Sunday Times 2
Presidency vs. security
View(s):While introducing Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the presidential candidate of the Joint Opposition, the former President said that among other things the country’s security is important and he took that decision, because he has no doubt that his brother will maintain security of the country.
Whatever it is, we know that it was not Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s military experience. But what paved the way for Gotabaya’s candidacy was the age restriction imposed by the 19th Amendment on Namal Rajapaksa, prohibiting him from contesting.
We do not know as to why the former Army Commander (Field Marshal) did not understand this fact. He says it was the country’s security and the SLPP made the right choice. At the same time he says he is ready to contest for the top job if nominated from the UNP, because with his experience, he can assure complete security for the country.
When the 30-year-old war was brought to an end, our president was not a military man. It became possible, because we had able, dedicated people at the right places. The Secretary to the Defence, all three Commanders were dedicated and the former Army Commander vowed that he would end the war during his tenure. We salute all those heroes. When there are right people at the right place the head of the country need not have military experience to ensure security of the country. So many countries are experiencing terrorism at varying levels, but how many of those countries are headed by people with military experience.
No doubt, for a country, security is important, but other sectors such as development, law and order, economy and judiciary are equally important. This does not mean that the country should be headed by an economist or a lawyer or an accountant. The President should have proper advisors to give him the right advice when required. He should also have qualified people in his cabinet and they should be free from corruption and waste. We should not have a president who preaches against corruption, but go on wasting public money by making foreign trips together with a host of people who cannot contribute much when they visit those countries.
We do not want a president who appoints a commission comprising his own colleagues to inquire into the biggest bank fraud in the country and get the commission to declare that there was nothing serious. We do not want a president who keeps a blind eye when so many journalists are killed and abducted and tortured. We do not want a president who does not seem to realise that his ministers are stealing public money while ordinary people are suffering.
We only need a President who is honest, who does not waste public money, who can maintain law and order and who respects the constitution of the country. Above all he should be a person who loves the people of the country and who understand the pulse of the poor man.
H de Silva
Colombo 5