The Uncommon Candidate

By Upul Kumarapperuma -September 2, 2014

Upul Kumarapperuma

Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has already declared that he will contest at the next Presidential Election as the candidate from the United National Party.

Wickremesinghe has made this declaration in the midst of holding a dialogue with other socio-political forces to put forward a common candidate for the Presidential Election with a minimum mandate on a common agenda, where they would agree to the abolition of the Executive Presidency and introduction of a new Constitution. It is believed that these slogans would be best to challenge the Mahinda Rajapaksa regime at the next key election.

The same declaration has also been made by Mahinda Rajapaksa who has also declared he would contest as the candidate of the ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) at the next Presidential Election. Given the political parties, groups and personalities allied with the UPFA, one could argue that Rajapaksa would also be a common candidate of sorts for his crowd. It could also be argued that Rajapaksa would be the best candidate because of his flexibility in working with different political ideologies represented amongst his own party.

The Sinhala Buddhist nationalism, which is the driving force of the UPFA government, is protected and maintained by parties like the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), National Freedom Front (NFF), and organizations like the Bodhu Bala Sena (BBS) and Ravana Balaya. The political mechanism of the Rajapaksa government is based on this ideology and the above mentioned movements provide a significant contribution in carrying this message to the four corners of the country.

Although the leftist groups who cooperate with the government do not align with this ideology, with their anti-western sentiments and anti-capitalist slogans they are able to stand in line with Rajapaksa wherever they share the same views. Irrespective of the criticism against the JHU over anti-Muslim campaigns, and allegations leveled by the JHU and other Buddhist organizations against Muslim political parties, all these parties are  capable of working together and Rajapaksa is capable of working with the ideologies of both parties.                                                                Read More