The UNP fought to have Sajith be the nominee for president, even though Ranil was excited to run in the 2019 election. Amidst this conflict, Ranil consulted astrologers and looked at his stars.
‘An astrologer offered him some excellent guidance. In 1993, the planetary yoga that elevated you to the position of prime minister will reappear in 2022, Sir. Make Sajith the nominee for prime minister and award him the presidential candidature. If Sajith wins, you will become prime minister; if he loses, you will lead the opposition and, by some means, return to power in 2022.’
This is the advice given by that astrologer. Ranil took this advice and told the UNP public opinion survey institute to conduct a new survey about the presidential election. According to that survey, Sajith was behind Gotabhaya.
‘According to these survey reports, Sajith cannot win…’
Ranil told his close ones. Ranil decided to give Sajith the presidential candidature after seeing that survey report.
If Sajith wins, the boss will be the Prime Minister. If Sajith loses, the boss will be the leader of the opposition…’
This was the mantra chanted by Ranil’s close friends at that time.
Now Ranil’s close ones have started chanting that mantra once again. According to party secretary of Samagi Jana Balavegaya Ranjith Maddumabandara, a proposal is given to Samagi Jana Balavega to make Sajith the president and Ranil the prime minister.
‘Does that mean Ranil fell from heaven to earth?’
As soon as Ranil became president, Ranil’s colleagues said that Ranil would call an emergency presidential election before March 2023. They said that Samagi Jana Balawegaya members will come to Ranil in numbers and Ranil will win as a non-partisan candidate.
They also claimed Ranil will call an emergency election and said that if Sajith wins, instead of giving Sajith the post of Prime Minister, he will give the post of Prime Minister to someone else from the Samagi Jana Balavegaya, and with Samagi Jana Balavega’s support will go for the presidential election.
Furthermore, they said he would call an emergency presidential election in November 2023 and would split the Samagi Jana Balawegaya into two, three or four pieces and become the common candidate in a new alliance.
In the end, it was said that Sajith would become the Prime Minister by giving Ranil the candidature without asking for the presidential election at the last moment.
None of this happened from July 2022 to July 2024 within two years. Now Ranil has asked Sajith for the post of Prime Minister Ship. It means that after circling, we reached the same place as in 2019.
‘So will Sajith like this deal?’
The public will not approve of this deal, even though Sajith does. Sajith is a prominent figure in this nation, despite never having held a powerful cabinet position such as prime minister, president, finance minister, or defence minister. Following 1994, he served as a minister presided over by a party’s third-tier leaders. Similar to Sajith, JVP leader Anura is a leader who has never served as this nation’s president, prime minister, or other influential minister like those in charge of finance or defence. In 2004, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture.
Today people are asking for such new leaders. If they see that Sajith has given Ranil the prime ministership, the UNP that existed before 2019 will come back. Those UNP people have been razed to the ground for a long time. If Sajith says that Ranil will be given the prime ministership, Anura Kumara will take advantage of it. The Sajith-Ranil alliance comes to revive the old UNP Anura gets the opportunity to say that they are all brothers.
‘Then why do some people in this Samagi Jana Balavegaya say that Ranil-Sajith should join forces…’
The members of the Samagi Jana Balavega who say that Ranil-Sajith should join forces are former powerful ministers of the Ranil-Maitri government. When they were ministers, their files of corruption irregularities were in the hands of Ranil. When Ranil scares them by showing them that file, the mantra that Ranil-Sajith must come together is fulfilled.
Ranil is trying to become Sajith’s prime minister without contesting for the presidential election, knowing that if he does, he will be defeated.
‘Then what electoral advantage will Sajith get by naming Ranil as Prime Minister…?’
There is no advantage but disadvantage.
‘Then what is the advantage of Ranil being the presidential candidate for Pohottuwa?’
It will also benefit Pohottuwa if a new face is brought to the presidential election.
Ranil’s this proposal to the party secretary of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya what in 2019 President Maithri brought to Pohottuwa. Maithri played the role of this Ranil at that time. The campaign advisers who were with Maithri then are today surrounding Ranil. Newspapers and other news media were full of such news before 2019.
‘Maitree Ranil is U.N.P. Sajith or Karu will be removed from the leadership and become the Prime Minister and become the common candidate for the Presidential election again…’
‘Maithri will split U.N.P. and Mahinda will split the presidential race…’
Ranil removed from the post of Prime Minister. Prime Minister Sajith or Karu. U.N.P. Common candidate Maithripala…’
‘Mahinda becomes Prime Minister Maithri and Pohottuwa – signs presidential candidate from SLFP alliance…’
‘How Gota became the Prime Minister’s candidate and Maithri became the President’s candidate…’
During that time, this news was always in newspapers and on TV. Maithrie suddenly removed Ranil from the post of Prime Minister and made Mahinda the Prime Minister while Pohottuwa was looking forward to his presidential candidacy. Later, the campaign advisers who were around Maithri today, who are around Ranil, made a new story by hiding the story of Maithri coming to the presidential election after the 2019 Easter bomb.
‘Gota Presidential Candidate – Maithri Prime Minister Candidate’
This is the latest story they made up and gave to the media. This is not just a story but a thread. Maitri ate this rope very well. He asked the Sri Lankan Party to support Gotabha and ate this rope. When he came to support Maitri Gota on the stage, Pohottuwa said no.
‘Please support quietly. If we come to the stage, we will be at a disadvantage…’
This is the long rope that the Rajapaksa family together gave to Maithri at that time. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya seems to be afraid to give Ranil even a long rope like this. The reason is the fear that people will look away when they say that Ranil-Sajith is coming together.
There are 190 days left for the presidential election. I don’t even know if Ranil, could break the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and become president after 190 days, he fell to the point of asking for the prime ministership, and in another 90 days will fall to the point of asking for a member of parliament from the national list.
Ranil, who is asking Sajith for the prime ministerial candidacy, is going to be Pohottuwa’s presidential candidate, and then it is a ‘sorry.com’ for Pohottuwa.