The Morning After

Bravo SRI LANKA, we just became a poster child for democracy in our part of the world for conducting one of the most efficient and peaceful elections and the smoothest transition of power ever. The People, the Election Commissioner and his team and all other support services must be lauded for a flawless job carried out with very little fanfare.

The morning after no foreigner visiting SL will be able to say we just came out of a fiercely but fairly conducted election campaign. No Banners, No Posters, No Crackers on the street and total respect for all citizens irrespective of if you backed the victor or the vanquished. Hope that we as the people of this wonderful country finally turned a page in our checkered history towards a peaceful just society for all.

The NPP swept the board on a brilliantly conducted media campaign optimizing easy and cheap electronic access to the entire population. Of course, there were half-truths and entire fabrications and brickbats from all sources but the absolute freedom of speech was facilitated. Kudos to the outgoing administration for setting the standard. To the new administration, the people can only ask that they be not silenced in any way. But the people and media outlets can also step up to the plate not to misuse our freedom of free speech in the future.

As a resident of Baddegana, Kotte the writer will fail in his duty if mention is not made of the brilliantly managed polling booth at our community center. From the Police and Service personal on duty at the entrance to all the staff on duty it was a master class in how to conduct such an activity, with grace, respect, friendliness and caring for the not so able as well. I later heard that this was the norm in most polling centers. Bravo we have come a long way.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) our new president, congratulations on a great win and the people look forward to you walking the talk and taking our beautiful land and its citizens to being a model just society with equal opportunity for all. We do not need to emulate anybody else like Singapore, we are small and beautiful and let’s stay that way.  Wish the new regime the very best in successfully managing a faltering economy a legacy from the past. The war cry of eliminating Corruption and Waste of the public sector won the day, Mr President the people are watching you closely to deliver on your promise. Good Luck.

Let’s not forget the vanquished, RW brought us hope in the past 2 years, he took on a thankless job for us all, and bailed us out from the absolute pits to a position of reasonable stability. I know the job is not done yet but he created the right environment to conduct this amazingly peaceful election.  NPP fully optimized free speech and unrestricted media access thanks to Mr.Wickremasinghe fondly called Mr.Bean ! If you were only united in your political bastion Siri Kotha things could have been different for the junior fledgling. Moving away from the loyal troops and leaning on the unknown was a bad call Mr.Wickremasinghe, water under the bridge now. Yes, Used and Discarded, like Churchill, you are in great company.  Happy retirement to you and Thank you.

The people have spoken, Mr.President please do not fail your loyal supporters and the majority that did not tick your box as well. The Morning After the entire nation is hopeful today, make it happen.

“Everyone is worthy of respect, even the most ignorant or evil has the full potential to be  enlightened “  - Lord Buddha         Lasanthasiri  -  Baddegana , Kotte. 23 Sep 2024.