Sri Lanka's president must remember that no man - or political dynasty - is an island  

By ROHAN VENKATARAMAKRISHNAN- 4 August 2013 

The first thing you notice is that it is just 'Him.' 

I've lived in America where, for a few months after the 2008 polls, Barack Obama was the second coming of Christ; in India, where for some people Sonia Gandhi decides entire fates, and even in an Arab dictatorship. Yet in none of those places, could you start a discussion only somewhat related to politics and midway have the head of the state introduced as just 'Him,' with no underlining, qualifier or explanation - you just have to know that the pronoun refers to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. (Even Sonia doesn't make the cut, since for all its idiosyncrasy, 'Madamji' is a fairly unique epithet). 

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is such a powerful figure that many in the country refer to the leader simply as "Him".

Ruler 

To be fair, 'Him' didn't just refer to Rajapaksa during my time on the island - LTTE chief Prabhakaran also got the he-who-will-not-be-named treatment in several conversations - and 'him' was also not the only way people referred to the president, although some of the other names might have a hard time getting into a newspaper. 

Simplistic as it may be, it's also a simple reminder of Rajapaksa's stranglehold on the country. It is also no mistake that I use the last name here, because Sri Lanka hasn't just turned into Mahinda's Raj. 

The president is himself the son of a famous politician, while his powerful brothers are, respectively, Defence Secretary and Minister of Economic Development - controlling much of the country between the three of them. 

Keeping it in the family: The president's brother Basil Rajapaksa is also his Minister of Economic Development

Sri Lanka's president must remember that no man - or political dynasty - is an island by nelvely