Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Saturday Nov 23, 2024
Friday, 12 June 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Dharisha Bastians in her FT column (FT Politics on Thursday) brilliantly talks of an attempt by the MPs loyal to former President attempting to make a comeback. The current President is still far more popular than the former President. He only needs to flex his muscles to lift his party.
The main reason for the dip in popularity of the current Government is Arjuna Mahendran. 50% of the content of the no confidence motion on the Prime Minister is on Arjuna Mahendran.
The Government and the President have been subjected 
to many humiliations thanks to his actions. It is this one controversial action that has destroyed the image of the Yahapalana Government and given oxygen to the Rajapaksas.
He would do a world of good if goes away and saves the Prime Minister a lot of trouble and even the next government. The Government is now at a crossroads.
Although people like Mahendran ran away from Sri Lanka for whatever reason – fear of persecution is bunkum – there were many professionals like NDB CEO Theagarajah and BOC CEO Durairathnam who happily conducted their business during the Rajapaksa regime. Mahendran never thought the UNP would win an election with the power Rajapaksas had and he gave up his citizenship, becoming a Permanent Resident in Singapore.
The disrepute he has brought to the Government is unpardonable and he should know that. The Government’s reputation is far more important than the office of the Governor and the holder of the office. People must know when to go and stay for a bigger cause. Congratulations to FT for great reporting.
Bert Gunawardana
