administered and it was depicted on maps. These areas of land were considered as belonging to Pirapaharan’s de facto state. They were treated as external of the Sri Lankan state to a greater degree.
Pirapaharan never harbored a genuine concern for an intermediate solution through negotiations. His only requirement was a separate state. However, due to the environment created externally by the ceasefire agreement, there was a strong notion both locally and internationally that the only alternative to solving the problem was to continue with the failed process of negotiations. Due to LTTE’s military successes up until then, there was a strong belief within the country and internationally that the LTTE was a movement that could not be defeated militarily.
President’s relation Jaliya Wickremasuriya
Having a de facto state within the Sri Lankan state was the biggest challenge Sri Lanka had to face. It was a challenge that should either be won through negotiations or by military means. The greatest endemic characteristic of President Mahinda Rajapaksa is the fact that he deviated from the path taken by his predecessors regarding this dispute and was firm in the aim of defeating the LTTE militarily.
His stubborn stance was the subject of severe suspicion and protests by the international community. It was also subject to suspicion and protest by the local groups who were of the view that this problem should be solved only through negotiations.
Kapila Dissanayake
It is at this point that President Mahinda Rajapaksa shifted away from people who thought moderately and was pushed forcefully towards a small group of extremists. At this stage, as the moderate thinking people were taking a firm anti-war stand, Mahinda had no other alternative to select. That group of people, who had the ability to think moderately when dealing with other issues, were at the extreme end when dealing with the issue of war for which they were totally against.
Due to the ideological conflict between this group and the Mahinda Rajapaksa government, a deep rift emerged. The result is that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has got into the grips of social political forces which were loyal to the war effort and narrow-minded in dealing with other issues.
This limitation of the President was favourable to the war launched against Pirapaharan. He possessed the stubbornness and strong determination not to care about the ceasefire agreement and enter a decisive war. He also had the quality of disregarding any pressures brought on him locally or internationally.
He had the ability of entrusting the responsibility of executing the war to clever individuals disregarding dissension. There was a highly advanced and superb publicity campaign that was launched to ensure a new social recognition to the members of the armed forces.
Through this campaign, the morale of the soldiers that was diminishing was restored and it resulted in an environment to attract young people to serve in the armed forces. He followed a policy of granting resources needed for the war lavishly, while disregarding the financial constraints for the day to day activities of the government.
Finally, amazing the whole world, he was able to destroy entirely, the LTTE and the existence of the de facto state it maintained. It has to be conceded as an enormous victory and there is no parallel to this victory achieved by any other leader since independence. Even if some exceptional achievements have been achieved by different leaders at different times, it all became less important in the face of this great achievement. Through this victory President Mahinda Rajapaksa became a ‘giant’ leader for the people while all leaders of the opposition were made to look like dwarfs.
Smallness within the greatness
What is very unfortunate is that even though President Mahinda Rajapaksa evolved into a great leader of the people, there was no ideological evolution within him to match this tremendous change. Even after he became a great leader of the people, it was only that small man who lived within him. This did not match his newly acquired greatness and this contradiction is the central reason for the chaotic situation seen at present.
When a human-being gets exalted to the status of a god, the people who pay reverence to him do not expect the behaviour of a human-being from him. After exaltation as a god, if he is unable to adopt the behavior of a god, his going into a crisis cannot be prevented. In a political sense, President Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing a similar crisis.
The status acquired by Abraham Lincoln after the victorious civil war is not the same status he had before. The victorious civil war made him a giant. He changed his aspirations and attitudes so that it matched his gigantic stature. Thereafter, he was no more the narrow-minded political leader. He was a very great and a clever diplomat who viewed the world with much broader ideological aspects. Eight lakhs of people had died in the civil war. The victory in the civil war was made into a turning point by Abraham Lincoln to bring together all the divided factions of people and to construct a modern state which was sensitive to the fundamental rights of all its citizens and to act accordingly. Similarly when his image expanded Mahatma Gandhi advanced his aspirations and so did Nelson Mandela.
If President Mahinda Rajapaksa had also harnessed this jubilant mood caused by the enormous war victory to establish peace among the communities and among the political parties, and if he made it an occasion to adopt a new political system instead of the present corrupt one, incorporating human rights, democratic values and good governance , he could have evolved into a great leader.
If President Mahinda Rajapaksa had been able to stop the astringent dialogue he was engaged in with Western countries led by the United States of America and adopt a foreign policy which would gain the honour and confidence of Western countries and also of the anti-Western countries, he would have become a very great leader of the people who won the honour and confidence not only of the majority, but of the minorities too, not only of the people of the government party, but of the people of the opposition too, not only of the anti-Western countries, but of the Western countries too. All of this was possible.
