{"id":36748,"date":"2014-12-28T22:20:25","date_gmt":"2014-12-29T03:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=36748"},"modified":"2014-12-28T22:29:51","modified_gmt":"2014-12-29T03:29:51","slug":"will-maithripala-replace-mahinda-as-commonwealth-head-in-2015-like-jr-jayewardene-replaced-sirima-bandaranaike-as-non-aligned-movement-head-in-1977","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=36748","title":{"rendered":"Will Maithripala Replace Mahinda as Commonwealth head in 2015 like JR Jayewardene Replaced Sirima Bandaranaike as Non Aligned Movement head in 1977?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By<\/p>\n

Upul Joseph Fernando<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"MR<\/a><\/p>\n

Fortunes fall on laps at unexpected moments to certain personalities. It’s similar to winning a lottery through the electronic systems. Some who never dream of attaining high positions get them through luck. When good fortunes knock on the door, it is said the door opens suddenly. It is such backdrop, we should recall to memory past political developments over the last four decades. Recalling such memories, the glance to that past record, how high positions fell as fortunes on the laps of certain political leaders in our country.<\/p>\n

It was in August 1976 Mrs. Bandaranaike assumed the highest position of non-aligned conference as its Chairperson. In July 1977 after the election she had lost her premiership, the government and the Chair of the non-aligned conference; all three important positions she held in local and international political scene. For the 1977 July election date was fixed by her on astrological advice. Her astrological advisors harped on her the importance of taking advantage of extremely favourable planetary positions which were affecting her fortunes. In unison they professed now that she is in a unique world leadership position it was best to go for election with unflagging confidence. They said no leader of this country has ever enjoyed such a high position in National and International theatres. As she was at the zenith of her political career she should go for election which she could win easily, they opined.<\/p>\n

Leader of opposition then was J.R. Jayewardene who did not set much store by astrological predictions. But Premadasa was a firm believer and consulted a few astrologers to find out how JR could defeat a world leader (of three worlds) as she was being extolled by some news story writers. They told Premadasa what he (Premadasa) was pleased to hear at that trying time for his party. His faithful astrological advisors were of the opinion that the upward movement of her political fortunes was coming to an end. Beyond that she could not go anywhere other than down to political wilderness. Proving them right at the election which came up she was badly defeated by JR and the premiership, government and non aligned leadership fell into the lap of JR.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mahinda is the only leader other than Mrs. Bandaranaike who gained a top international post among the politicians of this country; that of the Chair of the Commonwealth Heads of States. His rise to this high position took place in November 2013. Now, one year after that, in December 2014 he is faced with a decisive election just as much as Mrs. Bandaranaike had to face.<\/p>\n

Will he suffer the same fate, as Mrs. Bandaranaike? That is a timely question that remains for answer. However, it is too early to comment or make predictions with the election just ten days away. Before Mahinda, the leadership of Commonwealth Heads of States was held by Prime Minister, Julia Gillard of Australia. As she lost her next party leadership election, she had to relinquish both the premiership and the Commonwealth Head of States Chairperson office.<\/p>\n

Julia Gillard dreamt of heading the CHOGM one day right from the time when Australia was awarded the honour of holding the meeting in Australia. Australia was selected to host CHOGM during the tenure of Premier Kevin Rudd. He was very keen to become CHOGM Chairman and awaited the opportunity. He lost the party leadership to Julia Gillard at a party leadership election at an unexpected moment. She became Prime Minister of Australia in 2010 and by virtue of that fact she was able to hold CHOGM in 2011 and become its Chairperson.<\/p>\n

Gillard was vastly instrumental in affording Mahinda his much coveted opportunity of hosting CHOGM in 2013 to don the crown of Chairman. Gillard’s support for Mahinda was in defiance of many human rights activists including government of Canada who opposed Mahinda. Gillard declared her total support to Mahinda not only as Australia’s Prime Minister but also as the sitting chairperson of CHOGM.<\/p>\n

Julia Gillard who acquired CHOGM chairperson office and scored high points in the national and international political arena had to fight a party leadership battle with Kevin Rudd on 26 June 2013 and lost to him. That defeat changed her destiny. She resigned from premiership the next day and Rudd became Prime Minister. As a result Kevin Rudd became CHOGM Chairman, too. Julia Gillard was looking forward to the day when she could bestow CHOGM chairmanship to Mahinda. Contrary to her wishes, she had to hand it over to Kevin Rudd from her own country. Kevin Rudd thus assumed the office of Prime Minister and high office of the CHOGM.<\/p>\n

Patrick Manning Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago who held the post before her had to face the same fate. It was Patrick who gained the opportunity to hold CHOGM in his country in 2009. He became Prime Minister for the fourth successive time in 2007. When he became premier in 2007 his only dream held dear was to host CHOGM in his country and become its Chairman. His dream was fulfilled in 2009. He was then looking forward to the day when he would be able to handover CHOGM Chair to Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard at the end of his two year tenure in that high global office.<\/p>\n

As the much believed aphorism; ‘Man proposes and God disposes’, Patrick Manning faced serious political agitations in the country and had to urge the President of his country to call a general election in 2010. Patrick marketed his CHOGM crown as a great honour he brought to the country during his political campaign to regain power. He spared no pains to drive to the people’s mind that to be the leader of 50 Commonwealth countries was no mean achievement. He thought he would easily win the election. But contrary to his expectation he lost the election and his rival Kamla won with the additional bonus of occupying the CHOGM chairman office. As Patrick, who lost premiership, party leadership and CHOGM chair, Julia also lost all such positions in her political career. It was like losing both neck and the necklace.<\/p>\n

That was the history of the recent past how incumbent chairpersons of CHOGM lost that chair having been defeated at home at crucial elections. All international positions that are occupied by political leaders are cemented by the victories they achieve at domestic level. And, those are lessons to be learnt when in office. Here in Sri Lanka the people go to vote to elect their new President on 08 January 2015.<\/p>\n

In case Mahinda Rajapaksa loses forthcoming Presidential Election; Maithripala Sirisena will inherit the CHOGM crown. Is the luck on his side as it was with J.R? Only the future can decide.<\/p>\n

Courtesy: Ceylon Today<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Upul Joseph Fernando Fortunes fall on laps at unexpected moments to certain personalities. It’s similar to winning a lottery through the electronic systems. Some who never dream of attaining high positions get them through luck. When good fortunes knock on the door, it is said the door opens suddenly. It is such backdrop, we …<\/p>\n

Continue reading ‘Will Maithripala Replace Mahinda as Commonwealth head in 2015 like JR Jayewardene Replaced Sirima Bandaranaike as Non Aligned Movement head in 1977?’ »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[12],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36748"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36748"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36748\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36756,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36748\/revisions\/36756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}