‘Ranil’s Sexual Preferences A Problem’ – Maithri
Maithri Gunaratne
By Mandana Ismail Abeywickrema
The allegation leveled against UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe that his homosexual tendencies have affected the party’s progress is a much talked of topic in political circles. The 16th charge in the list of charges level against Wickremasinghe by UNP Southern Provincial Councilor and Attorney Maithri Gunaratne states fear has been instilled in the minds of parents to allow their children to join the UNP due to the appointment of the party leader’s homosexual partners to positions in the party ignoring the most suitable persons to hold such posts.
“I do not see a problem with the sexual preferences as long as the partner is not involved in the political process and decisions are not made in favor of their partners,” Gunaratne said in a telephone interview with The Sunday Leader. Gunaratne notes that he has evidence to back every charge made by him, including that on the party leader’s homosexual tendencies and would do so before a proper committee of inquiry.
Excerpts:
Q: Do you have an issue with UNP Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe’s sexuality?
A: I do not have an issue with regard to the sexual preferences of the party leader as long as they do not curry favors as a result. He can have any preference, but it should not be involved in the party’s political process.
Q: Have there been incidents where young boys have been victimized in the party after refusing his overtures?
A: The best example is the case of parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana. The parliamentarian had been asked on three occasions to accompany him (Wickremasinghe) to various hotels and villas in the South. The victimization against Pathirana started when he did not respond to the overtures.
Q: But can you prove beyond doubt that Wickremasinghe’s homosexual tendencies have affected the party’s progress?
A: May main witness in the charge against Wickremasinghe is parliamentarian Buddhika Pathirana. I will lead his evidence. There are several other witnesses as well. However, I cannot divulge their names at this moment, but they too will come forward when an inquiry is held into the complaint made by me. These are not frivolous charges and I have evidence to prove each one of them. That is why I have called for a committee headed by an independent judicial officer agreed to by both parties to inquire into the allegations and I will produce all evidence.
Q: Is Buddhika Pathirana ready to come forward and back you on the allegation leveled by you?
A: Yes he has agreed. I have had an extensive discussion about the matter with him. During a visit to the South I asked him why he was being victimized and he explained the reasons and said it all began when he did not respond to the party leader’s overtures. He is being victimized and attempts are made to remove him from the party in order to get him out of the parliamentary seat. Once Pathirana is removed from parliament, the next in line from the Matara District is a person appointed to the Working Committee by the party leader even after he had lost the election and has also appointed him as the party’s international affairs secretary. The modus operandi now is to get Pathirana out of parliament in order to get the party leader’s favorite appointed to the House.
Q: How does Wickremasinghe’s sexuality hinder the political progress of the party?
A: If he is going to give people and candidates prominence due to his sexual preferences even if they are not accepted by the people, it would hinder the party’s aim in achieving electoral victory. The party would not win elections if persons who are not accepted by the people were pushed forward. When Mahinda Wijesekera was the district leader for Matara from the PA, there was no one to hold the post from the UNP. According to the party tradition, the district leadership is held by a member of parliament, who at the time was Sagala Ratnayake. The UNP’s district organizer post was given to Provincial Councilor Justin Galappatti since the Member of Parliament did not want to hold the post because he was unable to face Wijesekera. However, Ratnayake wanted the district leadership when Wijesekera was injured and incapacitated in a bomb blast in 2009. The party leadership tried to appoint Ratnayake and Galappatti requested that he be allowed to hold the post until the conclusion of the Southern Provincial Council elections, which was just a few months away. Nevertheless, the party leadership ignored the request and in order to appoint Ratnayake, he removed Galappatti. The post was handed over to Ratanayake, and deeply hurt by the incident, Galappatti crossed over to the government and contested the Provincial Council elections from the UPFA and won. What Ratnayake did not realize was that Galappatti would have managed to get another seat for the UNP in Matara had he remained in the party. If that was the case, Ratnayake would have entered parliament at the last general election.
Galappatti was a senior UNP member who has made many sacrifices for the party. He fought for the party and during the infamous Wayamba Provincial Council election under President Chandrika Kumaratunge, he was attacked and stripped in Kurunegala. However, he continued to fight for the party. The party leadership favoured another and ultimately sacrificed him.
