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Despite all indications to the contrary, a single seat in parliament has disproved political assumptions that shape our opinion. Just weeks ago, it was unthinkable that Ranil Wickremesinghe’s political future could be resurrected, even resuscitated. The takeover of the premiership when he truly was on his last legs is an opening gambit that may prove to be clever and enshrine him as a sharp-eyed lynx that outfoxed geopolitical apprehensions in the region.

When the Rajapaksa cookie crumbled, the stakes were high. And so was the punditry when the premiership was taken. Harsha de Silva, a member of the opposition in parliament, maintained that the appointment was neither ethical nor moral. M.A. Sumanthiran of the Tamil National Alliance asserted that it was undemocratic.

This is not a moral or democratic issue. It is a strategic move to deal with a crisis that Sri Lanka has not witnessed before. The idealized conception of parliamentary democracy may not be relevant. Was Ranil Wickremesinghe the right choice? This is a vexed question that must be answered using other sensibilities than just idealized parliamentary democracy. One could perhaps begin by asking if it was strategically correct or not. Ranil Wickremesinghe may walk like a proverb and talk like a question but he is the only person who can handle this crisis. Many Tamils are of this opinion. Nevertheless, the relationship between Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Tamil is worthy of note.

The Tamils have often referred to Ranil as the fox. This allusion is derived from Machiavelli’s use of immoral means in politics and the suggestion of a blend between a lion and a fox for political leadership; the fox to recognize the traps and a lion to frighten the wolves. However, there is another important dimension – the Tamil experience with the old fox J.R. Jayewardene. J.R. was Ranil Wickremesinghe’s maternal cousin. This heady mix makes the Tamils view Ranil Wickremesinghe with suspicion.

A section of Tamil political activists and opinion makers are still copying this simulation related to Ranil. It is basically a fear of statecraft. This fear made LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran to devise a strategy to defeat him through an election boycott in 2005.

In 2005, Ranil would have been elected as president if the Tamils in the North East had voted. Nevertheless, Prabhakaran preferred to confront the war of hardliner Mahinda Rajapaksa rather than confronting Ranil’s clever strategies. Prabhakaran’s choice was doomed for him in the end. The LTTE’s usual approach is bringing down their invincible political opponents with suicide attacks. The case of Ranil was different. He was defeated by Tamil votes, not by suicide bombing. This was unusual in the LTTE’s hunting strategy.

Beyond his capacity, experiences and international reputation, the pro-western outlook of Ranil is the main reason why he seems an apt person for the current situation. Against this background, the defeat of Ranil in the 2005 election was a tragedy both politically and economically. Prabhakaran defeated not only Ranil, but the U.S interest in the peace process and the personal interests of then Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. This is when the West turned entirely against the LTTE.

The former ambassador of the United States to Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Lunstead, described this in his paper United States’ Role in Sri Lanka’s Peace Process (2002-2006) published by the Asia Foundation. Lunstead explained how U.S interests had enhanced due to the peace process:

“The pattern of limited U.S. engagement with the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict changed dramatically with the start of the new peace process in 2001-2002. This was not due to any dramatic change in U.S. strategic interests in Sri Lanka, but rather to a combination of other factors:

The post-Sept. 11, 2001 atmosphere that ushered in a new determination by the U.S. to confront terrorism on a worldwide basis.
The election in Sri Lanka of a UNP/UNF government led by Ranil Wickremesinghe that was markedly more pro-West and pro-free market/globalization.
The personal interest of then-Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage.”
In the words of Lunstead, Armitage’s personal interest was bolstered by the politics of the new UNP-led government. The UNP was traditionally a right of centre party. It is a member of the grouping of international conservative political parties, the International Democrat Union (IDU). In an MTV interview in 2003, Armitage pointed out this in different words. “I was very heartened by the comments of Prime Minister Ranil regarding a new infrastructure to provide assistance transparently to all segments of society very openly.”

