Minister Bimal Ratnayake said today that it was the people of Sri Lanka who, nearly a year ago, refused to back down, metaphorically “crossing the Rubicon”, and emerged as the driving force behind the ongoing transformation toward a genuine republic.
Minister Bimal Ratnayake said today that it was the people of Sri Lanka who, nearly a year ago, refused to back down, metaphorically “crossing the Rubicon”, and emerged as the driving force behind the ongoing transformation toward a genuine republic.
"It was the people of this Nation who, 11 months ago, crossed the Rubicon! They are the spearhead of the movement to make Sri Lanka a True Republic!!" Bimal Ratnayake said.
He was responding to a widely circulated commentary by President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris, who likened certain pivotal decisions in governance to Julius Caesar's irreversible crossing of the Rubicon in 49 BC—moments that alter history’s course irreversibly.
"In January 49 BC Julius Caesar the Governor of Gaul crossed the river Rubicon with his army against the orders of the Senate in Rome. Once the Rubicon was crossed there was no going back. That was the point of no return. It ended with a civil war and the ultimate triumph of Julius Caesar. This incident has led to the phrase 'crossing the Rubicon' or 'crossing the point of no return'. There are certain moments in politics or governance which are the moments of 'crossing the Rubicon' or that point of no return. Those decisions must be considered decisions and those that are made wisely and with the long term interests of the country in mind," Saliya Peiris shared in a post.
Minister Ratnayake’s remarks followed closely on the heels of the arrest of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, an event that has sparked a wave of intense political response across the island.
