{"id":63311,"date":"2019-04-04T18:18:48","date_gmt":"2019-04-04T22:18:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=63311"},"modified":"2019-04-04T20:38:21","modified_gmt":"2019-04-05T00:38:21","slug":"rajapaksas-close-ranks-behind-gotabaya-as-presidential-candidate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=63311","title":{"rendered":"Rajapaksas Close Ranks Behind Gotabaya as Presidential Candidate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>By<br \/>\nD.B.S.Jeyaraj<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Is Mahinda Playing Fair by Gota in the Presidential Candidacy Issue?<\/strong><\/em> Was the heading of an article by this writer that was published a fortnight ago in the \u201cDaily Mirror\u201d. Let me begin this week\u2019s article by  excerpting  five relevant paragraphs from the D.B.S. Jeyaraj column of March 9th 2019.  Here are the first four paragraphs from the  beginning of the  article \u2013<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_63312\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/MR-GR.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63312\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/MR-GR-600x400.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" class=\"size-large wp-image-63312\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-63312\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">pic via: facebook.com\/gotabayar ~ Feb 17, 2019<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cIs former President Mahinda Rajapaksa playing fair by his younger brother Gotabaya as far as the presidential election candidate issue is concerned? This question has popped up in the minds of many observers of Sri  Lanka\u2019s political landscape in recent times. Although the Rajapaksa brothers present an outward image of monolithic unity, the political grapevine has hummed many times about strong political differences existing within the \u2018Kurakkan Sataka\u2019 clan. This has been particularly so in the case of a family decision on publicly announcing the candidate for the presidential election this year\u201d<br \/>\n<!--more--><br \/>\n\u201cWhile it is \u201cunofficially\u201d presumed that Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the chosen candidate, the fact remains that the former defence secretary is yet to receive the green light from sibling Mahinda \u201cofficially.\u201d This is all the more striking because Gotabaya has been going ahead resolutely with the spadework necessary for being a presidential contender in 2019. This gives rise to the belief that Mahinda has already sanctioned Gota\u2019s candidacy and will announce it at the right time. What jars however are some acts of commission and omission by Mahinda that seem to run contrary to the \u2018Gota as presidential candidate\u2019 project. This makes many feel \u2013 though few have dared to express it openly \u2013 that the \u201cMedamulana Machiavelli\u201d may be having other ideas and is not playing fair by Gota in a political sense\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course it must be said that a powerful segment of pro-Rajapaksa loyalists would \u201cpooh-pooh\u201d these doubts. They would say \u2013 and are saying \u2013 that there are no chinks in the Rajapaksa armour and that the family is \u201cmarching to a single drum.\u201d There may be minor points of disagreement among family members but they are all firmly united on the presidential candidacy issue. Mahinda being politically astute is only biding his time to make the announcement at the right time. He may be wanting to protect Gotabaya from being \u201cpolitically persecuted\u201d by delaying the announcement. Furthermore, there are some who opine that the Rajapaksas are projecting an image of dissension and division as a political tactic to put opponents off their guard. At the right time the Rajapaksas would announce Gota\u2019s candidacy and close ranks behind him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne obvious factor that cannot be ignored in the current scenario is the political desperation of the Rajapaksa dynasty, particularly Mahinda. With the ex-President being debarred from contesting the presidency again, it is of the utmost importance that the candidate endorsed by him should romp home the winner. A defeat would result in the eventual decline and fall of the Ruhunu Rajapaksas. Right now, the Rajapaksa camp candidate with the best possible chance of winning the poll seems to be Gotabaya Nandasena Rajapaksa. A Gotabaya victory would ensure the consolidation and preservation of the Rajapaksa family\u2019s political fortunes. Hence, the family has no option but to rally around Gotabaya in the final analysis. Those rooting for Gota would subscribe to the above stated view. Indeed, Gota himself has been operating on that premise\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>And here is the final paragraph at the end of the article &#8211;<\/p>\n<p><em>\u201cAll this shows that matters are drawing to a head in the Rajapaksa camp. Mahinda Rajapaksa has to act speedily and dispel the impression