Has Karu gained slight edge over Sajith in the presidential race?

KJ has amply demonstrated that he is a charismatic leader who has not given in to intimidations and threats and managed volatile situations in a firm and resolute manner 

By A. Ranasinghe

The Financial Times in its issue of 11 September has given publicity to the results of a survey carried out by a retired Professor of Peradeniya in which the survey has revealed that Speaker Karu Jayasuriya (KJ) has a slight edge over his Deputy Leader Sajith Premadasa (SP) in the event KJ received the nomination of the UNP at the forthcoming presidential election. 

A startling revelation of the aforesaid survey points out among many other possibilities that the JVP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) is likely to make sizable damage on the vote base of both the SLPP and the UNP, which should be taken with a pinch of salt. The survey has further revealed that AKD would poll a higher percentage in the event that SP was fielded whereas AKD would poll lower numbers in the event Speaker KJ was the nominee of the UNP. In the absence of the criteria used in the survey, it is difficult to fathom as to what parameters were used to arrive at this decision. 

However, the anointing of a UNP presidential candidate for the forthcoming election has not yet been decided, presumably due to the internal battle by its leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and its Deputy leader Sajith Premadasa. 

KJ is the third in the line of succession in the constitutional hierarchy next to President and the Prime Minister and in that sense that KJ’s nomination as the presidential candidate appears to be more logical and appropriate, as he had a credible track-record as a statesman who can uphold the onerous duties of the Presidency, its dignity and recognition beyond the expectations of the many contenders who aspire to be in the presidential race. 

Speaker KJ has remained tight-lipped about his prospects in contesting the presidency under the delusion that his name will be unanimously approved by the working committee and the UNP Parliamentarians. In view of the intense debate between the PM and the Deputy Leader, the possibility of a third force (KJ) could make a significant impact on the overall vote base has not come into limelight. Besides, KJ’s suitability and eligibility has not sufficiently garnered support within the party because of the rift between the two contenders.

It would be a more sensible and rational approach, if the UNP considers the prospects of KJ, as the survey results have shown. Undoubtedly, history will record KJ’s name, as he is the one and only Speaker who had the privilege of occupying the hot seat of Presidency in the months to come, if his nomination is approved by the Party he represents. 

It is in the analysis of the above assertion that one has to critically look at the credentials KJ had earned over the years in the annals of the political field and the public and private life spanning over 80 years.

Preliminary and secondary education

He hails from a respectable family of Kandalama, in the historic Siyane Korale and the freedom struggle initiated by the patriotic leaders had an inalienable impact on his youthful career. It would be reasonable to say in fairness to KJ that this influence has had an inherent inclination towards the political movements in Sri Lanka.

Having had his preliminary education at the village school Kandalagamuwa, Meerigama, he was fortune enough to join one of the leading Buddhist schools – namely Ananda College, Colombo where he had the privilege of receiving education under the tutelage of Ven. Kotagama Vaceeswara and L.H. Meththananda, a renowned Principal of Ananda College. 

It is where he developed his affinity with Buddhism and provided him to mingle with the students more closely. During this era, Ananda College had a plethora of students from many ethnicities practicing multiplicity of religions and this provided him to inculcate religious tolerance and observances which in later years enabled him to interact with other ethnicities and religions in amity. 

Patriotism over party affiliations

The internal crises of the UNP over the nomination of a candidate for the presidential election has openly reached a politically asphyxiating level due to its infighting and a cabinet minister has taken his eligibility and claim to public streets at a time the party has not nominated a presidential nominee formally. 

It is very unfortunate that this self-nominated cabinet minister has not yet realised that there is no unilateral nomination when it comes to presidential election or for that matter the Parliamentary election and he has placed the party into a very embarrassing position at this crucial stage in the eyes of the general public and party supporters. In the absence of the party support of the UNP and the allied members, it is extremely doubtful whether he could garner the required vote base over five million at this juncture.

Chalk and cheese

When considering the stature and achievements in the political fields of KJ, the general acceptance is that the qualitative traits of all the other contenders who have entered into presidential race appear to be chalk and cheese. This does not mean in any way to belittle the accomplishments of the PM and the Deputy Leader of the UNP. The ultimate yardstick should be the prospects one has to gain, making more than 51% of the total vote base. As the survey evidently supports of the candidature of KJ, it is a moot point why sufficient voice is not generated within the party and the civil society at this crucial juncture.

