The UNP re-organisation following the last general elections in April 2004 brought many media personalities to the fore. Didula Bogahakumbura was one of them. He quit Swarnavahini recently to work as a district organiser in the Badulla district.

The young and energetic Bogahakumbura has been asked to play a pivotal role in party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe’s presidential election bid.

Bogahakumbura produced Kiniheera, a live political programme and Deshapalana Sathiya, a weekly political roundup before taking up his new assignment.


Bogahakumbura is on record claiming that UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe offered him the post of Hali-ela organiser but he declined to accept the post. Subsequently, he accepted the post of a district organiser. In an interview with Lanka, he vowed to work for the victory of Wickremesinghe at the November 17 presidential elections.

He dismissed claims that he abused his position at Swarnavahini and that he worked on what he termed as a political agenda.

Fielding questions, he denied the notion that he joined Swarnavahini to facilitate his political career. He insisted that none of them (journalists in print and electronic media) were impartial and it was not possible to find impartial journalists. And it was also impossible to find independent men. According to Bogahakumbura, he entered the media field as he was related to Chandana Sooriyabandara (UNP organiser in Senkadagala). "Chandana is my teacher. But I never followed a political agenda. I treated them (politicians) alike. I have given opportunities to all politicians. All have a right to follow a political party."

He admitted that his Swarnavahini career facilitated his political career. He added that he never abused his position, emphasising that Swarnavahini was not a place producing "UNP journalists"

He said that his ambition was to be a voice for the voiceless, irrespective of party differences. He revealed that Mr. Wickremesinghe asked him particularly to look after Speaker W.J.M.Lokubandara’s Haputale electorate as the veteran politician could not engage in politics due to being the Speaker. He expressed confidence that the people of Badulla would contribute towards the victory of the UNP leader. He insisted that the Swarnavahini management never forced him to take sides. "They may have had political views. But I was never forced to take their line." Bogahakumbura, although not in charge of a particular electorate is authorised to campaign in the entire district. He would contest the next parliamentary elections. In the event of a Wickremesinghe victory, then he would have the opportunity to contest early general elections.

A former TNL (Janahanda) and Swarnavahini (Ratu Ira and Kiniheera) political affairs commentator and producer Chandana Sooriyabandara took over the Senkadagala electorate. He replaced a Kandy Municipal Councillor. Hailing from Watapuluwa, Sooriyabandara took over the electorate previously nursed by Shelton Ranaraja (SLFP), Noel Wimalasena (UNP) and Harendra Dunuwila. But since then no one had represented the electorate. From Swarnavahini, Sooriyabandara moved to Sirasa where he held an influential position before taking over the Senkadagala electorate. Sooriyabanda plays a pivotal role in Wickremesinghe’s campaign and is believed to be one of the chief campaign organisers. He too would contest the next parliamentary elections.

This is part of the process to strengthen the grass-root level organisations. Sooriyabandara is the second television anchor to be made an electoral organiser with his colleague Buddhika Pathirana being the first. Pathirana handled TNL’s Janahanda before moving to Sirasa where he ran political programmes. Pathirana successfully contested the last provincial council elections in the south and was subsequently rewarded with the responsibility to organise the Akuressa electorate. Pathirana polled the highest preference votes at the last PC elections. Both Sooriyabandara and Pathirana are superb orators and regularly represent the party in live television political debates. Pathirana was given the Akuressa electorate before the heavy UNP defeat at the last parliamentary elections and is believed to one of the most effective speakers on Wickremesinghe’s platform. Pathirana is also seeking entry to parliament.

Southern Provincial Councillor Manusha Nanayakkara, once with Swarnavahini (Live at 8), before joining state-run Rupavahini during the previous UNP government is a Galle District organiser with authority to operate in the entire district. Nanayakkara expressed confidence of a sweeping Wickremesinghe victory. He insisted that he never abused his media career and accepted the UNP leader’s invitation as he firmly believed that Wickremesinghe could have tackled the contentious issues in a pragmatic way. He dismissed the notion that most journalists and writers end up as UNP politicians or join the party. "What about JVP heavyweight Wimal Weerawansa. He, too, contributed regularly to a newspaper," he said. "It is unfortunate that people are deceived by PA and JVP lies," he said emphasising that the people have a right to work for any political party.

Nanayakkara said that he was not in charge of a particular electorate but campaigns in the entire Galle district. He will expect to contest the next parliamentary elections. He claimed that he received an invitation from the UNP when he was handling CWC chief Arumugam Thondaman’s media.

Phoenix chief Irvin Weerackody represents the Maharagama electorate. Weerakkody had a brief stint with Independent Newspapers of Ceylon and Aththa.

Mr. Ranjith Wijewardene’s son Ruwan is the Biyagama organiser, once nursed by Wickremesinghe. In a recent interview with our sister paper Irida Divaina, Wijewardene dismissed the notion that he would take advantage of his father’s newspaper group. He revealed that he took over Biyagama on Mr. Wickremesinghe’s invitation. Dismissing criticism of the party selection process, he referred to the appointment of ex-national cricketer Pramodaya Wickremesinghe as a Matara district organiser. Fielding questions, he asserted that President JR Jayewardene’s Constitution based on the hotly disputed unitary status facilitated the formation of the LTTE and its phenomenal rise. He expressed the belief that the LTTE would not have emerged if not for the flawed Constitution. He asserted that the national problem could be resolved only through a federal solution.

Wickremesinghe is building a strong team; young, energetic and fearless and ready to stand by the party irrespective of the issue.

Milinda Moragoda, too, is another politician who heavily uses the media, both print and electronic to carry his message to the masses. His message is clear. He wrote regularly to Irida Lankadeepa on economic issues and subsequently followed with sathiye sithuwilla (weekly thoughts). Later some of the articles were carried in two books authored by Moragoda. Now he writes to Veerakesari. Previously he anchored the internationally acclaimed Black and White, Commanding Heights (also on TV), Gamin Gamata and the ongoing Urumauaka Ulpath. It is obvious that part of Wickremesinghe’s campaign is based on Moragoda’s concept.

It must be said that sections of the media collaborate with both major parties. Houses on unbelievable easy payment terms and various other perks and privileges have lured the media and media personalities have found lucrative employment. The two major candidates, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and his rival Ranil Wickremesinghe are enticing the media. Rajapakse included the media in his manifesto and I frankly think he should not have done that. The two major parties entice the media with a variety of perks and privileges. This is nothing new. But journalists taking into full time politics in numbers is significant. Some of them are obviously using the media as a springboard to launch their political careers. But there are unprecedented cases where a political party consults a senior journalist before making an appointment. Giving evidence at the Immigration and Emigration case against former Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala, Sunday Leader Editor Lasantha Wickramatunge on October 19 said that before Sumathipala was appointed Anuradhapura UNP organiser he was consulted. According to Wickramatunge, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, UNP Chairman Malik Samarawickrema and frontliner Milinda Moragoda had asked him for his views and he said that he had no objection. This was in response to a query by Deputy Solicitor General Yasantha Kodagoda. In this case Sumathipala is charged with aiding and abetting underworld killer Dhammika Amarasinghe to travel overseas on a forged passport for the 1999 Cricket World Cup.