Bring Back Mahinda, Bring Back Lawlessness
Bring back Mahinda
The bring back Mahinda campaign cries out loud that they will bring back Mahinda as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka but fails to explain why and how. The speakers who flank MR are Wimal Weerawansa, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Tissa Vitharane, and Udaya Gammanpila, the leaders of the insignificant constituent parties of the UPFA, the same coterie that stood by Mahinda at the previous election. The previous election results do not seem to have made them learn that the voters have advanced in their understanding of politics, far beyond the comprehension of those politicians. The voters today attend rallies not wishing to listen to insults aimed at opponents, speeches that lack substance, promises that have been repeatedly kept unfulfilled, praises that are untrue or partially true. Gammanpila related a folk tale at the Anuradhapura rally that involved a lion and a fox. He insinuated Mahinda to be the Lion and Maithri to be the Fox. Gentlemen do present their views to enable people to make an informed choice without resorting to insults aimed at their opponents. Only a fox would try to fox people with such banalities.
Bring back lawlessness
The Elections Commissioner has requested all TV channels not to telecast the President’s speech in view that it may prejudice the voters’ decision. He has cautioned the Prime Minister not to use his office for political propaganda. The police is emboldened to state that the police officers who favour politicians would be subjected to disciplinary action. Such actions were possible and all parties are enabled to enjoy full freedom to engage in politics without being subjected to state terrorism because of the President’s determination to ensure the prevalence of democracy, law and order, and human rights. During the MR regime such an action or a proclamation could have been unthinkable and an officer who took such a bold decision could have been stripped of his titles and subjected to punishment. Shirani Bandaranayake is a good example. The people of the country have a justifiable fear that with the possible return of Mahinda and the corrupt lot, lawlessness, corruption, intimidation, impunity, plundering, drugs, and nepotism would return and democracy and human rights would disappear.
