Nimal Lansa is playing whose fiddle?
Why the government afraid of Saliya Peris?
How long can the government keep their internal discontent hidden?
‘Modabimanaya’ and free expression!
Is it wrong if Saliya appeared for Natasha?
Is Ricky Gervais sending a message to the government?
The government received 123 votes in parliament to remove Public Utilities Commission Chairman Janaka Ratnayaka, but behind this victory surfaced a serious division within the government.
This was due to a revolt launched by the Pohottuwa fraction just before the election. This was about 15 senior party members meeting former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Namal Rajapakse and stating that they are unable to vote with the government on Janaka Ratnayake’s case. As a result, Basil Rajapakse, who was in Dubai at the time, was summoned to Sri Lanka on an emergency basis to settle the squabble before the election and deliver the votes to the government. Finally, the government succeeded by securing 123 votes.
President shaken
However, it was made clear that if 11 MPs switched sides, the government would lose its majority. President Ranil Wickramasinghe was in Japan on official business at the time of the election. Despite being in Japan, he did not take long to recognise the danger posed by the pohottuwa side. As a result, while he was there, he directed government members to immediately convene a meeting with parties that represented government in parliament. He intended to return home over the weekend, and the meeting to be scheduled for Monday was his instruction.
Nimal Lansa takes the burden
On Presidents instructions the Presidential secretariat took the initiative in organizing this meeting however pohottuewa MP Nimal Lansa played an active part in organizing this. At present Nimal Lansa is considered as one of the Pohottuwa MP very close with the President. Lansa sent out invitations to all Pohottuwa district leaders and few former Cabinet Ministers along with few pohottuwa state ministers. To indicate all parties representing government are invited from SJB only state minister Ms Diana Gamage was invited. Representing SLFP minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, from UNP Vajira Abeyawardena and independent group of Pohottuwa was represented by Nimal Lansa himself.
Pohottuwa seniors smelled well ahead of this meeting that this is a political gathering rather than a President’s meeting because organizing the meeting was led by Nimal Lansa, and many pohottuwa district leaders were invited. With this pohottuwa too seem to have got alerted and panicked. In a Pohottuwa internal meetings it was decided meetings summons in this manner should be repelled thoroughly.
It was decided to inform the President that currant government is Pohottuwa government hence if government wants to discuss political matters it should be directly done with Pohottuwa.
Accordingly many Pohottuwa district leaders were asked by the party not to participate in this meeting. At the same time the Party general secretary Mr Sagara Kariyawasm was instructed during the meeting to raise this objection and explain matters. In other words to indicate this meeting is a very insignificant one as far as pohottuwa is concerned.
Lansa conducts the Meeting
Meeting which commenced on Monday evening, despite President was on the chair the proceedings were controlled by Nimal Lansa. He made a speech about the importance of working together without adhering to party differences and called to strengthen the government. Once Lansa was done Sagara stood to deliver his reply. He began his speech by expressing his displeasure the manner this meeting was convened.
‘Dear President, you can call cabinet meetings any time you wish, you can convene government group meetings, but to have political gathering such as this there is a method to convene such meetings. We vent our utter displeasure the way this is summoned, because one have to remember still the government is Pohottuwa government. If you intend to discuss problems within the government you should have called Pohottuwa leaders and discussed, we as a party decide who will participate in those meetings’ as Sagra was delivering his speech before anyone else Lansa stood up to reply.
Sagara raised concerns
‘How can it be? During this time we cannot choose his party and her party and work, we all have to get together and work to strengthen the government’ because somehow there will be an election, we all have to bind together and work as a strong force’ Lansa said but Sagara oppose to it and expressed that whatever the discussions it may be, if it is about the government pohottuwa chiefs should participate in it’. As Sagara was of this view Susil Premjayath, Dayana Gamage, and Vajira Abeyawardena and co. expressed views in support of Lansa. However, Sagara never changed his earlier stance and stood his grounds and expressed his opinions strongly.
President was silently listening to all of this and finally stated that in the future, everyone should work together, so discuss this further. After the meeting was adjourned, and Pohottuwa all members had left Lansa exclaimed loudly in the presence of others, “Sagara has no courage to speak in this manner; he was coached and sent to speak in this manner by Basil, don’t we know them?”
Ranil and Sajith in the same stage
After a long layoff President Ranil wickrama Singhe and opposition leader Sajith premadasa were seen together in the function last week. It was during the ceremony to mark the dedication of the ‘Sannas’ paper for naming the historic Mahiyangana Rajamaha Temple as a place of worship, the unveiling of Sri Lanka’s tallest walking Buddha statue in the middle of the Willawapitiya lake, and the opening of the entrance to the temple.
It was a well-organized Pinkama. Since the President too was invited as the chief guest and Malwatu Asgiri Ubhaya Parshiva Mahanayake Thero too was invited.
In the invitation given to all, the time for the start of the function was mentioned as 2 pm. As leaders from distant places and regions had come to Mahiyangana, some of the Theros went straight to the festival site after the Heel alms in the morning without the afternoon alms. Accordingly, at exactly 2 pm, it was seen that the festival hall was filled with all the distinguished guests.
President’ Late arrival
However, a message received from the President’s side at around 2 said that it would be around 2.45 in the evening when the President will arrive to the ceremony. Accordingly, the chief Prelates decided to start the ceremony at 2.45 after the arrival of the President. Leader of the Opposition Sajith and Mrs. Jalani Premadasa arrived at exactly 2.20 pm to join the ceremony. When Sajith-Jalani entered the Sanghavasa of the Mahiyangana Vihara, the Asgiri Chapter prelate, the Malwatu Chapter Anunayaka, and a large number of main Theros were seated there.
