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Ranil held the Key..!By Krishantha Prasad Cooray

(Lanka-e-News-07.Jan.2016, 2.45A "i#t$%y ne&e%'alls '%$ the sky. )n *$liti#s &i#t$%iesa%e *%$d+#ed when the #$nditi$ns '$%eanin'+l and ee#ti&e st%+leat+%e and $%e i*$%tantly th$sewh$ st%+le a%e e*$we%ed y sinleinded dete%inati$n, +nity $'*+%*$se, #$he%en#e, #$$%dinati$n and

syne%y in a#ti$n, and &isi$na%y leade%shi*. )t is said and n$t with$+t #a+sethat &i#t$%y eets a th$+sand 'athe%s and that de'eat is always a'$+ndlin. )ndeed &i#t$%y is n$t $nly 'athe%ed se&e%ally it is inte%*%etedse&e%ally as well. /he %es+lt $' the %esidential le#ti$n held $n the th$'

 Jan+a%y 2015 is n$ e3#e*ti$n.

)t #an e a%+ed that #$%%+*ti$n, wastae, a+se $' state *$we%, *$liti#al*at%$nae, asen#e $' law and $%de% and all the $the% 'a#t$%s that had seendis#$ntent %ise a'te% the de'eat $' the L// in ay 200 we%e n$t att%i+tess*e#i# t$ the ahinda Raa*aksa %eie. $we&e%, a l$t that was

'$%i&en, in$%ed $% e&en #$nside%ed ine&itale d+e t$ the wa% we%ee3*e#ted t$ e %e#tied in the *$st-wa% s#ena%i$. /his did n$t ha**en. )nstead it was *e%#ei&ed that n$t $nly was the%e an as$l+te disinte%est in%einin in #$%%+*ti$n and wastae, these thins we%e en#$+%aed andw$%se, ind+led in, y the then in#+ent. A%%$an#e and #%$nyis*e%&aded all s*he%es.

 /he 'a#t that the e3e#+ti&e *%esiden#y was +se'+l in e3e#+tin the ilita%y$ensi&e aainst the L// d+lled the $e#ti$ns, +t the t%eatent $'8a%ath 9$nseka a'te% his 'ailed id t$ $+st Raa*aksa, the %e$&al $' :hie'

 J+sti#e 8hi%anee ;anda%anayake, the 1th Aendent and a y%iad $'

$the% $&es #lea%ly sh$wed that it had $+tli&ed its +se'+lness.

)t was #lea% that the enti%e syste needed t$ e $&e%ha+led. )n *$liti#alte%s this had t$ ein with #$nstit+ti$nal %e'$%. 9$% that, ahindaRaa*aksa had t$ e de'eated sin#e it was a**a%ent y this tie that n$%e'$% was *$ssile +nless this was d$ne. e was standin in the way $'the %e-de$#%ati<ati$n that the #$+nt%y s$%ely needed. e had t$ e%e$&ed.

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 /he dis#$ntent was a ne#essa%y +t n$t s+=#ient #$nditi$n t$ $%#hest%ate%eie #hane. >he%e was the sinle-inded dete%inati$n t$ #$e '%$?$w #$+ld a di&e%se %$+* $' a#t$%s e +nited '$% a *+%*$se? $w #$+ld#$he%en#e e %$+ht a$+t? $w a$+t syne%y in a#ti$n? >he%e was the&isi$na%y leade%shi* t$ #$e '%$? /hese we%e @+esti$ns that had t$ eanswe%ed.

 /he%e a%e &a%i$+s the$%ies a$+t h$w aith%i*ala 8i%isena #ae t$ e adethe #$$n *%esidential #andidate. Lets lea&e th$se aside. /he t%+th isthat a l$t had t$ ha**en e'$%e #$in +* with a #%edile #andidate.

