2015 is just around the corner. However it will not be just another new year, because on 8th January Sri Lankans will flock to polling stations to elect an executive president for the next six years. People should not take electing an executive president lightly. It's not a decision that should be taken hastily. It is something that requires due consideration and a careful thought process. One should give it several rounds of thought, arguing and counter-arguing and always trying to make sure that the end decision is 'pure' as it can be. People should try to ensure that the decision they make is void of hatred, jealousy, cravings and most importantly it should not give room for separatism. On the contrary the decision should be based on upholding the very basic principles like a united country, true independence and a conflict free future for at least the next few decades.
Some may wonder why issues like a united country are still of concern even after five years of ending the brutal war. The war was only one facet of the separatism movement. It is true that it was the most dominant and the most brutal issue Sri Lankans had to endure during the past thirty years. It is also true that war is no longer present. But it was still only one form of materialization of the separatism movement. Separatism movement mainly sponsored by the Tamil Diaspora still continues to lurk in the shadows, from time to time materializing under various forms and shapes. It might be difficult to decipher such materializations at first glance; they might come from the most unconventional or the most innocent of ways. However their ulterior motive remains to divide mother Sri Lanka. It can be in the form of the legal system of the country being in conflict with the parliament/executive system as seen in Pakistan, or it can be in the form of student/working class uprisings as seen in Egypt. It is true that such conflicts/uprisings do contain justifiable concerns. However such concerns should be arbitrated or settled in a manner that does not undermine the stability or the unity of the country. Some fractions of society nourished by NGO's have been trying to impose a federal system in Sri Lanka from the early 90's. They have tried to give a legal status to the LTTE movement. Although well camouflaged these fractions represent the separatism movement. War might be over, with it the most obvious and the most brutal materialization of the separatism movement. But five years after the end of the war, invisible forces that fueled the war continue to work hard to achieve their objectives. In 2009 it was Sarath Fonseka and this time around it is Maithreepala Sirisena. Maithreepala Sirisena has always stood by the federal states movement. He has been an obedient servant of the former president Chandrika Kumaratunga. He had vehemently pledged support to the Tsunami relief fund back in 2004, which provides clear evidence as to where he stands on the issue of achieving a united Sri Lanka.
Reasons for out setting President Mahinda Rajapaksa as highlighted by the opposition are corruption and family politics. When a new president is elected in United States, he will appoint secretaries to different ministries and he will have a large say in picking the cabinet. Such appointments would consist of people who the president can trust and can rely on. This is common anywhere in the world. Any president would surround him or herself with people they trust. Even if Ranil wickramasinghe becomes the president he will appoint the most trusted set of people to the key positions (which would normally consist of the elite Colombo upper class who are numb to the pulse of the common Sri Lankan). In the case of Mahinda Rajapaksa the only difference was, such was the caliber of his family, he could afford to fill key positions in the government using his brothers. In terms of the conduct of his siblings no one can point fingers. They have done exceptionally well, a fact everyone agrees on. In the era of post open economy, all governments have been accused of corruption. From the looks of it Maithreepala Sirisena also has some questions to answer. In any case corrupted politicians should be judged on the general election on a case by case basis. There are no corruption allegations against President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself. This is in contrast to some of the earlier executive presidents who have been directly linked to illegal handling of contracts.
Presidential election is for selecting an 'executive' president. If the executive president stands true to the core values of a united nation from the bottom of his soul, then as a country we can move forward and take care of the minor issues as we go along. Given the current juncture we are in if somehow the sovereignty of our beloved motherland is compromised then the ultimate sacrifice made by our fallen war heroes would be futile. Ensuring peace for at least another decade is the primary need of the hour. This will give time for the wounds to heal; it will provide a window of opportunity for the common Tamil person to realize that they are equal to any other person in this paradise, that they can enjoy the same opportunities as everyone else. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has been very generous to the Northern Province, pumping in huge sums of money for infrastructure development. Roads have been constructed, electricity has been given and rail ways resurrected. All are in agreement that infrastructure development is the starting point. Even when the Northern Provincial council has shown very little willingness for working together with the government, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has continued to show great care and commitment towards the common Tamil people. This will and should be the way forward. Petty political agendas aside, we must work towards betterment of the common man irrespective of whether he is Tamil, Muslim or Sinhalese.
