Mr. Prabhakaran
Posted on January 4th, 2015

The Island Editorial


There are only three more days to go for the presidential election and the indefatigable propagandists of the government and the Opposition are fighting the final battle with guns blazing. Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (CBK), who is leading the Opposition campaign from the front, has drawn a great deal of fire for calling the dead LTTE leader ‘Mr. Prabhakaran’ recently in Jaffna.

Defending the use of the title at issue to refer to Prabhakaran, CBK has, at a media briefing the other day, faulted Government Spokesman and Media Minister Keheliya Rambukwella for what she called his failure to understand the subtle nuances of expressions in the English language. Whether Rambukwella is proficient in English or not, we do not know, but as for CBK’s speeches, we can say, with apologies to Abraham Lincoln, that she is quite adept at compressing the most words into the smallest idea on any subject!

It was obvious that CBK’s respectful reference to Prabhakaran was calculated to impress her Jaffna audience with some pro-LTTE sympathisers therein. She succeeded in her endeavour as could be seen from the rapturous applause she received. There was a dramatic pause for the crowd to quieten and then she resumed her address, visibly satisfied that her reference at issue had had the desired impact. There was neither sarcasm nor impishness in her tone which, meticulously measured for effect, instead, had a hint of regret that Prabhakaran had rejected out of hand an olive branch she held out way back in mid 1990s. She stopped short of mentioning that she had once offered him the entire Northern Province for a period of ten years without elections.

Prabhakaran tried to have CBK killed but never was he a political threat to her. He only declared himself both President and Prime Minister in the areas under his control. But, Rajapaksa outfoxed her, stripped her of SLFP leadership and reduced her to an inutile factor in national politics. For politicians forced into early retirement with years of politics left in them being in the political wilderness is a fate worse than death as is only too well known. That may explain why she calls the incumbent President just Mahinda (maybe Mahindaya in private) and respectfully refers to Prabhakaran as mister.

Both the government and the Opposition are desperate to win. This is an election they cannot afford to lose. They spare no pains to enlist support. In 2010, it may be recalled, the then New Democratic Front presidential candidate Gen. Fonseka minced no words when he revealed his single-minded determination to defeat the Rajapaksas. Having started life on Civvy Street to contest the 2010 presidential election he, in answer to a question whether he had no qualms about being backed by the pro-LTTE groups, told the media he would secure the support of even the devil’s mother (yakage amma) to defeat President Rajapaksa. That is the name of the game in politics.

Of the five executive presidents we have had, three have benefited politically from Prabhakaran either directly or indirectly. The late President Ranasinghe Premadasa stooped so low as to provide the Tiger chief with arms, ammunition, money, building materials and shelter for expediency and the LTTE went so far as to defend him to the hilt in Geneva in the late 1980s, when his government was accused of serious human rights violations. He paid for that blunder with his dear life a few years later. CBK, too, stood to gain from LTTE terror which beheaded the UNP. The assassination of Gamini Dissanayake rendered the UNP rudderless in 1994 and CBK became President with ease. A polls boycott ordered by the LTTE in 2005 stood the incumbent President Rajapaksa in good stead. (Prabhakaran may still be regretting that mistake wherever he may be.)

Thursday’s election is not a contest between Rajapaksa and Sirisena as such; it is a battle between Kumaratunga and Rajapaksa—or a Clash of Clans! This is her last chance to turn the tide and see the back of her bête noire, Mahinda—the man who dared ruffle her feathers. She is going hell for leather to oust him. If she had made half that effort to defeat Prabhakaran the war would have been over before the end of her first term; she would have been able to change the Constitution and remain in power as long as she liked and Mahinda Rajapaksa would have had to retire as Minister of Fisheries of her government.

3 Responses to “Mr. Prabhakaran”

  1. Indrajith Says:

    An excellent editorial! Everyone must read this!

  2. Christie Says:

    The fight is between Sinhalese and the Indian Empire. Chandrika like her father is a puppet of the Indian Empire and Sirisena is another Coolie of Chandrika.

  3. Ananda-USA Says:

    Aiyoo, Palwatte Gamaralage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena!

    YAHA-PALANAYA = MAITHRI-PALANAYA = KOTI-PALANAYA!

    In 2015, 200 Years after that YEAR OF INFAMY 1815 when Sri Lanka lost her crown to foreigners, you have chosen to deliver Mother Lanka BOUND HAND & FOOT to her ENEMIES!

    But, FEAR NOT PATRIOTS, the same fate that befell the Arch-Traitor Pilimithalawa of that day, will befall the backstabbing traitor Palwatte Gamaralage Maithripala Yapa Sirisena today!

    Aiyoooo Sirisenaaaa…..What have you done to yourself and to our Motherland!

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