28 March, 2024

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Political Predators Mistakenly Called The Joint Opposition

By Vishwamithra

“The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell.” ~Bertrand Russell

When the carcass of our polity is sprawled across the landscape of the country, when the carcass is well beyond recognition, when its heart has stopped beating, its nerves ceased to twitch and its blood has hardened so much so that it’s no redder, but eerily crimson, we know that the predators have done the job. Fortunately we have not arrived at that burial ground as yet. The heart of Sri Lanka’s polity is still beating; its nervous system is intact and its blood still redder than ever. The Joint Opposition that is parading our streets and feeding a starving media with delusional tidbits of political character-assassination is made up of the Rajapaksa family and other parliamentarians who contested the last General Election on the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) ticket. They were the ones who opposed Maithripala Sirisena’s Presidential bid on January 8, 2015. They were the ones who backed Mahinda Rajapaksa’s bid for an unprecedented third term Presidency.

What is the common tie between the Rajapaksas and these other political hoods who have opted to stand behind Mahinda Rajapaksa and his blatantly deep corrupt practices? I have written about this before and have no hesitation in writing again and again, even to the utter boredom of the reader. They are the comrades-in-arms (or more aptly, comrades-in-‘alms’) of the Rajapaksas when they had the coffer-keys. Make no mistake. It’s all about the money. From power they got the keys to coffers and after that it was always money, money, money. With that money they entertained their friends; with that money they had unlimited luxuries; with that money they acquired cars and houses and girlfriends and boyfriends. All decipherable signs of moral decay were present; all tangible results of avarice were in evidence; all nuanced cryptograms of sloganeering were abundant. Yet the majority in the country refused to see. They refused to look at them, for they did not want to see what lay beneath the veneer.

It is quite natural for any victim of any crime or misdemeanor to confront the truth. That is a human condition and we find that in abundance in everyday lives of many men and women. For what reason or excuse, I’m not qualified to reason out. Yet its corrosive presence, one simply cannot dispute. This is the gullibility political sharks of a yester-regime exploited to the hilt. The gullibility of the masses was shown when the Rajapaksas declared that they were ready to go to the ‘electric chair’ to safeguard the ‘honor’ of the brave soldiers who fell on the battlefield. The phony patriotism of Rajapaksa and his henchmen is exposed as nothing but phony. But patriotism, if craftily sloganeered and presented as justifiable and gut-wrenching as the Rajapaksa cronies were capable of portraying, it is really dreadful. It has been recorded in many an international fora and has been debated whether the subject of patriotism defined in a narrow context of local politics is valid and whether that patriotism offers a blanket assurance of insulation from the international audience seeking justice and fairness to all people living in the world, as a majority or a minority. Such nuanced arguments are a way beyond these pathetic, uninformed merchants of corruption and nepotism.

The May Day show has understandably given Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cohorts a false sense of hope; it has given them a massive ego-push that the crowd that gathered on the Galle face green came on their own volition. If one is offered a bottle of arak and a packet of rice and curry and free transport, of course, who is going to refuse that on a national holiday? The enormous wealth that the last regime made via various deals is coming out now. In 1960 and 1970 the United National Party (UNP) managed to gather massive crowds for their May Day rallies. On both occasions the UNP lost at the Elections. This delusional madness of the Rajapaksas and their supporters would eventually have its infectious effect claiming not only their immediate staff and cohorts, but will trickle down to the broad masses that rally around him and his failed policies of phony patriotism and groundless and unproven love for them.

Mahinda Rajapaksa has to realize the significance of one modern political dynamic. The social media is not something that could be kept under a carpet of secrecy; it need not have leadership; it need not have even to verify the accuracy of what they are alleged to reveal. But fortunately or unfortunately, the social media is a double-edged knife. Against a backdrop of darkening clouds of suspicion in some intimidation, abductions and killings of prominent journalists who had both guts and craft to use their ‘power of the pen’ to attack the Rajapaksa regime and the then first family,  Mahinda Rajapaksa’s malicious attempt at galvanizing massive crowds on May Day celebrations looks hollow and barren.

