Every Sunday’s issue of your paper has one or several columns by your Political Editor, who makes every effort to ridicule Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and humiliate him. The writer highlights his woes, his inabilities, his poor leadership, his continued divisions in the party, and on and on. Is your writer bankrupt of views? Or is he on the payroll of the President?

Like ITN’s Vimasuma and Anavaranaya channels, the news comes with a tirade against Ranil, and even dead UNP leaders, such as Messrs. Jayewardene and Premadasa.

Your newspaper has joined the state newspapers and the electronic media in mercilessly attacking the leaders of political parties in the opposition, especially the UNP leader.

Believe me, no member of the UNP will be swayed by what your Political Editor writes. But people here and abroad who regularly read this column will eventually accept that all this is true. They will not think that your newspaper is another mouthpiece of the government, perhaps for survival.

I am sorry that you have given up the impartiality and balanced views that were the hallmarks of your newspaper. I am not a member of the UNP or any other political party. I am an elderly citizen who cherishes impartiality and fairplay, and who respects our national leaders.

I hope this continued bashing of Ranil to please the President and his group will cease, and that a more balanced, less personal evaluation of all parties will emerge.

I wrote about this matter on a previous occasion, but to no effect.

By Dr. P. H. D. H de Silva, Rajagiriya