A good example is Mahinda Rajapaksa’s regime which had an appalling spokesperson, Keheliya Rambukwella who antagonised everyone – the opposition, people, civil society, international community, other ethnic groups - the list goes on.
The present President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickrematunge have been in limbo since the beginning, but the regime continues to survive thanks to a very good spokesperson Rajitha Senaratne who can tackle anything and everything not only diplomatically but also with truth and reality.
There are many examples of this. In his press briefing on 16th May 2018, he handled the journalists’ questions with truth, justice and reality, even though some journalists had really extreme ideas and were very partial and cynical.
However, the way Rajitha Senaratne answered their questions, was appreciated by civil society and diplomats in Sri Lanka and also the international community. These asked how many Rajitha Senaratnes are in Sri Lanka? His replies were not only blunt and truthful, but also courageous.
When a journalist said that the LTTE was a terrorist organisation, Rajitha Senaratne’s reply was that “the JVP too, was a terrorist organization”.
This led to Rajitha lecturing the journalists: “Can you say that everyone who died during 71 and 88-89 insurrection was a JVP member? Can you say no innocent people died?”
“Prabhakaran’s conduct was no different from Wijeweera’s. Can you show me what the difference is?” Rajitha Senaratne questioned the journalists.
For the people in Sri Lanka – Singhalese, Tamil, Muslims and Burghers to live in peace and harmony, Sri Lanka needs many more Rajitha Senarathnas. Will the 2020 President as well as the Parliament elections produce more Rajitha Senaratne?
- By a moderate Tamil activist
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