Choose wisely when voting time comes

From the media we gathered that the common candidate for the upcoming presidential poll was going to be the SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena (MS). It is sad but true that MS’s house was surrounded by thugs and he was not allowed to leave his own abode. Also that evening’s TV News reported that an attempt was made to kill two of MS’s supporters. Moreover, the incumbent President has stated that he has got files on all the defectors! Going by the Budget Vote, it can be said that those who voted against the Budget and those who have abstained may vote for MS.

However, it is sad that a leading light of the UNP has gone on TV and stated that he ‘is for the UNP but against the idea of a common candidate.’

In this scenario, what is good is that in the midst of the transfer of a certain number of Police Officers, the Commissioner of Elections will have at his disposal a certain number of Police Officers.

We in Sri Lanka need to have a sense of history. If not for the late Mr. SWRD Bandaranaike leaving the UMP with his SMS, the SLFP would not have been born. Since then, there have been many defections. The classic examples being that of M.D.H. Jayawerdena and Shelton Ranaraga who left Parliament, the former in the midst of the budget debate and the latter when the late Mr. Jayawerdena wanted him to sign an unsigned letter!! Both these gentlemen hail from Church Schools, MDH from the one in Kandy and SR from the School by the Sea in Mt. Lavinia.

Thanks to the present Constitution, sovereignty resides in the people. So, we the people of Sri Lanka will decide who the next President will be.

My hope and prayer is that all of us will vote to preserve our liberal traditions in Sri Lanka.