Politics in Sri Lanka is often seen as a deceptive game. Even though politicians present themselves as virtuous, their actions are often deceitful.
This deceptive nature is deeply rooted in Sri Lankan politics, turning it into a game where both politicians and citizens willingly participate. Unfortunately, this game has no time limits and anyone over the age of eighteen can take part.
However, politicians always seem to emerge as the winners. Consequently, the people of Sri Lanka are suffering the consequences of this political game.
This game never gets boring
The 2020s were a difficult decade for Sri Lankans. It began with a major popular uprising in the country’s political landscape, leading to Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who was the ruler at the time, having to step down from the presidency and leave the country.
The leadership was then handed over to Ranil Wickramasinghe, whose term has now also come to an end. As a result, a date has been scheduled for the election of a new president.
This has reignited the political game, but the stakes are high. It’s possible that both sides may end up losing in this complex and unpredictable arena.
The day people will understand this is infinite
The collective memory of the populace has seemingly begun to fade regarding the chain of events that unfolded in the past.
There is a pressing need to understand whether the populace perceives that the nation has successfully emerged from the perilous circumstances it once faced.
Alternatively, is there a sense of desensitisation or a lack of comprehension regarding the gravity of the current situation the nation finds itself in?
It is also crucial to discern whether there is a prevailing sense of hopelessness among the people. This necessitates a thorough and meticulous analysis.
Did the country recover during Wickramasinghe’s time?
This situation is highly questionable and concerning. Despite the IMF relief, the country’s economic stability remains elusive.
It seems that Ranil Wickramasinghe’s efforts can be likened to rowing a boat in calm waters – modest progress with little impact. While the IMF’s intervention provided temporary buoyancy, Ranil was essentially navigating a deteriorating vessel.
The decay of the boat was not a natural occurrence, but rather a consequence of neglect by those in power.
It appears that the politicians are reluctant to address the decaying state of the boat, opting instead to exploit it for their benefit, perpetuating a historical pattern of shortsightedness and neglect.
No matter how degraded, the game remains the same
The economy has not fully recovered from the recent recession. It’s important to compare the state of the economy before the recession with current conditions, and gain a comprehensive understanding of the changes that have occurred.
People are still facing economic pressure, and it’s not easily understood. Regardless of the economic data, the economy that existed before 2020 cannot be seen today.
The cost of living has increased beyond what people can afford, so we have to admit that the reality is worse than the data.
People live in reality, not data. To understand the reality, one should observe the society where common people spend time.
To measure the purchasing power of the people, you can spend some time in the market. People are coping by reducing consumption.
With the situation in the country like this, the election battle begins
The presidential election has commenced regardless of the country’s situation. There are two categories of contestants.
The first category comprises those formally proposing to be the president, including Ranil Wickramasinghe, Sajith Premadasa, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The second category includes candidates with unclear purposes, with 24 out of 27 contestants falling into this group.
The true intentions of these candidates remain unknown to the public, known only to themselves or perhaps to a select few within an organisation they are associated with.
Objectives of candidates belonging to the second category
What can be the objectives of candidates belonging to the second category? Some of these people are running for the presidential election because of very personal reasons.
One of them is to improve their status. These people have entered the contest due to the mental illness of appearing in the society as a candidate for the presidential election.
They don’t even know how many votes they get. Maybe they only get their vote. This is the funny situation in Sri Lanka’s electoral history.
Another part belonging to the second category is the people who come forward to split the votes of strong candidates. Usually this group has recognition in the country
. Therefore, a significant number of votes are received. Through their presentation, the final result of the election may be problematic. That is the main purpose of their presentation.
In addition there are presenters targeting the decisive second preference. Their presentation is to help the candidate they are supporting.
Against the main enemy
Ranil Wickramasinghe, Sajith Premadasa, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake are the three primary contenders in this year’s presidential election.
Among these three, Sajith and Ranil are on equal footing, while Anura Kumara is seen as a common opponent by both of them.
Although Sajith and Ranil’s main objective is to become the country’s president, their shared goal is to defeat Anura. This is a clear departure from Anura’s political stance, marking a historical objection.
In this scenario, it will be challenging for Anura Kumara to win the election due to the fact that his alliance is not as strong.
Their party membership is less than five hundred thousand, whereas the alliances of Sajith and Ranil boast a larger number of members.
This year’s presidential election is more competitive than before
This year’s presidential election has become a three-way battle. The public, disappointed by past leadership, seems eager for a new leader. Sajith and Anura Kumara are the frontrunners, with Ranil also holding a significant amount of support.
Ranil Wickramasinghe assumed leadership unconditionally when the country was in crisis, managing to stabilise the situation.
However, some public anger remains due to this period, which is reflected in Ranil’s election campaign. Many people are also unsure of his effectiveness and vision for the country’s development.
There are doubts among educated individuals regarding Ranil’s knowledge and ability to drive the country’s progress. Ranil’s perspective on development often seems to focus on selling the country’s resources.
Sajith is a relative newcomer in this year’s presidential election compared to Ranil. His plans and intentions for the country’s development are uncertain, leaving people puzzled about his potential leadership.
Anura Kumara also lacks a clear development plan and has not demonstrated enough strength to gain public trust.
As a result, the public is finding it challenging to fully understand these three candidates, making the decision-making process exhausting.
Deceiving people with promises that cannot be fulfilled
There is the potential for problematic behaviour around the upcoming elections in Sri Lanka. Politicians often make promises to the people, including commitments that may be impossible to fulfil.
These promises can lead to economic problems if they are not kept. Unfortunately, these kinds of risky promises are common tactics used to win elections.
This year’s election is no different, with all the leading candidates engaging in this behaviour. Instead of focusing on the development of the country, they are sticking to popular but superficial themes.
It seems that none of the candidates are truly interested in the progress of the country, and the trend of exploiting available resources is likely to continue, regardless of who wins the presidential election.
