Poll Excites UNP Members
- Widespread Rigging Mars Opinion Poll
By Faraz Shauketaly
Ravi Karunanayake and Sajith Premadasa
The Sunday Leader SMS/EMAIL poll of your preference for the next leader of the United National Party caused unprecedented interest – both from our readers and from the coterie of interested factions within the United National Party. Our poll, advertised and begun last Sunday, June 27th, when publishing the profiles of MPs’ Ravi Karunanayake and Sajith Premadasa, was an attempt to seek the opinion of each subject from amongst the people of this country.
Ours was most certainly a poll in which we asked readers to express their preference – their opinion – on who they would prefer to be the next leader of the UNP. Most people have an opinion. And in the interests of our readers we wished to merely showcase and publish public opinion.
The voting was steady and regular on Sunday itself. Noting extraordinary when compared to previous SMS polls also carried out by this newspaper. The same was true of Monday with a steady stream sending their SMSs marked with “RK” or “SP” – though one particular political mechanic started the proceedings with an opening SMS for “RW” – which our trusty laptop rejected with the message “invalid entrant not acceptable”.
On Tuesday Ravi Karunanayake called us. In the course of the conversation he asked of the progress of the poll and how it worked. Elementary dear Ravi, we said, just send in an SMS with RK.
What happened thereafter is a clear indication of the depths to which the UNP and its stalwarts have sunk today. In fact it speaks volumes for puerile and petty politicking of a kind that emphasizes the lows to which politicians will sink even when it involves a mere newspaper vote. After all, this was not a campaign for the next election.
Ravi K went into campaign mode immediately – less than 30 minutes after he called us a barrage of SMS votes started. The response was so tremendous that I had trouble keeping count. The “beeping” did not stop. It was nothing short of amazing.
Some people then started to call on the number given out by this newspaper. One in particular stands out. It went on these lines:
Me: “Hello”
“Who is this?
Me: “The Sunday Leader, Faraz, who are you?”
“I just got an SMS from your number”
Me: “That’s not possible, I have not sent any SMS for a bit now are you sure? What does it say?”
“It says Vote RK and your number 0772334334 I don’t know what this is. Who are you?”
Me: “Aaaah! This is the Sunday Leader number used for a SMS Poll about the Leader of the UNP. Do you know Ravi Karunanayake?”
“Oh I see. I am Puspa Kumara. Aah Aaah, Mr Ravi Karunanayake is who I work for. Ok Ok Thank you aah.”
We undertook no marketing of the poll apart from inviting our readers’ participation in our profile of RK and SP last week. We expected that everyone would vote once by SMS. But there are always the “pandithayas” and the “clever clogs” of this world and Sri Lanka is no different: they started multiple voting – the same number sending many SMSs continuously. We had asked our readers to state “their preference” of either SP or RK. In the singular. In the absence of specific instructions to the contrary there were multiple entries. We thought it fair to leave those out. So we had multiple votes which we considered to be a crude version of vote rigging. In one instant 3 SMSs were received — individual SMSs were sent from the same phone but specifying a different name each time.
We accepted those because we felt the user had made a conscious decision about the use of the same number for voting three times over for his favourite SP. But we rejected the votes where there was clear multiplicity even the ones that voted 3 or 4 times. We detected 3 from Ravi Karunanayake’s own phone – that took the cake!
They came 1 singly and 2 in quick succession. Another SMS from the same last 6 digits as RK (indicating a different network ). We counted that separately by giving the benefit of the doubt to the batsman.
That was common with many — over 45% — sending in multiple votes 2 or 3 times. The prized goat in all of this was whoever the user is of the number that ends “0..2002002”. He or she sent in a total of 27 entries for RK; yet others of the same breed sent in 15, 12, and 11.
But user ending “0…..418209” got the prize for the person who expresses his opinion a record 40 times. He perhaps thought this was a song and dance popularity contest not a poll to test the opinion of the people of Sri Lanka on a matter that holds a pre-eminent position in people’s thinking during these heady months following polls and victory celebrations. It is almost as though, the opposition wish for the people of this country to take out a Writ of Mandamus to ensure compliance of the peoples’ rights. After all to enforce a Write of Mandamus, the applicant must show (a) a dereliction of duty that is of a public nature and (b) that that duty is imperative and not discretionary. The functions of the opposition amply exemplify those twin tests.
For his part the other subject of our profile, Sajith Premadasa appeared to be the least concerned about the poll. “Your poll is a useless exercise,” he said, adding “tell me how many people from Hambantota have voted?” Mr. Premadasa, you too seem to have missed the bus. This was an all island poll asking how many people figured you to be the most suitable to take over the leadership of the UNP. In that context, your concern should have included the ENTIRE country and not just Hambantota. Indeed, if you do make it to leader of the UNP you will be expected to represent the entire island and not just your electorate – Hambantota.
