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More cunning than the ‘old fox’: Sri Lanka’s acting president
by Amal JAYASINGHE
A lifetime’s ambition was fulfilled Friday when Sri Lanka’s six-times prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was finally sworn in as president.
He is only head of state in an acting capacity after Gotabaya Rajapaksa resigned in disgrace after fleeing to Singapore, but the position is one Wickremesinghe has sought for decades.A few families have long dominated politics in the Indian Ocean island nation, and Wickremesinghe is the nephew of one its longest-serving leaders, Junius Jayewardene, who was in power for 12 years until stepping down in 1989.
Dubbed the “old fox”, Jayewardene was renowned for his cunning, but his nephew is regarded as an even shrewder navigator of the country’s internecine power networks.It was Jayewardene who brought him into politics by making him a deputy foreign affairs minister in 1977. Wags said the initials of their United National Party actually stood for Uncle and Nephew.
Family members say that Jayewardene, who died in 1996, had wanted to ensure that Wickremesinghe becomes president “even for one day”.
Now he will hold the position for at least six days, with parliament due to elect Rajapaksa’s long-term successor on Wednesday — although Friday’s swearing-in means Wickremesinghe maintains his record of never having fulfilled a full term as prime minister. He ran for the presidency twice — in 1999 and 2005 — losing both elections, and the UNP was annihilated in a parliamentary election in 2020, leaving Wickremesinghe as its only MP.
But his political manoeuvring enabled him to outfox opponents and secure his sixth appointment to the premiership earlier this year after Rajapaksa’s brother Mahinda resigned.Wickremesinghe is married to Maithree, an English lecturer. They have no children, and have bequeathed their assets to his old school and their universities.
But their impressive library of more than 2,500 books — which he called his “biggest treasure” — was among the losses when their house was torched last week by demonstrators who also drove Rajapaksa from his official residence.
Born into a wealthy as well as politically connected family rooted in publishing and plantations, Wickremesinghe started work as a rookie reporter at one of the family newspapers.But he turned to a legal career after the family firm was nationalised in 1973 by Sirima Bandaranaike, the world’s first woman prime minister.
“If Lake House had not been taken over, I would have become a journalist. So actually, Mrs Bandaranaike sent me to politics,” Wickremesinghe once told AFP.
His first appointment as prime minister was as a result of the May 1993 assassination of president Ranasinghe Premadasa by a suicide bomber. The then premier Dingiri Banda Wijetunga was elevated to the presidency, and picked Wickremesinghe — then Industry, Science and Technology minister — to replace him.A similar attack arguably denied him the presidency six years later: his main election rival Chandrika Kumaratunga was wounded by a suicide bomber just three days before the polls.
She brought the nation to tears in a television appearance with a patch over the right eye she had lost and received a significant sympathy vote, with Wickremesinghe losing an election many thought he would win.Now the political wheel may turn once more: the demonstrators who ousted Rajapaksa are also demanding Wickremesinghe’s departure, and Premadasa’s son Sajith is one of the leading contenders to be elected president next week.
Wickremesinghe long had a “Mr Clean” image, but it was muddied during his last-but-one prime ministerial term in 2015-19 when his administration was rocked by an insider trading scam involving central bank bonds.
His schoolmate and choice as central bank chief was a key accused, raising allegations of cronyism.
Wickremesinghe was also accused of protecting members of the Rajapaksa clan who have been accused of graft, kickbacks, siphoning off public finances and even murder.He takes charge of a bankrupt nation that has default on its $51-billion foreign debt and without money to import essential goods.
His status as a pro-West, free-market reformist could smooth bailout negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and foreign creditors, but he has already warned there will be no quick fix to the nation’s unprecedented economic woes.
“The worst is yet to come. We have very high inflation now and hyperinflation is on its way,” Wickremesinghe told parliament last week. “We are bankrupt.”
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It is our collective responsibility to build a nation grounded in unity and strength – President
President Anura Kumara Disanayake in his Maha Shiva rathri message said that it is our collective responsibility to build a nation grounded in unity and strength.
The full text of the message issued by the President’s media division:
Maha Shiva Rathri is a sacred and joyous occasion celebrated by Hindu devotees across the world in reverence of Lord Shiva. This divine night marks the celestial union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, as well as the powerful Tandava, Shiva’s cosmic dance of creation and destruction. It symbolises the triumph of wisdom over ignorance, dispelling the darkness of illusion and lighting the path to enlightenment.
On this auspicious night, Hindu devotees observe fasting and engage in spiritual practices, praying for the darkness of ignorance to be replaced by the radiance of wisdom. It is also a time to seek divine blessings for prosperity, peace and fulfilment in life.