Q: Do you believe that one should be a heterosexual to be a political leader?
A: The ideal situation would be a heterosexual given the traditions of the country. However, I do not see a problem with the sexual preferences as long as the partner is not involved in the political process and decisions are not made in favor of their partners.
Q: Has the party officially responded to your complaint?
A: No there has been no response. However, I will follow up with another letter. I am
also getting legal advice to look into instituting legal action as well. The party leader has grossly violated Article 2 of the party Constitution.
Who is this Maithri?
who had given this name ( maithri) looser?
where he came from?
This guy look like a army derseter. isn’t it?
This man should be removed from unp ASAP without any delay. THIS KIND OF PEOPLE ARE NOT HELPING THE PARTY TO GO FORWARD AS UNITED TEAM. THEY ARE DISTROYING THE PARTY DAY AND DAY OUT.
This man has no respect for any leader of any party and it is better to let him go sooner than later.
THIS MAN MISLEAD WHOLE COUNTRY AND UNP VOTER BASE.
UNP LEADER MUST TAKE TOUGH ACTION ON THOSE WHO BLAME ON PARTY AND PARTY LEADER.
WE NEVER HAD THESE TYPE OF VERY VERY CHEEP PEOPLE WITHIN THE UNP PARTY EVER.
This allegation of Gunarathne is completely fabricated. I know very well Gunarathnes of Galle and they are very respectable people. This Gunarathne is increible compared to them. Otherwise we know very well who is Buddhika Pathirana. He is an inmatured and too much ambitious man.That is all.
Well done Maithri!!
so now the UNP are alienating the gay vote as well.
i think this man Maithri Gunaeratne is jealous that he was not attractive enough for Ranil.
Hats off to you Buddhika. I admire your gutty stand. Maithri, wish you all the very best in your endeavours. The old frog should be given a one way ticket to Pluto. How about a Rainbow Rompers Party, Ranil?????
“Brokeback Mountain” Sri Lankan style!
This refers only to the last answer. Why MG need to get legal advice as he himself is an attorney??
What about Anura Bandaranayake? he was a Homosexual wasn’t he or are we not allowed to say that as he was an aristocrat or a rat?
does it really matter if ranil is a gay? thats his own right.people dont chose to be gay, they r born gay. ranil was a great prime minister. if not for ranil n gota, there would be bomb blasts in colombo n people in mullaithivu have to keep migrating even 2 days. ranil is sri lankan version of lee quan yei. unfortunately we dont deserve him. just accusing him of all these gay allegation. poor guy
Homosexuality is not a crime. Adults can engage in any kind of sexual activity in private. Homosexual marriages are legal in many countries.There are even religious dignitaries who are homosexuals but carrying on their duties with approval and support from their congregations.
Ranil is married to a university teacher & there are no reports of marital discord.
Anyone can make accusations but these cannot be proved except by actual witnesses.
Making another’s (unproved) personal sexual preference to advance in politics is distasteful.
Hay Gamaya, it may not be a crime, but UNP does not need a poofter as their leader. Married does not mean anything in homosexual world. Even Michael Jackson was married, but he was a well known homo.
I think the allegation is here is made with extreme care and with witnesses, according to the article of course. By the way, people also say that the boss sometimes enjoys “jayamangala” pleasure with a well known grown up politician from Matara area as well.
Dear Sisira,
If Ranil is gay – which he is not – he could have easily obtained the services of young boys roaming the beaches on the southwestern & eastern beaches, in private, in a tourist hotel.
This Maithri Gunaratne appears to be a middle aged joker who will not attract even a tart in maradana. This is his ploy on behalf of Sajith & co. to try to ruin Ranil in the eyes of his voters of the colombo district and the city of colombo – the most educated electorate.
As they say the ‘Proof of the pudding is in the eating”. It is wrong to cast various aspersions without any proof. Anyone living in a democratic society can make allegations but, they have to be proved in a court of law. Till then I will hold my judgement and so should everyone who is fair.
