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| Sunday,13 November 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Why Mahinda
must win
by Ven. Dr. Basnagoda Rahula Thera Politics is not our field; we are more concerned about social work in Sri Lanka. However, when political leadership is going to cause a huge impact on our country, we must pay attention. Sri Lanka is now at a crucial juncture. The decision we make at the forthcoming election can profoundly influence our country - either for the best or the worst. Therefore, we consider it our primary duty to guide the voters toward the right decision. First, let us leave aside a host of the contestants who will certainly fall far behind. Then, we have two personalities in the front: one who is genuinely honest, capable, and humanistic, and the other who has failed miserably despite having an excellent chance. This obvious fact alone would speak volumes of who the next leader of our country should be. In Prime Minister Rajapakse, we perceive an ideally suitable person to spearhead Sri Lankan politics. On the one hand, what we desperately need at this time is a genuinely honest leader who loves the country and its people, respect the culture of the country, and sincerely wish the progress of the country. Undoubtedly, Mr. Rajapakse is that person. He is blessed with sincerity and compassion, two of the essential qualities that make a politician great. The other important requirement of our next president should be his proven competence in leadership. Again, Mr. Wickremesinghe is nowhere near the Prime Minister. The UNP leader has already been the head of the country. He had a remarkable opportunity to lead us towards prosperity, and, of course, he assured that he would. However, what did we eventually get from him other than chaos, corruption, and a ruined economy? People in Sri Lanka are well known for their forgetfulness. Please click the button of your memory and retrieve the period of Mr. Wickremesinghe's last rein. We were then in a frustrated and desperate mood, particularly towards the end of his period. We wondered how we should eliminate him. We prayed that he might go. With sheer frustration and desperation, we convincingly dethroned him at the 2001 election. It is the same person - along with the same group of mostly corrupted people - that pose a pretended smile in front of you and implore your support. Mr. Wickremesinghe is who he is. Our proverb "The tiger's spots don't change in a different jungle" has a deep psychological meaning. Such people as the Opposition Leader will never change, for sure. He will be the same incompetent Wickremesinghe who ruled our country previously and plunged the country to the bottom of its misery. The worst results will certainly follow if he comes to power again. Of course, he has flatters and supporters who are mostly motivated by self-interest and attachment to political ideologies. We must be mindful and cautious about what they are saying in public. Blind acceptance of what others say can mislead us toward most irrational decisions. Please take heed of it. I know for sure that I am not driven by self-interest or attachment to political concepts as I write these words. I do not need, nor have I ever expected, anything from any politician in Sri Lanka. I have achieved success through my own effort, and political support from Sri Lanka can neither boost nor undo it. Also, I have left aside political ideologies long ago. What I am concerned is the well-being of the country and its people. I must predict with clear assurance that another Wickremesinghe government is a disaster for Sri Lanka. In contrast, Mr. Rajapakse stands out unique in leadership and in his ability to lead our country towards a prosperous and peaceful era. We have observed how he approached complex and challenging situations with a confident and positive attitude. We have seen how skilfully he persuaded people to agree and how easily he resolved conflicts. It is a rare talent that he exhibits in conflict resolution. His genuine nature is a touching quality that invites most people to agree with him. Such a personality is, undoubtedly, a blessing to our country. In whatever he undertook, Mr. Rajapakse rarely failed. With unrestricted rights to use his skills as president, he will be able to provide an unparallel service to our country. He is ready to give a fresh leadership to the country. We have in front of us a rare opportunity, one that comes once in a person's lifetime. The proverb "It comes but once" is perfectly applicable to the golden opportunity that we have before us right now. Take it now, or you will never have it again. We will have to repent, and pay dearly, if we miss this opportunity. The question is whether we should take refuge in political ideologies or get together to save our country. The time has come for all Sri Lankans to get around Mr. Rajapakse and to elect him as our next President. (Ven. Dr. Basnagoda Rahula Thera is from Attanagalla Rajamaha Viharaya. He is a professor of English at the University of Houston-Downtown, Texas, USA. He is also the director of Houston Buddhist Vihara. Under his guidance, over 100 children in Sri Lanka receive monthly grants and education. His temple in USA has just completed a 12-million-rupee housing project at Ambalantota for tsunami affected families.) |
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