The union of Shiva and Parvati is a profound representation of knowledge and power coming together. It reminds us that breaking free from the illusions of division allows us to embrace the truth with open eyes. Today, as we stand at the dawn of a new era, this message is more relevant than ever. Let us tear down the barriers that have kept us apart for generations and unite as one, casting aside discord and embracing togetherness. This is a moment to nurture interfaith harmony, celebrate our diversity and move forward with love and mutual respect, dedicating ourselves to the progress of our beloved motherland.
As we journey towards a brighter future, it is our collective responsibility to build a nation grounded in unity and strength. We are stepping into a time of transformation, embracing political, economic and social renewal, shaping a future that holds promise and hope for all.
On this sacred night, as the glowing lamps of Maha Shiva Rathri illuminate our surroundings, let them also illuminate our hearts, guiding us with unwavering faith along the path we have chosen. Let us walk forward together, hand in hand, in the spirit of peace, unity and shared prosperity.
By Saman Indrajith
Finance and Planning Deputy Minister Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma told Parliament yesterday (25) that SriLankan Airlines was in debt due to political interference under previous governments.
Answering a question raised by Anuradhapura District SJB MP Rohana Bandara, Dr. Suriyapperuma said that such interference had resulted in an ongoing case in international courts.
Dr. Suriyapperuma stated that SriLankan Airlines had earned notoriety for corruption not only here but also abroad.
“Currently, there is an ongoing case in an international court over claims that commissions were sought in respect of the purchase of aircraft. Aircraft have been leased at exorbitant rates, far beyond prevailing market rates,” he said, adding that the actions and decisions of past regimes over the last few decades regarding SriLankan Airlines must be taken into account when examining its debt.
Outlining the measures taken by the government to tackle the staggering debt, the Deputy Minister of Finance said that a five-year programme would be implemented from 2025 to 2030.
Dr. Suriyapperuma explained that despite the allocation of Rs. 20 billion from the 2025 Budget for SriLankan Airlines, the funds would not be utilised for the airline’s operational expenses. Instead, the management had been tasked with transforming it into a self-sustaining entity. Discussions had already begun with relevant stakeholders to restructure the debt, which includes loans obtained in US dollars.
Dr. Suriyapperuma revealed that SriLankan Airlines had been paying USD 900,000 per month in installments for three aircraft that had remained unused for several years. He added that the national carrier currently owned a total of 22 aircraft and employed 3,194 staff members in its main airline operations, along with 2,862 employees in its strategic business units.
Dr. Suriyapperuma also highlighted that the Ministry was currently evaluating those plans, with the expectation of achieving operational profitability and securing government support within the five-year period.
Suriyapperuma assured that measures would be taken to address SriLankan Airlines’ debt without burdening the public.
… Easter Sunday carnage suspects among them
The government has issued a gazette extending the ban on several Tamil diaspora groups, alleging they supported “terrorism-related activities,” The Tamil Guardian has reported.
The gazette, signed by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Sampath Thuyyakontha, declared that these organisations have “repeatedly provided financial support for terrorism.” As a result, their financial and economic assets remain frozen, and Sri Lankans are prohibited from having any contact with them. Those that do risk being arrested.
The list also reaffirms the ban on 222 individuals allegedly linked to terrorism.
The organisations blacklisted by the Sri Lankan government include:
* Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
* Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO)
* Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC)
* World Tamil Movement (WTM)
* Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)
* World Tamil Relief Fund (WTRF)
* National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT)
* Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO)
Other organisations listed include several linked to Islamic groups, such as the National Towhead Jema’ah (NTJ) and the Sri Lanka Islamic Student Movement (SLISM).
The Tamil Guardian reported that successive Sri Lankan governments have used terrorism laws to ban Tamil organisations that continue to function openly and legally in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and throughout Europe. This ban, however, stifles links between these diaspora organisations and Tamils, making it a criminal offence for Sri Lankan citizens to maintain contact with them.
The reposition of the ban follows a pattern seen in previous years. In 2024, Sri Lanka renewed its prohibition of Tamil diaspora organisations, days after India extended its own ban on the LTTE. The move was widely condemned as politically motivated and an attempt to justify Sri Lanka’s military presence in the “Tamil homeland”.
It is our collective responsibility to build a nation grounded in unity and strength – President
Fairly heavy showers above 75mm can be expected at some places in Eastern and Uva provinces and in Matale, Nuwara-Eliya, Polonnaruwa, Galle, Matara, Kalutara and Rathnapura districts.
USD 900,000 paid monthly for three unused SriLankan aircraft– Dy. Finance Minister
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