Matara becomes yet another Kurunegala!

 Wednesday, 12 February 2014

The elevating of the candidate of the traditional SLFPers over the candidate who is sponsored and blessed by the Rajapaksas, which has popularly come to be known as  ‘Wayamba political precedence’ aka ‘Dayasiri theory’, is in full swing in the Matara district nowadays.

 It is Anarkalli Akarsha, the closest female political ally of MP Namal Rajapaksa, who is being opposed thus by the traditional SLFPers of Matara. After being influenced by the Rajapaksas, minister Dullas Alahapperuma, the district leader, had taken Anarkalli to Matara, but he too, is now distancing himself from her.

 SLFPers are sabotaging every rally being participated by Akarsha, and everytime she rises up to speak, they start booing at her, reports say. As a result, she has become severely irritated and has complained to the president and MP Namal. The president has told Anarkalli that in politics, one should get used to kudos as well as brickbats. However, MP Namal has told his father, the president, that Dullas was getting his henchmen to boo at Anarkalli in order to take revenge from him. The president now has to appease both his son and candidate Anarkalli.

What MP Namal says is true, it has now come to light. Minister Dullas has told opponents of Anarkalli, “a vote means what the people wish for. People should have the freedom to do what they like. That is a good sign of democracy.”

 UPFA candidate Anarkalli, saddened and dejected by this step-motherly treatment by minister Dullas, has taken her woes to his first political guru, former foreign affairs minister and Matara district MP Mangala Samaraweera. “See sir. These people do not allow me to at least speak at a meeting. They tear down my posters. They puncture the tyres of my vehicles. It was a folly I did by coming to Matara. Dullas is behind all these. Please sir, help me in my campaign. Find me a place to stay for a few days.”

 As a result, MP Mangala now has to look into the political wellbeing of not only popular actress Nadeesha Hemamali, the candidate from his own party the UNP, but also Anarkalli, who is a former member of his own staff.