For An Uncommon Candidate
If Sarath Fonseka doesn’t talk between now and the election he might be OK. When he talks, however, the illusion comes crashing down. Candidate Fonseka talks about his house, his guards, his life. All important to Sarath Fonseka, but I’m not Sarath Fonseka. I have my own problems. I’m concerned about our economy, our security, our lives. Candidate Fonseka speaks to none of those concerns. As far as I can tell, Sarath is running for himself.
Candidate Fonseka
His recent interview with The Sunday Leader was actually shocking in its pettiness. He is basically using all the national attention to complain about losing his perks. A smart candidate could pivot and say that he is now homeless like our IDPs, our dispossessed, that he understands and is with us. Instead Sarath is filing a Fundamental Rights case for his own accommodation.
Indeed, his resignation letter doesn’t read as a national platform as much as list of how Mahinda Rajapaksa has dissed him. That’s fine for a break up letter, but it’s not very inspiring. As it is, he just comes off as selfish and hurt, not a selfless and strong common candidate. I don’t care if he really is in it for himself, but he could at least take the trouble to lie to us.
Subcandidate Ranil
However, another selfish character here is Ranil Wickremesinghe. By clinging onto power he has made this extremely weird situation possible. Ranil choked the UNP so much that they are unable to field a viable candidate for the first time in their history. Then this bruised ego pops out of the Rajapaksa coterie and Ranil thinks he can somehow control him more than Mahinda did. But he can’t.
Ranil looks like a fool claiming the PM spot like it’s some sort of consolation prize. In Sri Lankan politics there is no prize for second place. I think Ranil is a decent and intelligent man, but sometimes such men fail. An honorable man should bow out before taking their whole party down with them.
An Uncommon Candidate
Compared to this selfish behaviour, Mahinda starts to look magnanimous, radiating out from the new 1000 Rupee notes. Indeed, he looks almost humble. At least he shows rather than tells. I’ve been reconsidering him, until another candidate asked for my endorsement. I asked him for a lunch packet and was shocked when he demanded a lunch packet for himself. ‘Mama venuwen mama,’ he said. I for myself.
Malinda Seneviratne is a columnist launching an ‘uncommon candidacy’ for president. He’s running under the mirror symbol and his colour is colorless. He’s running purely for his own interests and promises nothing to develop or uplift the country. He just wants to be on TV for a while and then quit. I think I’m OK with this.
Common Sentiments
I’d find it hard to vote for Sarath right now because he doesn’t seem to have any platform besides the foundation of his house. I can’t vote for Ranil because he won’t even run, or let the UNP field someone else. I find it hard to vote for Mahinda because I fear for the economy, freedom and minority rights, and because six more years of seeing his hoardings might wear a permanent hole in my retina. This leaves me either with the Siddhalepa guy who promised everyone a cow (looking more appealing every day) or maybe this fellow columnist. At the moment I’m leaning towards the uncommon candidate. Now if I could just figure out what the mirror symbol looks like.
Excellent analysis. You have hit the nail on the head.
The more you hear General Fonseka speak, it appears that he is more concerned about himself than the country.
Very true.. “I didnt get this , I didnt get that”, blah blah blah.. The more he opens his moth , the more votes Mahinda collects.
Very true. It is his personal fight against Rajapakses. But he is putting country at stake
You hit the nail on the head. I was wondering why anybody else can’t see this General is only talking about himself. Either he has to learn that he has to talk about not ‘me’ but ‘us’ and he has to learn it fast, or he has to stop tallking.
Why would he want to talk about the economy, society etc right now without him even saying that he will come as the common candidate??? Right now, his concerns are definitely a house, a security etc….
Pretty glad that Gen Fonseka does not jump the gun like you. He does not start talking politics until he says he is approves to be the common candidate.
What showed in his speech was nothing but utter selfishness and EGO. Here is a candidate without a policy.His only policy is siezing power.
