Some early musings on presidential election

By an apolitical aficionado Things are beginning to hot up and even persistently simmer quite a bit ahead of the presidential election to be held in a few months. Multiple parties and candidates are vying for power, each of them holds out its promises, challenges, and visions for the future. Some of these were graphically articulated at the May Day processions, meetings and rallies of just a few days ago.

All and sundry from different pollical hues, affiliations and governing principles have hastened to claim that each is God’s personal gift to Sri Lanka. It is perhaps time to have an early look at the current status of the panning situation which seems to be in a constant state of flux, look at the relative chances of the key contenders, and assess their strengths and weaknesses in the eyes of the electorate. The United National Party (UNP), under the leadership of the current President of the country, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has been credited with steering Sri Lanka out of an economic morass.



At least on that score, he has a point. On May Day, he invited all Opposition parties to co-operate him to put the economy on an even keel Some of the minions of these parties may do the high jump but it is most unlikely that the upper echelons of the parties would join Ranil. Apart from all that, criticisms have been levelled against Wickremasinghe for his autocratic leadership style and even generally perceived disregard for expert advice.

While his economic policies may have brought.