When one sits down to analyze the current political tempests in Sri Lanka, after a defeat of a maligned regime (I used the word regime intentionally as the Rajapaksas portrayed themselves as a regime as against a Democratic Republic) whose alleged attempt at hoodwinking the masses with slogans such as electric chair, brave soldiers on the battlefield, etc. was thwarted by the voters in January, 2015, one has no option but to deduce that the Rajapaksas attempts are indeed malevolent and treacherous. They ruled the country for more than eighty four months. Never did a day pass without a member of the first family or their henchmen, in and outside Parliament, allegedly committing at least a white-collar felony. Such white-color felonies are being investigated today and hopefully, for the relief on many a man and woman. These political swindlers simply do not realize that taking the voter for granted and treating him or her as a simpleton and sometimes as an idiot is a sin that has no equal. Condescending treatment of equals may be pardonable but if such conduct extends down to the average Siripala and Ran Menika in the rural hamlets, it is not only unpardonable, it is grossly repugnant and deplorable.

But who is there to tell the Rajapaksas; certainly not the local politicians, nor the native henchmen. It had to come from a visiting Head of Government of our ‘big brother’, India. Prime Minister Modi did not come to occupy the highest seat in India’s polity by being naïve and uninformed. If Mahinda Rajapaksa refuses to learn any lesson form the alleged treatment extended to him by Narendra Modi, then he is beyond help. The May Day rally organized by the so-called Joint Opposition has already claimed two lives. For the organizers of the Joint Opposition this may not be abig ado. Yet one must remember that those who died as a result of participating in the May Day rally also may be having sons, daughters, wives and parents. Sacrifices made for the sake of personalities around whom a cult is being built are indeed grave and more often than not, stupid. Yet our unequivocal sympathy goes out to them.    

Sigmund Freud said that ‘no one who shares a delusion ever recognizes it as such’. That is precisely what has happened to Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cohorts. They do not seem to recognize the delusion; the delusion of a broad mass assent of a failed regime is lingering on and it is being intentionally promoted by them.

The writer can be contacted at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com    

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Latest comments

  • 5
    6

    The people should understand the difference between true patriotism and phony patriotism. The true patriotism of a country is not about power, it is about how you contribute to enhance the good image of the nation through bring unity among, people, bring peace and harmony among people, respecting the human values, respecting the rule of law, sacrificing their life for the benefit of people and the land. During the period of goveranance under Rajapakse regime, the country’s good image fall apart, unity among people were at its bottom, rule of law became rule of jungle, corruption rose it its height and the ruling regime focused on money, money and power, power, power. Ordinary citizens were under threat, members of parliament under pressure to buy cash to surrender the regime, JUstice system was under threat, even the commander in chief & Chief justice brought under near electric chair, not by International court but by Mahinda Rajapakse Court. We all know at the end of this war several LTTE fighters were captured or surrendered to the military. How many of you know the most senior LTTE members were allowed to leave the country with the help of Rajapakse regime after paying large lumpsum? Only those who were recruited forcefully during the last phase for digging bunker, and supply food were arrested and rehabilitated. This is what Rajapakse regime called patriotism.

    • 4
      3

      I think Vishwamitra has mixed patriotism with Rajapaksas. There is a wave of patriotism in the country which is not necessarily to be connected with Rajapaksas.

      Rajapaksas’ coming back to power is highly unlikely. The choice for the next Government will not be another Rajapaksa led government.

      The bankrupt path chosen by Rajapaksas will says it all.

      They now even use INGO propaganda, as their “indirect campaigners”.

      People were shocked at the news that Basil having pacts with some separatist Tamil/Muslim parties in the North and the East.

      Mighty Rajapaksas even had to use a super-clown like Sujeewa to show that they have “some support” in the UNP.

      An artificial political sensation is revolving around them at present where common masses have no interest.

      Even FB posts of NGO funded Nirmal whom people detest were used as their propaganda.

      Not only that, with MR’s ‘unscheduled hasty meeting’ with Modi, which should take as a serious betrayal to the masses while preaching one slogan and practising another, he might even borrow Modi’s Nehru-Waistcoat from Maithri.

      We have seen this path before. In 2015, all these people were with Maithri and Ranil. Rajapaksas seem to have borrowed “their book” from them as their last resort.

      Surely they are not heading for victory. Their chosen path itself is proof that they have lost all hopes of coming back to power.
       
      The vulnerability of Sinhalese is long over. They will never be influenced by short term factors. It is highly likely Sinhalese demand a single Party for themselves. My personal wish is it to be a Left-Wing, so that all ethnicities will be benefited. The same sentiments of Tamils and Muslims having Political Parties all for themselves is shared here.

      • 3
        0

        Champa types: —————————————– “My personal wish is it to be a Left-Wing, so that all ethnicities will be benefited” ———————- With your bigoted mind any party is good party for you to join. ———- How about JVP, NFF, BBS, JHU, CP, LSSP, SLFP, UNP, ….. it won’t make any difference.

