SLFP, suckling at the government teat

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There are certain people who online who hate me, but I think Voice In Colombo and I have reached a détente and, dare I say, mutual respect. I don’t agree with him, but I think he’s rational. He for example, supports Mahinda Rajapakse (this election) but even so is offended by the use of state media for the SLFP campaign. He says that Rupavahini and ITN are running stuff not just backing the government, but the governing party. This, I think, is wrong, and it’s only the tip of the iceberg.

Take Mihin Lanka for example, and its advertising. The logo of this state owned airline is the lotus symbol of the SLFP. It’s like if the UNP decided to run Elephant Airlines and get the state to pay for the advertising. It’s just baldly unfair. The logo of the airline is the logo of the party. Not only is the state owned airline hemorrhaging public money, it’s also spending it on political ends. This is not to mention the printed money with Mahinda on it, many government offices displaying Mahinda hoardings outside, the free lunches for constituencies on public funds, etc, much of this in contravention of election law.

I mean, I’m a taxpayer and I’m not opposed to the government, but that doesn’t mean I want my money to support the governing party. When MR supporters like VIC think the use of public funds has gone too far, I think it’s gone too far.

Posted on Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009 in GoSL, Politics, Sri Lanka, out.