Sajith and Jalani were talking to them about the details of pinkama and about other allied matters. Representing the government, Justice Minister Wijayadasa Rajapaksa, Uva Governor A.J.M. Muzammil and General Shavendra Silva were already present in the auspicious occasion.
Accordingly, by 2.45 everyone was waiting for the President to come to start the ceremony. But at that moment, a message received back from the President’s side said that it would be around 3.30 in the evening when the President would arrive. With this announcement, it was seen that some concerns were among the Prelates and everyone said that since the monks have come from far away provinces, they should start the pinkama without further delay.
Accordingly, Mahiyangana Rajamaha Temple Chief Prelat Urulawatte Sri Dhammarakkhitha Thero also decided to start all the opening ceremonies mentioned in the agenda without the President.
Event begins sans President
The first thing that happened was the opening of the newly whitewashed Chaitanya Raja. It started at 3.15 pm. When all the Theroes and invited guests came to the place and cut the ribbon of the commemorative plaque installed near the ‘pesa rings’ of the pagoda and opened the pagoda, the festival ground was echoed with the Sadhu sound.
The group then participated in the opening of the newly constructed temple entrance.
The President arrived at the event site at the opening of this access road. By that time it was around 4.30 pm. Mr. Sagala Ratnayake, Senior Advisor to the President, also accompanied the President on that trip.
Accordingly, everyone joined the unveiling ceremony of the walking Buddha statue built in the middle of the Willawapitiya lake which was the most special part of the event. This beautiful Buddha statue was created by Dr. Chandana Jayaratne.
Katina by Sajith & Jalani
Finally, when the ceremony started, it was around 5 pm. accordingly, the welcome speech was made by Mahiyangana Viharadhipati Thero. In his speech, he took the initiative to thank all those who helped in the development of the Mahiyangana Pooja ground. The most special event witnessed there was his special thanks to Sajith and Jalani, who had performed Katina Pinkama without any media publicity. There, Nayaka Thero pointed out that the whole temple was restored and prepared for Katina Pinka as a meritorious achievement. It was only after this statement by Viharadhipa Thero that most of the people present in the festival got to know that Sajith – Jalani had performed this devotion.
Displeasure over Ranils Late arrival
After the welcome speech of Viharadhipati Thero, Anumaduve Dhammadassi Thero, the Anunayake thero of the Asgiri side, gave the exhortation. By that time it was after 5.30 pm. He started the speech by saying, ‘Utsava Sabha starts at the time when the Utsava Sabha was supposed to end’. Also, in his speech, it was seen how he commented on the President not arriving on time and being late. He also expressed his views on the manner in which the President became President.
However, the president left the festival after presenting the sannas paper declaring the Mahiyangana temple as a place of worship, which was the special occasion of the festival. That is without making his speech that was scheduled according to the agenda. President had left the event when Mr. Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition, made his speech in the event.
‘Modabimanaya’
Natasha Edirisooriya of ‘Modabimanaya’ comedy drama is the focal topic these days in the political arena. She has supposedly insulted Budhism in performing in her comedy act. Some refer this as a sacrilege act on her part and some claim this is a curtailment of freedom of expression. Therefore these days the social media is filled with postings for and against Natasha’s act.
Tweet lesson for Navin
Navin Dissanayaka, a UNP strongman, had posted on his Twitter account about Natasha’s incident. However, many people haven’t noticed. However, it became a trending topic after internationally acclaimed comedian Ricky Gervais responded. This international artist has taught Navin a valuable lesson about the importance of free expression. It goes like this:
Naveen : Freedom of speech does not mean that you can insult or hurt others by your actions or what you say..!
Ricky: This idea of yours makes my heart melt..!
It really hurts.
Please delete your tweet..!
Naveen : Sorry for hurting your feelings friend..
But I can’t delete my tweet.
My tweet is my right to express my opinion..!
Ricky: Huh Huh Ha. . .you got caught…!
(Here Ricky Gervais has pointed out that Naveen has the same right to have an opinion as others.?
Saga of Saliya Peris
In the past, the name of President’s Counsel Saliya Peiris had become a frequently spoken name in the legal field. The main reason for that was that he had launched a remarkable program based on democracy, human rights and human freedom as the president of the Sri Lanka Bar Association. Apart from that, it was also seen how Saliya Peiris fearlessly appeared before the court on behalf of the strugglers against the various attacks launched by the government during the struggle.
Because of this, during the previous government, Saliya Peiris was a figure like a shadow to the people of the government. A huge social media network protest was launched targeting Saliya Peiris on many occasions. it is for this reason that various people staged demonstrations and protests in front of Saliya Peiris’ house. But Sally Peirce was not to be seen as shaken or frightened by any of it.
Did Saliya appear for Natasha?
Although Saliya Peirs has not been seen much in the past due to his term ended as president of President of the Bar Association, Saliya’s name came out in the media once again due to another incident that happened last week. It is based on Natasha’s incident. There, two major newspapers in the country had reported that it was Saliya Peiris who appeared before the court on behalf of Natasha Edirisuriya, who made a controversial speech in a comedy show.
Later, many websites took steps to report the news. Accordingly, we also investigated this news, and there we came to know that it is completely false. Sally Peiris did not represent Natasha, and at least did not take steps to provide legal advice in this regard. A lawyer named Astika Devendra had appeared before the court on behalf of Natasha. Saliya also took steps to mention this later on his Twitter account.