        • 0
          1

          Native Vedda, I have to do some editing to your comment.
          JHU, SLFP, UNP, BBS are not leftist parties. JVP’s present ideology is not known.
          CP, LSSP alright. Wimal, yes.
          I talked about the need for a new party for Sinhalese. I suggested a Left-Wing as an alternative to Right-Wing politics which is going no where at present.

          • 1
            0

            Champa types: ————————- “I talked about the need for a new party for Sinhalese. ” — ” I suggested a Left-Wing as an alternative to Right-Wing ” ————————————– A left wing party is supposed to be free of belonging to a particular people.

            Since you are bigot no way you are going to find peace prosperity and secular party.

  • 3
    5

    It is not joint opposition. It is Called Jackal Opposition.
    Sri lanka is one of the countries where corrupt jackals run the country. Voters are clueless.

    No one is thinking of the benefit of making a complete new party in which these jackals are not the parliamentary members.

    Right now two jackal groups are fighting each other in NCP provinacl council to get the power for they themselves. Newspapers are silent. Hardly anyone talks the truth too.

  • 6
    3

    Unfortunately given the last few articles from this author, he has lost some credibility.

  • 5
    2

    UNP and SLFP Sira Camps are on fire, but not firing.One time blue eyed boy young Sujeeva read the Riot act to Dr Ranil and threatened to go against him.
    Young Jayasekera went even further and demanded his boss Bodhi Sira get rid of the Crooks and Rogues in the Yahapalana Cabinet. And reminded Bodhi that he won’t be a Signal Post for the UNP anymore..
    Now Dr Ranil’s thambi, Marrickkar says it is high fatness of young Sujeeva t make demands when Marrikar can’t give jobs and houses to his loyal UNP suckers in Kollonnawa.How can residents in Garbage Gardens be UNP supporters.
    New CB Boss put out the report card, Economy is going down the gurgler at a great rate of knots, with last year registering only 4%.
    But Heroin and Hashis imports under Yahapalanaya have sky rocketed, with shipments coming through the same LTTE route and landing in even Puttalam , KKS and Hanbantota,
    PNB Officers are shot to death under Yahapalana CCTV..Now Ecstasy hauls are discovered in big ass IT offices in Colombo.I don’t think Dalits know what Ecstasy is.
    In the meantime Dengue is ravaging the Nation , with 40,000 affected. And the death rate from one strain as high as 90%.
    Hindian Modi came bearing Gifts and promising every thing from Ambulances to Houses and even ETCA.And addressing even the Mahasanga as if he is the Big brother of Bodhi Sira.
    But Dr Ranil was running to Beijing with the begging bowl ,and says he can now make us the Hub of China.for the Belt and Road.
    What a bloody marvelous performance , And some still can’t still understand why our long suffering inhabitants rushed to Galle Face.

    • 4
      2

      KASmaalam K A Sumanasekera ——————————————————————————–

      MR used to have only one b***s carrier minding both. Now it seems you have lost your job to Wimal and Udhaya. Have you been caught stealing cash and jewels from MR’s house which belonged to the people of North East?

      Why do you sound like Ambassador Bandula Jayasekera?

  • 2
    1

    Mahinda has got new sunnies; the country is gonna be saved!

    A good pic of all the people who are going to save the beloved motherland.

    Just imagine the state of SL if they all went out and got real jobs.

  • 3
    1

    The more you vilify Rajapaksha regime the more you are exposing the nature of ALL those who were associated with him. That is simple logic. How shrewed and shamelessly dishonest this writer is to avoid reminding the readers that half the government including Sirisena were with Rajapaksha until November 2014. Had Rajapaksha appointed Sirisena as Prime minister wouldn’t he be in the forefront of the JO today? In regard to Rajapaksha ‘crimes’ either they were complici, were unaware of or were in mortal fear . Right? Which one makes them eligible to rule the country as an alternative to Rajapaksha?

    Come on mr Vishvamitra. If anyone in the JO offerrred to change sides today wouldn’t he instantly become eligible to be a Miinister? Isn’t this ‘uniity” jig a hoax mounted on the people to double the number of ministterial positions specified in the constitution so that former Rajapaskha assovites can be accomodated at an unconcciabc cost to the country? Once again if the Rajapaskha regime was so villainous how can half those who supported him are saints?. Fooling yourrself or trying to fool us?

    Soma

    • 2
      0

      somas ——————————————————————————————————————–“Had Rajapaksha appointed Sirisena as Prime minister wouldn’t he be in the forefront of the JO today? “

      Hindians would have found a suitable replacement. It is all about the price and definitely not about principle.

