Mahinda And Ranil’s Done Deal (Opinion)
Today is a day of many alarms and few surprises. There is no doubt that Mahinda will pass the 18th amendment, allowing him to run in and control elections (via the Elections and Police Commissions). Despite the protests (pro and con) in Colombo and the rump UNP marching on to Parliament, the bill will be passed in Parliament. This whole thing has been like watching a car crash in slow motion. It’s not like Mahinda didn’t give the opposition time. This was run through two elections and interminable rounds of cross overs. Its only the final passage that has been too fast. Ranil could have stopped this at any time by stepping down, by giving opposition MPs some hope of one day getting out of opposition. He didn’t. His protest to Parliament is now empty. He should be walking alone.
To sum the situation, the 18th amendment will remove whatever (theoretical) checks and balances remained on the Sri Lankan Presidency. The President can now appoint almost anyone and can run indefinitely. In Sri Lanka, sitting Presidents almost never lose. They have the full force of the state behind them and don’t hesitate to use state money, buses, properties and violence to win. The only stopgap has been term limits, which Mahinda is now lifting. That is the rub.
The burn is that everyone has seen this coming. Ranil lost to Mahinda in 2005 and didn’t step down. Instead his party has been slowly losing MPs, generally whenever Mahinda wanted to pass something. By maintaining a stagnant opposition Ranil has allowed Mahinda to simply buy votes whenever he wants. When the UNP had their worst showing almost ever in the 2010 Parliamentary elections, Ranil still remained and fed the party faithful only in internal committees and meetings. Indeed, he is simply sitting out the debate on this issue, just as he sat out the last Presidential election. Someone should tell him, however, that he’s sitting on our heads.
An opposition has to have some hope of some day being in power, and Ranil has blocked that hope. This is the political climate that has made Rajapaksa’s coup possible. It is sadly now only possible to remove him through coup or massive protest, because this amendment effectively makes the democratic option untenable. The last guy who tried – General Sarath Fonseka – was put in jail, but this is only because he’s actually democratically dangerous. The guy who doesn’t try (Ranil) will forever be allowed to run free, because it is he who made this amendment possible. MPs may as well cross cause the only hope for change is now intrigue within the SLFP, or from the military, or from some peoples protest type figure.
It is not what the people decide, indeed it is rarely what the people decide. This is a pure political play, made possible by how little we control our politicians. Ranil could have stopped this at any time by resigning and actually allowing his party to heal from successive defeats. Mahinda could have stopped this at any time by restraining his greed for power and dynasty. Instead we get this hideous creation, the 18th amendment, fathered by Mahinda and mothered by Ranil. It is not so dangerous now, but wait till it grows up.
The answer to Sri Lankas problem costs .80 c Us plus a gun !!
Che Guevara you are right. Then the pack of cards will just drop and the Ali baba’s will run to the jungles.
As thing are going, 18 ammentment will be passed. We should think positively. The president will have to work hard people friendly if want to win 2016 election. Othewise then old Ranil will become president.
now you are dreaming!!!!
This article precisely sums up Sri Lanka’s plight. Mahida managed to attain (Like Hitler) what in other countries was created by coup or revolution, through sheer political cunning , vanality and with the help of opposition leader. In a country where we have voters who elect people of the calibre of Paba, Mervin, Jonstan, Lakshman etc., how can our voters be considered competent to elect an all powerful president created by the constitution after being amended by no.18.; a veritable monarch. Why can not this fool of a monarch take it into his big head that this will inevitably lead to destruction one day. Mahinda has said that he will run for president untill a suitable strong candidate comes from opposition. Then, that also will be decided by him, not by the people!!
Pure jealousy. UNP is dead now until a new leader is elected. be grateful to our saviour Hon. Mahinda Rajapaksa.Look back and be honest of what has MR has done to the country in developing. You need a brain wash my friend. There is no plight in sri lanka. Just wait another couple of years and I am sure you will change your ideas
“…fathered by Mahinda and mothered by Ranil. It is not so dangerous now, but wait till it grows up”. Unquote. It will be too late…to wait till it grows up!…before that we would see the END of SL. We would see a dictator ruling his kingdom according to his wishes and his family’s wishes.
Ranil or no Ranil millions of rupees will be very attractive to the poor MP and he or she will be well set for life.
