‘Mr. president, give me my extension at least now’

Dec 12, 2016

During the previous regime, many persons became yes-men of its top authority, especially the Rajapaksas, in order to achieve various gains and privileges. That had become common among most top level state officials too. Even after the collapse of that government and the appointment of a new one in its place, nothing much seems to have changed.

The Navy commander intervened in the incident at Hambantota port to prove to what extent he has become a yes-man of the government. Almost at the end of his service and nearing retirement after completing 55 years of age, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne is trying to prove his loyalty to the government in order to obtain an extension. On July 24, he applied for an extension, but the president is yet to agree to the request.

Meanwhile, various government officials are claiming that the Navy commander’s intervention was required in the port incident, as per international maritime movement regulations and port facilities laws. The director of government information too, tried in a statement to justify the Navy chief’s conduct. It may be true that the Navy commander should have mediated as per international maritime movement regulations, but he should have done so while in uniform, but not in an appearance of a thug in a T-shirt and a short. Also, what he did there was not controlling the protesters or protecting the ships, but showing his muscle power to the journalists.

By showing that he should have made the intervention as the Navy chief, what he is indirectly telling is that, ‘Mr. president, give me my extension at least now.’