By Harishchandra Lokumanna –

Harishchandra Lokumanna

A hypocrite is the kind of politician who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech for conservation. –Adlai E. Stevenson

In July 2014, I wrote an article, wherein I referred to the 3G Sinhala Buddhist Jihadists; Gnanasara– Gota– Gammampila Combine , who have been leading the way to national disaster through a well-organized  campaign to rekindle Sinhala Buddhist extremism. In my considered view,  the combined effect of these 3 Gs, (not the individuals, but the lobby they represent), acting in concert , harboured vicious plans , to further their own agenda , to create an intolerant and a majoritarian minded Sri Lanka , with no space for the ‘other’ to exist as equal citizens with self-respect. During the recent election campaign, it became very apparent that the bond amongst the 3Gs were clearly cemented by the ‘King MR’. Gnanassara openly supported MR while Gammampila ( known as Gembampila- the jumping frog) jumped back to MR’s lap after initially leaving the government with JHU.

Now that the election is over, what do we see? Gnanasara was heard vowing to continue his sacred task of further digging the ethnic and religious fault lines and started raising his oft-quoted war-cry – ‘Muslim extremism’ in Sri Lanka. While this is happening, MR visited his home in Medamulana and claimed that the South(meaning Sinhalese) voted for him while those in the N-E ( meaning Tamil speaking people) in one instance and in another instance refers to ‘Ealam’ was the cause for his defeat .We recall that he also made racist remarks towards the end of his campaign to the effect : ‘ the era is over where the country danced to the tune of the Muslims and the Tamils’ and attributed the exit of the SLMC from the government, as MR’s refusal to accede to their demand for a separate administrative district in Ampara. What an opportunist!

His lackeys too blew the same racist trumpet. Thus, later at the UPFA Press Conference , while Susil P and Nimal S. admitted defeat gracefully, and offered to help the new President , MR’s shameless poodle Wimal Weerawansa started off from where his Master left. Wimal said that the majority of the majority and minority of the minority in this country voted for MR while the minority of the majority and the majority of the minority voted for Maithri. He thus meant that while Sinhala people voted almost en-bloc for MR, the minorities almost en-bloc voted for Maithri. Here too this scoundrel of a politician tried his best to provoke the majority Sinhala people and dilute Maithri’s victory. Meanwhile Gammampila too, in a recent Press Interview referred to President Maithri as the first President who did not enjoy the majority of the majority people, while expressing hope that they will win the General Election despite this setback. There were also futile mischievous attempts to spread stories about attacks on Army camps in the North after Maithri’s Win, and the hoisting of the Eelam Flags.in the North.

These types of racist outbursts from MR, and his lackeys cannot be dismissed easily as coming from defeated politicians ,attempting to find some reasons to justify their utter defeat. Rather, what they said and still saying, reflects/reflected their warped inner thinking and the racist life positons they hold with regard to the essence of humanity. No one doubts that the words a person writes or speaks are an expression of his/her inner thoughts and personalities. Thus, when specially politicians try to present themselves in a certain way, they tend to select what they think are appropriate to get the message across to get votes. When will our leaders or politicians realize the inherent dangers of using the racist card for their petty gains to come to power? Giving a racist slant to the election results will clearly boomerang on political leaders specially when they belong to major political parties which form governments. In that respect, in the light of his disastrous attempt specially after the election to give a racist slant to the results and provoke the Sinhala people, with the dubious plan to portray himself as a Sinhala Buddhist Champion, I would brand MR as a Villain and a Despot with a Racist Mindset, which would dilute the quality of his contribution as a leader who ended the War.

It is interesting that MR and Co. blame the minorities for his defeat, when his Astrologer Sumanadasa recently indicated that although he knew that MR will lose as his stars were not right after the Commonwealth Conference , he was fearful to tell MR and did not want to affect MR’s mental condition by stressing him out. What a Joker ! But then, if true, MR has been taken for a jolly good ride by his erstwhile ‘Star’ advisor! In that sense, do you know that the visit of HH The Pope also had a role   in MR’s defeat ? ( in a lighter vein) judging by the under-noted historic trend pointed out by one of my friends !

In 1970, Dudley invited The Pope ,
but Sirimavo B. welcomed…
In 1995, Wijetunge invited The Pope,
but CBK welcomed ..
In 2014, MR Invited The Pope ,
But Maitri welcomed.in 2015
Morale of the story; Invite The Pope to change the Government!

(MR should have known this. (lol)

On a serious note, the Election statistics have proved clearly that both MR and Maithri have almost equally shared the Southern Sinhala votes and attempts to paint the map of Sri Lanka in different colours only distorts the actual situation by showing MR’s vote block as absolutes in the Southern regions. In N-E areas, the people have however opted to use their franchise to show their resentment against the MR Regime. Tamils specially in the N-E regions are a marginalized lot and knows that LLRC recommendations are still on paper. The NP Provincial Council has not been given their devolved powers to develop their areas, with or without SLMC or ACMC leaving MR govt, took a clear stand, when they saw how the MR government encouraged the hate campaign and refused to ban hate speech and the hate groups like BBS which were Gota’s creations.

We must know that every vote has equal value as all of them are equal citizens in Sri Lanka. We cannot apportion a greater value to a Sinhala Vote and less for a Minority vote, irrespective of where they reside or domiciled in. It is therefore upto the major parties not to resort to third grade tactics and pursue racist strategies, whether in victory or defeat as those short term strategies will surely backfire and will burn them down like wildfire. Fortunately majority Sinhala People are wise enough to avoid these pitfalls laid by power hungry politicians like MR. MR should realize, as many analysts will say, that none of the political parties practically can win purely on the strength of the vote of one race group. They have to appeal to the entire electorate.

God Forbid! if MR was elected, the BBS would have taken advantage of the MR’s racist and majoritarian approach, to organize a disastrous centenary event of the infamous 1915 riots( as Gammampila once said).We are fortunate that Maithri clearly disowned racism as a strategy to win the election and as a policy to govern the country. President Maithri has made very bold indications which gives strength and confidence to Sri Lanka to the effect that there will be good Governance and Rule of Law will prevail, and hopefully his government will move decisively against these hate mongering groups. Someone has to say it, racism is a scam. Thank goodness most people in Sri Lanka, no matter their race, now understand that and shown good signs of staying away from that mind-set.

The strategy of resorting to racio-religious politics by MR types to secure the support of the majority race will not work anymore with the majority Sinhala people as they have become wiser to their mean tactics. Minorities or any ethnic group for that matter have a right to take up a stance of displeasure and disapproval against the government of the day and democratically show it at an election Therefore, I know our People will show political maturity and not allow those political groups to promote religious hatred once again, for short term gains. Maithri government should nip any attempts in the bud if BBS and other hate groups try their gimmicks. We need to protect the hard fought gains at this election and say clearly to the politicians asking for our votes : We will only vote, on your policies and not based on your tribal instincts or race and your racist provocations.