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| Sunday, 3 February 2002 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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Great leader with a vision for the 21st Century by Prof. W. M. Karunadasa The heading I have chosen, with due consideration given to our day of Independence I think is most fitting to pay a tribute to a leader who is emerging as 'Great' because of his vision for the 21st century.
My academic colleagues and some of the critiques of Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, I remembered very well, repeatedly asked me one question. What vision could Ranil have? And why is he getting defeated at each and every election? This question, I thought, was relevant in the context that President Chandrika Bandaranaike was not only the incumbent of Chairman of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) but also deemed by many as the only esteemed leader with a vision to lead this country. I replied to my friends saying that you all will come to know his vision not later than 2002. This was not an astrological forecast but an expression of academic opinion based on my calculation on perceived political trends within the country. What I said in 1999 came true, when the people of this country gave him a mandate to rule this country at the parliamentary elections held on 5th December 2001. I am fascinated that the academic view I expressed has now been endorsed by the people of this country. As an academic who knows Hon. Wickremesinghe from his student days in the Colombo University, I am tended to think that Ranil is on a mission to bring his vision to the forefront of national political culture in order to reinstate democracy in its oldest form and guarantee the civil liberties we enjoyed immediately after Independence. His proposals to establish three commissions and an independent Election Commission are clear indications in this direction. I am writing these few lines to the press at a crucial moment when the country is on the eve of commemorating its Independence from the British Raj while setting the stage for a long lasting peace which was denied to us during the last two decades. What I meant as great leadership is the quality of truthfulness and honesty exhibited by this leader through his words and deeds. Ranil demonstrated both these qualities through his public addresses at Presidential, Parliamentary and Local government Elections, parliamentary debates, press interviews both local and foreign and through his writings. Being so honest to speak only the truth and the facts at one stage was so disadvantageous to him. It brought him a series of defeats at personal and national levels particularly at the elections. He was ridiculed by the Opposition politicos and even the leadership of the country including his own men in the Party by alleging that he was a person lacking leadership qualities. Despite all that, Ranil continued to speak the truth nothing but the truth realizing the fact that truth will win as preached by Lord Buddha and many religious dignitaries. In fact, this is what happened at the previous General Elections. People of all walks of life and communities seemed to have identified that Ranil is the one and only leader amongst others, who speak the truth. This truth had an important bearing in the minds of the public. Thus an image was built instantly and people began to gather around him. The faith and the trust they placed in him brought him a huge mandate to run this country on the vision laboriously built within the party political hierarchy. Now he has a team of players who know his vision and committed to achieve what we could not achieve since independence. Ranil is a leader, who never sought short-cuts to come to power. He was blamed by his own party friends for not taking quick action to topple the previous government at certain crucial points. I still recall how calm and tolerant he was when he was denied the chance of contesting the Presidential Election 1994. On that crucial day when late Gaminie Dissanayake was given the party nomination, showing his gentlemanly outlook which he inherited from his ancestors, he bowed to the decision of the party superiors by accepting the most wise deal, I must say, to take over the party leadership instead of contesting Presidential Elections. Ranil, from the time he took over the leadership of the party began to express innovative ideas which were not likened or acceptable to many party stalwarts belonging to the first generation. It was observed that Ranil's innovative ideas, at one stage, apparently led the party into disarray. But not shaken by such instances, he was confident that the remaining lot will constitute the 'cream of the party' with whom he expected to deliver goods one day. The disgruntled elements then were attempting to bring him to disrepute and organized themselves in forming alternate political groupings. Never disturbed by such moves, Ranil kept programmes alive and took every measure to revive the party in line with his own vision. As a young leader he was never critical of anyone and never made unwanted remarks on even those who used obscene language. He was a critique only through fair judgment but not to ridicule anyone at personal level. These are some of his leadership qualities which were later realized by his friends and foes. Ranil was accepted as a 'clean' gentleman at the time of his departure from Temple Trees as the outgoing Premier in 1994. He was not that clean for many when he launched a campaign to rebuild the party with strict discipline. His campaign at first was not aimed at regaining power by hook or by crook but to rebuild on a strong footing. His main aim was to cater to the national demands of the country as a true democratic party. He had to colourwash the party by eradicating the fears generated in the public mind on account of past sins. Ranil is an ardent believer of democracy. As a graduate in Law at the University of Colombo he trusted democracy as a young activist in student affairs. As a true democrat he tended to think that the PA government must be given a chance to govern this country since it was the people's wish. Therefore he expressed no agitation to capture power unless and until the people turned to him one day. He was right because he marked time until people came in search of him. Then only did he capitalise on all available opportunities to inject his vision to the party hierarchy in the first place and the masses at national and international level in the second place. Untimely held election on 5 December 2001, just after one year of forming the second PA government, Ranil emerged not as a HERO but as a LEADER who was deemed as a truthful and honest leader in the public mind. Contrasting images were drawn with other leaders of the day and there emerged Ranil as a great leader with a true vision. Ranil expressed his vision through the media. He picked a brilliant team, very well educated team of professionals and others to contest the elections. He disclosed his program of action to the public. Although he was less charming, he was attracted by many for his truthful appeal. People at the latter part of the election campaign chose Ranil as the leader who could be trusted for a better future. It was this identification which placed Ranil as a great leader of this country. On the day of independence, let all of us get together and co-operate with this leader to rebuild this country. Because he is the most truthful and honest leader who exhibits a vision and mission to bring peace and prosperity to this island through national integration. May the Triple Gem and gods bless him to achieve his short term and long term targets including the hundred day program and the peace initiatives. |
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This
is what I wrote about Ranil Wickremesinghe in 1999, when he was the Leader
of the Opposition. I made the above observation in an academic publication
entitled; SAARC: Towards Regional Co-Operation & Colombo Summit 1998.
Having dedicated the book to Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, I presented it to
him at a book-launch held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute in June
1999.
