Ranil has to fight; he has no other way!

DR.Vickramabahu Karunaratne-2016-06-23

We are told that those days, if a media man got into trouble with Mahinda, elders advised to have a word with MR and 'sort it out'. That means he should crawl to the President's abode and beg mercy. In respect of some articles in the mainstream newspapers, which were brought to the notice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, by Presidential advisors, he behaved differently. He had laughed and was amused but never said a word. In any case an article with 1,500 words in Sinhala or English was too strenuous an exercise for a man who is allergic to reading.

If Mahinda was annoyed about a newspaper item it was more his nature to phone the scribe next day to narrate his version of the story and insist that it be carried. Usually media men implemented the order and did not follow the foot path of Lasantha and Pradeep. In contrast, these days, media men often attack Ranil Wickremesinghe in print but never were they noticed nor any evil befallen on them. But lesser minions in politics have blamed print establishments for carrying articles exposing their deeds. The Meepura tragedy shows freedom of expression is still in peril.

Is Arjuna Mahendran indispensable? A politician in the height of power must have the courage to answer this question. He must face challenges and overcome them; otherwise it will hurt him and his camp. A Prime Minister with knowledge knows better than an ordinary man on the street as to who should hold such a decorated office amidst criticism, despite eventually he is accountable at the polling booth. It is true that so far Arjuna Mahendran did not bring glory to the office of the Central Bank Governor. He cannot be compared to men like Rajapathirana or Rasaputram who rose from the ranks and did well to be remembered. The Constitutional Council was impressed by the arguments of Ranil who wanted a man of such calibre to handle the financial problems in the age of global capitalism. Arjuna Mahendran, as a true friend and responsible person has not declined an extension, if offered. It is not a problem that can be solved by popular voters or mass campaign. Ranil is experimenting with a social capitalist programme knowing neo-liberalism of the past era has created a mess in the country. He and his close associates only know the required professionals to take forward the programme. Hence only they could judge whether Arjuna should be kept despite the so-called corruption of Arjuna. So first prove the corruption; then judge whether to keep him despite corruption, because such professionals cannot be changed like changing slippers.

A cornerstone of a government
Arjuna Mahendran is a cornerstone of a government, where the Premier has gone deeply into the politico economic programme with Arjuna. The fascistic Opposition knows well that removal of Arjuna will be a giant blow against liberal politics of Ranil. If he is dispatched home, in spite of political support of the popular masses, Ranil will face a political setback both locally and internationally. The votes that the UNP will lose if he is kept can be named instead of being counted. Hence the real issue is the political position of Ranil. That is why the fascistic gang is hell bent on crushing Arjuna. Dedicated UNP supporters can smell this political conspiracy behind the Arjuna Mahendran campaign. Loyalists are the bulwarks of a political Party: more stoutly principled than some regional leaders who vacillate on policies and discriminate between friends and Party-men. They genuinely hate to see their Party or their leader fall prey to foul practices or in the company of undesirables. However, if the leadership appoints a professional for a particular purpose then the value of this political step can be understood even by the most simple-minded Party member.

Most certainly an average UNP Party supporter, probably like his SLFP counterpart – dislikes wrongdoings, especially where it runs into excesses. Often he is a judge in the cause of others. Reading between lines such are smart to distinguish between right and wrong. Such Party members can realize the real issue behind a campaign against wrong doings. Now, Arjuna Mahendran is a household name among the middle class that follows media. He was a virtual nobody among the locals, who became somebody with his appointment as the Central Bank Governor. From there to reach celebrity status was an easy task, because money-men began to make noises on the controversial bond issue that made news. But the real issue is his ability to go ahead with the economic programme of Ranil which disturbed the fascistic gang. Hence, Ranil has to fight; because he has no other way!