People expect leaders to be rough and tough: Rajitha
It is a peculiar phenomenon that a majority of our voters expect a bit of thuggery and lawlessness from their political leaders and when politicians act in a compassionate and humane manner they take it as a weakness, Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said.
Addressing a ceremony held to mark the opening of the newly constructed building that would house the library of the Badanagoda Junior School in Kalutara, Minister Senaratne said late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was once called ‘Sewala Banda’ when he attempted to find a sustainable solution to the ethnic problem by signing a pact with TULF leader S.J.V. Chelvanayakam in 1957. Mr. Bandaranaike was an innocent and peace loving politician who attempted to introduce a different political culture with centre right policies. But voters had a special affection for late President J.R. Jayewardene because he had a touch of dictatorship and took a high handed attitude in his rule.
President D.B. Wijetunga, took much pain to rid the country of violence and mayhem after having the Presidency thrust upon him in 1993 following the tragic death of President R. Premadasa. He also paved the way for free and fair elections in 1994 after bringing the country back to normalcy.’ “The people repaid President Wijetunga by calling him ‘Pina’.
Many of our voters want leaders who hit and harass them. They have a special affection towards these type of leaders and call them ‘Heroes’. Now, when President Maithripala Sirisena is seen giving ear to the views of others and attempts to rule the country in a peaceful manner, they brand him ‘Spineless,’Minister Senaratne said.
The Executive Presidency in Sri Lanka has an intrinsic tendency to see that the incumbent is pushed to use extreme power and never wants to leave the exalted position. But it was President Sirisena who agreed to prune his powers and cut his term of office by one year, which is a highly dignified and selfless act, Dr. Senaratne stressed. ‘I have fought against racism but never betrayed the country and the nation,” he said.