Ranil Wickremesinghe stands out as the most experienced politician among the 39 candidates running for the Presidency of Sri Lanka. With a career spanning decades and a long track record of holding key Government positions, he is uniquely positioned to understand the complexities of the country’s political landscape.
Wickremesinghe embodies the intricate interplay of victory and defeat in shaping political trajectories, and his career serves as a lens through which to examine how propaganda, media, and rumours influence public perceptions. Few political figures are as well-suited to illustrate the forces that shape the course of Sri Lankan politics.
Ranil Wickremesinghe hails from a family deeply entrenched in Sri Lankan politics and media. His father, Esmond Wickremesinghe, was a political powerhouse from a young age, playing a pivotal role in the nation’s early political landscape.
At just 32, following the death of the country’s first Prime Minister, D.S. Senanayake, in 1952, Esmond was instrumental in the campaign that secured the premiership for Dudley Senanayake, D.S.’s son, over John Kotelawala, who had also aspired to the position. John Kotelawala himself acknowledged Esmond’s influence in one of his books.
Ranil’s mother, Nalini Wijewardene, came from a prominent family as well. She was the daughter of D.R. Wijewardene, a towering figure in Sri Lankan journalism. Nalini also had a significant cultural and religious impact, being the granddaughter of Helena Wijewardene, who led the redevelopment of the Kelaniya Vihara. Nalini continued this legacy by contributing to the temple’s development.
Ranil Wickremesinghe received his early education at Royal College, Colombo, a prestigious institution. Unlike many children from prominent families of the time who pursued higher studies abroad, Ranil opted to study at the University of Colombo, becoming the first Sri Lankan university graduate to serve as the country’s Prime Minister. This unique distinction has yet to be matched, as he remains the only graduate of a Sri Lankan university to hold both the offices of Prime Minister and President.
Ranil’s political career began with his involvement in the United National Party’s (UNP) All Sri Lanka Youth Front, where he served on the working committee. He was later appointed as the party organiser for the Biyagama Constituency, a new addition to the Gampaha District.
In the 1977 General Election, Ranil was elected as one of the youngest Members of Parliament. He initially served as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in J.R. Jayewardene’s Government. Over time, he took on various roles, including Cabinet Minister, Speaker of the House, and Media Spokesperson under both J.R. Jayewardene and President Premadasa.
Under President Ranasinghe Premadasa, Wickremesinghe played key leadership roles during two critical moments in Sri Lanka’s political history. The first came in 1991 when President Premadasa faced an impeachment attempt.
Ranil remained steadfast in his support, doing everything in his power to prevent Premadasa’s impeachment. The second significant moment occurred when President Premadasa was assassinated in 1993. In the aftermath, Ranil took the lead in ensuring the country didn’t descend into chaos.
Political tides
He played a crucial role in facilitating the peaceful transition of power by canceling the UNP’s planned May Day rally and ensuring that D.B. Wijetunga was appointed President, thus stabilising the Government in accordance with the Constitution.
In 1994, political tides began to shift. President Wijetunga dissolved Parliament in July of that year, leading to a General Election in which the United National Party (UNP) suffered its first defeat in 17 years. Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was then Prime Minister, gracefully stepped down upon realising the outcome. However, when it came to selecting the Leader of the Opposition, Ranil lost by a single vote to Gamini Dissanayake, who had recently returned to the UNP after a period of absence.
In the 1994 presidential election, Gamini Dissanayake was chosen as the United National Party’s (UNP) candidate.
However, after his assassination during the campaign, the party’s executive board decided to nominate his wife, Srima Dissanayake, in his place. Following the end of D.B. Wijetunga’s presidential term, Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed leadership of a party that had faced the assassination of its leaders, lost the Presidential Election, and was in a weakened state.
In the 1999 Presidential Election, Chandrika Kumaratunga was injured in a bombing by the LTTE, which also led to the disruption of Ranil’s campaign. Despite this, Ranil defeated Chandrika in the 2001 General Election and formed a UNP Government. However, this Government was short-lived as Chandrika, who retained power as President, appointed ministers from her party and took control of key ministries, ultimately dissolving Parliament.
