ON THE WSWS
Donate to
the WSWS!

News Feed
Contact the
WSWS
Editorial Board
New Today
News & Analysis
Workers Struggles
Arts Review
History
Science
Polemics
Philosophy
Correspondence
Archive
About WSWS
About the ICFI
Help
Books Online

OTHER
LANGUAGES
German
French
Italian
Russian
Polish
Czech
Serbo-Croatian
Spanish
Portuguese
Turkish
Sinhala-
Tamil
Indonesian

LEAFLETS
Download in
PDF format

WSWS : News & Analysis : Asia : Sri Lanka

Presidential election interviews

Sri Lankan voters reveal deep disaffection

By our correspondents
18 November 2005

Use this version to print | Send this link by email | Email the author

Growing political tensions surrounded yesterday’s presidential election in Sri Lanka. It is expected that the results will be announced today. Whichever candidate of the two main capitalist parties—Mahinda Rajapakse of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party (UNP)—wins the ballot, the stage is set for a deepening political crisis and major class battles.

Election Commissioner Dayananda Dishanayaka last night announced that there had been about a 75 percent voter turnout, except in the war-ravaged north and east of the island. However, this relatively high turnout is full of contradictions.

Every day, Rajapakse and Wickremesinghe issued increasingly long lists of promises, desperate to defuse discontent among the masses toward both parties. Having ruled the country since independence, these parties have proven incapable of addressing any of the basic problems of the working people. Instead, they have intensified attacks on democratic rights and living conditions, and plunged the country into a devastating two-decade-long communal war.

Seeking to exploit people’s opposition to the war, opposition leader Wickremesinghe tried to paint himself as an antiwar candidate. Prime Minister Rajapakse, with the backing of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and the Buddhist monk-led Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU), whipped up chauvinism to try and win support for his government.

WSWS correspondents spoke to a wide range of workers, youth, students and others, including business people, in Colombo and suburbs, Jaffna, Ambalangoda, Kandy, Chilaw and other areas. Many had voted for Rajapakse or Wickremesinghe but without any confidence in them. They voiced hopes of ending the war, securing jobs and better social and living conditions. But neither ruling party can fulfill these aspirations.

A young steward spoke to the WSWS in a restaurant where he works. “None of the stewards in this restaurant went to vote in these presidential elections. We all are Tamil and come from families of plantation workers in the central hill districts. Our boss granted us one day’s leave for the elections but we refused it.

“If we go home we have to spend more than 500 rupees each for the bus fare and have to buy some presents for our family members. As we draw just 6,000 rupees in monthly salaries it’s a big amount for us...

“As generations of plantation workers have experienced, we surely know that no changes can happen in our lives through these elections. As you know, we are the most oppressed section in this country. We don’t have decent houses, proper education, quality health services or decent jobs. Every politician, including the so-called leaders of the plantation workers, is a liar. Considering these issues we calculated that it was not worth going to vote.”

A group of youth who live at Dehiwela, a Colombo seaside suburb, said: “Our names were excluded from the list of eligible voters. Last time, in the parliamentary elections of 2004, we enjoyed our right to vote. We don’t know why we were excluded.

“We are underwater divers and catch crabs as our livelihood. As tsunami victims, our houses and diving kits were destroyed. We didn’t receive any compensation and now we have to rent oxygen cylinders and other equipment on a daily basis. At the end of the day, after paying the rental, the pittance that we earn is not enough for day-to-day expenses.

“We feel excluded from society and treated as aliens. We cannot get together and enjoy ourselves like other youth. Police oppression, which is maintained against us, is unbearable. Due to poverty, many youth are engaged in the drug business and we have to face frequent raids. You can’t find a single youth here who hasn’t been to jail at least once.

“Last week we saw the violence of French youth and we think it will happen here very soon. We don’t believe in any president or government.”

Janudeen, a Muslim woman from Dehiwela beach, said: “This time I voted for Ranil Wickremesinghe because I think that he can stop the war. Because of the ‘peace agreement’ signed by Ranil we haven’t seen any massive bomb blasts in Colombo over the last couple of years. I saw the bomb blast that took place in the Dehiwela railway station. I don’t want to see massacres of that scale again.

“The JVP and JHU warmongers who have rallied around Mahinda Rajapakse are vying for war. I hate them because of their racism. Every race has an equal right to live in this country but those people are talking about the supremacy of Sinhala-Buddhists.

“Both parties are lying about reducing the cost of living. I don’t believe that any government can reduce it. Five years back my husband deserted me with my son and since then I have been cooking in houses for 150 rupees a day but the government hasn’t granted me ‘Samurdhi’ (a monthly grant for poor). I have enough qualifications to receive that but even after submitting three appeals there has been no response from the officials.”

A public servant from Kandy, the capital of the central hills, said he wanted a peaceful solution to war and ethnic problems. For several years he had lived in eastern Batticaloa. “There is no doubt that the security situation is the main concern. We cannot fall into another river of blood. War is not a solution. We all need to understand the necessity of peace. I cannot tell you whom I voted for, but I voted for a peaceful solution.

