Gajalakshmi Paramasivam

18 November  2019

DID MR RAJAPAKSE GET 50% PLUS?

Turn him to any cause of policy,
The Gordian Knot of it he will unloose,
Familiar as his garter

— Shakespeare, Henry V

I felt satisfied that out of those who voted in Northern Sri Lanka and Eastern Sri Lanka – majority voted for Mr Sajith Premadasa. Nothing personal about the persons concerned,  but about the structure that each candidate / political party represented. As stated previously – the structure helps us relate through position rather than the individual. Recently when I was asked to ‘forgive and forget’ my response was – that one could take such an approach with the individual but not the position which includes heritage from many generations and wider world.

This morning, analysing the figures of the Presidential Elections – Sri Lanka,  with the ‘structure’ in mind, I came to the conclusion that Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa – the winning candidate did not have more than 50% approval of eligible voters. This to my mind was due to about 20% of those eligible to vote – disenfranchising themselves from politics. Their contribution to governance could come from religion, secular Administration  as well as  Judicial pathways.

In my case, when the Executive failed me here in Australia – I sought the Judicial pathway. When that also failed to uphold my truth – I started going direct to the public and hence my writing which ended up in the Australian National Library and the New York Public Library. THAT was true confirmation of self-governance. I do not know how it works – but I know it works. My belief in Almighty God – facilitated that natural pathway which has continued to support me as well as delivered the most reliable of all outcomes needed by ME for the next phase of my work/life.

In Jaffna Mr Rajapaksa has only 4% approval which means he does not have access to 96% of the available resources in Jaffna. Even in his home electorate of Hambantota his availability as per the published figures is only 42%. While I was at first surprised by the Colombo outcome – my analysis highlighted that Mr Rajapaksa had only 30% approval. Likewise only 28% approval in Puttalam.

If Sri Lankans see Parliament led by the Prime Minister as a different power base to that of the President – we would know this in the next Parliamentary elections. As per Article 4 (b) of the Constitution of Sri Lanka:

[the executive power of the People, including the defence of Sri Lanka, shall be exercised by the President of the Republic elected by the People]

The above responsibility requires Mr Rajapaksa to ensure that his Executive decisions are on behalf of the whole of Sri Lanka – as One entity and therefore the law applicable needs to be Common. There can be no internal divisions – for example – the LTTE on one side and the government on the other. THAT is the requirement the new President has to satisfy. Any Executive action that clearly shows two sides within Sri Lanka would be in breach of the above article. Anyone who challenges such actions through the legal process – by naming the Attorney General as the respondent – is investing in governance through the judicial path. To the extent they are genuine in such actions and apply on the basis of their own true pain – the return is common share in Judicial governance. They become facilitators.

Above all is the belief based contribution – directly to their home area which by land is defined as being part of Sri Lanka. Someone who did not vote but contributed to self-governance through the highest structure in their local area – is the true President in that area. The black-hole - gap between 50% and the actual percentage is the failure mark allocated to Mr Rajapaksa  as well as to any candidate below winning 25% of the votes available. Mr Rajapaksa who shows very low percentages in Tamil areas where self-governance is a priority faces the greatest challenge to consider the whole of Sri Lanka as One entity.  Ethnic diversity is the Gordian Knot of Sri Lanka.  As Defence Secretary  of Sri Lanka Mr  Gotabaya Rajapaka earned the name of ‘Terminator’  by Australian media :

‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa, nicknamed 'the Terminator', wins Sri Lanka election’ – SBS

‘Gotabaya Rajapaksa becomes Sri Lanka's new 'Terminator' president after rival concedes defeat in election’ - ABC

As elected President Mr  Gotabaya Rajapaksa cannot cut the knot – as if he were to rule by the sword. He has the duty to cleverly untie that knot but without cutting it. The original , like the Island of Sri Lanka - is without beginning or end. That knot needs to be as familiar to Mr Rajapaksa as One Belt One Road policy is to China’s leaders.