ICTA CEO quits to disrupt political system

Former ICTA CEO Damith Hettihewa claims that he quit his high profile Government job on 30 June to disrupt the current political system.  

“We professionals intend to disrupt the existing political system, and rally the masses without a political party or membership to win the upcoming Presidential Election. It is similar to Uber becoming world’s biggest taxi company without a single taxi, or Airbnb becoming the global hospitality industry leader without owning a single hotel room,” Hettihewa said at a recent press conference held at Centre for Society and Religion in Colombo. 

“Digital disruption is a widely known phenomenon now. Digital disruptors are small outfits with a high degree of intellectual capacity, innovation, and commitment with high impact outcome capabilities. These small outfits, started in house backyards with minimum or almost no investments, have disrupted industries established over centuries, and captured global markets in no time. We believe the Sri Lankan political landscape is very conducive for a similar disruption, as people have lost their confidence in the status quo,” he claimed.

Hettihewa said that he gave up probably the highest-paid government job at ICTA to disrupt the existing political system. “The existing political system is the main reason for current chaos in the country, and it is important that professionals intervene for a course correction to avoid the country further going down in a downward spiral rapidly. No alternative candidate has offered a practical and viable solution to win the Presidential race, and hence it is not prudent for professionals with a vision to wait any longer.  We have offered a practical winning formula which could bring about political stability to the country and unity among all,” he claimed.

“Today, we introduce ‘Deshakalamanakaranaya’ (management of the State) in place of ‘Deshapalanaya’ (politics),” he said. “We are putting forward proposals to ensure the victory of the next Presidential Election by fielding a professional as a non-partisan candidate who will break the barriers of party, ethnicity, religion, gender, and unite the entire Sri Lankan nation. We will leverage the vote bases of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), millennials, patriotic UNPers who are frustrated with the current leader, disillusioned JVPers, and progressive adults and youth of diverse ethnic and religious origins,” he said.

Asked about the impact of this intervention for the candidacy of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, he said: “Gotabaya Rajapaksa has not come forward yet. There are reasons for Mahinda Rajapaksa to further delay the announcement of their candidate. There are several obstacles. We waited all this time, but we can’t take the risk of waiting any longer, as the country should not decide nation’s fate with last minute fixes. 

“We do not agree with the concept of last-minute decision-making. This has been the problem of our country. Important national decisions should not be short-term quick fixes, but well-thought-out executions of a long term vision. This is why we came forward, giving up our lucrative jobs. Our country needs a long-term vision and a plan.” 

“After the Presidential Election, professionals will contest in the Parliamentary Elections independently. We propose to form a National Government with SLPP, under the premiership of Mahinda Rajapaksa. And after four years of Presidency, we will step down, enabling Mahinda Rajapaksa to become the President of the country again,” he said. 

“This is to facilitate a reverential retirement from his distinguished political career in 2025. President Rajapaksa will retire as the only Executive President who held three terms. President Rajapaksa deserves such an honour, considering the yeoman service he rendered to the nation. We anticipate Mahinda Rajapaksa will choose the less risky option for returning to power, by supporting a non-partisan professional candidate, who ensures Premiership for His Excellency,” Hettihewa said.

“However, everything depends on how the people of this country respond to our call. We are inviting all who anticipate a great future for our children through professional governance and rapid digitalisation to come to Ananda Samarakoon Open Air Theatre at Nugegoda on 8 August 2.00 p.m. We especially invite youth of this country to come forward and lead this endeavour. We appeal to them to spread the message through social media to ensure that we disrupt the existing corrupt and inefficient political systems for the betterment of our country,” he concluded.