UNP’s long-standing Kalutara pillar, former MP Lakshman Wijemanne, left the party in disgust on Thursday after receiving a public snub on Wednesday by party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe during a ceremony held to hand over appointment letters to new organisers held at the party headquarters, Sirikotha.

As reported in newspapers and aired on TV news, the snubbing incident took place when UNP stalwart, acting Kalutara District organiser Lakshman Wijemanne, protested he had been denied the Kalutara District organiser post despite years of loyal service, nursing the whole Kalutara electorate. Instead, the post had been given to party pole-vaulter, SJB turncoat Rajitha Seneratne. What was worse was that he had been kept in the dark and had only learnt of the appointment that day.

But Wijemanne’s complaint to his leader, after receiving an appointment letter as only an electoral organiser, was to no avail. Ranil churlishly turned away and refused to give ear to his complaint, brusquely brushing him off. If the UNP leader had his own reasons for prizing Rajitha over Wijemanne, he did not make them known.

HERE ON WEDNESDAY: Wijemanne receives public snub by Ranil

Perhaps, to make a personal complaint against the returning prodigal, Rajitha, in the full glare of media spotlights, was simply not on in the UNP leader’s eyes, but the short episode certainly served to cut a sorry picture of Ranil as an inspiring leader in the public eye. By rudely refusing to hear his followers’ grouses, he will only make Iagos of them all.

A dejected Wijemanne, who had spoken quietly but forcefully, could do naught but turn round and walk away. But before his exit, he said, “It’s a terrible wrong.”

On Thursday morn, it was clear that Wijemanne could no longer contain his rejection. He issued a video recording to the public domain to explain why he felt dismayed, depressed and dejected at the unexpected turn of events.

In it, he reveals his heartbreak at the shabby manner he was treated after his entitled position was usurped by a party-jumping political chameleon that changes its colour to blend with the environment.

In the course of his video message, he says, “I came to the party through my uncle, V.L. Wijemanne, the then Deputy Minister of Plantations. This was during J.R. Jayewardene’s time. After him, I took over and nursed the Kalutara electorate. Since then and until now, I had stood steadfast to the UNP and never left the ancestral home to join any other party but remained loyal and true to it. Throughout the UNP’s vicissitudes of fate, in spite of it losing election after election, I didn’t waver but kept the faith.

GONE ON THURSDAY: Wijemanne in Sajith’s SJB embrace

“During the 88 riots, I survived an attempt to kill me when I was shot and wounded. I still have hundreds of bullet fragments riddled in my body. They stand as a testament to the sacrifices I made on behalf of the party. Throughout my entire political career, I never sought nor did I receive any favours from the party for my personal gain. Thus, I do not have a single allegation levelled against me, even by the JVP. Can my party peers say the same?’

“I became the spendthrift of my late father’s and mother’s inheritance, and I, in my stubborn resolve to promote, safeguard, and defend the party at all costs in the Kalutara electorate, have become a pauper today. I do not have any regrets, but I’m deeply offended by the wretched way I was treated at yesterday’s party meeting. Before the last election, I was urged by many to join and contest under the SJB. Had I done so, I’m sure I’d have won a seat in Kalutara. But I didn’t. But I did not join. I kept the faith. I believed in the party leadership. I stayed.”

Within hours of delivering his heartbreak message, Wijemanne, with his mind made up, was in the SJB office, clasped in Sajith’s welcome embrace. The UNP’s Kalutara loss has ended up as an SJB gain in Kalutara.

In an interview with a YouTube channel, Wijemanne later said, “I went and met Ranil at his Flower Road office, where I told him, I will no longer remain in the party.” Wijemanne told the interviewer, “That was the honourable thing to do. But I will never return to the UNP.”

The entire episode, which deals with Wijemanne questioning his lifelong faith, conveys the homily that a man’s profound faith in his leader, however unquestioned, is liable to break and shouldn’t be taken for granted if his deep innermost feelings are trifled with and trampled with scorn by an insensitive leader who cannot feel another man’s pain except his own.

If this crass attitude toward the remaining faithful continues to remain unsheathed, the day may soon arrive for the exodus to begin to find the promised land where Wijemanne found refuge.

SJB firebrand Hirunika revealed on her Facebook: “The decision to sever our marriage was arrived at after much thought and reflection by both Hiran and me. Hiran and I spent 10 years together, and we built our dreams together. We truly appreciate the mutual love we shared during these last ten years, but even after we wed, we never made promises since we knew how uncertain life can be.

HAPPIER TIMES: Hirunika and her husband with their three small children.

“Today we face different directions. And it was not a decision we took lightly. We thought it over for months, and we finally decided to lead our own lives, to stand alone, independent of each other.”

Unpredictable, too, in this uncertain life, is for a love rekindled to keep its tryst at another time, another place. Especially with their three bundles of joy tugging them back.