Singing a different song now; More waiting in the wings to see which way the wind blows

In the wake of countrywide protests demanding that P r e s i d e n t G o t a b ay a Rajapaksa and his Government to step down, a host of artistes who had campaigned for him at the 2019 presidential election and others who have had close relations with the Rajapaksa family have publicly come out and expressed their regret, with some going as far as to join the protests themselves and apologise for supporting the President’s candidature.

During the past few days, artistes such as music composer Dr Rohana Weerasinghe, along with actors Jackson Anthony and Ravindra Randeniya have publicly expressed their regret for supporting the Rajapaksas. After posting a public apology on his official Facebook page, Dr Weerasinghe even visited the site of the “Gota Go Gama” protest at Galle Face Green to lend his support to the protesters.

A c t ress and sing e r Sanjeewani Weerasinghe’s attempt to join an anti- Government protest in Los Angeles in the US did not go as well as she had hoped for when she was confronted by protesters who heckled her over her public campaigning for Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the presidential election.

Meanwhile, music producer Pasan Liyanage, who produced “Veda Karana Ape Viruwa,” the hit campaign song of then presidential candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa too apologised recently to anyone who may have become ‘inconvenienced’ by the song. Singer Saheli Gamage, who sang the song “Ayubowewa Maha Rajaneni” dedicated to then President Mahinda Rajapaksa also posted a public apology on social media. All these celebrities have also voiced support for the ongoing protests.

Many others, professionals and businessmen who lined up to support the President’s candidature were watching which way the wind was blowing, in order to bend accordingly.