Over the years we have created a welfare society where we expect to get somebody’s help to get what we want without striving to get that by standing on our own feet. So electorate look up to the politiciens to deliver personel favours to them and they vote to the perceived “strong men” to parliment in turn. In that sort of climate we got this bunch of basterds in our parliment who doesn’t have any strong convictions or ideologies. At the same time our education system create book worms and not creative minds who can think themselves. They can be easily managed like herds and unfortunately that’s what hapening. MR and Ranil capitalise in this environment and holding to their posts.
We seem to be exporting crooked Cinhala politicians to the US as well.
http://www.watchdogwag.com/?p=2738
MAYBE MR will send the white van to sedera’s parents house to get the commis.
“Mahinda could have stopped this at any time by restraining his greed for power an dynasty” – What a stupid statement. Mahinda IS the epitome for greed and power. A nobody who became a somebody ,a product of a secular Buddhist society who played the majority card this country is well on its way to a dictatorship. In future he will have no choice but to stay in power by hook or by crook as loosing the grip on power will mean the death knell for him as too many enemies are waiting for that moment.
And that day will come sooner or later, he should realize nothing is permanent in this fickle society of ours, life has a way of throwing up nasty surprises.
He should Know by now that even within his own party he has no real friends, for them it is the perks and waiting for the opportune moment to pull the rug from under Mahinda, there are only waiting for a viable alternative. For those who cross over it is pure and simple a matter of MONEY and nothing else. They have exhausted their resources to get elected and now an ideal
opportunity has arisen to re-coup some of those losses and for that this lot will be willing to sell their mothers to achieve this. As for those who voted for them who cares it will take another 5 years to teach them a lesson and if Despot brings in further amendments to extend the life of parliament for 10years citing the high cost of holding elections the rest will cross over. All hail our King Of This Banana Republic.
“All hail our King Of This Banana Republic”. Ape p******* Maha Rajathumata & Company yata Jaya Veva! Our Maha Raja is nothing but a curse to Sri Lanka. He ruining the country, still, the Modayas trust this Tyrant.
Don’t bet on this ! It may not be possible to rule even a full term, as it is.
Things will get pretty ugly sooner or later and that will be the end of dynasty rule
for sure. This kind of politics will never last long..Ranil’s actions are only expediting the demise. Isn’t he shrewd ? wow !!…Be patient.
In the History men are crowned as kings, when they save the country from the enemy.
His Excellency MR saved us from the LTTE. Let us reward him by making him as our new king. Sri Lanka had kings in the past, why not now.
We also now have 3 crown princes and a beauty Queen her majesty Shiranthi Rajapaksa. What more we can ask for ?
Now we need LTTE to eliminate this terrorist family
You forgotten the harem.. many actress with whom MR slept in the past..
you are y man!!!!!!!
When the lawyers are carring a coffin of Demise of Democracy, what we’ll carry as the public. They know the law much better than us. That means they can smell some terrible wrong things in this 18th amendment. There are so many things to do for our country. But according to government this is first urgent thing in their agenda. If MR is going to survive so long, all the henchmans are going to remain with him. They will earn enough money for generations and generations. What else they need. We the public has probelms, but not them. They are getting everything from our account. We should continue to pay our taxes etc for these poor ministers and others to live without any problem. It is our duty to looked after these VIP guys. Long live ministers,deputy ministers and jumping fish etc.
His Excelency the President
Now that you have got unlimited power, why don’t you restore the pension of so many retired Govt. servants. We know your treasury must be full, otherwise how could you pay millions to the betrayers?
We need a universal pension scheme.. not just for the public servants servants..
These people got too much time in their hands.
I was expected to step down from leadershio on first lost.
Now Mr. has full power
Can he resolve the Tamil probelm?
KAPAN RAJA HUYHAGE GU THAN MODA SINHALAYA.
Some moda sinhalayas might think it is tastier than Sungod’s’ #$%@.
I donno’ why we are all making a big fuss over a minor amendment adjustment ?
MR & co has been busy doing whatever they want, when ever they want & where ever they want.-amendment or no amendment.! Can any one stop that ? No way,
at least for now.They have all the powers in the world of today.India,China,Russia,
Iran,Pakistan and even USA,UK,EU,UN, IMF,ADB & all are helping them to run the country with (M)ahinda’s (R)otten chinthanaya.Every one wants a piece of the war spoils. They all will do anything to get that in the name of democracy, humanity and every nice words one can think of. Is there anything functioning properly today in SL ?
