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Standing atop the iconic Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, he proposed to her. The three dormant volcanoes, after which the mountain is named, did not erupt but his love for her had peaked. With a smile, she accepted.

From the highest mountain in Africa (4900 feet), the romance transcended further to the hinterland of Beliatte in southern Sri Lanka. At his ancestral home in Medamulana, Rohitha Rajapaksa married his long time sweetheart,Tatyana Jayaratne, on Thursday morning.

The third son of former President and now Opposition Leader, Mahinda Rajapaksa, Rohitha the space enthusiast, rose to newer heights. The wedding ceremony, which was attended by everybody who is somebody in Sri Lanka and the people of the area, had an estimated guest count of well over 5,000 — easily the largest in the past many decades. Father Rajapaksa had invited a member of every household from the village. An emissary of his went from house to house to invite them.

Forming the backdrop for the grand event, which many guests said was traditional and simple, was the Medamulana Walawwa and its sprawling lands. A pokuna (large pond) jutted into a small land area. Here, a wooden platform adorned with flowers formed the poruwa, where the traditional Sinhala wedding ceremony and rituals took place. A stretch of water beyond lay a small island. Under the shade of a Mara tree which spread out like an umbrella, damsels in pink provided a colourful setting. They danced. Pink is in fact the colour chosen by Mahinda Rajapaksa for Sri Lanka Podujana Party (SLPP) of which he is the de facto leader. The bride’s-maids and the bride groom’s mother, Shiranthi, were in matching pink.

Just past 9 am, bride Tatyana arrived in a tirukkeley (a bullock cart used yesteryear, but now only used for traditional racing, usually in the south). Its cogwheels were decorated with white flowers. The front of the roof also bore the same floral decor. A group of young girls sang Jayamangala gathas as Rohitha and Tatyana exchanged rings. Amidst Magul bera, the Kandyan dancers gyrated. The sounds of the drumbeat wafted in the hot morning air as the couple took a seat together. Guests lined up to congratulate them.

The parents of the two couples, brothers of Rohitha, Namal and Yoshitha walked around greeting guests and exchanging pleasantries. Mahinda Rajapaksa had occasion to use the words “Maa Nisaa Ogollanta Hari Karadarai Ney?” or “You all are being inconvenienced because of me.” To some, he turned around and declared “Karunakarala Bedaagana Kanna,” or “Please serve yourselves and eat.”

There were two large, well decorated canopies. Inside one was vegetarian food, all Sinhala preparations by two different caterers. They included Brinjal Pahi, Ala Thel Daala, Parippu, Polos, Kesel Muwa, Kos, Dhel, Cadju and different varieties of rice. Fresh fruit juices, including Dragon Fruit juice, from fruits grown in the garden, and thambili water were served. Dessert was Sago Pudding (Sou), Ice Cream, and Curd with Treacle, the trademark of the deep south.

There were cadjan thatched juice bars. Kavun, Kokis and other local sweetmeats were placed there in large cane baskets for anyone to help themselves. These were also served by men in sarongs and white T-shirts.

Adding to the Sinhala cuisine was a non-vegetarian canopy where a variety of food prepared by Mohamed Sabry, the owner of Galle Caterers, was served. He services the culinary needs of a vast section of the Muslim community in Colombo and other towns. There was boneless seer fish biryani, Malay pickle, deshelled large prawns in spices, pineapple curry, curd sambol, cadju curry, salad and wattilappam. Mr Sabry told the Sunday Times that Rohitha Rajapaksa, the bride-groom had told him “Eka kukelek ho eluvek vath maranna epa” or don’t kill a single chicken or goat.”

Besides diplomats, among the VIPs present in a show of camaraderie were Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Sagala Ratnayake, Ravi Karunanayake, Kabir Hashim and Ranjith Madduma Bandara. So were almost all ‘Joint Opposition’ MPs including the ‘JO’ Parliamentary Group leader Dinesh Gunawardena. A notable absentee was Sajith Premadasa, Hambantota District MP and deputy leader of the UNP.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, former Defence Secretary, apparenly found the heat a bit too much and chose to remove his tie. This was in marked contrast to one of his earlier military commanders who wore a thick woollen coat, used in winter in the west and went through the ceremonies. Brother Basil Rajapaksa arrived a little late, after being the attesting witness at a wedding in Colombo that morning.

There was a separate enclosure for the drivers bringing in the guests. That included buffet tables where all the same dishes were on display. They drove through one entrance and exited through another from a land area inside ‘Carlton House’.
A church ceremony for the couple takes place in Colombo tomorrow.

Controversy over Defence Secretary’s remarks on war heroes
Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando has disturbed a hornet’s nest with his remarks that only members of the armed forces who had won medals of recognition could be called “war heroes” or Ranaviruwo.

The remarks were a grist to the mill for sections of the Tamil Diaspora. He even said that eleven military personnel who were “involved in serious crimes” would be indicted in courts shortly. Others wondered whether such remarks were made to appease those campaigning against Sri Lanka for the upcoming UN Human Rights Council session in March.

The remarks came at a felicitation ceremony for Air Force Commander Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy at his old school, Nalanda College. It has angered a number of retired senior officers who were involved in the military defeat of Tiger guerrillas.

One of them who did not wish to be identified declared, “There are hundreds who were killed when they walked over landmines during operations. Just because they did not receive a medal, they cannot be simply dismissed as not war heroes. They died for the country. And some, bedecked with medals, may not necessarily be war heroes in the true sense”.

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa told the Sunday Times he telephoned President Maithripala Sirisena over the remarks. This is what he had to say:

“I telephoned the President when I learnt of the statement made by Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando criticising the armed forces. I told him that this seemed to reflect his (President’s) own views. Initially, he said that it cannot be correct as the Defence Secretary was at home down with fever.

“The next day President Sirisena telephoned me. He confirmed that what I told him was true. He said he too had seen it in television news bulletins. The President told me that he had called the Defence Secretary and told him that he would have to take some action regarding this.”
“The Defence Secretary has no right to send invitations to the Diaspora and invite them to complain against war heroes who have alleged charges. We don’t need such people. We strongly condemn his remarks. He is not suited to hold the Defence Secretary position.”

Jailed monk: Freedom likely on Freedom Day
The Venerable Galagoda-Aththe Gnanasera Thera, now serving a prison sentence and warded at the Prison Hospital, had an unexpected visitor recently.

It was Western Province Governor Azath Salley, who once accused him of instigating communal incidents in Dharga Town and surrounding areas. He was accompanied by three others from the Muslim community.

Sources close to Ven. Gnanasara Thera said, Mr. Salley expressed hope that the monk would receive a Presidential pardon. However, Mr. Salley claimed that it was the monk who told him that he would be released on February 4 — the 71st Independence day, or National Day, whichever.

SLPP, SLFP: Who wants whom?
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has now begun mounting pressure on its Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) counterparts for a common alliance, a precursor to President Maithripala Sirisena becoming the joint candidate.

For this purpose, the SLFP’s youth front leader Shantha Bandara (MP) held a news conference at the party headquarters at Darley Road.People in the villages, he said, wanted President Sirisena and all SLFP members to “form a progressive left front.” He added, “We need to understand we had attacked each other verbally and gone our separate ways. We really love our party. We should get together and move forward.”

Nevertheless, there was a different pitch in Mr Bandara’s remarks. He seems to suggest that the former SLFPers who are now in the SLPP should join the SLFP. It appears to be based on the assumption that the SLFP is now stronger.The shoe seems to be on the wrong foot. It is the SLPP which wants the SLFP to come to it if it wants an alliance. Little wonder, the people are confused by such assertions.