POLITICIANS READY TO COMMIT SUICIDE FOR THEIR PENSIONS

However, the practical situation on the ground is that no poor man who did not have a house to live in or any income source ever became the President of this country. It is the members of the elite who have so far been elected as Presidents until the election held last year

- By M.S.M.Ayub

Among the various responses to the government’s move to scrap pension and other perks provided to the former Presidents and Parliamentarians, the reaction of Nandana Gunathilaka, former provincial council member and member of parliament of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has gone viral.

Gunathilaka, a former companion of many leaders of the current JVP led National People’s Power government and the JVP’s candidate for the 1999 Presidential election, had threatened in a Facebook post to launch a suicide attack in case the government goes ahead with its plan to abolish MP pensions.

He did not use the words ‘suicide’ or ‘attack’ in his post, but implied them. “Will die, not alone, I am a guerilla,” he said after explaining the possible predicament he would find himself in if he is deprived of his pension. However, he did not indicate who would accompany him when he dies.

Gunathilaka stated: “It is with that Rs. 68,000 Parliament pension I am just making ends meet. After paying for house rental, utility and medical bills, I am left with only Rs. 700 to Rs.800 for daily meals and other expenses.” One would hardly have any reason to doubt his statement. The situation he describes is the lot of many 63-year-olds and pensioners who cannot find a job at that late stage of life.

However, his problem cannot be solved through a suicide attack. There are millions of people in this country who are left destitute during their twilight years such as agricultural labourers, masons, carpenters, barbers, pavement hawkers, fishermen and those who are employed in eateries and shops. They have to depend on their children who are also sometimes struggling to make ends meet. Yet, they do not resort to suicide attacks.