Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has reportedly urged his son, remanded MP Namal Rajapaksa, to refrain from political revenge if he gains power and to place his trust in the judiciary.
The letter was drafted by a secretary based on instructions from the former President, who is receiving treatment at a private hospital, according to media reports. Political sources said MP D. V. Chanaka handed it to Namal when he attended Parliament.
In the letter, Rajapaksa recalled the advice he gave Namal when he sought permission to enter politics in 2010.
“If you wish, enter politics. But be prepared to go to prison and endure hardship. I have no objection to that,” he wrote.
Rajapaksa said his advice stemmed from his own experience of being imprisoned on what he described as a baseless allegation shortly after entering politics, before Namal was born.
“At that time, my only trust was in the judiciary. Whatever anyone says, you too should place your trust in the judiciary alone,” he wrote.
The former President said he and his wife, Shiranthi, were receiving treatment at Nawaloka Hospital, where Namal was born, and that their sons Yoshitha and Rohitha were attending to their needs.
He claimed that one of the cases against Yoshitha arose from his joining the Navy. Rajapaksa also said children of people associated with the present Government had been among the thousands of young people given employment during his administration.
“However, whenever you have power, do not go after them,” he wrote. “My view is that children are not responsible for what their parents do. Not taking revenge is the Rajapaksa way and tradition.”
Rajapaksa maintained that society would not regard the family as guilty for what he described as freeing the country for the millions who had suffered.
“Although we were defeated at the polls, act with the belief that the people of this country are grateful,” he wrote, concluding with a blessing invoking the Triple Gem.
Full letter:
Dear Namal,
You may remember asking my permission to enter politics in 2010. I believe you also remember the advice I gave you then: “Enter politics if you wish. But come prepared to go to prison and to endure hardship. I have no objection to that.”
I said this because, shortly after I entered politics, the government of the day imprisoned me on a baseless allegation. You had not been born then. At that time, my only faith was in the judiciary. Whatever anyone may say, you too must place your faith in the judiciary alone.
As fate would have it, your mother and I are currently hospitalized at Nawaloka Hospital, where you too were born. Your brothers, Yoshitha and Rohitha, are looking after us. One case has been brought against Yoshitha because he joined the Navy. I believe you will also remember that, among the thousands of young people we gave jobs to at the time, there were children of people associated with this Government. Yet, whenever you hold power, do not go after them.
My view is that children are not to blame for what their parents do. Not taking revenge is the Rajapaksa way. It is our tradition.
This society will not condemn the Rajapaksas for the supposed offence of liberating the country for the hundreds of thousands of people who suffered. Although we were defeated at the polls, act with the belief that the people of this country belong to a society that remembers and appreciates what has been done for them.
May the Triple Gem bless you!
