Ms. Sonali Samarasinghe is the nearest thing available to a local Lady Macbeth. She is overloaded with ambitions of going places. She has no qualms about pushing other competitors out of the scene and clawing her way into their seats. One of her ambitions was to be a diplomat. In her scheme of things she had planned to leave the cozy place she occupied in the Leader newspapers and take a running jump, with a hefty push from her Editor, Mr. Lasantha Wickrematunga, into the seat of the Counsellor (Information) in the Sri Lankan High Commission in Canberra.
There was also another reason for her to pick Canberra as the preferred place of her posting: her sister and mother lived there. All in all, it was the most suitable location for her ambitions as well her need to be close to her kith and kin in Australia.
As career diplomats in the Foreign Service know it is not every diplomat who can pick their posting to the place of their choice. But then Ms. Samarasinghe is not one of those run-of-the-mill journalists. She had powerful political connections. Though she had no direct links to the UNP regime running the Foreign Ministry at the time she got the posting she was near enough to the source wielding power behind the throne of Ranil Wickremesinghe, the then Prime Minister.
In short, she was in the comfort zone of being the blue-eyed girl of Mr. Lasantha Wickrematunga, the Editor of The Sunday Leader. Actually, he was the sun around which satellites like Ms. Samarasinghe revolved, fluttering their eyelids.
Mr. Wickrematunga is an ace wheeler-dealer who has all the characteristics of a frustrated politician. He turned to journalism which also the nearest thing to being a politician. That, of course, is a common feature in journalism. But the conflicts begin when the politician in the journalist overtakes the journalist. The politician in Mr. Wickrematunga pays scant regard to the codes of journalism. Like the politicians he uses journalism to promote his politics. He compromises at every turn in playing the dual role of a politician and editor simultaneously.
This has been amply demonstrated by him each time plays the lead role of being a devoted camp-follower of Wickremesinghe. Being close to Wickrematunga is also as good being close to Wickremesinghe. It is also the guaranteed way of fixing deals with Wickremesinghe. It is through Mr. Wickremesinghe that the politician in Mr. Wickrematunga had tasted power vicariously. But unfortunately for Mr. Wickrematunga these vicarious spells have been few and far between, mainly because his political protégé had been only a temporary Prime Minister for two brief spells. Since the last time he was sacked unceremoniously by President Chandrika Kumaratunga he has resigned to his fate of being the permanent Leader of the Opposition. The most remarkable achievement of Wickremesinghe was to sell the nation down the river with the blessings of his political guru, Wickrematunga.
They have had a symbiotic relationship in which Wickremesinghe feeds primarily on the media sustenance provided by Wickrematunga. Political observers note that Wickremesinghe, the sick man of Sri Lankan politics, would have been in the dustbin of history if not for the regular fix that Mr. Wickrematunga injects into his veins from time to time. His lackluster performance as the Leader of Opposition has frustrated and disillusioned his backbenchers so much that they prefer to sit on the benches of government side than with him.
Some UNPers have cynically proclaimed Mr. Wickrematunga as the de facto Leader of the Opposition. His use and abuse of the media outlets available to him (including TV) have been a continuous record of attacking, fairly and unfairly – but mostly unfairly – politicians opposed to his weak protégé, Wickremesinghe.
All this makes Wickremesinghe beholden to Wickrematunga. They are the Tweedledum and Tweedledee of Sri Lankan politics. It is against this background that Ms. Samarasinghe suddenly found herself catapulted across the Indian Ocean into the seat of Counsellor (Information). As to who pulled the rubber straps and as to who put her in the grip of the rubber straps to be catapulted into Canberra can be deduced from the political links mentioned above.
No one needs the genius of an Einstein to figure out that Mr. Wickrematunga had used the media favours he had granted to Wickremesinghe to get a favour in return for his girl friend. It was a case of you-scratch-my-back-and-I'll scratch-yours. Perhaps, it could have passed off as a minor or routine deal if it came from another source that does not preach purity in public life. But it is inexcusable when Mr. Wickrematunga who poses as the holier-than-thou moralist in exposing corruption in other people's life stoops to get his girl friend a plum job at taxpayers' expense. The juicy part to his relationship with Ms. Samarasinghe must be reserved for another occasion. Suffice is to say now that his corruption is far worse than those whom he excoriates because he pretends to be the incorruptible white lily.
