THE attack on a group of United National Party MPs while they were engaging in an inspection tour of the Hambantota Harbour and Mattala Airport has gained significant traction as an example of how dangerously wrong the country’s politics have become.

On the surface it would seem that the most disturbing aspect of this incident is the ability [of] an elected official, in this case the mayor of Hambantota, to be participating in a clearly political protest toting a pistol. He then attempted to explain … that he was there to only stop the attack, since the police clearly could not. … The whole event took a humorous tone when the mayor claimed it was a plastic pistol.

Whether the pistol was plastic or not … what it shows is that Sri Lanka has become a nation of plastic politicians and plastic police. Whatever the perceived shortcomings of the main opposition party, the fact that they have a right to inspect projects that will utilise billions of rupees of taxpayer money … cannot be disputed. The UNP MPs also obtained the necessary approvals … making this visit above board.

Even after the regrettable incident, it is disappointing that President ... Rajapaksa is focusing more on what he says was an attempt by the MPs to discredit and criticise the projects rather than seeing the great dual threat of armed politicians and politically disempowered police. Undoubtedly the most disturbing point is the creation of a culture that allows a politician to behave in a violent … manner without any danger of retribution, either from the law or his own party. …— (April 22)