      Aren’t you talking nonsense as usual? First ask this war criminal and his sidekicks to resign their seat and contest fresh elections under new party or as independent candidates.

      • 0
        0

        NV

        “First ask this war criminal and his sidekicks to resign their seat and contest fresh elections under new party or as independent candidates.”

        ???. While JO is clammering for elections in the provinces it is the Sirisena faction who are avoiding it, quite undemocratically.

        Time of the year to commomorate your patron Saint while we remember with gratitude your war criminal.

        Soma

  • 5
    1

    Need to acknowledge and congratulate the writer for a well written article which clearly conveys his thoughts and fears. I for one, totally and wholeheartedly agree with his entire analysis. Could he have written such an article under the previous ‘regime’, for the entire Polity to read and digest, without fear of being subject to persecution and possibly ‘white vanned’? Probably not! For that freedom of expression alone that now exists, if not anything else, thanks must go to the current ‘Administration’.

    Sri Lankans are a ‘damned/doomed’ Nation for having a ‘family’ such as the ‘Rajapaksas’ existing in the Country. They have virtually destroyed the Country and the very fabric of a decent society. The quality, education, background, morals and ethics of those in the JO as well as other well known personalities in society supporting this ‘Dictator’, is a clear pointer and indication of the characteristics of those who wish to bring this ‘scoundrel’ into power again. Yes, most of them have lost their ‘perks’ and other streams of income and wealth.

    May the ‘Decent’ Sri Lankans who are in the majority, who wish for a prosperous, tolerant and decent Sri Lanka, be not fooled by the antics of this ‘Group’ of so-called ‘Patriots’. May the ‘Rajapakas’ get their just desserts in due course!

  • 4
    1

    At the end of the day it is Ranil Wickramasinghe who should be Impeached for the bond scam and carrying out the corruption of the Mahinda Jarapassa family and cronies who are living the good life with impunity and Ranil’s protection!It is Ranil who has stalled all the corruption investigations against Jarapassa family and cronies at the Behest of the IMF which is in the business of legalizing money laundering by the Global and local 1 percent.
    Meanwhile IMF and WB has a secret report on the Bond Scam but never mentions the need to investigate Perpetual Treasuries. Oh, no, IMF is busy drafting tax bills for the poor to pay and adding VAT on essential items.
    The entire global financial system run by Washington DC – IMF, WB and the US has legalized financial corruption in the world today. Sri Lanka civil society must turn its back on Ranil and his economic hit men and deal wisely with China. Thank god for China!

  • 3
    0

    Vishwamitra quotes Bertrand Russell : “The infliction of cruelty with a good conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented Hell.”

    Heaven is a similar creation. Earthlings undergo hell locally hoping to go to get there. Aspirants even commit murder towards this endeavor.

    Vishwamitra describes the Lankan quicksand trap “It’s all about the money. From power they got the keys to coffers and after that it was always money, money, money. With that money they entertained their friends; with that money they had unlimited luxuries; with that money they acquired cars and houses and girlfriends and boyfriends”. This wording cannot be improved.

  • 4
    1

    Wake up, Wishvamitra you need to be balanced and see that corrupt and criminal Rajapakse regime could not have become so corrupt without the active consent of Ranil Wickramasinghe who was then leader of the opposition.
    It is Ranil who is preventing the arrest of the Financial Criminals of the Rajapaksa family despite mountains of evidence as high as Meethotamulla garbage dump, because Ranil and his economic hit men (Ravi K. Malik, Eran, Harsha Mr. Foot note) are worse!
    NOW after looting the Central Bank and Sri Lankan Airlines Ranil and his UNP Royal College mafia are bigger financial Criminals than Jarapassa who thus has Ranil’s protection..
    Ranil needs to be impeached NOW for appointing Mahendran and blocking the CB bond scam investigation.

  • 3
    2

    Both Vesak and May day are a show for the deluded masses, organized by the corrupt politicians of all parties in Miracle of Modayas!

  • 4
    4

    Vishwamitra should tell his big brother leader to build toilets for his Dalits in India before worrying about houses for Sri Lankans. Now Vishwamitra has some serious beef with Rajapaksa by the looks of it. Sad part is your Yahapalana Jeff and Mutt screwed it big time Modi entertains a late night meeting with Rajapaksa hmm it should worry you alright.

  • 7
    1

    After the fall of Authoritarian regime, Srilankans of all ethnicity were crazed with happiness. People who never met each other before hugged each other in the streets – convinced that tomorrow things would look different. Then came the many disappointments.

