EDITORIAL: Prof. Peiris shame on you !

(December 08, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The much learned Professor in Law and External Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka Prof G L Peiris received the biggest public humiliation when the scandal involving the £3.5 million image building (white washing) contractor Bell Pottinger was revealed in ‘The Independent Newspaper’.

The Independent broadsheet reported that: ‘Senior executives at Bell Pottinger told undercover reporters that they were so influential that they had written a key speech given by the Sri Lankan President to the United Nations.

The media in Sri Lanka so far failed to spearhead a campaign of rightfully questioning the President and the External Affairs Minister on this issue. It is maintaining languid silence due to fear of persecution.

‘During the address by President Mahinda Rajapaksa last year, which the company said was used in preference to one prepared by the Sri Lankan foreign ministry, the President suggested rules governing the humanitarian conduct of war should be re-examined. He also described his troops' action against Tamil Tiger separatists as humanitarian.’

Clearly the claim that President Mahinda Rajapakse gave preference to the speech prepared by the Bell Pottinger than the one of the External Affairs Ministry confirms that the President did not have any confidence in Prof. Peiris or his Ministry. Such situation is public humiliation for any self respecting Minister and head should have rolled expressing disgust unable to fulfil his role as Minister.

If such situation had developed in the neighbouring India, there would have been huge public outcry and the parties involved would have packed their bags by now.

Minister Prof Peiris lacks self-esteem or sensitivity and he is a man who will play even a broken trumpet disrespecting the music to save his pay packet. Such situation could only happen in pseudo democracies like Sri Lanka, where good governance and self respect have no meaning.

The media in Sri Lanka so far failed to spearhead a campaign of rightfully questioning the President and the External Affairs Minister on this issue. It is maintaining languid silence due to fear of persecution. This gives unhindered confidence for the wrong doers, unscrupulous and unprincipled ministers to continue in office without any remorse, disgust or self respect.

Prof. Peiris should have resigned at the point of his Ministry’s speech was rejected but the insensitive and disgraceful Minister continued to hang on to his job and the matter has now become a public disgrace and he is still unable to find an honourable exit from the job he holds without any feelings or professional dignity.

What is the difference between the moronic Minister Dr Mervin Silva and Prof G L Peries. Both are of the same mould and are survivors and will survive even if tons of bricks falls on them. It is the very same maverick Minister Mervin Silva who claimed that he has many wives like the Maharaja’s of yesteryears. His public claim should have invited the police to arrest him for being a bigamist. But unfortunately, the way of life in Sri Lanka is only good for the predators and those who do not have the moral conscience.