Removing Central Bank Governor Arjun Mahendran led to the first clash of Maithripala with Ranil’s government. The decision was not made alone by Maithripala he discussed it with Prime Minister Ranil to which Ranil reluctantly agreed. Indrajith’s name was suggested by Ranil’s unofficial deputy Prime Minister Malik Samarawickrama who was liked by Maithri. Ranil too did not resist it.
Mathri consulted Ranil before asking Ravi Karunanayake to step down as Finance Minister and Foreign Minister. After consulting with Ranil, he appointed Mangala as finance minister and Tilak Marapana as foreign minister.
After the conclusion of the 2018 Local Government election Maithri requested Ranil’s closest ally Sagala Rathnayaka resign from the position of Minister in charge of police and appointed Ranjith Maddumabandara as Police minister and subsequently appointed Sagala as the Minister of Southern Development consulting with Ranil.
UNP votes contributory for Maithri to become president. However, a reason to poll 50% was the votes of the breakaway ministers from Mahinda and Maithri’s new leadership image. Nevertheless, each time Maithri shuffled the cabinet of ministers he did it with the consultation of Ranil. What he did without consulting Ranil was remove Ranil as Prime minister and dissolve the parliament after realising working with Ranil was impossible.
Maintaining the majority in the parliament rested on Prime Minister Ranil and UNP. This fact prompted Matithri, to consult Ranil to execute cabinet reshuffles. Ranil was seen muscling his way as the government is his own when transacting with Maithri.
‘if so why today Pohottuwa not exercise that muscling power’?
Pohottuwa does not have that strength today because, on Pohottuwa’s approval, Ranil appointed Dinesh as Prime Minister. There are two reasons behind offering Ranil the Presidency and Dinesh the Primer ship by Pohottuwa. The first is the fear that Sajith Premadasa will become the President or Prime Minister. The second is the fear that a Rajapaksa will become president or prime minister. If Pohottuwa had offered the Presidency to Ranil and offered the Primer ship to G.L. Pieris, Dullas Alahapperuma or millionaire businessman Dammika Perera today, Pohottuwa would not become Ranil’s carpet.
As the party president G.L. had won the confidence of the ‘Podujana Pereamuna, Dullas even more senior hand leading personnel in the ‘Podujana Peramuna ‘Eksath Janatha Nidahas Sandanaya’. Dammika Perera is new to politics but someone who could address the floating votes of the ‘podujana peramuna.
Dinesh is neither a leader nor a member of the ‘pod’. He is the leader of the People’s United Front, who expected a ministerial position from the Rajapaksa. He is also a minor party leader similar to Vimal, Udaya and Vasu. When Gotabaya, removed Wimal and Udaya from ministerial posts, Dinesh did not speak a word against that move. The reason is that the ministry position was more precise for Dinesh than Wimal and Udaya. Then the Rajapaksas must have thought that Dinesh was an obedient disciple of the Rajapaksas. In fact, Dinesh is not a loyal follower of the Rajapaksas, but a loyal follower of the ministerial positions. Ranil must have understood this well before he became president. That is why he agreed to make Dinesh the Prime Minister.
‘who proposed Dinesh made the Prime Minister..’?
Dinesh’s appointment is still a mystery. Perhaps Mahinda wanted Dinesh as Prime Minister. Basil may have liked it, fearing that someone who is not Rajapakse will become the prime minister. Gotabaya too would have looked away. Namal must have thought that if Dinesh was made Prime Minister, he would preserve his crown princedom. The Rajapaksas may have thought that by making Dinesh the prime minister, they would be able to take over the power to appoint ministers, make government decisions, and appointment of officials. Rajaksas wanted to have Dinesh in their pocket. But Ranil had put Dinesh in his pocket before that.
Dinesh is a prime minister with powers vested under the 21st constitutional amendment. But he doesn’t seem to be using his powers at all. He is functioning in the Prime Ministership thinking that he is holding the position of Prime Minister under the 20th Constitutional Amendment.
‘What would have happened if GL, Dullas or Dhammika Perera had become Prime Minister…?’
If GL, Dullas or Dhammika had become the Prime Minister, Ranil would not have got to play this game. Then Ranil will definitely have to ask G.L., Dullas or Dhammika to decide how to appoint ministers and reshuffle the cabinet. If that happened, the parliamentary majority would not be led by Ranil, but by GL, Dallas or Dhammika. They are members of the ‘pod’. They are members of the bud.
They are surrounded by phottuwa MPs. They have to gain the trust of Pohottuwa by making Ranil listen to what they say. Dinesh has no such problem. Dinesh is a single man. He thinks that if Ranil is safe, he will be safe too. He must be thinking that Ranil will even break pohottuwa and save his position as Prime Minister. That is why he is standing together with Ranil, betraying his and the policies of the People’s United Front regarding the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund on the national issue.
If Pohottuwa intends to blow the ashes away and rise up, they should prioritise getting rid of Dinesh. As long as Dinesh is the prime minister, the bud will never get its wings. Moreover, if Dinesh stays it is imminent pod will crash down.
When Dinesh became the prime minister, Basil and Namal brought him to the party office and put up a big show. Pohottuwa showed that Ranil was made president to take care of the country; Dinesh was made prime minister to take care of the party. But today Dinesh is taking care of Ranil.
‘How to remove Dinesh…?’
To remove Dinesh, 113 MPs’ votes are needed in the Parliament. For that definitely must speak with G.L. – Dullas alliance and Wimal and Udaya. Minor parties should also be spoken to. Pothuttu can’t get rid of Ranil. Past wisdom cannot be brought back. But the position of prime minister is a good trump card. If a prime minister is appointed who can collide with Ranil, who has won the trust of Pohottuwa, what happened to Maithripala will happen to Ranil.
What the Rajapaksas need to think about is whether they will protect the Rajapaksas and destroy both Pohottuwa and the Rajapaksas, or at this time think about the party first and the Rajapaksa second.
