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I pity the nation that cries only at funerals - Khalil Gibran

People of Sri Lanka were compelled to take a crucial decision on the 17th of November 2005, exactly a year ago when a heartless invader was gobbling and grabbing a land inch by inch while a nation wept in the face of heinous attacks by a dreadful foe for nearly two decades.

An illiterate and a stupid group of Sinhalese on various occasions had pushed an innocent Tamil public bent on having desired political reforms on track by democratic means towards armed insurrection.

The dilemma aggravated with wrong political decisions taken by successive governments. Sinhalese and Muslim communities had paid a heavy price for the political and human tragedies knowingly or un-knowingly for over two decades. Economic losses to the nation were invaluable and the national leaders of all communities and service heroes killed and maimed was countless...we have had paid more than we could imagine.

Yet as Khalil Gibran had said, we have been doing the same thing over and over again till 17th of November 2005. Which meant that we had wept in the funerals of those felled by the enemy? Although we may have felt that matters were taken care of, we were never able to face the enemy boldly as a nation. The right decision taken by the people of Sri Lanka on 17th of November 2005 places us on a new path for a victorious, united peaceful Sri Lanka.

The purpose of my article is not to gain the attention of HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksa or any other by praising his character or evaluating his first year's accomplishments in office after one year of this historic achievement. Yet I salute the President for his historic political feats and extend my deep-seated gratitude to him for bringing back the lost pride to this country.

In a previous era of terror when our comrades fell one by one before enemy fire we used to whisper a poem by Martin Nimolar that may still linger in their minds that goes as follows.

They first came after Jews

They then found them and killed them

I didn't' do any thing to save them

As I wasn't a Jew

They again came after communists

They killed them the communists

I didn't help them

As I wasn't a communist

Thirdly they came after Christians

When they were killing Christians

I didn't do any thing as I wasn't a

Christian

Finally they came after me

I couldn't save myself unfortunately!

As there wasn't anybody left

President Mahinda Rajapaksa came to power before they came after me. He will give bold leadership to save you and me and we to save you and you to save us ...we have united. This is the only path to victory as decided on the historic 17th of November.

President Mahinda, Prime Minister Mahinda, Mahinda - Leader of Opposition, MP Mahinda, Our Mahinda ...shows the memorable political trek that had been sauntered by him.

He obtained 4.8 million votes in the General Election 50% of the total votes polled. He and his nearest rival had a thin margin between them. Many political critics say that if Prabhakaran supported him he would have failed.

If put in a different form ...if Prabhakaran permitted his people to vote and the votes certainly favouring President's opponent, candidate Mahinda would have been certainly defeated. These political critics may be of the view that the people of the North and East could do as they wish without being concerned of Prabhkaran's evil influence. What a blatant myth is this?

Prabhakaran could only have taken four decisions. Allowing them to vote for Ranil and influencing towards this end, allowing them to vote for Mahinda and influencing them towards this end, allowing any person to vote for a preferred candidate or not allow them to vote for anybody.

Both Ranil and Prabhakaran knew that if the LTTE allowed Ranil to get votes or if influenced to this effect that Ranil's Southern vote base would have been destroyed. Prabhakran on the other hand is no fool to help Mahinda.

Facist Prabhakaran may have never allowed the Tamils to cast their votes true to their conscience. Then why did he use force to stop the Tamil vote. Was it to make Ranil win over Mahinda? Or Mahinda to win over Ranil. No....what he wanted was, to break the country in two ...make it lawless and deal a death blow to the nation.

That's what Prabakaran's intelligentsia had advised him to do regarding J R Jayewardene's constitution.(He may have even expected a reply from Ranil as regards the Interim Self Governing Authority) Yet Prabhakaran may not have ever thought that Mahinda would win the Presidential race.

On one side was the sitting president and a most powerful block working for his downfall with a corporate sector working hand in hand with the conspirators. On another side ...a secret pact between the incumbent president and Ranil.... another scheme to arrest him and land him in jail.

On top of this no money to spend. Mahinda Rajapaksa would have been a loser if he went along with Prabhakaran.

Thondaman siding Ranil, Rauf Hakeem with Ranil, Ven. Uduwe with Ranil, even Chandrasekeran with Ranil, most Christians with Ranil, most Muslims with Ranil, Tamils of East and Colombo with Ranil, So how could Mahinda win? He wasn't a Bandaranaike.

Not only Prabhakaran, even those in the SLFP camp and Ranil's forces too had this mindset. Mahinda didn't have India nor the international community on his side. So how could he win? Those close to UNP know that the money spent on Ranil's campaign is twice the amount that has been spent over the years on election campaigns from the date of gaining independence.

Yet there was a gigantic force that Prabhakaran failed to see. It was the force that was hidden from Prabhakaran, Ranil, the business community and the international community. The hidden forces were togetherness, unity amongst us and love for the country.

Nobody knew that this immense force comprised of SLFP'rs, JVP'ers, JHU's, Socialists, Marxists, Buddhists, Catholics, Hindus, Muslims and also those born to the Left and forced to move towards Premadasa because of Chandrika and the Bandaranaikes.

There were artistes, the educated, small entrepreneurs and a majority of women behind him. The great victory of 17th November is not only the triumph of these powers but also the future of the nation.

The concept of destroying the country's unity and attacking a divided nation was defeated on 17th of November.

Today Prabakaran has to face a united race in a united country and a leader who has brought all parties under one wing....to a leadership who has made the two major political parties come together.

Yet opportunists awaiting the downfall of the President have again come to the open. They are re-grouping with Prabhakaran and certain English newspapers.

Me along with 4.8 million voted not to bring Mahinda to power but to make the country win and to defeat the likes of Prabhakaran and other hidden forces. SLFP'ers, JVP'ers, JHU's,those of the PA and progressives of the UNP shouldered this great responsibility.

The Presidential Election is not a contest between political parties but a contest between two individuals. This country has on three previous occasions voted Presidents to power. JR won a past election in 1982 tying the hands of his opponent and taking off her civic rights.

In 1988 Premadasa won through the fear psychosis prevalent at that time due to an insurrection and other reasons. In 1994 as the main candidate was killed, there was no contest. Yet Mahinda Rajapaksha won by a closely contested clean fight.

He after finishing a closely contested fight was waiting for the arrival of his opponent who didn't turn up as expected. President Mahinda came across an opportunity to shake hands with him after 10 months. Never was he critical of one in an opposing camp nor did he harass them. He even today is the same. Even tomorrow he'll be the same.

Those "pathurufying" him in the last election, those voting against him, those spending for his opponent are today with him.

Keheliya, Mahinda, Rohitha, Ekanayake, Punchinilame, Premasiri, Azwer, Omar Kamil are all with him. Thondaman and Chandrasekeran are also with him.

Those who stayed with him are also with him. To win victory for the country, he put an end to a queue waiting to join the bandwagon.

Today when glancing over a review of the President's one year performance in an English newspaper, I saw a question being raised as to how his leadership will affect a forthcoming election. If it is a Presidential Election he will obtain 1000% more votes than what he got on 17th December 2005 to win over whoever who contests with him.

It isn't because of a political party, not because of a race, nor a religion or class but purely because it is Mahinda. I would like to challenge anybody to enter this arena but the unassuming and brave warrior that's President Mahinda wouldn't like to do so.

He has been victorious; He should be victorious again not for individual gain but to protect our nation as petals of a flower... and as pieces of a chain to protect our nation.

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Gamin Gamata - Presidential Community & Welfare Service
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