)n the ea%ly days, l$n e'$%e it e#ae a Raa*aksa-8i%isena attle, the%ewe%e a n+e% $' *e$*le wh$ w$%ked ti%elessly t$ *%e*a%e the %$+nd. /helate "en ad$l+wawe 8$itha /he%$ led a %$+* $' #$n#e%ned #iti<ens,s$e *%$inent and s$e n$t, in de&el$*in an idea a%$+nd whi#h keyse#ti$ns $' the $**$siti$n #$+ld +nite. >hat #ae $+t $' that e3e%#ise wasa #$n#e*t, n$t a *e%s$nality. /he *%esiden#y and n$t the *%esident was the

ain iss+e. )n his last days 8$itha /he%$ in 'a#t %eite%ated this 'a#t andthis iht ha&e een why %esident 8i%isena *leded at the late /he%$s'+ne%al t$ #$*lete the +nd$ne task $' a$lishin the e3e#+ti&e*%esiden#y.

e$*le sta%ted s+**$%tin "en 8$itha /he%$. /he idea $' a$lishin thee3e#+ti&e *%esiden#y was #lea%, l$i#al and y that tie seen as s$ethinthat had t$ e d$ne. )*$%tant $%ani<ati$ns s+#h as the ;a% Ass$#iati$nt$$k +* the #%y. %$'essi$nals and a#adei#s e#ae &$#al. Bne $' thekey #hane-'a#t$%s was that these %$+*s a&e #$nden#e t$ $%dina%y*e$*le and in *a%ti#+la% a#ti&ists '%$ all se#ti$ns $' s$#iety t$ add thei%&$i#es t$ the st%+le. 8eni$% *$liti#ians $' the #alie% $' Ka%+ Jayas+%iyaals$ hel*ed %in key *$liti#al a#t$%s and $%ani<ati$ns '%$ all#$+nities $n t$ the sae *$liti#al *lat'$%, *%in#i*ally a%$+nd the#$n#e*t that 8$itha /he%$ #ha*i$ned, the a$lishin $' the e3e#+ti&e*%esiden#y. e ti%elessly w$%ked t$wa%ds kee*in the t$ethe%. /hatsh$w $ent+ was ene%ated.

9$% all this, the $-ahead had t$ #$e '%$ the ain $**$siti$n *a%ty. N$#andidate h$we&e% *$*+la% $% #%edile in te%s $' *$ssessin ne#essa%yatt%i+tes that we%e in #$n#e%t with the *$liti#al $e#ti&e $' de$#%ati<in

#$+ld h$*e t$ $+st ahinda Raa*aksa with$+t a st%$n, wides*%eadnetw$%k and a well-$iled *$liti#al a#hine.

Ranil >i#k%eesinhe was n$t $nly a #%edile #andidate +t an alte%nati&e#$+ld ha&e n$ #han#e with$+t his end$%seent. )n $the% w$%ds, he held thekey t$ the d$$% that had t$ e $*ened '$% the%e t$ e a #%edile #a*ain.

)t was n$t easy. /he%e we%e any in the CN wh$ wanted hi t$ #$ntest. A #l$se nish in 2005, a disaste% in 2010 added t$ tw$ de#ades with$+t a

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CNe% in the d%i&in seat had ene%ated a l$t $' '%+st%ati$n. any 'elt thatthis was the CNs $ent. any 'elt that Ranil >i#k%eesinhe #$+ld d$it. e%ha*s he iht ha&e een ale t$, +t this was a *$liti#al $entwh$se %a&ity #$+ld n$t e +nde%estiated. )t was $in t$ e an +*hillattle, a Da&id &s E$liath en#$+nte%. /he #$n#e*t that had een t+%ned int$a winnin %and, needed a %and aassad$% wh$ #$+ld +nde%ine the

#$*etit$% y w%estin away his l$yalists. )t was th+s that aith%i*ala8i%isenas nae #ae t$ e *%$*$sed.

)n this e3e%#ise, a l$t $' #%edit is d+e t$ '$%e% %esident :hand%ikaK+a%at+na. As a *at%$n $' the 8L9, a '$%e% *%esident, a sta+n#h #%iti#$' ahinda Raa*aksa and a *e%s$n with a st%$n *e%s$nality, she al$ne,*e%ha*s, had what it t$$k t$ *e%s+ade aith%i*ala 8i%isena t$ %eak %ankswith the an he w$+ld ha&e t$ #$ntest aainst hea&y $dds.