The reasons for the discontent
But, President Mahinda Rajapaksa was unable to use this historic occasion in an adept and constructive manner. The President was not able to grasp the new situation that emerged. Or else, the group around him did not allow him to change.
Even after the war was over, there was no change in the economic activity that could be felt by the public. Due to the dogmatic attitudes regarding some issues, it was not able to obtain the maximum amount of foreign aid for re-settlement and rehabilitation activities.
If a quick and a flexible policy had been followed for the resettlement of internally displaced persons except the hard core LTTE members, and if an arrangement was in place to cooperate with Western countries who were willing to provide aid for that purpose, the process of resettlement of IDPs could have been a factor to reinforce economic activity in the country.
On the other hand, if the military restrictions that were in force during the time of war were relaxed considerably, specially in the capital Colombo which is the centre of business activities such conditions could have been a factor to strengthen economic activity. Even though large-scale projects are in place in some areas to develop infrastructure facilities, the economy of the country is stagnant.
It may be that the collapse of the world economy too was a reason that affected such stagnation. However, if anti-Western attitudes in foreign policy were changed after the victory in the war and if the government had been able to effectively manage the factors which affect the economy, there would have been a positive change in economic activity.
People endured economic hardship on behalf of the war. The public was of the opinion that it was their duty and responsibility. But people believed that the war victory would bring them immediate economic benefits. But even after a considerable time had lapsed since the end of the war there is no improvement in their economic condition, people have started to view the government with displeasure.
Corruption and nepotism
It is this situation that the opposition took advantage of in a very clever manner. The story that they conveyed to the public was that the benefits of the war victory were enjoyed solely by the Rajapaksa clan and hence the due benefits did not reach them. Although all the people did not believe this, there was a certain section of the people in this country including those who are aligned to the opposition who believed that corruption was yet another serious charge against the Mahinda Rajapaksa government.
Corruption can be treated as a permanent feature that has been introduced willingly to the current political system of this country. Even though there were limitations prior to 1977, a person resorted to politics for purposes of honour and respect. Politics was not a means to earn wealth. But when J. R. Jayewardene established the executive presidential system, he introduced corruption into the political system, as a catalyst which motivates people to take up to politics.
Along with that, the competition for political power became a vicious struggle to grab public wealth. Accordingly, politics became an easy means to earn wealth. In this system, all the governing parties who came to power since 1977 made use of political power to acquire wealth in an improper manner. Those opposition politicians who make corruption charges against the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration at present are themselves corrupt on a larger or smaller scale. The corruption in the governing parties is a product of the political system. The corruption which operates along with political power cannot be eliminated unless a new political system is implemented which obstructs corruption. That is also true of nepotism.
All leaders who came into power in this country granted special concessions to the members of their families, to relatives and to their friends. During the time of D.S. Senanayake, the UNP was known as the “Uncle-Nephew Party.” The authority of one family group over the party was the reason for S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike to leave the party. During his short stay is power, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike did not follow a policy of granting favours to his relatives.
But Sirima Bandaranaike who came to power thereafter, followed a policy of strong nepotism. It acted as one of the important factors for the nasty defeat the SLFP suffered at the general elections in 1977. J. R. Jayewardene who came to power claiming that he had no princes and princesses to be crowned except for the people, followed a policy of granting economic concessions to his family members and relatives.
But he did this wrong act hidden from the public eye. Hence these did not develop into explosive charges against J. R. Jayewardene. But the nepotism that is happening in the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration is not only extensive but is also done openly so that people see it. The public do not endorse a policy where the rulers greatly favour the kith and kin in an unwanted manner. People see it as serving themselves when the spoon is in their own hands.
The scenario
The most important question is not whether President Mahinda Rajapaksa will or will not be able to win the forthcoming presidential election.
In spite of various limitations, Mahinda still has the support of the people. But even if he wins the presidential election without turning back to review critically and to remove any black patches in his political image prior to such elections the government that will be installed may not be able to win over public trust. That government from the start may have to suffer public protests.
This situation could be avoided, if the Mahinda Rajapaksa government carries out basic changes without delay in the policies that it is following. While expediting the resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons, a solution must be given to the Tamil community which will restore their honour. As there is no real threat from the LTTE, a considerable amount of military restrictions could be relaxed. Tissainayagam should be pardoned, and all the journalists who have gone abroad seeking protection asked to come back with guarantees of safety.
