The fall of a president through greed and the rise of a humane leader

The demise of the Executive Presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa was due to excessive greed and thirst for power. When he won the Presidential Election in 2010, the electorate gave him the required majority to amend the constitution; the only amendment he made was to extend his term of office for an indefinite period.

Before he made his decision to hold a presidential election for a third term he was advised by Minister Rajitha Senaratna not to go for the third term but to complete the second term and exit gracefully, so that the world would have recognised him as a great president who brought peace to our land defeating terrorists. There was the opportunity of nominating him for the Nobel Prize for Peace. But he didn’t heed this advice.

He used the government machinery, most of all TV and radio chan- nels for his campaign and used SLBC Chairman Hudson Samarasingha and Minister Wimal Weerawansa to attack the common presidential candidate in an uncivilised manner, using foul language bringing political culture to the lowest level.

Politics is a noble art. “The highest of all arts is the art of government” said Plato in his Republic.

Certain professors and so-called intellectuals like Nalin De Silva and Dayan Jayathilaka thought that Maithripala Sirisena lacked leadership qualities and would be no match for Mahinda Rajapaksa. But the very fact that Mr. Sirisena decided to quit his ministry and contest the almighty Mahinda Rajapaksa was itself a gigantic act of bravery and leadership.

So much false propaganda was broadcast through state media and radio channels 24 hours a day that the country would be unstable, divided and all the progress and development would come to a standstill if there was a change. Of course the politically mature electorate realised the truth of these irresponsible statements and gave the appropriate reply.

The first seed for a change and abolition of presidential system was publicly planted by Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera who was criticised by Mr. Rajapaksa’s aides. As a nation we are grateful to the Venerable Thera for his courage and wisdom.

Sri Lanka is a fortunate land and we now have a humane and understanding President who will continue to solve most of the urgent problems of the masses and punish the ministers and public officials who have plundered and squandered the wealth of the nation.

Ananda Weerakoon

Kolonnawa

So much false propaganda was broadcast through state media and radio channels 24 hours a day that the country would be unstable, divided and all the progress and development would come to a standstill if there was a change.