Making of a President
2016-09-19
'The author of Making of the President, Theodore White unites a novelist's knack of dramatization and a historian's sense of significance with a synthesizing skill that grasps the reader by the lapels.'
The third book in Theodore H. White's landmark series, The Making of the President gives a compelling account of the turbulent 1968 presidential campaign, the assassinations of Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., and election of Richard Nixon. White made history with his groundbreaking The Making of the President 1960, a narrative that won the Pulitzer Prize for revolutionizing the way that presidential campaigns were reported.
Absorbing narration
Malith Jayathilaka's Ma Dutu Janavari 8 is an equally absorbing narration of the cloak and dagger style search for a common candidate and the victory of that candidate at the 8 January 2015 Presidential election and the 'Newsweek' accolade of Theodore H. White fits Jayathilaka's knack for dramatization, skills and sense and the ability to 'grasp the reader by the lapels'.
Malith, in his dramatic style, reveals many insides in the search for a common candidate. The major roles played by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and his son, Chathura, Champika Ranawaka, Shiral Laktilake and last but not the least Maithripala Sirisena have been vividly described by the author.
Malith, in his dramatic style, reveals many insides in the search for a common candidate. The major roles played by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera, Chandrika Kumaratunga, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne and his son, Chathura, Champika Ranawaka, Shiral Laktilake and last but not the least Maithripala Sirisena have been vividly described by the author.
The book brings out the fact that although there was a rapidly growing resentment against the style of governance adopted by Mahinda Rajapaksa during his second term starting in 2010, the campaign to search for a winnable common candidate had begun only after Malith showed, with convincing and authentic facts and figures, calculations and surveys, that Rajapaksa could be defeated in an election. However, the initial aim and objective of Malith's presentation was to prevent Rajapaksa from holding a premature election in which he could face defeat.
Rajapaksa facing defeat
While several ministers, including Dullas Alahapperuma, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa, Champika Ranawaka and Susil Premajayantha realized that there was a possibility of Rajapaksa facing defeat, Mahinda Rajapaksa and his closest advisers headed by Basil and Gotabaya dismissed it as utter nonsense.
According to Malith, some persons close to Rajapaksa tried to show Malith as a villain who was trying to bring down the regime. The books also reveals many conversations taken place at Temple Trees and other places between Rajapaksa and various ministers, supporters and some of the disgruntled ministers.
According to Malith, some persons close to Rajapaksa tried to show Malith as a villain who was trying to bring down the regime. The books also reveals many conversations taken place at Temple Trees and other places between Rajapaksa and various ministers, supporters and some of the disgruntled ministers.
Initial campaign of Ven. Maduluwawe Sobhitha Thera was to get Karu Jayasuriya to be the common candidate. However, the secret consultations began with some of the government heavyweights too to feel their pulse. According to Malith most of the senior SLFP leaders were unhappy with Basil, Gotabaya and other members of the kitchen cabinet that sidelined top SLFP ministers. He reveals many a conversation between the SLFP leaders who were thinking of an alternative. But most of them were scared to air their views in public.
Exchange of views
The plot began to take place gradually and in July 2013. There was many an exchange of views between Maithripala and Rajitha and later with others. On one occasion, during a wedding, while Mahinda and Gotabaya were sitting on the same table, a conspiratory conversation took place. The Rajapaksa brothers could not hear the discussion because of the loud music in the wedding hall.
"The discussions between Maithripala and Ven. Rathana were not disclosed to Champika. Similarly, talks between Maithripala and Champika were not known to Rajitha. Then Chandrika too started talks with Maithripala but they were also kept away from others," Malith says stressing the high degree of secrecy.
Chandrika played a major role in convincing Ranil about the need for accepting Maithripala as the common candidate. Ranil was facing a dilemma.
Chandrika played a major role in convincing Ranil about the need for accepting Maithripala as the common candidate. Ranil was facing a dilemma.
He wanted to topple the Rajapaksa regime,but he knew the UNP was not in a position to achieve that objective. At the same time, no common candidate could win without wholehearted support of the UNP. Will the UNP get a fair share in the government after the victory of the common candidate? Ranil wanted an answer for this million dollar question.
Chandrika's answer
"Can Maithripala be trusted," Ranil asked Chandrika when the name of Maithripala was finally proposed. "If you trust me, please trust him," was Chandrika's answer to settle the issue.
In the final chapter, Malith refers to those who feel disappointed about the slow progress under the new government. Maithripala replied to that at the book launch. "What would have happened to our country if the 8 January transformation had not occurred?" Addressing the function in Colombo on Wednesday, 14 September Maithripala Sirisena posed this question to those who criticize him and the government.
In the final chapter, Malith refers to those who feel disappointed about the slow progress under the new government. Maithripala replied to that at the book launch. "What would have happened to our country if the 8 January transformation had not occurred?" Addressing the function in Colombo on Wednesday, 14 September Maithripala Sirisena posed this question to those who criticize him and the government.
Giving reasons for his resignation from Rajapaksa government, he said, "By mid-2013, we were preparing for the elections. The then government appointed committees to make primary preparations for this. However, as a minister I was not included in any of those committees. Those were secretive committees and included persons from the Presidential Secretariat and external organizations. As they governed the country excluding the ministers, they attempted to organize an election."
Commended
President Sirisena said the true facts on 8 January transformation were still hidden. He commended the attempt taken by Malith Jayathilaka to report such facts without any fear.
The President said all those who know the facts regarding the transformation that took place on 8 January have an understanding how complex and how far it has to be studied. Hence, it is necessary for them to talk openly about that pure transformation of 8 January and today it is very important to speak regarding that transformation by persons who were involved to make that change.
Most of the SLFP seniors, who were sidelined during the Rajapaksa regime, are now with Maithripala. As Shiral Lakthilaka, another prime mover behind the campaign for an acceptable common candidate, said at the launch of Malith's book, when reading the final chapter, the message between the lines is very clear. For the success of consensual government of good governance and for strengthening democracy, the continuation of the unity government is very important. While the UNP must consolidate its power base under the able leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the SLFP too must be rejuvenated under the party President Maithripala Sirisena and such a scenario would ensure a healthy power sharing to take the nation forward.
