“Those whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make them mad? President Maithripala Sirisena sacks the Secretaries of the SLFP and the UNFPA
Posted on August 16th, 2015
By Raj Gonsalkorale
“Madness” is a condition of emotional stress, short of insanity, caused by inability to handle mentation, the process of reasoning and thinking”
Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first make mad, said ancient Greeks. This is an ancient saying credited to Euripides, the Greek dramatist who lived in the fifth century BC. The background to this ancient saying was that people who become mad, become, to varying degrees, unthinking and unable to act in their own best interests, and that if an individual is driven mad by the powers that be, the authorities, then the collective would become complicit in their own destruction.
There is no direct or indirect reference here to President Sirisena, and no doubt he is very much sane and knows what he is doing. But his recent action in sending former President Mahinda Rajapaksa a 5 page vitriolic letter accusing him without facts or justification, of misdemeanors one could imagine and even what is beyond the pale of one’s imagination, leads one to think everything is not right with the course of action he has taken over the last 24 hours.
Firstly, he waited till the eve of the general election to fire his first missile. This showed he was as bad a political opportunist as the ones he has been accusing of. Of course his methodology is nothing new as he has shown no one can rely on him for what he might do on a day to day basis. After all, he betrayed President Rajapaksa after his last supper with him!
The timing of this action showed President Sirisena was abusing his powers to influence the outcome of the general election. This is unethical and probably unconstitutional as well. Again, he has done what he has accused others of doing in regard to abuse of power.
He has now sacked the two Secretaries of the SLFP and UPFA, and plunged the SLFP and the UPFA into turmoil on the eve of the general election, leaving some to ask the question how a political party that cannot manage itself could manage the country as a government.
In creating this havoc, President Sirisena has demonstrated he would go to any length to defeat his own party and the political combine, the UPFA at the general election, all to prevent one man from becoming the Prime Minister through the will of the people.
President Sirisena has shown he does not care for mandates, except his own and he seems to have preferred to do the bidding of those opposed to the SLFP and the UPFA, rather than be loyal to his own party. So much for loyalty.
If one is to examine a connection if any to what the Greek dramatist is supposed to have coined, President Sirisena is showing some signs that there is unthinking and an inability to act in his own best interests, if one were to assume his best interest is the same as that of his party and the country, and by acting in this strange manner, he is leading his party and his country to destruction as the damage he is doing to the democratic traditions and structure of the country could well be irrevocable.
One cannot imagine how anyone could have confidence in Sri Lanka if its democracy is damaged by its own President. The economic and social consequences will be severe for the country. A country that was freed from 30 years of terrorism and war, and which was on an economic and social renaissance for the last 5 years and up until January 2015, will revert to economic hardships it experienced in the past.
All this because President Sirisena simply could not countenance the possibility of the return to power of the person he beat in January 2015. He could not stomach the possibility that the people could in fact give that mandate to Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Maithripala Sirisena has shown that he loves himself more than the country. Surely, if people decided to vote Mahinda Rajapaksa back to power, why is it that he cannot accept the people’s mandate? Mahinda Rajapaksa will have to face the consequence if a court of law finds him guilty of corrupt activity or any serious misdemeanors is has been accused of. But till that happens he is innocent of all the accusations, and he should have the freedom like any other citizen to stand for election and to hold any office that the constitution allows him to hold. President Sirisena cannot thwart a peoples mandate should Mahinda Rajapaksa get that on the 17th of August.
President Sirisena is showing increasing signs that he may not be able to cope with the pressures of the Presidency and leadership of the country. One shudders to think what he would have done if he was the President when the final war was fought against the LTTE, and how he would have handled the pressures that Mahinda Rajapaksa had to face during those dark days.
Mr Sirisena will have to give serious thought about his ability to be the President of Sri Lanka.
August 15th, 2015 at 5:08 am
Great analysis of Sirisena’s metal condition. This man is Gramasevaka, with 9 years schooling, who rose through cut throat politics, is a living example of Peters Principle.
The Peter Principle is a concept in management theory formulated by Laurence J. Peter, which says “Managers rise to the level of their incompetence.” Sirisena was a incompetent Minister, now as President all at sea.
August 15th, 2015 at 5:19 am
If Sirisena continues to act in this childish manner after a UPFA win at the elections, he may have to face impeachment procedures. He has done enough to qualify for this.
I wish he would honorably step down before he lets down the country even more.
August 15th, 2015 at 7:44 am
RAJ !! I PREDICTED THIS YESTERDAY IN THIS FORUM. HE IS IN A VERY DISTURBED STATE OF MIND. HE IS GOING LOONY. I THINK HE IS ALREADY THERE.
**PISSU KELINAWA**MOLAY PUKATA BEHELA.
August 15th, 2015 at 8:33 am
There is a saying in “Bagawat Geeta”, the most holy of Hindu scripts: “Vinaasa Kaalaye Vibareetha bukthi”, translated in English, it means ” Aberrant thoughts/behaviour precedes one’s own destruction”.