A foreign policy where interactions will take place with all others with understanding and cooperation could be adopted. Laws could be promulgated to grant legality within the country to the International Conventions which are accepted by the country. The labelling of opposition campaigners as traitors to the country has to be stopped. The government should act in a manner where they will extend their cooperation.
It has to be assured that parliament will be converted to a Constitutional Council after the next parliamentary elections for the purpose of establishing a suitable political system with the support of all the political parties. Until such time a new constitution is adopted, the 17th Amendment to the present Constitution must be implemented.
If the President is able to show his willingness to such a change, it could help to restore and re-strengthen the public trust towards him, which is deteriorating at present. It could also act as a strong foundation for a new journey which will gain the confidence and the honour of the public.
Mr. Victor Ivan, You are totally right, and well said, now let see the change !!
Well said Mr. Ivan. It is absolutely the true picture, but unfortunately many people can’t see it. May be due to the Blind Faith.
education is the problem … and it will take some time for people to understand that the talkers who are the takers and dowers that they just do … my personal opinion mahinda is a big talker … and have no future
A brilliantly balanced and forthright article by Victor. It is so true about his greatness but also true of his vulnerability and small mindedness. Nepotism is bound to bring him down faster than what took him up and that would be sad for SL.
We do not have many good leaders to pick from any party so he may win due to the lack of competition and the grabbing of limelight by abusing state media cover that he had made his own voice (smallness).
He had been screaming from platforms and asking all sri lankans to return and serve their motherland and I personally know of several who had returned but deprived of jobs now. Their jobs have been given to expatriates ! He is known to be acting on the advice of a few lackeys in that govt institution and personally blocking their entry .This is another sign of his smallness.
Such foolish actions would soon bring him down unless he corrects himself fast. If former murderers of the LTTE can be made Ministers and party pole vaulters are bribed for doing so, where is this justice that they talk of?
This article is clearly a balanced and constructive criticism about the Rajapakse regime. People with common sense definitely agree. Yet the issue is how to get this massage across to the the President Mahinda Rajapakse, who very brave but humble, and down to earth person. Right thinking and patriotic people, if they have any access to the President should not hesitate to caution the President, Mahinda Rajapakse, that unless he fires the rouge advisors and employs honest and committed team with proven character, his desire to rebuild this nation may not become a reality”. What Sri Lanka needs today is a firm national leader like Lee Kuan Yew, who made the difference for Singapore or a champion leader like Mahathir Mohamed, who realized the dream for the people of Malaysia. Compared to other Presidents who rule the country, particularly since 1977, the President Rajapakse is a brave and very humble leader, the characteristic that is not good enough to realize President’s Nation Building dream. He requires the services of truly committed team who love to serve their motherland and have bravery to advice the President when he is at fault; not just ‘‘yes-men” who not only destroy the image of the President but the destiny of the country as a whole.
Come on Mr. Ivan., this country cannot be gone like a Paki or Bangla like dictator with an ego.
Thoush the Rakapakshas are corrupt for the maximum., at this moment the only player who can deliver is the Rajapakshas.
Dr. K . Kaluarachchi, Parkville, VIC
Victor a very thoughtfully written article. Very well analyzed. I cant believe that there are such fools like Dr Kalu who think that only the Rajapaksa can deliver! He is a total moron.
What have they achieved after the war? They had so much good faith soon after the war that they could have done so much but they only looked after themselves and tried to consolidate their power.
As long as there are morons like the good doctor who are the voters of the country, Sri Lanka has not got a chance in hell.
This shows that foolishness exist amongst educated people like Drs
Hello mate.,
you are very wrong here my friend.
Gen Fonseka will not become a dictator for sure & he will be another De Guelle of Sri Lanka.
Dr. Kalu,
this shows what kind of a political knowledge you have.
Dr. Kaluarachchi, man your brain also Kalu like your name, Where did you get your degree without any sort of analytical skills, may be the same uinversity who gave the degree to Mervin, may be the batch mate of him…
Mahinda Rajapaksa is a people’s man. That is what matters at politics in Sri Lanka. Colombo 7 “hamus’ can not win elections. They don’t even smile with friends and relations. Further, MR has done so much of work. One should not comment from overseas…come and see. As for corruption people have to use their intelligence, maturity and education at voting. Who can assure whether Karunanayakes would not be worse??
People like you should be ashamed of yourselves. Do you what your talking about. You also are a Moron.
