By Rasika Jayakody –
Rasika Jayakody
No sane person for a moment would think that Prime Minister D.M. Jayarathne is a drug dealer. The octogenarian has been in politics for more than six decades and has rendered great service to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and to various governments it formed under different names over the past few decades. He was jailed, tortured and victimized during the 17 year long UNP rule and he tolerated everything for his own party. His was a long walk to the Prime Minister’s position and when he was offered the office, it was a joyous moment for every SLFPer, regardless of their intra-party affiliations.
Today, this Prime Minister, the seniormost member of the ruling party, finds himself in hot waters as a result of a letter, sent out from his office on the 23rd of August. The letter has been issued by Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe, one of his Coordinating Secretaries at the request of a Local Government politician in Gampola who is also a close supporter of the Prime Minister and his son.
The letter which seeks a waiver of Demurrage for a shipment has been issued on behalf the Prime Minister on an official letterhead belonging to his office. Although the Coordinating Secretary who has issued the letter claims that the Prime Minister had no knowledge of the matter, the content of the letter and the official letterhead wed him, inextricably, to this controversy. Therefore, the Prime Minister is not in a position to wash his hands off, distancing himself from the issuance of the letter and saying he laughs off media reports on the heroine scandal – which is one of the biggest drug scams reported in the recent past.
No one – including the Coordinating Secretary or the Local Government politician – has been arrested over the matter and they got away with police by giving a mere statement. It is still not entirely clear whether the Police have started a full-scale investigation into the drug scandal, as requested by Omalpe Sobhitha Thera of the Jathika Hela Urumaya , who also represents the same political camp. This unusual situation is testimony to the fact that the investigation into the controversy has come under political pressure and it is not so difficult fathom where the pressure is actually coming from.
What is crystal clear is that the Prime Minister doesn’t know who and who is around him and does not possess the perceptual power to identify the true colours of the people who work for him. He has appointed secretaries and aides without a thorough examination and has placed a very loose administrative system in his office where any official can issue any sort of letter on behalf of the Prime Minister for any stranger who walks in. There is no way of monitoring the operations and no proper line of reporting which his secretaries and assistants should adhere to.
The Prime Minister’s age, failing health and his seniority in the party do not provide formidable answers to any of these questions. What this elucidates is the fact that the Prime Minister is no longer in a position to discharge the duties his position warrants. It needs no elaboration that this reflects badly on the government as well as the citizenry of the country who have elevated him to the Prime Minister’s office.
The country, at this juncture, expects a few things from this senior citizen and respectable politician.
That is, to accept his failure in discharging duties and step down from the position, as a gentleman ; to admit the fault of his Coordinating Secretary and facilitate the police inquiry into the scandal and to tender an apology to the public over his unintentional involvement in the Heroine controversy.
Once that is done, no one would ridicule him; no one would call for his arrest; no one would want to prosecute and convict him.
And this is not a difficult choice for a person who is in the twilight of his life.
So Mr. Prime Minister it is your time to take the honourable and graceful exit route you thoroughly deserve.
Obata Jaya! ( May Victory Be Yours )
Patriot / December 16, 2013
Very sensible article.
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Dodo / December 16, 2013
Sri Lanka needs an EXIT STRATEGY for its CORRUPT President and Prime Minister – Mahinda Jarapassa and his corrupt family and D.M Jayaratne and his corrupt son and their cronies…
They are cooks, thieves, murderers, looters of the public wealth..
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Spring Koha / December 18, 2013
Patriot, I second that. Rasika writes sympathetically and ends with the only possible punch line; Prime Minister, please do the honourable thing. The thing is that this frail figurehead is one of the weakest links in the present government of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan politicians have created a culture where failure is not a problem; they are so thick skinned that they do not understand a situation where a gentleman would be honour-bound to resign. They are there after all, to serve their master, and perhaps amass some largesse whilst at it. It will take a major sea change in our political culture to change current habits. The question is, where is the YOUNGER generation of political leaders?
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Dinuk / December 16, 2013
DM Jayarathna and his SON MUST RESIGN so that a proper investigation can be conducted. Jayaratne, his some and his appointed henchmen are blocking a proper inquiry into the drug trade and both FATHER AND SON has to step down to let a proper inquiry proceed. The police are no doubt being prevented by the PM’s office from investigating this matter and this is a very SERIOUS CRIME. Drugs coming from Afghanistan-Pak will no doubt be of interest to the United States and those who are trying to stabilize that region. This may become an international investigation into the drug trade in South Asia and beyond.
As Rasika writes “The letter has been issued by Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe, one of his Coordinating Secretaries at the request of a Local Government politician in Gampola who is also a close supporter of the Prime Minister and his son.
D.M Jayratne’s son who is also into politics appears culpable and is hiding under his doddering and incompetent father’s PM status and blocking any inquiry. Both Father and SON in this activity is also evident. Politics is a corrupt family business for the Jayaratnes as for the Jarapassas!
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The Professional / December 16, 2013
The writer RJ does not request the PM to resign but to retire gracefully by admitting the fault of his staff, accepting his failure to shoulder responsibility and apologizing to people. As Minister of Buddha Sasana he can do it in Kandy in the presence of Chief Prelates of Asgiriya and Malwatta Chapters or in Colombo at Mahanayaka Charikaramaya in the presence of Chief Priests of all three Nikayas.
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Max Silva / December 17, 2013
What is the opposition doing about it?Why don’t they bring a no confidence motion against the PM?The UNP brought a no confidence motion against Dilan Perera.But the UNP will never bring a no confidence against the PM.The reasons?Ask Ranil and Karu!