that he is not playing fair by Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the presidential candidacy issue. It is time to formally announce the UPFA\/SLPP presidential candidate also. It is imperative for the Rajapaksa camp to pick the candidate with the best chance of winning. Many opine that Gota is the winning candidate. It is in this evolving situation that Gotabaya Nandasena Rajapaksa awaits his inevitable tryst with destiny\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Speedy Action To Resolve Issue<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The above paragraphs excerpted from my earlier article referred to the perplexing and somewhat prickly issue of Gotabaya Rajapaksa\u2019s presidential candidacy. What those paragraphs in particular  and the article in general tried to pinpoint was that Mahinda Rajapaksa should take speedy action to resolve the issue and that Gotabaya Rajapaksa himself could  resort to certain steps in order  to force the pace in this regard.<\/p>\n<p>It now appears that the issue seems to have been satisfactorily  addressed to a great extent with the Rajapaksa family closing ranks behind Gota who is to be nominated as the  presidential candidate. After a prolonged period of vacillation and  related speculation, the decision to nominate Gotabaya as candidate was taken by former President and current leader of the opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa with the concurrence and approval of other politically engaged members of the extended Rajapaksa family.<\/p>\n<p>The key decision was taken on Thursday March 14th at the Wijerama road residence of Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo at a meeting in which six members of the Rajapaksa family involved in active politics were present. They were ex-president and Leader of the Opposition Mahinda Rajapaksa, Former Speaker and Current MP Chamal Rajapaksa, Former Cabinet Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Ex Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Former Uva Province Chief Minister Shasheendra Rajapaksa and Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa. The primary purpose of the meeting held along with dinner was to arrive at a firm and conclusive decision in determining the candidacy for the forthcoming 2019 Presidential elections.<\/p>\n<p>It is learnt that there were compelling  reasons for holding an urgent family meeting to discuss the issue. There is a consensus among  Rajapaksa family as well as SLPP party circles that Mahinda must decide on whom to nominate as the presidential candidate. There is also a general understanding that Gotabaya Rajapaksa should be the chosen candidate. What was necessary as outlined in the excerpted passages was for Mahinda to finalise matters by consenting to field Gota as the candidate. Two factors brought about a sense of urgency.<\/p>\n<p>The first was the rising tide of opinion within the  Sri Lanka Podujana Party(SLPP)  rank and file that there should be no compromise with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP) on the question of nominating a presidential candidate. President Maithripala Sirisena wanted to contest the presidential poll as the  common candidate of the SLFP and SLPP. Since Mahinda had given the green light for such a move for tactical reasons at the time of the Oct 26 political coup, there were many who thought Maithripala would be the chosen candidate. However  there was suspicion that Sirisena was playing a typical double-game and was secretly cultivating an alliance with the United National Party(UNP). There was a groundswell of resentment within party leaders and members that the SLPP should not trust Sirisena any longer. Mahinda Rajapaksa  too was furious at Maithripala and SLFP because the opposition leader had had great hopes about a  good show by the SLPP -SLFP joint front at the budget vote and then defaulted. Thus it became necessary to finalise a presidential candidate from the SLPP quickly to drive home a point to the SLFP and Sirisena.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Decisive Course of Action<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The second and more important reason for the family meeting was the decisive course of action embarked upon by Gotabaya himself. Earlier Gota had been content to  appeal and wait for Mahinda to finalise the decision on candidacy while promoting his project with the aid of organizations like \u201cViyath Maga\u201d and \u201cEliya\u201d. But now with time dragging out,  an understandably impatient Gota  took steps to force the pace of events. He formally submitted to the SLPP  his bid to contest  as the forthcoming presidential elections as the party candidate. At the same time Gota indicated firmly that he would not mount SLPP political meeting platforms unless and until he was finalized as the official candidate.