The Case For Voting Mahinda
Ramzee Tony also made a good case last election, in acrostic no less (view larger).
At this point I’m tentatively supporting Sarath Fonseka, if only to vote for the opposition. However, I think On Politics has a cogent explanation of why he supports Mahinda Rajapakse. Money quote: “the anti-MR alliance right now is haphazard, dishonest, opportunistic, gut-less, goal-less, doesn’t have any credibility, and have fielded a candidate with dubious credentials as a politician. I don’t see any reason to kick the present somewhat-efficient otherwise-crook guy out, just to elect a whole bunch of LOSER crooks.”
I have to say, I agree with him on many of the points. I could even see myself voting for Mahinda, but the waste and spending kinda gets me down. I mean, if Mihin and the hoardings are what we see, I shudder at what lies beneath. However, as Mr. Politics says
Rajapakse wasn’t only effective in finishing the war. He went on many development projects. May be Basil had a cut in them. But still, they contributed to country’s economy. For instance, MR started the desperately needed power projects, which were postponed by both Chandrika and Ranil governments, because of various political pressures. This should have prevented a possible power crisis in near future. Possibly, the gross economic benefit of this single project is much higher than the total money that the brothers stole from the us. If not, adding the economic benefits of finishing the war war would definitely weigh the equation to Brother’s favor.
Furthermore, I think he’s right in his evisceration of the opposition’s campaign
If UNP and/or JVP made a democratic alliance, accepted their faults, presented a viable economic plan, then at least one could have thought that they are serious about country’s future. Current set-up only shows that they are only serious about kicking MR out AND that they don’t have a clear alternative other than just a random horse to put into the race. This is a revenge mission. Not what I want for my country at the moment.
I still feel like we need a change, and I fear the family politics and feudal culture getting entrenched. I think a weak President plus a fractured Parliament would be good, for then we’d have the competition for peoples opinion which otherwise only comes at election time. My ideal situation is a Fonseka Presidency and SLFP Parliament, or Mahinda and a UNP Parliament. I guess my worst scenario is Mahinda plus SLFP Parliament, though a close second is Ranil somehow surviving and continuing the cripple the UNP (what should be the real opposition, not these random horse traders).
Regardless, if you’re considering voting, I think On Politics makes a good case for voting MR. It’s certainly better than Provincial Councilor Ajith Perera’s ten reasons for voting Sarath, which include his ability to row a canoe.
Today on the 
Janith has updated 
This is highly dubious. Miss Travel is a travel/social networking site that connects ‘Generous’ and ‘Attractive’ travelers. To, like, travel together, I guess. It all seems a bit like arranged prostitution and trafficking. This is part of a broader online trend to connect rich men to younger, attractive women. Sites like 
Sri Lankan domestics never say anything, they just stop coming. My maid just stopped coming and when I finally pressed her she said I needed to get a washing machine. I was hoping to ride this one out, but I’ve run out of underwear and I have no choice. I finally caved and bought a washing machine, from 
As I mentioned here the opposition is clearly motivated by revenge rather than a genuine desire to build the country.
The tone of the articles by Provincial Councillor Ajith Perera’s recent articles sort of highlights this.
I am yet to see any concrete plans from the UNP/JVP collation. All I see is mud slinging and bravado.
I am not too happy with Mahinda, but at least the man has done some development work (with possible kickbacks).
However I don’t see any credible alternative !!!
My only worry is that Mahinda will get a two thirds majority.
I will be thrilled if that happens!
If minorities are ever to get a just and equitable solution it will only come from a strong government with a two third majority. For Sri Lanka to develop and take those difficult decisions it needs a strong government. I am sick and tired of these small extreme parties like JVP and JHU setting agenda for my country.
I believe mother of all evil in Sri Lanka is this “ proportionate representation system”. From MPs jumping from one party to another, getting MPs like Marvin being elected with 5000 votes, MPs not being accountable to their constitutes, governments no expeling corrupt MPs for the fear of joining the opposition, government not being able to take correct but unpopular decisions due to fear of government collapsing, are all part of this system.
Countries should be able to change governing parties from time to time and each party should be able to form a majority government and run their own agenda and that will only happen if we change this crazy constitution. If there ever going to be a two third majority this will be it. If this time we don’t get it we will have this “Achcharu” politics for decades to come.
By any chance, after getting the two third, if MR and company does not change the constitution we all will be screwed, and he will have the curse of generations to come.
Mihin Lanka..
I think Mahinda’s going to win.
Of course.The people who think are just dreaming. I may vote for Fonseka as a protest against corruption but I don’t think he has a chance.