August 15th, 2015 at 9:41 am
Every Indian colonial parasite is an agent of the Indian Empire.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:06 am
Not only is he mad he is also been controlled by other persons. The Sri Lankan people should have looked at his track record before electing this guy. Weak personality and absolutely no backbone at all.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:31 am
This is a clear case where “Peter Principle” applies.
Peter Principle is “An observation that in an organizational hierarchy, every employee will rise or get promoted to his or her level of incompetence”. So our new President who rose from the ranks of a Grama Sevaka in Pollonaruwa is now holding a position he cannot manage probably due to his level of training, education, experience and general competence. Looking at what’s so far done under his signature, those who chose him may have observed these qualities when they nominated him to be the President, so that they could get him to be the destructionist of the Rajapakses who annihilated the LTTE and worked closely with China to fast track Sri Lanka’s economic development to the traditional envy of its big neighbour India, lagging behind Sri Lanka’s rate of economic and social development.
What irregular things had Sirisena done since coming to power?
1. Appointed a Prime Minister, whilst there was already DM Jayaratne still holding that position.
2. Sack by letter a sitting Chief Justice, without impeaching him. Appointing an impeached former Chief Justice to the position and restoring all privileges to her.
3. Allowed Ravi Karunanayake to escape a long running investigation into his receiving Millions of dollars from Raj Rajaratnam in USA.
4. Allowed a foreigner like Mahadevan a friend of Raj Rajaratnam (and reprtedly a consultant to HSBC USA, which fell into heavy financial trouble), to be appointed as Central Bank Governor and committing the biggest scam (estimated by some to be Rs72 billion loss) from which Sri Lankan economy may not recover for decades. Derailing an enquiry in to this scam by dissolving the Parliament a day before the report was to be tabled for debate.
5. Appointing and allowing the appointment of kith and kin of the President and Ministers of the new minority regime also appointed by him.
6. Releasing statements to sabotage the victory of his predecessor Mahinda Rajapakse, to favour the other candidate, clearly violating his publicised neutral stand. Threatening to reject the people’s choice, if he does not agree to.
7. Getting an off duty District Court judge to authorise the replacement of General secretaries of SLFP and UPFA on the eve of an election to disrupt the campaign of Mahinda Rajapakse.
One could list out many more such undemocratic and unconstitutional decisions he had taken in his short spell as President, displaying his incompetence as defined by “Peters Principle”
The icing on the cake is his attempt to hoodwink the masses by claiming his family and he would have been killed had he lost the elections. As someone mentioned in another website, this is the same bogus reason illegal migrants give to developed nations when they land on their shores illegally, so as to get overseas residency. As rumoured Sirisena’s family too had been offered such favours and the threat to life would have been a good reason to cover up the real reason.
August 15th, 2015 at 11:04 am
The “Peter Principle” is well known and often used in the USA. They say that when an excellent worker is promoted to management he becomes a misfit and is lost. The reason is that the areas of competence are different. The qualifications, experience and training for management are very different from that of just doing a job. This is Sirisena’s problem.
The country picked a man without the qualification, experience and training to become the President as they were made to believe that anybody can be President except MR. We now see the outcome.
August 15th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
Summing up the Yahap : FACISM !
August 15th, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Looks like the “Democracy” enthusiasts of the Yamapalanaya Govt don’t like Democracy when it WORKS AGAINST THEM!
FIRES the General Secretaries of the SLFP and the UPFA not because they violated and party regulations, but because they support President Mahinda Rajapaksa!
YAHAPALANAYA DemocraCy has DESCENDED to YAMAPALANA DemocraZY!
We will see MORE & MORE of this kind of ERRATIC HIGHHANDED UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOR as Somarama Sirisena’s MENTAL CONDITION DETERIORATES under PRESSURE!
As I had said before, FEAR of RICHLY EARNED RETRIBUTION is DRIVING him INSANE!
If the KITCHEN is TOO HOT, Somarama Sirisena should QUIT the KITCHEN!
August 15th, 2015 at 1:46 pm
INDEED …”The timing of this action showed President Sirisena was abusing his powers to influence the outcome of the general election. This is unethical and probably unconstitutional as well. Again, he has done what he has accused others of doing in regard to abuse of power.”
August 15th, 2015 at 6:08 pm
ANANDA !! IT IS MY POINT OF VIEW THAT “”MAGE THUNA”” CAN BE TAKEN TO TASK AFTER THE ELECTION, WIN OR LOSE. HE HAS ACTED MOST DESPICABLY VIOLATING ELECTION LAW AND THE CONSTITUTION. THERE WILL BE A LEGAL OPENING FOR HIM TO LOSE HIS CIVIC RIGHTS.
I FERVANTLY BELIEVE THAT 17TH AUGUST, WILL BE HIS DAY OF *IDES*.
August 15th, 2015 at 6:32 pm
The UNPatriotic Party says there is NO SECURITY THREAT by the LTTE against Sri Lanka!
YET, the following Indian Newspaper Report says that the LTTE is STILL supplying arms to Maoist REBELS in India!
If the LTTE does not plan MILITARY OPERATIONS in Sri Lanka, why are LTTE cadre STILL engaging in LUCRATIVE GUN-RUNNING capabilities, STOCKPILING money from gun-running, and establishing connections with the LARGEST MOST-WIDESPREAD terrorist group …. the Naxalites … in India? Why???
