Pic: Sajith and RW
-
Blurbs:
Many who are supporting Sajith these days cheered the 19th Amendment. Mind you, not too long ago, they were saying that the 225 MPs and the President “should go!” They also said the main political parties should be dumped! They, in all probability and like most MPs, haven’t read the document
-
Now, isn’t it the PM who decides on Cabinet portfolios as per the 19th? Funny isn’t it? But Baby Premadasa disagrees obviously. So hasn’t he read the 19th or is it that their noises about prime ministerial powers being greater than those of the president is just one big fib?
------------
By Malinda Seneviratne
There’s dissension in the ranks, people. Not that it’s something new. We are talking about Sajith and Ranil. A few weeks from now, we will all see who laughs last and then we will see the last-laugher laughing long. That’s for later.
For now, let’s focus on the 19th Amendment because there’s been words exchanged about the prime minister or rather the post of prime minister should Sajith “Baby” Premadasa become president.
Baby Premadasa says this is a presidential election and not an exercise to elect a prime minister. He’s correct. He has “appointed” a National Security Minister however, even though this is not about electing one. It brings us to the 19th Amendment.
Many who are supporting Sajith these days cheered the 19th Amendment. Mind you, not too long ago, they were saying that the 225 MPs and the President “should go!” They also said the main political parties should be dumped! They, in all probability and like most MPs, haven’t read the document: Not the draft (as the Supreme Court did) nor the document finally presented to Parliament (as the Supreme Court did not).
They claimed that the President’s executive powers had been clipped (yes, they were) and that the Prime Minister (that’s Ranil Wickremesinghe) now called the shots (not exactly true). Well, not just them. Leftists, liberals, born-again democrats, funded voices, candlelight ladies, Colombots, and other Kolombians said it. Believed it.
They all discovered a sudden love for Sajith Premadasa after he expressed presidential ambitions. Perhaps they thought “anyone is better than Ranil”. They forgot that Baby Premadasa was part of the Yahapalana Regime, from President Sirisena’s nepotism immediately after being elected, through the Central Bank Bond Scam and even now when the country’s sovereignty is about to be squandered via the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact. Sajith uttered not a word of protest.
Anyway. Those who thought the PM called the shots (and who expressed disgust at the incumbent); all of a sudden saw “hope” in Baby Premadasa. He would set things right, they claimed and still claim. Well, Old Man Ranil is not buying any of that. “I will be prime minister when Sajith is president,” he said. Sajith for his part said: “I haven’t made any statements regarding any posts except that of the Minister of National Security (Sarath Fonseka).” Now, isn’t it the PM who decides on Cabinet portfolios as per the 19th? Funny isn’t it? But Baby Premadasa disagrees obviously. So hasn’t he read the 19th or is it that their noises about prime ministerial powers being greater than those of the president is just one big fib?
On the other hand, these very people claim that if Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins, it will be Big Brother Mahinda who will call the shots. Why? “The 19th, stupid!” they claim.
So it seems that the UNPers are confused. In one instance (if Baby Premadasa wins) the President is the boss, but in another (if Gotabaya wins) then the PM has sway. As per the very same piece of legislation – the 19th Amendment!
And they are upset also about Ranil Wickremesinghe’s status should Baby Premadasa win. “Maybe Sajja Boy, contrary to rhetoric, agreed to let Ranil be PM” they worry. “In any case, Ranil can’t be removed until Parliament completes 4.5 years as per the 19th,” they sigh. In this case, it’s not about Ranil’s power vs. Sajith’s power but Ranil as a thorn.
Well, if they actually read the 19th, they would know that under certain circumstances the prime minister can be removed and that Parliament could also be dissolved. If they had even a basic understanding of the political culture in this country and the behavioural patterns of politicians, they would know that dynamics can change very fast, immediately after a major election (remember January 2015?).
But no, they’ve not read the 19th. They are confused about the 19th. They are letting outcome preferences conjure all kinds of billas (no, not the kind that were used to pick out “insurgents” who would be later be summarily executed outside of judicial process, often by being burnt alive, following torture of course during Papa Premadasa’s time, a time that Baby Premadasa vows to take the country back to!). They are anxious about a Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa having sway over a President Gotabaya (as per the 19th) even as they claim that a President Baby Premadasa would have at his beck and call a Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.
Maybe Baby Premadasa himself has no clue. He seems to be in a zone unto himself in Silliness Land and therefore could be as ignorant and/or confused as the UNP’s various mouthpieces in this electoral season.
The Yahapalana Regime was marked by incompetence. What Baby Premadasa is promising therefore is incompetence compounded by confusion. And he wants our vote. Really? Really, really?
