Sri Lanka: The Dawn of the "Maithree" Era

I pen these words as it has been declared the Common candidate has emerged victorious at the Presidential election 2015. It is important to have a look back at his victory.

A month ago this result would not have even been in the wildest dreams of any Sri Lankan, but today the mighty President Rajapakse has seen himself been defeated at the hand of his former ally. The leader who quenched thirty years of war is no more at the helm of the country. It has dawned upon the country to be a new era with a lot of changes as Maithripala Sirisena is going to ascend to presidency.  

However I guess that was the easy part. The difficult part is took keep his 100 day promise. Maithripala Sirisena comes in with a huge and broad coalition, to satisfy all is seems a near impossible task. Getting them all on one stage seemed impossible as well. On the other hand the recent political outcomes have shown that nothing is impossible. The conclusion of the war of terror in 2009, defeating a man whom was considered unbeatable, winning an election no one would have expected Mr. Sirisena to win under any other conditions.

The opposition

Mr. Sirisena found himself in the hot seat as the common opposition candidate, as many saw him to be the best candidate to fight against the regime of the Rajapakses. The government has dominated by the Rajapakses, who held top positions from the President himself up to provincial chief minister and rugger team captainship. Mr. Sirisena was one of the closest allies of the Rajapakse. The general Secreatry of the Sri Lanka Freedom party, Minister of Health and despite speculation trusted partner of the President left the government about one month ago. And the opposition simply rallied around him. The much unpopular former president Chandrika Bandaranayake, the misunderstood opposition leader Ranil Wickramsinghe, Sinhala Buddhist nationalists and war time activist Jathika Hela Urumaya, most venerable Maduluwawe Sobhitha and the Veteran war hero and former opposition presidential candidate General Sarath Fonseka  rallied along to shift the trend away from Mr. Rajapakse. The JVP with its new charismatic and much popular leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake hinting its support indirectly, Maithripala found himself on the cross roads of making history. With time his campaign got stronger. The strategies were much firm than the former opposition candidates and it seems that Mr. Sirisena knew the weak points of the Rajapakse regime a point too well. The shift looked strong as a group of new generation artists rallied around and governments’ strong muslim leaders Hakeem, and Rishad joined the campaign. The TNA marked its support ensuring the ethnic minorities voted for  Mr. Sirisena.

Why not Rajapakse?

The main reason for the rallying opposition for President Rajapakse was his family regime which seemed to be heading towards dictatorship routes. The 18^th amendment to the constitution which ensured the unlimited ability to run for presidency as well as much enhanced executive authority seemed to be the main opposition argument. It is important to note that the 18^th amendment was backed by the current victor as well. The government was mainly led by members of the Rajapkse family. The much appreciated Defense Secretary Gotabaya, the speaker of the Parliament Chamal, Minister for Economic Development Basil, Chief Minister of Uva Province Shashendra, MP Namal, National Rugger team captain Yoshitha as well as many other noted members of the family found themselves seated in the comfy seats in top offices in the government. This to many seemed to a sign of a leader heading towards dictatorship. The president was called “The King” and the 18^th Amendment laid the initial foundation to restore a kingdom in Sri Lanka. It was however evident that most of the top government politicans including Mr. Sirisena were frustrated by the emergence and domination by the Rajapakses’. This was the major reason for the breakaway and it has now led to their demise.

Among other reasons were the increase levels of corruption which seemed to be quite evident with the high costs of development projects. The government ministers, officials too were accused of the corruption and fingers were pointed at the ignominious behavior of government representatives. The accusations direct from Drugs to rape and murder. The ill-treatment to the public in various parts of the country seemed have paid off against the President Rajapakse’s campaign.

Now what?

Maithripala Sirisena is now faced with a huge challenge to turn the country around, to bring back the good governance and reestablishment proper institutions in the country as well continue with the vast development agendas of the President Rajapakse.

First he needs the consensus of his partners in the constitutional reforms. He has promised a reduction in the powers of the executive president, thus ensuring that the Presidency will be answerable for the parliament as well enrich the reach for the parliament in the countries affairs. But, the question lies if he will be able to get the census from his allies. The Buddhist nationalists, Tamil and Muslim leaders together with the right wing UNP Mr. Sirisena will have a hard time agreeing on one constitution. So the first challenge at hand is to get his allies on to one platform.

Secondly he needs the parliament to back the reforms. President Rajapakse had 2/3rd majority, yet at the moment no political party holds such power. But the majority of the parliament is still with the UPFA of President Rajapakse.  The president-elect has promised to appoint the UNP leader as the prime minister, yet for that he will require some of his former allies of the UPFA to back Ranil Wickramasinghe. If Mr. Wickaramasighe is to appointed as the Prime minster then 2/3^rd majority might not be far ahead.

Third challenge might be the more important for the three is to convince the public of his intensions. Yes, he did win the presidential election. But, the majority of the Sinhala Buddhist voters supported President Rajapakse, while Mr. Sirisena was blessed with an overwhelming majority of minority voters. Mr. Sirisena needs to convince the majority of Sinhala Buddhists that he will ensure the unity of the country and the trust of the public not adhering to the pressures of the Tamil diasporas or Islamic extremists.

Lessons learnt

Nothing is impossible. This was first taught to us by the outgoing president Rajapakse as he led the nation towards the end of the 3 decade long terrorist crisis, which many deemed impossible. Not that long ago, the defeat of President Rajapakse it self was deemed impossible at least in near future. But Maithripala Sirisena showed that nothing is impossible and that it is the power of the Common people that matters.  The election showed that democracy prevails and democracy gives the power to the people to make the change when it’s needed. It also highlighted that fact that no individual should be given power for too long, as power corrupts people.

The people of Sri Lanka have decided. Time is ripe for change.

If it’s for the better or for worse we await to see. For now the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is Maithripala Sirisena.

On behalf of the President Sirisena let me remind him that the people have placed great trust in him and we all hope for the best.

For the president to keep in mind.

“The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse”

Edmund Burke