Sigh. I earlier said that Sri Lanka needs to provide a dignified role for retired statesmen. But no one said that Mahinda had to take it. Mahinda is now wandering around Medamulana with a megaphone (literally) saying that he hasn’t lost because he won the south. Nevermind that Maithripala won 49% of the votes outside of the North and East, or that 84% of his base is in the south. Also nevermind that the North and East are part of the country and their votes count as much as anyone else. Mahinda’s conduct is entirely unbecoming of a former President of the republic.

Sowing Separatism

Mahinda ended the war, but I get the feeling that he misses it. During the campaign he covered Colombo with billboards of burnt out planes and dead children. His campaign videos showed progress literally rewinding from Diyatha Uyana to chaos if he lost. I think he actually believes it.

Here Mahinda is talking to a small crowd in his village. They ask him why he didn’t just kill Maithripala (ie, the 6th President of Sri Lanka) and laughs and says you can’t do that. So that’s a boundary. He then goes on to say that those who voted for Maithripala are of Eelam. Which I guess includes me and 51.3% of the country. And the JHU. And 49% of people outside of the North and East. None of which matters because it’s a united country, which is what we fought for, remember?

Here is is saying, that he doesn’t consider it a loss as he won Hambantota and they won the North, East, Colombo and others, so who cares.

This guy is tripping. He could have finished out his Constitutionally allotted term in two years and retired a hero. He could have resigned after his election and still been remembered fondly by most of the country. Now he’s going to talk enough nonsense to retire a villain.