It was time again for presidential elections and the heat was on. Mahinda Rajapakse, in his power hungry craze miscalculated, or shall we humourously say the royal astrologer screwed his stars. Some say this election call was illegal, summoned during Mahinda's second term, 02 years pending the current ones life. He did this, presuming he will win again while his approval rates were still good, anticipating them to slump in the next years. And behold the fall of the power hungry, he loses quiet unexpectedly. We have to remeber he was the one who brought in the 18th amendment to the constitution, removing the 02 term per person limit on presidency. This shows just how much he wanted to be in power, some say so his son, Namal Rajapakse was capable enough to take over a most vile syndicate.
It seemed injustice, corruption, nepotism, murder of good governance, dictatorship, mafia mentality, family patronage, scandals upon scandals do turn on their heads; but the question remains, is this enough to recoup all that has been done to rape Sri Lanka. Or it seems like a convinient exit to indulge in untold wealth forever lost to us it seems.
I remebr the 21st of November, 2014, a great day it seemed when Maithreepala Sirisena (then SLFP General Secretary and Minister of Health under Mahinda's government) confirmed his intention to oppose Mahinda in the upcoming elections as the common opposition candidate. His promise: good governance, abolishment of the executive presidency, stop corruption, enacting the 19th amendment amoungst others. I remeber my good friend, Tharindu was in jubilant uproar over the fact over social media from his hot seat at the media breifing as were thousands. I was skeptical. I wondered if this was a setup. As an entreprenuer I realise the importance of planning. SWOT is always primariy on my list and a simple analysis would unravel any opposition for Mahinda, that was just how powerful the Rajapakse camp was. My argument was how could such a company (yes it is a business), plan and announce an election without setting up the opposition. I hope you have not forgotten how Sirikotha road access was halted by re-carpetting the roads when Sajith Premadasa loyalists and other fed up UNP supporters planned to route the executive comittee protecting Ranil Wickramasinghe as the leader of the UNP. I re-iterate this to show via a simple example how conntected these people are. There are no enemies within parliament, there are only friends and compromises between them. On January 8th,2015, Maithree won, and I was feeling rather hopeful after nearly a decade of waiting. Avurudu seemed truly to come sooner than expected.
Half an year has nearly passed, the great 100 day plan is half baked and overdue. Things of note that have changed include improved media freedom, no MR posters, adverts, name boards and other paraphernalia showcasing a madmans power fetish and finally 19th amendmant adopted: killing off executive powers of the president. The wealthy still do get away with most everything, implicated politicians still vacate in luxury hospiticals and we are still waiting for the aboloshment of the executive presidency.
Again are we duped, the cycle of media, family relations, great acting, money and vileness seems to revel in our society strong as ever. But a ray of hope is there. Yes we can change this. But we need a new weapon, a new pen on new paper with new minds of great intellect and humanity driving this change. Not JVP, UNP, SLFP, UNFP, TNA, SLMC. We need something more, something bigger and better. I still strive to define it but I feel it. And it's coming to save all of us. But first let's save our selves. Be a model citizen, uphold the law, say no to corruption, voice loudly against injustice and be the change you want to see. Then be ready to change of our nation.
