Government group blasts S. B. for his comments in interview

A controversial figure in Sri Lankan politics and one-time Minister S.B. Dissanayake, was literally ‘roasted’ by his parliamentary colleagues at their meeting last Tuesday.

In what seemed an orchestrated onslaught, Parliamentarians accused him of violating party discipline and practices, by criticising a minister in an outside forum.

Mr Dissanayake once brokered a deal between then President Maithripala Sirisena and Mahinda Rajapaksa paving the way for Mr Rajapaksa to become Prime Minister for 52 days. Mr Dissanayake apparently knew what was in store and kept away from the meeting.

One of the critics, Anuradhapura District parliamentarian and Lands Minister S. M. Chandrasena alleged that Mr Dissanayake had criticised Education Minister G. L. Peiris in a disgraceful way. National List Parliamentarian Jayantha Ketagoda said if there was any criticism against Prof. Peiris, that should have been raised at the group meeting. Many others followed.

The issue centred on a ‘ Good Samaritan’ role Mr Dissanayake had played on Tuesday, April 6 on behalf of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. That is by carrying two separate messages to the Chief Incumbent of the

Getambe Rajapawanna Vihara, Ven. Kappitiyagoda Siri Vimala Thera conveying best wishes on his 90th birthday.

For Mr Dissanayake’s misfortune, he was videoed together with his conversation that did not go well with the ruling alliance leaders.

Trouble broke out after a leading television channel telecast the meeting and the exchange of words between the two. Here are excerpts:

Mr Dissanayake: "Ven Thera, your face looks good; you look good and healthy (for your age)."

Ven Thera: Our looks do not matter when the country does not look good. We are really upset over the current situation. We feel that we do not need any of this.

Mr Dissanayake: "All the monks are not that………."

Ven. Thera: “I do not do politics here. We do not want to engage in politics either, do you understand? Don’t you see what happened as a result when some engaged in it?

Mr Dissanayake: “On a previous day the President said that the American President was popular, but his popularity has dropped. He asked me why that had happened to him. When the President asked me all the secretaries were there before him. I replied that everything that the President ordered had not been implemented. The

President then asked me why I said such a thing. Then I replied that there is the Education Ministry Secretary. Ask him how many national schools have been built and completed. You ordered that about thousand national schools be built. Not a single school has been built. The Secretary says they are still preparing the list.

“Then I mentioned about the Secretary of the Ministry of Lands. The President had asked to provide people deeds for their lands before anything else. He asked the Lands Ministry Secretary how many deeds have been given to people. That too had not been done. Lot of things are like that.

Ven. Thera: “However their matters get done somehow.”

Mr Dissanayake: “The Education Minister G. L. Peiris, is not doing anything. This is at a time where we work fast….”

Ven. Thera: “I don’t think that they would do these things, now that the time had expired.”

Mr Dissanayake: “There is an issue, our main sources of income have collapsed.”

Ven. Thera: “That is something that has affected the whole world.”

Mr Dissanayake: "Yes, that affected the whole world. However, China has told us to take any amount of money and pay it back any time that we can afford it. China has given the message to the Government that we could take any amount we want and pay it back in a time when we are able to do so.

Regarding the Easter Sunday attack, actually all the information regarding that had been received by the Government at that time. That information was there with the Prime Minister ( Ranil Wickremesinghe). In charge of the Police at that time was Minister Sagala Ratnayake. He too had information. A lot of information was also received by the Defence Secretary and the President at that time. However all of them only were thinking of the upcoming presidential election."

Ven. Thera: "Why are those positions given to military personnel. Military persons are persons who are supposed to engage in war. Can such people rule a country. Some are engaging in crazy activities in some ministries. Even this is there in the Buddha Sasana Ministry.”

Mr Dissanayake: "What had happened is that officials are afraid to take decisions as their superior officials do not take responsibility over their actions and motivate them to carry out decisions."

Ven. Thera: "However, an unfortunate time has dawned on our country."

Mr Dissanayake: "It will get better in future. Let us see."