Hope without Progress

"If UNP is to come to the forefront, a leader who can win the hearts of the people both in urban and villages must come forward to take up leadership and be willing to share the power politics fare and square."

by Nilantha Ilangamuwa

(December 22, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The meaning of politics can be mentioned as the art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs. Is politics really nothing more than power relations, competing interests and claims for recognition, conflicting assertions of "simple" truths? is the debate put forward by eminent contributors to the political science.

The people of every nation longs to have a peaceful life under any government that comes to power. Though it has rarely happened in any nation of the world, some of the countries have suffered most. Unfortunately, since the independence in Sri Lanka, the meaning of politics which is mentioned above has lost its meaning. Corruption, manipulation, false promises to people, blood shed to get the power and uncivilized politicians taking decisions to their own whims and fancies are the main causes for the deterioration of the real politics of the country.

Karu Jayasooriya, the former deputy leader and Member of Parliament of Gampaha District was made the deputy leader of UNP by the Leader of UNP Mr. Ranil Wicramasinghe. Is this change going to increase the number of supporters of UNP? Even among the supporters of UNP, Mr. Ranil’s dream and desire to become the president of the country creates mixed feelings and dilemma. If so, what will be the position of the public who support UNP? The appointment of Karu is not in any way going to make any changes, or going to clear the dilemma. The Leadership is the main cause for loosing the supporters of UNP. If UNP is to come to power, the Leader must step down and the party should function under a new leadership. As long as the people are prejudiced against Mr. Ranil he is not going to win the hearts of his supporters. Once a negative image of a person is created in the public, changing the image into a positive one is impossible. It is appropriate to mention the saying of Max Weber’s article ‘Science as Vocation’.

“So long as life remains immanent and is interpreted in its own terms, it knows only of an unceasing struggle of these gods with one another… the ultimately possible attitudes toward life are irreconcilable, and hence their struggle can never be brought to a final conclusion. Thus it is necessary to make a decisive choice.”

The Katunayaka International Air port attack which came as a shock and the army operations which made heavy losses to the lives and people, the attack on then the President Mrs. Chandrika are some of the events that gave a boost to the LTTE, during Mr. Ranil’s time. It damaged the economy of the country. It looks that he doesn’t like major splits within the LTTE. Because some Sinhalese extremists used the internal conflict among the LTTE the image of Mr. Ranil still goes down. Adding to it, Mr. Karu was defeated in the last election.

If UNP is to come to the forefront, a leader who can win the hearts of the people both in urban and villages must come forward to take up leadership and be willing to share the power politics fare and square. - Sri Lanka Guardian