:lea%ly, it w$+ld ha&e t$ e a %a&e an that #$+ld a##e*t the #hallene,es*e#ially sin#e the %e*e%#+ssi$ns $' *$ssile de'eat we%e $&i$+s and

#lea%ly '$%e$din. aith%i*ala 8i%isena ay ha&e een the nae that#$+ld $ al$n with the #$n#e*t that #i&il s$#iety had de&el$*ed, +t hehad the #$+%ae t$ ake the %+n w$%thwhile.

 /he%e we%e $the%s wh$ *layed key %$les. )n additi$n t$ 8$itha /he%$,:hand%ika K+a%at+na and Ka%+ Jayas+%iya , s*e#ial enti$n sh$+ld eade $' "en Ath+%eliye Rathana /he%$ $' the Jathika ela C%+aya (JC. )twas the %ee#ti$n $' his Fi&ith+%+ etak *%$*$sal y ahinda Raa*aksathat *a&ed the way '$% that *a%ty t$ lea&e the E$&e%nent. Rathana /he%$and *a%ty leade% :ha*ika Ranawaka had the &$i#es that #$+ld a%ti#+lateest the #$n#e*t that the $**$siti$n had de&el$*ed. /hey le't the %+lin#$aliti$n i*$&e%ished ide$l$i#ally and in te%s $' $%at$%i#al ede. /heyadd%essed the Raa*aksa #$nstit+en#y est and hel*ed swin the G$atin&$te t$wa%ds the 8i%isena #a*ain.

 8iila%ly, the Janatha "i+kthi e%a+na (J", alth$+h it did n$t a#k theB**$siti$n #andidate, *layed a key %$le in $ili<in s+**$%t aainst the%eie %st y n$t eldin a #andidate and se#$ndly y s+**$%tin the idea$' a$lishin the e3e#+ti&e *%esiden#y and as i*$%tantly the %e-estalishent $' $$d $&e%nan#e. An+%a K+a%a Dissanayake and the J"$*e%ated se*a%ately +t t$wa%ds the sae $e#ti&e $' de'eatin ahinda

Raa*aksa.  /he /ail Nati$nal Allian#e and the 8%i Lanka +sli :$n%ess as well as$the% *$liti#al %$+*s $lste%ed the B**$siti$n #a*ain y ettin theanti-Raa*aksa &$te%s t$ the *$llin $$ths $n the th $' Jan+a%y. /hei%#$nt%i+ti$n #ann$t e +nde%estiated. /hey we%e an inte%al *a%t $' whathad sn$walled int$ a nati$nal $&eent '$% de$#%a#y.

9$% all this, the %$le $' the CN and in *a%ti#+la% Ranil >i#k%eesinhe, as

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we enti$ned, was the $st i*$%tant 'a#t$% in the th $' Jan+a%y %es+lt. Ranil >i#k%eesinhe had t$ #$n&in#e his *a%ty that the #$+nt%y sh$+ld#$e %st n$t $nly in %het$%i# +t y #$n#%ete a#ti$n. e had t$ #$n&in#ehis *a%ty that the l$n te% inte%est $' the #$+nt%y #an $nly e se%&ed y#%eatin a le&el-*layin eld. e had t$ #$n&in#e his *a%ty that thins we%es$ ad that they #$+ld n$t take any #han#es and that aith%i*ala 8i%isena,

sin#e he #$+ld d%aw a si<eale #h+nk $' the 8L9 &$te, had a ette% #han#e. e had t$ #$n&in#e his *a%ty that aith%i*ala 8i%isena needed the '+llests+**$%t $' the CN and that the nati$nal inte%est #alled '$% the CN t$e3tend hi that s+**$%t. /his is whe%e Ranil >i#k%eesinhede$nst%ated est the @+alities $' dete%inati$n, *$liti#al at+%ity andleade%shi*. e +nited the *a%ty t$ a#k a winnin idea. e a&e #$he%en#et$ a #a*ain that ay &e%y well ha&e G$+nde%ed with$+t the a#kin $' anati$nal *a%ty with a nati$n-wide netw$%k and #a*ain a#hine. ehel*ed #$$%dinate what iht $the%wise ha&e een a its and *ie#es#a*ain. e %$+ht a$+t syne%y. e #$+ld d$ all this e#a+se he had

&isi$na%y leade%shi* @+alities whi#h t$day e&en his $ne-tie det%a#t$%sw$+ld n$t hesitate t$ a#kn$wlede.

