Gota’s troubled regime of two years
Miracle Man at Work
Much had been expected of Gotabya Rajapakse, incumbent Executive President before being voted into power in 2019. He was a vibrant government official during Mahinda Rajapakse’s two terms that ended in 2015. In fact, as a powerful Defense Secretary and later as the Secretary of Urban Development, he delivered goods. Under his directive, major cities came to be beautified as never before. He found a solution to the garbage issue although more or less a temporary measure by setting up an element in the Police Department to monitor garbage disposal. Today, we have a clean environment in the capital city of Colombo, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte and other cities, thanks to his foresight. He was a bureaucrat of the highest calibre so that people of Sri Lanka adored him so much. He was a person of innovative ideas, maybe due to the fact that he lived in the USA before returning to the motherland to embark on his mission. He was instrumental in constructing multiple jogging tracks around Colombo and suburbs. The classic example is the creation of Diyawanna Oya into a mini reservoir and making its surroundings into a mega recreational facility. Besides, the Arcade Independence Square was his brainchild in which his team of professional town planners have renovated a dilapidated building complex into a state-of-the- art shopping mall. Similarly, he was able to resurrect the old racecourse pavilion into a shopping cum office complex with a world class Rugby ground. People had seen him as a miracle man at work. He had three forces and Police at his disposal to accomplish his vision for the country. On the top of everything, he was a man who provided political leadership along with his brother Mahinda Rajapakse to end the 30 year war. It was a sensational gesture which even his opponents showered praises on.
Ascension was inevitable
Towards the end of last decade, the Yahapalana government was at the ebb of unpopularity. People were of the opinion that the regime did nothing for the development of the country. Meanwhile, the Central Bank bond scam brought about a heavy damage to the image of Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe and the government. Even the President and Prime Minister were at loggerheads over the governance. Although the government provided many relief in terms of price reductions, the government couldn’t market it among people due to multiple confusions in the system of governance. All this time, the opposition led by Mahinda Rajapakse (MR) was fast gaining ground and at a distinct advantage to capture power once again. Meantime, Gotabaya Rajapakse (GR) had other plans to come forward as Presidential Candidate from Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Party (SLPP) which is also known as Pohottuwa Party (Lotus bud Party). At this juncture, GR was organising himself with his forerunner element known as Viyath Maga, a movement supported by professionals from many fields. On 21st April 2019, Easter Sunday attack killing more than 200 people happened and it nailed the then government’s fate never to recover. So at last, GR became the presidential candidate despite being an US citizen as people were desperately looking for an alternative. GR became the alternative they were seeking. His ascension to the helm was inevitable being a hot favourite. He outclassed his opponent Sajith Premadasa comfortably at the presidential election notwithstanding the fact that Sajith Premadasa was a minister of the previous government. GR successfully campaigned on a national security, economic and development platform. GR assumed duties as 7th Executive President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. In the general election that ensued, his government secured 2/3 majority, further strengthening the position of GR.
Fate of the ‘Miracle Man’
In November this year, the government celebrated the 2nd anniversary of GR’s presidency with a low key event. However, the general public or at least 69 lakh GR’s voter base didn’t consider it an important event to rejoice, having cooked and consumed Milk Rice on streets with hundreds of fire crackers being lit on the occasion of his election just two years back. The reason is obvious. People are highly disappointed with the government’s performance so far. Today shortages of food items and essential goods are commonplace. The list is too long to list out the goods in short supply nowadays. It could be rice, sugar, milk powder, Dahl, Gas, cement, fertiliser to name a few. True that the government’s progress is marred by Covid-19 pandemic that still wreaks havoc across the country. The government’s economy is falling apart like a pack of cards. In other words, Sri Lanka is on the brink of collapse as of today. The government’s foreign reserves have eroded next to nothing. The government has no money to buy Gas or Oil, an essential commodity in households. In other words, there is a dearth of US Dollars in circulation in the country. However, the level of corruption is taking a heavy toll. People blame corrupt politicians for cashing in on Covid-19 vaccines. Some questions as to how Sri Lanka bought Pfizer vaccine at a rate of US$ 15 while Bangladesh were given a vaccine at US$ 5 by the same supplier. Only God knows why? Meanwhile a Chinese ship is detouring Sri Lanka with consignment of what they call ‘organic fertiliser’, having failed the laboratory tests for two times. This particular fertiliser, which was found to be highly contaminated with harmful organisms, was said to have been made out of human excreta. Lack of chemical fertiliser has affected Tea plantations and drastically reduced the harvest. It has come to such an extent that Small Tea holders upload posts on social media with photographs of malnourished Tea plantations where the leaves have turned yellowish. Then came the sugar tax scam in which the government lost millions and millions.
Where are we heading to?
For a number of reasons, Sri Lanka is at the receiving end. Youth who painted walls at the instigation of GR are now in the queue to migrate for greener pastures. Those migrants who have come down to Sri Lanka specifically to vote for GR, are turning a blind eye on the motherland while some put a valiant effort to defend him on social media from the luxuries they are accustomed to, on their new found lands in the west and elsewhere. Many political analysts opine that GR lacks political maturity to run the country at a time of a crisis as of now. That is also a fact which no one can reject because literally GR never had a political career before his ascension to the presidency. He is a novice president at large even now and therefore, lacks knowledge of statecraft, according to Political Analysts. When he was the Secretary Defense and Urban Development. He had the luxury of budgetary allocations at his disposal. He had his Army so that he could bend and mend any rule to make sure that something was done. Now the situation is completely different. Now, he is in the serious business of running a country. There is widespread bureaucracy in the system so that his Midas touch is long gone. Whole country is waiting eagerly until he makes Sri Lanka another Singapore. Will it be a pipe dream? That is the question everybody seems to be having at the end of their tongue.