Contribution to war efforts

KJ stands accused by his UNP front liners for having left the party and joined the government of Mahinda Rajapaksa in order to defeat LTTE terrorism. Only very few of the party and the country admired the patriotism and greatness of KJ who genuinely felt that the need of the hour was to eliminate the scourge of terrorism the county was clothed with. Once the terrorism was eliminated, he returned to his old party foregoing all the comforts and extended his full support to the party on full-time basis.

It is unfortunate that front-liners of the UNP who shouted from the rooftops have forgotten that it is their own seniors who have become assassination targets at the hands of the LTTE and these big stalwarts included R. Premadasa, Ranjan Wijeratna, Gamini Dissanayake, Lalith Athulathmudali and several others who perished in broad daylight. Had KJ not rendered his support in the elimination drive of the terrorists, the present-day leaders of the UNP would not have survived because the LTTE had a well-planned approach of eliminating future leaders of the UNP in particular and the country in general.  

Had it not been for the unwavering stance resolutely defended by KJ despite intimidations, assaults, vilifications in the well of the house, the country would have witnessed a total dictatorial regime today. KJ should be thanked for preserving the democracy for the future generation. It would be correct to place on record that no previous Speakers of the Parliament had undergone such sacrifice and vilifications from disgruntled parliamentarians in its effort to safeguard the democracy and parliamentary norms and traditions

The famous adage that ‘the best steel comes from the hottest fire’ is well-fit into the Speaker’s unrelenting efforts to preserve the democratic rights of its citizens. Hence, the UNP is duty bound to nominate the name of KJ considering the role he played to preserve the democracy

Though there had been a volume of criticisms initially for deserting the UNP, his principled stand and firm conviction proved his vindication at last, when the scourge of terrorism was decimated from the Sri Lankan soil. 

KJ is a visionary in that sense and he went beyond the parochial confines of party politics to serve the country when the motherland called for his services. In my view there was no leader other than KJ who has taken a calculated risk of a higher magnitude even for a temporary period forgoing his seniority in the party at a time when the so-called military leaders at the battlefront left the country in fear of retaliation from the terrorists. 

It is with supreme irony that the military personnel who abandoned the country when their services were mostly sought at the battlefront have become the saviours of the country and sought a mandate from the people to preserve sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the country.

Constitutional crisis and Speaker’s intervention 

The decisive role KJ played in his capacity of the Speaker came into limelight when he was forced to handle the parliamentary coup cleverly manoeuvred by the President in association with the Opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa during a period of 52 days in October 2018. The President in the most undemocratic manner adopted a ruse meticulously engineered with the tacit consent of his arch rival Mahinda Rajapaksa by sacking the constitutionally elected Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Realising that his illogical and ill-conceived action has squarely backfired due to the hard stance of the Speaker, President Maithripala Sirisena prorogued the Parliament and then dissolved it as a face-saving method to justify his illegitimate and undemocratic actions. The arbitrary decisions of the President were declared null and void and unconstitutional by the Supreme Court causing untold embarrassments and insult both to the President and Mahinda Rajapaksa. But, what is to be noted in this process is the firm and resolute manner, the Speaker handled the ugly episode in the most democratic manner by strictly adhering to the Parliamentary traditions and norms.

Had it not been for the unwavering stance resolutely defended by KJ despite intimidations, assaults, vilifications in the well of the house, the country would have witnessed a total dictatorial regime today. KJ should be thanked for preserving the democracy for the future generation. It would be correct to place on record that no previous Speakers of the Parliament had undergone such sacrifice and vilifications from disgruntled parliamentarians in its effort to safeguard the democracy and parliamentary norms and traditions. 

The famous adage that ‘the best steel comes from the hottest fire’ is well-fit into the Speaker’s unrelenting efforts to preserve the democratic rights of its citizens. Hence, the UNP is duty bound to nominate the name of KJ considering the role he played to preserve the democracy. 

