“As we usher in a new journey for Sri Lanka, we must remember that all Sri Lankans are part of this journey. Let us rejoice peacefully, with dignity and discipline in the same manner in which we campaigned.”
These first post-victory words of President-elect Gotabaya Rajapaksa will no doubt resonate with all right thinking Sri Lankans. Many were left aghast at the seemingly spontaneous hate messaging directed towards the minority communities on social media as the results of the 2019 Presidential election flowed in. A veteran of countering ethnic insurgency and no doubt sensitive to the pulse of the nation, President-elect Rajapaksa has given those hate-mongers a fitting answer that is likely to set the tone for his tenure. Even in his victory speech at the Elections Commission, the President-elect was quick to emphasize to the listening and watching nation that he is now the President of ‘all Sri Lankans’, regardless of whether they voted for him or not.
Indeed, his first task as the seventh Executive President should be uniting a nation fractured along ethnic, religious and political lines and fearful of a resurgence of extremism after the tragic events of April 21. The Easter attacks dealt a blow to a Sri Lanka psyche that was enjoying the bliss of peace after over 30 years of internal war. The Government’s state of unpreparedness on Easter Sunday, not to mention the catastrophic intelligence failures that led to it, no doubt hardened the resolve of the populace to find a leader who could fill this national security vacuum.
In Gotabaya Rajapaksa, they saw hope for a new Sri Lanka that can face its combined national security and nation building challenges. His long experience in the Army – he is the first Army officer to become President – and also the adroit coordination of the war effort under President Mahinda Rajapaksa, makes him the ideal candidate to address national security concerns. During the elections campaign, he pledged to probe the attacks, the attendant security lapses and, to bring all those responsible to book.
In fact, it is his forthright attitude to the nation’s challenges that propelled him to become the First Citizen. His journey to the top is all the more remarkable given that he is not a career politician. Indeed, this is the first time in Sri Lankan history that a non-politician has been elected President. This has given him a unique perspective as well as an opportunity to look at the world of politics from the outside and maintain a unique approach to governance that instantly appealed to the masses.
With the entry of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fresh winds of change blew across the political stage. He did not sling mud at anyone during his speeches, which only outlined his plans for the country. He also completely shunned the use of banners, posters and cutouts which the other candidates also followed, making this the first election in living memory where traditional propaganda was minimal. We hope that this is the beginning of a new political culture.
There were almost no major incidents during the election campaign, for which the credit should go to the Elections Commission, the Government, the administering public servants, the Police and Armed Forces, all the candidates, the political parties and the citizenry. It was one of the most peaceful, free and fair polls in recent decades. We hope that this momentum towards stable democracy will be carried forward to the next General Election in 2020.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa faced a formidable opponent in UNP Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa, who is also the son of a former President. In the best traditions of democracy, Premadasa conceded defeat early on and congratulated the President-elect on his victory via Twitter and also during his speech at the Elections Commission.
While Sajith Premadasa has now gracefully stepped down from his party position, he is still politically young at 52 years and, has a lot to contribute to the Nation both inside and outside of politics. He has a bright future ahead of him and the nation will surely look to his further service.
In the meantime, all parties should rise above partisan politics and unreservedly extend a hand to the new administration to resolve the burning issues facing the nation. From the economy to the energy crisis to garbage disposal and the climate crisis, there are many issues that need urgent national attention. Many development projects such as the Central Expressway have stalled due to various reasons and all should help the incoming President to expedite development. The new President should also initiate national policies on education, health, defence, agriculture and other vital sectors.
Right now, though, his biggest priority should be to bring the people together. All post-independence Governments failed in this onerous task, which had resulted in insurgencies in both the North and the South. This is the time to put politics behind, heal the wounds of division, conflict and terror and uplift the nation in line with the resounding mandate of the masses.
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