Namal’s actions humiliate Sri Lanka
Wednesday, 17 April 2013 
The actions of rugger player and parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa has had a negative impact on the country’s image at the recently concluded Asian five nations rugby tournament held in Colombo.
The Sri Lankan team emerged victorious at the final match of the series after beating Kazakhstan on April 6th.
The organizers of the tournament, the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) and the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) had organized a fellowship for the players of the four teams that participated in the tournament at Havelock Park on the 6th night.
However, it is learnt that only about three players from the Sri Lanka team had attended the fellowship.
The organizers had then inquired as to where the other Sri Lanka team players were.
They were then informed that Namal, who is also a member of the Sri Lanka team that is captained by his brother Yoshitha Rajapaksa, had organized a separate party for the team players.
A majority of the Sri Lanka players had attended Namal’s party missing the fellowship with the players from the other teams.
A member of the SLRFU said that Namal had organized the party to prevent players from attending the official function organized by the union.
However, the failure of the Sri Lankan team to show up at the official event was taken by the foreign players as a poor show of sportsmanship on the part of the host nation.
It therefore reflects the poor sportsmanship of the likes of Namal.
Unfortunately, his action this time reflected badly on the entire Sri Lankan team.
Red light from Gota to Divaina journalist
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Divaina staff journalist Janaka Liyanarachchi in the Sunday Divaina newspaper of March 31st wrote an article on the Matale mass grave, the disappearances in the North and the issue being taken before Geneva. The story was written under the title “The story told 25 years later by persons tortured to death.”
Advisors at the Defence Ministry have informed Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa about the article. After reading the newspaper article, the Defence Secretary in usual form had lost his cool completely and telephoned the Chairman of Upali newspapers, Nimal Welgama. He had reprimanded the Upali Newspapers Chairman and had asked that the relevant journalist be asked to meet him immediately.
The Divaina journalist had gone to meet the Defence Secretary as ordered but had been unable to meet him. The journalist had met a senior army officer instead. The officer had simply that there would be no guarantee on the journalist’s life if he continues to write against the Defence Secretary or about the Matale mass grave.
Nevertheless, the Divaina newspaper had ignored the Defence Secretary’s order and had published another feature article on the Matale mass grave on the 14th. The defence correspondent of the Divaina newspaper, Keerthi Warnakulasuriya has complained about the story to the Defence Secretary. The Defence Secretary’s reaction to the sotry is yet unknown.
See the article here
