When Pohottu-JVP-U.N.P, Anti-Damitha, common alliance with Ranil started suppressing the ‘aragalaya’, it was none other than veteran actress Damita who came to Galle Face ground of the ‘aragalaya’ and challenged Ranil and the Rajapaksas. When the deceased Sanath Nishantha was sworn in as a state minister, Damita said that he was trying to fly by taking wings from Ranil.
‘I think that Sanath Nishantha is trying to fly like the bird that got the wings of Ranil Wickramasinghe’.
People fought to stop these thieves, the prices of goods are so high that people can’t live today. Mothers do not have money to buy some milk powder. These miserable politicians do not feel the pain of the people. If we don’t protect the ’aragalaya’ we won, these crooks will come back and sit in those chairs…’
Damita emerged boldly amidst a backdrop of covert deals between struggling factions in the aragalaya and Ranil’s government. When suppression loomed over the activists, she courageously voiced their cause, initiating a resistance against their oppression. Despite facing arrest for her advocacy, she persisted in her fight, refusing to yield even upon release. She remained a steadfast advocate, unwavering in her commitment to the struggle. When imprisoned for her convictions, it was opposition leader Sajith Premadasa who offered support, earning her admiration for his genuine intent to combat corruption, a core demand of the movement. Interestingly, while one might have expected the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna to champion her cause, they remained conspicuously absent during the government’s crackdown on dissent, leaving Damita to confront the forces of suppression largely on her own
The government soon recognized Damita as a pivotal figure reigniting the struggle. However, in an unexpected turn, both Rajapaksa’s U.N.P. Facebook group and the JVP’s online presence launched scathing attacks against her, hurling accusations and criticism. The onslaught from these quarters was relentless, with the JVP’s own Facebook group and websites joining in to smear Damita. Meanwhile, the government actively sought charges to re-imprison her, turning the narrative on its head by labelling Damita as the foremost thief in Sri Lanka, conveniently diverting attention from the actual perpetrators who remained at large.
How did the alliance of Anti-Damita Pohottu – U.N.P. – J.V.P. come about…?’
Before delving into Damita’s background, it’s essential to understand her significance within the realm of Sri Lankan cinema. Malani Fonseka stands out as the pioneer, being the first Sri Lankan actress to secure an international accolade. Following her trailblazing success, luminaries such as Anoja Weerasinghe and Neeta Fernando also attained international recognition, representing the vibrant era of Sri Lankan cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.
Emerging as a beacon of the new generation, Damita Abeyratne distinguished herself by clinching an international award. Malani’s notable achievement came in the form of a certificate of honour at the 1978 International Film Festival of India. Subsequently, Anoja Weerasinghe soared to prominence by capturing the coveted title of Best Actress at the International Film Festival of India.
In a remarkable feat, Damita cemented her place in cinematic history by seizing the Best Actress Award at the 2004 Indian International Film Awards for her stellar performance in ‘Sulang Kirilli’. Her triumph extended beyond borders as she also claimed the top honour for the same film at the 2004 International Awards hosted in Bangladesh, solidifying her status as a luminary of the silver screen.
Sri Lanka is a wonderful country. Chandrika’s government set fire to the house of Anoja, who won the world’s best actress award after Malani. That is, she got on Ranil’s presidential platform. Today the government is chasing Damita because she stood up for the struggle and spoke for Sajith. These governments are defaming the prestige and power they have brought to the country.
It is tragic that the JVP, who talks about system change, has become a whip justifying the government’s operation to put Damita in jail.
Dr. Harini Amarasuriya who is shown as the heroine of JVP women today, does not know where she was during the struggle Damitala, and Hirunikala led. When Hirunika surrounded Gotabaya’s house, Dr. Harini was not to be seen. Gota mentions in his book that Hirunika started the struggle. When she surrounded his house. Gota notes that Hirunika removed the fear of the young men and women to come to the battle that would send him home. Today Hirunika also has court cases one after other.
In the absence of Hirunika and Damita today, the essence of ‘aragalaya’ would be lacking. Among the influential figures empowering the struggle, Nanda Malaniya stands prominent. However, Nanda’s voice was subdued following President Ranil’s appointment of Sunil Ariyaratne as the Chancellor of the Aesthetic University
Damita refused to stay silent despite facing numerous legal challenges, and similarly, Hirunika demonstrated resilience in the face of adversity. Both are exemplars of women in the struggle. Moreover, Damita had the potential to align herself with Ranil’s government if she chose to, just as Hirunika could have done to navigate the legal issues.
Harini came to the fore by suppressing the women of this real struggle. When Ranil’s government takes Damitala to jail and prosecutes Hirunikala, Harini says that Ranil should come to the debate between Sajith and Anura. Also, the debate should be held in Ranil’s uncle’s newspaper.
No wonder Harini represents Ranil’s class. Harini’s politics is the same. It is a politics of Colombo seven ambassadors and foreign journalists.
Damita, Hirunikala, Rohini Kavirathna are doing politics with the women of the village in the city.
On another occasion, the J.V.P., U.N.P., and Pohottuwa coalition surfaced when G.L. and a faction of Pohottuwa MPs defected to the opposition. This move sparked a complex web of reactions and accusations among the political players. With the J.V.P. viewing Ranil and the Rajapaksa government as their common adversaries, the departure of MPs from the government should logically align them with the opposition’s ranks. However, Ranil alleges that the Samagi Jana Balavegaya has effectively absorbed these defectors, prompting Pohottuwa to seek legal action to nullify their membership.
In this intricate political landscape, the J.V.P. finds itself in an unexpected alignment with Ranil, as they advocate for retaining these MPs within the Rajapaksa government’s fold, rather than allowing them to defect and potentially weaken the government’s position. This stance inadvertently positions the J.V.P. as inadvertently bolstering the interests of both Ranil and the Rajapaksa government, contrary to their presumed oppositional stance
Lawyer Upul Kumarapperuma is a stalwart of the National People’s Force. He applied to President Ranil for the position of President’s Counsal and Ranil offered him the position of President’s counsal resident’s lawyer from Ranil to Upul.
The alliance against Damita, comprising Pohottuwa, U.N.P., and J.V.P., reached its zenith during the pivotal moment when the President was elected by Parliament. The emergence of this alliance was as sudden and conspicuous as a cat leaping out of a bag. Dallas, a journalist associated with the J.V.P., was nominated as the presidential candidate by the opposition. Despite his significant contributions to the J.V.P., particularly during challenging times, the party chose not to support him. Instead, they invalidated the vote, denying Dallas the additional three votes he could have garnered against Ranil. This instance underscored the complex dynamics within the political landscape, revealing unexpected alliances and betrayals.