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Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe going to cast his vote on Monday at College House in Colombo West. On his right is Mayor Muzammil. Pic courtesy the Facebook Page of Mr. Wickremesinghe

It was two trips to the Polling Station for Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil at Monday’s Parliamentary elections.
On the first occasion he accompanied then caretaker Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to the polling station at College House, part of the Colombo University along Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha, the former Thurstan Road.Mr. Muzammil produced his Mayor’s identity card issued by the council. However, a polls official said he could not go by that and insisted that he produce his National Identity Card, passport or driving licence.

“I also brought along my passport just in case,” quipped Premier Wickremesinghe. Mr. Muzammil told the Sunday Times, “I had to leave the place, go home and come back with my passport. I was then able to vote.”Needless to say that such strict procedures were in place prompting even the Prime Minister to be prepared, is all credit to Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya.

That was not the only shock for Mayor Muzammil. At the previous Friday’s (August 14) weekly Jumma prayers, the Imam at the mosque said that Muslim women should not contest elections. He said it was haram or was prohibited. This appeal had been backed by some Muslim groups who made the same claim.

Mr. Muzammil’s wife Ferouza was contesting the Colombo District on the United National Party (UNP) ticket. “All this was malicious propaganda,” said Mayor Muzzamil. He asked how Sheikh Hasina could be the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, a predominantly Muslim country. Or the late Benazir Bhutto would never have been the Prime Minister of Pakistan if fanatics were to be believed, he added.

Dejected at being rejected at the polls, the Muzammils took wing on Wednesday night on an Emirates flight to Singapore for a break and quite reflection. Elections are looming in Singapore as well, and there, the ruling party tells the people how to vote. A ‘guided democracy’; wonder what His Worship might think of it.

Wigneswaran hits himself with political gavel
The outcome of Parliamentary elections in the Jaffna District came as a snub to Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran.
Though he said he would remain neutral and not campaign for the Tamil National Alliance or ITAK, his party, he made an appeal later to voters that they should vote for a party “committed to the principles of our traditional homeland, individuality of the Tamil people, the right to self-determination of the Tamils, even after the disaster of Mullivaikal.”

He added, “It should be a party which is not hesitating to seek justice for the genocide perpetrated against the Tamil people, and it should be a party that is firm in the matter of independent international investigation ….”The one-time Supreme Court Judge’s message was clear to Jaffna voters. They were being asked to vote for candidates from newer groups with strong extremist ideals. Alas, his call has gone unanswered.

With a 38% increased voter turnout compared to the 2010 Parliamentary elections, the TNA increased its share of the vote by 25% but the Chief Minister’s favourites only managed to increase their share by less than 1%.

As revealed in the Sunday Times, US Assistant Secretary Nisha Biswal was to tick him off during a visit to the US. Now comes the news about his meeting in London with Hugo Swire, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister. He was to explain to Chief Minister Wigneswaran that the First Ministers of Scotland, particularly from hostile territories like Northern Ireland, work with the central government in London to obtain the needs of their territories.

How the Chief Minister will now adjust to the new situation is the question that is being raised in academic circles in Jaffna.

Concern over private helicopter at Ratmalana
The presence of a Bell 412 helicopter at a hangar used by a private company in Ratmalana was to ring alarm bells at the highest levels of the caretaker Government. Its presence and the fact that pilots were going in and out of the premises raised concerns.
More so, when it transpired that the helicopter had come from the same company that supplied a fleet to a one time powerful politician who runs an aviation company.

This company had provided helicopters to a multinational firm prospecting for oil in the Mannar region. It later turned out that there was no link to the politician concerned. Yet, the situation was closely monitored until the polls ended.

Vote of thanks to police from Polls Chief
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya was full of praise for police personnel who had engaged in election duty and helped to ensure that the elections were held without major disruptions.
“In previous elections, we had to drag them along to do their election work, but at this election the Police Department was the one that was pushing us along,” he said. The Commissioner also said he would not be sending out the letters of appreciation customarily sent out after the elections to heads of government offices, political parties and other. Instead he would send out a general letter to all through the media. This way no one could complain that they were left out when the thanks were sent, he said.

Cabinet seekers knock on President’s door
President Maithripala Sirisena is having a stream of visits from Parliamentarians who won Monday’s elections.
The reason — they want to be accommodated in the Cabinet of Ministers. This was whilst some civil society organisations are appealing that some ministers in the current caretaker Government be not given their existing portfolios.

One in particular has drawn a lot of criticism. However, he is to be still accommodated though his Ministry is to be shorn of important institutions, insiders say.

Someone forgot to brush his teeth
Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday. It was an elegant though modest ceremony attended by an array of political leaders, parliamentarians and other VIPs. The ceremony was given live coverage by all television stations. Oaths were read out, hands were shaken and smiles — even the forced ones — were broad. But somebody forgot to switch the mike off after signing off at the end of the solemn observance. As politicians dispersed for more handshaking and back-patting (before the back-stabbing starts), someone was heard saying (loudly, as his voice was amplified through the functioning microphone) that he had forgotten to brush his teeth: “Dath madinna beri wuna”! That, too, was aired live to the thousands glued to their television sets around the country.

Highest standards reached, foreign observers not needed now
Going by the successful conclusion of the last two elections, it could be the end of the road for international observers who come here to observe elections.”We don’t need foreign observers or monitors here if we can conduct elections in the manner we have done this year,” Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said.

The head of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA), a former Maldivian Election Commissioner, Ibrahim Waheed too told reporters at a media briefing that Sri Lanka could do with local monitors saying the August 17 poll was concluded according to international standards. “We had 106 pointers to guide us to see how the poll was conducted and all were successfully done. The only complaints we received were mundane ones such as the fans not working in the polling booth, or there being inadequate light,” Mr. Waheed said.

Bouquets for Ranil from UN Chief
Calls from world leaders are pouring in after Ranil Wickremesinghe was sworn in as Prime Minister.
On Friday, the United Nations Secretary-General called him. “I congratulated the Prime Minister on his election and commended his message of good governance and national unity.” He noted that the peaceful nature of the polls and the high voter turn-out were in part a reflection of this message, the office of the Secretary General said.

It added: “The Secretary-General encouraged the Prime Minister and the national unity government to seize this opportunity to advance long-term peace for all Sri Lankans. He wished him success in the important task that lay before him.
“The Secretary-General reiterated the United Nations commitment and support to the Sri Lankan people, the President, the Prime Minister and the new Government.”

Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted “Spoke to Mr Ranil. Wickremesinghe and congratulated him on his alliance’s wonderful performance in the elections.”