The UNPatriotic Party CARES NOT for OUR Motherland, or the lives of OUR People, but only for the POWER to LOOT our country for the benefit of their racist and evangelist ANTI-NATIONAL collaborators!
The STORM CLOUDS for RENEWED WAR in Sri Lanka are GATHERING AGAIN; only a LANDSLIDE VICTORY for the Patriotic Forces of the UPFA/SLFP led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa can STOP IT IN ITS TRACKS!
EMBA SINHALAYENI ….. the security and prosperity of our Motherland now lies in your hands! Vote Wisely with your HEAD, not only your WALLET! Shedding TEARS of REMORSE later WILL BE OF NO USE WHATEVER!
………………………….
Six Sri Lankans Tamils suspected to be LTTE men arrested in Kolkata
Aug 15, Kolkata: Kolkata special task force on Friday had arrested six Sri Lankan men suspected to be members of the banned terrorist outfit LTTE.
All the six LTTE men arrested from Chadni Chowk in Kolkata are Sri Lankan Tamils and they have come to Kolkata four days before from Chennai, Times of India reported.
The police are probing why the six came to Kolkata before the Independent Day celebrations.
According to the police, two of them – GunaSekharan and BalaSingham are senior leaders of the banned outfit. Police are checking if they came for any operations or for any reconnaissance.
The police are interrogating them to find if they had links with Maoists, as there are reports that the Maoists are gradually regrouping in Bengal and have plans to start guerilla warfare in Jungalmahal area of Bengal.
Moreover, the police are also probing if LTTE was supplying arms to the Maoists.
August 15th, 2015 at 6:39 pm
“…One shudders to think what he would have done if he was the President when the final war was fought against the LTTE, and how he would have handled the pressures that Mahinda Rajapaksa had to face during those dark days”
HE WOULD URINATE IN HIS PIJAMA EVERY TIME THE PHONE RINGS.
And he would value Eric Solheim and David Milliband’s hand shakes than signing the final war action order.
We are lucky that we had MR in the driving seat!!
August 16th, 2015 at 6:23 am
President Sirisena’s outrageously dictatorial behavior makes clear that the ship of State is heading into a dangerously rocky seas with a President who REJECTS DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES.
He sent out HIS OWN PRE-ELECTION LIST of preferences for the position of PM, which in itself is not acceptable as he is expected to be NEUTRAL per the 19th Amendment (their own Amendment!) …and a few hours later FIRES 2 OF THEM! ON WHOSE ADVICE IS HE ACTING?
CAN SRI LANKA TOLERATE 4 MORE YEARS OF A “TRULY FASCIST & MENTALLY UNSTABLE PRESIDENT”???.
August 16th, 2015 at 8:07 am
**MAGE THUNATA** dan bargeta pissu. I hope there is space in the Lunatic Asylum to accommodate him. The decisions he has been taking all this time, is full of Hatred and Revenge. He has become a cheap Sensationalist.
His FIVE PAGE Letter to Mahinda is doom for Ran ill. More and more people have decided to VOTE for Mahinda after seeing the Five page Letter, which the MEDIA was over publishing, and had to be told by the Election Commissioner to stop publishing the PRESIDENTS LETTER over and over again. MEDIA IS ALWAYS SERVILE TO POWERFUL POLITICIANS.
NILWALA !! No, not for 4 more years. There will be a Big Legal confrontation after the Elections to unseat the PRESIDENT,
August 16th, 2015 at 10:07 am
මෙන්න අහනවානම් නියම කථා!
http://helabima.lk/read.php?as=8786&locationid=1439744102
කරුනාකර මේ වීඩියෝව මුලසිට අග දක්වා සම්පූර්නයෙන්ම අසන්න!
August 16th, 2015 at 12:29 pm
Yamapalana Sudiya!
Lankawata Harima Deyak Siduwuna,
Seemawak Nathuwa Pathuruna.
Raja Wennata Sithapu Landa,
Sudiya Nisa Moda Wuna,
Biwwa Neda Yahapalanaya?
Biwwa Neda Yahapalanaya?
Gilla Neda Yahapalanaya?
Aney Magey Sirisena Paney,
Kiyannako Attha Aney,
Apita Pewwa Neda Yamapalanaya?
Apita Pewwa Neda Yamapalanayaaa ….?
August 16th, 2015 at 12:38 pm
To the ALWAYS FAITHFUL Patriots,
A Heartfelt Tribute in Gratitude!
Semper Fidelis, Patriots of Lanka
By Ananda-USA
Our Motherland, resplendent Sri Lanka,
Hallowed be thy name!
Thy children flock today to vote,
To preserve thy immortal flame!
The Lion Flag flutters proudly aloft,
To remind us this freedom’s day!
Our duty to keep thee, safe and strong,
As our forefathers did yesterday!
A Mahinda Rajapaksa by deed and word,
Strode forth boldly to eternal fame!
To lead his people to a safer world,
When all others retreated in shame!