A CONTINUING THE TRAIL OF THUGGERY BY OFFSPRING OF MINISTERS

‘Hunter hunted’ situation that turned out to be ‘

In the wee hours of 02^nd February 2022, the hostel of Medical Students at Ragama Medical Faculty became a virtual battlefield with a fierce exchange of fisticuffs taking place in every corner. This pandemonium broke out when a gang of 15 thugs or political goons suddenly invaded the hostel premises, taking on the 4^th year medical students en masse. The mastermind of this wanton thuggery attack was said to have given instructions from a BMW jeep which was later revealed to be belonging to the vehicle detail of Hon. Arundika Fernando, State Minister of Coconut, Kithul and Palmyra Cultivation Promotion and related Industrial Product Manufacturing and Export Diversification. Ironically, another car belongs to the Coconut Development Authority which comes under the purview of the State Minister in question.  It is common knowledge that even State Ministers in the present parliament have been allotted institutions as never before by HE, the President Gotabaya Rajapakse. Previously, the State Ministers were at the mercy of their Senior Ministers to secure a responsibility of that kind. Now, the situation has changed. For each State Minister, there is a Cabinet Minister in charge whose only responsibility is to take up the issues at the Cabinet on behalf of the papers tabled by his junior State Ministers. In fact, State Ministers in the current regime have absolute power and immunity. They have resources at their disposal. However, this is a positive as well as a negative situation from different perspectives.  This has now become a part and parcel of the country’s political culture.  This is simply because the politicians, their offspring and goons tend to think that they are literally above the law.  They take law unto themselves at the very opportunity they get.  So, poor Sri Lanka eagerly looks forward to Ven. Galgodaaththe Gnanasara Thero to perform a miracle in bringing law and order on equal terms for every citizen, reforming himself first. 

Abuse of father’s powers at will

Sri Lanka, which has adopted an enthusiastic tagline ‘the wonder of Asia’ has a rich history of politically motivated thuggery unlike other Asian countries.  Similarly, the notoriety of sons of powerful ministers now and then has its own share of stories, heroics and escapades.  In the past, such a famous rebel son was none other than Malaka Silva, the son of infamous former minister Mervyn Silva.  Prodigal son Malaka had back to back brawls at Colombo night clubs until misdemeanor came to an abrupt halt with the intervention of the highest powers of the country to be. He was brutally assaulted at Colombo-07 Odel Mall Car Park in broad daylight by a more powerful and ferocious gang for harassing a lady who had contacts with top rung politicos. The sons of Ministers S.B Dissanayake and Mahinda Wijesekera too were embroiled in such a brawl at a Colombo Night Club sometime back. Besides, the son of Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle, Ramith who was incidentally a national Cricketer, was also known for attempting to unlock the door of an international carrier airline when it was in the air, to the sheer fright of the passengers.  Later, it transpired that he was under the influence of liquor while attempting this mid-air drama, mistaking the fuselage exit door as the door to the washroom.  The latest entry into the scene is Avinda Randila Jehan Fernando, the son of the State Minister Erandika Fernando.  In fact, the writer would do an injustice if the names of late Minister Anuruddha Ratwatte’s sons were not mentioned. Their names are synonymous with Udathalawinna mass murder and most recently, Minister Lohan Ratwatte’s drunkard escapades into Anuradhapura and Welikada Prisons were well known which eventually cost him his ministerial portfolio or just part of it. 

Latest incident of disgrace

In the latest incident, the gang which swamped the Medical Faculty Hostel had twisted fortunes. According to the media reports, a gang of 15 thugs entered the faculty premises at around 3 am and commenced beating the 4^th year medical students. At this juncture, other medical students who were fast asleep, were woken up by the noises of the pandemonium and joined the melee.  Soon, the medical students with a stronger force now, were able to overpower the gang.  In the process, they even de-inflated the tires of the car in which the gang came in.  The students held the driver of the car captive until the Police came to the scene of the incident. Incidentally, the driver was in the possession of an identity card which suggested that he was employed by the ministerial staff in 2018. The students didn’t stop at that but went on to video the entire episode on their mobile phones which came handy as hard evidence at the inquest held subsequently.  During the Police investigations, it was revealed that it was an enmity between 3^rd and 4^th year medical students which was related to ragging.  3^rd year students have given statements to this effect. The Police have already arrested 7 culprits including the State Minister’s son who surrendered himself through a lawyer and two other employees from the ministries which come under the direct purview of the State Minister. Besides, another 4 students are arrested and enlarged on bail for beating the 3^rd year student who created this uproar. He is identified as a close ally of the State Minister’s son from school days. Although the Minister denied any knowledge of the incident, an angry President was reported to have directed him to step down. He also directed Minister retired Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, who is in charge of the Police Department, to initiate an impartial inquiry into the incident.  

Ugly attempts to exonerate the State Minister

In the aftermath, Keerthi Sri Weerasinghe, the Chairman of Coconut Development Authority, summoning a media briefing alienated his institution from any involvement in this incident. He further went on to state that the car WP KI 2376 which belongs to the authority had indulged in an unlawful vehicular movement and thus the driver was reported to have been suspended pending inquiry. However, he attempted to prove his Minister’s innocence which earned him heavy criticism from the media. The State Minister too went before the media announcing he would step down in order to allow the Police investigation to continue without interference. Nevertheless, the entire country knows that HE, the Present ordered him to resign as it was exclusively reported in political columns. In this whole episode, nobody knows who is genuine. Because our politicians are aware of the fact that our people forget everything in just two weeks. After that, they don’t care or least bothered to know the rest of the news item. As the hotness of the news item dies down, the same corrupt politicians would be calling shots in the political arena once again and maybe, more powerfully than ever.  This is Sri Lanka’s inimitable political culture which stands out among our counterparts in the world.