The Hindu Editorial Vocabulary– May 17, 2022; Day 290

Crisis and opportunity: On Sri Lanka political crisis

Ranil Wickremesinghe must disprove (Prove to be false) his detractors (One who disparages or belittles the worth of something) with quick measures for economic recovery

The adage (a well-known phrase expressing something that is always true about people or the world) ‘every crisis contains the seeds of an opportunity’ could not have been truer for anyone than for Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The severe economic crisis, which set off (Provoke or stir up) indefinite protests against President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his brother, (now former) Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, has pitchforked (to thrust (someone) unwillingly into a position) Mr. Wickremesinghe to an office that he had no chance of occupying until last week. Given the turmoil (Disturbance usually in protest), Sri Lanka needed a government that would work towards stability and economic recovery. With Mahinda Rajapaksa resigning in the face of (When confronted with) determined protests, and the Opposition leader unwilling to work under President Gotabaya, a rare opportunity opened up for Mr. Wickremesinghe. The former premier’s political prospects had almost ended with the 2020 parliamentary election, when his United National Party won no seats, and he himself made it as its lone member in Parliament on the principle of representation in proportion to the total votes it had received across the nation. Much of the UNP’s support base has also gone with Sajith Premadasa, his erstwhile (Belonging to some prior time) party colleague, who now runs the main Opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). Mr. Wickremesinghe finds himself in an extraordinary situation, as he is dependent on lawmakers of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the party of the Rajapaksas that is the target of public anger. The SJB has offered conditional support to measures aimed at economic recovery.

Mr. Wickremesinghe brushed aside (Bar from attention or consideration) a question on whether he had the moral authority to hold his office, contending (assert) that his situation was no different from that of Winston Churchill becoming PM with just four members supporting him to stave off (Prevent the occurrence of) a crisis. There are many questions on the political morality of his assuming office; there is some justification for popular resentment (A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will) against him for easing the pressure on the President to resign. However, the need to have a viable (that can be done) arrangement to tackle the economic crisis is quite urgent. He has spoken about putting together an international consortium (A group of individuals or companies formed to transact some specific business or to promote a common interest) to ensure financial assistance for the shortage-stricken (affected by something overwhelming) country. His only strength now is the goodwill of the international community, which solidly backed his efforts to bring about peace and development in Sri Lanka in 2001-02, when he negotiated a ceasefire agreement with the LTTE and held direct talks. There is talk of speeding up political reforms, even to the point of abolishing (Do away with) the executive presidency through a fast-tracked constitutional amendment. Yet, such speculation (A message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence) about far-reaching changes does not inspire confidence, as many such opportunities in the past had been squandered (To waste (something)). Mr. Wickremesinghe has the additional burden of proving to his detractors that he is working for political stability and economic recovery and not for reviving the political fortunes of the Rajapaksas.

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