With President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreeing to step down from their positions in the face of the unprecedented public opposition that was unleashed on 9 July, the “aragalaya” (struggle) has entered a new, more serious stage.
This is also the stage that some warned the country about prior to 9 July. Even though the people were sure about what they wanted as far as the two leaders relinquishing power was concerned, there is now a certain uncertainty and lack of unity as to what will happen next. Deposing of the President and the Premier was merely the foundation of the stability that the people sought, and replacing them with more suitable leaders forthwith is what is going to propel the anti-Government and pro-people movement forward.
Steps such as appointing an acting President, appointing a Prime Minister following Wickremesinghe’s resignation, and establishing a caretaker all-party Government promptly are the obvious first steps, while holding Presidential and Parliamentary Elections are also crucial. However, as seen on countless occasions in the past, there seems to be a severe lack of harmony among those who have the power to take decisions with regard to the said future steps.
While there is great uncertainty as to whether the two leaders would withdraw or change the nature of their resignations – given the great hesitance the President showed in leaving his post and the same showed by the Prime Minister when it comes to years of demands for his resignation as the United National Party (UNP) Leader – them taking time to leave their positions has become a matter of concern. This has not only caused concern among the protestors and trade unions, it has also further delayed the taking of the necessary political steps that Sri Lanka needs.
At the same time, the responses of the Opposition political parties and activists involved with political parties to the ongoing talks led by the Prime Minister have been extremely diverse. While some strictly demand an all-party Government, some have refused it. In addition, there are concerns about the leadership of an all-party Government – some want it to be led by the Prime Minister, while some demand his immediate resignation to pave the way for a new face.
The importance of not delaying political actions has been pointed out by several parties.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said that in a context where the country has gone through and will go through difficult times, this is a time to unite for the benefit of the country regardless of the differences the concerned parties had in the past. In a statement to the media, BASL President Saliya Pieris PC requested Parliament not to delay the election of a new President, if the President resigns as stated by the Speaker of the House, in order to form a national unity Government. Adding that filling the vacancies that are to be made vacant following the leaders’ resignations is crucial in order to ensure that the country is not left in a state of instability, he further requested all parties concerned not to delay the process of this transition.
We must also not forget that the support the country seeks, especially foreign support, is unlikely to come through if the prevailing instability continues. In fact, within a day after the 9 July protests, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the main international body that Sri Lanka is seeking assistance from, has already stated that it is hoping for a resolution to Sri Lanka's political turmoil that will allow a resumption of talks for a bailout package.
An EU spokesperson has also called on all parties to co-operate and focus on a peaceful, democratic, and orderly transition in Sri Lanka, adding that it is the responsibility of all party leaders to pave the way for a solution to the current crisis and a return to normalcy.
What is more, Sri Lanka’s long standing ally, India, has also expressed hopes about the country’s situation returning to normalcy after the 9 July uprising, and that too is a statement that the country should take into account, given the massive support Sri Lanka has received and is expecting from India.
These statements show that what is happening in the country at present, and also how the political leadership responds to them and how fast they do that, will have a significant impact on the support Sri Lanka receives in the coming few months. Above all, until the Prime Minister’s resignation and the appointment of leaders acceptable to the people, or the protestors, the protests will continue, as seen in the case of Wickremesinghe replacing erstwhile Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. In other words, this time, the people are not ready to settle for changes of faces, but more long-term, systemic, and concrete changes.
This part of the “aragalaya” is largely in the hands of politicians. While having different political opinions and visions for the country’s future is anyone’s right, politicians and political activists should understand that the prevailing situation calls for immediate action, and that therefore, if they cannot agree on one solution, coming to common ground is necessary. Instead of locking horns or making underhand deals while the country is plunging deeper into the economic crisis every day, they should finally take decisions that are beneficial to the country.
