Spokesperson: For whom or what he is speaking?
The role of a spokesperson, as anyone literate would explain, is to speak on behalf of a group or entity he or she represents so the collective positions are understood in a positive way. However, that is not the case for loquacious Minister Rajitha Senaratne, the official spokesperson of the Government. More often than not, his public remarks have caused confusion and even chaos. It has thus raised serious questions not only on the former dental physician’s credibility but also that of the Government. There have also been times when he has turned the searchlight inwards and revealed things which other spokespersons dare not.
Just last Wednesday, he made embarrassing revelations about a UNP Minister at a news briefing that followed the weekly ministerial meeting. Those remarks come from the man who is officially tasked to disseminate information about the Cabinet of Ministers. Here is an edited transcript from a tape recording:
Q: There is a controversy over a person who has invested in a tyre factory to be opened in Horana. The investor is supposed to have been a close associate of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
A: Senaratne: Yes, yes, it is their money.
Q: But the Prime Minister went there to lay the foundation stone to start work.
A: The Prime Minister only got to know that morning who this person was. He considered seriously whether to attend. However, by that time, the ceremonial plaque as well as decorations at the site had featured the Premier’s name. It is relevant to say ministers who are to be blamed for this. No one can give an acre of land for Rs.100. Lands cannot be sold.
Q: Who are the Ministers who misled the PM and made him attend this function. A: I’m going to find that out today. Q: Has this transaction been approved then?
A: Yes. But no one can give away an acre of land for Rs. 100. Not even the President.
Q: There are allegations that some ministers who are with the PM are acting without consulting the Cabinet on various investment projects. Is this one such project?
A: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Management ( CCEM) reports to Cabinet and briefs it on decisions taken. The Cabinet then approves them. The President has now instructed that the CCEM must hereafter submit its decisions to the relevant subject minister, who must then submit a Cabinet memorandum to the ministers.
On Friday, Development Strategies and International Trade Minister Malik Samarawickrema, who has been brokering a number of controversial deals, contradicted Minister Senaratne, publicly. He claimed that he had informed both President Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. However, he gave no details. The Sunday Times learnt that President Sirisena had, in fact, directed that work at the site of the project in Horana -- begun without the conclusion of an agreement -- be stopped forthwith. Neither President Sirisena nor Premier Wickremesinghe who should have cleared the air over Samarawickrema’s claims has commented either way.
Then on Thursday, Dr, Senaratne told Parliament that the Cabinet of Ministers had not discussed a move to either legalise homosexuality or prostitution. It was President Sirisena who declared at a ceremony on Wednesday at the Abhayarama Temple in Narahenpita that he had “thrown out” proposals to not only legalise homosexuality but also prostitution.
The proposals were contained in a 261- page National Human Rights Action Plan ( NHRAP) forwarded for cabinet approval by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera. The plan was accompanied by a two- page cabinet memorandum by Samaraweera.
How the official spokesperson of the Government of Sri Lanka was unaware of this is one thing. It is another that he contradicted his own President without knowing his facts. So much for credibility and the truth from an official spokesperson.