Rebirth Of Rajapaska Is A Threat To Social Progress

By Ramachandrage Adaviya –July 5, 2015

(Following article is a blog post from the Ramachandrage Adaviya translated to English by Lakmali Hemachandra)

Mahinda Rajapaksa has again become a topic in power politics. For a moment, after January 8th, it seemed as if his historical role has come to an end. Contrary to justified expectations by many there was no sign from his camp to remain in power by force in the aftermath of the electoral defeat on January 8th. Rajapaksa handed over not just the Executive Presidency, but also the SLFP party leadership and disappeared to Madamulana. However, that disappearance is now looking more like a tactical retreat as he is now coming out with the preparations to contest in the coming general elections and President Sirisena is compelled to come in to terms with that reality.

The project to bring back Rajapaksa is based on ultra-Sinhala nationalism. Rajapaksa apologists explained his defeat as the consequence of ‘minority votes’. Rajapaksa himself expressed these views. In a recent interview with a newspaper Basil Rajapaksa, summed up the defeat of Mahinda to have been the result of organizing Northern votes against Mahinda Rajapaksa. In the past few months, the main theme of the pro- Rajapaksa camp wasSinhala nationalism. In seminars like, venasa sapada? (Does the change feel good?), claims were made that the country is being handed over to the Tigers since the defeat of Rajapaksa.

‘Rajapaksism’ is a disgusting political phenomenon made up of rural backwardness, Sinhala racism and idiocy of the island-centric thinking. A political shift that took place post 2005 was this disgusting phenomenon gaining power as the hegemonic political model in Southern Sri Lanka. Looked at through this perspective all components of the modern democratic project including representative democracy, human rights and devolution were undermined and ridiculed. Militarization of daily life was naturalized and a massive security state maintained with enormous investments was established while Tamil and Muslim people were subject to racists attacks in order to legitimize this state in the eyes of the Sinhalese.Read More