This Gamarala may live in a jungle, hence he is not aware about the University teacher and about Sagala Ratnayake, but all the people living in SL and those who have iota of brain know.
The Leader has gone out of the way to rake up this issue just in order to muddy the waters of oppositonal forces now gathering momentum against Rajapakse’s abusive regime.
This paper has disgraced the good name of its founder by this sort of very personal invasions.SHAME!
Probably Maithri is a wanker. That’s why he worries about somebody else s sexual affairs.
While Ranil’s personal sexual preferences are his own business, it is wrong for him to use his power to intimidate others into sexual activities with him against their will. It is also wrong and detrimental to the party for him to advance people and grant positions based on sexual favours received.
This argument stands true even if Ranil was heterosexual in his preferences.
Ranil may or may not be gay. We all know he is a gentleman and intelligent man that we should be proud to have. this is conspiracy of Buddhika and the rest. why cant they fight the real dictator instead of bringing silly allegations agaisnt Ranil?
Maithri makes somewhat stupid points which is certainly not a caliber of a lawyer.
we rahter have a decent gay leader than a murderous rajapakses. many years they tried to come up with something agaisnt Ranil and now managed to come up with this idea. well Ranil is not a thief, rapist, or a man who robbed the country.
we are always with Ranil sorry Sunday LEADER.
The simple truth is that Ranil is not electable now. He may have been six years ago. Remember, he lost by only 180,000 votes and that too thanks to Prabhakaran.
So, for the sake of the UNP, Ranil needs to step down.
we are not worried wt Ranil does in his private life. Many leading people were gay ie, oscar wild, alexsandra, etc. that guy maithri is a looser. ranil does not have to die for Buddhika, buddhika is no Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt. I am sure Ranil has better teste than Buddhika or Maithri.
I like descent people like Ranil becoming the leader. I hate those self-advertisers who promise everything under the son. Whether a leader or intend to become a leader you will only see them growing fatter daily not the people.
It’s just disgusting to watch this ‘washing the dirty linen in public’. No matter what one should not ‘hit below the belt’. Let civility & decency prevail here.
I SYMPATHIZE WITH MAITHRI, RANIL’S WIFE. BUT I HEAR THAT SHE IS ALSO ON THE WRONG PATH.
UNP should have appoints a new deputy leaders those who can trustworty to the leader and to the country . What has happen to those 2 deputy leaders. When buddhika PATHIRANA made a public statement on private tv channel that 2011 he wants to eat milk rise on new year day (SINHALA AWRUDU DAWASE) because he was 100% certain that ranil will leave the party and sajith will become the leader of the unp.Sajith has no knowledge of how to govern. If he becomes a leader of the country people will see whats going to happen. If anyone remamber R PREMADASA UGAYA. Ranil was the only person who was with premadasa at that time when there was an impeachment against premadasa. At that time little premadasa has no knowledge of what happening in the party and the country. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF PREMADASA LOST THE IMPEECHMENT in the parliment AT THAT TIME WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO PREMADASA FAMILLY. IT IS VERY SAD TO SAY THAT PREMADA’S FAMILLY HAS NOWHERE TO FIND IN SRI LANKA
I THINK ONE’S PERSONAL LIFE SHOULD NOT BE DRAGGED INTO POLITICS, WELL MAITHRI YOU ARE HEADING FOR DISASTER AS NOBODY WILL EVER STAND WITH YOU… NOT EVEN BUDDHIKA AS HE IS A GENTLEMAN AND NO DOUBT WILL NOT DRAG PEOPLE’S PERSONAL LIFE TO PUBLIC OR WASH THEIR DIRTY CLOTHES IN PUBLIC. MAITHRI YOU ARE CHEAP AND TRYING TO GAIN PUBLIC SUPPORT THROUGH THIRD GRADE TACTICS, YOU SHOULD BE KICKED OUT.
Sunday Leader has gone to DOGS
So Ranil is a “Pufter”!
Recent History shows who ever tried to degrade Ranil they are no more or in dustbin,few to name, Prabaharan, Candrika, Mangala,in time to come we will see all the guys barking now will be no place to go.