Presidential Election: What The People Say
Elections in Sri Lanka benefit the politicians
By Nirmala Kannangara
For a nation plagued in corruption to the highest levels, the entrance of a fresh face – a former military official with no political background to lead the country, could be the ‘change’ Sri Lankans have been looking for.
With a strong belief that it was the politicians who ruined the country for the past 61 years, the announcement by former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka that he is running for next year’s presidential election appears to be a welcome decision by many, while another group continues to maintain that it was because of a strong political leadership that the military was able to spearhead the battle against the LTTE.
“We know how General Fonseka instilled discipline in the army and also inspired his troops to win the war,” a high ranking army officer on the basis of anonymity told The Sunday Leader.
However referring to a book authored by a former Army Commander General Cyril Ranatunge, Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said that if not for the courageous decisions taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, General Fonseka would not have been able to win the war.
“General Ranatunge clearly stated as to how the then President J.R. Jayewardene wanted him to withdraw his troops from Vadamarachchi due to intense pressure from India. He has also stated that he was highly dejected over the command but had to obey the presidential orders. Even President Rajapaksa too had to undergo such pressure from other countries but however while maintaining a good rapport with them he ordered the army to march forward till they achieved their final goal,” said the Media Minister.
Meanwhile JVP Parliamentarian K.D. Lalkantha said that the reason for bringing a common candidate to contest the presidential election was to bring all the opposition parties together to fight against nepotism, bribery and corruption of the Rajapaksa regime.
“Just because we are supporting General Fonseka who is also the choice of the UNP, we do not have any association with the main opposition. We are fighting for a common cause against a common opponent,” Lalkantha told The Sunday Leader.
Meanwhile The Sunday Leader spoke to a cross section of the general public to find out as to how they see a person with no political background running for the highest office in the country.
D. Lakpriya Fernando from the tourism industry told The Sunday Leader that any person with leadership qualities is fit to be a leader and dismissed the government’s claims that one needed political experience to be a leader.
“Take Israel for example, the then opposition leader who was a weak leader requested their one time army officer Ariel Sharon to contest the election and later on he became the prime minister. So why can’t General Fonseka contest an election to become the Executive President of the country?” Fernando queried.
“Doing politics in Sri Lanka is for personal gain – acquiring movable and immovable property. Is it for this reason the government thinks Fonseka needs to have experience in politics? General Fonseka with his leadership qualities is well equipped with knowledge in management. Fonseka needs no personal benefits but needs the people’s support to put a halt to bribery and corruption,” he said.
According to Anura Ratnayake, a Senior Financial Consultant, General Fonseka is an individual the public can have faith in as he is a person likely to deliver what he promises.
“His desire and determination to wipe out corruption like how he wiped out terrorism should be hailed. Lets give General Fonseka who does not have experience in robbing public money a chance and see as to how he could deliver benefits to the masses,” Ratnayake told The Sunday Leader.
However Anton Sinnathambi, a retired post master from Wellawatte is of the view that the Tamil community could not expect any support from both the candidates.
“Today the Tamils are like prisoners in the country. Although the government in power claims that there is peace, freedom of movement, freedom of expression and also no difference between the races, we do want to know whether there is peace, freedom of expression and freedom of movement in the country. Unless we carry our identification documents we would be taken to the police. If we talk against the government again it would be the same consequence,” Sinnathambi told The Sunday Leader.
Meanwhile Swarna De Mel, a housewife from Udahamulla was of the view that the common opposition candidate will be a considerable challenge to President Rajapaksa.
“Fonseka is a man of repute, a brave officer and a gentleman. There is no question over his ability for good governance,” she added.
However Susil Fernando, a telecommunication engineer from Bambalapitiya said he was unable to understand as to why General Fonseka decided to contest the presidential election.
“There is no need for any arguments. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will get more than 75% votes this time. How can the General claim that it was because of him that the country gained peace when the Commander-in-Chief was the real hero behind the victory,” Fernando asked.
Fathima Fowzie an optometrist from Mt. Lavinia criticised the government for sidelining General Fonseka.
Anyone but the current President will do a better job.
Anyone but the president will elevate the standard of living of the poor and suffering masses of the country.
So let it be, anyone but the current president to take over the reigns and govern Precious Sri Lanka
Why Rajapakse risk his two years of first term. He knows after ruling for another two year he will not be able to come before voters for a second term. He wants to capitalise on the victory over LTTE and secure his second term. Once his second term is secured, he can accellarate robbing the country.