Have you received your Dr from the same school where Marvin Silva has received his Dr
Why the hell all these Drs gone crazy, above one is talking rubbish and your talking jibberish….what happened to your brains guys, for you rural docz if he builds a bridge on public money or open a local library…then he had done a great service to the country….you rustic fellows…open your eyes and see where the world is going without sitting in your villages and clapping your hands for politicos
All that you say is too true Mr Ivan. To gain any more respect MR and his henchaiyas should stop this Ranil bashing and bashing the opposition. Ranil is a good man and does not deserve all this dirty linen washing by the govt and the UNP crossovers who are playing Judas. Wooing more members from the UNP to fatten his government is further annoying. MR and his henchaiyas can hoodwink the masses all the time but there is a God above all to whom we are answerable to every deed we do.
you are perfectly correct mr.juneid. ranil is a very honest man. he has good relations with many countries who can help the economy in sri lanka. sorry that unp members crosed over to the gover,emnt to become ministers under the leadership of karu jayasooriya. now he is aGAIN BACK IN THE UNP. The people in sri lanka should trust ranil and not the so called patriots like Mr. i hope ranil would have the chance to change the politics in sri lanka and help the people
Great article. It shows that the Rajapakse regime is ruling the roost and have been strategically placed in important leadership position, despite the fact some of them are misfit. Sri Lanka will have to endure this bunch for the next several years.
Unfortunately they are like the mythical creature, the Hydra. You cannot get rid of them all at the same time.
Well said Victor as always! !!!
An article written with a good insight into the big picture of governance.
The Presient should have stood up above politics and brought in the changes instead of promoting Upahars’s, Poojas and stifling dissident views and those suggesting different view points on various things that affect the country.
People will be grateful for bringing the war to an end, but that does not necessarily mean that people will turn a blid eye to all the corruption, nepotism etc that is so blatant.
The upshot of all this is that the country will take another 60 years to raise its head. An elected leader needs to work for every citizen and not to the relatives and those who wave only the party flag. Parlimentarians should be there to serve as lawmakers and think of the big picture of making things easy for the process of government to function. Whilst criticising the current constitution, all they seem to do is make money while pilifering public property. They only use those sections of the constitution that help them, thus leaving out all the independant commissions including the Constitution Council which should have been in place from dayone. This clearly shows how narrow, the thinking is. These facts remail the same however much they try to stifle the media and carry out cheap propaganda work.
As the author points out, it clearly shows the petite thinking of the advisors.
Let us hope that wise counsel will prevail even after the election.
VICTOR IVAN HAVE YOU READ THE NOVEL MAN FROM THE JUNGLE…..
MR ivon srilanka is not pakstan .we wont a democratic government not a ARMY, POlice government..
Victor Ivon very well well exposed facts and figures……are you safe?
dearmr MR.we loved you,we wanted to be like you.you were the future we belived in.we voted for you.you were misled by dum nucule heads sorroun you.they all stay with you till you have power and money.all the corruption they get involved you will get the credit.so don’t tust these fools(including related people)trust your own heart serve to the people you will become the undisputed king in all hearts of vthe people
And how do you know that MR is not corrupt? Have you forgotten Helping Hambantotta during the Tsunami?
Whatever one has to say, in today’s pulse of the people, the Rajapaksa’s will continue in power until the people get fed up the Rajapaksa brand and go for another.
Hullooo…I am sure that the majority of the masses are already fed up with this Rogue president and his band of thieving goons.
Winston Churchil won the World War II as the leader of England, only to lose the next election in 1945. Indira Gandhi won a war against Pakistan and created Bangladesh in 1971. In the next election she was defeated. Democracy is an interesting system. Mahinda’s chances look very slim.
Victor’s analysis is typically dogmatic that which is good to read but cannot be implemented in the present context of SriLankan politics and governance. He has still the JVP mindset. The JVP too puts out forceful arguments such as this but given the opportunity to implement ( when made cabinet ministers) they realise what governance is all about and resign citing various reasons. Victor Ivan is no better, his job is to write and write he will to earn the kudos of the uninitiated.Be realistic Ivan.
Yes Victor Ivans article is very realistic.
Excellent article!
Never in the history of Sri Lanka has a SLFP government managed the economy well. MR had only the war to sell and now that he has won the war, he has no clue as to what to do. Until and unless a UNP govermnent comes in, there is no hope for the Sri Lankan economy and its people.
I agree to you Randy,but Ranil should not get corrupt people like Milinda.Mahinda did not follow the democracy from the beggining.
There aren’t many state properties left anymore for UNP to sell to multinational companies inorder to ‘manage’ the economy. The failure of the Capitalist Economic system has become very obvious lately
In Sri Lanka Politics neither reasons, nor intelligence, nor justice, nor fairness, nor good governance, nor character of statesmanship matter. It is the philoshopy of ‘seek power anyhow and retain power anyhow, whatever may happen to the people or the country’. Any advice will be like ‘drops of rain falling on a donkey’. It is positive action by the people that could change the unfortunate plight that we are now in.
