LankaBuzz

Sri Lankan politics are shaped by family dynasties – the Bandaranaikes, the Senanayakes and now, of course the Rajapaksas. Politicians in this country are apt to forget that they are elected and not ordained. The natural tendency for an elected representative therefore is to start behaving like royalty upon assuming office. Almost simultaneously, the political brat-pack would begin throwing its weight around in their own circles, assuming the role of unruly princes with a weakness for partying, brawling and in some cases, substance and alcohol abuse.

In recent years, the sons of S.B. Dissanayake, Mahinda Wijesekera and of course, the inimitable Malaka Silva, son of Mervyn and descendent of King Dutugemunu of Ruhuna, have been glaring examples of how the people’s franchise is abused to afford power to badly behaved children. The Dissanayake boys, Wijesekera boys and Master Silva have evaded the law and got away with all manner of misdeeds, including alleged obstruction of justice and drug abuse, all thanks to the power enjoyed by their politico parents.

This is why, Namal, the eldest son of Mahinda and Shiranthi Rajapaksa, is a relative surprise. Having stayed out of trouble and turned out to be a fairly upright young gentleman, Namal Rajapaksa is an aberration. He is the son of the country’s most powerful man, and yet there is a mellowness in his demeanour, a quick and easy smile and a certain lack of self-assuredness that is typical of a 20 year old, but atypical of a politico’s offspring, that clearly sets him apart (for now).
Last Friday (06) saw Namal address a press conference in Colombo to introduce several new projects coordinated by Tharunayata Hetak (a future for the youth), an organisation of which he holds Chairmanship and his brother Yoshitha, the Vice Chairmanship. While Yoshitha Rajapaksa was flown off to England for training after he joined the navy, Namal has spearheaded the campaign to get youth involved in development projects for youth especially those hailing from low-income families.
Tharunayata Hetak is currently in the process of collecting funds to provide infrastructure facilities, computers and supplies to schools in the north and east specifically, beginning with the east which is now almost entirely under security forces control.

According to Namal, the funds are being raised largely through contributions from Corporate sponsors. “We also get funding internationally, from Australia, America, Northern Ireland and China,” he said. Unlike his father’s administration, Namal seems to be relatively bereft of conspiracy theories about international NGOs, since some of the organisation’s funding comes from foreign organisations interested in development work in Sri Lanka. Not much though, he cautions. “We do get some money from NGOs, but for the moment, we’d prefer corporate sponsorships.”
A concession to the Rajapaksa Administration’s anti-NGO stance? Perhaps. But at least Rajapaksa junior did not attempt to hide it.

It remains to be seen how far Tharunayata Hetak will take Namal Rajapaksa – politically speaking. For the moment, power has yet to corrupt him absolutely from the looks of it. He is, for all intents and purposes, the ‘heir apparent’ to the Rajapaksa legacy, a family business of politics that has earned both wrath and wonder, since there was no sign of it whatsoever until two years ago. Perhaps Namal will follow in the footsteps of his father and uncles. And perhaps not. There was much speculation about the political ambitions of the Kumaratunga offspring back when their mother was Head of State but both Yasodhara and Vimukthi chose different paths, leaving the Bandaranaike dynasty with no heir. One thing is certain however: if Namal is to be ‘passed the torch’ as it were, he is certainly off to a good start.

By Dharisha Bastians

http://www.nation.lk/2007/07/08/newsfe5.htm

Good story, now if we were to find out all the permits sold and transferred by past members of parliament, would we be able to get a list ?

JHU monks sell their vehicle permits

The MP monks of the JHU have sold the duty free vehicle permits received by them as parliamentarians in contravention of the permit regulations.

The monks have said that the monies collected by selling the permits were transferred to the party account.

The government offers duty free vehicle permits to parliamentarians and other state officials for official use. However, according to the relevant financial regulations, such permits cannot be sold or transferred to a third person. The law also states that a vehicle purchased under such permit cannot be sold or transferred to a third party.

The JHU monks however, have sold their vehicle permits in contravention of the regulations, it is learned.

JHU and Presidential Advisor, H.M.G.B. Kotakadeniya told The Sunday Leader sister paper Irudina, “Nothing is given free these days.”

JHU Spokesperson and Parliamentarian, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thero however declined to make any comment on the sale of the permits.

Kotakadeniya said the JHU monks had sold the vehicle permits to provide funds for the party and that they were not sold to drug dealers and businessmen.

Referring to the sale of vehicle permits by the monks, he had also said that the JHU had not done anything against the law and that it was done in good faith.

“The owners of the vehicles are the bhikkus. They have not violated the motor traffic ordinance. They can give their vehicles on a temporary basis to anyone. But the registration is under the real owner. They will get ownership only after five years. The party does not have funds. That is why the permits were sold. Some parliamentarians have even sold their permits to the Tigers. We have not sold them to drug dealers or businessmen. If the law has been violated then we can go to courts. We have not violated the law. The bhikkus don’t need such luxury vehicles. But the bhikkus in parliament need some vehicle. We have given these vehicles only to people on whom we have total confidence that they would not use these vehicles for a wrong purpose,” Kotakadeniya said.