In 2005, the LTTE called for a boycott of the Tamil vote, which denied Ranil another chance at the Presidency. Despite this setback, he persevered and in 2015, Ranil successfully helped lead the defeat of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government. Ranil then formed a new Government and won the subsequent General Election. However, tensions arose with President Maithripala Sirisena, leading to political instability, as Sirisena worked to undermine Ranil’s leadership.
In the 2020 General Election, Ranil Wickremesinghe found himself relegated to a single National List MP position, a stark contrast to his previous prominence in Sri Lankan politics.
Amid the severe challenges of the 2022 Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with an economic and political crisis, Wickremesinghe emerged as the sole candidate willing to lead the country.
Since his appointment as President by Parliament, Wickremesinghe’s achievements have been substantial and cannot be easily summarised. His tenure has been marked by significant legal reforms, including the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, which has curtailed Presidential powers, and the enactment of pivotal legislation such as the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Election Expenditure Limitation Act, and the Central Bank Independence Act. His administration has also prioritised an anti-corruption agenda.
The public’s recent experiences with gas and oil shortages, port congestion due to unpaid shipments, frequent electricity outages, and medicine shortages are well-remembered. Wickremesinghe addressed these crises, stating that even financial resources could not resolve all the issues, signalling the end of that challenging era.
As Sri Lanka faced unprecedented commodity price hikes, Wickremesinghe successfully negotiated an IMF loan, despite previous skepticism about securing such support. This move, however, led to increased taxes as part of a broader economic adjustment plan, following the IMF’s restrictions on currency minting and borrowing.
Today, Sri Lanka is witnessing the fruits of the reforms and recovery efforts spearheaded by President Wickremesinghe. The country is now economically stable, with falling commodity prices, increased wages, and a resurgence of collapsed industries and businesses.
Foreign remittances
Tourist arrivals and foreign remittances are on the rise, showcasing a remarkable turnaround from a period of economic distress. Wickremesinghe’s leadership has been pivotal in reviving a nation that was once considered economically bankrupt in such a short span of time.
As the Presidential Election approaches, 38 candidates are vying for the position, a stark contrast to the leadership vacuum that existed before Wickremesinghe’s tenure. This proliferation of candidates highlights the country’s shift from a state of leadership void to one where multiple individuals are competing for the highest office.
The Opposition has voiced scepticism, suggesting that the same issues could have been addressed by another leader. However, their claims have been undermined by video recordings revealing their reluctance to assume the Presidency during critical times. This further underscores the unique position of Wickremesinghe, who not only stepped up to lead during a crisis but has also demonstrated tangible results in stabilising and revitalising the nation.
Some critics have accused President Wickremesinghe of privatising Government agencies and local resources. It is important to note that the trend of selling State-run businesses to the private sector was initiated by Sajith Premadasa’s father, President Ranasinghe Premadasa.
This approach was further expanded during Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga’s Presidency, with significant privatisation occurring during her term, supported by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP).
Globally, similar practices have been adopted; for instance, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping promoted a capitalist economy within a socialist framework by privatising state institutions, and Russian President Vladimir Putin also sold off numerous State agencies to revitalise the Russian economy.
Wickremesinghe’s policies align with these precedents, following a path similar to that taken by other prominent socialist and revolutionary leaders who embraced market-oriented reforms to boost their economies.
Another allegation against Wickremesinghe is his involvement in a Central Bank scam. However, a parliamentary committee led by Sunil Handunnetti of the JVP did not find him guilty or implicate him in any wrongdoing. There have been claims that he supported a centre where anti-Government rebels were allegedly punished in a Batalanda army camp.
The Chandrika Bandaranaike Commission, which investigated this matter, acquitted Wickremesinghe, and there is no documented evidence or court declaration of any complaint or assistance against him in this regard.
The two main points against President Wickremesinghe are the two charges mentioned above. But no one has accused him of misappropriating the wealth of the Government and increasing his assets or of misappropriating the property or other assets. No one has even accused him of making money through bribery or corruption. Ranil was Mr. Clean. He is still Mr. Clean today.