MR is gone too far into crisis-mode and is not able to remove his henchmen
and corrupt relatives from the scene any more, without affecting his position.
He has nailed his own coffin. So be it.
Your sayings are correct but you always double stand.
Victor,you and Mangala should have known that correpted persons like Chandrika and Mahinda,but you helped them to come into power
victor ivan dont forget your part in 1971….when the whole asia was suffering from food short due to closure of suez canal….when sirima govt. was suffering
you all made srilanka people to suffer…..killing stated from you all…now you are talking about corruption,killings,…..etc.
What these people mean when they say that Sril Lanka is not a dictatorship like Pakistan, instead it’s a democratic country!
Ever since JR brought the new system in 1978, SL has been a dictatorship. Instead of Army, it’s using Police and the Judiciary to effect this dictatorship. It’s also been corrupt ever since, and since Rajapakses came in to power it’s nepotism with no shame.
What the country is having is a sugar-coated pill to conceal it’s bitterness. But, unlike a real pill, this pill of dictatorship does not solve any problems, it creates a new set of rich people every now and then when a new group comes in to power.
But this time, Rajapakses are determined not release power for a few generations unlike their predecessors. They’ll do their maximum to keep it for the next 20-30 years. We have now a life-time opportunity to try to get out of this mess. Even if initially it is a dictatorship, it’s the only way to shed the rampant corruption of this political system and nepotism.
So, come out of your sleep. This is already a dictatorship. Do we need a country without corruption, without underground thugs, without nepotism? Chance is there now. Cloice is ours.
I agree with you Arosha. The constitution was created by JR to stay in power without being opposed during the term. Only thing he added was the limitation of two terms. May be it was because he was getting old and didn’t see any point in ruling more than twice. However, this is not governance. It is just installation of power. It does not give any power to the memebers who were elected by te people. The governance was removed systematically by the rulers since 1971. The senate was abolished where we could have had a proper debate by the learned people, religious leaders and experienced people before things added into statute. Sure, it is time consuming. But, is it worth the wait rather than regretting it later?
Again, the point is that no president who serves the term wants to change this for obvious reasons. So we need a statesman rather than a political leader. MR, with his popularity now has the perfect opportunity to excel himself to that level. If the presidential election is not going to happen for a few months, the SF mania will evaporate. SF and RW will fall out because it is politics. No one worth his salt will give up the power to the other. RW will realise that eventually. Tamils will dilli dalli as usual and at the end boycott the election (that is what they will do best). MR can be re-elected. But can he deliver the goods to Sri Lankan people? Only he can answr that.
You all ungrateful people are bashing MR just like you are bashing JR without knowing or seeing the future. First, if it is not for JR, there is no system in Sri Lanka where so many minority party representatives in the Parliament. Too bad they forgot their roots too. Second, if it is not for MR and clan, (yes including the SF) and their tactics, there will still be an LTTE leader in Vanni Jungle and you may have to look up whenever you hear a sound of a plane or duck down when you hear a bomb sound. May be write your last will when you go to work knowing that you might not come back home due to our sinhala
traitors who help LTTE bomb get you.
You may say I am a MR worshiper, No! I came from a UNP family and only voted for UNP in my life. also, during the 70-71 government, even our house was destroyed and almost destroyed our lives. So, all I see is that, regardless of slow pace, I would rather have MR for next few years to get the advantage of him because he has a good track record even before he comes to power. Of course, you need to get some of your family members in the places that you need them because blood is thicker than water. Besides, our politicians in current MR administration, (not those came from UNP recently) are not that friendly with MR because they can’t stand him.
I think he need more time to get our country right direction and get rid of some of those unnecessary ones from the system. What is the hurry you people. Your saron on fire??? or is it that you also need to power.
Remember it took long time to destroy the LTTE and their leaders blood smell is still around. so stop fighting..
How long does he (MR) need to get rid of the opposition and the critical press? It should be quick before the war victory mania wears out.
Very well said. People if you all have an ounce of brains, this is the chance which is a godsend. Chase all these hooligans out. Otherwise you will never get another chance and the future Generations to come will curse your graves.
Dear Mr.Victor Ivan,
You are a very respected person by me but I can’t agree with all of your comments.%85 of the credit over the war victory must go to the JVP and our Heroic Forces.The rest 15% should go to other leaders such as JR,Premadasa,Wijethunga,Chandrika,Ranil, MR ete…..
