In a letter to The Island on 04.03.10, I agreed with a statement by Mr. Mano Ratwatte, of the US (The Island - 22.02.10) that contrary to a claim by Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe that the late President D. B. Wijetunge "unlike those who take to politics today, did not put opponents behind bars", politicians of the past too did put their opponents behind bars. DB himself did not do so in his short term of office. However, Ranil’s claim that politicians of yesterday were above that type of skulduggery, was a lie, in that J. R. Jayawardene put Vijaya Kumaratunga behind bars. "Suppressio Veri Suggestio Falsi" (Suppression of the Truth amounts to suggesting a Falsehood). So Ranil definitely did suppress the Truth by that claim. Generally though, today’s politicians are a more despicable lot compared to those of the past.

Now Ranil and the UNP is seen to have suppressed the Truth on another occasion too. It seems that "Suppressio Veri" is an incurable disease. Ranil’s and the UNP’s penchant for falsehood is particularly odious as it is being indulged in by a party that is constantly pointing at the motes in the opponents eye, and seeking power as the politically and morally purer Party. Ranil’s latest suppression of the Truth comes to light by a provision in the UNP Manifesto for the General Election. General Sarath Fonseka as the "Common Candidate" of the UNP and the JVP at the Presidential Election, with Ranil, Mangala, Hakeem, Somawansa on the same platform, gave an attractive Promise to the Public Servants. A salary increase of Rs. 10,000/- no less. He gave a like Promise to the Estate Sector. It was a straight forward, clear promise with no reservation or other qualification. The clear impression given to P/Servants therefore was that it would be given in one installment. Despite the UPFA, the Dep M/Finance and many others pointing out the sheer impossibility of fulfilling that promise, SF repeatedly kept blaring out that bonanza, even stating that it would be made possible by the savings he would make by rooting out the waste and corruption of the UPFA. Not a word of caution or reservation was advised by Ranil & Co. One had to assume therefore that the UNP and all the other UNF Parties did also by their silence tacitly agree that the Rs. 10,000 salary increase in One installment was possible, and therefore clearly the UNP was party to the Promise of Rs. 10,000 in one installment.

This Promise by Ranil and the UNP (among others) is found to be a blatant and brazen lie, a falsehood when one looks at what the UNP Manifesto has to say thereon. Here is what it says:

"Salary Increments – More cash in hand:

We will increase the salary of every public servant by Rs. 10,000/- This is how we plan to do it.

A hike of Rs. 3,500 with immediate effect. The remainder of Rs. 6500/- will be given after we complete an assessment of the bankrupt Treasury. The 1st installment will be given within 12 months, and the balance every 6 months thereafter".

One can only gape at the brazenness of the deception the UNP and its leader resorted to in its campaign for Fonseka.