(Lanka-e-News- 16.Oct.2016, 11.55PM) Following the inflammatory speech made by president Maithripala Sirisena in a fit of rage at the Foundation Institute which created a storm of controversy , a group of UNP ministers , MPs and the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe met with the president at his Paget Road residence on the 13 th night.
The group included the prime minister , ministers Kabeer Hashim , the UNP General secretary , Mangala Samaraweera , Malik Samarawickrema , Akila Kariyawasam and Raveendra Samaraweera. Minister Sagala Ratnayake was present at the president’s residence even before the arrival of others.
The president welcomed them most warmly , and it was Kabeer Hasim who fired the first salvo. ‘The President , following your speech made at the Foundation Institute a storm of controversy had erupted across the country .When you said , the Bribery Commission ,the CID and FCID are pursuing political agendas , the people are no doubt harboring the view that if those Institutions are not functioning according to your agenda , then those are serving the P.M.‘s agenda. This situation is unwelcome to us and the party ’ Kabeer Hashim said. Even before Kabeer Hashim could finish his speech, the president began talking …
‘No , no , all of you are talking without having not heard my speech properly. What I said was as part of the government and not separated from it. My issue is ,what these people are doing are not being intimated to me. If a case is filed against ‘our Fowzie’ because he took a car to another ministry when he left the previous one , then cases must be filed against everyone.
Fowzi is under the impression these are all happening with my knowledge. He thinks I am doing this to take revenge on him over something .That is bad for me. Today too , an order has been taken from court to take into custody an elephant of the Gangarama . Until the Buddhist monks asked me , I was totally in the dark. Owing to these it is I who am subjected to embarrassment .’
Mangala Samaraweera who spoke next drew the attention of the president to another issue ..
‘Of course there is some truth in what you say ,but when we met with you some days ago , you did not tell this to us (On a day prior to the inflammatory speech of the president , the president invited the P.M. along with about 20 ministers and handed over a questionnaire ) . Speaking publicly as though you are addressing the nation is where the wrong lies. They could have been summoned separately and the issues could have been resolved via clarification. The speech of yours about working according to political agendas is being played up by the Mahinda Rajapakse clan. What has irked and irritated the people and the groups that supported us stems from the displeasure expressed by you over Gotabaya being summoned to court.’ Mangala pinpointed.
The president who was rather annoyed over Mangala’s exposure , reacted by saying ‘ onna , onna , Mangala you too have not properly heard my speech. I am not that foolish to talk like that. What I told was , after summoning the three commanders of the forces to the courts and taking their photographs , they are taking advantage via media reports. It is alright if those were done because of a wrong. Those who were arrested and released on bail are alleging that revenge is being taken on our war heroes who had been granted bail , with the aim to capitalize on it .That was what I was explaining.
I did not even mention the name of Gotabaya. Besides , nobody had properly heard the final part of my speech. I told this government cannot be toppled. I also asserted this government is most strong.’
One minister then remarked ‘ in that case your media division has committed a grave lapse by not releasing the full text of your speech to the media.’
‘I will not shield the Rajapakses. Never will I tell to halt the investigations against the Rajapakses’ the president affirmed and swore.
The P.M. who was listening to the entire discussion finally said , the harm that has resulted shall be minimized. Hence , what everyone should do is , ensure that the ongoing investigations are expedited and concluded, the P.M. added. The president too endorsed that statement.
The president then speaking in a lighter vein quipped with a smile , if the media briefing scheduled to be held by the civil organizations cannot be cancelled , he had informed the civil organization leaders to scold him and after its conclusion , to come and meet him.
Following a discussion between the president and the P.M. aimed at taking measures to avert the possibility of the extremists exploiting this incident to achieve their foul and destructive designs , the meeting ended on a very happy note .
Later , both parties agreed , in a way whatever happened was to the good . It was the view of both parties , this incident provided the opportunity to clear the misgivings and doubts , if any that existed between the parties . Besides, it also brought to the open ,with what great enthusiasm and interest the masses are clamoring for good governance .
However , based on information reaching us , it will not be possible to repair in a hurry the dent and damage the president’s out of place and out of point speech inflicted on his image. Moreover the extent to which the feelings, susceptibilities and sensibilities of the People’s forces that committed themselves to make Maithripala the president were bruised is also difficult to assess.
The Civil Organization leaders rejecting the invitation of the president to meet him clearly bore testimony ,to what extent they were hurt and disappointed.
There is also another important lesson to be learnt through this experience. The intense support of the people towards the independent commissions and the Police Commission, and the faith reposed in those by them who strived hard to establish the Institutions.. The people stood by and came forward on behalf of those Institutions when those were being challenged , even by the president . Naturally , in the end the president as was expected had to bow to the wishes of the people .
The independent investigators and the commissions should also bear in mind that if they resort to hole and corner tactics or play sordid games , they too will have to face the repercussions and fiery reactions of the masses.
It is doubtless if the president is to refurbish his tarnished image he must demonstrate his worth through deeds in the best interests of the pro good governance masses and not by self destructive words which antagonize them. After riding to the winning post on the backs of the good governance masses , the president cannot treat them disrespectfully and uncaringly, in which case he is courting disaster not only to himself but to the entire country.
The president in compliance with the request of the Cvil Organozations must at least show that the pro Rajapakse evil spirits that are clustered around him are being chased away . Otherwise the president who is already in a deep predicament would be headed for a worse catastrophe .It was clearly manifest following the media briefing held yesterday , the intelligent people are aligned with the Civil Organizations , and not with the politicos and their views.
It is significant to note that this was the first time in recent Sri Lanka there were so many media participants -the highest attending a media conference held yesterday by the leaders of Civil Organizations. This is a confirmation of yet another triumph of the people closely on the heels of the Rainbow revolution.
Translated by Jeff
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by (2016-10-17 01:43:52)
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4 discussion on this news
When politicians try to wriggle out of their statements it only means that the people understood them very well the first time around.
-- by Cassandra on 2016-10-17
Please protect the murderer Gotabay.
-- by Mohana on 2016-10-17
NO NO NO , you are one should be resigning not the officials of the Commissions and Departments. When you act like a clown with no administrative skills to manage your reporting CEOs you don't deserve to be there. Just because you are given the opportunity to shake hands foreign dignitaries does not make you great unless you behave that way.
-- by Sarath Muttewegama on 2016-10-17
mr president why you are talking and wasting the time, with out development the country, free from criminal former government criminal and corruption must answerable to justice ,i there look after,
-- by darmapala on 2016-10-18
