Old Wine in Older Bottles

• Published date: 30 May 2022
• Publication title: Colombo Gazette

By N Sathiya MoorthyNow that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's Cabinet has taken some substantial if not final shape, the question arises if the old wine in an older bottle or bottles tastes matured or sour. That it's only old wine in older bottle or bottles, there can be no two opinions about it.

But for all those who have been protesting for a systemic change at their G-3 venue in capital Colombo's Galle Face Green beach-front, it should taste bitter. Rather, it leaves a bitter-sweet taste thus far, not knowing what even the next sip, leave aside glass, has in store.

The same applies to the 11-party coalition that is shaping up after 40 MPs in three groups had walked out of the ruling SLPP-led alliance. Some of those 40 MPs have already left to join the Government.

There again, it's the same old face, the same old approach to politics. The question here arises if they had jumped when the felt the seeping sea water in their feet, or to offload the ship of extra burden to make the vessel lighter and better navigable until it reaches safety.

In either case, it is very unlikely that any new concepts, ideas or political behaviour would flow out of the existing institutional framework and the participants therein. It is true of the Opposition SJB and the scores of minority parties of every shape, size and hue.

There is little or no hope for change even in the much-maligned JVP, which underwent some sweeping leadership changes when the current team upstaged the never-ending term of the much-forgotten Somawansa Amaraweera, years ago.Descending from heavensThere is a new guy on the bloc in the form of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), which broke away from the JVP a decade ago, but is yet to make its electoral mark.

The FSP contested the presidential polls of 2019 and parliamentary elections a year later, as an independent entity without a registered symbol for the voters to identity the party with. Rather, the FSP is more in the news over the public protests of recent weeks, with the social media giving multiple interpretations to its role and goal.

Unmindful, FSP founder Premakumar Gunaratnam is ploughing a lone furrow for now, meeting and talking to leaders of the SJB, TNA and possible other parties, too. Neither side in these talks seem to know where they are heading together or separately.

If the GotaGoGama protestors still think that someone is going to descend from the high heavens to protect them and the nation from the existing crop of politicians...