The Old Fox and his clones

On the 120th birth anniversary of President J. R. Jayewardene, commonly known as the Old Fox, a commemoration event was held in Colombo. The UNP and its offshoot, the SJB, with their leaders Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sajith Premadasa, respectively, attended the well-attended gathering. Jayewardene, dubbed "Yankee Dickie" due to his pro-American stance, transformed the UNP from a mere 17 seats in the 1970 general election to a massive victory just seven years later.

He opened up Sri Lanka's economy and reoriented the country's geopolitical alignment in a bipolar world, but his rule was marked by both progress and decline.

The 1978 Constitution, entrenched the executive presidential system, one of the most enduring features of Jayewardene's political legacy. Critics argue that his successors, except Ranasinghe Premadasa and Gotabaya Rajapaksa, have followed the Machiavellian maxim on promises and considered 'the word broken is the necessity of the present'.

Jayewardene made no bones about his autocratic disposition and sought to keep the judiciary under his thumb. However, he did so with little success, thanks to some upright judges who acted without fear or favour.

It seems that the JVP should replace Rohana Wijeweera's portrait with that of JRJ, as their current policies are more closely aligned with Jayewardene's capitalist ideology. The SLFP and the SLPP, too, should consider hanging a portrait of JRJ at their offices for adopting his policies. Despite criticism and denouncement, the leaders of these parties have emulated Jayewardene's approach to power and politics.