A national leader who helped build the country

by Jayasinghe Pemaratne

With the presidential election campaign hotting up, a section of the media is giving various interpretations and making arguments to identify a national leader.

In this context it is necessary to take into account the attempts made by some private electronic and print media to blow up the image of the representative of the business tycoons who are trying to crown him as the national leader.

The person who decides in which direction our country should lead is the national leader. It is on the national leadership, that the future of the country, the welfare of the people and the economic development etc., of the country depends. Accordingly the national leadership built through democratic system in a democratic constitution.

Prior to that the people arrived at some decisions and took to some organised activities. Those decisions and activities have been developed into a people's force and the people have taken the forefront in the struggle to ensure the victory of the Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse whom they have selected as the national leader.

National leaders could not be created in a factory. Our neighbour, India is the best example for that. Nehru, Indira, Rajiv, Ravo were made leaders by the people and not through the leadership achieved by them.

Accordingly he who fights for people's rights is selected by the people as their leader. When compared with the world situation there were leaders who achieved those positions through struggles against colonialism in some countries.

Jomo Kenyata, Nelson Mandela, Fidel Castro and Mugabe could be named as national leaders. But in Sri Lanka national leaders have emerged through parliamentary democracy. The services rendered by those leaders for the progress of the country would be valued by the people in the future too.

When the Sri Lankan economy of the past few decades is taken into consideration, the important fact that is clearly visible was the absence of a well-planned economic system. There could have been various attempts made to reach economic targets with the aim of achieving prosperity. But those attempts proved unsuccessful. That is why a new vision for the future is essential.

Our country is in need of a well-planned system of economic management as pointed out by genuine experts who love the country. The development in the economic sector as well as the need to implement plans favourable to Sri Lanka in the export sector are equally essential.

It is necessary to point out that in our country, where economic plans are implemented centering the capital - step motherly treatment has been melted out with regard to the local industries and agriculture which plays a significant role in the economy.

During the past few decades, as a result of implementing plans drawn up by individuals who had little understanding about the economic and social background of the country the country's economy has fallen into a grave precipice rather than gaining prosperity.

It is necessary to strengthen the farmer through cultivation committees and farmers' organisations. The responsibility of removing decision making power in that sector from the non-national consultants is in the hands of the National Leadership. If not, pushing our farmer into their graves through manipulations cannot be avoided.

The importance of a 'national vision' becomes more relevant here too. The background and the guidance to ensure a guaranteed price for agriculture produce was essential too. It should be so under the 'Dinawamu Sri Lanka' programme of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse. The undertaking given to take steps to reduce the production cost in that field too should be commended.

Similarly the greater responsibility of ensuring the victory of Prime Minister Rajapakse who has a very good understanding and experience in the field of agriculture is in the hands of the farmer community. The mammoty and the plough are nothing new to his hands. He is a son of a farmer in Ruhuna. Farmers would be largely benefitted by bringing him into power.

The people have not forgotten the "Chewing Gum Development" culture of the modern 'Parakumba' under whose rule the cup of poison was given to the farmer by cutting down subsidy on fertiliser, making the guaranteed price scheme a joke and filling up productive paddy lands as part of their campaign to destroy the agriculture and farmer.

It was during their period that the Paddy Marketing Board was closed down and giant paddy milling and stores complexes at paddy producing areas like Polonnaruwa, Hingurakgoda and Hasalaka were abandoned. The adverse effects of that campaign is still felt by farmers.

Whatever the arguments with regard to which way the economy should be diverted, the wish and expectation of patriotic people is that it should be done on a national plan. Some argue that the capitalist open economy system suits this country.

Some others are of the view that local economy should be improved like in India which has taken steps to strengthen its local economy and try to become an economic power in South East Asia by making use of internal economy. But our country has been trying to promote a foreign trade centre here. The ethnic problem has become a basic conflict and no attempt has been made to create a system of economy under which resources are divided equitably.

It is necessary to discuss whether globalisation as an organised programme in this country is going to benefit the country or not. Globalisation is a system conceived in the womb of capitalism. Yet it will not be difficult for a national leader to make use of it for the betterment of the country.

The election for a national leadership with the vision to approach a people friendly plan by strengthening the local entrepreneurship within the market economy system has become the need of the hour.

The responsibility of national leadership could not be limited to the above mentioned socio-economic context. The finding of a solution to the ethnic conflict is a responsibility of the national leadership.

Ranil Wickremesinghe is the other person trying to achieve national leadership. His only approach to the ethnic issue is the Ceasefire Agreement. The people of the country would not target the fact that the background for his Ceasefire Agreement had been prepared by the Security Forces directed by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

Wickremesinghe has never made available to the country his solution to the ethnic conflict in case he is elected to the Office of President. On the contrary, Prime Minister Rajapakse has given an assurance to the country that he would bring about a solution acceptable to both the North and the South. It would be the most acceptable and practicable solution to this problem.

The responsibility of the national leadership is the ability to face all the challenges and suppressive actions confronted by the people and make them free of such oppression and suppression. Prime Minister Rajapakse by fearlessly facing the situation during the period of terror under the UNP rule has proven his ability and courage to face any such situation and save the people along with their democratical rights.

He took to the international fora the grave situation faced by the people of this country seeking intervention of human rights organisations and International Community.

Rajapakse has stood for human and democratic rights of people of Middle East nations and their liberation movements. Sri Lanka is in need of such an experienced fearless and democratic leader as the national leader.