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<\/a>The song released on the occasions of the first anniversary of President Maithripala Sirisena<\/span><\/a> assuming office seeks to promote him as some kind of modern-day reincarnation of King Parakramabahu the Great.<\/p>\nThe song commissioned by the President or his media team, is a throw-back to the reign of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa who was likened to King Dutugemunu, in song and by association film. Ironically, the lyrics condemn sycophants and hosanna-singing even though the entire production is but a celebration of sycophancy.<\/p>\n
Sirisena, in his election campaign, strongly condemned meaningless and expensive self-promotion by Rajapaksa, but has in the past 12 months indulged heavily in the same practice.<\/p>\n
A song praising Mahinda Rajapaksa immediately after the defeat of the LTTE claimed that the then president was a blessing to the nation and indeed consecrated by the gods themselves. In this music video, the same sentiments are expressed, except that the visuals actually have astral entities literally descending from the heavens to shower blessings on King Parakramabahu. The attempt to equate Sirisena with this king who ruled from the president\u2019s \u2018home town\u2019 Polonnaruwa is unmistakable.<\/p>\n
Sirisena\u2019s \u2018royal\u2019 ambitions seem to mimic those of his predecessor, with two major differences. Whereas Rajapaksa\u2019s fascination was with Anuradhapura and Dutugemunu, Sirisena\u2019s fixation is with Polonnaruwa and Parakramabahu. Also, whereas Rajapaksa\u2019s \u2018royal\u2019 flirtation took off only after 4 years into his term, Sirisena\u2019s has kicked off one year after assuming office.<\/p>\n