Reflecting on the events of May 9, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Colombo district MP Gamini Lokuge said the chaos that took place at the Galle Face Green between those who attended the SLPP meeting at the Temple Trees and the protesters was not a pre-planned incident.
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Profile
 Name : Gamini LokugeDate of birth : 5, 8,1943
Place of birth : Piliyandala
School attended : Ananda Shasthralaya, Kotte
Political milestones
Elected to Parliament for the first time in 1983 from the United National Party representing the Kesbewa Constituency.
Positions held:
* Minister of Tourism 1989-2002
* 2007 - 2010 Minister of Sports and Public Recreation
* 2010 - 2015 Minister of Sports and Public Recreation
* 2019 - Minister of State for Urban Development
* 2020- Cabinet Minister of Transport
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“It was an instant reaction due to a rush of emotions,” he said. Lokuge had attended the meeting at Temple Trees and gone home, only to hear of a spate of violent incidents happening across the country. Amongst the 75 residences of MPs and nearly 40 - 50 properties belonging to regional politicians, Lokuge said six houses in the Kesbewa constituency that he represents were torched and destroyed by violent mobs. “Among these were the houses of the Kesbewa Urban Council Chairman, his sister’s, my grandson’s and my own,” he said.
Pre-planned
Contrary to the incidents that took place that morning, Lokuge said the attacks on the houses of politicians are pre-planned and well-organised. “These were organised crimes” he alleged.
The residence belonging to MP Lokuge that came under attack that day was in the Piliyandala Mavittara area. The house was destroyed in an arson attack on May 9, while another group had set fire to a warehouse belonging to the MP located in the same area on April 4, as a result of the anti-Government protests at the time.
Like many other politicians, Lokuge also blames the Police for failing to prevent the attack. “During the previous incident, my supporters ensured my house was unharmed. On May 9 I was at home and the Police assured me everything will be fine. I trusted them. But look what happened? They did nothing to prevent the destruction. A violent mob set my house on fire while the Police looked on,” he said.
Children
Lokuge said the house destroyed in the fire was built in 1976. “Since then I have lived in that house. I have already bestowed the house on my children and they renovated it. In addition to my house, my ancestral home where my brother now lives and the house of my nephew was also destroyed on that day. My nephew worked abroad and built that house. He still works abroad and only his family was at the house on the day these events occurred. They caused so much destruction that day,” he said.
Lokuge said the damage to his house has been estimated at Rs. 100 million. According to Lokuge, he has made no effort to rebuild the gutted house as he does not have the necessary funds. “Currently I am residing in a house belonging to the State in Colombo,” he said.
While the Police arrested 25 - 30 suspects believed to have been involved in the incident, Lokuge said they have since been released on bail.
Gamini Lokuge has a political career spanning over six decades. According to the MP, he entered active politics in 1960 by obtaining United National Party (UNP) membership due to his keen interest in the subject.
“In 1970 though the UNP was defeated, I worked together with J.R Jayawardene. In 1974 I was elected to the United National Front. I worked closely with the Party.
In 1977 when the UNP came into power I was granted a directorship in Ceypetco. In 1983, I was elected as a Member of Parliament for the first time representing the Kesbewa constituency”, he said.
Seasoned
Since then Lokuge has been an MP in every Parliament that was elected. As a seasoned politician, Lokuge said incidents similar to those on May 9 are not unfamiliar to him. “I faced similar issues in 1989. I received threats and my house was set on fire. Some 15 - 20 people from my village were killed. Buses were torched. There was much destruction but we were not defeated.
It is regrettable that my house was torched but it will not end my political career. No one can destroy my political journey through such acts. We only become stronger against such adversities,” he said.
Lokuge said the incident on May 9 was an act of terrorism. “I would like to tell the people not to give power to such terrorists. Only if democracy and peace are protected, the people of the country will be happy,” he said.
Leftist
“When you look at the youth in this country, you realise that about 75 percent of the young people in the universities are engaged in leftist politics.
In the past 25-30 years, graduates from these universities have entered the administrative service and are now working as Government officials. They also engaged in Leftist politics while in university. But after they joined Government service, they got rid of these extremist sentiments and now act as officers who value democracy and peace.” he said.
Lokuge said many of these students have no clear idea or aim about politics but are engaged in it to go with the tide or due to fear. “Our youth must be more intelligent and they should not be engaged in any extremist act due to fear of threats,” he said.
Despite the foreign exchange drying up due to the Covid-19 pandemic leading to a host of other issues including the gas and fuel shortage, Lokuge asked what good the people’s uprising or the Aragalaya did to the country.
“At least 100 of those who led these protests have accepted Government postings. It was clearly an aimless exercise. In the end, it only led to the resignation of the former President.
But it caused widespread destruction of property and brought disrepute to the country. Such incidents should not be allowed to take place again and those involved must be punished.
If not it will set a bad example to future generations” the MP added.