(The writer can be contacted via malindasenevi@gmail.com. www.malindawords.blogspot.com)
-
Blurbs:
Many who are supporting Sajith these days cheered the 19th Amendment. Mind you, not too long ago, they were saying that the 225 MPs and the President “should go!” They also said the main political parties should be dumped! They, in all probability and like most MPs, haven’t read the document
-
Now, isn’t it the PM who decides on Cabinet portfolios as per the 19th? Funny isn’t it? But Baby Premadasa disagrees obviously. So hasn’t he read the 19th or is it that their noises about prime ministerial powers being greater than those of the president is just one big fib?
------------
By Malinda Seneviratne
There’s dissension in the ranks, people. Not that it’s something new. We are talking about Sajith and Ranil. A few weeks from now, we will all see who laughs last and then we will see the last-laugher laughing long. That’s for later.
For now, let’s focus on the 19th Amendment because there’s been words exchanged about the prime minister or rather the post of prime minister should Sajith “Baby” Premadasa become president.
Baby Premadasa says this is a presidential election and not an exercise to elect a prime minister. He’s correct. He has “appointed” a National Security Minister however, even though this is not about electing one. It brings us to the 19th Amendment.
Many who are supporting Sajith these days cheered the 19th Amendment. Mind you, not too long ago, they were saying that the 225 MPs and the President “should go!” They also said the main political parties should be dumped! They, in all probability and like most MPs, haven’t read the document: Not the draft (as the Supreme Court did) nor the document finally presented to Parliament (as the Supreme Court did not).
They claimed that the President’s executive powers had been clipped (yes, they were) and that the Prime Minister (that’s Ranil Wickremesinghe) now called the shots (not exactly true). Well, not just them. Leftists, liberals, born-again democrats, funded voices, candlelight ladies, Colombots, and other Kolombians said it. Believed it.
They all discovered a sudden love for Sajith Premadasa after he expressed presidential ambitions. Perhaps they thought “anyone is better than Ranil”. They forgot that Baby Premadasa was part of the Yahapalana Regime, from President Sirisena’s nepotism immediately after being elected, through the Central Bank Bond Scam and even now when the country’s sovereignty is about to be squandered via the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact. Sajith uttered not a word of protest.
Anyway. Those who thought the PM called the shots (and who expressed disgust at the incumbent); all of a sudden saw “hope” in Baby Premadasa. He would set things right, they claimed and still claim. Well, Old Man Ranil is not buying any of that. “I will be prime minister when Sajith is president,” he said. Sajith for his part said: “I haven’t made any statements regarding any posts except that of the Minister of National Security (Sarath Fonseka).” Now, isn’t it the PM who decides on Cabinet portfolios as per the 19th? Funny isn’t it? But Baby Premadasa disagrees obviously. So hasn’t he read the 19th or is it that their noises about prime ministerial powers being greater than those of the president is just one big fib?
On the other hand, these very people claim that if Gotabaya Rajapaksa wins, it will be Big Brother Mahinda who will call the shots. Why? “The 19th, stupid!” they claim.
So it seems that the UNPers are confused. In one instance (if Baby Premadasa wins) the President is the boss, but in another (if Gotabaya wins) then the PM has sway. As per the very same piece of legislation – the 19th Amendment!
And they are upset also about Ranil Wickremesinghe’s status should Baby Premadasa win. “Maybe Sajja Boy, contrary to rhetoric, agreed to let Ranil be PM” they worry. “In any case, Ranil can’t be removed until Parliament completes 4.5 years as per the 19th,” they sigh. In this case, it’s not about Ranil’s power vs. Sajith’s power but Ranil as a thorn.
Well, if they actually read the 19th, they would know that under certain circumstances the prime minister can be removed and that Parliament could also be dissolved. If they had even a basic understanding of the political culture in this country and the behavioural patterns of politicians, they would know that dynamics can change very fast, immediately after a major election (remember January 2015?).
But no, they’ve not read the 19th. They are confused about the 19th. They are letting outcome preferences conjure all kinds of billas (no, not the kind that were used to pick out “insurgents” who would be later be summarily executed outside of judicial process, often by being burnt alive, following torture of course during Papa Premadasa’s time, a time that Baby Premadasa vows to take the country back to!). They are anxious about a Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa having sway over a President Gotabaya (as per the 19th) even as they claim that a President Baby Premadasa would have at his beck and call a Prime Minister Wickremesinghe.
Maybe Baby Premadasa himself has no clue. He seems to be in a zone unto himself in Silliness Land and therefore could be as ignorant and/or confused as the UNP’s various mouthpieces in this electoral season.
The Yahapalana Regime was marked by incompetence. What Baby Premadasa is promising therefore is incompetence compounded by confusion. And he wants our vote. Really? Really, really?
(The writer can be contacted via malindasenevi@gmail.com. www.malindawords.blogspot.com)