The voter must decide
- December 31, 2014
- “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men” – Lord Acton (1834-1902)
| Only a few short weeks ago it could have been said of Mahinda Rajapaksa: “Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world like a colossus; and we petty men walk under his huge legs and peep about…” He even despaired the weakness of his Opposition and as it struggled to find a common candidate, Rajapaksa even offered himself in jest | Maithripala Sirisena, the low-key, mild mannered Secretary of his own party, the SLFP, crossed the floor to challenge his Leader. Overnight, this lean smallish man from the ancient land of Polonnaruwa has completely changed the landscape of oppositional politics and thereby the certainties under which the Rajapaksas ruled |
It is increasingly obvious that today President Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing the electoral challenge of his life. In a contest turning into a bruising battle, even if he were to squeeze in a win by a nose, that will be won only by an undertaking to cease to be a president.
