Rata Anurata

by Ayampillai Dharmakulasingham,
Retired Sri Lankan career diplomat

The rhyming Sinhala phrase Rata Anurata and Tamil phrase Naadu Anuravodu captured the imagination of voters during Sri Lanka’s smoothly conducted 9th presidential election. Election monitors from various organisations praised the conduct of the election, and the peaceful transition of power from Ranil Wickremesinghe to the newly elected president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, signaled a significant shift on several fronts. Swedish radio went even further, commending Sri Lanka for demonstrating to the world how to hold peaceful elections.

However, the praise from Swedish radio subtly implies that previous elections in Sri Lanka were not up to standard, which is a blatant misrepresentation. Universal suffrage was granted in Ceylon as early as 1932, and Sri Lankans have enjoyed the right to vote since then—an achievement even the so-called democratic giant, India, cannot claim. While there have been some isolated incidents that have affected the democratic process in Sri Lanka, by and large, its elections have been commendable, with the transfer of power being as smooth as a well-paved road.

In his maiden address to the nation on the night of September 25th, the newly elected president reassured the private sector and investors that the JVP/NPP administration is committed to protecting and promoting the open economic policies that have been followed by successive governments since 1977. The president’s address emphasized the administration’s commitment to principles rather than rigid rules. It is a well-known fact, through experience, that strict adherence to rules often leads to undesirable outcomes and rigidity.

This principle-based approach is evident in the current price levels of eggs. The realisation among egg producers that under-the-table dealings will no longer be tolerated by the new government has led to positive changes. It is always the taxpayer who suffers as the victim of corruption, but now they are benefiting from the dismantling of the underhand activities that once prevailed in certain sections of the political authority and bureaucracy.

The stock market opened with bullish sentiment on September 24th, as many investors believe that the new government will resume negotiations with the IMF. The president has already expressed his commitment to restarting these talks with the same team that includes the Governor of the Central Bank and the Secretary to the Treasury, both of whom were instrumental during former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s administration. Following the JVP/NPP’s victory in the presidential race, some domestic and international media outlets began subtly spreading unsubstantiated claims that the new regime would adhere to Marxist economic principles.

While the JVP is indeed an offshoot of the Ceylon Communist Party (Peking Wing), it has gained valuable experience observing how both the Soviet and Chinese economies developed under planned economic systems. Moreover, the economic reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping in post-Mao China, including the abandonment of agricultural collectivisation, the privatisation of farmlands, and the restructuring of inefficient state-owned enterprises, offer important lessons for aspiring leftists. The president’s address highlighted a pragmatic approach to economic reality, without explicitly referencing the Soviet or Chinese experiences.

One of the key challenges facing the president and the government is navigating the delicate balance between two friendly nations, India and China. This issue is not unique to Sri Lanka, as other South Asian nations face similar challenges. For Sri Lanka, the relationship with India holds historical significance, which is why retired Sri Lankan diplomat Godage famously declared, “the cornerstone of Sri Lankan policy is its relations with India.” Sri Lanka’s relationship with China, on the other hand, dates back to 1952 with the Rice-Rubber Pact, a pivotal agreement between the two countries at a time when they had no formal diplomatic relations. The Rice-Rubber Pact remains the cornerstone of Sri Lanka-China relations.

Another significant development came in 1956, when Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike recognised the People’s Republic of China as the sole legitimate China. Sri Lanka has adhered to the One China Policy for many decades. India, as the first country to assist Sri Lanka in bailing out the island nation from the severe economic crisis in 2022, has been a steadfast partner and a tower of cooperation. Prime Minister Modi’s “Neighborhood First” policy has been a significant boon for Sri Lanka. However, some media outlets, under the guise of media freedom, are not hesitant to spread false and unsubstantiated “discoveries.” A prime example of this malicious approach is reflected in an article by Santosh Mathew (Island, September 25) titled “JVP’s Victory is a Setback for India.” The article contains numerous falsehoods, from Sri Lanka’s efforts to combat and eradicate terrorism to its relationship with China.

It is no secret that powerful forces—including political entities, vested interests, their overseas backers, and so-called NGOs and INGOs—will not simply sit on the sidelines like fringe players in a cricket match. The wheels of anarchy will not stop turning. All in all, the principle-based president and his party, having liberated Sri Lanka from elitist rulers, have already demonstrated in a short period the direction in which governance is heading. The upcoming parliamentary elections in November 2024 have the potential to attract even more votes than the presidential election.