At this stage, more than unity among the people, unity among politicians and political parties has a major role to play in making this a turning point for the country and doing justice to the citizens' struggle. Political justice for ‘aragalaya’ struggles
12 Jul 2022
Political justice for ‘aragalaya’ struggles
12 Jul 2022
With President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe agreeing to step down from their positions in the face of the unprecedented public opposition that was unleashed on 9 July, the “aragalaya” (struggle) has entered a new, more serious stage.
This is also the stage that some warned the country about prior to 9 July. Even though the people were sure about what they wanted as far as the two leaders relinquishing power was concerned, there is now a certain uncertainty and lack of unity as to what will happen next. Deposing of the President and the Premier was merely the foundation of the stability that the people sought, and replacing them with more suitable leaders forthwith is what is going to propel the anti-Government and pro-people movement forward.
Steps such as appointing an acting President, appointing a Prime Minister following Wickremesinghe’s resignation, and establishing a caretaker all-party Government promptly are the obvious first steps, while holding Presidential and Parliamentary Elections are also crucial. However, as seen on countless occasions in the past, there seems to be a severe lack of harmony among those who have the power to take decisions with regard to the said future steps.
While there is great uncertainty as to whether the two leaders would withdraw or change the nature of their resignations – given the great hesitance the President showed in leaving his post and the same showed by the Prime Minister when it comes to years of demands for his resignation as the United National Party (UNP) Leader – them taking time to leave their positions has become a matter of concern. This has not only caused concern among the protestors and trade unions, it has also further delayed the taking of the necessary political steps that Sri Lanka needs.
At the same time, the responses of the Opposition political parties and activists involved with political parties to the ongoing talks led by the Prime Minister have been extremely diverse. While some strictly demand an all-party Government, some have refused it. In addition, there are concerns about the leadership of an all-party Government – some want it to be led by the Prime Minister, while some demand his immediate resignation to pave the way for a new face.
The importance of not delaying political actions has been pointed out by several parties.
The Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL) said that in a context where the country has gone through and will go through difficult times, this is a time to unite for the benefit of the country regardless of the differences the concerned parties had in the past. In a statement to the media, BASL President Saliya Pieris PC requested Parliament not to delay the election of a new President, if the President resigns as stated by the Speaker of the House, in order to form a national unity Government. Adding that filling the vacancies that are to be made vacant following the leaders’ resignations is crucial in order to ensure that the country is not left in a state of instability, he further requested all parties concerned not to delay the process of this transition.
We must also not forget that the support the country seeks, especially foreign support, is unlikely to come through if the prevailing instability continues. In fact, within a day after the 9 July protests, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the main international body that Sri Lanka is seeking assistance from, has already stated that it is hoping for a resolution to Sri Lanka's political turmoil that will allow a resumption of talks for a bailout package.
An EU spokesperson has also called on all parties to co-operate and focus on a peaceful, democratic, and orderly transition in Sri Lanka, adding that it is the responsibility of all party leaders to pave the way for a solution to the current crisis and a return to normalcy.
What is more, Sri Lanka’s long standing ally, India, has also expressed hopes about the country’s situation returning to normalcy after the 9 July uprising, and that too is a statement that the country should take into account, given the massive support Sri Lanka has received and is expecting from India.
These statements show that what is happening in the country at present, and also how the political leadership responds to them and how fast they do that, will have a significant impact on the support Sri Lanka receives in the coming few months. Above all, until the Prime Minister’s resignation and the appointment of leaders acceptable to the people, or the protestors, the protests will continue, as seen in the case of Wickremesinghe replacing erstwhile Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. In other words, this time, the people are not ready to settle for changes of faces, but more long-term, systemic, and concrete changes.
This part of the “aragalaya” is largely in the hands of politicians. While having different political opinions and visions for the country’s future is anyone’s right, politicians and political activists should understand that the prevailing situation calls for immediate action, and that therefore, if they cannot agree on one solution, coming to common ground is necessary. Instead of locking horns or making underhand deals while the country is plunging deeper into the economic crisis every day, they should finally take decisions that are beneficial to the country.
At this stage, more than unity among the people, unity among politicians and political parties has a major role to play in making this a turning point for the country and doing justice to the citizens' struggle. 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!