UNP and JVP had not even a slim hope of winning this election, but were desperate to put a break on sliding of their vote base. On the other hand, MR government was desperate to prove a point.
After all the allegations of ‘Rajapaksa Family Politics’ and favoritism to Southern Province (more specifically to Hambanthota District), The PA government and personally MR wanted to see increase of percentage of votes than what they got in the previous PC elections, as an approval of his commitment to develop South.
By analyzing the result of Southern PC against the result of the rest of the provinces, it is clear that PA has performed under their own expectation. However this observation, by no means underrate the overwhelming 2/3 majority of votes and seats for PA in the southern PC election and the pathetic defeat of UNP and JVP. The under performance of PA can be mainly attributed to following three wrong decisions of MR government.
1. Selection of Anarkali Akarsha for PA list in Gall
From the beginning of the campaign, Anarkali was the foreign element of the PA list. The character and culture of Anarakali was contradicting with the culture of PA and vise versa. This effectively jeopardize both Anarkali and PA.
The character and past behavior of Anarkali was well suited for UNP list and she may have easily top the preferential vote list of UNP. In the past UNP succeed in bringing Ranjan Ramanayake and Rosy Senanayaka and both of them top the UNP list.
However, sugary characters with no real political personality is not tolerated by PA voters who are more educated, cultured and intelligent than the UNP voters who are inherently ignorant and mere followers for some petty personal benefits. Presence of Anarkali and her jokes were not tolerated by PA vote bank, this greatly discouraged them going to the poling booth on election day.
2. Selection of Nishantha Muthuhettigame for PA List in Gall
Rowdy and ignorant behavior of Nishantha Muthuhettigame is logical consequence of letting Mervin Silva to enjoy his thuggery behavior under MR regime. This time Nishantha Muthuhettigame tried to mould himself to be the next political thug (or rather clown) in the same path.
It is MR himself to blame selecting mentally unbalanced character for PA list. Nishantha Muthuhettigame should have rather be in mental hospital or prison than on the election campaign insulting the intelligence of the voters.
3. Selection of Sajin Vaas Gunewardane for PA List in Gall
It is another mistake by MR government to select Sajin Vaas Gunewardane for PA list. It is MR himself to blame again for taking personal friendship above policies. People got to know the name of Sajin Vaas Gunewardane as the CEO of Mihin Lanka which lost over three billion rupees in 2007 it self. It is clear that Mihin Lanka was a failure and its Sri Lankan tax payer’s money that was lost. Then the same person who mismanaged Mihin Lanka is suddenly found in PA list for Southern province. It is natural that any educated and knowledgeable voter will in turn ask “Should we elect this guy to eat up the funds of PC? How does a failed entrepreneur become a successful politician?”.
One might argue that all three of above candidates have been elected for the Southern PC by popular vote (greatly due to the power of money and media support). However the reality is that inclusion of these three candidates greatly discouraged progressive voters of Southern province. Although all three of them were contested for Gall district, the frustration spread to Matara and Hambanthota district as well resulting dilute enthusiasm in traditional vote bank of PA which is inherently progressive and intelligent.
It’s a lesson from people of South that originally played key role in up lifting Mahinda Rajapaksa to the chair. Only the time will tell if Mahinda Rajapaksa is mature enough to accept the verdict of the people of South in good faith and rectify his mistakes in order to uplift this country to the next level after successful defeating the separatist terrorism. If not, people of this country will look for a better alternative.
Note:
Following is a E-poster that was spread among Sri Lankans. It seems people of South has agreed with the contents!!
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