Anyway, thanks to the word put in the ear of his political mate Wickremesinghe Ms. Samarasinghe took up the position of Counsellor (Information) on February 4, 2003. Of course, she could argue that she had the qualifications to be the Counsellor (Information). But in Sri Lanka, as he knows, even the most qualified need some pulling to get places.
Besides, it is not her paper qualifications (pun intended) that matters. It is how she performed in the job that matters. Her mission was to raise the profile of Sri Lanka in Australia. She had the formidable task of waging a campaign to counter the highly effective Tamil Tiger propaganda which had influenced the thinking of decision –makers in Australia. She claimed that she had the necessary media experience and qualifications to undertake this task. According to the current rate of exchange she was paid Rs. 600,000 in round figures to meet the challenge posed by the Tiger propaganda machine.
Once she was ensconced in her Canberra seat she decided to call on her counterparts in other diplomatic missions. She decided to do the rounds with a firm resolve. She would get the High Commission secretary to make appointments and she would set off in earnest with a packet of Ceylon tea as the means to ease her into the world of high diplomacy.
One of the first diplomats she called on was from an Asian country. In the course of conversation, the other diplomat asked her how long she had been in the Foreign Ministry. She replied: "Two months"
The Asian diplomat gasped and he nearly fell off the chair. Stunned he said: "It took me 17 years to get to this place. How did you do it in two months?
Of course, her sheepish grin did not answer the question. Anyway, let that pass for the moment.
In diplomatic circles she was better known for her naivety. In doing her rounds she was in the habit asking her counterpart, most of whom were males, how well they performed in their golf. This was her opening gambit. Most of them would politely laugh it off. However, one diplomat put her off balance by asking her: "Why do you ask?"
Taken aback she replied: "Well, I thought all you men play golf !"
That was the level of Sri Lankan diplomacy dished out by Ms. Samarasinghe. But let's leave the diplomacy aside because she was not a trained diplomat. It is appropriate to consider her role as Counsellor (Information) – the role for which she was paid Rs. 600,000 per month. She was expected to bring her expertise to make a difference in countering the aggressive and vicious campaign launched by the Tamil Tigers against Sri Lanka. Fighting the ideological battle in the international arena is a critical factor to win friends for Sri Lanka. Besides, Australia is a vital centre of the Tamil Tigers in raising funds and mobilizing Australian public opinion against Sri Lanka. How did the expert from The Sunday Leader perform?
Did she succeed? Did she have her heart in the job? After all she and her lover boy, Mr. Wickrematunga, who fancy themselves as making the biggest waves in Sri Lanka, should have been able to make at least a tiny bubble in Australia. But did they? What was the effect of her media campaign in Australia? To begin with did she have a media strategy? Was she worth the money that the taxpayers spent on her?
Her idea of promoting Sri Lanka among Australians was to run a four-hour program called "An Evening in Sri Lanka". She had invited some local Aussie politicos and other officials to her evening in Sri Lanka. The Australian public was conspicuous by their absence. At the end of the day she was left with nothing. She did not get a line in the Australian media. Not a single sound bite. Not one passing minute on national TV.
However, there was a contingent from Sri Lanka media, especially flown to cover her evening show. Rupavahini and the Sri Lanka media outnumbered other media. It was, in short, a big farce. It is beyond comprehension as to how she planned to influence Australian public opinion by sending media reports to Sri Lanka. Besides, how did she get preference over all other embassies in getting one of her events covered by Sri Lankan state media? With the pull that Mr. Wickrematunga had at that time it is not difficult to guess as to who was pulling the political strings behind the scenes to get Mr. Wickrematunga's blue-eyed girl's evening in Sri Lanka covered by Rupavahini.
As they say, those who live in glass houses should not lift their sarongs or sarees too high. Thee is another aspect to Ms. Samarasinghe's evening in Canberra. How come the private sector media like the Leader group was able exploit state media to take a sudden interest in a petty tea party organized by Ms. Samarasinghe in Canberra? Was the same coverage given to other missions abroad struggling without basic resources? Who organized this costly TV team to travel all the way from Colombo to Canberra? Was this the most effective and beneficial means of spending public funds? Other than the Editor in The Sunday Leader who else would want to see Ms. Samarasinghe having an evening in Canberra?
