by

Prasad Gunewardene

Six weeks ago the Government of Unity took office to establish Good Governance. It pledged to establish law and order for people to live without fear. On the contrary we witness that the law and order and public discipline is being eroded. Innocent youth and students arrested on suspicion are being mercilessly assaulted by the police. Robberies, Murder, Rape and Child Abuse are on the rise. The brutal police assault on the 17-year-old student and a 31-year-old father of a child arrested on suspicion over the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl at Kotadeniyawa demonstrate the high handed conduct of the police. As in the past, political stooges of the government put up cut-outs, posters and banners of the President in every corner. Public walls are made dirty by those posters. When those improperly hung propaganda material fall on roads due to high winds, innocent people are injured.

In that ugly backdrop, I thought to write the following open letter to President Maithripala Sirisena;

Dear Mr. President,

I don’t fear to write this open letter to you under the Yahapalanaya concept you have promised this land on 08 January because I believe that the ‘white van’ syndrome is now over.

I hope you would recall that I met you at your ministerial official residence at Wijerama Road on 02 January this year for a press interview, perhaps, the last one before the 08 January presidential poll. And, during that interview I told you that my friend Mahinda Rajapaksa whom I knew for nearly four decades was a pleasant man and that he later looked unpleasant as President because of the stooges and henchmen who were around him misled him.

Then I asked you whether the same fate would befall if you succeed Mahinda to that high office. Sporting a cheerful smile you quipped in a lighter vein, “No Prasad, that will never happen to me and I will always remain a pleasant man even as President”.

Mr. President I thought it fit to write this letter before it’s too late having known you for an equal period as much as I knew Mahinda. I see certain incidents happening around you without your knowledge.

You know that during Mahinda’s term in office as President his political stooges destroyed him by putting up cut-outs, banners and posters of him countrywide. Mahinda was jubilant and never realized that damaging exercise. Mr. President, the more such material hang in public, the public begins to hate that person more. Upon assuming the office of President, I remember that you instructed your party supporters and MPs not to hang your cut-outs, banners and posters in public. Usually party men and MPs engage in such exercise either to get into your inner-circle or to get into your good books.

Despite your directive, when you returned from New York last Friday, you would have seen the number of cut-outs hanging on lamp posts welcoming you after your successful visit. Some cut-outs which were not tied properly fell on people and a little child crossing the road with his mother was injured on the head at Armour Street, Kotahena last Friday. These were put up as per those cut-outs read; by Faizer Musthapha, Thilanga Sumathipala, A.H.M. Fowzie and Dhanasiri Amaratunga. You very correctly said on Friday night that local supporters of your party had organized the ceremony to receive you at the Airport and had decorated the streets at their own expense to score points.

You know that the majority in your SLFP deserted you during the presidential and parliamentary elections and supported Mahinda. Now they have deserted Mahinda to curry favour with you. Some of them say that though they are with you now, their allegiance is with Mahinda. You must not forget the fact that these men are playing double games with you and Mahinda.

They made hay while the sun shone brightly during Mahinda’s regime. And, Mahinda recently angered by such desertions, accused some of them and claimed he had ‘planted’ another group within your government as spies. Of those who put up cut-outs on lamp posts, only Faizer Musthapha stood to support you in your crisis time. Fowzie was neutral at the beginning but later moved to support you.

Thilanga and Dhanasiri openly supported Mahinda and were very critical of you. Of this duo, Dhanasiri was a bitter critic and you are aware of his adverse comments made both in his private and public capacity .These facts are stubborn and I don’t fear to state them in this open letter to you, as I address you with a clear conscience and a brave mind as a career journalist.

If you recall the history of former Executive Presidents, you may find that political stooges destroyed President Ranasinghe Premadasa by hanging his cut-outs, posters and banners countrywide. Like Mahinda, Premadasa also liked that style. But least they knew it would make them unpopular.

The country still remembers the allegations and accusations made against the Rajapaksa Family during the past two elections by the United National Front for Good Governance led by you and Ranil. Mahinda was accused of involving his children, brothers and relatives in the administration and politics. Whenever Namal accompanied Mahinda overseas for summits like the United Nations General Assembly, Mahinda was badly criticized by the then opposition.

Namal had been at the receiving end for having interfered in the administration of Mahinda. You assumed office to halt such practices. Former Presidents J.R. Jayewardene, R. Premadasa, D.B. Wijetunga and Chandrika Bandaranaike kept their children away from the political machinery of their respective political parties.

Your son Daham’s presence at the UNGA sessions seated with the Sri Lanka delegation came in for severe criticism. In response, Daham wrote in his facebook account; “Dear friends, what is nepotism? The real meaning behind it is the abuse of power with influence favouring one’s children, relatives and friends especially by giving them occupations. Open your minds to this definition and take a moment to think whether this is being practiced in Sri Lanka now. Many have been criticizing my visit to the Delegation, saying that it is nepotism and that I am unjustifiably abusing my father’s power. Let me put my friends’ minds at rest, by firstly saying that I was officially invited to the Delegation since my mother couldn’t attend. Secondly by attending the event I got the opportunity to attend the youth-led event of SDG which made me understand the goals which is needed for the country to be more prosperous. How could my attendance be a negative effect to the country? How could my attendance be the downfall of the country? I urge you all not to compare me and my family with the past regimes as we are far different from them.

At the event the officials stated that, next time to bring in more youths with more innovative ideas which could in turn enrich our country by seeing my presence. I believe that this is a great opportunity to give positive recognition to our country”.

In my view, Daham himself had honestly answered the question on ‘Nepotism’ in his own response in the first sentence where he gives the real meaning after asking the question; what is nepotism. The rest of his answer is quite similar to comments made in the past by Mahinda’s son Namal whenever Namal came under such criticism. Namal also put the theme ‘Youth & Opportunities’ to justify his presence with his father at such forums. I believe that your government has a Minister for Youth Affairs and if there was a move to recognize our youth at such forums, that minister should have been included in your delegation.

What happened during Mahinda’s time was that Namal acted as the unofficial Youth Affairs Minister while Dulles Alahapperuma was kept in the dark. My one time journalist colleague and friend Dulles will not dispute my claim as his conscience will speak the truth.

Mr. President, you are aware that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics. Those enemies who have turned friends today may turn enemies again depending on where and how the political wind will blow.

I must say that you and Ranil are operating a ‘tight rope’ government with neither side having a clear majority. Let not henchmen and stooges tarnish your good image by putting up cut-outs, posters and banners. Also, free your administration from ‘family politics’ in keeping with the pledge of Good Governance.

Thank You.

Prasad Gunewardene

Courtesy:Ceylon Today