The politics of Kudu: Whither Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka moved into 2014 with ruling party politicians having high hopes for the two provincial council elections to be held in March and possibly a presidential election late this year. They are also repeating the boast that the country will become the miracle or hub of Asia soon. Yet this dream appears like a delusion because 2014 has started with the worst-ever heroin crisis in Sri Lanka's history. At the centre of the controversy is the elderly and ailing Prime Minister D. M. Jayaratne who is under heavy pressure to resign or at least step down temporally because of the alleged role he played or his irresponsibility or negligence in the import of a container loaded with about 261 kilogrames of heroin, with some 131 kilogrames of it being described as pure heroin and the whole consignment having a street value of a staggering Rs. 2.5 billion.
According to investigations, preparations for the import of this biggest-ever heroin consignment in Sri Lanka's historyhadbegunin2012andmajorquestionsarebeing raised about the role played not so much by the Prime MinisterbutbyhissonAnuruddhaJayaratnewhoisa memberof theCentralProvincialCouncilandthepremier's private secretary.
It is alleged that Anuruddha Jayaratne had been closely involved with Jamal Qasim, the Pakistani who is in custody on charges of being the main player in this scandle which is rocking the country. Investigations have revealed Mr. QasimhadallegedlypumpedasmuchasRs.20millioninto AnuruddhaJayaratne'scampaignfortheCentral Provinvial Council elections last year. Anuruddha Jayaratne polled the highest number of preferential votes at the Central Provincial council polls, but he was not given the chief ministerial post despite an all-out effort by him and his father.
The heroin scandal took a serious turn—creating a crisis for the whole Rajapaksa government—when the Prime Minister, apparrantly disregarding advice, launched a scathing attack on the Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thero, leader of the Jathika Hela Urumaya which has been calling for the premier's resignation. Now other Buddhist groups have also joined in with the Sihala Ravaya on Thursday staging a stormy demonstration demanding the Prime Minister's resignation and also an apology for insulting the Maha Sanga.
Political analysts say the crisis has shaken the Rajapaksa governmentandthePresidentisinaquandarybecauseif he insists on the Prime Minister's resignation there may be a major issue if not a power struggle over who should succeedhim.Theanalystssayamongthosestakingaclaimfor thepostaresomefamilymemberswhonowhold toppositions while SLFP veterens including Maithripala Sirisena and Nimal Siripala de Silva are also in the running.
Reports that Sri Lanka may be becoming the ‘Kudu Hub' or major transit point for heroin in Asia come amidst the continuing controversy over plans to allow Australian magnate James Packer and local billionairs to set up big casinos here. Opposition critics are asking who is the 'Kudu Star' and who is the ‘Ethanol Star' after several containers of ethanol were detected, with most fingers pointed at a minister.
The JVP which is also calling for the Prime Minister's resignation has excellently summed up today's crisis within crisis, conflict within conflict and contradiction within contradiction. From independence in 1948 till 1978 there were crimes in this country, including a coup, assassinations and even a youth revolution but there were law makers,toughlawswhichwereimplementedandanindependent judicial service. After 1978 with J. R. Jayewardene's executive presidential system many big criminals such as the Gonawala Sunils got high level protection and political patronage. After 2005 the crisis has changed drastically. The criminalisation of politics and the politicisation of crime have created an underground root for criminals to becomepoliticiansandenter not only local or provincial councils but even the highest legislature. Whither Sri Lanka?