Close X
Monday, September 23, 2024
ADVT 
International

Sirisena: A Former Rebel Who Will Now Rule Sri Lanka

Darpan News Desk IANS, 09 Jan, 2015 02:04 PM
    Maithripala Sirisena, elected to govern Sri Lanka, was once jailed for alleged links to leftwing Sinhalese rebels who almost ousted the government in 1971. He remained in prison for 15 months.
     
    And if luck had not been on his side, Sirisena might have been assassinated by the Tamil Tigers who attacked his convoy in a suburb here in 2008, leaving one person dead.
     
    A devout Buddhist from the majority Sinhalese community, Sirisena, 63, was for long a loyalist of outgoing president Mahinda Rajapaksa until he dramatically defected to the opposition in November.
     
    That one act -- a night after he shared a meal of "hoppers" (rice pancakes) with the president -- undid whatever hopes Rajapaksa might have had of winning Thursday's election.
     
    Once Sirisena became the joint opposition candidate, he turned Rajapaksa's most vocal and bitter critic, accusing the man he had stood by for years of promoting "family rule" in Sri Lanka.
     
    When the Rajapaksa regime militarily crushed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in May 2009, Sirisena was the defence minister. But the glory of vanquishing the Tigers went to Rajapaksa.
     
    When Rajapaksa did not make him the prime minister, Sirisena began to hold a grudge -- one that spurred his defection in November.
     
    Like many in Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) to which he belonged until last year, Sirisena's political thoughts make him hang the pictures of Buddha, Marx, Lenin and Mahatma Gandhi at his home.
     
    Yet he espouses no particular ideology. A family man, he is passionately opposed to smoking and liquor. 
     
    Although he earned the backing of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the main Tamil party in parliament, Sirisena has refused to dismantle military camps in the north and east -- the former war zone.
     
    But he says he will be happy to do business with Tamils who have embraced democracy -- whatever their past.
     
    Like Rajapaksa once did, Sirisena appeals to the ordinary Sinhalese, most of whom are Buddhists although some are Christians too.
     
    In his first comments after Rajapaksa conceded defeat Friday, Sirisena pledged to promote Buddhism, the state religion. He also promised not to take "revenge" against political foes.
     
    Unlike Rajapaksa, Sirisena attracted the support of Muslims in the Thursday battle due to rising attacks on them by hardline Buddhists linked to the Rajapaksa regime.
     
    Most Tamils, sullen and bitter since thousands died in the war on the LTTE, also appear to have thrown their lot with Sirisena simply because of their dislike of Rajapaksa.
     
    When he announced his candidacy in November, he said that Sri Lanka was heading towards a dictatorship.
     
    "The entire economy and every aspect of society is controlled by one family," he thundered. 
     
    Rajapaksa later complained publicly that Sirisena defected after having a meal of "hoppers" with him.
     
    Sirisena, Rajapaksa said, "eats hoppers in the night and then stabs you in the back in the morning".
     
    The majority of Sri Lankans did not agree with Rajapaksa's assessment. 

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Indian diplomat's daughter wins $225,000 settlement from New York City

    Indian diplomat's daughter wins $225,000 settlement from New York City
    An Indian diplomat's daughter who was suspended, arrested and forced to spend a day in jail during her senior year in February 2011 on cyber-bullying charges, has won a $225,000 settlement from New York City.

    Indian diplomat's daughter wins $225,000 settlement from New York City

    Obama welcomes result of Scottish independence vote

    Obama welcomes result of Scottish independence vote
    US President Barack Obama Friday welcomed Scotland's vote to remain as part of Britain, vowing to continue the "special relationship" with the United...

    Obama welcomes result of Scottish independence vote

    Pakistan court to try Sharif, Zardari, others for money transfer

    Pakistan court to try Sharif, Zardari, others for money transfer
    The Lahore High Court (LHC) Friday decided to start ex-parte proceedings against 61 politicians, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and former...

    Pakistan court to try Sharif, Zardari, others for money transfer

    India-China natural partners in cooperation: Chinese daily

    India-China natural partners in cooperation: Chinese daily
     India and China are "natural partners for cooperation" as the world's two largest developing countries share the common goal of upgrading their national...

    India-China natural partners in cooperation: Chinese daily

    US based EcoSikh asks Sikhs to fight climate change

    US based EcoSikh asks Sikhs to fight climate change
     Ahead of the Sep 23 UN Climate Summit in New York, Washington-based environmental organisation, EcoSikh has asked Sikhs to strengthen their....

    US based EcoSikh asks Sikhs to fight climate change

    US lawmakers, Sikhs disappointed at basketball body's headgear decision

    US lawmakers, Sikhs disappointed at basketball body's headgear decision
    Two US lawmakers and Sikh community bodies have expressed disappointment over International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) decision to allow athletes...

    US lawmakers, Sikhs disappointed at basketball body's headgear decision