By Colombo Telegraph –
“A rising of rebels from opposition parties, the UNP and the JVP, had been a commonplace occurrence in the recent past. These rebels had been stealing much limelight with the national weeklies and dailies giving them wide publicity. However, opposition parliamentarians crossing over to the government is not an unusual phenomenon. Of late, a government MP turning a rebel has begun making news for a change. The rebel is none other than UPFA National List MP Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha. Wijesinha, since his parliamentary debut, until recent times, has been a leading protagonist of Mahinda Chintana. But Wijesinha has now begun criticizing the country’s foreign policy in particular and certain government measures in general. Wijesinha has also begun expressing his views in interviews with foreign media as well.” Ceylon Today reported today.
Rajiva
Under the subheading “Rebel in government” the newspaper says; The government, however, did not appear to be taking Wijesinha’s conduct seriously. Some ministers had decided to report Wijesinha to the President when he failed to turn up in Parliament when the Vote on the Second Reading of the Budget was taken up. The ministers concerned had decided that time had come for them to complain about Wijesinha to the President and they did. The President patiently listened to allegations made by the ministers without showing any immediate reaction. After several minutes of reflection, the President said: “I brought Rajiva to Parliament with great faith in him on a request by his father Sam Wijesinha. The other reason is that Rajiva asked me to give him the Higher Education Ministry. I casually told him I would consider his request.” The President added: “Ok, I know how to tackle him.”
Meanwhile Dr Rajiva Wijesinha says “I had been asked to speak on the votes of the Ministry of External Affairs during the Committee Stage of the Budget Debate, but was subsequently told that there was no time for this. Since I had prepared a text, which I felt discussed urgent issues in the current context, I thought it would be useful to make this available instead of forgetting about the points raised.” Read his cenosred speech here
Senguttuvan / December 2, 2012
Intellectually, Rajiv, the Family and most Ministers/MPs belong to different planets. Rajiva – of the Liberal Party that never really took off – is also an ambitious man, who came into Parliament as MR admits is as a result of a favour done to old Sam W.
He (Rajiva) seems to think his days are numbered as confided to friends that he now encounters difficulties with the regime because of his inability to express his views in Sinhala. That may or may not be the reason. The truth is our External Affairs Policy apparatus – GLP,
Mahinda Samarasingha, the learned Sajin V and Rajiva is far too top-heavy. It is no longer pleasant company but a cumbersome crowd. Palitha K and Dayan J were out of the bus earlier. Some others too have to be out of the wayward bus. Rama Mani must be laughing and clapping muttering in French “okata wene dey ondama ondai”
Senguttuvan
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Vishvajith / December 3, 2012
Your opinions are quite telling.
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PB / December 2, 2012
Bravo a true patriot? You may look like a traitor to those fanatics in the government and the opposition. The ones in the opposition are nodding their heads in approval of all the. Villainy of the executive presidency , because they are eagerly waiting for their day ! Imagine with all these powers what they can do for their boys! Wow
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Ramani F / December 2, 2012
why is this joker news? he’s no rebel but an opportunist who is getting the best of both worlds. While globetrotting at tax payer expense and whitewashing the King he also pretends to be a great liberal thinker. The man is nothing but a sad case wanting some publicity and CT should not entertain such crap.
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gamini / December 2, 2012
With the first possible reshuffle, Pudding basin will be out. From then on will start the slide down of MR as well. What a despicable character this man Rajiva is? The manner he once berated Ranil, enabled him to jump the MR band wagon. Now he will get his just deserts. Retribution seems to come slowly but surely.
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Saman Wijesiri / December 2, 2012
If Rajiva nursed an ambition to rise to Ministerial status, he has chosen the wrong time to turn a rebel. An intellectual like Rajiva naturally must be feeling uncomfortable in the company of Mervin Silvas, Duminda Silvas and Modawansas. He must also be feeling guilty for voting for the 18th Amendment. But he should have realized long ago that if he sleeps with dogs, he has to rise up with fleas!
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Chandra / December 3, 2012
This bugger is not an intellectual. He is a fraud. The Liberal Party led by him is also a fraud. What have they been doing all this time regarding the huge troubles that have been going on? Nothing!
He was also a most dangerous media assassin of the government, together with Rajpal and the like. It is good to see rogues biting the dust. I saw the picture of Rajpal accepting a laptop from Mahinda on CT and laughed long and hard. Does’nt this miserable person have money even to buy a laptop with deceny for himself??
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Bedrock Barney / December 3, 2012
Exactly, he wanted a ministerial position, now that’s not forthcoming…
All who voted for the 18th amendment have failed in their duty as representatives of the people. A list should be compiled and be called the National list of Shame!
What’s the use of his education if he couldn’t understand such a basic thing. He couldn’t understand right from the start that he was there just for decoration. In the eyes of the regime Mervyn’s doctorate is from a far more prestigious university than Rajiva’s. Lol!
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Ben Hurling / December 2, 2012
“Ok, I know how to tackle him.” MR thinks governing is a Rugby match. Soon the people of Sri Lanka will tackle the whole corrupt Rajapakse clan. Just wait. A matter of time.