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore Gotabaya also undertook a very definitive step that may very well transform his life in the future. He commenced the process of renouncing his US citizenship. As is well known Gotabaya is debarred from contesting the presidential or parliamentary election because he is a dual citizen. He is a citizen of Sri Lanka as well as the USA. In terms of the 19th Constitutional amendment Gota must renounce or forego his US citizenship in order to be eligible to contest.<\/p>\n<p>Gota has often said that he would renounce his citizenship at the right time and that it would not be a problem. However after some remarks made by outgoing US envoy Atul Keshap to Mahinda Rajapaksa were publicized in the media there is much speculation that Uncle Sam would not let Gota renounce his US citizenship so easily and that the ex -Defence Secretary would not be able to do away with his dual citizenship status on time to contest the presidential poll as an eligible candidate.<\/p>\n<p>Gota however has dismissed these doubts and has gone on record that the US would not obstruct a US National who wished to renounce his or her citizenship for a valid and legitimate reason. Despite this assertion Gota did not show any signs of being inclined to give up his US citizenship. This was interpreted by many as an indicator that Gotabaya Rajapaksa  was unsure of getting the presidential candidacy nomination. Gotabaya  would be left in the lurch if he renounced his US citizenship first and then  was not given nomination as presidential candidate. Therefore it was felt that  Gota was playing safe by holding on to his US citizenship until he got the candidacy or was very sure of  the nomination being imminent.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Renounce His US Citizenship<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In a significant departure from this previously held  position , Gotabaya Rajapaksa went to the US embassy in Colombo on March 6th and submitted a formal application to renounce his US citizenship voluntarily. It is learnt that Gota went to the US embassy alone in a chauffeur driven vehicle without any lawyers or others accompanying him. The application made under provisions of section 349 of the US Immigration and Nationality Act requires a fee of US 2350 $. The process of renunciation comprises a step by step procedure that  would culminate in the issuance of a loss of US Nationality certificate to Gotabaya Rajapaksa. It is learnt that Gota\u2019s application has been forwarded to Washington for further processing and action. According to unconfirmed reports former cabinet minister and ex-parliamentarian  Milinda Moragoda who is said to possess considerable influence with the US bureaucracy  will be assisting Gota in this matter.<\/p>\n<p>Gota\u2019s decisive preliminary step in the US citizenship renunciation process indicated that he is now very determined to throw his hat into the presidential ring. It conveyed a sense of urgency to the procrastinating Rajapaksa family that a decision should be taken on the matter soon. Gota has demonstrated that he will be losing his US citizenship in order to serve the country by seeking the presidency. By commencing the US citizenship renunciation process Gota has crossed the Rubicon. There is no turning back now. He has to be appointed as the Presidential candidate of the SLPP or SLPP led coalition. If the highly unlikely possibility of Maithripala Sirisena being nominated as the SLPP-SLFP presidential  candidate occurs then Gota will contest separately. Mahinda will have an intra-family and inner-party revolt on his hands.<\/p>\n<p>In recent times political analysts have been saying that Maithripala Sirisena has the trump card of depriving the Rajapaksa camp of victory by contesting separately and splitting the anti-UNP votes. But what is forgotten is that Gotabaya too could do the same and deny a polls triumph to  a SLPP-SLFP backed candidate like Sirisena  by contesting separately and dividing the votes. I do not think Gota will do that but the fact remains that  he  too does have  an ace up his sleeve and if pushed to the wall has the option of using it.<\/p>\n<p>It was against this backdrop  therefore that the politically involved members of the Rajapaksa family met at Mahinda\u2019s residence for dinner. After hours of intense discussion before, during and after dinner the family members arrived at a consensus confirming Gotabaya\u2019s candidacy. It is learnt that eldest brother and \u201cPater Familias\u201d Chamal Rajapaksa had been insistent that Mahinda Rajapaksa should make his decision known after discussion with family members. Chamal reportedly said that matters had dragged on for too long and finalization on that night was essential.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative Points Against Gotabaya<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It is learnt that a great deal of issues were thrashed out openly and frankly  by the family. These related to the negative points that could be exploited as propaganda  against Gotabaya in an election campaign. Among the matters  discussed were the lack of Gota\u2019s political experience, the cases in courts against Gota over alleged corruption and abuse\/misuse of power, his reportedly negative image among the minority communities, the aversion displayed by the human rights activists who portray Gota as the epitome of evil and lay the burden of responsibility  for many violations  ranging from White van disappearances to  attacks on the media at his doorstep, Gota\u2019s alleged support for hawkish organizations such as the Bodu Bala Sena, the proximity to Gota  of retired high-ranking defence  services personnel reputed to be hardliners, the potential opposition of Global and regional powers etc.