Under President Rajapaksa's helmanship:

New era of politics

by Miran PERERA

The recent presidential election victory of President Mahinda Rajapaksa for a second term of office signifies the people's trust and confidence reposed in the great patriot and political leader. He was re-elected because of his firm commitment to develop this country and further strengthen peace. The defeat of opposition common candidate Sarath Fonseka implies a significant quality inherent in our people, that they are wise and intelligent enough to realise that President Rajapaksa is the epitome of a true leader and a worthy President. It was Abraham Lincoln who said; `No man is good enough to govern another man without the other's consent'. An election in any democracy is all about obtaining the consent of the people to be governed by the elected representatives who preach democracy and good governance.

Voter maturity

The exercise of the right of franchise is inviolable and inalienable. Anyone elected through the franchise cannot abdicate his office to anyone else least of all to a public reject. The greatest fraud that could have been committed on the electoral process was to hand over the Government, to one who has no experience in politics. Entrusting the country's Presidency to such a person would have been very foolish. By re-electing President Rajapaksa, the ordinary voter in this country has proved his maturity which only a person in an advanced democracy would have shown.

President Rajapaksa has shown the world that Sri Lanka which has political stability safeguards the noble characteristics of democracy. Shakespeare said; There comes a tide in men's affairs which when taken in the flood leads to fortune; It did not take long for President Rajapaksa to clinch the top job again.

President Rajapaksa could walk through the portals of power with the humility inherent in him. He has stated as President that he is the Trustee of the people and not the master. As a leader elected to the high office with a fresh mandate he brings a new dimension to bear on the nation while his opponent Sarath Fonseka is relegated to the political wilderness by the people.

President Rajapaksa brings in a unique leadership never seen in the past; a strong but humble leadership model that captures the imagination of the people. The leadership of President Rajapaksa's political life is not confined to self interest but to the common good.

Wordsworth said; `some people see the world as it is and ask why? I see the world as it could be and ask why not? President Rajapaksa scored a resounding victory at a time when Sri Lanka had reached a critical point of political, social, economic and business promotion which needs clarity, purpose and direction.

A new beginning is required after 62 years of post independence `indecision', inaction and lost opportunity. President Rajapaksa has both the will and the vision and with his re-election he will bring back Sri Lanka once more to its ancient glory, and fame as the Pearl of the Indian Ocean.

Popular acceptance

President Rajapaksa's re-election to office showed that he commanded massive popular acceptance among the oppressed in rural Sri Lanka. He singularly represents an era of politics to rejuvenate the rural sector of the country aiming at a new political and economic modernisation.

His strategy is to rapidly increase the productive efficiency of the rural sector through the people friendly ventures which helps consolidate his dynamic leadership. It is an accepted fact that in all new states the leaders must give high priority to the securing and holding of power.

If Sarath Fonseka had won the Presidential elections, Sri Lanka could have become a vassal state of foreign powers as it happened in Pakistan with General Musharraf ousting the elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sheriff and setting up a puppet regime.

Franchise including the right to elect the country's president is the exercise of sovereignty of the people by the people.

According to Article 3 of the Constitution sovereignty includes the powers of Government, fundamental rights and the franchise. The extension of the 'Mahinda Chinthana' took cognizance of the need to ameliorate the conditions of the rural poor. The second term of Rajapaksa's presidency will be an innovative presidency and it is this aspect in its totality will need careful examination and discussion.

President Rajapaksa in pledging to unite the fragmented nation and bringing all communities together upholding all democratic and civilised norms, offered the hand of Peace to the LTTE several times.

Fulfil pledge

But the LTTE started to play its usual game of hide and seek. President Rajapaksa, a strong-willed ruler decided to end the LTTE nonsense once and for all in order to fulfil his pledge to protect the people and the nation.

'Country before self' was finally fulfilled when the three-decade old war was terminated. People gave a fresh mandate to the leader who they could trust. Despite the difficult periods of war and economic hardships the people retained remarkable faith in their leader.

Their faith might have baffled the opposition parties but they were resolute that Mahinda Rajapaksa should be their President. The re-election of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the Executive President of Sri Lanka is a unique event in the political history of post-independent Sri Lanka which signals the emergence of a new trend in politics of the country.