System change? What system change?

We're told repeatedly that the Aragalaya was this monolithic rejection of the "system" (to date, there is no consensus on what 'system' means, but we can take it to mean the establishment). The JVP does not exist outside this system and, to be sure, neither does the SJB. The JVP was actually in government at one point. Even if you don't think they were in government long enough to count, the fact is that JVP policy has heavily influenced successive centre-left coalition governments led by the SLFP or its offshoots since the '90s. That's 30 long years. The JVP and its affiliates -- various trade unions, academic circles, etc -- normalised and popularised anti-liberalisation and anti-free market thinking in society to such an extent that electoral outcomes came to hinge on it and, consequently, the economy was pushed to the brink. Not even the liberal-on-paper Yahapalana government could escape it. The JVP was also instrumental in bringing the Rajapaksas to power in 2005 (AKD himself campaigned hard for Mahinda) and, before the eventual parting of ways, backed many of the MR administration's destructive decisions. How can anyone claim the JVP is not an establishment party or that AKD is some sort of outsider come to clean up the mess? They helped create the mess.

As for the SJB, to even suggest that an SJB government would amount to any kind of change, let alone "system change" (whatever that means) is beyond ridiculous. The Asamagi Jana Balawegaya is a (rather pathetic) reincarnation of the UNP and, since of late, a collection of the least desirable dregs of the SLPP. At least the SLPP guys with Ranil have performed fairly well over the last two years. For every Rohitha or SB, there is a Kanchana and Shehan Semasinghe who have shown results, however questionable their past records may be. The SJB is also led by the son of arguably the most powerful president we ever had. How is that not nepotism? What change are we talking here exactly? Who are we kidding?

If the Aragalaya was about rejecting establishment politicians and parties and the systems that served them, how is an SJB or NPP victory not a profound, fundamental betrayal of the cause? I mean, vote whoever you want, but don't pretend you're changing anything.