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Veedhur / December 2, 2012
Oh what a humbug! I have greater respect for the likes of Mervyn and Wimal than this unprincipled hypocrite, Rajiva (and for Vaasideva)
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watcher / December 3, 2012
Rajiva is a man of integrity and a national asset. He is not comfortable with dirty politics but we should use his considerable intellect in right ministries.. He is well qualified for foreign or education ministries.
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Peter / December 3, 2012
Sounds like Rajiva himself commenting!
“…a man of integrity and a national asset” ? “…not comfortable with dirty politics” ? “…we should use his considerable intellect in right ministries..”? “He is well qualified for foreign or education ministries”?
What a load of horse-shit!! This disgrace has proved himself over and over again to be a sycophant (sikko-phant would be more appropriate) with no principles, ever ready to kiss ass to further himself. His writings and interviews speak for themselves.
Wonder what happened to bring about this change? And it would be interesting to see where he aligns himself as a result.
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Mahela / December 3, 2012
We had a very good set, well educated and well qualified professionals at Ministry of External Affairs. They were well respected, and maintained trust and had very good reputation among the international community.
But since the end of the LTTE war many of them lost their credibility, prestige trust and reputation in the international Arena.
I witnessed and watched many of their interviewes both with foreign media and with the international representatives.
The most important thing I noticed with interviews was almost all of them either trying to dodge the question, or completely lying or telling something as true which they are not sure about…and finally giving wrong information which later they got caught red handed.
I don’t have much time to write them individually nor I don’t want to write in this open blog, but what I want to tell is due to these unfortunate incidients…..They…the SL representatives lost their credibility and reputation in the International arena and I know the cause for all of these were due to MR’s narrow minded , misleading and untruthful instructions given to them to follow.
I can still see some of the MR interviews with foreign media in Utube ….which are quite amusing.
At the last commonwealth summit in Tehran….when a reporter asked about the success of the NA conference….MR’s answer was …relevant…relevant…relevant what?
How cay you improve relations with others with these type of misleading answers…
Also at one of the international conferences….the govt. rep could not talk english at all and my friend had to introduce her to the secretary general of the conference as the Sri Lankan rep….in English.
I think the bottom line with Prof.Rajiva Wijesinse was, that he could not bare telling anymore lies nor could not hide the truth, where he got caught at all the corners and had to say enough is enough.
It’s good for him at least to keep his reputation and leave the post honourably, atleast agreeing to his own conscious.
I wish him well.
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JBD / December 3, 2012
All humans have no choices for two destinations..one is retirement, the other is death. Prof. Rajiva has the first destination without choice, i.e. an early retirement…
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Helena Waidiyasekerta / December 3, 2012
Rajiva get out with dignity before you get kicked our of the MR regime who are dishonest, ruthless, reckless, rajasakiliyas… who are destroying unborn children and future generations, as they will not have a homeland to live with the way things are being manupilated and China taking over the leftovers.
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Ramindu Randeniya / December 4, 2012
I think Our fellow Sri Lankans need to research more and not depend on one source to make a judgement.
All of us know very little about the actual incident and many obviously know little about Professor Rajiva.
It is a shame that our countrymen jump to conclusions just reading an article. I am not justifying Professor Rajiva neither accusing him.
All I know is our country , the government needs highly educated people and not entertain clowns.
We have to think seriously about our young generation. The image that you have when you say ‘politics’ is with very low-regard. The world is moving forward and we are far behind. We need educated, exposed liberal thinkers to lead our country.
Read his repsonse and analyze if you are genuinely here to know the truth.
http://rajivawijesinha.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/letter-to-the-editor-colombo-telegraph/#more-5556
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Candid_Views / December 4, 2012
Rajiva, in my opinion was forced to do a difficult job at the wrong time. Projecting an image of a good governence, against all the bitter and acrimonious accusations associated with war is no easy task. It is tough and anyone in his shoes should realize that. It is easy to point fingers at others, in this case against the conduct of the military campaign to wrest control from LTTE, of which Rajiva had nothing to do with the conduct of the war, but now he is forced to defend it to earn his livelihood. So people, go easy on him. It may be that you need to vent your anger against the military onslaught, and the innocents caught in collateral damage because the LTTE used civilians as human shields. Rajiva may the only window through which you can accuse or slsnder this government and take them to task. I had a change of heart when I realized his pedigree, being a son of respected Sam Wijesinghe, a very humble and simple man, former Secretary General of Parliament, who later served as an ombudsmen and afterwards became chairman of the Human Task Force and last but not least the Chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka.
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Dr Vu Ratnayake / February 27, 2015
Dear readers,
whatever the circumstances are I know verywell that Rajeeva is straight forward and he is one who expresses his ideas (most are right) straight to the face of anyone.
In this circumstances I believe Rajeeva is right and I request him always to keep the head up and do whatever is needed for this country to rise up again to what we were in early 50s.
Dr Vu Ratnayake
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