Strength in unity - Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne

 Sep 17, 2016

Some say dealing with the military had been a delicate tight-rope walk for President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who have been treading carefully not to upset any body in the armed forces while they dedicatedly take steps to implement the programme for national reconciliation. This coordinated action is one of the key points in the present national government. 

Mahinda is most upset about this powerful combination; hence he rattles that the state should be governed either by President Maithripala Sirisena or Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe without contradicting each other. He is introducing contradictions where there is none. Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa said this while speaking to the media at the launch of a book by Edward Chandrasiri at the Public Library, Colombo.

 

Contradictory statements 

 

He said the President, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers were making contradictory statements on issues relating to the country and that showed the coalition government had no plan for the country. However the strongest point of the present coalition is the unity of action in relation to the Tamil national problem. Entire history of Lanka shows that lack of calm and rational coordination in relation to Tamil national problem, between the two major parties created disaster after disaster.

 

At this moment of history two men from widely different back grounds and with different political experience have come to participate in a radical liberal programme that could shake the politics of South Asia. Obviously the fascistic leader is really upset and very angry. 

 

He said that the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had joined together only to share power and not to work for the nation. While warning that the country is being dragged towards a very dangerous situation, Mahinda said he would never support a government that kneels before the international community! Of course he cannot bear to see the support given by the democratic masses world over for Maithree and Ranil. He knows however, some of the high profile murders such as the Lasantha Wickrematunga and the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda point to the involvement of military intelligence personnel, during his rule. On the other hand, Police have reported to courts that the military was uncooperative despite assurances from army Chief Chrishantha De Silva that they will support the investigations. Thus there is suspicion that a pro Mahinda fascistic group is still operating under cover in security forces.

 

Still it is not clear if the military has initiated internal disciplinary action against any of the military intelligence men who have been implicated in murder and abduction. There has been no known purge in the military since the former administration removed a large number of officers and men who were said to have been either directly or indirectly supportive of Sarath Fonseka who challenged ex-president Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2010 elections. 

 

Former administration

 

It is in this scenario what President Maithripala Sirisena said about those who criticize him is important. He asked, what would have been the situation of this country if the January 8 transformation had not taken place. “Without experiencing that eventuality, some people criticize the actions taken by the government to face the critical economic crisis and the issues raised by the international community”, he said. He invited them to present possible solutions for these issues instead of criticizing!