The Peace Accord was signed with the blessings of Chandrika,MR ete because the country was ruined Economically by the SLFP Govenment of the Chandrika regime.Ranil had no alternative to uplift the Economy of the country at that relative moment.
I think this two briefs are sufficient to you for the analysis of the real situation. MR is not a Good Decision Maker at all and he is doing for the greed of the political power. What are those Provincial Councils? Are you agree with that system?
I think a defeat of the MR regime and a drastic change of the system is a must.
P.L.J.B.Palipana,MICE(U.K),M.I.Struct.E(U.K),P.Eng
“Full”Member,Structural Engineers Association of British Columbia
SURREY,BC,CANADA
Hey Palipana
what a stupid ideas you have?
what kind of a qualifications are these? give credit to Ranil and Charndrika? are you alright?
yes.. one bad mistake was asking SF to come back to take the post of army commander..Chandrika and Ratwatte kept him aside knowing that it is difficult to control the fellow..But MR wanted a person who had positive thoughts to win the war..It was the decision making ability of MR which brought the country to this level ..Any donky can say that I am the hero..But people in this country will give the correct verdict within next two months..you will see..
Palipana, you are a real idiot, pl stay abroad, dont come back to SL, Our country no need real idiots like you
I agree with your ideas to a greater extent but not fully,I do not know on what basis you say that MR is a utilitarian leader. MR since he became the president has displayed his extravagance like no other leader,every time he went abroad he took totally unwanted brood of people numbering hundreds on state funds and not only that he has virtually turned temple trees into a dansala on tax payers money. Mihin Air he created to boost his ego is busting billions of public funds. A utilitarian leader would not have resorted to this type of acts. Please understand the word utilitarian properly.
Victor Ivon has done a great annalasis, and is very correct in what he is saying. If these changers do not take place immediately sri lankans will never ever be able to get the full benifit of the ending of the war and the oppertunity which has come it’s way will slowly but surely slip away. In my opinion all these changers suggested by Mr Ivon should have taken place immeditely after the war and sri lanka would have already been in the road to economic success. But it is better late than never.
The President definietly had the best team to win the war and now it is time he picks a team who can guide him in all other areas to put the country in the road to success.
A well written balanced article by Victor. It could have gone a step further and dragged in the current unsavory happenings affecting the most respected General this country has come to know recently – it shows the mindset and vindictiveness of the Rajapakse’s and their Govt. There’s no better example of their smallness when it comes to Ego. MR has been shouting hoarse at meetings asking all Sri Lankan professionals to return home and serve the country and there are several who have returned including some experienced Airline Pilots, but their applications to join the National Carrier has been totally ignored for the last seven months! There are accountants and Engineers too who are back but are not being employed due politics !
MR’s smallness is greater than his greatness ! Sad end to a great start ??
We always had plenty of Rasputins around our leaders – We do hope we are fortunate enough to see a messiah in him – my article on Lanka Web on 3 rd July ” becoming a great king” I mentioned that
We can not be unlucky all the time – this is once in a century opportunity
It will never happen…
mr. Ivion you tried to par with Mr Rajapaska and two wolrd highily educated hamble, politians togather . mr Rajapaska never be a president of srilanka. it the mistake of mr parakaran LTTE. not to vote for MR Ranil 600000 thousand votes. even sinhalise vote very poor he became a president by 2 %majority..mr Rajapaska may be a good person but he is unfit even t o a minister.. and internationaly discrased to srilanka.
in 2005 if MR did not come for power people residing beyond chilaw may be in IDP camps ..you may have to get visa to go beyond Muhamale and change the currency from sri lankan rupeese to eelam rupeese…Hillary clinton…miliband..solheim ..will issue some statements and laugh..But fortunately sinhala majority in south brought MR to power and acheive what they want..Excluding votes in the north, why RW did not get enogh votes ..its the people in the south who reject him over and over again
It is a good analysis. Not only MR but also RW, SF and any other people who wants to rule Sri Lanka has to take this into account. However, the power play among India, US and China is the main obstacle for anyone who wants to bring the country out of the clutches of poverty and discrimination. Where else it can be easy other than in a country that has leaders promote relatives and friends, corrupted (thank god not like India) and divisive politics along the communal line (Tamils should take their share of the blame too. Can’t say they are totally innocent). If MR wants to shift the paradigm (again), he should take the country out of the clutches of these foreign powers (India did train LTTE once. What were the Indians thinking when they did this?) and these communally divided politicians. This is the best time to deliver this. If anyine can do this, it will be peace dividend that Sri Lanakans (both Tamils and Singhalese) can have.
