On July 20 all but two MPs attended Parliament to choose the next President of Sri Lanka. Among those in attendance was Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP Samnapriya Herath.
He had attended Parliament on the day with great difficulty. Strapped to him was a bottle of saline. Herath had left the hospital while receiving treatment to cast his vote at the secret ballot. He was once again admitted for treatment after carrying out his duty on that day.
Herath says he attended Parliament on that day despite being severely ill because he believed it was his duty to contribute to the upholding the country’s democracy guaranteed by the country’s Constitution. Herath is a Kurunegala District Member of Parliament and the Chief Organiser of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna for Kuliapitiya.
Terrorism
“As a person victimised by lawlessness and terrorism that spread across the country in the recent months this was a duty I simply had to carry out,” he said. Herath’s residence in Kadahapola and his office located in the Kuliyapitiya town were completely destroyed during the violence that unfolded on May 9.
Herath, whose father was also a politician, says the incident was not new to him as his family suffered a similar fate during the 1982 referendum. “Opponents surrounded our house at the time and harassed us. I was just a school student back then. My father faced many threats due to his political activities and as children, we witnessed these many times. My three children experienced the same on May 9” he said.
Herath says he was at Temple Trees along with former Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on that day. “Around 7.00 PM I was informed that the houses of MPs were under attack. I immediately called my wife and asked her to leave our home along with our children.” he recalls. Acting on his advice, Herath’s wife had sent two of their children to her ancestral home while another child was dropped off at her Aunt’s house next door.
Traumatised
“My 16-year-old son had witnessed our house being set on fire. All my children’s school books along with the house were completely destroyed. They are still traumatised by the event,” he adds.
Herath, born in the village of Aswedduma in Kuliyapitiya is the son of H.M Mahipala Herath a leftist politician and a former councillor of the Kuliyapitiya Municipal Council. Herath had worked as an Agricultural Research Production Assistant for nearly ten years prior to entering active politics.
He was elected as a Pradeshiya Sabha member in 2006, then going on to be elected as a Provincial Councillor of the Wayamba Provincial Council in 2009. Serving as a Provincial Councillor till 2018, in 2020 Heath contested the General elections under the SLPP ticket and was elected to Parliament from the Kurunegala district. Noting that he was among the SLPP’s organisers that received the highest number of preferential votes, he says the people elected him because he always stood with them and served them. “The people took to the streets that day only because some group instigated them” he claimed.
“The actions of some politicians have led the people to believe that all 225 MPs are thieves. But I also admit the former Government did have some faults when it came to managing the economy. But that does not mean we must forget the good things done by the former President” he said.
According to him due to the economic crisis, the people became blind to all the good that was done. “The people were used to terrorize others. Our houses were burnt down as a result of this. No solution can be sought by burning houses. Where is this country heading is the question that remains,” he said.
Loans
Herath says the house was built through several loans obtained from banks on a plot of land owned by his wife. “Just one month after we completed the construction work it was set on fire on May 9,” he said, adding that the damage has not been estimated yet but believes it is close to Rs. 500 million. He also accused the attackers of looting and the Police of just standing by while these acts took place.
“Those arrested were granted bail the very next day and they had jeered and hooted while going past my ancestral home. I am not blaming the Police or the courts but the laws against lawless elements who through terror attempts to come into power must be strengthened” he said.
Herath accuses certain individuals connected to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the United National Party of attacking his house. “I am not satisfied with the investigations into the incident,” he adds.
Herath said that a group of people who spread violence and hatred in the name of a citizen’s struggle are responsible for the chain of unfortunate events that took place across the country on May 9.
Herath said old and youngpoliticians must be involved in the political process. He also says it is a dangerous situation to allow Anti-Government elements to take power into their hands. “It will only lead to devastation as seen in 1988 and 1989. We must fight for our rights but it must be peaceful and fair,” he noted.
Herath says his son who is set to sit for his ordinary level examinations this year now lives with Herath’s sister while the MP’s wife Dilani and two younger daughters are living at his wife’s ancestral home. Herath is now residing at the MP housing complex in Madiwela.
Weak
“No one can stop my political career by setting fire to my house. I only feel more empowered after the incident. I have not become weak. I admit the country is in a crisis and turmoil but all parties in the past 74 years have either directly or indirectly contributed to it. Blaming one person or party is unjust. We lost around 60, 000 youth in 1988 and 1989. Political brutes have taken the country’s law into their hands and are spreading terrorism. They are trying to take this country back to the era of 88, 89.” Herath said.
He also said he has never stolen from the public and has toiled hard to become successful in his political journey. “Some have made people believe the MPs are living luxurious lives. But there are corrupt officials who are stealing public funds while in the shadows of MPs. Anyone observing the proceedings of the COPE will understand this reality. What must be destroyed are not houses nor properties but are these fallacies that have been spread among the people.” he said.
The article is an English translation of Sureka Nilmini Tennekoon