Wimal Weerawansa’s Outrageous Outbursts

Wimal Weerawansa has continuously and persistently indulged in slinging mud  at his political opponents in the most deplorable manner. Regularly afforded  prime time on state television channels and the widest publicity through the state print media, he has used it to pursue his political agenda in the guise of promoting the candidature of Mahinda Rajapaksa in the forthcoming presidential election.

While most people do not condone the repulsive and virulent attacks by  political opponents they  are unable to understand why Wimal Weerawansa is  permitted to continue with his rhetoric. It seems that he is actively encouraged by both the state print and electronic media to annihilate the character of political opponents.

While many are apparently amused and mildly piqued by Weerawansa’s convoluted and desperate efforts to restore his shattered political image, we surely cannot permit him to indulge in deplorable character assassination of opponents. How can any reasonable person have any confidence in Wimal Weerawansa considering his dubious track record?

1. Involvement in armed insurrections and in the destruction of life and property.

2. Vehemently opposing the “Executive Presidency” and pledging to abolish it in the Memorandum of Understanding with Mahinda Rajapaksa and then supporting its continuity.

3. Making scathing attacks on the IMF and threatening to ‘pull the plug’ and then remaining silent upon joining the government.

4. The reasons for joining the government being to stall the civil and criminal case against him.

Wimal Weerawansa needs to realise that character assassination is a grievous and heinous crime and it is unbecoming of any person. Furthermore he should also remember that people living in glass houses should not throw stones at others.

Apart from the unethical and deplorable conduct of Wimal Weerawansa what is more serious is the active support and encouragement given to him by the government.

How can the  President and the government justify this deplorable action with what has been set out in the Mahinda Chinthana — “State media will be made the highest example in the use of an independent and responsible media and towards this, the state media will be depoliticized.”

And also the President’s recent emphatic appeal to the media to be fair and just, and the importance of balanced reporting.

S. Randeniya
Colombo