As always,a thought provoking article that makes a lot of sense.I see our beautiful nation as one divided between educated citizens ,who know their rights and responsibilities, and mere voters who are easily swayed by conniving politicians.Sadly the former are outnumbered by the latter,and consequently to hold our so called elected leaders accountable, has for 60 years since independabnce, been an impossible task.That imbalance (going by the GCE O level results over the past few years, of failures in excess of 50 percent) will take time to redress even if there is a commitment.The other is the lip service paid to democracy.Until the draconian and God like powers vested in the post of President are curtailed and that office made accountable to parliament, we are going nowhere.We have paid a very heavy price in foolishly vesting such powers in fallible human beings and history since JRJ will bear testimony to that , with the possible exception of Pemadasa who inspite of his limited education PICKED THE RIGHT MEN FOR THE RIGHT JOBS….something totally alien to the current administration.
A highly articulated article. But it looks MR has missed the bus. His sober character changed immediately once he accended the throne and he became arrogant and rounded by “yes” men. Many of his acts like Mihin Air, squabble with Emirates Air were unnecessary and costs the country a lot. No leader has the right to drain a country’s resources. Look how many people question Obama on his idea of sending further 11,000 troops to Afghanistan while a soldier costs the US a million dollar per year. Whom Lee Kawn Yew would have shot to death for wasting country’s money, MR hugs-pets, him or them. Alas. With Chandrika this country had no progress.Not even a single toilet came up. With MR it has been going down.
lets see…. by next year
Mr Ivan is right, Mahinda has the chance to change things but going by the way he allows (or is it encourages) Mervyn, he is not interested in change.
Rajapaksas’ have to go and corruption has to be eliminated. The only way is a Fonny led government for 2 years and then abolishment of the executive presidency.
Better to give it a try rather than go down the present path.
V.Very true. Sinhalen Kiyanawa wage oyage kate seeni tikkak danna one. Let the General take the first term to chase this rogues and rowdies away. And clean up the whole Govt Service, Police. and jail all this kudu karayas, ganjakarayas,all corrupt Politicians. And Maybe after 5 years as the Executive Presidency, He can change the constitution and go for refrendum and then go for a General Election and become the Executive President.
Sorry Not Ex. President but the EXECUTIVE PRIME MINISTER.
Mr.Ivan.
Nice to see your briliant ideas.I agree with you.Will be able to see the changes or is he will look back and make the corection?
I do not think.
All our leaders are no brain when after got power.
the reasons as you said unskiled craftmen(all came from UNP,NGO Pupets and Chit) spoiled the gem.
sorry for the country and future.
Thanks for your writing.keep up good work.
all those pundits told lot of things before the presidents election and won the war, but he will do the best thing for the country
Non of you so called educated, self appointed Patriots or any other did a thing that cold stop the worst enemy of my motherland Sri Lanka. That was done by MR and his fellows (including Gen SF) through painstaking effort. This effort not only restore my country from utter lost but also have given the freedom to us that was never in Sri Lanka for last 30 years. So, puppets like Victor Ivan can fool some idiots but don’t think every citizen in Sri Lanka is an idiot. so, my fellow Sri Lankans, vote according to your conciseness during election and not the way the Marijuana smoking Majuvana Kankanamge Victor Ivon wants you to do.
If you want think about Rev s. Mahinda,
“Mage Rata Mage Jathiya Mage Gama, mage sath sirith saha Jathika Uruma,
Mage Varayenma Nidahas Kota Thabuma, Mage Uthukamai Salakamu, Sama Denama:
do not forge those who have given their lives for the freedom of our mother land.
Dr kalu is a ideate I think he is living in abroad.This bloody government is currupted.If some one says president is a people s man he could have been done so much to the people in country.This people are spending peoples money like mothers property.How much they spent for funtions.This is our money.WE NEED A CHANGE
[...] of the Executive Presidency will we truly progress down the path to a corruption free government. Victor Ivan talks about these phenomena as something that was ingrained into the very structure of our [...]
Ok guys., let me tell you one thing… it will be the same Sinhala saying that says… “Inguru deela Miris Gaththa wage….”
At any day, i will vote for a extremely corrupt politician and NOT a military dictator !