You got it. Mother Lanka iscrying because she cannot find a child who can render a yoeman service for the good of her children. Only qulification the two main contenders have is they have voilated the democaratic rights of the minorities and supressed their aspirations.The rulers have robbed the nation, if anybody dare to speak, you know what will happen. Lets rembebember the words of Jesus on is way to Calvary to the women of Jerusalam “Women do not cry for me but weep for you and your children”. Is is it karma?
You see this type of behaviour in the toy department of shopping malls!
Sarath Baba not satisfied with what Thaththa (Mahinda) gave him (CDC), instead he wants to drive Thaththa’s car (Presidency) when he even can’t see through the windscreen (the suffering poor, the minority issues), so he goes complaining to Maama (Ranil) who he previously hated b’cos Maama called him names (Gen of Salvation Army), but now Maama is his only hope to get to drive the car. He goes around the neighbourhood (Media) telling stories how Thaththa mistreated him. ‘Aney Apoi’
WOW. What a elucidation? Thanks sir!
Indica & all the commentators has got it all wrong, my first question is who needed a Presidential Elections which is going to be poured down on
our throughts when there is two more years, no party is ready for it exept the
UPFA who thought the advantages time is right now, The entire opposition know the Nepotism , Cronysm, Corruption, Thuggerism, Of the Rajapakse Brothers including the ruling ministers who want to put & end to Rajapakse
Brothers it was they who enticed Sarath Fonseka as he is the right choice
to challenge M.R of course Sarath too has some grievances as an individual
voter i too dont care Ranil Or Saraths Grievances the very moment sarath
appeard as a Common Candidate The Roads got oppenned, the Prices of day today commodities were reduced, Port, Petroleum & the armed forces got & salary increment, If Sarath wins Rule of Law is going to be upheld & all
Independent Commissions will be formed the executive presidency abolished
which is very important to stop corruption, a Fair parliamentry Election will be
held winners of that parliamentry Elections decide how to govern the Country
Including UPFA members & JVP etc. we dont need Sarath Fosekas Manifestos at this juncture.
Sheriff, you don’t hear what these people are saying or you don’t want because you are doing your job. In general these people are questioning the credentials of Sarath Fonseka and his regime to achieve so called “noble” targets such as Independent Commissions (Independent ??) , Rule of Law, ending executive presidency (How ??) etc. When asked about the economy SF turns to UNP. Do they have better credentials in the fields of economy, human rights etc. No sir. Do you think Mangala has it either? He was in UPFA for a longtime. Right? You guys always talk about “corruption” of Rajapakshe brothers like trained parrots. Are they different from UNP people and Mangala when they were in power? Have anyone proved those allegations?
Sadly Sarath Fonseka is misguided in this David and Goliath contest. The David in this instance Sarath Fonseka has no divine powers nor activists nor funds nor the time to overturn Goliath Mahinda Rajapakse’s immense popularity. On top of all that the little support Sarath Fonseka is destined to get from UNPers and JVPers is laced with an impossible commitment to resign in 6 months if elected. Sarath is on a hidng for nothing. This is one David and Goliath fight that contrary to the legend, Goliath will win and drive David into oblivion and the accolades deservedly won torn into shreds.
If Ranil can not submit a proper manifesto, what better could be expected of the General ?
Behind all these are the opposition vultures smacking their lip & rubbing their palms as they await to grab a slice of the pie.
Wonder whether they will be destines lick their palms in the end ?
Sri Lanka found a capable General… but will she find a capable President within a General ? Answer…. I don’t think so.
This is all an opposition circus as the GOP is unable to put forward an exceptable candidate. The UNP has sunk to its lowest of levels.
Ranil is hands off & ready with a scape goat & a ready answer.
And people really belive this moron won the war! ha ha…a monkey at the dehiwela zoo has more personality!
Your analysis is informative and logical. In fact General should speak more and get rid of the shackles of the JVP/UNP hierarchical band wagon. If he is of his own, even if he makes a mistake, people will forgive. But right now General has only revengeful tactics. people are sick of those.