Mahinda’s 360 Campaign
Mahinda and child
I was down south over the holidays, and the streets were covered with Mahinda posters and hoardings. This is in violation of the Elections Commissioner’s order that these be taken down. I also got an SMS from the PRESIDENT wishing us a happy New Year, literally from the guy who freed us. The campaign is powerful, but also illegal, wasteful, and noxious to both eye and mind.
Mahinda’s son Namal is now being promoted by the campaign
Mahinda has, of course, been using state funds for self-promotion since he became President. Over time the logos of state owned companies like Mihin Lanka (airlines) have become the logo of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party. This would be like Obama starting Democrat Airlines, branded with the Donkey. Or Congress taking over Kingfisher. The Mobitel cellular Upahara program has also been branded with the same party logo.
Mahinda’s street teams
During the election, however, things have gotten out of control. We couldn’t go 10 seconds down the coastal road without seeing a Mahinda poster or hoarding. Many were sponsored by government institutions, like the ICTA. There were also tens of government SLTB buses with Mahinda posters, presumably busing people down for some event.
At the Galle Navy Dockyards there were hundreds of people lined up to board the former LTTE arms ship Christina, which was really just a cargo ship and probably quite boring. The night before there was a big tamasha there with Colombo small-shots terrorizing the Galle Road.
Young Mahinda
Thankfully, Transparency International has collected some of these violations and given them to the (impotent and weak) elections commissioner. I’m going through the full report now. The things getting the most outraged buzz (online at least) is the SMS message. This seems to have been given free by the phone companies and is probably in violation of elections law and telecom law. Things really are getting out of control, and it’s setting a precedent of shamelessness beyond anything that came before.
Today on the 
Janith has updated 
This is highly dubious. Miss Travel is a travel/social networking site that connects ‘Generous’ and ‘Attractive’ travelers. To, like, travel together, I guess. It all seems a bit like arranged prostitution and trafficking. This is part of a broader online trend to connect rich men to younger, attractive women. Sites like 
Sri Lankan domestics never say anything, they just stop coming. My maid just stopped coming and when I finally pressed her she said I needed to get a washing machine. I was hoping to ride this one out, but I’ve run out of underwear and I have no choice. I finally caved and bought a washing machine, from 
Mahinda’s campaign is way slicker thank the UNP’s
“noxious to both eye and mind.” TOO TRUE.
I’m getting nauseous by just looking at Namal!
Any positive thing Mahinda has done will get offset by actions of Mervin Silva.
Oh WOW! Indi the Wanker “is going through the report” … I’m sure that Mahinda is QUAKING in his BOOTs … and your status as a sycophantic loser have just gone up 1000-fold.
You’ve perpetuated this regime at every fucking opportunity as we’ve all been watching for YEARS.
go play with yourself, that’s what your good at loser!
Typical. Go suckle at the tit of the NGO. Maybe you’ll find information you can blog about (hurray!).
Sometimes I get the feeling you act like a civic missionary. Are you trying to enlighten us heathens on how a proper society should work?
The NGO indi suckles at (according to Jana) is Transparency International, headed by Mr. Weliamuna, who was instrumental in undoing the corrupt privatizations of Water’s Edge and Sri Lanka Insurance company. Before anyone throws mud at Transparency International as just another NGO, check your facts. These guys are on our side. And evidently, they get little credit for it!
Things are getting scary
What is seriously scary is that people like Jana can actually exist in this present day and age! It’s scary to contemplate where our beloved country is headed if such people consist of the majority!
Yes it’s truly scary to think that Sri Lanka has people with different viewpoints. Frightening!
Sri Lankan politics gets even juicier! I think this really does change the game… it’s going to be a close election me thinks. Who would have ever thought that the TNA (erstwhile mouthpiece of the LTTE) would actually end up supporting a Sri Lankan war hero? But then again, would have thought the LTTE would be defeated a few years ago? This is really good for Tamil politics in general – getting involved with the presidential elections instead of boycotting and acting like spoilt brats. Maybe an enlightened Tamil leadership is a possibility afterall?
S.Lanka’s main Tamil party backs ex-general
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jQT8Yg_MD4lgaGu7KqBBdYjK_2dg
[...] the sum of money spent on these ads if demanded by a voter? Where did this money come from? Leading bloggers in Sri Lanka have identified the incumbent’s campaign and the misuse of public funds as [...]