Sirisena, Wickremasinghe & Rakapaksa Dilemmas
Sarath Wijesinghe
Political maize in Sri Lanka has further complicated after the dissolution of the Parliament without passing 20A which is a demand and a promise by Sirisena to the people agitated for a change. Whose decision was the snap elections and who runs the country is a mystery and known to few. Some say people now need a change for the changes made due to dissatisfaction and disappointment of the state of affairs today. Sirisena is in a dilemma sandwiched between UNP SLFP (m) SLFP(R) and other minority parties and may have realized that trying to satisfy all stake holders is impossible. Sirisena’s amazing and unexpected victory on 8th January 2015 and the sudden decision to call for snap elections on 17th of August 2015 has given no opportunity for any politician or a political party to amply plan for the future which is more advantageous to the UNP.
UNP wanted to avoid five no- confident motions against the PM FM and others and more importantly the COPE report in which central Bank Governor is accused of. Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahindran is accused of allowing his son in law to transect 10 billion bonds for 30 years with unusually high interest rates in unusual circumstances losing billions of the ordinary tax payer’s money. He may have accepted the bids as the Governor and may not be able to absolve from responsibilities of the transections of his own son in law, though Wickramsinghe vehemently defended him and even volunteered to make representation to COPE as the line minister leaving a serious and series of doubts as when the COPE committee appointed by the Parliament made adverse findings on this mega scam. Sudden dissolution of the Parliament and calling for early elections has placed the electorate Politicos and political parties in a dilemma.
