5th Column

My Dear Anura Kumara sahodaraya,

I thought of writing to you because you seem to be in the limelight these days even more than Uncle Ranil, criss-crossing the country and attending meeting after meeting and being sought after by many for an interview. All this is because of your campaign for an election that may still be held, after all!

It is a remarkable turnaround. Just a few years ago, you and your rathu sahodarayas were being ridiculed by your opponents as the ‘three percent’ party. That was after you polled just over three per cent at the last presidential poll and only a little more than that at the last general election.

What a difference a few years make. Last year was the turning point. That was when the ‘aragalaya’ caught the imagination of the nation. It forced Gota maama to flee. Apart from installing Uncle Ranil in the top job, it also made people reflect on what the ‘major’ parties had done for 75 years.

Now, people ask whether the so-called ‘major’ parties are still relevant. Aiyo Sirisena has ensured that the Blue Party is an absolute wreck. The Greens were destined for the same fate until Uncle Ranil landed the top job unexpectedly. Yet, they are no longer the ‘Grand Old Party’ they once were.

Then, we have the two breakaway groups from these two parties, the ‘pohottuwa’ of the ‘R’ clan and the ‘telephone’ chaps who left the Greens. The first lot are on the way out, unless some miracle occurs between now and the next election. The second lot don’t know whether they are coming or going.

So, Anura Kumara sahodaraya, it looks as if most people who are disappointed and disgusted with decades of rule by these parties and the people in them looked around and thought that they should give your sahodarayas a chance. At least, they seem to think, you are not tainted with corruption.

That would explain what is being described as the ‘rella’, or wave, of support in your favour in recent months. It is of sufficient magnitude to worry many people. That is why even those in the opposition have stopped attacking the ruling parties. All of them are attacking your party now.

Anura Kumara sahodaraya, you must be enjoying every minute of it. However, I wouldn’t consider it a guarantee of success. It looks as if the next big elections will be for the top job in two years’ time. That is a long time in politics during which you know that Uncle Ranil will try every trick in the book.

You will recall that, at the last two big elections, voters didn’t do very well. They chose someone simply because they were disappointed with the incumbent. We got rid of Mahinda maama and installed Aiyo Sirisena. Then we were disappointed with ‘yahapalanaya’, so we chose Gota maama.

The ‘rella’ that you are experiencing right now appears to be founded on similar reasons. Most people are disappointed with most parties, so they want to vote for you. It would be better if they are voting for you because of what you have to offer instead of voting for you just because you are not corrupt.

In terms of your policies, many wish to know what your exact position is about key issues such as the economy and the devolution of power. Will you work with the private sector or try to stifle them? Will you allow the private sector to continue their active roles in health and education, for example?

What then is you position on devolution and provincial councils? When they were first introduced, you boycotted them. Whether you like it or not, they have been established now. Will you abolish them? If so, what would you replace them with? These are issues people would like answers to.

The same question is valid for the Executive Presidency. Time and again, you opposed it. Once your chap withdrew from the race after Satellite promised to abolish it but she never did. Does it mean that, if you are elected to the top job, you will do so and introduce a new Constitution? What will you do?

There are other issues as well, Anura Kumara sahodaraya. You have transitioned from the JVP and its ‘seenuwa’ or ‘bell’ symbol to the JJB and its ‘maalimawa’. Is this a clever attempt to re-brand the JVP and sell the same product under a different label, because the JVP brings back old memories?

You protested last week, demanding that local elections be held. That protest was attacked, sadly costing the life of one of your candidates. However, towards the end of JR’s Presidency, your party asked voters not to vote at elections. Some of those who did, lost their lives. How times change!

So, you must realise that, while you attract many young voters, there is a proportion of the population who are older. They still remember the horrors of ’71 and ’89. Most of them still fear your party. Maybe it is time for an apology for those mistakes. Or, is it that you don’t see them as mistakes?

There are many who do want to vote for the ‘maalimawa’, but they have second thoughts because you haven’t provided clear answers to many of these issues. If you want to turn your 3 per cent into 30 per cent, or even more, they want answers to these issues and questions, Anura Kumara sahodaraya.

Your truly,

Punchi Putha

PS: When you fight a common enemy, at times you have to work with the ‘telephone’ chaps too. When your founder ‘RW’ was captured, it was another ‘RW’ who prevented him meeting the then boss, RP. Now, it is as if yet another RW is preventing you from working together with RP’s son!