GOTABAYA RAJAPAKSA
will be sworn in as Sri Lanka's seventh President on Monday by winning 52.25% of the mandate marking the return of the Rajapaksa family once again in power. The former soldier turned bureaucrat Rajapaksa defeated Sajith Premadasa marking history in less than three years after the Defence Secretary post during the civil war period of Sri Lanka. It is a great victory for the Sri Lanka's majority Simhala Budhist community and Rajapakse is seen as the saviour who spearheaded the military victory during the internal civil war by the rebel LTTE years back.
will be sworn in as Sri Lanka's seventh President on Monday by winning 52.25% of the mandate marking the return of the Rajapaksa family once again in power. The former soldier turned bureaucrat Rajapaksa defeated Sajith Premadasa marking history in less than three years after the Defence Secretary post during the civil war period of Sri Lanka. It is a great victory for the Sri Lanka's majority Simhala Budhist community and Rajapakse is seen as the saviour who spearheaded the military victory during the internal civil war by the rebel LTTE years back.
During this election, world over people were watching the way in which the ethnic minorities especially the Tamil groups and Muslims of the Island casts their votes.Both the candidates Premadasa of (United National Party - UNP) and Gotabaya Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) have been able to secure support from the political parties supporting minorities, but Premadas appears to be enjoyed the support of the minorities of the northern and eastern provinces where poverty levels are high. Rajapaksa's highest vote share was achieved in the central areas where the Simhala Budhist reside as there was a deeper polarisation seen after the ethnic crisis initiated following the bomb blast killing more than 250 civilians in the month of April,2019. The disturbing memories of military survieliancce and many cleansing operationsduring the last decade still haunts the mind of minorities and muslims in the Island and the consolidation of votes in favour of Premadas could only fetch 42 percentage.
Senior Tamil leader Sampanthan who leads the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is of the view that the international media attribute a "racist" dimension to the Sri Lankan Presidential election but it could not hold the thought as Premadas also drew huge support in the north,east and central part of the Country. The question of racist line does not arise as both Gotabaya and Premadas are Simhala Buddists. On the economic ideas, they are probably are of same lines; but in regard to minority issues Premadas was more forthcoming in the election.The TNA leader also pointed out that if the tamil people wanted to vote on racial lines, there are candidates like M.K. Shivajilingam in the election front, instead they voted in large numbers for Sajith Premadasa. But polarisation of votes in the Island country took place after thepolitical impact of the Easter aftermath Bombings killing more than 250 civilians. The attack exposed the utter failure of the government inspite of security alerts . The people of the Sri Lanka felt that it was just like 9/11 World Trade attack on US and the total failure in dealing the situations by the ruling government, and there by created unprecedented insecurity and fear in the minds of people especially in Simhalese Buddhists.
Senior Tamil leader Sampanthan who leads the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is of the view that the international media attribute a "racist" dimension to the Sri Lankan Presidential election but it could not hold the thought as Premadas also drew huge support in the north,east and central part of the Country. The question of racist line does not arise as both Gotabaya and Premadas are Simhala Buddists. On the economic ideas, they are probably are of same lines; but in regard to minority issues Premadas was more forthcoming in the election.The TNA leader also pointed out that if the tamil people wanted to vote on racial lines, there are candidates like M.K. Shivajilingam in the election front, instead they voted in large numbers for Sajith Premadasa. But polarisation of votes in the Island country took place after thepolitical impact of the Easter aftermath Bombings killing more than 250 civilians. The attack exposed the utter failure of the government inspite of security alerts . The people of the Sri Lanka felt that it was just like 9/11 World Trade attack on US and the total failure in dealing the situations by the ruling government, and there by created unprecedented insecurity and fear in the minds of people especially in Simhalese Buddhists.
FUTURE RELATION WITH INDIA
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Gotabaya Rajapaksa on his victory and hoped that the cultural, historical land civilisational ties between India and Sri Lanka will be further strengthened. India has been building ties with our neighbour country all these years despite many adverse facts during the last ten years regarding their ties with China and approach to Tamil minority communities.However many worry that the tilt towards China will definitely be seen as the Sri Lanka's debt situation with China will play greater role. Rajapaksa will need India's friendship in resolving tensions with the North and East region and should move quickly to ensure more development projects in those area.
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