Sri Lanka can take a cue from its last leader

A true leader like Present Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa, in the centre, has the knack to know what to do to make his presence felt among ordinary folk and in the exclusive company of a former Prime Minister and presidents, both present and past, as this picture shows (AFP)

The premier had taken the criticism with a pinch of salt. That’s all what it takes to be Mahinda Rajapkasa!

The priests in this country would find ways to get involved in politics. In a way they keep the subject of politics in the news. At present pirith is recited in most temples invoking the blessings of the Gautama Buddha on the people.

The system is being put in some order and this reduces the role of lawmakers. The only thing we see as a cause for concern is the running of the country by the Rajapaksa clan

For the record when Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated in 2015 we never heard him giving excuses or passing the ball when it came to taking responsibility. This is a true standout characteristic of a leader

 There are many people who praise President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s efforts taken to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also those who dislike his approach to settling some of the country’s issues; a good example is backing of the 20th Amendment. 

The manner in which health issues are sorted out in the country leaves little room for politicians to dazzle. This is how president Rajapaksa likes things to happen. 

In this backdrop career politicians like Premier Mahinda Rajapaksa would stay close to the people and the Buddhist clergy. Mahinda can still generate news. Just the other day he responded positively when Kurunegala MP Shantha Bandara met him in parliament and said that the people who were subject a quarantine curfew in the ‘rock city’ hadn’t received the one time stipend of rupees 5000. The Premier had told Bandara that he would inform about that need to Basil Rajapaksa. 

In politics you can’t take your eyes off the public’; corona or no corona. This is why Mahinda grabs the opportunity to drop in at most temples situated on the route he takes to attend to his political work. He might not, or never utter heavy political stuff to people and confuse them. He’ll flash his broad smile, put his arm around somebody or carry a toddler. Recently, according to newspaper reports, he had visited Abhayaramaya Temple in Narahenpita to call on Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda. The priest had been critical of the way in which some work was being carried out by some of the present lawmakers. The premier had taken the criticism with a pinch of salt. That’s all what it takes to be Mahinda Rajapkasa!

This country needs stricter laws. And also the country needs a leader who takes absolute responsibility of any situation its people are in

The priests in this country would find ways to get involved in politics. In a way they keep the subject of politics in the news. At present pirith is recited in most temples invoking the blessings of the Gautama Buddha on the people. These are days when katina pinkama ceremonies are held at temples. Devotees of all religions tend to forget about health guidelines when they attend religious functions. However there are wise priests like Ven.

Dimbulkumbure Wimaladharama, the Annunayake of the Malwatte Chapter, who requests people to strictly adhere to health guidelines. He has acknowledged the fact that it was a wise decision to have sparse crowds attending katina pinkama ceremonies at temples during the second wave of the coronavirus. 

These are not good times to be a politician. The shots are called by medics and security forces personnel in the efforts to combat the disease. The system is being put in some order and this reduces the role of lawmakers. The only thing we see as a cause for concern is the running of the country by the Rajapaksa clan. 

For the record one can see how laws are lenient or nonexistent if one just visits a wine store in Sri Lanka where people give scant respect to maintaining a one metre distance which is recommended by health authorities

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has a plan and is working the plan. That’s what was taught to him in the Sri Lanka Army; an institute he served at one time. But people might not fancy this system of being ordered about. Critics point out that this system of family rule would end when Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s term in office as Executive 
President concludes. 

This country needs stricter laws. It needs people who are responsible. It needs media which are watchdogs’ not media that protect a regime and cover its misdeeds. And also the country needs a leader who takes absolute responsibility of any situation its people are in. 

Recently the president had blamed the media and the public for disregarding their responsibilities and said that this was a key contribution to the current health crisis in the country. This news was reported in www.

srilankamirror.com 
For the record one can see how laws are lenient or nonexistent if one just visits a wine store in Sri Lanka where people give scant respect to maintaining a one metre distance which is recommended by 
health authorities. 

The issue here is that the regime not being strict enough with law offenders. This is because so many laws were enacted in parliament to give the security forces clout so that they can be in control of the pandemic situation. And also it is not appropriate for a head of state to palm the blame on others because that’s not one of the true traits of a leader. For the record when Mahinda Rajapaksa was defeated in 2015 we never heard him giving excuses or passing the ball when it came to taking responsibility. This is a true standout characteristic of a leader.

We need stricter laws applicable to the ministers and responsible citizens, who don’t have to be told what to do and how to behave during a pandemic. 

Family politics has to end and we need a constitution that honours human rights and dignity and also one that brings about a change of attitude which encourages the practice of the old adage ‘live and let live’.