-By a Special Reporter
(Lanka-e-News -11.Nov.2024, 11.00 pm) In a twist that might baffle even the most seasoned political pundits, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, fresh from an election loss that was humbling enough to make even seasoned campaigners cringe, has offered his wisdom to Sri Lanka's new government. No stranger to "creative deals," it appears Mr. Wickremesinghe is now trying his hand at a new role—political sage. But as Sri Lankans know too well, nothing with Ranil is ever straightforward.
In one of his recent statements, Wickremesinghe claimed he had no hand in the "asset restructuring" (or "asset stripping," as the rest of us would call it) of the Sri Lanka Transport Board's (SLTB) Werahera, Kahagolla, and Keppetipola workshops. "That was all Ravi’s doing!" he insisted, speaking of Ravi Wettasinghe, who he appointed to oversee the establishment of Wesco and Kesco.
Yes, you read that right. Two companies. Wesco and Kesco. Imagine the branding meeting—“Wesco for Ravi, Kesco for Ranil!” That name choice alone could have sent brand consultants into overdrive.
According to Wickremesinghe, Ravi paid a modest Rs. 25 million to acquire SLTB's bus workshops and assets. Later, in a masterclass on flipping, Wettasinghe reportedly sold off 173 buses and the rest of the assets to a third party. Naturally, profits were not shared with Wickremesinghe, he claims, adding with his signature straight-faced panache, "I had nothing to do with it."
Of course, this isn't the only time Sri Lankans have seen Mr. Wickremesinghe's, shall we say, generosity. His tenure saw a string of SOE sales, many snapped up by close associates and priced so low they’d make a discount bin blush. The Tea Plantations, Tyre Corporation, and other industries went the way of the dodo at prices that were “competitive”—so competitive, in fact, that they set new standards for affordability in the world of high-stakes business deals.
"That’s just how you do business," Ranil might say, wearing the grin of a man who just sold beachfront property in Colombo for the price of a beachfront postcard. Who needs meticulous valuations and audits when you have friends? Friends who, as it turns out, aren’t all that great at sharing profits.
Now, as if history weren't already filled with enough irony, Mr. Wickremesinghe is offering advice to Sri Lanka’s newly minted President on matters of statecraft and economy. One can only imagine how such advice would sound.
Perhaps: “Start small. Sell off a few buses, and work your way up to plantations. Don’t worry about valuation; it’s really just a guideline.” Or maybe: “Choose advisors wisely. Make sure they have no experience in the field for which they’re appointed. A planter for national security? Perfect! And as for climate change, maybe a golf enthusiast?”
Wickremesinghe has always had a flair for theatrical appointments. Take Sagala Ratnayake as his National Security Advisor. A man whose previous experiences included, reportedly, some involvement in tea and toy collecting. No one could have guessed that protecting a nation was merely a step up from managing tea leaf production and toy trains.
And then there’s the case of Ruwan Wijewardene. It’s unclear what his expertise in climate science entails, other than perhaps his proximity to tea leaves (nature adjacent, as they say). Nonetheless, Wickremesinghe dubbed him Sri Lanka’s premier climate change czar, perhaps hoping Wijewardene could address rising temperatures with a dose of “just turn on a fan.”
And while environmental science may have eluded Wijewardene’s CV, who can deny the charm of a politician promising to “address climate change” while scratching his head as to what “carbon emissions” actually means?
It’s been a tumultuous ride for Ranil, and his latest run at the presidency ended on a note so low it might require a microphone just to be heard. Losing with the lowest vote share in recent history, he’s now left to consider his legacy—a legacy that, ironically, seems to hinge more on the boardrooms and backrooms of deals rather than ballot boxes.
Yet, true to his style, Ranil’s post-election career has involved more than just reflection. He’s jumped right back into the limelight, a bit like the old uncle who, having lost his keys and misplaced his glasses, insists he can still advise the youth on tech startups.
With his penchant for bargain bin sales, creative deals, and a talent for hiring national security advisors who couldn’t guard a lemonade stand, Wickremesinghe has left his stamp on Sri Lankan politics. And while the new government may politely nod at his "advice," one imagines they’ll be more inclined to reach for a cup of tea than to hand him the reigns once again.
In the meantime, Sri Lanka watches and waits, hoping perhaps that its former leader has retired his flair for “restructuring” for good.
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by (2024-11-11 19:11:53)
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