  • 9
    1

    MR & cabals would never come to power again. The minorities, Tamils, Muslims and Christians would never vote for them. Last two elections they wanted to win with majority Sinhalese votes but they leaned bitter lessons. Their fate is sealed for good, even if they hit the moon. The minorities would never forget all the cruilities inflected upon them by MR & cabals

  • 8
    0

    In 1999, the most populous African nation, Nigeria returned to democratic rule. Prior to this time, Nigeria was ruled by military dictators. Most notable of these were General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, the self-proclaimed “Evil Genius” and General Sani Abacha, who died mysteriously in 1998, paving the way for civilian rule. Abacha’s rule was a reign of terror with many journalists killed, or going underground and many opponents mysteriously disappearing. He had a special killing squad led by the infamous sniper Sergeant Rogers. Despite the billions of dollars these dictators had stolen from the government coffers and the permanent financial security they and their families would enjoy for years to come, they were never willing to relinquish power. The story of dictators in Nigeria is just one of many such stories around the world, most especially in Africa and the Arab world. The question every right thinking person would ask is, what motivates these people to act in the barbarous and unconscionable ways that they do? Simply, what is their mindset? It is not like that of many other people that we know.

    There are traits that are found in most dictators in the world. They are egoistical, narcissistic maniacs with low self-esteem. For this reason, they surround themselves with very greedy enablers who insulate them from the plight of their people. Through the unrighteous hard work of the morally depraved sycophants who hang around them, the dictators are oblivious to their true standing among their people. These sycophants assure them of their popularity among the people and their indispensability to the stability and well-being of their nations. Keeping this in mind, it is not strange that despite the oppression that the people of Libya have faced in the hands of Gaddafi, he confidently proclaimed to Christiane Amanpour of ABC News that, “All my people love me. They would die to protect me.”

  • 4
    1

    Such a beautiful six Vishwamitra. I can only cheer from the sidelines. It is a good analysis of the present position where political chicanery keeps triumphing simply because good people keep quiet.

  • 6
    0

    MaRa and his Cabal “got the keys to coffers and after that it was always money, money, money. With that money they entertained their friends; with that money they had unlimited luxuries; with that money they acquired cars and houses and girlfriends and boyfriends” Here is a summary of MaRa’s record:

    1. Soliciting sex from girls of the families that lost their loved ones due to Premadasa Terror campaign in exchange of your service as a human rights lawyer in 1980s

    2. Raping girls in villages from down south on the promise of jobs

    3. Stealing $800 million of Tsunami funds through fake NGO called Helping Hambantota set up with assistance from Willie Gamage and depriving poor families of their right to rebuild their lives devastated by Tsunami

    4. Taking 19 billion US dollars as commissions from Chinese government corporations through white elephant useless development projects such as Hambantota Harbour, Airport, and southern expressway

    5. Putting Sri Lanka economy into an endless misery by taking high interest loans from China and pocketing in 40% of that money

    6. Nurturing an unprecedented culture of corruption and political victimization with immunity

    7. Killing and attacking journalists, judges, innocent civilians for 10 years

    8. Appointing an uneducated GoTa as defence head and stealing the credit of ending the 30 year war from SF, the true hero who led the final war against LTTE

    9. Making a synthetic lawyer of an idiotic son who couldn’t even pass his GCE (OL)

    10. Killing the most famous rugby player on behalf of another moron son

    • 1
      2

      Mr Maharage
      You seem to be privy to a lot of valuable information. Please help authorities to recover moneys stolen by Rajapakska. It is 18 billion, 19 billion or 20 billion? Please don’t keep your source (s) a secret any longer. The country needs you.

      Soma

  • 2
    0

    There is no entity as joint opposition in the constitution. The BBS terrorists, their followers and biased media couldn’t bear the fact a Tamil party became an official opposition. So they created another entity, ‘joint opposition,’ to downplay the Tamil Party’s victory and to strengthen the Sinhale separatist ideology.

    • 0
      0

      Why Should Tamils be allowed to make the opposition when they have their own politics in Tamilnadu.

  • 0
    0

    Let’s be honest with ourselves. Our political class is irredeemably corrupt. No point going after Rajapaksa and his losers without at the same time going after RW and his bunch of losers. One would think that after holding on to a position that he had shown no qualifications for, that when the time came and he was in power, he would redeem himself by devoting all his time and energy to making the country a much better place. But what have we got? Luxury cars and SUVs for trash who can’t find a day job, demanding jobs given to old school cronies and to catamites, bond scams, and official trips to one country or another every month. Tragedy is that the term Yahapalanya has become a joke and can never again be an effective slogan with which to win an election.

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