Mahindapala’s Ranil

By Helasingha Bandara

(December 25, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) During the last couple of years I have read HLD. Mahindapala in relation to the on going war. Mahindapala’s contribution to the efforts of Sri Lanka to defeat terrorism played a vital role and he deserves our gratitude and sincere thanks. My impression was that he was a patriot and a veteran journalist/writer. I had nothing but respect for his ability to counter LTTE propaganda in favour of Sri Lanka. However, at times, I have felt that in his ultra patriotism, maybe nationalism, there was no room for inter-racial integrated living. The recurrence of the Ranil theme in his writing also caught my eye.

At the time, I dismissed the idea that he had a personal vendetta with Ranil because I believed, and still do, that Ranil’s incompetence was the main cause for the LTTE to be that strong. The war is over but Mahindapala’s grinding of Ranil is far from over. He cuts, chops, grinds and remoulds Ranil as if Ranil is his own property. Mahindapala’s Ranil is not given to anyone else for any sort of treatment. This ownership of Ranil and the vicious treatment that he receives cannot be explained unless someone who knows the past would enlighten us. However, it is not uncommon in modern Sri Lanka that famous journalists have had political affiliations for perks. I hope Mahindapala would avoid falling into that category.

His great contribution to the elimination of the terrorist menace aside, I believe that Mahindapala has lost the plot this time because the presidential contest is between SF and MR, not between MR and RW. The demonising of Ranil would not have the desired effect on the election campaign. It felt like Mahindapala was bringing in Ranil frequently because he had nothing to throw at SF until Sarath Fonseka’s recent interview about the final stages of the war.

Ranil has the democratic right to support a candidate of his choosing. He has chosen SF. Sarath Fonseka should not be punished for Ranil’s sins for he had no authority over Ranil when he committed those sins. If Mahindapala propagates that a decision to vote for a certain candidate should be based on the activities of the people who support him/her, then Mahinda Rajapaksha should not get a single vote. He is surrounded by people like Pillayan and Karuna who are known murderers, and of course, Douglas Devananda and Mervin Silva who are alleged murderers. At the clicking of fingers these people can bump off any body. People should fear a candidate who has secured the support of such people. Pillayan has a hilarious side to his personality too.

“Militarized people lack Governing Ability- Pillayan

Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan alias Pillayan says Sarath Fonseka cannot make a successful political figure due to his lack of exposure in politics and extensive military trainings”

Look who is talking!

Then comes Mahinda’s own family who are known to have a dictatorial tendency that would be a threat to freedom of speech, thought or expression. Those who do not toe their line will be subjected to their wrath no matter how important the other person is. People should fear the family. The UPFA politicians who plunder national wealth come next. People should fear them for turning the country into a hell-hole in which the life of the ordinary citizen has become destitute. Finally, the pole-vaulters such as SB Dissanayaka, Johnston Fernando and the rest. Mahinda’s arms are open for any devious, unprincipled and corrupt rogue if he can bring a few voters with him. People should fear to elect a person who gets the support of people galore described above because without doubt, once elected, Mahinda Rajapaksha has no escape from granting their wishes.

Mahindapala became lucky when SF allegedly erred. Now he has got at least one bullet to fire at SF. I would believe SF has betrayed trust if he has said “Gothabaya gave orders to Shavendra Silva to shoot the people who came to surrender with white flags”, exactly in those words. Since SF has refuted the claim, it is for the Mahinda camp to come out with the recording of the interview and make it public knowledge. To be transparent, the government also should publish the so called UN letter that came consequential to the Sunday Leader story. Sadly, Mahindapala’s blackwashing of SF for one incident appears like an effort to whitewash MR for innumerable misdeeds.

True, Shavendra Silva has been a great commander for the SL army. The Sarath Fonseka incident would not affect the position, ability or the reputation of Shavendra Silva to the extent Mahindapala exaggerates in his article “SF fell upon on his own sword”. If SF falls on his own sword let us see who else emulates that. Rajapakshas have publicly admitted that they have given undue perks to SF and the rest. What are these perks? Property and money! Whose property and money are those? Public property and money! This means that the Rajapakshas treat public property and money as their own. The truth of the matter is that the Rajapakshas admit to have misappropriated public property and money in order to receive favours form the state employees and the rest who are willing to secure the Rajapaksha power base. This could not have been the case if Mahinda Rajapaksha has written 15 purchases to SF from his Werevila property. Most politicians in Sri Lanka are liars and thieves. Without exception they all fall on their own swords. I hope Mahindapala would not and remains a true journalist.