Majority Of Sinhalese, Tamils And Muslims Are Likely To Deny Third Term To MR
By Veluppillai Thangavelu -December 24, 2014
Veluppillai Thangavelu
The presidential election is only two weeks away. The propaganda war between the UPFA and the NDF (National Democratic Front) is heating up. There are accusations and counter accusations. There is also sporadic violence by the supporters of the ruling party. These are to be expected and they are common features in any election in Sri Lanka. It has become part of our political culture.
When it comes to resources both man power and money power to fight an election, the opposition is no match to the governing party. Mahinda Rajapaksa is using the entire state machinery openly to further his election campaign. Retired army personnel have been pressed into service to canvass votes byGotabaya Rajapaksa, the de facto Defence Minister.
As usual the government controlled media, television channels and newspapers are made full use for election propaganda on behalf of the incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa. For Rajapaksa who is contesting for the third time, this election is a do or die battle. He cannot afford to lose the elections. If he loses his empire built around him, his siblings and close relatives will collapse like nine pins. In case of defeat he stands to lose not only political power but his ill gotten wealth from mega projects. Common opposition candidate Sirisena has publicly declared that he will appoint a commission to probe all financial scandals and corruption. He also said that all political appointees to Foreign Service will be sent home and only trained and experienced professionals appointed in their places. As well Sirisena should clean up the Temple Trees of Rajapaksa’s uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews.
When President Mahinda Rajapaksa issued the proclamation on November 20th fixing the presidential election for January, 08 he was expecting a ‘cakewalk’ over his opponent. In fact he was taunting the opposition to name the candidate who will contest him and lose the election. Mahinda Rajapaksa was expecting Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of the UNP and the leader of the Opposition in parliament or MrsChandrika Kumaratunga Bandaranaike ex-president to contest him. He knows Ranil Wickremesinghe is a born loser who has lost every election since he took over the leadership of the UNP. The solitary exception is the 2001 parliamentary election. He has also lost about 60 MPs who contested on the UNP ticket but crossed over to the government. Half the Ministers and Deputy Ministers in Mahinda Rajapaksa’s cabinet are ex-UNPers. For example the lame duck minister of foreign affairs G.L. Peiris first crossed over to the UNP in 2001, but crossed back as soon as the UNP lost the elections in 2004.Read More
