State Fisheries Minister Dilip checkmates Mahinda

State Minister of Fisheries Dilip Wedaarachchi yesterday in a statement questioned the sincerity of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s decision to contest the general election from Kurunegala as well as some of the latter’s pronouncements in recent weeks as part of campaigning.

Following is the full statement of Wedaarachchi:

Mahinda Rajapaksa had stated at a meeting held in Mawathagama recently that he decided to contest Parliamentary elections from Kurunegala District because the most number of his trusted temples, loyal soldiers and affectionate Members of Parliament are in Kurunegala District.

This is a grave insult on the people of Giruwapaththuwa who ushered in the Rajapaksa generation and Mahinda Rajapaksa to politics. Furthermore, it is a slur on the sacred temples and much respected Venerable Maha Sangha of the south who showered their blessings on Mahinda Rajapaksa.

It had been reported that for several months religious ceremonies were held at certain temples in the south to bestow blessings on Mahinda Rajapaksa in order to fulfill his political ambitions. His statement has made it clear that Mahinda Rajapaksa considers this great commitment by Venerable Maha Sangha as a worthless exercise.

He implies by his statement that his own clan including his brother Chamal Rajapaksa, niece Nirupama Rajapaksa, son Namal Rajapaksa and even the Parliamentarian Mahinda Amaraweera are not loyal to him.

During the time of the armed conflict, Mahinda Rajapaksa who masqueraded as King Dutugemunu and boasted with pride of the achievements of the heroic soldiers of the south, now states that he doesn’t have soldiers in the south loyal to him.

The services he rendered to Hambantota are confined to the construction of a harbour where ships do not sail into, the construction of an airport where airplanes do not fly into, the construction of a cricket ground where cricket is not played and the construction of roadways rarely used for vehicular traffic; just for the purpose of earning commissions. Even with these projects he could not provide employment to the youth in Hambantota.

It is not surprising that Mahinda Rajapaksa decided to flee from Hambantota to the Wayamba because he failed to provide to the people of Hambantota the much-needed water supply scheme, a program to develop agriculture and improve the livestock industry.

At this juncture, I would like to caution the people of Wayamba. He is now trying to hoodwink the people of Wayamba in the same manner as he deceived the people of Giruwapathtuwa. Although, today he praises the people of Wayamba, during his tenure of office as President he never tasked any Parliamentarian representing Wayamba with an important ministerial portfolio.

A party leader like Navinna who toiled hard and spent his wealth and time for the sake of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party was forced into a position of a political retiree. Instead, a dealer in ethanol and alcohol who had no real connection with Wayamba was appointed as his right-hand man.

When Mahinda Rajapaksa, who had been throughout ill-treating the real sons and daughters of Sath Koralaya, has started praising the Maha Sangha, the soldiers and the Members of Parliament from Wayamba, we are reminded of the story of the fox who cunningly flattered the crow to grab the piece of cheese.