{"id":167387,"date":"2016-09-09T01:44:07","date_gmt":"2016-09-08T20:14:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=167387"},"modified":"2016-09-15T13:19:48","modified_gmt":"2016-09-15T07:49:48","slug":"the-true-beginning-of-the-rajapaksa-fall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/the-true-beginning-of-the-rajapaksa-fall\/","title":{"rendered":"The True Beginning Of The Rajapaksa Fall"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Shyamon Jayasinghe<\/span><\/a> \u2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Shyamon<\/a>

Shyamon Jayasinghe<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWhoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein.\u201d\u00a0– Bible<\/p>\n

January 8th was not really the date of the fall from grace of Mahinda Rajapaksa<\/span><\/a>, former President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. That marked, no doubt, his electoral defeat. But his false image never died. It continued with the \u201cMahinda Sulanga\u201d phenomenon. Leaders fall only when their public images fall. With the verdict of the Bharatha Lakshman<\/span><\/a> murder case delivered on Thursday 8th September 2016 the tragic fall of that image of the former Sri Lankan dictator begins.<\/p>\n

Former Mahinda Rajapaksa\u2019s and Gotabaya Rajapaksa\u2019s key backer and Minister, Duminda Silva<\/span><\/a>, and four others were sentenced to death. The rest of the 15 defendants were released.The case was heard before the trial \u2013at-bar comprising High Court judges Shiran Gunaratne, Pathmini Ranawaka and C.B.S. Moreis.<\/p>\n

It was a sultry day and clouds were gathering in the outside sky.<\/p>\n

\"mahinda-and-duminda\"<\/a>This has been one of Sri Lanka\u2019s highest profile cases as big guns of the former government were involved. The gruesome murder itself that took place in the open streets shocked the nation. The murdered and the convicted murderer had both been Mahinda Rajapaksa supporters but they hopelessly fell out over the issue of the UPFA government\u2019s decision on the Kolonnawa Organiser. The personality acrimony had been developing fast and Mahinda Rajapaksa took the side of Duminda. According to testimony the two met on the streets and the brawl broke out into murder. Duminda had gone ready with his pistol.<\/p>\n

Shortly after, Duminda rushed himself to Sri Jayawardena Hospital and, reportedly, among the earliest visitors were both President Mahinda Rajapaksa and powerful brother Defense Secretary, Gotabaya. That had been one of those numerous acts of impunity on the part of the former President. Mahinda still continues that behaviour visiting convicted jailbirds of his former government. Not the model behaviour of those with Presidential status. But the incident made it clear to everybody that the two powerful would back Duminda right along the way. As another typical MR \u2018shaping\u2019 tactic, Bharatha Lakshman\u2019s wife got the job<\/span><\/a> of a Presidential coordinating secretary! Among the prestigious panel of such advisors were political fall-outs, musicians, and astrologers.<\/p>\n

MR, perhaps, believed that the whole matter could be hushed up this way. There was no serious attempt to bring this up to court until the new Yahapalanaya government came into being. That confirmed speculation that the government was doing its best to cover up Duminda. Hot gossip lines kept ticking: It was alleged that the hospital staff had been all transferred that night when Duminda arrived to enable the latter to put on a new costume and commence an elaborate act. He had claimed brain damage as a result of the \u201caccident.\u201d Government arranged to despatch Duminda away to Singapore for \u201cspecial treatment.\u201d That was at taxpayer expense and it did take a long time for Duminda to return, \u201ccured.\u201d When he eventually returned and attended court he claimed he had amnesia and couldn\u2019t remember anything that occurred on that dreadful day in the streets. Duminda became the butt of Facebook jokes. The Rajapaksa government\u2019s reputation got a bad assault. But a President who thought he would never be beaten in elections didn\u2019t bother. The 18th Amendment was in his pocket.<\/p>\n

The obvious MR\/Gota backing for Duminda was made even more clear when MR with Gota\u2019s consent appointed the \u201ccured\u201d Duminda as Supervising MP for the Ministry of Defence. In the circumstances, that was an appalling decision. First, to make an obvious murder suspect a Minister and a Supervising MP in the very Ministry that oversees the police! This act demonstrated, once again, Mahinda Rajapaksa\u2019s overwhelming sense of impunity. He just didn\u2019t care about accountability or appearance. He was a cocksure President. He didn\u2019t bother about the dignity of his high office where manifest appearances of justice and fair play are crucial. \u201cJustice and honesty must not only be done but must manifestly appear to be done,\u201d particularly by those in the highest offices of state. But have you seen our former President caring about such courtesies?<\/p>\n

Despite all these acts of horrible misdemeanour Mahinda Magic still lasted and it had been easy for MR to draw crowds at Mahinda Sulanga meetings and Pada Yaathraas. Most people didn\u2019t believe in all the bad gossip about him and his cronies. \u201cThey were all exaggerated,\u201d they thought. Let\u2019s tolerate the man who \u201cwon back the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the other hand, the Bharatha Lakshman murder verdict represents no fancy gossip; but court verdict. It is also a cue for many of the other alleged crimes entering the zone of fact.<\/p>\n

Yahapalanaya, at last, seems working. The justice system is made to work after at the dark age of its abuse and political massaging. The peoples\u2019 doubts and scepticism about Rajapaksa behaviour have begun to be confirmed. True, there is more that must come for the Rajapaksas to go tumbling to I don\u2019t know where.<\/p>\n

But this case gives a definite signal that, one by one, it will all come. The Thajudeen case? The Lasantha Wickrematunge case? We are living in exciting times-indeed!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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