<\/p>\n<p>After many exchanges of viewpoints during which Gota clarified his stance on several issues there was a consensus of family opinion that Gota\u2019s candidacy should be confirmed. The family felt the Rajapaksas were being singled out as political targets and that the negative criticism levelled against Gota amounted to an assault on the  entire Rajapaksa family. As a result the family closed ranks behind Gotabaya.<\/p>\n<p>There were however two points of concern. One was the question of whether the US would obstruct Gota\u2019s candidacy by delaying the revocation of citizenship process thereby preventing him from contesting as a dual citizen. The second was the various cases filed against Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Gota is  fighting many legal battles in this regard and so far has staved off arrest and potential detention. Even  foreign travel has been forbidden in connection with the DA Rajapaksa memorial museum in Medalana case being heard by the Colombo Permanent high court trial at bar. A fast tracked hearing and conviction could be damaging to Gota\u2019s electoral prospects.<\/p>\n<p>Gotabaya however  was optimistic that the US citizenship issue would be resolved far ahead of the election announcement. He was equally confident that despite alleged conspiracies by political opponents to penalize him through the courts, the judiciary would uphold justice and prove his innocence. Gota  very firmly believed that  Sri Lanka\u2019s legal and judicial system would be fair by all concerned. Nevertheless a decision was taken that if there was a legal impediment to Gotabaya Rajapaksa contesting the presidential election at the last minute  then an alternative candidate would be nominated. In this instance the substitute candidate was very likely to be eldest sibling Chamal Rajapaksa.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Mahinda \u201cAiya\u201d and Gota \u201cMalli\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The conclave ended on a jubilant  note after Mahinda \u201cAiya\u201d stated happily that Gota \u201cMalli\u201d  would be the SLPP candidate and that he would whole-heartedly endorse his nomination and extend full support to the election campaign. This decision by Mahinda was welcomed and approved by other members of the family. Elder brothers Chamal, Mahinda and Basil then gave their blessings and wishes to younger brother Gota while nephews Namal and Shasheendra conveyed their wishes to Gota and sought the uncle\u2019s blessings in turn. Thereafter the family discussed potential strategies and activities concerning the presidential election.<\/p>\n<p>It was decided not to make public the Rajapaksa family endorsed decision taken by Mahinda at this point of time. Instead it would be made known to leaders and representatives of the United Peoples Freedom Alliance(UPFA) and Sri Lanka Podujana Party(SLPP) first. Thereafter the decision would be conveyed to party branches and certain religious leaders. Meanwhile discussions between the SLPP and the Sirisena led Sri Lanka Freedom Party(SLFP) about an electoral alignment would continue as planned. Although Sirisena would not be the presidential candidate it was felt that a partnership with what was left of the SLFP was desirable as it would result in enhancing  further support and harvest more votes. Moreover it was necessary to restrain the unpredictable Sirisena from aligning with the UNP or striking out separately.<\/p>\n<p>It was also decided that Gotabaya continue his pro-candidacy campaign as planned by staging public meetings under the auspices of \u201cEliya\u201d in different districts. Earlier two such meetings were held in the Gampaha and Kandy districts respectively. Both meetings were attended by most MP\u2019s , Provincial councillors and Local authority representatives of the respective districts from the SLPP and UPFA. The third such \u201cEliya\u201dmeeting  was  held on Sunday March 17th at Badulla and drew large crowds. A  striking feature of that meeting was the reference to Gota by some as the Presidential candidate and future president.<\/p>\n<p>Another point decided upon was that Gotabaya should  begin interacting with the \u201cPohottuwa\u201dparty(SLPP ) at grassroot level. It was also resolved that an intense campaign be launched to woo minority community votes. The Rajapaksas seem hopeful that it is possible to garner a certain quantum of votes from minority ethnicities. While aiming to retain the minority community  votes polled for Mahinda Rajapaksa at the 2015 January poll, there is an expectation that Gota may even surprise his opponents and political analysts by reaping an unexpectedly high number of votes from the Tamils and Muslims particularly from  the youths and the  urbanized professional and business classes.