Trying to conciliate

From the start Rajapakse seemed to want to be conciliatory. In his speech of acceptance, he made mention of not only Mr. and Mrs. Bandaranaike, but also of Kumaratunga, in terms of their contribution to the party he represented. Kumaratunga however was not in a conciliatory mood, and Rajapakse's refusal to appoint Anura Bandaranaike as Prime Minister added to her exasperation.

Given Bandaranaike's performance during the election campaign, Rajapakse could scarcely have been expected to make him Prime Minister. He would have had an easier time had Kadirgamar been alive, for appointing him Prime Minister would have met with universal approbation. It was also a pity that there was no other representative of the minorities who seemed senior and popular enough to have been made Prime Minister, since that would have affirmed the pluralistic outlook Rajapakse was anxious, and indeed needed to, present.

As it was, he avoided a tough choice within his party, and at the same time ensured that Bandaranaike did not feel superseded by someone less senior. He decided to recall Ratnasiri Wickramanayake to serve as Prime Minister. He indicated however that he was willing to keep Bandaranaike in the Cabinet. The latter, who had been appointed Foreign Minister on Kadirgamar's death, would have liked to have kept that position, but in the delicate position in which Rajapakse was internationally, he could not afford such indulgence.