There are diverse views expressed about the propriety of the boycott of the Presidential polls in the North-East. Many view that had there not been a boycott, the verdict would have been different and Ranil Wicremasinghe would have won.

Ranil Wicremasinghe`s handling of the proposed election of Deputy Chairman of Committees in Parliament, proves he was taught the right lesson. Ranil`s action has denied a Tamil, and for that, a Tamil member of the United National Party, the chance for the position. It is a mistake to expect Ranil Wicremasinghe to act fairly towards minority communities.

Satchithananthan of Ceylon Workers Congress, holding the post to date, resigned to take oaths as a deputy Minister. Several people pointed out that since this post was held by a member of the minority community, it should be given to a Tamil or a Muslim Member of Parliament. President Rajapakse accepted that view and suggested that Maheswaren of the UNP be elected to the post, although certain government Parliamentarians opposed it.

It is now known that the leader of his own party has stood in the way of Maheswaren getting this post. Ranil has opposed Maheswaren’s election and paved the way for a JVP parliamentarian to occupy the seat. As a result, the government group has been forced to elect some one other than Maheswaren to the post.

If Maheswaren was denied this post because of Ranil`s communal prejudice, then what the Tamils taught Ranil was the right political lesson.

An English translation of the Editorial in Uthayan, a Tamil daily, based in Jaffna

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