Bouquets and brickbats

A sterling quality which I observed in KJ was that he had possessed a cardinal characteristic of accepting bouquets and brickbats with equanimity. A ministerial colleague representing Badulla district has made an ugly scathing reference to KJ recently at a rally in Badulla in support of Sajith Premadasa saying ‘Naaki Seeiya’ or ‘Old Grandpa’ is a case in point. This boisterous politician’s father is also reported to be in the age group of KJ and it is shameful that this immature politician ridiculed him in the open public without considering the seniority and the stature of KJ As far as I am concerned, KJ has not harmed him or any other politicians for that matter and it is a moot point why this ridiculous reference was levelled against him. 

Saviour of the Government 

It is not only the last year October mayhem diplomatically and constitutionally tackled by the Speaker thus avoiding the untold embarrassments to the Government. When an important regulation in relation to the Sri Lanka Export Development Act was debated last week, the Presiding member Sriyani Wijewickrama moved the House for a vote. Had a vote taken in the absence of the Government MPs who kept away from the Parliament to attend a rally of Sajith Premadasa in Kurunegala, the defeat of the vote would have been imminent and this defeat would have had a debilitating impact on the Government at this crucial juncture where its image and popularity has been dwindling because of the internal battle for supremacy. 

The opposition members pointed out that the postponement of the debate was against the Standing Orders and urged the Government to either withdraw the resolution or go for voting knowing very well that the Government did not have the sufficient strength to pass the vote. Speaker KJ entered the Chamber and adjourned the sittings and convened a party leaders meeting and resolved the impasse thus safeguarding the reputation of the Government. Such a bold intervention by the Speaker has not yet received the appreciation of the Government MPs.

Balanced thinking

Undoubtedly, KJ is a force to be reckoned with at a time the UNP is embroiled in a tussle for selecting a matured leader. It is a matter for solace that a group of civil society leaders have pointed that matured, learned and cultured leadership with a balanced mind is the need of the hour to extricate the country from the current political, economic and social mess. According to them, KJ was a visionary leader with the sole capability of winning the confidence of some three million voters who are not supporters or members of any political parties including the minorities. Their contention is that Speaker KJ has the capability to give leadership to the party and fight fascist elements to prevent the rapidly deterioration of spiritual values and also to ensure democratic freedom.

Honorary titles and international recognition

His justification to claim the presidential candidature of the UNP would not be complete, if this brief does not cover the honorary titles and international recognitions he had earned. It was only few moons ago that he was conferred the Honorary title of ‘Sasana Keerthi Sri Deshabahimani’ by the Most Venerable Maha Nayake Thera and the Sanga Sabha of Malwatta Chapter in recognition of the services rendered to Buddhism.

He was accorded with the World Peace Award presented by the Siddharth United Social Welfare Mission of Bengal in year 2016 and the Order of the Rising Sun constituted by the State Council of Japan under the order of Emperor Meiji, which is awarded to those who have made significant contributions to the world, in recognition of the social work carried out by him. The Abdul Kalam Institute of Technology of India also awarded Jayasuriya the title of ‘Pride of Asia’ for his outstanding contributions to sustainable development. 

He has also dedicated himself to promote mutual understanding among various ethnicities and in the international arena respecting all religions while serving as the Chairman of ‘Nikaya Arakshaka Sabha’ of Sri Lanka Ramanna Nikaya and as a patron of various national and cultural organisations.

It is regrettable why the Party has escaped the attention of a third force would definitely bring the power to the party thus winning the support of the majority of the voters. Analysing his civil, military, diplomatic and political career, one could safely surmise that Speaker KJ has not only talked the talk but walked the talk and shown results in multiplicity of roles he handled. The country is fortunate to receive the blessings of this transitional leader. KJ has amply demonstrated that he is a charismatic leader who has not given in to intimidations and threats and managed volatile situations in a firm and resolute manner. Had it not been for his adroit and uncompromising stance, the country would have been in the hands of a dictatorship. He has rendered a silent yet invaluable contribution to the nation and the country deserves the blessings of such a rare leader. He possesses untapped potential to be given to the nation in his capacity as the highest office of the country. Suffice it to say that this article would be an eye-opener for the intelligent people to exert pressure for the party leadership in the galvanising of KJ’s nomination for the presidential race.