MORE MEETS THAN WHAT THE EYE
Sri Lanka emerged from three decade-long ethnic hostilities which claimed numerous lives and inflicted economic havoc. It saw SL retrograding in many respects. Adding insult to injury, SL had to face global opprobrium at international forums. SL thus became a virtual pawn in pertinacious scheme of geopolitical machinations pursued by vested interests that are propelled by influence-peddling PRO-LTTE Diaspora.
Excesses perpetrated by the then ruling elites basking in the glory of military success disregarding the emerging geopolitical realities led to dramatic unseating of charismatic leadership. Surging wave of mass protests from various quarters gained timely momentum rallying round the only available mediocre alternative to cause revolutionary leadership change stunning everyone.
The advent of Yahapalanaya heralding a pragmatic outlook offering an olive branch promised among many things: to usher in democracy, bring about ethnic reconciliation, promote inclusive economic growth, eradicate social vices namely corruption, profligacy, abuse of power etc and bring those responsible for mass scale plunder and abuse to book.
The honeymoon of Yahapalanaya characterised by pretentious cold-blooded harmony saw promises galore being trotted out with some tangible measures taken to alleviate burdens of poor man’s pocket and cultivate international goodwill. However in reality only copious eloquent lip-service was paid to simmering issue of reconciliation and socio-economic development priorities.
Conciliatory stance of Yahapanya saw profuse global accolades being showered on signifying global approbation of favourable policies which led to the edge being taken off the sinister propaganda campaigns of Diaspora operating round the clock to bring SL to global disrepute as a pariah state. SL thus started gaining sympathy of most of the influential players who lashed out at the country with vituperative censure. There emerged the silver lining in dark clouds thanks to newly generated positivism.
Amidst the said gains coalition
Yahapalanaya more focused on waging power struggle, not meeting pledges given to people leadership largely resorted to highfalutin grandiloquence to woo public although measures to translate words to deeds remained awfully wanting. Had genuine measures being taken to implement a pragmatic economic plan, practice austerity, eliminate waste, eradicate corruption, alleviate economic hardships of the man in the street and restored ethnic harmony SL would have been on a transformational path to become a multi religious multi lingual participatory democracy practising cultural pluralism and shared prosperity. Unfortunately this was not to be and self serving political considerations obviously outweighed national priorities.
One of the main planks on which Yahapalanaya ascended to power is by bringing politically influential culprits of corruption to book demonstrating law is equal to everybody. Thus establishing rule of law and making everyone equal before it irrespective race, religion, caste, sex, social status, political affiliation etc guaranteeing that every citizen is entitled to equal rights and protection in law as per Article 12 of the Constitution became one of the main commitments undertaken by Yahapanaya which rose to power when lawlessness was rampant with democratic institutions and law enforcement apparatus reduced to docile instruments of expedience.
The unexpected electoral success achieved by Lotus Bud to utter public astonishment proved public disgust towards “No Action; Talk Only Lackadaisical Posture” of the coalition, although bigwigs of the past regime had been publicly censured branded and berated as utterly corrupt, wasteful, prodigal & abusive not so long ago. So, Sri Lankan public quite shockingly tendered an unpalatable verdict to Yahapalanaya
The honeymoon of Yahapalanaya characterised by pretentious cold-blooded harmony saw promises galore being trotted out with some tangible measures taken to alleviate burdens of poor man’s pocket and cultivate international goodwill Proud pronouncements to nail culprits have withered faster than expected with leadership predominantly manifesting the will to retain largely impotent party leadership with aspiration to cling on to high office
indicating that people abhors empty talk want rulers to walk the talk.
It is a sad paradox that today’s presidency seemingly lacks a clear vision. The President was hoisted to power largely by NON-SLFP votes to usher in “Good Governance”. People aspired for selfless, sacrificial, and non-partisan leadership. It was a mass verdict given in favour of someone who promised to do way with autocratic Presidency wielding unbridled power. Masses expected the new leader to be a true statesman and expose wrongdoings and punish wrongdoers without hesitation and play a non-partisan role. So what transpired in the aftermath is a sordid saga of treacherous backtracking smacking of political skulduggery.
Conciliatory stance of Yahapanya saw profuse global accolades being showered on signifying global approbation of favourable policies which led to the edge being taken off the sinister propaganda campaigns of Diaspora operating round the clock to bring SL to global disrepute as a pariah state.
Proud pronouncements to nail culprits have withered faster than expected with leadership predominantly manifesting the will to retain largely impotent party leadership with aspiration to cling on to high office. Masses are dismayed as pretentious words fed in large morsels have failed to evoke tangible actions. Recent electoral verdict made collective disgust of the masses crystal clear & resultant hullabaloo signifies a power structure rapidly falling apart. Public turmoil at the drop of a hat has become the order of the day.