Golden memories and silver tears for Mahinda at Johnston’s new office

The party office of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) parliamentarian Johnston Fernando at Wilgoda in Kurunegala had been burned down during the ‘Aragalaya’ period. The building where the Wilgoda office was located was about 105 years old. It was only this week that the newly rebuilt office was declared open by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Most of those in attendance at the event, though, were completely unaware that Mr. Rajapaksa would be at the event. The group of SLPP MPs who were initially taking part in the ceremony was to be led by National Organiser Namal Rajapaksa. The event was broadcast live on social media.

Those in attendance were, therefore, caught unawares by the sudden arrival of Mahinda Rajapaksa, with many party supporters rushing towards the former President in their excitement at his unexpected arrival. Despite having enormous difficulty getting towards the venue due to the large crowd trying to greet him, Mr Rajapaksa still made a point to stop and speak to as many people as he could.

When finally he got to his seat, he leaned over to Mr. Fernando and told him there was no way he was going to miss the event, as he remembered this was the office from which he began his campaign to be elected to Parliament from the Kurunegala District. “It was from this office that I started the campaign that would win me the largest number of preferential votes in the country’s history," Mr. Rajapaksa recalled. “I felt immense sadness when I heard of it being burned down. However, I see today that it has been rebuilt in such a way that it is even more beautiful now than before," he told those present.

When finally he got to his seat, he leaned over to Mr. Fernando and told him there was no way he was going to miss the event