After all the hustle and bustle, the government won the budget by 47 votes. Now the parliament has been adjourned until January next year and there will be a period of political stability so that government can concentrate on ending the war against terrorism in winning note and also to set up basis for its economic strategy on national economy. So far the opposition had so many attempts to oust this government with various dead lines and now they should let some time for the government to full fill the mandates in Mahinda Chinthanaya.
The two fold role of JVP
JVP was the master mind behind this unnecessary budget saga and today they decided to abstain in the vote at the eleventh hour of the vote. Even if the JVP voted against the budget as they did in the previous round, it would have passed anyway because government managed to secure more than half (114 out of 255) of the total votes.
The central committee of JVP has been dominated by Marxist extremists from trade unions and their original stand was to vote against the budget. However, there was strong protest against JVP’s original stand from moderate JVP supporters and specially those from rural areas. The leaders of Patriotic National Movement (PNM) had clearly called those who were planning to vote against the budget as traitors and Vimal Weeravansa and Somavansa Amarasingha might have feel the heat than other prominent JVP members.
The proposed national economy under Mahinda Chinthanaya is revolved around developing rural economy and the JVP is fear of loosing its vote base in Hambanthota district due to development in the area. JVP committed historical political mistake by keep away from Mahinda Rajapaksa government and they are still struggling to amend it. The JVP would have better of playing active and progressive role rather than cling in to traditional Marxist political view which is spreading hatred based on class consciousness.
JHU, the reliable ally
Despite all the fuss by other allied parties in the government during the budget period, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) behaved very responsible manner. The JHU was firm in its stand to protect the government at this critical juncture of fight against terrorism and all the JHU members kept with mandate vested on them by patriotic people of the country. Even Ven Uduve Dhammaloka thero, who has been distinct with JHU main stream politics in the past, stand with JHU and voted for the budget. Ven Udawatthe Nanda thero of JHU attended to vote in the parliament on a trolley after face with a heart attack on previous day. This incident itself clearly depicted the firm commitment shown by JHU to protect the government.
The behavior of ethnic minority parties
Few years back, the CWC and SLMC used to be the king maker and JHU was formed to nullify that effect. Since then both CWC and SLMC leaders have lost its political hay days. On the other hand Mahinda Rajapaksa has been very sensitive to problems of Muslims and upcountry Tamil communities. The sweeping of terrorism from Eastern province has been a great relief for Muslims in those areas and large number of people who were in refugee camps in Putlam district has already settled in cleared areas in Eastern province. The Muslims happened to be the very first beneficiaries of wining the fight against terrorism in the Eastern province. Despite Rauff Hakkem who came from central province crossed over to the opposition, most of the Muslim MPs from the Eastern province vote with the government to show their gratitude.
Parties representing upcountry Tamil community lead by Thonadaman and Chandrasekaran continues to support the government. This is a clear sign that this government is not racist despite its firm commitment against terrorism.
The shadow of CBK is fading
The CBK fraction of SLFP lead by Mangala and Sripathy failed to impress despite their boasts. This clearly shows that both of them lack true political leadership or vote base to recognize as a force. They used to be the darlings of CBK and at that time they got undue favoritism and political power in return. However with the oust of CBK from SL politics, these artificially puffed up political characters have to face the reality. Anura Bandaranaika who has past records to be in the wrong side at crucial periods joined with them in good company and there is hardly any sign that any one else in the government to join them in the future. It is not too long that these political asylum seekers become a burden to the UNP.
UNP, the looser again
The UNP continue to have the backing of vicious international forces and they are well capable of manipulating the media to create big buzz. Still the result of this year’s budget confirmed that money and media alone is not sufficient to grab power. As long as UNP leadership believes in help of international forces and agents of terrorists rather than common people of the country, they will remain with the opposition.
The obligations for the government
The government requested the support of all the parties to pass the budget to win the war against terrorism and boost the economy and people of this country is closely looking to see if they are capable of full filling their pledges.
The two fold role of JVP
JVP was the master mind behind this unnecessary budget saga and today they decided to abstain in the vote at the eleventh hour of the vote. Even if the JVP voted against the budget as they did in the previous round, it would have passed anyway because government managed to secure more than half (114 out of 255) of the total votes.
The central committee of JVP has been dominated by Marxist extremists from trade unions and their original stand was to vote against the budget. However, there was strong protest against JVP’s original stand from moderate JVP supporters and specially those from rural areas. The leaders of Patriotic National Movement (PNM) had clearly called those who were planning to vote against the budget as traitors and Vimal Weeravansa and Somavansa Amarasingha might have feel the heat than other prominent JVP members.
The proposed national economy under Mahinda Chinthanaya is revolved around developing rural economy and the JVP is fear of loosing its vote base in Hambanthota district due to development in the area. JVP committed historical political mistake by keep away from Mahinda Rajapaksa government and they are still struggling to amend it. The JVP would have better of playing active and progressive role rather than cling in to traditional Marxist political view which is spreading hatred based on class consciousness.
JHU, the reliable ally
Despite all the fuss by other allied parties in the government during the budget period, Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) behaved very responsible manner. The JHU was firm in its stand to protect the government at this critical juncture of fight against terrorism and all the JHU members kept with mandate vested on them by patriotic people of the country. Even Ven Uduve Dhammaloka thero, who has been distinct with JHU main stream politics in the past, stand with JHU and voted for the budget. Ven Udawatthe Nanda thero of JHU attended to vote in the parliament on a trolley after face with a heart attack on previous day. This incident itself clearly depicted the firm commitment shown by JHU to protect the government.
The behavior of ethnic minority parties
Few years back, the CWC and SLMC used to be the king maker and JHU was formed to nullify that effect. Since then both CWC and SLMC leaders have lost its political hay days. On the other hand Mahinda Rajapaksa has been very sensitive to problems of Muslims and upcountry Tamil communities. The sweeping of terrorism from Eastern province has been a great relief for Muslims in those areas and large number of people who were in refugee camps in Putlam district has already settled in cleared areas in Eastern province. The Muslims happened to be the very first beneficiaries of wining the fight against terrorism in the Eastern province. Despite Rauff Hakkem who came from central province crossed over to the opposition, most of the Muslim MPs from the Eastern province vote with the government to show their gratitude.
Parties representing upcountry Tamil community lead by Thonadaman and Chandrasekaran continues to support the government. This is a clear sign that this government is not racist despite its firm commitment against terrorism.
The shadow of CBK is fading
The CBK fraction of SLFP lead by Mangala and Sripathy failed to impress despite their boasts. This clearly shows that both of them lack true political leadership or vote base to recognize as a force. They used to be the darlings of CBK and at that time they got undue favoritism and political power in return. However with the oust of CBK from SL politics, these artificially puffed up political characters have to face the reality. Anura Bandaranaika who has past records to be in the wrong side at crucial periods joined with them in good company and there is hardly any sign that any one else in the government to join them in the future. It is not too long that these political asylum seekers become a burden to the UNP.
UNP, the looser again
The UNP continue to have the backing of vicious international forces and they are well capable of manipulating the media to create big buzz. Still the result of this year’s budget confirmed that money and media alone is not sufficient to grab power. As long as UNP leadership believes in help of international forces and agents of terrorists rather than common people of the country, they will remain with the opposition.
The obligations for the government
The government requested the support of all the parties to pass the budget to win the war against terrorism and boost the economy and people of this country is closely looking to see if they are capable of full filling their pledges.
