The Handshake - Namal Rajapakse & General Fonseka

(Dialy Mirror Editorial, 01 July 2010)

The rush of emotions is obvious.

Though both General Fonseka and young Namal Rajapaksa looked a little diffident there was certainly no sign of regret. The handshake however would have brought back the memories of the good old days when the two families remained thick before the dark clouds of the present day saga overshadowed the recollections.Reportedly it was Namal who had first extended the hand to the former Army Commander and chances are that this move was much more spontaneous than the one made by his father on the nominations day. Rajapaksas, whatever others may say, know how to make the right moves at the right time and given the knack that the young Hambantota district MP has displayed in cultivating people so far, he is definitely picking the ropes faster than the father.One thing for sure. While it is quite courageous from the part of the young Namal to make the move it is also quite magnanimous of the General to reciprocate the gesture the way he has done as was seen in photos. He could have well afforded to cold shoulder Namal Rajapaksa however much undiplomatic it would have looked. Instead General Sarath Fonseka opted to be the gentleman. Perhaps he would have thought ‘what can he do about the work of the adults’.

The handshake came a few hours after the Court of Appeal dismissal of the writ application filed by the General against the second court martial set up against him. It was also on the same day that the BBC Sandeshaya quoted the former Army Commander as saying that he was prepared to meet the UN panel to advise Ban Ki-Moon on the alleged human rights violations by Sri Lanka. The General was also quoted as saying in the same story that he did not see the conditions imposed by the EU to renew the GSP plus concession as an ‘intervention of the internal affairs of the country’.

“The EU has demanded the release of political prisoners -- which includes me," he had said.

And all this at a time when President Rajapaksa and his ministers are going hammer and tongs, making mince meat out of the UN and the EU for their latest moves.

Had he not fallen out with the Rajapaksas, the General may not have gone for that public posturing on the UN and EU, one may say.

There are indeed a lot of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ in the saga.

However, nothing seemed to have mattered for the duo that shook hands in parliament. Together they made a beautiful picture in an extremely dull budget day.

source: http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/editorial/106-editorial/14387.html