Overindulging in the art of whistle -blowing

• Ramanayake has taken great pleasure in being a whistleblower
• However he was never able to prove these allegations
• In real life people want to know the truth without any drama
• Ramanayake can’t expect to reach dizzy heights in politics when his focus is everywhere
• Ramanayake should reveal the names of ministers and members of parliament who use narcotics without wasting time

State Minister of Highways and Rural Development Ranjan Ramanayake seems to encounter problems in what he wishes to convey to the media. Now the actor turned politician states that he was misquoted in the media with regard to the revelation he made about 24 ministers and members of parliament consuming narcotics. Ramanayake affirms that the statement he made to the media regarding lawmakers using narcotics does not necessarily suggest that these individuals are present lawmakers. Ramanayake in his recent newspaper interviews covers himself by stating that what he meant was that lawmakers have had the habit of consuming narcotics. This period can cover past governments as well and Ramanayake’s clarifications fish him out of troubled waters. 

But now we have a situation where we must think twice before understanding what this politician really has to say when he speaks to the media. He also made some revelations about certain artistes having relationships with drug dealers, but again maintained that he was misquoted in media reports. Ramanayake comes from a background of films and films are tools in the communication business. Hence he being misquoted and the messages he gives to the public being distorted is unthinkable. 

Ramanayake has taken great pleasure in being a whistleblower. In the past he has made allegations against judges and lawyers being corrupt and also spoken about match-fixing in the sport of cricket. However he was never able to prove these allegations which makes us think twice before understanding what mileage he expects to gain when making statements to the press. 

Ramanayake maintains that he will make the list of substance users public at the time close to the elections. His intentions are quite clear. Critics are of the opinion that Ramanayake through these verbal barbs is building his public image to be one like that of a hero in the silver screen

We must never forget for a moment that Ramanayake is an actor. He knows the art of being a showman and how to bask in the glory of media attention. 

Newspapers carried pictures of Ramanayake undergoing a bloodtest at a private hospital to show that he doesn’t use narcotics. Ramanayake is a master at turning adversity into opportunity. When there is a tide building against him, he calls for a press conference. He leaves the rest to his oratorical skills. 

But what irks the country’s citizens is Ramanayake taking his own cool time to forward the names of politicians who he claims have used narcotics. Deputy Minister Nalin Bandara quite rightly said that Ramanayake should reveal the names of ministers and members of parliament who use narcotics without wasting time. 

He maintains that all these initiatives he takes are to safeguard the children of this country. But this is an era where drug abuse among children and youth is rampant. Recently we heard the news of 17 youth being nabbed with narcotics while on their way to Adam’s Peak. These youth were between the ages 25-30. 

A person who has been very badly affected by Ramanayake’s utterances about substance use is MP Bandula Gunawardene. The former tuition master has said that Ramanayake’s recent statements make people think that the country’s decision makers in parliament are cocaine users. In this aspect it’s essential that Ramanayake gives the names of the 24 lawmakers in writing to the Speaker. Uptill now whatever Ramanayake has revealed about lawmakers using narcotics has been done verbally. 

Ramanayake maintains that he will make the list of substance users public at the time close to the elections. His intentions are quite clear. Critics are of the opinion that Ramanayake through these verbal barbs is building his public image to be one like that of a hero in the silver screen. But what Ramanayake fails to fathom is that though patrons will sit and witness on the silver screen any fact that is far removed from the truth, in real life people want to know the truth without any drama. 

In the wake of the earthshattering news that’s coming from the drug world, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for a DNA test for parliamentarians to detect whether they use narcotics. The Rajapaksas were guilty of many things during Mahinda’s tenure as president, but there were little or no charges against them regarding the narcotics trade. Critics point out that Mahinda Rajapaksa is using this opportunity where the hype is on busting the drug industry to hide past family sins relating to the misappropriation of funds when building of the D.A Rajapaksa Memorial and Museum, a family member being allegedly involved in the murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen and the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda. 
Ramanayake has been a talker and has built his self-image since entering parliament in 2010 from the UNP ticket. There was a time when he spoke at length in support of 
Sri Lankan women who went abroad as housemaids. Then he wanted to expose lawyers and judges who he alleged were corrupt. Now he has set his sights on exposing lawmakers who are into substance use. 

Critics point out that Mahinda Rajapaksa is using this opportunity where the hype is on busting the drug industry to hide past family sins relating to the misappropriation of funds when building of the D.A Rajapaksa Memorial and Museum, a family member being allegedly involved in the murder of ruggerite Wasim Thajudeen and the disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda

A close analysis on his political career shows that Ramanayake has no real focus in politics like UNPers Sajtith Premadasa and Navin Dissanayake. Ramanayake should perform in the subject area that’s entrusted to him; highways and rural development. 

He must realise that he won the best actor’s award consecutively for 16 years because he had tunnel vision on the roles he got to play on the silver screen. Ramanayake can’t expect to reach dizzy heights in politics when his focus is everywhere.