The contenders

With the nomination date fast approaching several contenders have already come on stage. It seems more than half a dozen would join the fray seeking the highest post in the land. Of course, not every one would be able to win. At the end the race would be between two principal candidates, others would have also run when the polling closes, may be not that much far from the starting point.

Let us have a look at the principal contenders. One side, we have the Commander-in-Chief and on the other, his retired Army Commander and Chief of Defence Staff. While the former retains his position, the latter has been replaced by new ones so that he is devoid of the halo associated with the positions.

On the one side, we have a politician with over 40 years of experience both in and out of Parliament. On the other, we have a political novice whose political knowledge, leave alone acumen, would be much less than that of even the also running contenders.

On one hand, we have a mature statesman with tested diplomatic skills. On the other a gentleman who has not even reached infancy in statesmanship and diplomacy.

On one side, there is a man with a vision and mission.

On the other there is a man with no identifiable vision and a mission. The Mahinda Chintana vision has stood the test of time whereas the on the other side, we do not see any vision at all.

On the one side, we have a contender who has a record of accomplishing his mission on many spheres. On the other the contender has no mission yet since his vision has not yet been hatched.

The contenders, however, could benefit from the strength and standing of the political formations that back them. Hence, it would not be out of place to compare the two political formations that are rearing to go at each other.

On one side, we have the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and on the other the United National Alliance (UNA).

On the one hand, the UPFA is a formidable Alliance that has been functioning for some time and in fact ruling the country. The UNA, on the other hand, has been just put into shape bringing together a motley crowd of disparate political groupings.

The UPFA is a united force both in word and deed. The UNA comprises political forces with diverse agendas and its disunity is already seen on stage.

Besides, the UNA is at the mercy of its coalition partner the JVP. It is a moot point how the UNP with its neo-liberal credentials and conservative outlook could collaborate with the JVP with its socialist credentials and radical outlook. Leaving politics aside there is also the sad experience of the JVP when hundreds of its cadres and sympathizers, including their total leadership were ruthlessly eliminated by the UNP Government in the age of terror in 1987-89.

Though the UNA and the JVP back the same horse, it is contradictions galore in this unholy alliance. While the UNA is for neo-liberal economic policies as epitomised in the 'Regaining Sri Lanka' program of yesteryear, the JVP was and is still one of its more formidable critics. On the National Question the UNA was for the 13th Amendment to the Constitution while the JVP is against it. The UNA candidate has, in the meanwhile, expressed his ignorance on the issue and is expected to consult the UNP to formulate his opinion.

The UNA wants to bring in an executive Prime Minister while the JVP is opposed to the idea. Diverse voices are also heard from the UNA and the JVP concerning the abolition of the Executive Presidency. While the contestant has not shown any enthusiasm to abide by such a time-frame, the fact remains that it is not the Executive President but Parliament that has the power to do so.

Besides, any such revision of the Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in Parliament and approval by the people at a referendum. Considering the relative strengths of political forces it is a tall order. Hence, the promise to abolish the Executive Presidency is only a red herring.

There is a Sinhala idiom which says that whatever someone may say the listener should listen intelligently. The intelligent voters, we believe, would make the correct decision on January 26.

From the foregoing it seems to be a simple choice for the voter. They would have to choose between order and disorder, unity and disunity, experience and inexperience, truth and falsehood.