News
A comedy of errors
View(s):Despite the flags of opposition parties mixing harmoniously at rallies where supporters of diverse political parties gather to greet common candidate Maithripala Sirisena, it is the image of president Mahinda Rajapaksa that dominates the cityscape today.
Story and pix by M.D.Nissanka,Indika Handuwala and Anurada Bandara.
Our cameramen captured a few of these images. Some of them, taken with the ground realities of today in fact lampoon the president and the forthcoming election.
A poster “Ko Mark No Mark, Dukata thitha ” written next to the image of a salaaming politician added to the bemusement of the public who wondered which party was behind this peach of a poster.
Another depicts the president visiting Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Thera in hospital. The coutout appeared before the common candidate was announced, but still can be seen at Maradana.
It turned out, to be an advertisement for a satarical film.
Another shows protesting university students in front of the Ministry of Higher Education braving armed police in the shadow of a giant cutout of the president.
Another larger than life cutout of President Mahinda Rajapaksa features uncensored images of bomb victims and has drawn strong criticism among social media users. This poster raises questions of sensitivity and ethics.
However Media Secretary Charitha Herath defended the use of these pictures on the ground that “…we have seen many such images six years ago”. He added the Media Ministry does not issue guidelines on how approval for posters should be granted by local authorities.
 There are no permanent friends or enemies in politics, only permanent interests, is a thought that comes to mind |  Supporters of the common candidate wave red, green, yellow and blue flags at a rally |
 Ethics or a lack of it? Bad taste, making use of the dead for cheap political gain |  The President takes it all |
 The contradiction betwixt promises and realities… University students protest the undermining of the free education system in the shadow of a larger than life cutout of the president in front of the Ministry of Higher Education | |