Ranil Wickremesinghe, the leader of the United National Party who was on the edge of a political precipice, has come back astonishingly to clinch the premiership for the sixth time.
Wickremesinghe has mastered the political craft and aptly displayed his astonishing ability to translate them into action. At the parliamentary general election held in 2020, Wickremesinghe was ruthlessly sent into political oblivion by the Colombo district electors. The UNP, which was the grand old party of the first Prime Minister D.S Senanayake was reduced to just one seat in parliament. It was won on the strength of the all-island vote polled for the UNP.
Then there was procrastination on the part of the UNP since they could not make a final decision on who to appoint to the only seat secured by the party. John Amaratunga, whose name was first on the national list claimed the only seat but it was denied to him. It pushed him to an unexpected retirement from politics.
There was dilly-dallying in the UNP and indecisiveness as to who should take over the seat allocated to them by the Election Commission. The decision was held in abeyance for nearly one year, during which time the party tossed several names. Eventually, the name which surfaced was that of Ranil Wickremesinghe. It was at a time the country was reeling under the pressure of the Covid pandemic.
People had no idea what it meant for them in the long run. Neither the government nor the opposition took serious note of the appointment, other than exchanging the usual pleasantries with a man who had held important positions for nearly 45 years in parliament and since 1977 the government apparatus.
However, the notable difference was that his appointment to parliament was on the national list.
Wickremesinghe cooperated fully with the government and gave it his unstinted cooperation during the pandemic. He advised the government on how to formulate modalities and mitigate the effect. He came to the limelight in many unorthodox ways and marked his appearance before the people. His suggestions on statecraft were unconvincing and farfetched for the government.
In the circumstances, the people reluctantly accepted him as a politician whose trajectory was on the right path to recovery to the chagrin of the top notches in government. Hence the government was hell-bent on winning accolades from the masses and unleashed its propaganda machinery to convince the people that a greater calamity would have befallen them had the UNP been in power during the pandemic.
Then Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing a series of meetings commended his brother Gotabaya for the initiatives taken to control the spread of the pandemic. In parliament Wickremesinghe became a skillful debater who spoke sense and even earned brownie points from the opposition. He did not confront anyone unnecessarily other than Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian Shanakiyan Rasamanikkam, who had reason to launch a scathing attack on Wickremesinghe concerning the deputy speaker’s election. Rasamannikam alleged that he canvassed for Ranjith Siyamabalapitiya, which he branded as undermining the opposition candidate Imitiaz Bakeer Marakar’s prospects.
Wickremesinghe later clarified his stance and the circumstances that led to the election of the deputy speaker of parliament. Wickremesinghe also displayed his political acumen when almost all the political parties got together at a roundtable conference to find solutions for the economic meltdown the country is going through. He confronted the then Governor of the Central Bank Ajith Nivard Cabraal when the latter tried to apportion blame to the UNP for the predicament the country is facing. With a streak of aggression and annoyance, Wickremesinghe asked the Governor to stop the blame game and said if he continued, it would only stop at the first king Vijaya. Wickremesinghe said in more emphatic words that the Yahapalana government could provide the people with essentials without any shortages.
His words put the entire meeting in an embarrassing position. Eventually, it prompted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to tender an apology to Ranil Wickremesinghe for the misdemeanour of Cabraal while clarifying the stand taken by the Governor of the Central Bank.
With all these, Ranil Wickremesinghe cut a figure as one of the most knowledgeable persons found among the members of the House of Parliament. The people occupying key positions had always respected him for his innate abilities.
Prime Minister for the sixth time, Wickremesinghe, made it clear that he never asked for it but was invited by the President to shoulder the daunting task of re-shaping the ailing economy.
After ascending the second-highest post in the land, Wickremesinghe had a recapping of the economic situation of the country.
Addressing the nation, he said
“I am undertaking a dangerous challenge. In the Caucasian Chalk Circle, Grusha crossed the broken rope bridge carrying a child that was not her own. This is an even more difficult undertaking. The precipice is deep and its bottom cannot be seen. The bridge is made of thin glass and there is no handrail. I am wearing shoes with sharp nails that cannot be removed. My task is to safely take the child to the other side. I am accepting this challenge for our nation.”
Members from the government benches and even his critics admit, privately, that he is the man who for the moment could make it happen.
Nevertheless, expectations are running high for him to deliver the country from evil hands and make this land a safe place for everyone. The people expect him to work independently, devoid of Rajapaksa’s influence to bring to book the errant politicians whoever they may be, form an inclusive government and secure the legitimacy of the opposition benches.
The people’s deep-seated aspiration is to abolish the executive presidency within a minimum possible period to bring back parliamentary supremacy and establish a vibrant democracy. The 21st amendment is a mandatory requirement to achieve these goals and to put the country back on the right track. However, it needs more refinement than the 19th amendment to seal the ambiguities and inadequacies, especially when setting up the Constitutional Council. Besides, there is a need to enhance public participation in decision making while paving the way for judicial review of legislation and enhancing the scope of the Right to Information Act.
In Sri Lanka, any citizen can go before the Supreme Court to challenge the provisions of a bill before it becomes law. There are only limited opportunities available to challenge legislation once it becomes law.
Articles 140 and 141 of the Constitution give the Court of Appeal the power to grant the writs of certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto and habeas corpus. In Sri Lanka, apart from an application for a writ, it is also possible to apply under Article 126 of the Constitution to challenge administrative action.
The need to bring in constitutional provisions for judicial review of legislation is paramount for a vibrant democracy. People are also keen to see contempt of court laws reviewed in the interests of the public in general.
Besides, Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara of the SJB showed a keen interest in asking questions from Wickremesinghe on his political trajectory.
Champika Ranawaka also joined with a few pertinent questions. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe working almost twelve hours a day, took the time to answer the questions and project himself as a true politician interested in shepherding the country with Curchiilian wits out of a total mess.
Wickremesinghe also provided a few answers to Harin Fernando and Manusha Nanayakkara.
The Prime Minister has promised to review the contempt case of Ranjan Ramanayake once again in the Supreme Court since the court convicted him.
In the same breath, he has also said that a committee headed by Wijedasa Rajapaksa is working on the 21st amendment.
The 21st amendment envisages restricting presidential powers and transferring them to parliament.
Talking about a time frame for the President to quit his job, Wickremesinghe has said that discussions with party leaders should continue in this respect. He, however, has said that he will support the majority view in this instance.
Despite being the solitary member representing the UNP, Wickremesinghe has made a dramatic comeback to the limelight.
The pertinent question is whether the Rajapaksas will use Wickremesinghe as a shield to overcome the wrath that has befallen them due to the blatant mismanagement of the economy. Ranil himself admitted in parliament that he was not too sure about his location, whether he dwells in the opposition or the government or in the process of crossing the dangerous thin glass bridge carrying the legendary child. Will Ranil do justice to Grusha.? The protagonist of the Caucasian chalk circle is yet another question that needs an answer in time to come.
In any case, the wish is that he maintains the true meaning of the slogan ” He is the ideal man”, and he should strive hard to sustain it without the “I” falling apart-
ALAKESWARA
