The people anxiously await the resolution of protracted economic crisis

In the midst of the economic crisis faced by the country, the fastchanging political landscape renders it all the more difficult to read and interpret current events.

The absence of clear and authoritative news makes such interpretation all the more dangerous and speculative.

One example of such uncertainty is with regard to the circumstances surrounding the incidents of May 9, when a large crowd of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ( SLPP) supporters gathered at Temple Trees ostensibly to show solidarity with Mahinda Rajapaksa who was said to be announcing his resignation.

However, according to a report in the Island of May 23, quoting SLPP Parliamentarian Sarath Weerasekera, Mahinda Rajapaksa had not decided to resign on May 9 although SLPP MPs had been asked to bring supporters to Temple Trees for a meeting.

According to Mr. Weerasekera the then Premier Rajapaksa had, during a conversation with him on May 8, denied reports that the latter was planning to resign on the following day.

When the former Prime Minister did resign on May 9, he never made a statement to Parliament or held a media conference to give his reasons for stepping down. The people were left to speculate that he was doing so complying with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s request to step down, although the President himself never informed the people why he asked his elder brother to step down.

Again the people could only speculate that this was done to deflect the cry from the aragalaya that was echoed in the rest of the country for the President himself to step down.

Last Friday, Mahinda Rajapaksa broke his silence when he spoke on the vote of condolence in respect of former SLPP Parliamentarian Amarakeerthi Atukorala who fell victim to the violence unleashed all over the country on the afternoon of May 9.

The former Prime Minister claimed that the ‘ aragalaya’ was no longer an innocent or peaceful struggle. He told Parliament that even the religious leaders at the ' aragalaya' did not intervene to stop the atrocities on May 9 and afterwards nor did they condemn such actions. He accused those who were in the ' aragalaya' of having blood stained hands and minds full of hatred.

However Mahinda Rajapaksa did not refer to his decision to step down nor the reasons for making such a momentous decision.

In contrast, his younger brother Basil Rajapaksa did hold a media conference to announce his resignation as a member of Parliament. He too did not give a convincing reason for his resignation although it is not difficult to surmise. Although he said in passing that he was making way for a ‘ more suitable’ person to enter Parliament, it is not difficult to read between the lines that the proposal to bar those holding dual citizenship from entering Parliament and holding high positions in Government may have prompted his resignation.

Basil Rajapaksa throwing in the towel also gave rise to increased expectations that the 21st Amendment would finally see the light of day and be passed in Parliament.

However there was further insight from the comments made by him at the media conference. He did not agree with the view that the cur rent crisis was of the Gover nment’s own making. Speaking of his tenure as Finance Minister he said “I think I did all that I could do. But I could not do everything the people wanted.”

In a significant remark, he said he would remain in politics and continue to work to build the SLPP. This would imply that he would continue to influence the Government with the near two third majority of parliamentarians who entered the legislature through the SLPP.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the meantime carries on regardless despite the “Gota Go Home” cry from Galle Face which has resonated throughout the country. Last week in an interview with Bloomberg he said he did not wish to leave as a "failed President" and intends to complete his term of office, although he will not contest the Presidency again.

This is not surprising if developments in the political sphere are any thing to go by. After having succeeded in getting Mahinda Rajapaksa to step down as Prime Minister, he offered the position to s eve r a l p a rl i a m e n t a r i a n s. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and Sarath Fonseka both declined, while there was an unconfirmed media report last week that the offer was also made to Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna ( JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake too.

There is no information as to whether he made any such offer to any SLPP Parliamentarian.

After finally persuading Ranil Wickremesinghe to accept the Premiership, the President was clearly a relieved man, with the burden of resolving the economic crisis passed over to the United National Party (UNP) Leader. From all that is in the public domain it is clear that Ranil Wickremesinghe is running the economic affairs of the Government.

President Rajapaksa is happy to let him do so as he is free of the burden of steering the country out of the economic crisis. In this process however, the President has by comparison been shown in poor light. While Ranil Wickremesinghe has been seen to be active in addressing the economic issues, the President in the past few months has been seen to be inactive with regard to the main crisis.

It is probably to take the limel i g h t away from Ranil Wickremesinghe that the President is making preparations to appoint business leader Dhammika Perera as a Minister. An extraordinary gazette notification has already been issued creating a Ministry of Technology and Investment Promotion.

In the meantime the people anxiously await some sign of relief from their never ending troubles caused by crass mismanagement of the economy.

Last week in an interview with Bloomberg he said he did not wish to leave as a "failed President" and intends to complete his term of office, although he will not contest the Presidency again.