We are facing a presidential election two years before the present incumbent’s term expires.
Several candidates have declared their intention to contest, though the battle is largely between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and General (retd.) Sarath Fonseka. Others are coming forward to break votes or to win votes of their communities. They cannot win and therefore, the precious votes should not be wasted on them.
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| Gen. Fonseka |
President Rajapaksa gave political leadership to win the war against the LTTE and General Fonseka led the troops and won the war. General Fonseka was the architect of the victory.
His command capabilities and military strategies received plaudits and commendations nationally and internationally, so much so President Rajapaksa described the General as the best army commander in the world.
Both President Rajapaksa and General Fonseka were instrumental in winning the war and bringing peace to the country. They are both partners of this victory. One could not have won the war without the other.
Perhaps the former Heads of State could have won the war if they had an Army Commander in the calibre of General Fonseka. Whatever was said or whatever accusations were levelled, no Head of State wanted to divide the country.
Only their approaches were different. The LTTE’s Mavilaru gamble and the JVP’s threat to enter Mavilaru to release water to the people, forced the full-scale attack on the LTTE and as a result the LTTE’s bluff came to be unmasked.
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| Mahinda Rajapaksa |
These two main contenders are presidential material. President Rajapaksa and General Fonseka are both national assets and national heroes. Both will never turn traitors.
The war has been won. We have to retain the peace. We want a president who can lead the war against bribery and corruption, end political violence and usher in permanent peace.
Let the voters decide that freely. Whoever wins the election, the election should end in peace. If the divide continues, if violence persists, Sri Lanka’s future will be bleak. That should not be.
Upali S. Jayasekera, Colombo |
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