“I must add that there are unnecessary divisions created among ordinary people; on ethnicity, race and so on. Politicians create these divisions and ordinary men and women get themselves entangled in fights. In the end those politicians won’t come to rescue you.

“Of course I’m aware that both the UNP and SLFP have done such things in past. This is a power game. You know, people’s rights are not the main concern for the politicians in an election. Not only the LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam], but also the government has violated the ceasefire agreement.”

M. Saffeer, a 30-year-old worker from Dematagoda, in Colombo, was enthusiastic about finding an alternative perspective and party, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), to vote for in this election.

“I voted for the SEP’s candidate Wije Dias. I searched for a long time for an alternative to the two capitalist parties. I realised long ago that there are no solutions to our problems within the present system.

“In 1994 I was with the JVP and voted for it. In those days they promised to change the ‘political shift system’ (changing power from one party to another) and establish a ‘socialist government’ for us. Today, you see, they have forgotten all that. Now they are talking about the division of the country, religion and nationality. With our vote, the JVP gentlemen managed to enter parliament but now they have totally forgotten us.

“We are facing the attack of the global capitalist economy. The problem is that within this socio-economic framework, people will not be able to solve their problems. The entire economic base of society has to be changed. This can’t be achieved within a single country. How can we solve the problems of the masses without changing this exploiting economy?

“The other thing is putting an end to the war. The UNP tries to end the war with the support of countries like America and Norway. Big business has been strengthened by their involvement. The SEP’s proposal to solve this problem with the assistance of the international working class is good. However, I think Wije Dias might not get even 10,000 votes. It is not an easy thing to bring an international perspective into the masses.”

A young worker in the Pan Asia Bank in Colombo said: “I am against the war and I don’t believe that Ranil and Mahinda are capable of stopping it and bringing peace. But I voted for Ranil because I think that he is the lesser evil when we consider the war. I hate the JVP because they are opportunists. Once they said that they were Marxists and didn’t believe in any religion but now they are pure Buddhists who bend in front of the Buddhist prelates.

“They are whipping up Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism for their base of votes. In the meantime, they have dropped their anti-colonial rhetoric. They went to meet Christina Rocca [US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia] and bowed in front of her. What a disgrace for the Iraqi people who are fighting against the US invaders.”

Gamini Kaldera, a 36-year-old public sector worker at Maradana in central Colombo, voted for Wickremesinghe, seeing him as the best bet to bring peace. But at the same time he had no illusion about the election promises of Wickremesinghe and Rajapakse.

“They are talking about providing jobs for millions. Have they got money to pay them? I am a government clerk. Still, the salary we get is not enough to meet the daily expenses of food and clothing, even using the salary in a most economical manner. This society should be a human society in which people can live decently. But when a public servant obtains a loan to build a house, half his monthly pay is finished.”

M. Vishva, a Tamil pensioner living in Wellawatta, was keen to see the end of the war. He voted for the UNP because it talked about peace. But he saw no choice between the SLFP and UNP. “Both are the same,” he said.

Vishva explained his experience. “During my youth, I was a strong supporter of the left parties that stood for equal rights of all communities. But later, all these parties lined up with [former SLFP prime minister] Bandaranaike, who stood for the Sinhala Only Act.

“When the left parties were strong there was not much communal feeling among the Sinhala people. I have one very good experience. That is the 1953 Hartal [a mass struggle led by Trotskyists against the UNP government’s attacks on living standards] in which people participated, forgetting ethnic, language and religious differences. That struggle shook the government.

“I have read a leaflet issued by the Socialist Equality Party. Though their stand seems to be good, how long will they sustain it? If they continue, it is good. I hope everyone will support them. I know that unless a left party as strong as in 1945-50 is built, the problems will get worse than this. I hope such a party will emerge.”

Rubakaran, a schoolteacher who was displaced by the war in late 1980, said he spoiled his ballot. “For whom can I vote?” he asked. “Everyone is promising this and that, but they don’t think about the aspirations of the Tamil people.”

Nor did he agree with the Tamil National Alliance [TNA, which functions as a proxy for the LTTE]. “Why is the LTTE working with the TNA’s corrupted leaders?” he asked. He did not believe that the LTTE provided an alternative leadership for Tamils. Common people faced the same problems in every community, he explained.

“All people belonging to different communities have jointly waged very powerful struggles to win their rights in the past. The divisions among the people have been created by politicians for their own benefit.”

Dharmaratne, from the Ambalangoda area, was angry that his name had been scrapped from the voters’ register. “I have no faith in the promises of these two candidates. For as long as I can remember, neither of these two parties has fulfilled its promises.