In light of Ambassador Lunstead’s analysis, Ranil Wickremesinghe’s government came to power with a clear economic reform program based on free market principles in line with U.S. government thinking on economic and international development issues. In Erik Solheim’s words, (Mark Salter’s ‘To End a Civil War: Norway’s Peace Engagement with Sri Lanka) he wanted to reform the economy to make Sri Lanka the Singapore or Taiwan of the Indian Ocean. When Ranil was defeated by the election boycott, the whole programme collapsed. If one looks at this in depth, the foundation for the country’s economic uncertainty today was laid in 2005 when Ranil was defeated.

The mistakes of the Ranil-Maithri government were a significant factor in the Rajapaksas’ resurgence. In 2015, the regime changed by giving space to Ranil again. But Ranil failed to prove his mettle because of the infighting with President Maithripala Sirisena. The question arises now about how Ranil will deal with calamity as it is a different challenge that he has never faced before. As Erik Solheim specified, Ranil Wickremesinghe is a great intellectual, not a street fighter. It has been proved that his intellect failed before the face of the Sinhala street fight-loving masses. Ranil never rose as a populist leader but he always created his own ground for chess. He is now batting on a pitch where the street fighting Rajapaksas fell.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe rallied, hoping he would rescue the nation without rescuers. If Ranil succeeds in this challenge, he will be an unforgettable leader among the people. If Ranil fails or others fail him, the country will be plunged into an irreversible crisis. History is a great teacher and hides many surprises. When the Tamils were responsible for defeating Ranil in 2005, it caused a disaster for them. If the Sinhalese defeat Ranil now, it will cause a disaster for the Sinhalese. Ranil may or may not need Tamils now but he needs the Sinhalese.

Former Finance Minister and founder of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Basil Rajapaksa is said to be leading attempts to block the 21st Amendment from being passed by Parliament, Daily Mirror learns.

Government sources told Daily Mirror that Rajapaksa has secured the support of a number of SLPP members to oppose the 21st Amendment.

However, the Government is confident it will be able to convince a majority of the SLPP members to vote in support of the draft proposal when it is tabled in Parliament for a vote.

The 21st Amendment has already been presented to the Cabinet and will be tabled in Parliament after it is discussed with political party leaders.

Government sources told Daily Mirror that the draft is expected to be discussed with political party leaders tomorrow (Friday).

Sources said that the Government is also in talks with the main opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya ( SJB ) to seek their support for the draft proposal.

Newly appointed Justice Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe was instrumental in drafting the 21st Amendment to the Constitution and is involved in talks with a number of political parties in Parliament and outside to obtain their views.

When contacted by Daily Mirror, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that the draft proposal is not the final document and is open for amendments.

A number of concerns have already been raised over the proposals in its current form.

However, Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe said that the proposed 21st Amendment will go through changes after considering the proposals made by others.

Today the country is in bane with many crises, as a result of concentrating power around the Executive, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Eran Wickramaratne says.

He says the proposed 21st Amendment to the Constitution by the government, which appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe as Prime Minister, gives the President the power to keep under his purview subjects of his choice and even the power to dissolve Parliament.

“We are against the transfer of parliamentary power to the executive, which is independent of the executive and the judiciary,” said MP Wickramaratne.

Addressing a media briefing held at the office of the Leader of the Opposition in Colombo today (25), Mr. Wickremaratne further said the Bar Association of Sri Lanka has also expressed concern that the 21st Amendment by the Minister of Justice will not reduce the powers of the President. They had proposed several amendments.

“What are the current powers of the Executive President and the significant change in the powers of Executive President after the proposed 21st Amendment?” The MP questioned.

“When making appointments to senior government posts such as Provincial Governors, Secretaries to Ministries and Ambassadors, the President should consult with the Prime Minister and appoint suitable officials. Since the Prime Minister operates within the framework of the Cabinet, there is ample scope to appoint suitable and experienced persons to such positions if the PM is made the head of the Cabinet. The various crises facing the country today do not arise if the line of separation of powers under the check and balances are well defined with the concept of good governance.”

