This week saw the commemoration of the 25th death anniversary of Ranasinghe Premadasa, Sri Lanka’s second Executive President, who was assassinated on May Day in 1993, as he was marshalling his party workers at Armour Street, Kotahena for the traditional May Day procession.
Premadasa’s rise to the top was not an easy one. He was from the United National Party (UNP) which was at one time called the ‘Uncle Nephew Party’ because its leaders were kinsmen who came from the same clan of elite, wealthy families based in Colombo.
Premadasa broke that mould. Not born to privileges, he achieved them the hard way, toiling long hours and impressing his superiors. In doing so, he did not lose his links with the ‘small man’ who in turn identified him as one of their own. He became the vehicle that took the elitist UNP to the people.
In the UNP, Premadasa made as many enemies as much as he made friends. The main players in JR’s Cabinet- Athulathmudali, Dissanayake and Ronnie de Mel- could barely hide their contempt for Premadasa. JR’s nephew, Upali Wijewardene, lampooned him mercilessly in his newspapers.
In fact, Premadasa cleverly used his upbringing to his advantage. He frequently reminded the masses from election platforms that he was one of them, not belonging to the ruling elite classes. When less astute politicians found class and caste arraigned against them, Premadasa used it to win elections.
That is why, when J. R. Jayewardene was retiring, he chose to support Premadasa as his successor. Of course, Premadasa was more senior than the two other front-runners, Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake. But the latter duo was equally keen to press their claims, which JR ignored.
Premadasa had his faults- and they were many. As President, he preferred to rule with an iron fist. For that, whereas JR used his brain, Premadasa used brawn. He did not tolerate dissent. He saw himself as a leader who could do no wrong and wanted all his Ministers to fall in line with his thinking.
Athulathmudali and Dissanayake refused to do so. The eventual result was a Motion of Impeachment against Premadasa. Premadasa survived that but at the cost of fracturing the UNP which until then held sway in the local political arena, thanks to JR’s machinations and manoeuvring.
In hindsight, Premadasa’s choice of D. B. Wijetunge was wrong. Had he opted for either Dissanayake or Athulathmudali, history could have been different today. But, smitten by his own insecurities, he chose Wijetunge. It proved to be a costly mistake not only for him but also for the UNP.
Eventually, at the time of Premadasa’s death, the UNP’s popularity was on the decline. The country was fed up watching a strongman’s antics, when they were used to changing their government every five years. He was the first Lankan leader whose death was celebrated by the people in some areas.
Yet, placed in the current perspective, most UNPers and even average citizens in this country have nothing but praise for Premadasa. He is seen as a President who ‘got work done’ and made life better for millions of underprivileged people. That is because his successors haven’t been as competent.
Sri Lanka became a leading exporter of garments, thanks to Premadasa’s efforts. It is an industry that survives and serves to sustain our economy to this day. Premadasa’s housing program was hailed not only nationally but internationally when the United Nations dedicated a year to housing issues.
It must not be forgotten that, despite JR’s best efforts, the legacy that he left behind- and the legacy that Premadasa inherited- was a troubled nation. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) held sway in the North and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) ruled the roost in the South.
Premadasa could not defeat the LTTE but he was successful in repatriating the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). This was after some harsh words and ultimatums to the then Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi who was himself assassinated by the LTTE, a few years later.
That is no mean achievement. Premadasa’s predecessor, JR, had submitted meekly to India’s dictates and capitulated meekly. Premadasa threw caution and diplomacy to the wind. He told our giant neighbour that, as President, he wanted the Indian troops out immediately. He prevailed.
Premadasa used Ranjan Wijeratne as his able lieutenant to eliminate the JVP leadership and bring the country back from the brink to a semblance of normalcy. His methods may have been ruthless and would not have won him the Nobel Peace Prize but then, in typical fashion, he ‘got the job done’.
Premadasa’s place in history is as yet uncertain. If some breathed a sigh of relief at his demise, they will have to think again after witnessing four others succeed him to the high office of Executive President. It is not incorrect to say that subsequent events have only enhanced Premadasa’s standing.
For instance, Premadasa had his Ministers on a tight leash. They had to perform and deliver results. They were not allowed lifestyles of luxury, merely because they were from the same political party. That political culture, though perhaps not the ideal, has now changed for the worse, possibly for ever.
Premadasa’s policies addressed the grievances of the majority of people. They were not high tech mantras that benefited a privileged few. This is because of his upbringing and perhaps, because he knew first-hand what it was like to be the underdog. Such a philosophy is not evident today.
Just as much as Premadasa ‘got the job done’ he was not one to be indecisive and prevaricate. Whether it be his housing program, reshuffling the Cabinet or countering the motion of impeachment against him, he had a plan and saw it through to the very end- often with good effect.
At a time when the country is yearning for strong, decisive leadership, the void that Ranasinghe Premadasa left is greatly felt, both, in the Lankan political theatre as well as in the UNP. Premadasa was no angel. Still, history will be kinder to him, if only because of the follies of his successors.