-By A Special Correspondent
(Lanka-e-News -04.Dec.2025, 11.30 PM) When questioned about the government’s alleged failure to take adequate precautions ahead of the island’s devastating floods, S.M. Marrikkar—never one to miss a chance to turn a microphone into a megaphone for outrage—took to a press conference on 4 December and produced yet another tirade better suited to a street-corner brawl than a serious policy discussion.
Speaking at a media briefing organised by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the MP attempted to absolve his camp of any responsibility by pointing fingers in every direction except his own. When confronted with the charge that prior warnings were ignored, Marrikkar insisted that “mud-slinging gangs” were trying to shift blame. But the MP could not hide behind insults: even he admitted that the situation could not be trivialised and that the real task was to accept responsibility and collectively fix what had gone wrong. Unfortunately, the rest of his remarks demonstrated just how far he is from that standard.
Marrikkar bemoaned that the government was trying to “change the narrative” around the disaster. He pointed to earlier warnings from the Meteorological Department—broadcast on Derana on 12 November and later reported by the BBC forecasting 400–500 mm of rainfall. But instead of providing a constructive argument, he launched into a rant about “YouTubers with police protection” and political sycophants supposedly shielding the authorities from criticism.
According to him, criticism of the government’s failure to prepare had been met by a “mud squad” flinging abuse to drown serious questions—yet much of his speech resembled the very behaviour he decried.
Turning his fire on Cabinet Minister Wathagala, Marrikkar mocked comments suggesting that those insulting the President could be arrested under emergency regulations. “If that is so,” he asked theatrically, “who will arrest the Pelawatta mud-belt—the so-called spiritual brigade chanting ‘Nivan Suva’ while spewing filth online?”
In what has become typical of Sri Lankan political theatre, Marrikkar turned the press conference into a performance of indignation: the YouTube mafia here, the meditation clique there—everyone is apparently out to get him. Theatrics aside, his intervention did little to clarify how any of this helps the people trapped in floodwaters.
The MP then lectured the government on leadership: “This country doesn’t belong to ministers. Mahinda Rajapaksa thought the same and look what happened to him,” he declared, before reminding the government that leaders must listen to experts.
It was one of the few sensible lines in his address—though one wonders whether he applies it to himself.
Marrikkar argued that Sri Lanka required an urgent international donors’ conference, noting that businessman-led initiatives to “Rebuild Sri Lanka” would never be enough. Distinguishing between entrepreneurs and genuine leaders, he warned that committees full of corporate personalities would only demonstrate the limits of private initiative.
Infrastructure must be repaired immediately, he insisted, given its direct impact on tourism and economic recovery. On that point, he was not wrong—but again, one would hope for proposals backed by more substance than slogans.
He condemned the reliance on SMS notifications and circulars, insisting that displacement camps must receive real assistance—food, supplies and proper coordination. He criticised the delay in convening disaster-management meetings and relayed warnings he claims he delivered about threats to Kelani River communities. His recollections of pumps not being deployed in time, and floodgates only being opened after unnecessary delays, may well merit investigation. But his habit of narrating them as though he alone possesses wisdom while everyone else is incompetent undermines the credibility of his claims.
What he delivered, ultimately, was not a policy analysis but a personalised rant masquerading as public concern.
In closing, Marrikkar reverted to his favourite target—the “Pelawatta mud squad”. Even if they “send voice messages filled with filth”, he said, the SJB would stand firm as a “productive opposition”.
Ironically, his own speech—peppered with theatrical outrage, personal insults and the political equivalent of street-corner slanging—exemplified the very culture he claims to oppose.
Sri Lanka is enduring one of the worst natural disasters in recent memory. Citizens need competence, coordination and clarity—not political performers who open their mouths merely to shout louder than the person before them.
Marrikkar spoke for nearly an hour. It is unfortunate that so few of his words were worth hearing.
-By A Special Correspondent
---------------------------
by (2025-12-04 19:27:36)
Read 24870 Times
Leave a Reply
0 discussion on this news