Wickremesinghe’s political biography, an informative and inspirational read

 President Maithripala Sirisena receiving the first copy of the biography of Ranil Wickremesinghe from author Dinesh Weerakkody at its launch recently at the BMICH as Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe looks on

We live in an era where “trust in politicians” is an highly perilous assumption… and in my opinion Dinesh Weerakkody has picked the most appropriate time to eloquently disseminate the story of this great gentleman/politician, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has survived and served the nation despite the unscrupulous political environs that he was circumstantially trapped in. 

Irrespective of the fact whether you are from a political background or not, it’s beyond doubt that Dinesh has certainly ensured that there’s something for everybody to learn and be inspired and conscious about in their obligations as a citizen of Sri Lanka. Perceiving and comprehending Sri Lankan pwith logic and facts and then relating it to the political life of Ranil Wickremesinghe is no easy task.

From the Batalanda saga to the present day Treasury bonds controversy, this book shows the patience and resolve of this extraordinary politician. In 1977 emerging from a highly-respected and powerful family, the Prime Minister has that extraordinary intellect to overcome challenges, and positively face adversities like a statesman. 

Comprehending what’s said between the lines of this courageously written book we see, sense and capture lessons and strategies that prompts the need for one to be proactive to take on the Political challenges in this dramatically changing political environments which the book highlights. 

With Ranil playing this dramatic real life role in many vicissitudes in his political career, Dinesh, who is a confidante of Ranil, verbalises these events passionately citing many situations and events that portrays the other side of Ranil – a man who still remains an enigma to many people.

A fascinating read, through full of amazing political facts so interestingly presented by Dinesh, what we discover is not a self-centred politician, but a Prime Minister who thinks and works toward building a free environment for the next generation. 

The book supports to confidently proclaim “here is a leader/politician who has everything it takes to move our country to the next level in economic and social development,” which is inevitable by the facts presented in the book.

The book is highly informative just as it is and more inspirational and transformational when perceived and comprehended with an adequate mental stature, not simply as a political history book but the great lessons that could be learnt from the life of Ranil who has intelligently and skilfully negotiated the bitter storms and the friendly calms of this amazing political journey that Dinesh has presented to us. 

Dinesh has painstakingly captured some of the most striking moments and events of the Prime Minister’s life and his political journey, laying them out stage by stage from his childhood days to his first experience in Parliament in 1977, the turbulent times as well as the glorious times which portrays the magnificence of this extraordinary individual as a visionary leader shouldering the responsibility of leading his country and his people with foresight into a promising future. 

Read this one, it’s deeply informative in terms of political history, inspirational, motivational and transformational.

(The writer is the author of the book ‘Will the World Remember your Name?’)