)n these e$%ts, he was aly s+**$%ted y his Eene%al 8e#%eta%y Kai%ashi. )ndeed, ashi #ae t$ the '$%e'%$nt e#a+se his *%ede#ess$%

 /issa Attanayake had #%$ssed $&e% t$ the eney #a* in the ele&enth h$+%. /hat $&e a#t+ally $$e%aned $n the Raa*aksa #a*ain, '$% ashi*%$&ed he was 'a% $%e ee#ti&e and e=#ient at $ili<in the *a%tys%ass%$$ts and *+ttin the *a%ty a#hine%y in t$* ea%. a%ty seni$%s s+#has Ra&i Ka%+nanayake, Lakshan Ki%iella, anala 8aa%awee%a, /halathaAth+k$%ale, "ai%a Aeywa%dena, >iedasa Raa*aksha, and new 'a#es withst%$n *%$'essi$nal #%edentials like %an >i#k%aa%atne and a%sha De8il&a we%e &$i#es $' %eas$n that hel*ed #$n&in#e the *a%tys %ank and lethat the de#isi$n t$ s+**$%t aith%i*ala 8i%isena ade sense. /hey a&e#$he%en#e t$ the B**$siti$n #a*ain.

 A #$+*le $' e3a*les iht hel* de$nst%ate the #$nside%ale#$itent, skill and #$+%ae $' a n+e% $' key *laye%s in the ele#ti$nd%aa that #+linated in aith%i*ala 8i%isena ein ele#ted %esident.

 J+st e'$%e ele#ti$n day a d$#+ent was dis#$&e%ed detailin ilita%yde*l$yent $n the day $' the ele#ti$n. aith%i*ala 8i%isena, Ranil>i#k%eesinhe, :hand%ika K+a%at+na, Ka%+ Jayas+%iya, :ha*ikaRanawaka, 8a%ath 9$nseka, An+%a K+a%a Dissanayake, . 8+anthi%an,>iedasa Raa*aksa and J.:. >elia+na et with the le#ti$ns:$issi$ne% ahinda Desha*%iya. Desha*%iya iediately w%$te t$ theEene%al 8e#%eta%ies $' the 8L9 and the 8L9-led #$aliti$n, the C9A as wellas the se%&i#e #$ande%s and the )E %ea%din this. /hat was *%in#i*led#i&il se%&i#e at its hihest. is %es$l&e was #$*leented y that $'8$itha /he%$ wh$ said that i' the will $' the *e$*le is hia#ked he w$+ld

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walk t$ the le#ti$ns :$issi$n and was *%e*a%ed t$ die e#a+se F+ns#an take a li'e +t #ann$t dest%$y an idea. /he J" als$ iss+ed a stateentsayin that they will $ili<e the enti%e %ank and le $' the *a%ty t$ *%$te#tthe &$te. /hese $&es n$ d$+t diss+aded th$se wh$ s$+ht t$ $&e%t+%n a*e$*les &e%di#t th%$+h e3t%a-#$nstit+ti$nal eas+%es.

Desha*%iya, in 'a#t, was a he%$ in his $wn %iht. eadin a #$issi$n thathad een sha#kled y the %e*ealin $' the 17th Aendent, he#$*ensated with #$+%ae and skill, $ili<in his de*a%tent ande*l$yees t$ ens+%e that w%$nd$in was ke*t t$ a ini+.

Bn ele#ti$n day the state-$wned R+*a&ahini tele#asted a 'alse and #lea%lyis#hie&$+s Fnews ite #laiin that the CNs De*+ty Leade% 8aith%eadasa had #%$ssed $&e% t$ the Raa*aksa #a*. Desha*%iya*e%s$nally went t$ the R+*a&ahini :$%*$%ati$n and deanded a #$%%e#ti$n.

 /hat was $in the e3t%a ile, s$ethin that 'ew #i&il se%&ants ha&e hadthe #$+%ae t$ d$ when it #$es t$ ele#ti$ns $% anythin else.