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Spring Koha / December 18, 2013
Max, the opposition is not doing anything about…because there is still honour amongst crooks.
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Dinuk / December 16, 2013
DM Jayarathna and his SON MUST RESIGN so that a proper investigation can be conducted. Jayaratne, his son and his appointed henchmen are blocking a proper inquiry into the drug trade and both FATHER AND SON has to step down to let a proper inquiry proceed. The police are no doubt being prevented by the PM’s office from investigating this matter and this is a very SERIOUS CRIME. Drugs coming from Afghanistan-Pak will no doubt be of interest to the United States and those who are trying to stabilize that region. This may become an international investigation into the drug trade in South Asia and beyond.
As Rasika writes “The letter has been issued by Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe, one of his Coordinating Secretaries at the request of a Local Government politician in Gampola who is also a close supporter of the Prime Minister and his son.
D.M Jayratne’s son who is also into politics appears culpable and is hiding under his doddering and incompetent father’s PM status and blocking any inquiry. Both Father and SON in this activity is also evident. Politics is a corrupt family business for the Jayaratnes as for the Jarapassas!
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Ninja / December 16, 2013
These shameless fellows are capable of any thing.
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Kopikade dayawathie / December 16, 2013
Is the particular writer related to DM ?
As he should be aware, even if DM and his office cant directly be associated with the heavy loads of heroin import, he as highly recognized ceremonial PM to the nation – as one who bear the second most important role, should be exemplary by every means. The issues in terms of DRUGS are not simple jokes for anyone in the country. If the abusive dealers tried to run their business by damaging entire administration of PM, who should be accountable for that ? Those secretaries are not just appointed ones, they should be seniors that have collected most competencies as was the case in previous regimes.
How can the PM and his administration iron out this kind of inexcusable malpractices?
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Palmsquirrell / December 16, 2013
This smacks of a set up. One should ask themselves, if the P.M. would be attacked soo publickly if his last name was Rajapaksa.
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A.T.Kumar / December 16, 2013
Very sensible article, yes he should retire gracefully, The culprits must be brought to book whoever they are,even if they are brother or relatives of any idol.
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Safa / December 16, 2013
We would be inane to assume that the PM did not know anything about this. Most probably some one close to the ruling family is involved and PM was asked to shape things up. Otherwise the lack of action by the law enforcement and police cannot be explained. When the ordinary drug addict is sentenced to death for possessing a few grams, the big drug mudalalis and their political backers go scott free. What is the stand of our powerful Defence Secretary on this matter?
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Kiri Yakka / December 16, 2013
Wonder Rasika if Genva would provide him a better exit route ?
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Kopikade dayawathie / December 16, 2013
Why the so called BBS stays dead silent in this regard – is more than questionable. That Barking character in saffron robes not to have reacted yet – may be some other reasons should have be there – latter is speculatory – the man on backdrop -Gota the hero from Zero may have planted this so that he could get elected as PM -SUCCESSOR… Gota is vindictive
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Selwyn / December 16, 2013
The trend and attitude of GOSL is “Make hay while the sun shines”. Also, immunity is assured. Hence resignations ??? No way………… Scapegoats get rewarded with a ‘kick upstairs’.
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siri / December 17, 2013
If the Prime Minister and his secretaries are not investigated over this very serious charge, can anyone involved in narcotics be punished in the future?
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T Wickramaratna / December 17, 2013
Yes, you have hit the nail on the correct spot. The PM should have resigned the moment this scandal was published.Instead, like a shameless fool he is grinning and talking about dogs.Is this the only subject he knows?
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T Wickramaratna / December 17, 2013
You have hit the nail on the correct spot.When this news broke out, the first thing PM should have done was to resin as an honorable gentlemen.Instead he started talking about dogs.Is this the only subject he knows?
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jehan / December 17, 2013
this pm is a drug dealer,dont defend the un-defendable.only thing is he has got caught.if it was in uk or us this guy would be in jail with all his coordinating guys.they must bring the death penalty to drug dealers.
and it should be carried out on this pm. killing so many young and destroying families shame shame….
Like in middle east drug dealers should be shot in public!!!!!!
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Upul / December 17, 2013
This shipment has probably gone through without any hindrance in the past. It is more important to figure out who the importer/exporter is and find out how many times they have done this in the past. If the PM;s office was not involved in previous shipments, who was? That answer will tell us all who set up the PM.
This is no justification for an idiot in the PM’s office issuing letters willy nilly without any proper basis other than it being a friend of a friend. Does Banda, Mohamed and Singham get the same treatment ? Nah, they pay what is due and get on with their lives!!! Of course they do not do anything illegal so there is no need for letters!!!
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hamas / December 17, 2013
hOW MANY LETTERS HAVE GONE FROM HIS OFFICE TO CUSTUMS ASKING FOR DUTY WAIVERS AND HOW MUCH HAS THE THE GOVT.LOST AS REVENUE.
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crazyoldmansl / December 17, 2013
Fortunately there are many insane people who know very well how many kilos of heroin move from pakistan through sri lanka and not only heroin but gold and elephant tusks too.
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Dr.Goebells / December 17, 2013
The writer is obviously trying to glorify a person who has a long list of court cases for violence and thuggery .He cannot plead ignorance , and must be suspended pending a full investigation . What ‘ honour ‘ is the writer talking about ,obviously he does not know the meaning of the word in this context.
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