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Travel Abroad From March 26 to April 12<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In what may very well be a related development Gotabaya Rajapaksa also sought permission from the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial -at -bar to travel abroad. The trial at bar bench comprising High Court Judges Sampath Abeykoon (President), Sampath Wijeratne and Champa Janaki Rajaratne had earlier impounded his passport. Gotabaya Rajapaksa and six others are under trial before the permanent high court over the construction of the DA Rajapaksa Memorial Museum in Medamulana. The trial at bar bench acceded to the request and gave permission for Gotabaya Rajapaksa to travel abroad from March 26th to April 12th this year.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_63313\" style=\"width: 610px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/GR-0324.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-63313\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/GR-0324-600x453.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"453\" class=\"size-large wp-image-63313\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-63313\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">pic via: facebook.com\/gotabayar<\/p><\/div>\n<p>In accordance with the  decisions arrived at,  the Rajapaksas went about with  a \u201cbusiness as usual demeanour\u201d and refrained from referring to the Presidential candidacy. In keeping with the Rajapaksa stratagem of keeping people guessing or speculating through confusing signals, some family members enjoyed themselves by conveying contradictory information. Meanwhile  some of the anti-Rajapaksa elements commenced a campaign of their own to undermine the Gotabaya Rajapaksa candidacy.<\/p>\n<p>Gota himself plunged in zestfully into promoting his candidacy. A series of meetings with representatives of different professional, commercial and industrial sectors have been  arranged and some are already underway. Meetings  with organizers and office bearers of  Sri Lanka Podujana Party(SLPP)branches in the Eastern and Northern Provinces have been scheduled. These meetings are likely to be followed by meetings  on a staggered basis with organizers and office-bearers from SLPP party branches in the other provinces.<\/p>\n<p>A meeting was  also held with Nuwara Eliya district MP Arumugan Thondaman where the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) leader reportedly pledged his support and cooperation to Gotabaya. Likewise another meeting with a Tamil political leader too is on the cards next week. This is with Eelam Peoples Democratic Party(EPDP) leader and Jaffna district MP Douglas Devananda. It may be recalled that both the CWC and EPDP supported Mahinda Rajapaksa at the last presidential election.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ex-Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There was also an incident where the  presidential candidacy of Gotabaya Rajapaksa was mentioned positively by a distinguished Indian official. One was related to the Pathfinders Foundation\u2019s conference on Security and Governance in the Indian Ocean being held in Colombo.The founder of the Pathfinders Foundation is Milinda  Moragoda. Former  Indian National Security Advisor and Foreign Secretary of India Shivshankar Menon arrived  in Colombo to chair the Pathfinder Foundation\u2019s International Advisory Group meeting.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_26694\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/KJ111813.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-26694\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/11\/KJ111813-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-26694\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-26694\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">pic via: facebook.com\/KaruJayasuriya<\/p><\/div>\n<p>A very important feature of India- Sri Lanka relations during the war was the  setting up of  top level bi-lateral  \u201cTroika\u201dmeetings to manage relations between both countries. The Indian Troika consisted of  the then Indian foreign secretary Shivshankar Menon along with former  Indian defence secretary Vijay Singh and ex-national security adviser MK Narayanan. Their counterparts in the Sri Lankan \u201cTroika\u201d were former Cabinet minister Basil Rajapaksa, Ex-presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunga and the then Defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Actually the constitution of the Troika mechanism to oversee bilateral relations was an idea suggested by Gota himself.