What about saying that Mahinda is brave inough to chalange all those strong men (Mangala/Ranil???). As a grassroot UNPer, I see no chance of defeating Rajapaksha unless UNP get rid of inept UNP politicans who are manupulating real UNP view for theire won benifit while siding with looser. Sirikotha is becomming a refuge camp for looser (Mangy/Hanky/Mano/Fonseka (future)/Chandrika) and they are trowing able UNPer out of the house.
You contradict your own statement. You say all those strongmen and also call them losers. SF is the only hope for a new era. His inexperience in politics itself is an advantage for a new look corruption free government.
Military rule is the best at least for a few years. Very very risky for democracy and for us. But all politicos are crooks and they ONLY get into politics to make money for themselves and their families and their Yes men. We the common citizens would always be the one who loose big time. This would NOT change, at least let us give the military guys who are not politicized to rule this country with an iron fist for a couple of years. This is better than to watch these blood suckers sucking our very life right in front of our eyes !!!
Nadaraja, as a grassroop SLFP, supporter, I say MR have no chance. MR has already lost the election after General announce he is contesting election. This is why the ‘family’ has started transfering money from SL to Swiss Accounts and other countries.
But Dont worry, ever penney the family looted will be taken back and the Rajapalhoru will be jailed for life.
As it always has been in the case of Sri Lankans, who has displayed a short memory, it will be “illan parippu” this time too.
Why does the government think that the general has no rights to be a presidential candidate?
Dear Gentleman
As the Elections starts to prune I would fervently request both potentian candidates to abstain from underestimating personality. If most of you observed many international elections, Candidates goes for debate this is the best way to gets things off your chest instead of using media, cut out, dansals, mud sliging, this only portrays a low esteemed culture of a future President.
While I congratulate Sri Lanka in eradicating terrosim but the cuase of the win ha snot won many hearts, the cost of living is severe, people live in danger, there are many under world thugs, rapes, thiefs, perverts, drug addicts, which we have never encountered in our past lives.
Potential candiates must put forward a real constructive manifesto to win a vote the following are only advice
BRING COST OF LIVING DOWN – Show the people how you wish to do it???
WIPE OUT THUGGERY, UNDERWORLD – Show Your might and power
TO MAKE SURE SRI LANKA IS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE- display security
SHOW GOVERNMENT FUNDING FOR RURAL AREAS- help the farmers with loan to enrich their cultivation.
TO ADVERTISE SRI LANKA AS A TOURIST HUB- Internationa media coerage, part take in exhibitions, show vedio slides of north being a safer place
PRUNE DOWN THE CABINET – elect inteligent Minsters with a real profile and experiance
INVITE INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS – give the tax free holidays, give them assurance.
DEVELOP EDUCTIONS AND SCHOLORSHIPS – for the students
ERADICATE CURROPTION – for every expense the cabinet must approve to ensure fairness.
ABOLISH EXE PRESIDENTCY – Use a Exe Prime Ministers
These are a few things that I would wish a candiate to secure, its so sad today to read every page that talks of politics, december is a festive seasn enjoyed by many. The War is Won, What we need forward planning, As a sri lankan I have lost my respect to the once loved country. But we shall always be a sri lankan no matter what.
Just one advice though the rulling party speaks of thousand words the opposition speaks less, they is a saying YOU SAY BEST WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL. EMPTY VESSELS MAKES A GREAT NOISE.
Gentleman I wish you both all the best and may the best man wins, To General Sarath Fonseka, our hearts are with you.
AMEN
I think this is one of the best comments I’ve read in the entire site. Well thought out. As mentioned above, the presidential candidate should forward his vision and how he would achieve it. It doesnt mean that all of the visions will be achived however this will be a right approach rather than slinging mud on the opponent. I think we need intellectuals to rule the country not the monkeys with a common surname. I live abroad but still intereted in SL politics since its full of surprises and you would see that of a SL politicos nowhere else in the world.
Gentkeman Adam
Thank you for your kind comments. What I was trying to portray was that the people of sri lanka wants an answer to their common day to day life. They are not at all concerned of the corruption as it has become common and usual way of life. It is only the rich and famous who lives in comfort, imagine the father who has the burden to feed his children, give them a future, give them a decent comfort. If we look at India, the former President Kalam did not have political experiance but then he had a mission with a great vision. India economy is great, Sri Lanka a small state is still suffering even after winning the war. It all goes down to one big royal family who wants to rob from the poor and deny them of a pleasent living. I visited Sri Lankan a few months back and was surprised to see the laid back life, there are many holidays, people hardly work, what I found out was many husbands had a time to control their beauitful wives as they were been attracted to the rich, there had been many incidents of seperation.