In other words, what value did the nation get by the money spent on Ms. Samarasinghe's futile project in Canberra? Should the media be allowed to use its power and influence to further their personal ends? Should the private media, which claims to be superior to the state media, be allowed to use public funds for corrupt ends of journalists selling their outlets to politicians? Must the public pay for the private pleasures of Ms. Samarasinghe and Mr. Wickrematunga? Are they any different to prostitutes selling their bodies to those who are willing to pay?
More than this, it is the commitment and the competency of Ms. Samarasinghe to occupy the seat of Counsellor (Information) that is relevant. For instance, she was sent to counter and neutralize the Tamil Tiger propaganda that aimed at denigrating the image of Sri Lanka abroad. Could she have discharged her duties with any degree of honesty and competency, considering what she publishes now as Editor of The Morning Leader?
Ms. Samarasinghe and her Editor, Mr. Lasantha Wickrematunga are well-known apologists for the Tigers. They glorify Tamil Tiger terrorism in their publications which is banned in most democratic countries. International law too stipulates that glorifying terrorism is should be banned. This lovey-dovey couple, didn't stop at that. They together with Wickremesinghe's UNP, downgraded and belittled the achievements of the soldiers advancing towards Toppigala. Even after the forces won Toppigala they continued to ridicule the victory of the forces which has changed the political map of Sri Lanka.
In the name of free media they generally go all out scoff at any national achievements in the battle field. They are more eager to print the negative stories than the positive stories. Their crude media tactics of distorting reality is obscene and repelling to the average reader who can see through their political manipulations. For instance, the negative reporting of the advances of the forces in the east would be read as hilarious pieces by those who leaf through their back numbers in the days to come. They are Cassandras who refuse to see anything positive in the nation.
The most telling example of their partisan politics is displayed in the mast head of The Morning Leader, edited by Ms. Samarasinghe. It displays carefully selected anti-national images – the type that would be used by Tamil propagandists. One of the images is that of a Buddhist monk gesticulating somewhat aggressively. Along with the Buddhist monk are armed men in uniform pointing guns at some target. Obviously, these images reflect her anti-national, anti Buddhist mindset. Her hatred of the nation is illustrated with the anti-national images exhibited in this masthead.
Parenthetically, it must be mentioned that the picture of the Buddhist monk in her masthead is reminiscent of the picture posted on the cover page of the controversial book Buddhism Betrayed? written by the notorious Prof. S. J. Tambiah of Harvard University. To deliver the message in his book he picked the picture of a monk in an aggressive pose (sent with love by Kumari Jayawardena, another anti-national activist) and pasted it on the cover page. This picture encapsulated not only the anti-Sinhala-Buddhist contents but also the prejudices of the racist mind of the author. Ms. Samarasinghe's masthead is another version of Tambiah's cover page.
Ms. Samarasinghe also provides free space every week to Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu -- one of the leading anti-Sinhala-Buddhist NGO activists. There is nothing wrong with it as long as she balances the anti-national propaganda with the opposite point of view. Judging from her current role as editor of The Morning Leader it is fair to conclude that she never had a balanced view of the national aspirations. In any case, her anti-national mindset would not have prepared her to serve the national interests. Their political activity disguised as journalism leads to the conclusion that she and her lover boy Mr. Wickrematunga have been two of the arch enemies of the nation in journalism. She was incapable of being a competent and honest information officer because she was committed ideologically to serve the anti-national forces as seen in her publication The Morning Leader.
Together this couple had played a devious role in journalism. But Ms. Samarasinghe was corrupt to the core when she took on the job of Counsellor (information) when she was not committed to function in that role with integrity and commitment. The moral corruption in believing in one thing and acting against your own beliefs just to old on to a diplomatic position is contemptible. This reveals her as a morally corrupt journalist who had no compunction in la-di-da-ing in Canberra, pretending to serve the nation, when her heart or mind was never in the job. Besides, what did the people who paid her Rs. 600, 000.00 per month get in the end? How can she now point an accusing finger at others when her past and present are filled with hypocrisy?
After her driver left refusing to put her undies to dry it is said in Canberra that it was her boy friend who obliged her whenever he secretively visited his blue-eyed girl in Canberra. Sadly, Mrs. Raine Wickrematunga who lived in Melbourne was deprived of that facility. She looked after their kids all on her own.
To be continued –
- Asian Tribune -http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/8293
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