2015 – They made the news

By D.C. Ranatunga

He fought of a cause. He won. He bade good-bye. The dawn of 2015 saw the success of Venerable Maduluwawe Sobitha’s campaign against the executive presidency. The National Movement for a Just Society under his leadership became the rallying point for civil society activists to overthrow the former regime. 

In one voice trade unionists, rights groups, professionals, artists, academics were with him. He felt at ease when the common candidate won the Presidential Election on 9 January. He watched with interest the 100-day Programme taking shape. Then he saw the consolidation of the January election at the Parliamentary Election in August. By the time he got into hospital with health issues he was in a way relieved but also unhappy – relived that a new regime had taken control, disappointed that action against corruption and fraud was far too slow and the promised good governance was slow to show results. He had sounded a warning signal by the time he bade goodbye on 8 November. 

A People’s President from a farmer family off Polonnaruwa got elected on 8 January promising to abolish the Executive Presidential System with unlimited powers. “We were twelve in the family. I remember how Amma used to serve twelve plates of rice and sambol every morning. Being paddy growers we had ample rice. We ate rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” President Maithripala Sirisena recalled his young days in his first TV interview with Upul Shantha Sanasgala after assuming office.

Within the first hundred days he saw the 19th Amendment to the constitution being passed on his initiative in Parliament by a two-thirds majority (212 for and one against) on 28 April and become law on 15 May. The Amendment diluted many powers of the Executive Presidency. The President’s term of office was limited to five years (from six) and the President could now dissolve Parliament only after four and a half years unlike earlier when it could be done after one year. The 18th Amendment allowing a third term for the President was repealed. The restoration of the 17th Amendment bringing back the appointment of the Constitutional Council and independent commissions was another significant move. A transformation of the Presidential form of government to a Presidential-Parliamentary system could be seen. 

With the regime change UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe led a minority government in Parliament. He consolidated his position after the 17 August general election collecting a record 500,566 preferential votes for himself and the UNP winning 93 seats and qualifying for another 13 from the National List, (total of 106) yet falling short of an absolute majority. He was given the responsibility of leading a ‘Unity Government’ with the UPLF/SLFP MPs. A section of the UPLF MPs, however, preferred to be in the Opposition. They call themselves the ‘United Opposition’.

Throughout the year Prime Minister Ranil W became the chief spokesman for the Government in Parliament meeting arguments by the Opposition effectively. I was reminded of the time Dudley Senanayake became a most forceful and effective speaker during his last stint as Prime Minister (1965-70). Emphasising on his intention to follow the Lichchavi tradition of administering through consensus, he stated that the final goal of the government is to improve and enhance the living standards of the people in his Economic Policy Statement in Parliament on 5 November. 

The election of the head of the Tamil National Alliance, R. Sampanthan as Leader of the Opposition saw a Tamil party leader holding the post for the second time. Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) leader A. Amirthali ngam was Leader of the Opposition in 1978-73.

Two former Executive Presidents continued to be in the limelight in 2015. Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to be in active politics and contested the Kurunegala seat at the August general election winning the seat with a thumping 423,529 votes. He effectively led ‘Sandhanaya’s election campaign ensuring the election of 95 UPLF 95 members.

Playing a key role in the selection of the common candidate at the presidential election, Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga heads the newly set up office of national unity and reconciliation.

Hailed as “a model citizen who left an indelible mark on the Sri Lankan psyche through his steadfast belief in accountability and fair play” (LMD), Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya won praise from all quarters for conducting two elections within ten months in an exemplary manner ensuring a transparency and independence.

Rather than being ‘Man of the Match’, he preferred to call himself the curator, “whose job is to create a level playing field to which I am paid through the general public’s money”. In an interview after being selected as Sri Lankan of the Year by LMD, he said “Teamwork pays dividends” and stressed on how with the help of the entire public service and the police as well as the support of politicians, journalists, observer and civil society groups and, most importantly, the public, he and his staff were able to work without fear during the election period.

The Constitutional Council appointed him as Chairman of the National Elections Commission. 

The former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka was elevated to the rank of Field Marshal, a rank considered equal to a Cabinet Minister, in March. The 18th Army Commander he is the first Sri Lankan Army officer to be promoted as Field Marshal. He unsuccessfully contested the August election which did not see a single candidate of his party, the Democratic National Alliance being elected. 

Kumar Sangakkara’s decision to retire from Test cricket left a big void in the sports arena. 

Among those who left us

The amiable Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Mahanayaka Thera of the Asgiriya Chapter passed away in April. The Most Ven. Rajakeeya Panditha Galagama Aththadassi was elected to succeed him as the 21st Mahanayaka of the Chapter.

In the field of arts, two veterans who had excelled both in theatre and cinema bid farewell. One was the versatile actor Tony Ranasinghe who later moved on to writing screen plays and several Sinhala stage play scripts of Shakespeare dramas. The other was Somalatha Subasinghe, whose contribution towards the development of children’s theatre was highly appreciated. That was in addition to her memorable appearances on stage and screen turning out some unforgettable performances. Musical Nimal Mendis of ‘Master Sir’ fame also left us in 2015. Among others who passed away were veteran actor and singer Christy Leonard Perera and the well-known comedian and character actor Sunil Hettiarachchi.

One year is over and we are into another.