While we see politicians go around in luxury vehicles, its sad to see the common man wait for his chance to also become someone today. I stayed at a famous hotel and I was denied of a important meeting which I had to attend for trading as the roads were blocked they said the President or his brother was travelling these things should not happen.
Take for example Dubai, what was this country it was a desert but the Prime Minister HH Shk Mohammed had a vision and today if you visit Dubai it has many attractions. So why cant our politicians take an example.
This present governement lacks the profesionalsim, they dont have starters’s or winner’s if you analyse, even though their are a few intectuals, they have been deprived of importance. Sir Sarath Fonseka will be the ideail candiate we need someone of his calibre to transform this beautiful country to richness, eradicate corruption, bring dicipline which is very important, bring peace, bring joy, bring hapiness, I have noted many readers just says things off their mind, they confused, they have lack leaderhip, they lack knowledge. As I have obsereved the way the opposition is attacking the rulling party they have been succesfull in hiting them where it hurts, The revelation of SF to sunday leader is not a mistake it has a motive, and that motive is to bring down the rulling family party tree. So?? if one loses Presidential, one will win in the other hand of international courts, both favorouble for the people of sri lanka.
I remember at one time when UNP came in to power and controlelled it for 2 years sri lanka economic was excellent even the sri lanka workign abroad left their jobs to return home, tourists was at peak, Hon Ranil Wickramasighe is the only Politian I can vouch who has the record in puting Sri Lankan back on the world map.
I am confident of SF win
sincerely
To the People of Sri Lanka
It is with sandness to note most o fyou are dewelling your time in politics, can you please answer me on equestion who will brin gyou the loaf of bread??? who will give your child proper eduction that most parent desire??? is your family secured?? what is your family future??? what as a father you have to offer to make your family proud??? instead of you guys taking some poll or gal arrack and attacking opponents just think of your tommrow.
Sri Lanka today is in a mess, true to belieif we see many ignorant people suing and suing it shas become a joke. I am a gulf expatraite and recently when I was on my way to a meeting my chauffeur said Sir my cousin was in Sri Lanka he was an officer, he had a sri lankan name, a sri lankan ID, a Sri Lankan army uniform, he was a mere Sri Lankan but was originally from Pakistan this amased me how the President used foreign powers to fight against LTTE, yes of course had he called Pakistan army there would have been an international abscond, so he BREACHED THE TRUST OF THE SRI LANKANS and made pakistani officers fight the war. My question lies how can the governemnt of sri lanka issue ID for FAKE foreign officers??? this only shows curroption and neoplaisim. I saw to my eyes the many poor youths butchered by the LTTE and left to rot in a oya MAY YOUR SOALS REST IN PEACE. Tears rolled down as I noted the cuase of each sri lankan son sacrifice their lives.
SF
India used inteligence for sri lankan by aiding and abeting the wipe off of terrosim, after the war Manmosinghe telephoned MR and told there is a conspiracy for SF to handle a coupe. Mainly India did not want Pakistan in sri lankan soil and china funding. It was then MR and GOTA used all powers to make SF a vegetable.
RANIL
He is the clever politian Mr thought it would be an easy win to the throne as he thought Ranil would contest. Instead the cunning fox trot the last moment keeping MR in depair. Such and act must be commened. SF came in as ignorant, public had
doubts if he will deliver, but day by day he is prooving and his polularity has increased, we we see SF 53% win on polls,
TAMILS
They would vote for SF as per his last request he wanted the IDP to have a better lving.
HEAD TO HEAD
MR delivered zero???? SF clear cut gentleman free from curroption, a winner, stands tall to take over the reigns of Presidnet.
FUTURE CABINET
Pruned down to less 18 Ministers only with portfolios given to PERFORM or thrown out.
SECURITY
Its is gonna be a a SAFE PLACE BET ME even a woman or a girl can walk the streets on colombo at 3am alone
COST OF LIVING
It may take 1 year due to curroption after that it will reduce by 50%
JOBS
Plenty due to foreign aid and investment we see sri lanka airport and ports the main
SOCIAL WELFARE
Will be introudced similar to Canada
TOURISM
Brisk and steady back to the 70′s more tourists than locals
Sri Lanka will be self sufficend due to many projects and foreign investors
EDUCATION
all graduates will get their due cuase, even scolorships
JOBS
Many Many under foreign calobrates
THUGGERY AND UNDERWORLD
Wiped out ZERO
Please think of your future, your childs eductions, your family, and cast your vote to the deserving Gentleman