Count our blessings in having a statesman like Ranil
by Manik Ratnakaruna
Kiribathgoda
When it comes to attacking the leadership of UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, his antagonists seem to rush in where angels fear to tread.
True statesmanship is a rare commodity in an age where shame and self respect are non existent qualities in many of our politicians. Ranil, on the contrary is a true statesman. His tolerance of dissent, his patience in dialogue, his acceptance of criticism, his integrity, his simple lifestyle, his steadfast loyalty to all past UNP leaders and his sharp intellect are all supreme attributes of statesmanship.
[Ranil Wickremesinghe, Leader of opposition United National Party (UNP), Sri Lanka]
His last tenure as Prime Minister would be hard to equal even though he may be reticent in recognizing friends and acquaintances in public and not over effusive in gaining popularity.
Many detractors are quick to point out his lack of charisma. But charisma which often includes cunning, in order to appear to be a populist, is certainly not the main attribute for leadership. Ranil is far ahead in most of the other qualities required which were mentioned earlier.
All we hear about from his detractors are Ranil’s losses at elections. A true analysis of results is long overdue to re-evaluate his leadership.
1. The General Election of August 16, l994 – The last free and fair election
The PA mustered 48.94% – 3,887,823 votes against the UNP’s 44.04%– 3,449,370 votes. Ranil as PM conducted a democratic election and did amazingly well himself in Colombo. The UNP stood alone against the conglomerate of parties in the PA. The UNP lost only by 438,453 votes. Considering the 17 year UNP rule and its unpopularity owing to, among others, certain incidents taking place in the fight against the JVP during President Premadasa’s tenure of office when Ranjan Wijeratne was Minister of National Security, this was not a bad defeat.
2. The Presidential election of November 9, 1994. This was the worst defeat ever suffered by the UNP. It was not Ranil’s loss—it was Chandrika’s contest against Gamini Dissanayake. His tragic demise resulted in his widow, Srima Dissanayake not being able to muster even a sympathy vote. She was the candidate chosen by the UNP MP’s of the working committee at that time. This resulted in Chandrika riding the crest of a wave with 62.285% — 4,709,205 votes against Srima’s poor showing of 35.91%-2,715,283 votes.
3. The Presidential Election December 21, 1999 Chandrika won but her 62.28% came down to 51.12%– 4,312,157 votes to Ranil’s 42.72222% – 3,602,748 votes. This in spite of the entire government machinery and Presidential Power used by Chandrika and some selfish turncoats working against him and minority parties chasing rainbows.
4. The General Election of October 10, 2000 Without looking for excuses for election loss, we must record the LTTE attack on Chandrika, her near escape from death, the loss of her eye and the not so clean behaviour of some PA members. The PA came down to 45.11% but won 107 seats with 3,900901 votes against the UNP drop from 44.04% to 40.22%– 3,477,770 votes.
5. The General Election of April 2, 2004
Two years and four months with super governance by the UNF government. Peace, no harassment of people, no barriers, no abductions and no harassing of journalists under Ranil’s Leadership. Chandrika dissolved Parliament but was later to publicly regret her hasty decision although too late in doing so. At this election, the UPFA swung into power together with the JVP getting 45.6%– 4,223,970 votes with 105 seats. The UNF 37.83% – 3,504,2.00 votes. Presidential Power ensured that both government and Presidential Machinery were used relentlessly against the UNF.
6. The Presidential Election of November 17, 2005.
After a year and a half of UPFA rule the very controversial election using the heavy might of the state and the JVP cunning in depriving over 200,000 people in Colombo of their democratic right to vote, many of whom were diehard UNP supporters who had pledged their votes to Ranil. Adding insult to injury was the tryst with the devil to prevent 400,000 Tamils from going to the polls on November l7, 2005 to cast their votes for Ranil for his wisdom in removing the curse of war, killing of innocents and restoring a long lost lifestyle.
In spite of all this treachery and even consorting with the devil now a sworn enemy, Mahinda Rajapaksa won only with 4,888,152 votes against Ranil’s 4,706,366 votes. Ranil lost only by 182,796 votes. UNP MP’s should have had their spies working relentlessly in the wings to discover the undemocratic deprivation of the voting rights of the people. They should have checked electoral registers which some of them did. Looking back on statements made at the time by two who later crossed to the government and on the delay of another dissident in not relaying information fast which could have resulted in challenging the election immediately; one can only comprehend that the conspiracy had begun then. Winning elections is the composite effort of every member of a party, democracy prevailing of course.
It is time this nit picking and stone throwing comes to an end. We must count our blessings in having a statesman like Ranil as the UNP Leader. UNP MP’s must look into their own lapses, stop petty personal jealousies and intrigues, remedy their own shortcomings and stop pointing fingers at a Leader ‘par excellence’.
[a letter to the editor, published in the Sri Lanka daily, Daily Mirror]