<\/p>\n<p>Shivshankar Menon revived old memories by meeting  Basil, Gota and Lalith the former Sri Lankan Troika members at a dinner organized by Pathfinders foundation in Colombo. When Menon was told that Gotabaya was going to be fielded as the presidential candidate, the ex -foreign secretary of India was quite receptive. Menon  said that having worked with him  on the Troika meetings, he knew the ex -defence secy\u2019s ability and was sure that  Gota would make a very good president. Menon also said that in an earlier meeting with opposition leader Mahinda Rajapaksa,  he had told the ex-president that the general opinion in India was that the return of the Rajapaksas to the political helm in Sri Lanka was inevitable . Mahinda had then told Menon that Hindu group of newspaper chairman Narasimhan Ram too had said the same  thing to him some time ago at Bengaluru in India.<\/p>\n<p>It appears therefore that the presidential candidacy of Gotabaya Nandasena Rajapaksa is now an accomplished fact though the  selection is yet to be announced in an official capacity. Even cabinet minister Navin Dissanayake  referred to him as a presidential candidate at a function held at Sri Gautami Viharaya in Narahenpita. Gota thanked Navin for saying that and in turn quipped that Navin\u2019s father in law was also going to be a presidential candidate. Gota of course was referring to speaker Karu Jayasuriya who is strongly tipped to be the presidential candidate of  the UNP led political front.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen whether Karu Jayasuriya will contest the presidential elections or not. But as for Gotabaya Rajapaksa it does seem definite that the ex -defence secretary would indeed be the SLPP  presidential candidate, This decision has been taken on the basis that Gota has the best possible chance of winning the presidential poll. It is imperative for the Rajapaksas that the  forthcoming presidential election should be won by their candidate. This is where Gota who fits the bill  perfectly comes in.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Altrernative Candidate Chamal Rajapaksa<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_43086\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/CR.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43086\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/CR-300x242.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"242\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-43086\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-43086\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chamal Rajapaksa<\/p><\/div>\n<p>However there is always a big \u201cIF\u201d in issues like this. So \u201cif\u201d Gota is prevented from contesting  elections due to legal impediments at the last minute , an alternative candidate &#8211; most probably Chamal Rajapaksa \u2013 would be  fielded. If that happens Chamal Rajapaksa or the substitute candidate could ride the crest of a sympathy wave  churned by Gota\u2019s disqualification  and may easily  coast to certain victory.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>DBS Jeyaraj can be reached at <a href=\"mailto:dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com\"><span>dbsjeyaraj@yahoo.com<\/span> <\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>This Article was written for the DBS Jeyaraj Column in the &#8220;Daily Mirror&#8221; of March 23, 2019. It can be accessed here-<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/opinion\/Rajapaksas-close-ranks-behind-Gota-as-presidential-candidate\/172-164394\">http:\/\/www.dailymirror.lk\/opinion\/Rajapaksas-close-ranks-behind-Gota-as-presidential-candidate\/172-164394<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"tweetbutton63311\" class=\"tw_button\" style=\"float:right;margin-left:10px;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdbsjeyaraj.com%2Fdbsj%2F%3Fp%3D63311&amp;text=Rajapaksas%20Close%20Ranks%20Behind%20Gotabaya%20as%20Presidential%20Candidate&amp;related=&amp;lang=en&amp;count=horizontal\" class=\"twitter-share-button\"  style=\"width:55px;height:22px;background:transparent url('https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/wp-content\/plugins\/wp-tweet-button\/tweetn.png') no-repeat  0 0;text-align:left;text-indent:-9999px;display:block;\">Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By D.B.S.Jeyaraj Is Mahinda Playing Fair by Gota in the Presidential Candidacy Issue? Was the heading of an article by this writer that was published a fortnight ago in the \u201cDaily Mirror\u201d. Let me begin this week\u2019s article by excerpting five relevant paragraphs from the D.B.S. Jeyaraj column of March 9th 2019. Here are the &#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=63311\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading &lsquo;Rajapaksas Close Ranks Behind Gotabaya as Presidential Candidate&rsquo; &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[27],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63311"}],"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=63311"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63315,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63311\/revisions\/63315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=63311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=63311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=63311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}