By Malinda Seneviratne –
Rajavarothiam Sampanthan says:
Yes, I said it. I said that I was on the LTTE hit list before Mahinda Rajapaksa. In other words, the LTTE was gunning for me before Prabhakaran decided that Mahinda Rajapaksa was a target as or more legitimate that I was. I said, and I quote, ‘I was never a spokesman, proxy or ally of the LTTE, that is completely false and I reject it without any reservation whatsoever.’
There was something I didn’t say. In the Election Manifesto of the TNA in 2001, it was stated, ‘We have consistently asserted that any attempt to draw a distinction between the LTTE and the Tamil people was meaningless’. In other words, as the leader of that political organization and as a Tamil I conceded that the LTTE was the sole-representative of the Tamil people, that I sought to be their voice in asking people to vote for me and indeed did just that after I was elected.
In 2004, in our manifesto, we ‘accepted the LTTE’s leadership’ (i.e. Prabhakaran) as ‘the national leadership of the Tamil Eelam Tamils’ and clearly accepted that the LTTE was in fact ‘the sole and authentic representatives of the Tamil people’. I agreed, with the rest of the TNA to ‘devote our full cooperation for the ideals of the Liberation Tigers’ struggle with honesty and steadfastness’. I agreed, moreover to ‘work side by side with the LTTE for the political initiatives under their leadership’.
I confess therefore that I lied to the Daily Mirror (see my interview with Hafeel Fariz). I confess that I am being cheeky and disingenuous when I told him that ‘We do not ask for power over foreign affairs, we do not want powers over defence, we do not want powers over fiscal policy in regard to the country’s finance’ because the very term ‘Tamil Eelam Tamils’ implies a separatist project. I would not take any issue, therefore, with anyone who laughs at my constant interjection of the word ‘unity’ when I talk about ‘solution’.
Susil Premajayanth says:
As the General Secretary of the United People’s Freedom Alliance, I am ashamed. On Friday the Chairman of the Yatiyantota PS was arrested by the Bribery Commission for ‘taking’. I am ashamed to say that this is not the first time that a member of the UPFA has been caught taking bribes. I am ashamed that members who have been elected to pradeshiya sabhas, urban and municipal councils, provincial councils and even parliament have been caught (on camera and otherwise) engaging in all kinds of illegal and deplorable activities. There have been instances when those elected on the UPFA ticket have assaulted rivals within the Alliance. I have promised disciplinary action, but have deliberately made sure that deed will not follow word.
It is principally my responsibility to screen applicants for party nomination. I have failed. I will not pass the buck to others. Today, I acknowledge that the Alliance needs thugs and racketeers to intimidate opponents, fatten the campaign fund and in these and other ways throw their weight around. This is the real secret of success and although I can blame the prevalent political culture for this, I will not, because we, politicians, are the creators of the context.
In short, I was negligent in the screening and incompetent in dealing with those who violated discipline. I can’t say they violated party discipline, because turning a blind eye and even encouraging strong-arm tactics and illegal activity is now part and parcel of party policy.
I ought to have resigned a long time ago. I ought to resign now. I will not. I am ashamed, yes, but the benefits of office far outweigh the shame.
*Malinda Seneviratne is the Chief Editor of ‘The Nation’ and his articles can be found at www.malindawords.blogspot.com
Prashanth / July 16, 2013
Sampanthan had a gun to his head pre 2009
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Sriyakantha / July 16, 2013
The corruption and rot among Sinhala politicians who are the majority is far worse MS! So why not have 2 UPFA Ministers “confessing” rather than doddering Smbanthan?
Your notion of (ethnic) balance is pathetic! And you are a con artist par excellence and a master of DENIAL!
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 16, 2013
SK;
BETTER WE ASK THIS MALINDA S,
Why dont you write as the reality like,
“Mahinda Rajapassa Says, gota rajapassa Says: CHAMAL rajapassa says;
Meanwhile In A Parallel Universe Called DECEPTION.” ???????.
HE IS PLAYING AMBALANGODA ROOKADA WITH US.
DONT YOU MALINDA??????.
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essie / July 16, 2013
There seems to be a covert comparison between the two people mentioned for satire. I do not always agree with TNA political moves, but you have to admit that Sampanthan was under tremendous pressure from the LTTE pre-2009.
He is fortunate to have survived at all.
Susil was under no compulsion to be corrupt!
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thiscantbhappening / July 16, 2013
Sampanthan is TNA leader so why did you not Mahinda (SLFP leader) says instead of bringing in Susil (general secretary)
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Safa / July 16, 2013
Shame is a part of faith. To be ashamed is to admit that one has erred. To admit ones mistakes is to open the door to correction. To err is human to forgive is divine.
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Peter / July 16, 2013
I’d love to see your ‘parallel universe’ take on what MR has said (as opposed to what he did). Or better still, what he has done (or not done) in spite of prevailing laws (read Merv, Tangalle rape case, Duminda, BBS violence, etc, etc)
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Peace Lover / July 16, 2013
good one Peter but sorry to dissapoint you Malinda wil never do that coz he needs to write and earn his “buth packet with an occasional caviar thrown in” you see he seems to be singing for his supper!
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patriot / July 16, 2013
Mr Malinda Seneviratne(MS) is just wasting his time writing columns to CT as we the readers are bored with the crap he is choosing as his topics. He should stick to his job at Nation and not try to keep the readers attention away from the day to day problems prevailing in Sri Lanka which are pretty well covered by columnists such as TG, KPJ, KD and DB who are doing a great service to the nation(not nation news paper). It seems MS is doing a government contract “Keep the readers busy reading crap”.
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Horagediya_CH / July 16, 2013
This journalist has no shame. Again and again to bring this kind of ludicrous articles.
His Journalism is good enough to cover up only.
Just beating around the bush – is what he is well talented at.
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Aney Apochchi! / July 16, 2013
The sign of a true sycophant is to keep producing limitless drivel in support of those who pay you. It is as simple as that and Malinda Seneviratne, must be forgiven because like his father before him and his sister right now, he continues to prove that a human tongue is FAR SUPERIOR to a brush and boot polish as far as Rajapassa footwear is concerned.
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Righteous / July 16, 2013
[Edited out]
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Kiri Yakka / July 18, 2013
Malinda,
You probably see a lot of commonality with Sampanthan – opportunistic flexibility. But he commands some votes while you don’t. In your raw state you have better chance. Perhaps its time to get back to it.
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