31st October 1999

Is it a confident leader or
desperate lady?

Why, even Agriculture Minister D. M. Jayaratne who happens to be the General Secretary of the Peoples' Alliance and Tourism Minister Dharmasiri Senanayake who happens to be General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, were not told of this very important decision. Surely, there should be something called common courtesy Paakshikaya- even though Chandrika Kumaratunga is not reputed for her courtesy having kept even Princess Anne waiting! And then, my friend, what does your good President say in her address to the nation? There are references to conspiracies from within and how such conspiracies brought down the government of her father, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike? Now, tell me my friend, are these the hallmarks of a supremely confident leader seeking an endorsement for a second term of office? Or, are these ploys more reminiscent of a desperate lady, paranoid about even those near and dear to her, trying to cling to power by forcing early polls while the opposition is still relatively unprepared? I would leave that issue to be judged by our readers, Paakshikaya and say no more. And then, soon after that your President has one-to-one chats with political minions like Reggie Ranatunge and Jinadasa Nandasena who are not leaders of national standing by any stretch of the imagination and begs for their co-operation, implying that they will be rewarded if they stick with her. Again, my friend, are these the signs of an impending election victory? Paakshikaya says that Cambridge Terrace is today like a 'War Room' implying that the UNP political machinery is in disarray. Then tell me, my friend, are the people at Temple Trees a happy lot these days? Didn't they want polls to be held in late December because that was the big idea in springing this surprise on the cabinet as well as the rest of the country- to have it early before the UNP could get it's act together? And of course, more importantly wasn't that the date that S. B. Dissanayake recommended after seeing the astrologers? Then, Paakshikaya argues long and hard about Anura Bandaranaike "endorsing" the candidature of Chandrika Kumaratunga because Anura has waxed eloquent on the Bandaranaike pedigree in Parliament in a verbal duel with Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar. Now, Paakshikaya we all respect the Bandaranaike name. As Anura said, it is probably the only Sri Lankan name known the world over. If you read carefully what Anura has said, he is not saying that Chandrika Kumaratunga will win because she is a Bandaranaika- instead, he is only expressing his disappointment that your leader is not behaving in a manner becoming of a Bandaranaike and only using that name for political purposes. But then, we in the UNP are not fooled by your trying to create a rift between Anura and our leader, Paakshikaya. We all remember, don't we how J. R. Jayewardene used Anura Bandaranaike at the Kala Weva by-election to the detriment of the SLFP. Now, it appears that you are trying to return that favour! Well, my friend, Anura is graying at the temples and is no longer a naïve novice in these matters.

Anura was the first to congratulate Ranil Wickremesinghe when he was nominated as the UNP candidate and that sentiment was indeed heartfelt. He is now a mature politician who firmly believes that Ranil Wickremasinghe is better suited to become the next leader of this country- even more than his sister. It is not that he loves his sister less, Paakshikaya but perhaps he loves his country more. So you need not entertain any more fears on that score. So, Paakshikaya, you think your leader will win the election and I think my leader will win the poll. The playing field is level on that score and may I therefore quote an independent source? This is what the respected Asiaweek magazine - yes, the same magazine in which Arthur C. Clarke predicted that your President will win the Nobel Peace Prize- says in its issue of October 8 about Ranil Wickremesinghe:

"A scion of an illustrious family, Wickremesinghe attended the country's finest schools and was trained as a lawyer. But he decided to go into politics and was elected MP in 1977. He became the country's youngest cabinet minister when he was made deputy foreign minister in the subsequent government of J. R. Jayewardene. He also served under Ranasinghe Premadasa before becoming prime minister himself when Premadasa was assassinated in 1993. As head of the UNP, Wickremasinghe is the opposition party's automatic choice for the presidency and is expected to challenge incumbent President Chandrika Kumaratunga when polls are held next year. With the current coalition showing signs of cracks- Kumaratunga's partners are disenchanted by her reluctance to abolish the executive presidency- the odds may well be in Wickremesinghe's favour to become Sri Lanka's next president".

Well, my friend, these are not my observations which could of course be hopelessly biased. Need I say more except to say that Paakshikaya will shortly have to metamorphose and assume the role of Viruddha Paakshikaya- so you better get used to that, my friend, by December at least!

Inside the glass house

Editorial/ Opinion Contents