Dr. K. Kaluarachchi
BOORUWANGET BOORUWEK
Your well meaning advice to MR has come a little too late. He has already taken the country downhill economically with one feather in his cap to show. He should have been magnanimous after the war victory but he acted like some deity. Now his kingdom is crumbling around him
All the other politicians are clean. Are they?
srilanka need a good democratic government,mr. Rajapaska violation of democratic and his ego was the caused damaged the srilanka ..prime minister Mr. Ranil wickramasinhe . 30 years enthic problem lead by him with the help of norway and westran countries.mr.Rajapaska did not like prime minister to became an importand to srilanka,the doors were opened for him in a different motives .but democratic soverign country .he said iI will give rights of tamils. Inda want to mr. pirpakaran, without the political experience not a democratic person croos over the Norway to support the mr.Rajapaska govenment..to day srilankan tamils were killed . raped even today, human rights violation . today beggers .the person is educated, honest, humble, intelligence, forside,religion.all humans are humans , will not even in Dreams to killed a generation.mr.Rajapaska is fighting for HERO is a meaningless, and misleading the country with the help of some JHU, and monks to falls propaganda .enouhg is enough. .
DEAR WRITER,YOU ARE TELLING A THIEF,NOT TO STEAL.
[...] [...]
Dear Editor(Very confidential)
The future of Srilanka with MR is a failed day dream.Please replace this man to a suitable political leader.
Much expected from MR and he let down the people. He has build his family only. Brought inexperience relations to take over important ministries sidelining all the experienced members in his party. He is building Rajapakse dynastry and Srilanka.No statemanship in him. We need to have a man in the helm to be a stateman, away from party and family guidance.
There is substance in what Victor Ivon says. The need of the hour is now to restore economy and minimize state curruption and waste. I firmly beleive that Prseidnt Mahinda could not control his teams nor take bold action as is evident in the way he handles his ministers. General masses belive that Gen SF can clean the mess. He will not be a dictator and he not so neive to do so but he will be toughu ruler to, enforece law and order, minimize state corruption and put things in oder and dicipline the unrully elements in society.
The concern of an expatriate
I read with interest the article “The Future of President Mahinda Rajapaksa by Victor Ivan that appeared in the Sunday Leader of 29th November’09.
This article gives a balance view, it’s unbiased and thought provoking and that one should ‘read, line and inwardly digest’.
In expressing my concerns I hope I have added to the sentiments of all those who love their Motherland.
Whilst living in Sri Lanka I had the opportunity to witness first hand the corruption that prevailed in the “long Room” of the Customs Department where unscrupulous officers demanded a bribe to have the entries (custom documents for the clearing of goods from the warehouses) passed. The most affected were the Pettah merchants. This malpractice was also evident at the offices of the Import & Export Dept, the Exchange Control Dept. and perhaps, it remained the norm at all levels in all Govt. offices.
Then there was the butcher who placed his knife on the scales so that you get less in quantity to what you paid for, the vendor who added sea sand to the prawns to increase its weight, the taxi driver who tampers with the meter, the postman who undelivered a letter because he searches for cash and the list goes on.
I left the shores of Sri Lanka in 1972 and have visited my homeland many a time for the love of the country. I was there this year as well but sadly, the situation has not changed. In fact I noticed it to be worst. There has been change in Governments but neither of those responsible has addressed themselves to get rid of this disease that is eating into the vitals of the nobility of character of this wonderful country.
There were patriotic politicians who fought for independence and continued to work for the prosperity of their motherland at the expense of the sacrifices they made. Where are they now?.
Corruption is so prevalent and taken for granted that no ones cares.
Although I do not condone with these acts of corruption, I sympathies with the ordinary citizen, the man on the street because he does it not for greed but by necessity. Whereas, the greedy politicians, and public officers who demand a bribe for favours rendered, the business magnates such as those responsible for the fall of ‘CYLINCO’ and opportunists have thrived and grown richer at the expense of all Sri Lankans and the prosperity of the country.
The cry I often hear from the less fortunate is “We can only afford to have one meal a day with the soaring rise of essential food stuffs. Those responsible do not care about us—the rich are getting richer and we poor are getting poorer”.
My next concern is the lack of discipline and the Governments lackadaisical attitude in dealing with the issues that has raised its ugly head to divide the unity of this nation. The incidents reported in the interference of religious worship, the freedom of speech & movement has gone unabated and the extremists are free to do what they want to peruse. Unfortunately, Christian ministers & journalist have been murdered and the perpetrators are still at large.
I do not wish to get involved in politics or align myself to any political party. This is for you, the citizens to decide. All that I wish for is that who ever comes into power will get rid of corruption and govern in fairness with regard to all communities irrespective of their cultural, religious and social differences.
There was a time we lived in harmony and I am glad that in my growing years I experienced that brotherhood and freedom. Let’s hope Sri Lanka regains it again.
Thanks for another good article. Where else could anybody get that kind of info in such a perfect way of writing.