LTTE ghosts have been sighted in the north several times, especially in the Jaffna University. There are rumors that eastern province is seeing slow but nevertheless steady rising of armed gangs fueled by Islamism and Sharia low. Thus if someone can think, even for a split second, that there is absolutely no chance of another arms struggle taking place they should wake up and realize the dark truth. We have seen and can remember the growth and ending of the war, but how many of us remember the beginning of it. In the late 70' and the early 80's not many would have guessed that the small armed groups and their street wars will ultimately bring terror to everybody’s doorstep. But the separatism movement is quick to capitalize on such opportunities. Therefore we should always be weary of the small grass root incidents almost negligible which can grow out of proportions. This is especially necessary given the current juncture Sri Lankans are in. The situation can be different in another decade or so, where the common man can make a judgment himself. It can be totally different if at least one generation has had the opportunity to grow up in a peaceful Sri Lanka. It would be only then that the realization will beckon on every common man that everybody shares the same opportunities and problems irrespective of their race, religion or class. It is only then that they would be willing to work together for the betterment of the country as a whole realizing that everybody is equal. But we should remember that we are not there yet. Just five years after ending a thirty year old conflict one cannot expect such a transformation. This is then a time of ensuring and protecting the hard won peace.
That's why each step we tread should be carefully thought and analyzed. That's why this presidential election is critical. Don't vote against Mahinda Rajapaksa just because you think that he having served two terms is enough, that this time just to experiment lets elect someone else. Don't vote against Mahinda Rajapaksa because you are filled with so much hatred and jealousy that you are unable to come to terms with the fact that a man from Hambanthota, not much different from you and me, has done what was thought impossible. He has united Sri Lanka by eradicating terrorism and started to build a Sri Lanka for the next generation. Mistakes might be there but they are tolerable given the main agenda. They are tolerable given that no other government to date has been able to get rid of them. Be vigilant of the true nature of the opposition; be vigilant of the true form of change they will bring.
If you are voting for Maitreepala Sirisena, it should be because of the policies, charisma, what he has done for the country and most importantly how we can trust him for upholding the basic virtues like maintaining a united country for the years to come. It should not be the case that just because you don't want to see Mahinda Rajapaksa getting a third term, you are going to vote for Maitreepala Sirisena, without even bothering to stop and think what he is going to do once elected. If you let that happen you've allowed yourself to be blinded by hatred and jealousy. Maitreepala Sirisena, although a senior minister and the past general secretary of UPFA is not someone who has done much, in the minds of the people. He famously talks about the smoking advertisements, but that’s all he has on his resume. But most importantly and he has always stood by the federal movement to divide this country. He has not been a charismatic leader that could speak to the masses nor someone who could rally around the party behind him. Nothing much needs to be stated about Ranil and Chandrika in terms of what they have done to Sri Lanka.
When you are voting to someone, always make sure that you're voting for a particular candidate because you truly believe in the long term agendas of that candidate and the others who are supporting him. If you're not convinced about any candidate then you're better off not voting. But be vigilant to the fact that all of the separatism movement is now firmly behind Maitreepala Sirisena. TNA who are still insanely holding on to the dream of a separate state for Tamils, have pledged their support to Maithreepala. Muslims too have followed suit. Sri Lanka is one of the few countries whose legislation itself provides room for Muslim customs and laws. However some extremist Muslims don’t seem to be content with it. When some of the western countries have openly stated that anyone wanting to practice Sharia law can leave their country and do so, Sri Lanka continues to be a paradise for them. It's disheartening to see even under such circumstances the conduct of some minority communities. Many of the western embassies and NGO's are pumping dollars and putting their full weight behind Maithreepala also. When one considers such parties who are backing up Maitreepala, it's not that difficult to see their ulterior motives and the ultimate result that will happen if Maitreepala gets elected. It's clearly evident by Maithreepala's conduct that he is nothing but an obedient servant of former president Chandrika. Whenever Chandrika is present in a meeting, she takes center stage much obliged by Maitreepala. Maitreepala seems more than honored to give her the spot light much similar to how a house servant behaves by giving prominence to his master. Maitreepala defintely lacks the resolve expected out of an executive president. A person who has never fought for the good governance while he was part of the government, suddenly lamenting about it after becoming the common candidate is ridiculous. On the other hand it's a proven fact that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has stood firm against western powers that try to manipulate Sri Lanka as they see fit. In terms of the ‘executive president’ job description, Mahinda Rajapaksa is a clear and a deserved winner. No wonder Maitreepala wants to change the executive presidency if he gets elected, he will not have any other option, simply because he is not suited for the Job.
So come January 8th when we cast our vote, let us make sure that we are crystal clear why we have made our choice. Let's make sure that we have voted for a particular candidate because we truly feel that candidate is the right person to be the executive president of Sri Lanka. That the candidate we have voted for, will selflessly uphold the true virtues like a united country during his tenure and that he will take every attempt to treat every man, women and child of this country equally irrespective of race, religion or class. Let us not fall pray for jealousy or hatred and be blind to the unseen separatism forces that continue to try and break apart our motherland. Let uss make sure that our children, and our children’s children can enjoy this hard won peace.
Let us vote for Mahinda Rajapaksa…. !!!!
Long Live mother Sri Lanka ….!!!!
