A clear intent

President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared his intent on Monday to seek a fresh mandate, through his proclamation to the Elections Commissioner under Article 30 (3a) of the Constitution. It was a totally legitimate exercise of his prerogative to decide upon the time of seeking such mandate before his term expires.

The Opposition was taken unawares by the President's decision despite their bravado. It is groping in the dark for a candidate to field against the President. Ranil Wickremesinghe who had declared his intent to contest for a long time and even as late as the last Convention of the UNP seems to have backtracked as matters stand at present. In fact, the entire Opposition is looking for a saviour to protect them from an inevitable ignominious defeat. They seem to have come across a novice whose choice has been determined by his military credentials for he does not have any political credentials to show except for what he may have inherited from his lineage.

Perhaps they would have been compelled to look for top military brass in view of their aloofness from the victory over terrorism, which they happened to revile till the last moment. President Rajapaksa, as the Commander-in-Chief who prosecuted the war to a finish, on the other hand, stands tall. That is why the Opposition attempts to belittle his image by fielding another hero, though of a lesser rank.

At the last Presidential election President Rajapaksa's main pledge was to end the war and unify the country. Today, he goes to the people with that pledge, the main objective of his campaign fulfilled. He not only delivered, he did so in record time, three and half years. He seeks a fresh mandate as a person who has delivered. The difference between him and his predecessors is that while they also promised none could deliver.

One could only pity the Opposition that is attempting to field a novice against a colossus in the Sri Lankan political field. With 40 years' experience both in and out of government, with experience as Leader of the Opposition, Prime Minister and President his political maturity and acumen is hard to match.

Besides, his greatest asset is the confidence of the people. It is a confidence won over the years, of constant close contact with them, of fulfilling their aspirations. It is a confidence that none could win overnight.

It is this union of the Leader and the people that compelled those external powers to think twice before intervention. History has shown that those leaders who march with the people while leading them are invincible.

President Rajapaksa has already made it clear what his objectives are in the Second term. He spelt them out to Editors and Heads of media institutions on Tuesday: Lasting peace and accelerated development, enhancement of democracy through wider powers to Parliament, elimination of waste and corruption and building a righteous society.

His intent is clear. He is a man who delivers and is capable of delivering. The choice is simple.

The Opposition, on the other hand, has nothing to offer except eulogising their saviour and dwell upon his past though they themselves ridiculed him earlier.

Coalition of the willing

During the first Iraq war, the US formed a formidable coalition of states to go to war with Iraq. During the second Iraq war, the one that is still continuing, albeit in a different form, it could gather only a "coalition of the willing".

During the course of the war, the "coalition of the willing" fell apart with one by one partner pulling out giving various excuses. The US is left to fend for itself now in Iraq and is struggling to get out of the quagmire.

The United National Party formed a formidable coalition and won the 2001 general election in Sri Lanka. In the year 2009, it is struggling to form a Coalition of the willing (or unwilling?) to face Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Presidential poll - a motley assortment of sorts that make strange bedfellows.

Will it face the same fate as the United States' coalition of the willing we referred to?