Nevertheless, given the zest by which Ravi Karunanayake mobilized those who work for him and others — going so far as to vote no less than three (3) times from his own mobile telephone we have to give credit to Sajith Premadasa. We did not detect a single vote from his telephone. We have truly descended to the very depths of fair play and sensibility when we are unable to seek the opinion of people in this country without political meddling tantamount to political debauchery. It is dis-tasteful in the extreme when such obstacles to accepted norms are placed by the opposition. It is little wonder then that there is strong currency for the case that “Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.” (Blaise Pascal, Mathematician and Philosopher 1623 – 1662).
And the result?
The Anglophiles that think Wallas of Colombo are the ones that decide who the President and the Government of Sri Lanka should be are the only people that take this kind of vote seriously.
SP being no Wallah knows this very well. The Sunday Leader being weekly that has an Anglophilia spirit of extreme nature, I am not surprised it couldn’t understand the depth of his question: “how many people from Humbantota have voted.” For them; SP is neither there nor here. They want him at least half baked.
No wonder ‘The Leader’ continues to undermine MR. I think, it should hang on to RanilW or get RK in his place.
Faraz, o dear, why did you have to go down the private TV channel as well? It is OK to go so low if you are an amateur. This kind of awkward votes will only skew public opinion of the people concerned as well as the newspaper. For example, whatever you say, SP has only 70 out of 605. Any intelligent estimate places SP below RK judging by this vote. But that will be a crime, for the fact that RK is not even known by the general UNP membership in comparison with SP. Shouting from all cylinders (or should I say from both ends!) one thing but seriously doing something for the folks who elected these guys is another. While RK may have done a lot on the former, SP has plenty to boast for the latter. SP is easily a runaway winner is the contest is only between the two.
Stupid…everyone knows Sajith is more known and accepted countrywide. No doubt about it. But the interesting part is the shift of Sunday leader from RW & RK to……MR? Atleast there’s a common R.
Alimankada RK is nowhere near SP
Just think about it. This guy Ravi K speaks Sinhala in a funny manner. How will he fare among the vast majority of rural Sinhala voters?
Agreed 100%. Ravi may be good organiser. It does not mean most popular. He is tipical “immitation Ranil”. This social status does not attractive to major vote base. But we do not know what is his streangth in execetive committee. If Ravi capable to influence “Exective committee of UNP” there is possibility of he may come. Now the problem is how far exective committee is “par” with general society. This is my personal view.
This is an appeal to the general public, for god sake please use your brain
before you vote, because RK is a man who will jump to the MR side and this
shows how he switched on to wear the national dress like MR and this is the
signal where he will one day jump to the govt. side, so be careful when you all
going to vote and further SP is a man who helps the poor man and RV is a man
who support the capitalist people , he will talk but no action.
Thank the lord that SP lost.
Let’s admit, that this “poll” is the most infantile excerse ever crried out anywhere. Please, Sunday Leader, live upto your mission of stirring up the conscience of the reader to important issues. Sajith is a committed dyed in the wool material for a future leader with substance. Lets leave it at that . No wonder he dismissed your survey as “useless”
Faraz good. job good journalism. keep going. This Ravi Karunanayagam is a dubious fellow who filled the low lying areas of Kotte and sold the land for millions. A corrupt vendor
What Ravi Karunanayagam had done is so shameful. It is disgusting. I am ashamed as a Sri Lankan
RK is not a national Leader!!
Your attempt is WRONG in the first instance. This is a matter of the political party and ONLY its members are entitled to participate. Allowing members of other political parties or individuals is FULLY WRONG.
In Thamil Naadu there was a similar poll. But the question was “who would you prefer as the next Chief Minister” and the question was not about the leader of DMK.
The article was hillarious…and if it inspires any politician to refrain from stooping so low, I would say its brilliant! Good Job!
Despite his machinations RK got only 278 votes? Oh boy! What a future leader! Ha! Ha!
at least this shows that the peopl are focused on not having RW as the Leader of the UNP
Sajith P. has a point, how many people in Hambanthota have access to your newspaper? You need to hear their opinion as well. My guess (from what I have seen so far from public appearances) Ravi Karunanyake is good only for empty rhetoric, (he is a hazard to himself). Contrary to this Sajith is miles ahead. Although I hated his father’s mafia like governance, I like to give Sajith a chance. So far from what I have seen from his speeches he has matured and seem to have correct temperament to hold the top position in the party. Shame on you Ravi, you are a vote rigger.
OMG..RK…this goon/rackerteer/ to be the leader…what a farce………..?end of the UNP..
It is funny that you guys have performed a survey technically wrong and complain about the voters which are your readers.
You should have set the program to automatically eliminate multiple votes from a same phone. It is natural for a common supporter to vote several times to his favorite using the loophole of the program. So the survey itself has become not credible.
