It has been a memorable week for Hirunika Premachandra, parliamentarian and daughter of slain SLFP trade union leader, Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra. On Wednesday, incensed about what she called ‘garbage reporting’, she launched a blistering attack on several private media organizations, including the broadcaster owned and operated by the brother of the man convicted of killing her father seven years ago. The emotional 15 minute speech included tears and righteous anger, as she denied unsubstantiated allegations in the press that she had laundered Rs 20 million from the Maga Neguma programme, and charged that even those who spoke to her in the chamber of Parliament were harassed and threatened by the private media networks. The next day, the Supreme Court in an unanimous verdict of a five judge bench, affirmed the verdict of the high Court Trial at bar that convicted and sentenced her father’s killers leaving them no further legal recourse. The verdict marks the end of Hirunika Premachandra’s seven year long crusade for justice. In an interview with the Sunday Observer, she speaks about what she calls a ‘media mafia’, and the SC verdict against her father’s killers.
Excerpts:
Q. You were scathingly critical of the media during last week’s parliament speech. What brought it on?
A few media outlets reported a story accusing me of taking money. They never even called me to get my side of the story. When they make an allegation of that magnitude they need to at least give the other side of the story. The media cannot be so biased. When the person they accuse denies the charge, that story must also get publicity. But in my case they carried this story in huge headlines and on front pages but did not bother to get my comment. Now, if they carry a correction they will not put it in headlines or even the same space. This is very unfair. The media can ruin someone’s reputation and career. Some reporters don’t care if what they write is true or false. I am a target of their bullying.
Q. You said politicians who speak to you get threatened and blacklisted by certain TV networks. How does this happen?
Most backbenchers in Parliament are my friends, because we entered politics together. Some of the friendships precede my political career. The owners of these media channels call them and threaten them, saying they will not get airtime if they speak with me. They are told to attack me so that the channels can give them more air-time. I have proof of this. These media stations will not last long, but our friendships will. Since they work without any code of ethics, these media organizations will not be sustainable in the long run.
Q. Are you going to make an official complaint to the Speaker of Parliament regarding the media outlets that attacked you?
I have identified three media stations that have breached my privileges. On Monday I will hand over a written statement about the incident to the Speaker, because he was not there when I made the speech. I know the Speaker will be responsive. This is not an issue specific to me. It can happen to anyone in government or opposition. It will be a good lesson for the irresponsible media. I will be lodging a complaint with the Police too.
Q. Did the identified media station run your version of the story after your speeches?
Sadly, even after my second speech none of these media stations and outlets at which I criticised, even called me to ask for my version.
But the response to my speech was overwhelmingly positive. Most politicians are afraid to make this kind of speeche because they then become a target of these channels. But I am confident that I am right about this, and they are wrong. So I did not hesitate to come out with it. I know the people of this country, and everything I said was true.
Q. This allegation about misappropriation. Where does it stem from?
No one has directly lodged a complaint against me. The FCID said that my name was not involved at all. There were a few documents that were released in this case. One of them was a bill of Rs. 243,000. Two names were in this bill. One was Hirunika Premachandra and another. Another person has signed that bill saying he had taken the money, and the FCID has questioned him. So the accusation by the media, is based on that bill. We can put any name on any bill. I haven’t signed anything, no money was exchanged from one account to another, no one says that I have been given this cash. But by simply using that bill they are targeting me by innuendo.
Q. If the media blacks you out because of this criticism, how will you navigate that as a politician?
I plan to go to the Press Council of Sri Lanka to lodge a complaint. I am not sure how long it will take to get justice. But I think if someone gets punished, maybe the others will begin to understand the seriousness of this kind of irresponsible reporting.
It’s time to ensure all journalists get some sort of training in this country. They shove microphones in front of politicians and say ‘so-and-so says this, what is your response’ – that is what passes for journalism nowadays. The idea is to create friction between politicians. Sadly, that is what sells.
Q. How did this incident affect you as a woman?
It hurt me. I am answering now as a woman, not a politician. I am a daughter, a wife and a mother. They target me as a politician. But I also have a family at home. The media does not understand that this kind of false allegation can affect our personal lives. They are making our lives hard to bare and it makes me very upset. You see, there are teachers who have taught me, relatives and friends- what will they think when they hear such stories? What about my voters? You see from the way I spoke that I was so tense. I was upset and shaking and crying. But every word I spoke was true. There are women politicians in Sri Lanka but you can’t see a single person pointing fingers at them and accusing them of laundering public money. In Sri Lanka there is a belief that a woman will not do such things. So obviously these kinds of allegations will affect me. I am not someone like that. I always try to practice clean politics. I am young. I have been here for four years and want to continue my journey as a clean politician. So when they tarnish my name like this it really hurts me.
Q. You have been working as a politician since 2016. What is it like being a female politician in Sri Lanka?
It is very difficult to be a woman politician in Sri Lanka because it is a male-dominated field. Female politicians are framed as sex-symbols. That is what is wrong with Asian countries. When something happens we are not able to talk back without being labeled as a “bad”. That does not happen in the Parliament. My main issue is being looked upon as a sex-symbol.
A long time ago I became Miss Sri Lanka for Miss International. This was before I came into politics. When my father was alive, I did it with his approval and my mother’s approval. Now as a woman politician, people use pictures of this pageant to make me out as a bad role model simply because of my attire. This is not fair, we need to have the right to pursue whatever profession we choose.
I have a law degree, I completed my GCE Advanced Level examination very well at Visakha Vidyalaya, I was also the deputy head prefect. So my competing in Miss Sri Lanka should not be an issue. They even say I do not understand politics but entered politics because of my father. That is true, but I have my own vision and mission.
Q. For seven years you fought for justice for your father’s murder. Last week the Supreme Court affirmed the High Court convictions in that case and the death sentence on your father’s killers. How did you feel when you heard the judgment on Thursday?
As a Buddhist I must say I feel pity for them. As a citizen of the country who wants to see a proper legal and judicial system at work, I am extremely happy. This verdict proves that our judiciary is strong. When my father was killed I had so much hate in my heart. I can’t even explain how much sadness or hate I had. Eventually with time and with maturity I started looking at this situation as an adult, rather than as just a daughter.
Now the hate is gone. I have already forgiven Duminda Silva (my father’s killer). It is about the system now. What kind of message are we going to give the next generation? If we can’t trust the judiciary, there is no hope for any daughter in future who has to undergo this kind of trauma. So this is not merely a personal victory, this is a victory for the judicial system which has shown itself to be strong and unbiased.
The only way they can get out now is by appointing a new president and getting a presidential pardon. When that happens I will still be fighting because I don’t see this as my personal struggle anymore, but one that affects the rule of law and all of our society.