- oh how intellectual pea-brained Indi is and yes size does matter you fool. How politically astute you are trying to engage a debate about two murdering fuckwits to run your stupid irrelevant country. Just start killing each other and get it over and done with.
If Sr iLanka is such a “stupid, irrelevant country”, then smackthewanker must be really pea brained for even wasting his time to even read this blog and write such nonsense … or may be he just suffers from attention disorder, and is off his medicines.
Given that, I can forgive him for not realising that the big news in Sri Lanka is that the war, which was at the centre of most of the killings, has finally come to an end, which is why we have the luxury of even having this debate, in contrast to all the other peaceful countries that the big, important relevant countries, like USA, UK, France, Italy, Canada, Denmark, etc, have been playing around in, such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Colombia. Oh dear … those countries do seem to have a lot of killings – I guess that’s because they are relevant? or maybe those big countries are just being clever and love having killing grounds all around the world.
If that’s the case, I and most Sri Lankans can live with being irrelevant and being stupid, and having boring, mud-slinging, idiotic elections as we tend to do.
Sounds like Ashanthi of the bloggerspissplan fame. LOL.
The problem with corruption is not only with government. It is with every Sri Lankan. How many Sri Lankans are there who work for their salary at least? The problem with this government is most of the closed allies are relatives. So it might have been highlighted more. Further most of these can be MUD and FUD. No proof at least for one. In other governments the corruptions was distributed not centralized as people claim.
This government has done more development work in 4 years than Chandrika (with Ranil) did for 11 years. They finished the war which was there for 30 years. They had to face the repercussions of the Tsunami as well. But they manage to do something. May be the economic gain is more than the amount stolen.
Further Sarath Fonseka has not aswered MUD and FUD against him. Some of them are mentioned in that article by On Politics. The others are in AsianTribune. Not sure how credible, but they have some points. I do not believe he would give up executive presidency. So I need a viable plan from him.
True Mahinda has many short comings. The problem is we don’t have viable alternative. I still believe Ranil would have got more votes. I would have voted him as last time if he was there. (I did not believe the war could be finished as claimed by UPFA. I thought it would be a total disaster if we would go for a full scale war). Sarath Fonseka is changing his words always. Not sure by whom he is controlled by (JVP, UNP or by himself).
Indi what about SF as president and UNP+JVP parliment and may be mainly JVP cabinet.?
I want to change this preferential voting system before changing executive presidency.
Sri Lanka dismisses EU trade move
(AFP) – 3 hours ago
COLOMBO — Sri Lanka’s president on Friday dismissed the European Union’s suspension of preferential trade status to the island, saying his government would resist foreign “strategic interference”.
“We will not be held back by threatened economic sanctions or withdrawn trade concessions by those who seek strategic interference in the national affairs of Sri Lanka,” President Mahinda Rajapakse said in a New Year message.
The statement was a clear reference to the EU decision last month to suspend Sri Lanka’s preferential trade status on the grounds that it had breached commitments on human rights and good governance.
During the final months of the war with Tamil Tiger rebels in early 2009, the United States and the EU voiced alarm at Sri Lanka’s treatment of non-combatants and the internment afterwards of up to 280,000 minority Tamils.
The criticism saw Rajapakse turn to China, Iran and Libya for financial and military aid.
“We remain committed to a strengthened and sustained friendship with the countries that supported us in full measure to defeat terrorism and bring peace to our people,” he said Friday.
Sri Lanka stands to lose over 150 million dollars annually due to the EU withdrawal of preferential tariffs on Sri Lankan produce, according to trade estimates.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hne1HdI7SOdRJGMy-Bkn7i-cEVTA
I’m sick of all the gigantic bill boards of MR’s face everywhere I go. so much of money waste and pollution too.
I’m sick of all the repetitive TV ads using the stars we love. Namal doesn’t even have a job how can he spend millions of money on such long commercials. Even if they were sponsored then the sponsors definitely expect super expensive (illegal) favours from them back.
I’m sick of all the manipulated, biased news thats aired on national tv channels. that 30 odd minutes are nothing but a complete MR advertisement.
I’m sick of all the corruption. the Brothers and the gang of ministers stealing in front of our eyes in Rs millions and billions. I’m sick of the zero democracy where the journalists and public cannot freely support the opposition without getting their houses burned/ abducted/ killed.
MR knows he cant win if he holds the election on the due year (2012) bcuz by then majority of the people would realize his dirty work. thats why the election is held 2 years early while spending millions again for the election process. Bastard.
So I shall vote for SF!!
What are you going to do if SF loses?