Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to Japan - Update 2

Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to Japan - Update 2

Former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa left the island on a visit to Japan last Thursday and it was on an invitation of Sri Lankans living there. This tour had been organised by an organisation called 'Mahinda Ekamuthuwa'. MPs Wimal Weeravansha, Rohitha Abeygoonawardena, Janaka Wakkumbura and Lohan Ratwatte joined former President. Though the Gampaha District MP Mr. Prasanna Ranatunga was to join former President on this tour, he in fact left for Japan the following day. The reason for that delay was that

he had to be present for some court activities.

It was Narita Hilton Hotel that the former President was staying. The former President had on 11th morning queried from MP Rohitha Abeygonawardena when the former had gone to take his breakfast as to whether Prasanna had come. Rohitha had then responded in the positive. Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa had then told him to come soon if he had come. As such, Prasanna who had come to the hotel being summoned there was questioned by the former President as to what news was brewing. Prasanna then replied, "the government is saying various things about Sir not being present for the voting of No Confidence Motion". He had even added saying, "some of those who were with you are saying whether this is a deal with the government". Rohitha then budged in and said, "yes... I heard some saying that Namal, Wimal have not signed for this No Confidence". The former President then had said, "the public know that I have deals only with the people in the country. Whatever is said by those who supported the UNP ... our people don't believe in those things".

There had been a special invitation for Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa last Saturday. It had been from the Sanghanayaka of Japan, Banagala Upatissa Thero. That evening former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa had gone to Lankaji Vihara of Banagala Upatissa Thero. Several Sri Lankans living in Japan had been present there. A special pooja of blessing was held at Lankaji Vihara on behalf of the former President and MPs. Banagala Upatissa Thero who spoke on that occasion mentioned something which he had said 20 years before that. "When you visited the Vihara 20 years back I told you that you would become the leader of the country. That was accomplished. The service you rendered to the country cannot be forgotten any day. Hon. Sir .... there's another thing that I have to say here. MPs of our country are not those who think and work. But the former Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga who is present here came to my temple in Colombo and without telling me constructed the road leading to the temple. What the country needs are politicians like that", Banagala Upatissa Thero remarked.

After the Pooja the former President and his comrades had been involved in a conversation with Banagala Upatissa Thero inside the vihara. He then stated that a certain stalwart of the government had questioned him whether the former President would be called to this vihara and a Pooja of Blessing would be conducted. Subsequently Mahinda and the crowd had engaged in exchanging ideas with the former President and the comrades. The following day evening a special meeting had been organised at the Sapuba International Conference Hall in Japan. Over 2,000 Sri Lankans residing in Japan took measures to make Prasanna, Rohitha, Wimal as well as the former President about the prevailing political situation within the country.

During the meeting, Mr. Samarasena, President of the United National Party Branch in Japan presented a tribute of gesture to the former President in remembrance of the task of rescuing Sri Lanka from the grips of the battle. After the meeting was over, the Sri Lankans who were present there wished to appear in photographs with the former President. Because of this since almost all of them thronged round the former President it then resulted in a somewhat hulabaloo situation. Later the organisers made arrangements by shifting to another place for the former President to attend to this process of appearing for photographs. The process of taking photos had lasted almost 3 hours. While photos were being taken with small children Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa happened to make a special request from their parents which was to teach Sinhala to the children.

A special dinner had been organised for the former President at a restaurant belonging to Sri Lankans living in Japan on Sunday evening. Officers of Mahinda Ekamuthuwa of Japan too had been present on this occasion. Wimal on that occasion was found several songs of Gunadasa Kapuge and was highly applauded by those present. The song "Dawasak Pela Nethi Hene" number in particular reaped great applause. MP Rohitha Abeygoonawardena too made his contribution by singing some numbers of Jothipala. On the other hand, PC Member Merril Perera began singing songs of the new generation. This dinner went on till midnight amidst various political talk.

The following day the former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa together with the MPs travelled to Sincobe from Tokyo in the express train. The motive of proceeding to Kobe which happens to be the largest vihara in Japan was to engage in some religious activities there. The former President also was present to observe constructions being carried out at Nalanda Buddhist University during his tour in Japan. On that occasion he had discussions with several media personnel. The former President also made it a point to have discussions with Mr. Yasushi Akashi who was the Japan's Special Representative for Peace in our country. The former President who gratefully brought into memory the co-operation given by Japan towards the victory against Tiger rebels on this occasion and also offered his thanks to the co-operation extended recently by Japan in the case of the recent natural disasters faced by Sri Lanka. What Mr. Yasushi Askashi, Japan's Special Representative of Peace told former President that the service given by the former President on behalf of Sri Lanka can never be forgotten.

The former President had discussions with former Prime Minister of Japan Mr. Yuko Fakuda. The incident where Sri Lankans as well as Japanese nationals who happened to see the former President walking in the City of Tokyo in Japan hastened to come and chat with him could be considered as a special feature. Mahinda and the crowd who stepped into ordinary shops in Japan were seen purchasing items of food and drinks and enjoying them and instances where they were loitering about on the pavements. Others in the group did not forget to click their cameras in the process. It was said that 10 security officers of the President had been in position some distance away from wherever he was. Former President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa and his retinue after finishing their tour of Japan are expected to return to the island next Monday.

Information -- Ramesh Warallagama