Also you have pre decided the leader should be either RK or SP. That also is childish. Readers should have been given at least 5 or 6 options to choose from. Anyway it is Sri Lanka. NO PROBLEM
This is another MR trick to split the UNP. Everyone should be aware of this. The voting results are obvious to be fabricated. Sunday Leader edditor is in MR’s shoes now. Every body knows it. So dont take part in this type of drama.
[...] (Sunday Leader) July 7th, 2010 | Category: Political [...]
Sajith has support at grassroot level and at that level only a handful have computers. Ravi Karu leading the Sunday Leader Poll is like so called ‘Colombans’ dreaming that they were winning the presidential election or even the General Election. Ravi is a carbon copy of Ranil.What difference does it make if he becomes leader of the UNP ? This Poll is flawed.
Sorry just struck me.
All this is hog wash and amounts to nothing. Ranil out of character has approved the staging of protest against the Governments Constitution amendments which have still to be presented to parliament and the people. In contrast additionally he wants to not amend the UNP constitution but redo it fully. For this he wants more than 6 months.
so you see where he is going. Need I say more. So whether it be RK or SP it matters not
RK is just another fool. If not for marrying Mana Jayawardena’s daughter, he would still be a warf clerk in some freight frowarding company. Even that he could not do properly. This is a man who has done many underhand things and is corrupt to the core. If the UNP chose this idiot over Sajith, it will be the end of the party for sure.
What Lanka needs is a respectable politicion with a good frame of reference.
Between the two R.K would be a better choise.
Its good an impartial newsmedia as Sunday Leader is able to voice the opinion of the people.
I think Mr Sajith Premadasa will be a better leader. His father did lot good to this country and at the same time some errors too. Even most of the good programs are copied and introduced in another name. Son will know the errors done by his father and he can correct them.
For the government to be honestly strong and good there should be a good opposition. A good government always will correct their errors. Most of the time only the opposition party will see these errors. So even the government should support them to have the correct leader.
Funny, How can there be ‘spoilt’ votes in a SMS poll??? Dubious results.!
both Ravi Karunanayake and Sajith Are not Suitable for Leadership Posts. My choice is Karu Jayasooriya.
Ravi Corrupted.
Sajith is ” nidan wasthu Hora” lots of people forget this. dosent mean because of farther he can lead the Party.
Ranil Should stay and support Karu Jayasooriya.
This is a clear manifestation of how the local population votes. It’s not a system for the best man to win but for the man who worked hard on those he can persuade to vote for him. The votes for SP will be by the genuine readers’ while the votes for RK would have been canvassed at great lengths among his friends and duplicated by the same persons.
wicky wrote:
“This is another MR trick to split the UNP. Everyone should be aware of this. The voting results are obvious to be fabricated. Sunday Leader edditor is in MR’s shoes now. Every body knows it. So dont take part in this type of drama.”
I think Sunday leader is improving tremendously, it is slowly but surely moving away from its gutter days. When it was a mouth piece of a few arrogant fools of the party (UNP). It clearly did a disservice to the country. I think the new editor understands this situation and she wants to take a different path. The paper will eventually succeed. Faraz, you did a good job by revealing this rogue incompetent RK. For UNP to do well in the future it needs to get rid of its dumb hot headed so called leaders who are aspiring to become leaders without any quality or background. Wicky, stop blaming MR, that will not help the party. Sajith is the future of the party we need to support him.
Geneuine voting is not possible in Sri Lankan even electronically. Some will trick or do Jilmaal somewhere in the process.
HI Sunday leader,
Please find a better candidate for Sagith. I propose Basil definitely he is better then Ravi and he might cross over hahahahahah…..
SAJITH IS THE BETTER LEADER. RAVI IS A FAKE AND SHOULD BE HANDED OVER TO THE BRIBERY COMM.
You have said enough abut Ravi so we know him. Now Sajith demands his votes based on work done by his father, the worst Dictator in S.L. history who gave truck loads of arms to kill poor Sinhala and Tamil people. Additionally how did his father who never did a job in his life found money to build colossal houses in Colombo and and send his son to U.K for higher Education?Has he passed O levels?. Other thing is coming from that area, what he does is let world Vision make houses poor and take credit for it. While W.V. slowly convert Buddhists to Christian faiths.He also has shown he will be a worst dictator than Premadasa
Horay from where did you find this result? this is made up one who is RK compared to Sajith everyone know that Ravi even ruined the single ministry that was given to him during the short hoonymoon during 2002- 2004.
please do not mislead the people
I don’t know much about Ravi. Most in UNP is corrupt as well. But we know Sajith very well. He is a fool but crafty fool like his father. If you can find the book Premadasa what Bradmon Weerakoon didn’t say book, you will find howcorrupt and dangerous man he was.Not even Prabakaran’s death had so much of crackers being lit when he died on the pavement.
Ask Hambantota teples. He has not done any thing to a single Temple in Hambantota District. He does every thing to Hambantota only. That also with ulterior motives.