He said even if the fuel and gas queues were over the country’s economic and administrative crisis would not be resolved, without an internationally recognized stable government.

“The Constituent Assembly, which functioned under the 19th Amendment, was amended by 20A, to increase the number of Parliamentarians and reduce the number of non-Parliamentarians. In the future, while reducing the number of MPs from 7 to 5, the number of non-members should be increased from 3 to 5.”

He said that this should be introduced as a program to bring those who are fighting against corruption and fraud in the regime into the governance.

Mr Wickramaratne referring to the SJB’s position on the taking over of the governance said that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya has a plan to take over the government and solve the problems in the country.

“We mentioned this on several occasions, but we did not get that opportunity. If the SJB to participate in government, we told the President that Executive powers of the President should be abolished or reduced. While this discussion was ongoing Ranil Wickremesinghe who came forward without any conditions was made the Prime Minister. We are ready to support and contribute as a team is needed to resolve the crisis facing the country.”

“The SJB Secretary introduced the 21st Amendment to Parliament. Meanwhile, the government has also now presented with the 21st Amendment. The government’s amendment brings back certain elements of the 19th Amendment, but does not eliminate the executive presidency,” he said.

“The basic tenet of the SJB amendment is that the President should act on the advice of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is a member of the Cabinet and the head of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to that theory, the government is governed with the recognition that the Prime Minister is the first among the peers in the Cabinet.”

“But the 21st Amendment proposed by the government does not have such a principle and it does not reduce the power of the President which the people are struggling to demand. Furthermore, the President can take over any subject related to public governance. However, with the 21st amendment proposed by the SJB, the President cannot take over any of the subjects at his whims and fancy. This is the boundary that separates the line of control under the check and balance of governance in developed countries.”

Even when the 19th Amendment was introduced during the period of good governance, President Maithripala Sirisena was granted to carry on the subjects he was pursuing at that time as an interim arrangement until he was in power. However, the constitutional provisions that allowed future presidents to take over subject of ministries were removed.

According to the amendments of the present government, the President can take over any subject. Accordingly, the 21st Amendment to the Constitution proposed by Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapaksa will not make any significant changes that limit the executive presidency as expected by the people.

“One appointment as the Governor of the Central Bank at the will of the Executive caused such an economic crisis in this country. The former Central Bank governor not only printed billions of rupees saying that printing money would not increase inflation, but also wasted millions of rupees to artificially inflate the value of the Sri Lankan rupee.”

Eran Wickramaratne said that by directing the governance structure of the country to the right path, other problems of the country could be solved and the country could be saved from disaster. He stressed that the system of empowering an individual to appoint officials should be changed immediately for the sake of the nation.

The Russian Embassy in Colombo has categorically denied the statement made by Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekara that Russia will not supply crude oil to the island nation.

Noting that they have never held any discussions with Minister Wijesekara, the Embassy reaffirmed its full support to Sri Lanka and stressed that Russia will never turn down a request for assistance when the country is battling a crisis on multiple fronts.

The Russian Embassy further stated that a request made by the Sri Lankan government has already been forwarded to the relevant Russian authorities.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Wednesday that the Governments of Sri Lanka and India have agreed that the drugs bought by Sri Lanka with an Indian loan of US$ 200 million, would be repaid in Sri Lankan rupees, given the shortage of dollars in the country.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Health to immediately submit a document on essential drugs currently in short supply. It was revealed that there is a shortage of 76 essential medicines at present

The Minister of Health Keheliya Rambukwella stated that given the arrival of medicines and anesthetics provided by the French Government on Thursday it will be possible to run emergency operating theatres in the country continuously for 90 days.

Meanwhile, the Drug Regulatory Authority is making prompt purchases of drugs. An Independent Committee headed by the Minister of Health has been appointed to amend the Drugs Regulatory Authority Act.

It was further revealed that local pharmaceutical suppliers have to pay Rs. 33 billion in arrears.