Rise of Sri Lankan President’s son Namal Rajapaksa sparks concern
by Jeremy Page, South Asia Correspondent, Times UK
Modesty is apparently not a strong point for Namal Rajapaksa, the 23-year-old son of the Sri Lankan President and scion of Asia’s newest political dynasty.
Namal Rajapaksa, a keen rugby player, graduated from City University in London last September On the web: http://www.namalrajapaksa.com/
His website says: “A future leader with a friendly spirit and possessing good values is what comes to mind when meeting the dashing and smashing young Namal Rajapaksa.”
The keen rugby player graduated from London’s City University in September with a third-class law degree. He now clearly plans to follow in the footsteps of his father, Mahinda, who was an MP at 24 and went on to defeat his former army chief, Sarath Fonseka, in a presidential election last month.
Last week, after General Fonseka’s arrest, Namal was accepted by his father’s party as a candidate in parliamentary elections on April 8, joining dozens of other relatives in government and politics. One rumour suggests that he could take over the politically powerful position of Custodian of the Temple of the Tooth, Sri Lanka’s holiest Buddhist shrine.
Namal’s meteoric rise was hailed last week in a eulogy on the official government news portal, entitled The Doctrine of Namal Rajapaksa — Activism and Positivism in Politics.
For most Sri Lankans it came as no surprise: Namal campaigned alongside his father and used an NGO that he runs to fund a lavish television advertising campaign promoting the incumbent. For many, however, his political debut, and the personality cult surrounding it, are worrying indications of the demise of South Asia’s oldest democracy.
Over the past fortnight international concern has focused on the arrest of General Fonseka — who led the army to victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels last year — on charges of plotting a coup. Equally troubling, however, is the Rajapaksa clan’s ever-tightening grip on power — especially if the ruling coalition wins a two-thirds majority in April, allowing it to change the Constitution.
Alan Keenan, of the International Crisis Group, said that the President had had reason to surround himself with family when he came to power in 2005, as he faced many political enemies and the threat of assassination by the Tigers.
“Up to a point, it was understandable. But now it does seem to have reached an extreme level, and with real dangers,” he said. “There’s always been corruption, but businessmen in Colombo now complain it’s got to the point where you have to know a Rajapaksa to get something done. That’s unprecedented.”
Now Namal is being touted as a potential successor to his father, whose second and final term will end in 2016. Supporters say that this is no different from the Gandhis in India, the Bhuttos in Pakistan or the Kennedys and the Bushes in the US.
T.C. Rajaratnam, who wrote last week’s official eulogy, said: “His style is unique and incomparable. If Sri Lanka has to develop at a rapid pace then Namal Rajapaksa should have the controlling authority.”
Critics say that such eulogies smack of the kind of personality cult surrounding Kim Jong Il, the North Korean leader.
Sri Lanka's ruling dynasty
Mahinda President, Minister of Finance, Media, Religious Affairs & Moral Upliftment, Highways and Road Development
Gotabaya (younger brother) Secretary of ministries of Defence, Public Security, and Law and Order
Basil (older brother) MP and senior presidential adviser on economic and international affairs
Chamal (older brother) Minister of Ports and Aviation and Minister of Irrigation and Water Management
Shashindra (Chamal’s son) MP and Chief Minister of Uva province
Jaliya Wickramasuriya (Mahinda’s first cousin) Sri Lankan Ambassador to the United States
Udayanga Weeratunga (Mahinda’s first cousin) Sri Lankan Ambassador to Russia
Kapila Dissanayake (Mahinda’s cousin) councillor of Southern Province and President’s co-ordinating secretary in Hambantota
courtesy: Times, UK
9 Comments
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Since 2009, Srilanka belongs to Rajapakse Family.
Republic of Rajapakse's Srilanka.
Rajapakse Family has to take and live with the blame for:
- Killing 40,000+ innocent tamils
- White van abductions and killings
- Lasantha and Taraki's murders
\Even though these were done by Military.
So, they have the rights to rule the country for ever.
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Anybody is free have dreams.Even Namal Rajapakse has a right to contest for election in Sri Lanka.All their powers and positions remain until MR is in power.What happened to Sajith after predent Premadasa? He build his career by himself.One must have a skills and abilities to serve for people.There are no dynasties in Sri Lanka.There is no chances for him to become a custodian of Dalada Maligawa.It will never happened before, never going to happen in the future.It is a dream.
The Rajapaksa government is responsible for the horrific war crimes.
Now another Rajapaksa , Namal Rajapaksa is contesting the elections.
The Rajapaksa family has only helped to suppress the Tamils , violates the Sri Lankan citizens human rights and chokes off the media.
Also during their Royal Reign the Sri Lankan Army has committed horrific atrocities.
Up to 40 000 innocent Tamils were butchered, children and women were raped and 300 000 people incarcerated in the Sri Lanka concentration cmps.
The impunity to such horrific war crimes leads to the continuation of the lawlessness
So the Sri Lanka Army soldiers continue to rape children
9 year old child, a schoolgirl Annusha was raped by Sri Lankan Army soldiers.
She was sexually assaulted by 3 Sri Lankan Army military men near Batticaloa on 12 February 2010.
Annusha was coming from school with another girl; the Sri Lanka Army Child Rapists chased them.
One girl manages to escape but Annusha was grabbed and brutally raped.
The raped child was admitted to the local hospital and then transferred to the Batticaloa Hospital. Medical reports confirm the forced sexual intercourse.
Now the parents of the raped school girl is threatened by the Sri Lanka Army
What is the big deal here? He is just 23. What does know about the Sri Lanka? What is his qualification? What are his school records? Does he commit any crime in the last 5 years? Have anyone chached them to make sure that he is fit to contest?
We had it coming taking thing lying down. Take it or leave it. that's your fate!
Rajapakse's in their heart and mind have set out a sacred place with veneration for Velupillai Prabakaran,the Sun God, and worship HIM for their fortunes. HE has appeared to them in their dreams to build the biggest temple for HIM. HE put the unknown Rajapakse as the foundation of new Sri Lanka. HE has revealed Majinda Chinthanya to the Sri Lankans. HE declared in one of his annual messages to his flock that Rajapakse is a practical man. HE has blessed Rajapakse and his descendants (minions) to rule Sri Lankans, the most liked people of HIM
Stanislaus
Namal, Our most heartfelt good wishes to you.
You have been a disciplined son of Ruhuna, and we millions look forward to see your true spirit, and to see your success.
Life of Politics is tough as your dad knows well. He had to brave the time of terror and its preliminaries inside the prison at times and more recently with the enemy inside the ranks on his way to the unprecedented public approval he received.
May you have the strength and forebearance to face the bothe the boquets and brickbats with equanimity while talking to princes and the paupers with the same true kindness that is the true Rajapakse wholemark.
Oh! Ho! Ruhuna has a colorful history starting with dushta gamini a.k.a dutugemunu. Want to try your luck? Be my guest and you would be the undoing of Mahawansa!
Merely because Namal is the President's son does it mean that he has to be deprived of political rights ? Sri Lanka is a democracy and every citizen has the right to enter politics, indulge in it and indeed contest & be elected. I wish Namal well.