“I came to the SEP public meeting at Ambalangoda. The speech by Wije Dias was totally true. That program is correct. Tamils are also citizens of this country. They must have their rights. It is not possible to massacre people as the JHU and JVP advocate. Even though they give promises, there’s no money to fulfill them. Either they have to sell the assets or borrow money from imperialists as loans.”

Shanthi, 32, from Naththandiya electorate, is unemployed. Explaining her plight, she said: “My father is a retired soldier. But we do not get a pension. We earn a living through a little coconut cultivation and renting out our small property. I have applied for jobs, as I have university entrance (GCE A/L) qualifications. But I could not get a job. Even though we live a hand-to-mouth existence, it is difficult day-by-day, due to the escalating prices of goods.

“I voted for the UNP. We are known as UNPers in the village, as my parents worked for that party. However I do not believe the country will be better off with the UNP. Nothing good has happened to us under the UNP either. We voted because otherwise four votes would go to waste.”

Her brother, Indika, 26, who is also unemployed, voted for the UNP thinking it was more inclined to peace. “Even if Mahinda comes to office it is not possible to go to war as the world powers are putting pressure on the government and the LTTE to stop the war. However, they did not do that in Iraq and Afghanistan. They go for war when they want. The US is trying to capture the world.”

Business people and professionals expressed support for Wickremesinghe, although Rajapakse had been trying to woo business leaders in recent days.

A Kandy businessman said: “I think Ranil is willing to continue open-market policies, which are extremely good for people like us. I run a hardware shop, and most of my business colleagues think the same way. To improve business and investments, a government has to reduce taxes and provide more facilities to the business community. Ranil has promised to do it and we can rely on him.”

When asked about the working people, farmers and other oppressed layers, he replied: “Other sectors should be addressed separately. One shouldn’t confuse it. Even working people will find more money in their hands if the businesses flourish and investors come. It will create more job opportunities.”

A Malaysian-based ceramic industry consultant said: “Yes, I voted for Ranil because he can develop the country as Mahathir Mohamed did in Malaysia. If you want to develop a country you must think about the investor, not the worker. Unlike Sri Lanka, there is an investor-friendly environment in Malaysia. No doubt, Ranil will establish the same environment in Sri Lanka and attract investors. Then more factories will open here, providing more jobs for the youth.

“In this election, Mahinda Rajapakse represents the left. The policies of the left are bankrupt all over the world. If elected, he will tighten restrictions on investors. And his allies will push him for a full-scale war again. This will badly affect investment.”

In the north and east, the LTTE used force to stop Tamil people voting. It issued a statement this week calling on people to observe November 17 as a day of mourning. Its mouthpiece, the TNA, did the same and other front organisations also issued boycott calls.

Makkal Padai (People’s Force), the front group that threatened to attack the SEP’s Jaffna public meeting on October 30, put up posters threatening anyone voting. This is an outright assault on the democratic rights of ordinary people.

The boycott call was accompanied by a general shutdown (Hartal) in the Jaffna peninsula, with transport coming to a standstill. Groups were seen assaulting people, including young girls and old men, who tried to vote.

The LTTE’s actions went in hand in hand with those of Sinhala chauvinist groups and the military. Early this week, government forces were reported to be intimidating Muslims in some areas of the east not to vote. In addition, two dummy presidential candidates supporting Rajapakse filed a lawsuit seeking restrictions on Tamil voters. The Supreme Court, the Election Commissioner and the military imposed such measures, curbing the democratic rights of Tamils.

Most of the people who spoke to the WSWS in Jaffna said they wanted to vote and condemned the LTTE for attacking their right to do so. The LTTE’s actions reveal a fear of rising discontent among Tamil people.

A lecturer from Jaffna said: “Now we are being treating as slaves. I feel very ashamed to be in Jaffna. We live with ambitions for freedom but we can’t achieve them. Young people should not allow this situation to continue. They should learn the alternative.”

He also denounced the shutting down of the SEP’s public meeting: “A prospect of bringing alternative ideas to the people was blocked. Some people wanted to show their opposition and find a new perspective. That’s why the meeting was banned.”

A driver explained: “I went to vote at the Vaitheeswara college polling booth. There were four or five people near the booth. And I saw one person attacking an old man who went to vote. His tooth was broken. Actually, I went to show my opposition to the boycott. Later I returned home without voting.”

A bank worker from Jaffna said: “At last we had the right to vote. Now we have lost that also. Why are we losing that right? I feel very ashamed to say this. There was no transport for voters so they couldn’t vote even if they were willing to. I was very concerned about what happened to the SEP’s meeting. I was on the way to the meeting. I want the SEP to continue its work.”

See Also:
Colombo meeting concludes Sri Lankan SEP election campaign
[16 November 2005]
SEP debates radical "left" in Sri Lankan presidential election campaign
[14 November 2005]
Sri Lankan SEP presidential candidate to address public meeting in India
[1 November 2005]
Support the Socialist Equality Party in the 2005 Sri Lankan presidential election: The socialist alternative to war and social inequality
[22 October 2005]