 /he %+lin *a%ty als$ #i%#+lated a %+$+% in the Jana enins+la that theele#ti$n was $in t$ e *$st*$ned. An$the% d+ty #$ns#i$+s $=#e%, De*+tyle#ti$ns :$issi$ne% A#h#h+dan t$$k all ne#essa%y ste*s t$ in'$% the*e$*le that this was an as$l+te lie and that the ele#ti$n will indeed eheld. A seni$% Fleal %ain in the Raa*aksa #a* t$$k +* the leality $%$the%wise $' A#h#h+dans inte%&enti$n with the le#ti$ns :$issi$ne% +tDesha*%iya st$$d his %$+nd. All #%edit t$ hi.

  /he edia, y and la%e, #$ntin+ed t$ s+**$%t Raa*aksa, '$% %eas$ns $'l$yalty *e%ha*s +t *%$aly $+t $' #$n#e%n %ea%din *$ssile and

+nsa&$+%y %e*e%#+ssi$ns. >hen aith%i*ala 8i%isena in&ited the edit$%s $'news*a*e%s and $the% edia heads '$% a Fs+hada ha+wa $% F'%iendlyeetin, $nly tw$ edit$%s t+%ned +*. /hat sh$+ld indi#ate in what kind $'h$stile edia en&i%$nent the 8i%isena #a*ain had t$ $*e%ate.

9inally, when it was e#$in #lea% that aith%i*ala 8i%isena was $in t$win the ele#ti$n, ahinda Raa*aksa s+$ned the Att$%ney Eene%al, the:hie' J+sti#e, the A%y :$ande% and the )E, in@+i%in i' e%en#y#$+ld e i*$sed t$ st$* the #$+ntin. e%ha*s he wanted t$ nd a way t$#$*lete the last tw$ yea%s $' his te%s. /he Att$%ney Eene%al, a'te%#$ns+ltin seni$%s in the De*a%tent said Fn$. /he )E e#h$ed hissentients. ;y and la%e sane% #$+nsel *%e&ailed a$n these keyindi&id+als. )n any e&ent, y this tie and as indi#ated y the %es+lts $' the*$stal &$te, the l$we% %anks $' all state instit+ti$ns had $&e%whelinlydete%ined that they w$+ld n$ l$ne% end t$ any *%ess+%e F'%$ the t$*%ea%dless $' wh$ w$+ld i&e the $%de%s.

 /his is why the th $' Jan+a%y %es+lt, all thins #$nside%ed, was a *e$*les&i#t$%y. any *layed i*$%tant %$les, as detailed a$&e. Ranil

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>i#k%eesinhe, $%e than any$ne else, held the *$liti#al t%+*s and he*layed the in aith%i*ala 8i%isenas 'a&$+%. e was '%$ einnin t$ endthe leade% $' the st%+le.

9$% all that, h$we&e%, the t%+e $wne% $' this +n*%e#edented &i#t$%y '$%de$#%a#y and $$d $&e%nan#e, is the $%dina%y &$te% wh$se

dissatis'a#ti$n with the *%e&i$+s %eie was the i*et+s in the %stinstan#e '$% "en 8$itha /he%$ t$ la+n#h this #a*ain. /hey we%e theani'estati$ns $' the at+%in $' #$nditi$ns '$% eanin'+l and ee#ti&e*$liti#al st%+le. )t was the ed%$#k that is the *e$*les will thate&e%ythin else was +ilt +*$n. )t was thei% sentients that adee&e%ythin else *$ssile, in#l+din Ranil >i#k%eesinhes ee#ti&e and#%iti#al inte%&enti$ns.

 /he $%dina%y &$te% ade a stateent. /he $%dina%y &$te% a&e a andate. Rest ass+%ed, the $%dina%y &$te% will #$ntin+e t$ e the ain *%$ta$nist inseein that the andate is i*leented t$ the lette%, %ea%dless $'

*e%s$nalities that ay ha&e t$ e sidelined $% iht 'all al$n the way.

;y K%ishantha %asad :$$%ay

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y (2016-01-06 21H27H54

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