Sri Lanka’s Intensified History In Nine Months, 2014-2015
S. Sivathasan
In a flash we have seen phenomenal changes within a span of nine months. From nominations for Presidential to Parliamentary elections in a week, events have moved with wholesome rapidity. Called silent or bloodless, glorious revolution or intensive evolution, it has inspired hope and purpose. Defeat and despair stand dispelled.
The national polity which had grown defiant together with a political leadership with its sense of power brought this turn around. A change in the making many would say in January 2010 itself. An election betrayed then, they may reaffirm. So be it. Will the fruits of January 2015 be lost facilely in August? Will there be zero tolerance to a vulgar usurpation? Never, is the rejoinder. Why?
The fruits are too precious to be frittered away. The people were heaving and gasping under a heavy dictatorship. It was becoming more brutal by the day. To the populace of every hue, ethnic, religious and political the regime had become insufferable. Those with governance in their hands, found allegiance of the governed slipping away. They took their inevitable refuge in ‘patriotism’. An ‘ism’ that portrayed glory in blood-letting among Tamils. It was an ‘ism’ viz Fascism that destroyed the Jews in Europe. It was such a relapse of Mahinda that infuriated Ven Sobitha Thero to work so adversely against him as of now.
After demolishing Hindu icons, perhaps having no more temples to destroy, they forayed into burning Mosques. The persecuted minorities joined hands to remove the tyrant out of their way. Will they ever again brook his return? Never in their lives will they accommodate any of the Rajapaksas and the country knows it. Their henchmen stand next in line to be forcefully rejected. In this regard the benefits of January call for defense with an endorsement of UNF policies and programmes. Implicit in the stance is to bring forth the same formation in larger numbers. Herein lies an area of strength for Ranil to lead that formation and to be Prime Minister.