Judiciary is a joke,Police & army just doing what MR & co says,White van are still plying,abductions,intimidations,arbitrary arrests are common, people are just languishing in jails for years without any case being brought against them,
opposition parties are not opposing anything much,elected politicians are jumping
from their own party for money,law & order is a matter of a by gone era,thugs are roaming the cities, YV stations are wrecked,news papers are sealed, or banned,
any resentment is termed as ‘traitorous.Civilian casuality Zero,all dead are tigers,
KP is a guest , Douglas ,Karuna and the likes are pals of today. Mervyn & Wimal
are useful buddies for now,Palitha Kohonna in the dust bin…& so life goes on.
Looks like we have no choice but to go with the flow & see what happens.
This kind of ruling the country will eventually ruin it. The count down will start soon
for the dooms day. This mockery of democracy will not last long before another
dictator or a Junta rule becomes inevitable. So be prepared & get used to it rather than fighting it. May be it our fate.
man!!!!!!!!!!!!! i agree with u 100%….bravooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Could SF’s rhetoric during and after the election campaign be the main reason why the President is behaving like this: To leave the office while SF has some following and still able to comeback as the President could leave his family members and supporters in great peril i.e a measure adopted in self defense?
If so the answer lies with SF himself: To apologise to the President for his past misdemeanors and pledge loyalty to him. (Whether he is capable of delivering his promise is another story)…
18th Amendent was sponsored by the Tamil diaspora. The Transexuals in Exile are also trying to implement the same model
All who shouting in these comments !
Think back! If war is continiuing things would have been at least better than now. Those opposed & support ed .the conflict now can enjoy the life under MAHA RAJ A HUTHTHAMAYANO!
What things were better than now when the war was continuing Soussi? Better business for funeral directors and prosthetics salesmen ?
Non of these comments will not be even seen by any of the politicins or the stupid general public who helped them to come to power. Why waste your presious time ladies & gentlemen. General public deserve it, let them have a taste. It will be a good idea to collect money to supply free vasline to the stupid general public to be applied into certaina orifices in the near future when they taste their results from the wrong end of the digestive system.
Normally,the human beings became civilized step-by-step in the history and finally reached the destination of democratic society enjoining lot of H/Rs. Initially the man was naked and then worn forest leaves covering minor part of the body. As human being in Sri Lanka, we too passed those stages. We had times -we toppled government when it was realized the that govts were unable to push the country towards prosperity. ANYWAY NOT LIKE OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD,NOW WE HAVE STARTED THE RETURN JOURNEY GOING BACK TO INITIAL STAGES ONCE AGAIN LOOSING DEMOCRACY AND H/RS ETC.WHAT A PATHETIC CASE. IS THERE NO ANY PERSON IN SRI LANKA , OUT OF 20 MILLIONS PEOPLE ,TO BE SELECTED AS PRESIDENT AFTER THE PRESIDENT’S TWO TERMS.
The untrammelled executive powers will find everlasting solution to the ethnic issue or the extermination of Tamils is the aim of GOSL as the political solution in the country.
He thinks he is immortal and grabbing every thing.
Thanhaya Jayathee Shoko.
The people who comment against Mahinda should actually point their fingers at Ranil. Where on earth a leader of a Party is slected on a life time basis. Then most people have fogotten this infamous consitituion was nurtuered and passed by the UNP, even the 17 ammendments passed were done without any refrence to the people for a referandum. They scraped the earlier consitiution without reference to people. The famous 1977 UNP manifesto did not have even a meeky suggestion that they were to inact a new consitution. Some of the amenments UNP passed on the consitituion were aimed at petty politics defying Supreme Court decesions. JRJ and CBK both tried to get the consitution ammended for them to be in office even an extra day. The democracy died so to speak at the inactment of the present consitution per se. When the government in the hands of UNP the constitution was never bad.
Then this guy Sarath Fonska showed his true self at the last election how he was going to punish various people if he comes to power. Luckily we did not have to face that treat as he was defeated. Americans always bet on the wrong horse by supporting this idiot of a General. Even now this person use unparliamentary language and expect the UNP with 60 members to follow his 4 member JVP coalition. What an illusion.
Democracy is one big humbug. It is to be eliminated from the face of Srilanka.
ASAP. Chinese governing system put that nation to be the rival of ailing
ungovernable , american govt of socio political gridlock.
Today America is just a boom box run by media moguls[mongols].
Well done Mahida.
viva viva viva Mahida
saviour of the land from capitalist/christian ravage.
Appu
Welcome to Mahinda Rajaya and to the dead Democratic Socialist Republic Republic of Sri Lanka