The True Beginning Of The Rajapaksa Fall
By Shyamon Jayasinghe –September 9, 2016
Shyamon Jayasinghe
“Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein.” – Bible
January 8th was not really the date of the fall from grace of Mahinda Rajapaksa, 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 “Mahinda Sulanga” phenomenon. Leaders fall only when their public images fall. With the verdict of the Bharatha Lakshman murder case delivered on Thursday 8th September 2016 the tragic fall of that image of the former Sri Lankan dictator begins.
Former Mahinda Rajapaksa’s and Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s key backer and Minister, Duminda Silva, and four others were sentenced to death. The rest of the 15 defendants were released.The case was heard before the trial –at-bar comprising High Court judges Shiran Gunaratne, Pathmini Ranawaka and C.B.S. Moreis.
It was a sultry day and clouds were gathering in the outside sky.
This has been one of Sri Lanka’s 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’s 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.
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 ‘shaping’ tactic, Bharatha Lakshman’s wife got the job of a Presidential coordinating secretary! Among the prestigious panel of such advisors were political fall-outs, musicians, and astrologers.
