In his May Day message, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that instead of following up on who is responsible for the current problematic situation, what needs to be done now is to focus on what action can be taken to provide immediate relief to the public, and to go for the most appropriate and efficient programme to find solutions to the burning issues of the people.
However, it appears the public feels otherwise, as they continue to demand that those who they believe created the prevailing crisis – mainly President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa – leave office immediately, and a new Government and/or a new form of governance that does not include anyone from the Rajapaksa family, be formed. Protests demanding the resignation of the incumbent Government led by the Rajapaksa brothers have spread rapidly and unwaveringly, despite unlawful obstructions by the law enforcement authorities, little attention and response by the Government, and practical difficulties in terms of a lack of resources, finances, and the unpredictability of Sri Lankan weather, with stormy rains and scorching heat being separated by only a few hours.
However, the President’s resignation seems unlikely, with the President maintaining a rather silent, apathetic response towards the protesters’ main demand, i.e. his resignation. Thus far, the President has not publicly discussed, or at the very least acknowledged, the widespread demands for his resignation, and his public statements and speeches since the ongoing wave of protests started in late March have not included a response or an answer to the protesters’ concerns about his leadership. Instead, in his statements during the past few weeks, he has been trying to emphasise that his retention of the top seat is absolutely essential.
The first step of dealing with an issue is acknowledging it. As long as the President does not acknowledge that the public, or his voters, need him out of office, no future action with regard to discussing the protesters’ demands is possible. If admitting to imprudent and short-sighted economic decisions made during his tenure and under his leadership, and most probably with his blessing, is not an option, the least the President can do is to publicly acknowledge that he understands the protesters’ valid concerns about the Government under his leadership, and if he is not willing to resign, explain his reasons. That is how a true leader faces challenges.
However, despite the fact that one person has already died and the country’s economy is continuing to collapse since the protest in front of the President’s private residence in Mirihana last month, the President has not acknowledged the public’s concerns about his leadership.
No country needs a leader that is more concerned about their well-being than about the well-being of their country. Even though the President cannot resign on the mere basis of public opposition, as Sri Lanka is a democracy, the public’s opinion and needs must always be prioritised, not leaders’ interests.
There was a time when the President was considered a hero or a savior. But, now, the public cannot help but wonder what became of the courage Gotabaya Rajapasksa claimed he had when he ran for President in 2019, and the heroism he said he showcased during the war. The public have a right to ask these questions, because it is mostly due to that propaganda, and national security-related concerns that prevailed at that time, to which the people thought Gotabaya Rajapasksa was the solution, that most people elected him as President. If he had the leadership qualities he claimed to have, perhaps the public would have received at least an apology or an explanation by now, if not his resignation.
The simple question the people are asking is, how much of a leader a person can be if they turn a blind eye to national issues, and cling onto leadership positions when that very leadership is being rejected by the public.
A leader needs to lead, not run away from and worsen problems.
Acknowledging the people’s demands
02 May 2022
Acknowledging the people’s demands
02 May 2022
In his May Day message, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said that instead of following up on who is responsible for the current problematic situation, what needs to be done now is to focus on what action can be taken to provide immediate relief to the public, and to go for the most appropriate and efficient programme to find solutions to the burning issues of the people.
However, it appears the public feels otherwise, as they continue to demand that those who they believe created the prevailing crisis – mainly President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa – leave office immediately, and a new Government and/or a new form of governance that does not include anyone from the Rajapaksa family, be formed. Protests demanding the resignation of the incumbent Government led by the Rajapaksa brothers have spread rapidly and unwaveringly, despite unlawful obstructions by the law enforcement authorities, little attention and response by the Government, and practical difficulties in terms of a lack of resources, finances, and the unpredictability of Sri Lankan weather, with stormy rains and scorching heat being separated by only a few hours.
However, the President’s resignation seems unlikely, with the President maintaining a rather silent, apathetic response towards the protesters’ main demand, i.e. his resignation. Thus far, the President has not publicly discussed, or at the very least acknowledged, the widespread demands for his resignation, and his public statements and speeches since the ongoing wave of protests started in late March have not included a response or an answer to the protesters’ concerns about his leadership. Instead, in his statements during the past few weeks, he has been trying to emphasise that his retention of the top seat is absolutely essential.
The first step of dealing with an issue is acknowledging it. As long as the President does not acknowledge that the public, or his voters, need him out of office, no future action with regard to discussing the protesters’ demands is possible. If admitting to imprudent and short-sighted economic decisions made during his tenure and under his leadership, and most probably with his blessing, is not an option, the least the President can do is to publicly acknowledge that he understands the protesters’ valid concerns about the Government under his leadership, and if he is not willing to resign, explain his reasons. That is how a true leader faces challenges.
However, despite the fact that one person has already died and the country’s economy is continuing to collapse since the protest in front of the President’s private residence in Mirihana last month, the President has not acknowledged the public’s concerns about his leadership.
No country needs a leader that is more concerned about their well-being than about the well-being of their country. Even though the President cannot resign on the mere basis of public opposition, as Sri Lanka is a democracy, the public’s opinion and needs must always be prioritised, not leaders’ interests.
There was a time when the President was considered a hero or a savior. But, now, the public cannot help but wonder what became of the courage Gotabaya Rajapasksa claimed he had when he ran for President in 2019, and the heroism he said he showcased during the war. The public have a right to ask these questions, because it is mostly due to that propaganda, and national security-related concerns that prevailed at that time, to which the people thought Gotabaya Rajapasksa was the solution, that most people elected him as President. If he had the leadership qualities he claimed to have, perhaps the public would have received at least an apology or an explanation by now, if not his resignation.
The simple question the people are asking is, how much of a leader a person can be if they turn a blind eye to national issues, and cling onto leadership positions when that very leadership is being rejected by the public.
A leader needs to lead, not run away from and worsen problems.
Kapruka
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!
Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!