By Aravinda Gautamadasa

Much is said in the printed media on the alleged deeds and misdeeds (more of the latter) on Sri Lanka’s ex-president Mrs. Chandrika Bandaranaike. After all the media takes pride in exposing the misdeeds rather than the deeds. Under these circumstances they have formed the line ‘the evil that men do live after them’.

Reading some reports one wonders whether there has been a radical government change since the April presidential election. It will be correct to say that most if not all in the present cabinet were in President CBK’s cabinet including the present president and all that was decided upon was the collective consensus of that cabinet which exists even to this day. Strangely however the present cabinet appear to be on a different agenda probably pursuing the vision of the new president cultivating new loyalty.

When CBK was president with a hostile UNF cabinet allegations were levelled at her which appeared to have died down after she ceased to hold office. However the media has lost no time in attempting to rake up the truth or falsity of these stories. This is done under one of the many mottos of the media ‘the people’s right to know’ which is not practised uniformly.

Right down the line here in Sri Lanka and abroad misdeeds of leaders and ministers have been committed. Some are exposed, others ignored depending on who writes and who wants what. Presidents come and presidents go. They have all been democratically elected in Sri Lanka by popular vote. They all have their pluses and minuses on their slates. Not one has a totally clean one. The media looks upon these pluses and minuses depending on where their affinities are.

In recent times there has been an exchange of ideas comparing presidents of Philippines and Indonesia with our ex-president CBK. This has been reported by the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). I do not wish to criticise ones right to express ones opinion which the executive director AHRC has already done but one could expect a more mature and open minded statements from this personage.

I would consider comparisons of persons and this includes presidents as a forte germinating in small minds. Taking one statement made by the Director AHRC in isolation ‘Bandaranaike promised to abolish the executive presidency which she did not.’The AHRC official has to be reminded that the abolition of the executive presidency is not the prerogative of the holder of the post. It needs a constitutional amendment with a 2/3rd majority in parliament and probably a referendum. No president after JRJ could muster a 2/3rd majority in parliament. This was not possible under the CBK regime with a hostile cabinet in the UNF pitched against her. The cooperation of the opposition was absolutely necessary to obtain this majority and it was not forthcoming due to vested interests in the post.

In addition some media lost no time in publishing a booklet. The Editor of the Ravaya made use of the international book exhibition to sell his wares a book critical of the ex-president.

Any allegations made against ex-holders of posts should be investigated by the proper authorities through the proper channels and not by anyone who has an axe to grind or one who flaunts their designation and title. There is no doubt that some media are quick to publish such articles not with the idea of the peoples right to know but with a view to ridicule and score points.

(The Island)