Controversy over singing ‘Sweety Kella’ : Iraj says teachers and students requested to sing the s

18 August 2014 07:14 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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t was reported that the Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa and a popular singer had to face an embarrassing situation when they visited one of the leading

schools with the objective of creating awareness among the students regarding the Carlton Rugby 7 Tournament to be held in Koggala. This tournament had not been organised by the Sri Lanka Rugby League.

Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa had gone with the popular singer Iraj Weeraratna to create awareness among the students and he had taken the prior approval for participating on this occasion. However, it is said that the problem had cropped up when the singer had requested the girl students to dance to the rhythm of the song.
On the day prior to this incident, the higher grade girl students had participated in a programme called “Usas Rasavindanaya “(High appreciation) organised by a school association. At a time when the students had learnt how to enjoy a work of art, the songs sung by this singer had not been very impressive, as reported.

"We came back after finishing our programme. Nobody protested or shouted at us. We have the recorded scenes. This is a story fabricated by somebody to sling mud at us"

The school authorities had acceded to the request of the Parliamentarian during the time a health promotion programme had been organised for the parents and the students in order to preserve the health condition of the students who were to take part in the sport activities. On this occasion, the singer had sung a song and requested the girl students to come on stage for dancing. It is reported that the parents, the teachers and the girl prefects were in an embarrassing position due to the fact that some girls in uniforms had danced according to the tune of western music. The responsible persons had remained at their receiving end.However, the girl prefects had explained that it was not a suitable time for dancing and requested them to stop singing. In the meantime, the singer had got off the stage. When the parliamentarian requested him to sing a song again, he was compelled to stop singing due to the protests of the parents and the girl students. As a result they had left the scene as reported.

Namal’s views on the ‘Sweety Kella’ incident

Q It was reported in the media that you had to come back without finishing your programme due to protests of the students of Sirimavo Bandaranayake School.

In the first place, this type of incident never happened. We went to the schools to promote sports activities. Some people look at everything from the point of view of politics. In case of small mistakes in the question papers, they blame the minister and the President.

Q Is Rugger played in the girls’ school?

We have been doing this over the last 5 years. This type of an incident had never happened.

Q Did a prefect openly protest?

No. It was a lie. Many ‘Nangis’ (Younger sisters) are known to us. Although you referred to the media, it had been published in one newspaper and on internet. But, they had published different stories. I could not find out what had happened. Those who are engaged in politics with malice and hypocrisy had misinterpreted this incident. It is more a question of this political culture. I was welcomed very cordially by a daughter of an ex-opposition MP. I think the real information can be obtained from her.

This is Iraj’s version of the events that transpired. :
“With the aim of directing the school children towards sports, I went to several schools such as D.S.Senanayaka, Visaka Vidyalaya , and Sirimavo Bandaranayake Vidyalaya at the request of the Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa. We met the students. We did not make any political speech. We stressed the importance of taking part in sports because the students had been oppressed mentally and physically due to tuition. We got a good response from the children. I sang songs at the request of the children. I explained the importance of the sport.

When I got off the stage, they requested me to sing my popular song ‘Sweety Kella’ but I refused. When the teachers also requested me to sing this song, I began to sing it. The children did not come to the stage. But they danced in the places where they stood. They said , ‘one more’ but I did not sing. We came back after finishing our programme. Nobody protested or shouted at us. We have the recorded scenes. This is a story fabricated by somebody to sling mud at us. Members of Parliament had also questioned about this incident. There is a section called ‘Umma, Umma’ in my song. It is not an obscene word.”
He had further said, “A mother usually tells her baby to give ‘ Umma.’ On the other hand, I only sang a song. Anyone has the liberty to listen to it or avoid it. The youth like this song very much, which is why I sing this song.”

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Controversy over singing ‘Sweety Kella’ : Iraj says teachers and students requested to sing the s

"We came back after finishing our programme. Nobody protested or shouted at us. We have the recorded scenes. This is a story fabricated by somebody to sling mud at us"

Namal’s views on the ‘Sweety Kella’ incident

Q It was reported in the media that you had to come back without finishing your programme due to protests of the students of Sirimavo Bandaranayake School.

Q Is Rugger played in the girls’ school?

Q Did a prefect openly protest?

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