During 2005 presidential election, Ranil Wickramsainghe was crowned to be the SMS presidential winner. However the count of the ballot proved Mahinda Rajapaksa to be the real winner.
Subsequently E-mails were circled in cyber sphere carrying the message “Ranil – the SMS president; Mahinda – the People’s president”.
Since then we have witnessed the down time of popular SMS culture. Most of the telecom operators in collaboration with media organizations were busy promoting SMS polls during 2005 presidential election. The youth and urban community were busy sending SMS to support for their choice to be the winner in SMS polls. Telecom operators collected large amount of money in that SMS surge.
Until the Election Day, Ranil Wickramasinghe had been the SMS president of the Mobile Republic of Sri Lanka and all UNP supporters were happy. However the SMS bubble was burst when the real election result was out.
SMS culture is still dominated in reality shows that are popular in lumpant urban society of Sri Lanka. However the fraudulent use of SMS voting is now revealed to the Sri Lankan community. Media organizations and Telco operators are accused of influencing and manipulating the results. On the other hand several people who has operated SMS machines to send bulk SMSs has also been reported. Some people have hired these automated mechanisms to become cheap stars in reality shows conducted in recent past. Therefore, SMS voting has lost confidence in the people. Therefore, we have not seen any major SMS voting competitions targeting presidential election 2010.
Last time popular SMS president Ranil Wickramasinghe has already quit the presidential race and put forward Sarath Fonseka to the fray. However the same vicious forces that backed Ranil Wickramasinghe in 2005 are backing Fonseka this time. Although the face of the candidate is different, the stratagy behind the campaign remains the same.
The Vikalpa printed media lost people’s faith when CBK’s true character was exposed in here very first year of rule. The Sirasa and its SMS propaganda mechanism is now crippled after the frauds are revealed. Therefore the INGO funds are now flooded in cyber space. The Hindustan Times recently reported that at 5.35 p.m. on 11 January 2010, Rajapaksa had 36,012 supporters on his Facebook page, while Fonseka had 47,421 at the same time.
Unlike the use of printed media or local SMS competitions, cyber campaign can get much needed participation of diaspora of both Sinhalese and Tamil. However in reality, though they can influence selecting a cyber president they will not be casting vote in real election.
The votes of the common people decide the result of the real election. More than eighty percent of Sri Lankan’s are from rural villages that are not rotten by capitalist lumpant culture. Mahinda Rajapaksa genuinely represents the aspirations of them. His policies are targeted in developing the villages. Therefore when they speak on the Election Day, the face book president will have to give way to the people’s president once again.
The INGO’s can bring money and marketing bubbles in the lumpant urban society using technology. However they can not address the heart of the common people and win votes!!
References:
- Rajapaksa, Fonseka face-off on cyberspace (Hindustan Times)
5 comments:
there is also the fact that sarath fonseka's facebook page was there for a long time, since when he was an army commander. so his supporters there are not necessarily his supporters for election
Is there a way to quit or withdraw from being a fan of a FaceBook page. I became a fan of Ponseka's face book page before he entered politics and later betrayed the nation. I repent now..
The majority of his "friends" on Facebook are likely to be supporters of Mahinda as well. How could the peacenik UNP crowd with their "Pamankada not Alimankada", "Thoppigala is just a jungle", and "even a buffalo could fight a war" sentiments possibly have been friends with the General?
If Sarath Fonseka wins on the 26th he will ensure that his main compettion is put away. International Conspiracies are ready to help SF. How?... By handing over our President who lead Sri Lanka to eradicate terrorism and Prabhakaran.
If President gave into the Constant pressure brought about by Solheim, Kouchner, Millband and Clinton assisted by influential backers there would be nothing for SF to shout about.SF will hand over MR,BR and GR to the Hague as the USA, most European countries (and their Intel agencies) are working hard to do so.
SF BROKE THE UNITY OF ALL LANKANS had during the war, now SF will be happy for above persons to spend the rest of their lives in jail in Hague for alleged war crimes. DEAR VOTERS, SF is getting ready to do exactly this.
He is laying the ground work. This is why he brought up the White Flag story. This is why he is close to the Americans.
Think dear voter, DO WE WANT OUR PRESIDENT PUT IN JAIL BY SF AND HUMILIATED and remember, he will ensure Maj.Gen's Shavendra Silva, Prsanna Silva, Kamal Guneratne are all arrested by the Hague.MANGALA'S stories of curruption: You may want to think for a minute that our President ended the LARGEST OF HONEY POT of curruption- the WAR. Mangala's story about nepotism-Former American President John Kennedy was ably assisted by his brothers Robert and Edward to ensure successfull presidency and also JR's closest confidant HW same as Basil and Gotabaya have ably done.We don't want our political and military leaders at the Hague just because President pursued a just war and won. We are the beneficiaries. Don't let Sri Lanka become next Serbia,Ruwanda and Somalia etc..at the Hague WE NOTICE ON A DAILY BASIS,
THE ABSENSE OF AMBULANCES UP AND DOWN GALLE ROAD taking our young solider brothers to Hospitals. We can travel without the fear of BOMBS.. ALL THANKS TO PRESIDENT MAHINDA FEARLESS LEADERSHIP.
These are political AMBATTAYANGE KATHA how ever wait and see MR and GOTA together with BASIL run the country AHO SRI LANKA GOD BLESS YOU
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