Sri Lanka’s present crisis has made life miserable for everyone. Its ill-effects on the economy and socio-political order are bound to last longer than expected. But crises, if properly managed, could bring about new beginnings. The current one has led to a rare unity among various ethnic and religious communities, trade unions and other associations known for their competing interests.
One can see the Sinhalese, Muslims and Tamils protesting against the government, together. They have also sung the national anthem in Tamil at a recent traditional New Year ceremony at the Galle Face Green. Even a section of the nationalistic forces that made the electoral victories of the current administration possible has distanced itself from the Rajapaksas, and many of them are in fact at the forefront of the ongoing campaign to bring down the very government they once helped elect.
Protesters are receiving a lot of food, beverages, etc., from total strangers bound by an unprecedented camaraderie. Such acts of generosity are usually witnessed only during the Vesak and Poson seasons, when thousands of danselas spring up in many parts of the country to distribute free food and drinks.
Trade union action
Hundreds of trade unions took part in last week’s strike, which shook the weak government to its foundations. The crippling industrial action has jolted the rulers into expediting the process of forming an all-party interim administration. Unless the government heeds their call for resignation, they will launch a continuous strike soon, the warring trade unions have warned. Thus, the proposed interim administration has become a compromise formula of sorts.
For the first time in the post-Independence history of Sri Lanka, so many trade unions have sunk their differences and joined forces to achieve a common goal—forcing the incumbent government to resign. The GMOA (the Government Medical Officers’ Association) rarely pledges solidarity with other health sector unions, which are perennially at loggerheads. But this time around, even the GMOA has thrown its weight behind the striking unions although it did not participate in the recent strike. It has said it will make common cause with the trade unions on the warpath unless the government heeds their call.
Opposition’s unity
The crisis has also brought the Opposition political parties together. Both the JVP and the SJB have said with one voice that they will not be party to the proposed interim administration, which they consider a ruse. They insist that there is no point in joining a caretaker government under President Rajapaksa, whom the people are asking to resign. They have called for the resignation of both the President and the Prime Minister before the formation of an interim government.
The JVP and the SJB also see eye to eye on the no-faith motion to be moved against the government. The TNA however remains undecided not because it is opposed to the no-confidence motion but because it is not sure what its political fallout may be. TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran has told the media: “We don’t know what will happen after the NCM [no-confidence motion]. We don’t want to fall from the frying pan into the fire. We don’t want anybody from the SLPP or people who voted for the 20th Amendment to become the PM. We will decide once we have clarity.”
However, overall, the Opposition parties and the SLPP dissidents sitting as independent MPs in Parliament have agreed in principle that the government should be removed unless it steps down.
Monks united as never before
Buddhist monks are politically more active than other religious leaders but divided along party lines. Instead of guiding politicians, most of them used to support the latter much to the chagrin of the public.
Party politics has ruined the unity of many institutions in this country. It has even led to divisions among religious leaders. The Maha Sangha is an example. There are influential temples identified with main political parties, mostly with either the SLFP/SLPP and the UNP/SJB. In 1956, Buddhis monks were instrumental in ensuring the election of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike’s government (SLFP). The late Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera and his temple, the Naga Viharaya, Kotte, played a key role in engineering the 2015 regime change. Buddhist monks have also been seen at political rallies in large numbers, and protests organized by political parties, and it is seldom that they would make common cause on political issues. But they have united in view of the ongoing public protests.
The Mahanayake Theras of the three Nikayas issued joint statements on previous occasions as well, but in most cases, their requests did not yield the intended results, an example being their call for UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to appoint Karu Jayasuriya as the party leader in 2011. But the UNP re-elected Wickremesinghe. This time around, however, given the magnitude of the socio-political crises the country is facing, the members of the Sangha have come together to ensure that the government complies with the prelates’ request.
The Mahanayake Theras of the three Chapters have, in a letter, dated April 04, 2022, to the President, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and all political party leaders in Parliament, called upon them to resolve the present crises without further delay. They have urged the President to use his powers and dissolve the Cabinet immediately, and hand over the reins of government to an interim government consisting of the representatives of all parties, and appoint a committee of experts. The Chief Prelates have said an election could be held after the economic situation improves.
The letter was signed by Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera, Most Ven. Dodampahala Rahula Thera and Most Ven. Makulewe Wimala Thera. The salient points of their letter to the President and others are as follows:
“Today, our country is rapidly becoming a state that fails to meet the basic needs of the people due to the opportunistic politics that has been pursued for more than seven decades without a national policy.
“Unable to bear the steep rise in the cost of living, the people are now expressing their displeasure and opposition to the entire political system including the government. As the Maha Sangha, we do not condone any attempt to suppress peaceful mass protests.
“The government should understand that attempts to suppress mass protest will only aggravate the situation.”
“We urge you to understand the aspirations of the people and to take action to provide them with relief.
The Mahanayakes’ six proposals are the following:
(1) the dissolution of the Cabinet of ministers
(2) the formation of an interim all-party administration pending general election
(3) the appointment of an expert committee to advise the interim administration
(4) making it mandatory for the interim government to follow a national policy developed on the basis of a consensus reached in Parliament
(5) educating the public on the agreed proposals and
(6) The President should abide by decisions to be taken by the interim administration.
On April 25, 2022, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa responded to the letter sent by the Chief Prelates of the Nikayas. He spelt out the steps he had taken to resolve the crises, and made specific mention of the committee he appointed to draft a new Constitution. He said he regretted that there had been no positive response from other political parties following an all-party conference he had held, and, therefore, he had been compelled to appoint a new Cabinet to govern the country.
Follow-up action
Members of the Maha Sangha have decided to take follow-up action on the prelates’ proposals to the government. They held a meeting at the Sri Lanka Foundation on Saturday (April 30) and issued an ultimatum to President Rajapaksa, and called upon all political parties to support Mahanayake Theras’ initiative. They gave the President time until May 15 to carry out the proposals.
The meeting took place at the Sri Lanka Foundation on a joint invitation extended by Ven. Dr. Omalpe Sobitha Nayaka Thera and Rt. Rev. Dr. Anthony Jayakody, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of Colombo. A large number of key politicians and religious leaders were present, and among them were Ven. Olaganwaththe Chandrasiri, Ven. Prof. Agalakada Sirisumana, Ven Ananda Sagara, Spokesman for the Catholic Church Rev. Father Cyril Gamini, President of the Bar Association of Sri Lanka Saliya Pieris, PC, General Secretary of the SJB Ranjith Madduma Bandara, Vasudeva Nanayakkara representing the dissident SLPP group, SJB MP Buddhika Pathitana, SJB MP Eran Wickremaratne, Vijitha Herath (JVP), Rishrad Bathiudeen (ALMC/SJB), SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka and former MP Mrs Ferial Ashraff.
Never have the Buddhist monks been united in this manner during the last several decades. Perhaps, the unprecedented economic crisis, which threatens the very survival of the nation may be the reason for their unity and concerted effort to pressure the government to do what needs to be done to save the crumbling economy.
Buddhist monks have warned of stern action in case of the President and the government failing to carry out the above-mentioned proposals. Now, it is up to President Rajapaksa to act, and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to decide whether to step down or antagonize the Maha Sangha.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa is also under pressure from the Mahanayake Theras and other influential Buddhist monks to ensure that the SJB will be party to the proposed interim government. He has rejected the SLPP’s offer to share power, out of hand. But he will also antagonize the Maha Sangha if he continues to ignore their request and proposals.
